What Happened to Cass McBride?

Starred review from November 13, 2006
From the first paragraph, Giles's (Shattering Glass
) story grabs readers' attention, and doesn't let go: "She's dead, isn't she? If she was alive, I wouldn't be handcuffed to a table in an interview room. You'd take her statement before you'd come at me for a confession, right?" Kyle Kirby blames Cass McBride for his younger brother's suicide, and exacts a terrible revenge: he kidnaps 17-year-old Cass from her house, and buries her alive, with a walkie-talkie so he can upbraid her, while she tries to outthink her captor. Alternating chapters in the teens' first-person narrative, with an interspersing of chapters from detective Ben Grey's perspective, build the suspense, as the detective races to discover Cass's whereabouts before it's too late. At times, the chapters can be confusing, as they skip back and forth between past and present. But the dialogue between Cass and Kyle, and their thoughts, make for compelling reading. The two teens must confront some unpleasant truths about themselves and the events that led to David's suicide, and they also come to a better understanding of each other. Giles does a terrific job of creating two well-rounded characters, and of withholding the outcome of Cass's fate until the very end. Readers will be riveted. Ages 15-up.

February 1, 2007
Gr 9 Up-Cass is that girl in high school who does whatever it takes to be popular-which means stomping all over everyone else. David is that awkward boy who painfully lurks on the outside of all of the social groups. When he commits suicide, his older brother is out for revenge against the girl whom he believes is responsible for David's death. Giles's characters are frighteningly believable. The story is part mystery, part psychological drama that involves dysfunctional families and abuse, and part crime investigation. It is told by Cass, her captor, and the police investigating her disappearance. Slowly, through these narrations, readers see what caused David's suicide and Kyle's anger and are given insight as to why Cass behaves as she does. This book will disturb readers, frighten them, and make them feel as though they are trapped like the characters. It is a thrilling, one-sitting read that they won't be able to put down."Sherry Quinones, Frederick County Public Libraries, MD"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2007
What happened to Cass McBride? Well, she has been buried alive by Kyle Kirby, who blames her for his brother David's suicide. After asking Cass out, David finds a note she leaves for a friend in which she laughs about an invitation from someone so low on the food chain. Then David hangs himself. Told in alternating voices, including that of a police officer, this intense story has some horrifying moments; readers will feel as terrorized as Cass as she struggles to survive, both physically and mentally. At the same time, there are plenty of psychological thrills as Cass tries to win her release by outwitting Kyle. In the teens' dialogues, it becomes clear that both have parents who have withheld love, and the brothers, especially David, have suffered extreme verbal abuse. The depiction of Kyle's mother goes over the top, but overall this packs a wallop. Readers won't forget David's suicide note, pinned to his skin: "Words are teeth.And they eat me alive. Feed on my corpse instead."(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)