Masked (Orca Soundings) [Paperback]

Norah McClintock (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2010 | Series: Orca Soundings

When Daniel enters a convenience store on a secret mission, he doesn't expect to run into anyone he knows. That would ruin everything. And when Rosie enters the same store to see what her father wants, she's hoping to make a quick getaway with her waiting boyfriend.
All Daniel and Rosie want is to get in and out without any trouble. Neither expects what happens next. A masked man enters the store.
"This is a stickup," he announces. He has a gun and isn't afraid to use it. When he's ready to leave, he decides to take Rosie hostage.
And then things get complicated

(20100924)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8–11—McClintock tells the story of a convenience-store robbery through the eyes of the store owner and his daughter, Rosie; the mystery shopper, who is another teen from the neighborhood; the gunman, Leon, who is Rosie's ex-boyfriend; and Corey, Rosie's boyfriend. There is suspense to keep reluctant readers interested, and there is enough backstory to flesh out the characters, at least a bit. One nice surprise is the lack of foul language, even though an armed crime is taking place. Of course, secrets are revealed, and Leon's tale is particularly tragic. Unfortunately, Rosie garners no sympathy; she is a selfish girl who only dated Leon until Corey "came back" from cheating on her. She has lied and manipulated him and acts surprised at what he has done. Corey is despicable, with no redeeming qualities, at least in this story. This seems more like an introduction than a fleshed-out novel.—Robin Henry, Wakeland High School, Frisco, TX
(c) Copyright 2011.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

From Booklist

Tight plotting, swift pacing, and tension that intensifies with each page turn mark this entry in the always-reliable Orca Soundings series for reluctant readers. A masked teen’s plan to hold up a convenience store seems like an easy in-and-out job at first, but it becomes apparent he has more on his mind than money. He seems to know Rosie, whose dad owns the store; Daniel, who’s in the store at the time as well, has an inkling that he knows the robber, too. If there’s any doubt that violence will ensue, the tense geometry of the situation tightens even further when Rosie’s angry boyfriend, Corey, storms in, looking to take her away from her strict father. As much as desperation drives the masked teen, the secrets Rosie is holding back turn out to be the true motivating force. With scarcely an extraneous word, McClintock keeps the suspense at a roiling simmer, doling out pieces of crucial information that twist the crime drama into a doomed love tangle, capped by an arresting and satisfying conclusion. Grades 7-10. --Ian Chipman --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers (October 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1554693640
• ISBN-13: 978-1554693641
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 6.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,059,698 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Meaninghful, November 30, 2010

By 

Meghan (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Masked (Orca Soundings) (Paperback)

Excerpt:

...I feel her tremble, and I'm sorry about that. I'm sorry I have to scare her. But there's no other way. I watch the old man lower his hands to the cash cash register. I wonder how much money is in there...

Masked for me was envisioning with many unexpected turn of events. Norah McClintock has done a few Orca books as well as her popular novels published by Scholastic Canada. This is my second book by McClintock and although this one is placed on the pile for reluctant readers, I can't help but recommended this book to any YA books fanatic.

When I read, I like the feeling that I'm right by the characters side, (depending on who was telling the story from their point f view; Daniel, Rosie, or the masked man) feeling how they feel, thinking the way they think...it's real, so true.

Rosie, the daughter of the man whose store is getting robbed finds herself in a very sticky situation...maybe even more than Daniel, the boy who walks through the doors hoping for a grab and go rather than a stick up by a masked man. Corey (Rosie's boyfriend) who's somewhat a minor character in the story turns out to be quite essential himself...poor kid is waiting for Rosie to run off with but finds that people aren't always what they seem to be. Which brings me to story's' message...people aren't really honest with themselves, therefore dishonest with anyone in their path.

I was very impressed by McClintocks ability to write such as interesting story in a matter of 108 pages...the story came together really good too. This gets a 4/5 only because it's a little too short.

3.0 out of 5 stars Reading Masked with a 10th grader, December 1, 2011

By 

Amy Balcerek - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Masked (Orca Soundings) (Paperback)

The book Masked by McClintock was a good read. I read it with my student who is in 10th grade. The subject material is grown up and appripriate for high schoolers.

I only gave this boook a 3/5 because the character development wasn't strong. It was limited on difficult vocabulary. The chapters were short and the story was predictable and fast paced.

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, April 23, 2011

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Masked (Orca Soundings) (Paperback)

The actions in a convenience store one afternoon change the lives of a small cast of characters. MASKED may be just over 100 pages, but the plot still takes many exciting twists and turns.

Daniel's real reason for stopping by has nothing to do with the beverages, snacks, and wrestling magazines that he places on the check-out counter. He is out to retrieve information for another businessman interested in obtaining the property where the convenience store is located. His request to use the restroom is just an excuse to get a peek at the company files.

As Daniel begins his undercover work, he hears the store owner call upstairs to someone named Rosie. Assuming that someone is the owner's wife, Daniel is surprised to see it is actually a girl his age - and he realizes that he knows her.

Rosie reluctantly enters through the backroom and seems irritated to have been called on to perform some petty task by her store-owner father. She has her own agenda, which involves the young man waiting impatiently upstairs. She was hoping not to have to deal with any store business ever again after today.

When a masked man holding a gun enters the picture, everyone is taken completely by surprise. He seems serious but not particularly competent in his role as criminal. Gathering all the available cash doesn't seem to be his main motivation.

Readers are in for some surprises as all the plot threads are pulled together. MASKED is loaded with the unexpected, making it a good book for teens and especially reluctant readers.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"