What Happened to Cass McBride?

Reviewed by Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius" for TeensReadToo.com

Holy Cow! That was, literally, what I said to myself after turning the last page of Gail Giles's newest release, WHAT HAPPENED TO CASS MCBRIDE? Although I've read many of the author's books in the past, I have to say that I think this one, even more than SHATTERING GLASS or PLAYING IN TRAFFIC, is my new favorite.

The plot is pretty straight-forward; is, in fact, told pretty matter-of-factly on the inside cover. Something bad has happened to pretty, popular Cass McBride. Something that involves Kyle Kirby, and his younger brother, David, who just happens to be dead. That much you'll get right away. What you won't get, until you start reading the book, is that this is a psychological thriller that will have you flipping pages like a madman (or woman).

It's actually hard to tell readers about the storyline of this book without giving too much away. Let's just say that David Kirby has committed suicide, Cass feels slightly responsible, and Kyle is sure Cass is to blame. What happens because of those three circumstances is something unexpected, something that, due to the author's vivid writing and imagination, will leave you breathless.

WHAT HAPPENED TO CASS MCBRIDE? is a glimpse into many different points of view. That of Cass McBride herself, who has had a pretty strange upbringing and doesn't even realize it until Kyle Kirby takes matters into his own hands. Then there's Kyle himself, a young man who has had the type of childhood you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. Then there's the police detective, Ben, who has his own story to tell, and ones to listen to. And although we don't really get to hear David Kirby tell his story (he is, after all, quite dead), we learn about a boy who never really even had a chance.

This is a great book for all lovers of a good thriller, although I wouldn't recommend it for very young teens. That said, however, this is the perfect book for a reluctant reader, as the short chapters, fresh dialogue, and snappy writing style keep you moving right along. This is another must-read from author Gail Giles!

8 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

Olal

Im putting five stars cause the comments r good.... havent read it yet though...













XD

2 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

book/boylover=0

OH MY GOD! such,such a beatiful book! I was simply breath taken by this story the way that Gail captured the emotions of this book was just amazing! It made me cry for David and I had this stong desire to jump in the book and save him. Cass made me just wanna look in the mirror and realize how vain I can be This book changed me to think about what I say to people and look at the damage you can cause someone by what you say, the emotion I feel for tihs book is so passionate! loved this book I cant even think of a word to describe how happy I am that bought it! what happend to cass mcbride is powerful beatiful and simply breathtaking....

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Buried Alive!

Cass McBride is a rich snobby girl who gets whatever she wants. Her father is a big money maker and her mom is shy and quiet. Her parents get divorced. Her father gives her anything she wants. At school, David Kirby, a boy who has no self confidence, walks up to Cass and asks her to be his girlfriend. Cass says she has way too many things to do then to hang out with him. In English class she writes a dirty note about hating David. David finds out and commits suicide. Later that day, Cass crawls into bed and about to fall asleep for the night. When she wakes up, she is in another strangle eerie place. She tries to get up from her lying down position, but she can¿t because something hard is on top of her. She wonders where she is at. Cass definitely knows she is not in her bed. She starts to scream and pounding on the floor. She feels around which she thinks is the ground below her. Cass learns from what is surrounding her that she is in a place where only certain people are. Where is she? What will happen to her? The events of the book were so detailed. I also liked how the book flowed from the beginning to the end. I didn¿t like how they kept on switching to another person. I wish it stayed on Cass¿s point of view. I didn¿t like how there was so much language. The author didn¿t develop David¿s mom and dad. This book reminds me of the television shows CSI and NCIS. The book and the shows are adventurous, frightening, and all over the place. The book makes you want to keep reading it and it will.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A must read!!

This book is definitely a good read! It goes by very fast and the story has you on the end of your seat. Its an easy read and the story line is absolutely facasinating. The book gives a strong message of how important popularity in high school is and about teens dealing with family problems. This is such a good book and I recommend everyone to read it I promise you wont regret it. Great book, great story, and an easy read. I advise you read it. :)

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Book review:)

Cass McBride
Cass is a very pretty Jouinor in high school. Always wears the latest clothes, her fashion styles spread like an illness.
Her importances in life are to be the best, and prove her self to her divorced parents.
Cass has a very good way of over coming things by using her way of words to get into peoples heads and 'fool' them.
In this book Cass learns to be careful with what she says to people because she doesn't know where they come from in their home-life. 
This book doesn't give much information about how her life went after she was found. but during im pretty sure she changed her ways of thinking of people that she hasn't even met before. Also i believe she changed her path of life, knowing she has everything and some people have nothing.

