Customer Reviews

What Happened to Cass McBride?

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Holy Cow! That was, literally, what I said to myself after turning the last page of Gail Giles's newest release, WHAT HAPPENED TO CASS MCBRIDE? Although I've read many of the author's books in the past, I have to say that I think this one, even more than Shattering Glass or Playing in Traffic, is my new favorite.

The plot is pretty straight-forward; is, in fact, told pretty matter-of-factly on the inside cover. Something bad has happened to pretty, popular Cass McBride. Something that involves Kyle Kirby, and his younger brother, David, who just happens to be dead. That much you'll get right away. What you won't get, until you start reading the book, is that this is a psychological thriller that will have you flipping pages like a madman (or woman).

It's actually hard to tell readers about the storyline of this book without giving too much away. Let's just say that David Kirby has committed suicide, Cass feels slightly responsible, and Kyle is sure Cass is to blame. What happens because of those three circumstances is something unexpected, something that, due to the author's vivid writing and imagination, will leave you breathless.

WHAT HAPPENED TO CASS MCBRIDE? is a glimpse into many different points of view. That of Cass McBride herself, who has had a pretty strange upbringing and doesn't even realize it until Kyle Kirby takes matters into his own hands. Then there's Kyle himself, a young man who has had the type of childhood you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. Then there's the police detective, Ben, who has his own story to tell, and ones to listen to. And although we don't really get to hear David Kirby tell his story (he is, after all, quite dead), we learn about a boy who never really even had a chance.

This is a great book for all lovers of a good thriller, although I wouldn't recommend it for very young teens. That said, however, this is the perfect book for a reluctant reader, as the short chapters, fresh dialogue, and snappy writing style keep you moving right along. This is another must-read from author Gail Giles!

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

With WHAT HAPPENED TO CASS MCBRIDE, Gail Giles has penned the most powerful book of her career. A suspenseful, psychological thriller, I had a vanload of students absolutely riveted to my reading a few days ago when I provided them an extended taste of the book that'd kept me up until the early hours the night before. David Kirby's big brother Kyle learned too late about the note Cass wrote, but he did find out all about it. The scathing note discussing David having the audacity to ask out the beautiful and popular Cass was meant for the eyes of Cass's best girlfriend. But it ended up in David Kirby's hands just days before David hung himself from a limb on the tree in his front yard.

Now, when Cass awakens from her drug-induced sleep, she will slowly come to the chilling realization that Kyle Kirby has kidnapped her and buried her alive with a crude air supply system and walkie talkie setup through which he can torture her for what she did to his brother.

WHAT HAPPENED TO CASS MCBRIDE changes time and perspective as we shift back and forth from Cass's time underground, to a colorful group of crackerjack cops desperately trying to unravel the inexplicable kidnapping of a wealthy businessman's daughter, to Kyle's later recounting for the police why and how he did what he did to Cass McBride.

With the pinpoint accuracy of a brain surgeon, Gail Giles deftly probes the lives and minds of Cass and Kyle along with that of the four parents who have so much to do with the places that Cass, Kyle, and David have ended up.

As a child I spent a lot of time doing plumbing repairs in some very tight, musty crawlspaces underneath old houses. The only instances of claustrophobia I recall experiencing have been at times when I was getting crushed near the stage during oversold standing room-only concerts. I've no doubt that there will be those for whom the author's sensory-filled descriptions of Cass's dark, narrow, earthy, urine-y wooden prison will be far too terrifying. But for me, it's a dark thrill of a read that may not be topped for a long time to come.

Cass McBride is the girl who knows how to get what she wants. Her father, a salesman, has taught her the rules of the "Sale." She manipulates. And she rules the school. Kyle Kirby has a mother that taught him some rules too, rules of anger and hate. When these two collide, Cass McBride ends up buried alive. But that's not enough for Kyle. He gives her a source of air and a walkie talkie so he can torture her with words. But words are what Cass wants. They are her currency to get out of this box.

Or can she? Kyle isn't exactly sane.

Ben Gray and his detectives are looking for Cass but they can find no connection between Cass and Kyle. All they know is a boy named David commited suicide a few days before and Cass didn't even know him. Did she?

Words Are Teeth.
And they eat me alive.
Feed on my corpse instead.

Meet Cass; beautiful, popular, overachiever, resume packing, soon to be 1st ever sophomore homecoming queen, future prom queen, everybody's friend, top of the food chain freshman year, Miss Out-Of-Your-League. So why would anyone want to hurt her? How did Cass end up in a wooden crate underground? Buried . . . Alive.
Cass McBride gets what she wants. But who is Cass McBride down in the darkness where there's nowhere to hide and nothing but truth to confess? Her father taught her the rules of a sale. But how do you sell your life to someone when they're holding all the cards? How do you win against someone without insecurities?
Words are teeth. Words are weapons. Words are power. Can words decide the fate of not just one but three people? Can words be the difference between life . . . and death?
This gripping psychological thriller not only keeps you on your toes and guessing, it shows you your greatest fears. Shows you that you can't always identify with a victim as well as with a sociopath. You may know Cass better than you think.

