Hostage [Paperback]

Willo Davis Roberts (Author)

Book Description

"I always thought I'd be ready for an adventure, if one ever came along. I didn't know how stupid that was until it happened."

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7-Kaci's family's new house has everything-bathrooms and bedrooms for everyone, room for her brother's grand piano-and a sense of security lacking in her old community. Shortly after the move, Kaci goes home in the middle of the school day to get her allergy medication and stumbles upon a burglary in progress. The robbers kidnap her, and when a nosy neighbor suspects that something is wrong and tries to help, they take her as well. At first, Kaci discounts Mrs. Banducci's ability to help them escape, but quickly discovers that the elderly woman not only has some good suggestions, but also helps the girl keep up her courage. By the time they are rescued, the two have become friends and Kaci has discovered the value of faith and resourcefulness. Roberts blends an exciting, well-crafted plot with strong characters. As in Pawns (Atheneum, 1998), her emphasis on friendship, trust, and respect between older adults and teenagers provides a welcome change from much young adult literature. Without being preachy, she also introduces the idea of a sustaining faith in God. Fast paced and entertaining.
Janet Hilbun, formerly at Sam Houston Middle School, Garland, TX
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Through plot manipulation and a series of unlikely events, Roberts (Pawns, 1998, etc.) dampens a potentially hair-raising tale of a girl taken hostage by a band of thieves. Sixth-grader Kaci longs for excitement, to be noticed as her sister, Jodie, is for dancing, or her brother, Jeff, is for playing the piano. In one of several pleas for sympathy, she complains, ``I'm so blah, nobody cares what I do or think.'' With the permission of her preoccupied mother and the school nurse, Kaci walks home in the middle of the day by herself to retrieve her allergy medicine, where she happens upon burglars in the act. Trapped upstairs, she fails to act quickly, takes time to wonder what Jesus would do (because of a stamped ``WWJD?'' bracelet), and considers her father's advice, worrying more about the family's insurance and her brother's piano than the imminent danger downstairs. By the time she is taken hostage, coincidences and hastily- mentioned aspects of the plotting (her allergies, for one) have conspired to all but deflate the suspense. With a cell phone from a backpack, Kaci is able to call the authorities before the hardship and horror of being a hostage has a chance to sink in. The heart-pounding premise falters, then fades, as a comedy of errors and contrived circumstances takes over. (Fiction. 8-12) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (August 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689844468
• ISBN-13: 978-0689844461
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #555,794 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hostage by Willo Robert Davis, May 8, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Hostage (Turtleback)

Hostage by Willo Davis Roberts was a fairly well written book. Although the story, kept me on my toes, it was written for a young reader. I would recommend this book to kids who are younger and would like a good book. It started off with some dull factors which I didn't find interesting. As the book gradually progressed, it kept coming out with material that would catch me off guard, therefore, leaving me in suspense.
This book is about a little girl, Kaci Dummond, who wishes to get any sort of excitement in her life. After a robbery took place in her neighborhood, the family does not feel safe and decides to move. They then decide to move to a place called Lofty Cedar Estates looking for a safer environment.
One day, Kaci has to come home to pick up her allergy medicine and realizes that is it not as safe as she thought. She comes home to find out that her house has been robbed and the robbers are still in the house. She realizes that she is in for more of an adventure than she would have ever thought about. The robbers stumble across Kaci and take her into captivity. Upon leaving and taking merchandise from the house, the neighbor sees the burglars, which forces them to take the neighbor as well. The robbers then leave and start off to a abandoned warehouse. They take the items and pawn them off to other crooks in a smuggling ring. Kaci, as bright as she is, decides to try and escape. She is successful and decides to run towards the nearest town. She tries to talk to the people of the town and they do not believe her about what is going on. Kaci then decides to take matters into her own hands and rescue the neighbor.
As the book progressed I became more attached to it every word. Within the last couple of chapters, the book leaves you wondering about what is going to happen. As a fellow reader, I am a person who likes this kind of suspense. If you are into books that catch you off guard, this is a book that I would suggest you read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Book!!, November 11, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Hostage (Paperback)

This book was some amazing that i would recmend this book for all ages. This book is about a girl named Kaci. Kaci loved scary movies. She loved when the hairs all over her body stood stright. She loved adventures. .Kaci always wondered why nothing ever exciting happened to her. So Kaci wished for something exciting to happen to her. Kaci always thought that she would be ready for an adverture if one ever came along. But, she didn't know how stupid of an idea that was until one came along. Kaci had an allergy attack in school and had to go home and get her medicane (which was nasil spray). She had nocticed that her front door was unlocked and that there were big boxes in her house. Was something getting delivered she wondered? Anyway she went up into her bedroom to get the spray when she noticed that her lamp was missing. She checked in her sisters'but did not find it. But, when she went into her brothers' room she found that his radio was missing to. then all of a sudden Kaci heard vocies. when she perred downstaries she couldn't believe her eyes. She had saw buglars. They wer talking about the stuff that they were going to take. They were talking about taking the piano. So one of the buglars went upstairs to get cloths to cover up the piano (so it would not get scratched). Kaci had thought the buglar had went downstairs, so she got out of her hiding place. but to her suprise he found her. when they were ready to leave they took her with her. What will happen to Kaci? Will she survive? Find out when ypu read this great book Hostage!!
Katie

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hostage, June 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Hostage (Hardcover)

This is a story about a sixth grader named Kaci Drummond who's family is moving into a new neighborhood. The main reason she is moving is because her old neighborhood is dangerous and many families are being robbed. So the Drummonds move to Lofty Ceders and are just getting settled. Their new neighbor is a bit annoying and is always asking questions and being nosy. Kaci doesn't like her at all. Anyway, one day, Kaci gets her allergies in the middle of school, forcing her to go home to get her nasal spray. But when she enters the house after a long chat with the nosy neighbor next door, she finds herself in a lot of trouble she never bargained for.