Dead Girls Society

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - North Yarmouth Academy Library, Yarmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 5, 2017

Review

This YA novel is a page turner with a fantastic plot. The execution of that plot is not perfect, and some of the holes knocked this book from excellent to good, but YA readers will love it. It has suspense, romance, very realistic teenage relationships and behavior, and writing that propels you along. The book is told from Hope Callahan's point-of-view. Hope has CF and has always been the "sick girl". Her mother hovers over her, limiting what she can do. The book starts with a mysterious invitation to Hope to meet at an abandoned warehouse at midnight and is signed "The Society". Normally, Hope would never do something impulsive, not having had the luxury throughout her illness, but sick of feeling like she barely has a life, she goes for it. Turns out four other girls have also been invited and the penalty for not playing is pretty steep (broken bones, a blown-up car); a game of Truth or Dare without the "truth". The girls call themselves the Dead Girls Society because they feel like they can't tell the authorities or back out of the "game" for fear of death. The idea was great and the dares are gripping, the action non-stop. Hope is suspicious of everyone; as a result, so is the reader and pages must be turned to find out if she, and you, are right about who is behind The Society. The problem came at the end of the book as Hope was starting to figure things out, the answer was pretty obvious and the reason had a touch of insanity to it and there were plot holes that never really gelled. But Krys is not afraid to make her crazy, evil characters act accordingly and you weren't quite sure if Hope was going to make it at the end, which was what kept me reading. For fans of E. Lockhart and realistic fiction with a touch of fear.

Overall Book Score: good