This book had a very strong theme of really knowing who you are and who other people are. this influenced Cass because she had everything and she never realized other people until she was in a box under ground. Although she didn't really tell kyle about what she was feeling after they talked she sure thought about him a lot. 
I think this book should go on best sellers because i truly goes into the mind to get you thinking about other people and there lives. how you might have everything and they have nothing. Also it goes into your mind and showing you that you should be really careful about what you say because things spread around and it will beat the heart of someone yo talk rude about. This book is like a lesson book. Be careful what you say or you will be under ground in a box.:)

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

What Happened To Cass Mcbride is a very thrilling book

If you are looking for a book that is very suspenseful, then this is the book for you. I am in 7th grade and I have had to read a horror novel for a class project... as I looked for a book, I wanted a trilling book! It so happened I got 4 books that night, all being boring. The next day I went back and said "I want something really really scary" The teacher went right over to the young adult section and pulled out, What Happened to Cass McBride? Because the project was due soon I took the book and brought the book home and read at least half of it! It is a book that is very thrilling and suspenseful. As I read the book I did notice many swears. So this book is not the best book for kids. But as a middle schooler it was amazing!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

must check it out

a great suspense novel, you will love all of the surprises, i know i did. i could not wait until the next page to find out what happened. anyone teen and adult will enjoy this book. i am so glad i got it. you will not be disappointed, if you are write me and let me know why.

7th Grader

OMG! i cant beileve how exciting this book was! It made me feel like i was in an episode of law and order SUV or a Lifetime movie! I loved it!!!!!!

To umm...

How do you know that was a girl?

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Awesome!

Thrilling story. Couldn't put it down!

Hehe.

Im sitting in class and there's nothing else tooo do, so sure? BLEH.

0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Great..

... Until the end. That's why I am giving it 4 stars. It was a great page turner & a quick read, but the end I feel could have been written a little better.

Had So Much Potential

What Happened To Cass McBride? did not live up to the exciting reviews from popular suspense authors on the back of the book. Cliché ridden and just too short, I was very disappointed with the way this book turned out. It could have been so great. I'm giving this book 2 stars just for the plot.

great

i love this book! It has a really amazing storyline.... overall it's just reakly, really good!

IT WAS AN OK BOOK

this was an ok book,nothing too exciting, at least not for me. It was a fast paced and easy read,I'm sure most will like it. Kyle's little brother David has comitted suicide and Kyle is looking for someone to blame. He blames it on Cass McBride,the popular girl at school(whom David asked out and was turned down by), and kidnaps her. The police go to all her family and friends to learn about who Cass is and why someone would kidnap her. Meanwhile Kyle has seeked his revenge by burying Cass alive. They soon get to talking and Kyle discovers it's not Cass fault but someone elses the whole time.

Samona's reveiw on "What happened to Cass McBride

This story was over all very instresing. You would never think this world would be this crazy to bury someone alive. I do think the author could have did a little better at writing it. You would the same word over and over again in the same chapter. Other than that the book was pretty good a little confusing but good.

Fast paced and thrilling!

This book was so exciting! I read it in one sitting. I love how the story unfolds from different characters's point of views. Cass, the character I though I would hate, ended up being the one rooted for. The language in What Happened to Cass McBride is so descriptive, you feel like you are there in the novel! Overall I loved this book and it was amazing.

Fabulous!

Caught my attention right away and kept it through to the end. Fantastic ending.

HannahG

After writing a mean, spiteful note about David Kirby, Cass McBride learns that David killed himself. Believing the letter to be the reason for David's suicide, David's older brother, Kyle, finds Cass, kidnaps her, and buries her alive. Scary!
On a scale between one and ten (one being the lowest, ten the highest) I would give What Happened to Cass McBride? a nine. At some places in the book, I was a little confused about what was going on, but I think the confusion was what the author was trying to create. Each chapter came from a different character's point of view, making the story more exciting because you could see each character's purpose and motivation. What Happened to Cass McBride? was suspenseful. It had mystery- you never know exactly why David Kirby killed himself until the end if the book. It also had reversal- Cass McBride's life was perfect until she wrote that malicious note, and then she was buried alive. I loved What Happened to Cass McBride? because as it went on, the plot got faster and more thrilling right until the very end.