Book
Summary:
A distraught
young man kidnaps Cass McBride after his brother David commits suicide. Kyle is determined to torture Cass the way
his brother was tortured by her rejection, so Kyle buries Cass alive. He tapes
a walkie talkie to her hand, so that she can communicate with him. For 48 hours, Cass and Kyle drill each other over
what really caused David to kill himself. The truth shocks and disturbs Kyle and Cass.
APA Reference of the Book:
Giles, G. (2006). What
happened to Cass McBride? Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company.
Impressions:
Gail
Giles presents this story in an interesting way. The story begins with the detectives
questioning Kyle for kidnapping Cass.
The chapters are very short and are written from the lead detective Ben’s
point of view as he investigates the case, as well as Cass’ and Kyle’s point of
view. Kyle’s chapter are written as he
is being questioned by Ben, and Cass’ chapters are written while she is trapped
inside a wooden box in a shallow grave. I
finished this book in one day.
Immediately, I was hooked and vested in the characters’ story. Cass’
last chapter completely stunned me. I
was not expecting the book to end the way it did. As a reader, I did not feel any compassion
for the characters because Cass and Kyle were so flawed, but I loved the way
Giles divulges their story and their family lives. As a reader, I felt Cass and Kyle did create
a twisted connection based on David’s death and their negligent parents. Although Cass and Kyle do not want to share similar
personality traits, they realize that they have things in common.
Reviews:
From Bulletin of the
Center for Children’s Books-
In this tripartite narrative, Kyle Kirby is being
interrogated by the cops, the police are trying to find teen queen Cass
McBride, and Cass is contemplating her dilemma: she's been placed in a crate
and buried underground by Kyle, who has left her with a walkie-talkie through
which he can taunt her. It soon becomes clear that Kyle is punishing Cass for
the death by suicide of his younger brother, David, who hanged himself after
finding a disparaging note about him from Cass, who had turned him down for a date;
Cass, who's acquired master wheeler-dealer skills from her manipulative father,
maneuvers Kyle into realizing that it wasn't Cass but the evil and dismissive
Mrs. Kirby who pushed David to suicide, but will that be enough to save her
before her oxygen runs out? This is an arresting premise, recalling Lois Duncan
with its suspense and readability (short chapters, with point of view
differentiated by typeface and title, make this particularly inviting to
reluctant readers), and there's an interesting exploration of the character of
Cass, a girl who's genuinely taking stock of her unquestioned drive to get
ahead at all costs even as it's helping her survive. The writing is uneven,
though, with the police sections particularly flat and stilted; Mrs. Kirby is a
psychologically simplistic villain and Kyle fairly predictable, while Cass'
iron will is so much in the forefront throughout the book that her post-release
breakdown and reformation seem out of character. This will nonetheless be an
easy booktalk, and fans of the author's Shattering Glass (BCCB 5/02) will likely forgive the
deficits here to enjoy the psychological thrills.
Stevenson, D. (December 2006). [Review of What
Happened to Cass McBride? by Gail Giles.] Bulletin of the Center for
Children’s Books 60(4), 171. Available from Project Muse at http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2124/article/206516
In the Library:
This book would make a great book talk book. As a librarian, I could assign groups of
students David’s, Cass’, or Kyle’s character and have them present or argue the
character’s traits, accusations, and role in David’s suicide. One
group could cover Detective Ben’s role as the lead investigator. The theme of the book is revenge, so students
could have a mock trial and put Cass or Kyle on the stand and decide how the
jury or judge would rule in the case.
Also, there is the element of bullying presented in the story, so groups
could discuss how to prevent bullying and verbal abuse and identify ways to
stop or get help in bullying or abusive situations. In the back of the book,
there are reading guide questions. These questions could be used in a class
discussion.
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