Thursday, January 13, 2011

A Bookanistas Book Review::Three Quarters Dead


Socially invisible sophomore Kerry is grateful when she is chosen to hang with the most legendary trio in school: Natalie, Makenzie, and leader Tanya. Dazzled by their beauty, perfection, and the cool efficiency with which they control their peers’ social lives, Kerry allows the girls to manipulate her until she is completely under their spell. Not even death can stop them, as Kerry learns after the trio dies in a car crash but returns from the grave for one last party. Their reanimation doesn’t throw Kerry, who convinces herself that their deaths were a dream, but she confronts the truth when it becomes clear that their time is limited and that Tanya doesn’t intend to return to death peacefully.

Three Quarters Dead was different than what I normally read, but the way Peck wove suspense into the plot--very subtly--made it hard to put down. Peck is a master of suspense, and it is obvious in reading this book.

What's more, Richard Peck is a very well known writer, an older gentleman (see above photograph--I couldn't find a picture of the book cover!), but he totally got the modern teenage girl voice down!

What I liked about this book: I didn't know Three Quarters Dead was a thriller until I had these unexpected chills racing down my spine. Reading it was like dozing in the sun on a beautiful spring day, only to wake up to dark, totally unexpected thunder clouds brewing overhead.

The Main Character: Kerry could have been me in high school. At lunch, since she has no one to sit with, she pretends to talk on her cell phone the entire time. She's painfully shy, desperate to fit in, and shocked when the popular girls want her to be part of their group.

So, if you're looking for a good read, check it out!

For more reviews, check out these other Bookanistas! And BTW, fellow bookanista and writer, Beth Revis, just released her much anticipated YA novel, Across the Universe. Congrats Beth!

Michelle Hodkin, Carolina Valdez Miller and Shana Silver travel Across the Universe
Elana Johnson and LiLa Roecker celebrate Across the Universe with giveaways

14 comments:

Angela said...

Great review. I'm sure a lot of girls could relate to a main character like that.

Bethany Wiggins said...

I agree, Angela. Thanks for your amazing support and comments. You're the best.

Christine Fonseca said...

unexpected chills...AWESOME!

~Jamie said...

WHOA.

I need to read this book. WOW--what a cool story idea!

Tere Kirkland said...

Wow, this sounds intriguing! Thanks for the great review.

Matthew MacNish said...

SO interesting, that THIS story could be by THAT guy.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Thanks for this review. I haven't heard of Three Quarters Dead, but now I'm dying to read it! :-)

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

I got this at BEA and of course sucked it up. he is made of awesome.

Elana Johnson said...

Great review, Bethany! I can't believe Peck writes teenage girls so perfectly.

Joanne R. Fritz said...

I've read this too, Bethany! Nice job of reviewing it. I prefer Peck's non-thrillers (I'm not much of a thriller fan)like A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way From Chicago, but those are definitely MGs. And Three Quarters Dead is YA. I remember reading this in one sitting. It was that compelling.

Jo Schaffer said...

Sounds amazing. (=

Alleged Author said...

What a great review! I love that you include a review of the main character. :P

Carolina M. Valdez Schneider said...

Sounds like an intriguing read! I think authors who can write the voice of the other gender must be incredibly talented! I'm looking forward to reading this one, especially for the suspense! Great review!

ali cross said...

Great! Thanks for the review!