Cass McBride is popular. David Kirby isn't. Cass McBride is also ambitious, so when David Kirby asks her out, she doesn't laugh in his face; instead, she does it on paper in a note to one of her friends, a note she never intended David to see. See it he does, though, and it has more of an effect on him than Cass could have ever imagined. Destroyed by Cass's rejection and derision, David takes his own life. Angry over his brother's death and carrying his own guilt, David's popular brother Kyle blames Cass for David's death and is set on revenge. Kyle kidnaps Cass and buries her alive. For now, Cass can breath, but only so she can hear what Kyle has to say about her and what she did to his brother. Cass is forced to rely on her words to try to save her life. What will Cass be able to learn about her captor? What will she learn about herself? Will she be able to convince Kyle to free her before it's too late? Does she deserve to be free? Read What Happened to Cass McBride by Gail Giles to find out.
Review
This is a gripping novel. Despite the fact that the novel was published in 2006, the issues it addresses are still relevant. With the recent focus on bullying and teen suicide, this novel current and powerful and has a place in all high school libraries. Giles uses three narrators to tell the story: Cass, Kyle, and a detective working the case. Giles manages to keep her reader on the edge of his seat. This is definitely one of those books you can't put down. The situation forces Kyle and Cass to take a good, honest look at themselves, and it forces the reader to do the same.
References
Giles, G. (2006). What happened to Cass McBride. New York: Little, Brown
Books for Young Readers.
[Cover art for What happened to Cass McBride?]. (2011). Retrieved from
http://www.powells.com/biblio/2-9780316166393-5
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