Cass McBride is one of the A-list kids at her school. Known to her teachers as an "RP" (resume packer), Cass is involved in just about every important committee and event at her high school, just so she can impress college admissions personnel. A brilliant political schemer at the ripe old age of 17, Cass has been groomed for success by her father for as long as she can remember, and it's sure paid off.

That's why, when Cass is approached by dweeby David Kirby, who asks her out on a date, she has a hard time not laughing at him. But that wouldn't be politically advantageous --- she needs David's vote for Homecoming Queen, too --- so she politely dismisses him and then mocks him in a cruel note for her best friend. When that note lands in David's own hands, the ramifications for Cass are more than she ever could have imagined.

Shortly after Cass's rejection, David commits suicide --- and, when David's popular, guilt-ridden older brother Kyle discovers Cass's note, he blames Cass personally. Unhinged, angry and desperate for revenge, Kyle kidnaps Cass and buries her alive, keeping her breathing just long enough to mentally torture her for what she's done. Cass believes that if she can just find Kyle's hidden weaknesses, she can use her father's sales strategies to engineer her own salvation. But hours of intense conversation lead Cass to doubt her own abilities, to discover unpleasant truths not only about the Kirbys but also about herself: "In the dark, it's only you. No shiny reflective surfaces to dazzle, just black holes to stare into and see what you really are."

WHAT HAPPENED TO CASS McBRIDE? is an unsettling novel, in more ways than one. Narrated by three key characters --- Kyle, the detective investigating Cass's disappearance and Cass herself --- it reveals the background of Cass's kidnapping gradually. The narrations' chronologies overlap and intersect, leaving readers with no doubt about who committed the crime, but keeping them on the edge of their seats as they learn more about these characters and question whether Cass will ever emerge from her premature grave.

Unlike traditional mysteries, Giles's novel offers no easy answers for the many questions --- about the origins of suicide, parental expectations and motivations for revenge --- that it raises. Audiences will also, in most cases, have a hard time finding unqualified sympathy for either Kyle or Cass, making WHAT HAPPENED TO CASS McBRIDE? a complex, sophisticated suspense novel that will challenge readers' expectations while still keeping them up late at night.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

What Happened to Cassie McBride is a suspenseful, page-turner which will not disappoint Young Adult readers. Gail Gillies has a intriguing way of making her characters come alive as well as encouraging teenagers to keep reading. Her creative characterization and foreshadowing motivate the reader.
I have read four of Gail Gillies's novels for reluctant readers, and everyone of her books is powerful, suspenseful and thought-provoking. I encourage all teenagers, even those who would rather be on the internet, to read one of her novels; you won't be disappointed!

A tight, suspenseful read. Wonderfully complex. It works on many levels. I really enjoyed this novel.

The only strength What Happened to Cass McBride? had was its writing. Everything else was utter garbage, especially the plot. Let's do the good first, before we get to my massive list of complaints, shall we? The writing style was very unique, dotted with cutesy little phrases here and there, making for a poetic read. Other than that, the only other thing I can positively remark on was my like of the fonts that allowed for easy differentiation between characters. Alright, so, the negatives. First of all, this is a murder mystery of sorts. So it's very strange that the story is set up in such a way that the reader knows pretty much all along who the culprit is, instead of finding out at the very end. Most of the plot is laid out very early on, which eliminates a lot of the drama and suspense that a good murder mystery should, in my opinion, contain. I'm sure it was done to set the book apart from others in the same genre, and it accomplishes that, but sometimes, I feel like the typical murder mystery IS a murder mystery because of its layout, and can be set apart by a particularly fantastic plot, instead of switching the general big picture order of events. The nonlinearity makes for an interesting storytelling format, but at the same time, makes the story just...boring. Throughout the whole book, I just couldn't bring myself to care about anyone I was supposed to care about or sympathize with. I didn't like the ending, I didn't care about any of the events, the story's excitement dies out within the first few pages, when all is revealed. I just don't think the order of events served the story well in this particular instance.

Rating: 2/5

Three cheers for Gail Giles! She managed to write a novel that will be a favorite among YA without any extraneous use of sex and drugs. I was just thinking to myself the other day that someone needed to manage a great book without the use of sex and drugs yet would be a favorite of my students.
"What Happened to Cass McBride" is a short,simple, quick read that creates a large impact. It is as scary as a Stephen King or Dean Koontz, yet on a level that is appropriate for middle and high school students. It does have violence, but most of it is psychological. I have numerous students who are always looking for scary books, but don't want something so long it will take them all year to read. This is just the ticket. Not only is it quick to read students will identify with the characters or at least recognize the characters from their schools.

Giles's best yet! scary and smart in equal parts-- it gives you something to think about as you heart-thump through the pages. i like that you know Cass is buried alive right from the start. you would think that would leave the author no where to go. no way! Giles explores her characters like a deep water diver of the soul.