Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Courtesy of Teens Read Too, September 25, 2008
This review is from: Top 8: Book 1 (Paperback)
TOP 8 was a book that I didn't want to put down once I started reading.
Madison MacDonald is stuck going on a trip to the Galapagos Islands with her family for spring break. She's not thrilled about it at all. She's recently started dating Justin Williamson (seventeen days) and doesn't want to leave him or her friends. And to make matters worse, she can't take her cell phone or laptop with her because they'd be useless.
The trip turns out to be okay, and there was even a sort of cute boy about her own age on the trip, but the whole time she just wanted to get home. Had she known what was awaiting her return, she might have changed her mind.
The minute she got home, she ran to her temperamental laptop to check her Friendverse account. She can't believe what she sees. She's so stunned that she reboots her laptop to make sure she logged onto the correct profile. Friendverse is the latest in the Facebook/MySpace trends. Someone has totally changed her profile! The photos that are uploaded are the most unflattering possible. And the comments she's received from her friends leave her flabbergasted. The things that they're saying she's said about everyone. This just can't be right! And Justin has broken up with her!
Madison calls an emergency session with her three best friends: Schuyler, Liz, and especially Ruth. After struggling to explain the situation, all three friends believe her and vow to help her discover the culprit. Madison can't imagine why anyone would do such a thing to her. The four girls come up with a list of two possible perpetrators: Kittson
Pearson, who is in charge of the junior prom and has just stolen her boyfriend, and Connor Atkins, who has lost the student secretary election to Madison.
Madison vows to discover the evildoer and to get Justin back. But what she doesn't count on is running into the sort of cute boy from her trip. He's not just sort of cute, he's really cute, and his family lives in the next town over!
Madison is far from perfect and comes to realize her faults by the end of the story. The things her friends accuse her of saying are true, in a way. But she doesn't deserve the headaches that the hacker sets her up for.
TOP 8 moves so quickly that you will find yourself determined to finish the book in one sitting. I thought I had the culprit figured out early on, but I was totally wrong in my assumptions! Ms. Finn wrote an amazing first novel. Having enjoyed this as much as I did, I can't wait to see what her future books will bring!
Reviewed by: Jaglvr
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Too predictable, May 27, 2009
This review is from: Top 8: Book 1 (Paperback)
Top 8 was a quick, very predictable read. There was nothing original in this book; it was like something that you've read before.
The main character was self-centered and kind of stupid since she took a while to solve the "mystery". I did get what the author was trying to say about Myspace and Facebook-- that they're more trouble than they're worth--but it was lost in the drama.
The book was fast-paced and it doesn't take long to get through it but it is boring at times, because you get tired of reading about the main character freaking out because someone hacked into her Friendverse profile.
Overall: While a fast read, it's not a fun read nor is it a deep read. I would recommend this as a beach read, one that you read on a nice, warm, sunny day, then forget about it after a couple of days.
Carol
http://bookluver-carol.blogspot.com
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Read, July 9, 2010
This review is from: Top 8: Book 1 (Paperback)
I have to admit I was bit hesitant to read this one and to tell the truth I'm not really sure why. Thankfully, I did give it a try, and let me tell you I'm so glad I did because it proved to be not only be filled with funny parts and mystery but some substance as well! A mix I simply adored!
Madison, the main character in this, was one I liked a lot and could relate to, because she was funny and filled with a lot of heart, and someone who while made mistakes, fixed them and learned from them as well. Her friendship with Ruth, Lisa, and Shy was one of my favorite parts because it was easy to see how much these girls cared about each other, and when mixed together, they always provided laugh out loud scenes. Also, Nate equals swoon-worthy!
The plot of this was one I really enjoyed, because it was fully developed and always kept me guessing at who it was who broke into Maddie's profile and what their motive was all the way to the end. A good sign, no? Also, I liked the incorporation of technology with the add in of the Top 8 profiles, and how through Maddie's hacked profile it gave you a warning message about technology.
Also, Katie's writing moved swiftly, making this a novel that was easy to fly right through.
In all, Top 8 proves to be a read that's not only fun but makes you think a little, too, about the technology you use in your life.
Grade: B
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
