sorman0110's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars. Kept me entertained, but overall, this is an over emotional and dramatic story about a girl named Angela. She goes missing during a Girl Scout camping event when she was 13, only to return to her house, by foot, when she is 16. She has no recollection of what has happened or where she has been for the last three years. It's very clear early on in the story that she is suffering from DID, which is a very real and frightening disorder that affect many people, most of whom have been abused repeatedly at a young age. I felt like the author trivialized the importance of this disorder and the way in which victims deal with and hopefully overcome this horrific disease. If you like YA realistic fiction, with recovery from a serious illness in just a matter of months to your liking, then you will enjoy this story. :)
izzyproudfoot's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel about this book....
It was dark in places with tattletale but Angie was so strong that it didn't destroy the book.
The whole concept of DID is fascinating, I like how the author used their stories bit by bit to complete the book.
This book could have gone two ways with Angie- her being unbearable, self-pitying AKA Bella Swan. But it didn't- it did the complete opposite, that made the issues of abuse and captivity much easier to read.
This book was not what I was expecting, in fact if I had known it was going to tackle some of these issues I probably wouldn't have read it. That being said- I am glad I read it. It is brilliant book which in some places is predictable but in others it keeps you guessing.
I read this book in a couple of hours, I couldn't put it down. I just NEEDED to know how it finished.
It was dark in places with tattletale but Angie was so strong that it didn't destroy the book.
The whole concept of DID is fascinating, I like how the author used their stories bit by bit to complete the book.
This book could have gone two ways with Angie- her being unbearable, self-pitying AKA Bella Swan. But it didn't- it did the complete opposite, that made the issues of abuse and captivity much easier to read.
This book was not what I was expecting, in fact if I had known it was going to tackle some of these issues I probably wouldn't have read it. That being said- I am glad I read it. It is brilliant book which in some places is predictable but in others it keeps you guessing.
I read this book in a couple of hours, I couldn't put it down. I just NEEDED to know how it finished.
erinarkin20's review against another edition
3.0
This was an intriguing book to read. I find myself using the descriptions “interesting” and “intriguing” when I’m not sure how I feel about something or how to react…this isn't an exception. I am torn because there were things I liked and there were things I found obvious/annoying. The subject is definitely a tough one to read about and the feelings that result are definitely mixed. I will say that yes, there were some somewhat unbelievable and perhaps unrealistic twists to this story but overall I found the book to be one that kept me engaged and curious as to what would come out or happen next.
The book actually grabbed me from the very beginning as we open with Angie at girl scout camp heading toward the trees. Angie is the main character and 13 years old. While out in the woods, she gets a weird feeling that someone is watching. Regardless, she heads out and the next thing we know, she is face to face with her captor and being led off. The next thing she knows, she is in her neighborhood and headed home. Oh, and it is 3 years later.
We come to find out that Angie has been missing for 3 years and the last thing she remembers is being at camp…somehow 3 years are missing from her memory and she doesn't know how to act or be around her family. This part of the story was a bit painful to read considering she doesn't remember a thing. She has the emotional maturity and experiences of a 13 year old while everyone is treating her like a 16 year old and on top of this, she has developed DID (Disassociative Identity Disorder) - multiple personalities - to deal with the trauma she has faced over the last 3 years in which she has been abused.
It is clear that there are going to be some challenges – Angie’s mom is pregnant with a new baby which Angie feels may be an attempt to replace her, her friends have moved on in school while she hasn't, and in addition to all of this, Angie begins to see a therapist to try to unlock what she can’t remember. Clearly there is a psychological aspect to this book and anyone who finds that interesting might also find the techniques and brain mapping experiments interesting. I have no connection to this type of work so I have no idea if any of it is really how it would work or be done….I still found it intriguing.
The multiple personalities that inhabit Angie are varied and serve their purpose. Where the story lost me were the pieces where it was obvious where Coley was headed…at least to me and those that didn't really fit or impact the overall story. At times the dialogue felt off and somewhat uncomfortable. Angie’s responses didn't really fit her age as well as the situation. I don’t claim to know how someone would react to all of the things that have happened but it just felt off to me.
I have to stick with my 3 star rating on this one and stick with the middle road. Please don’t consider that a negative review. I have to be completely invested in a character and although I felt for Angie, I didn't necessarily connect with her in a way that made me love her. Also, her “friends” annoyed the crap out of me.
The book actually grabbed me from the very beginning as we open with Angie at girl scout camp heading toward the trees. Angie is the main character and 13 years old. While out in the woods, she gets a weird feeling that someone is watching. Regardless, she heads out and the next thing we know, she is face to face with her captor and being led off. The next thing she knows, she is in her neighborhood and headed home. Oh, and it is 3 years later.
We come to find out that Angie has been missing for 3 years and the last thing she remembers is being at camp…somehow 3 years are missing from her memory and she doesn't know how to act or be around her family. This part of the story was a bit painful to read considering she doesn't remember a thing. She has the emotional maturity and experiences of a 13 year old while everyone is treating her like a 16 year old and on top of this, she has developed DID (Disassociative Identity Disorder) - multiple personalities - to deal with the trauma she has faced over the last 3 years in which she has been abused.
It is clear that there are going to be some challenges – Angie’s mom is pregnant with a new baby which Angie feels may be an attempt to replace her, her friends have moved on in school while she hasn't, and in addition to all of this, Angie begins to see a therapist to try to unlock what she can’t remember. Clearly there is a psychological aspect to this book and anyone who finds that interesting might also find the techniques and brain mapping experiments interesting. I have no connection to this type of work so I have no idea if any of it is really how it would work or be done….I still found it intriguing.
The multiple personalities that inhabit Angie are varied and serve their purpose. Where the story lost me were the pieces where it was obvious where Coley was headed…at least to me and those that didn't really fit or impact the overall story.
Spoiler
The bit with her uncle and Sam being her baby. I’m not sure what the deal was with the fire and the underwhelming response from Angie’s friends to her return.I have to stick with my 3 star rating on this one and stick with the middle road. Please don’t consider that a negative review. I have to be completely invested in a character and although I felt for Angie, I didn't necessarily connect with her in a way that made me love her. Also, her “friends” annoyed the crap out of me.
avery_21's review against another edition
5.0
I flew through this book! It reads fast and held my attention throughout. This is not just a beautifully written book but a tribute to the resilience of the human mind. I highly recommend this book!!
catlimoo's review against another edition
4.0
This book is very interesting, the storyline moves fast so you won't get bored. I really liked it and the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because that the story is a bit disturbing, like it said in the goodreads review. Because well some parts weren't exactly nice to read and that guy was seriously sick to his core but a good book anyways :)
k3nnedy_writes's review against another edition
2.0
I ate this book up as a teen in 2016, but in retrospect this book seems really problematic in it's representation of survivors and in the disorder the main character is diagnosed with.
_michelle28_'s review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
emtonkin's review against another edition
5.0
AMAZING. Absolutely loved this, it definitely deserves more hype!!