Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
Less taut than Werlin's The Killer's Cousin, this novel nevertheless offers enough cliffhangers to keep readers hooked. Marnie hasn't been able to reach out to anyone since the death of her wealthy superstar mother, Skye ("an ex-gospel singer who'd started her own well, some said it was practically a religion"). Not knowing even her father's identity, her doings supervised by a guardian, Marnie alienates the other girls at her boarding school. Instead of studying, she immerses herself in an Internet strategy game and her one friend, the Elf, remains at a comfortable distance in cyberspace. But when Leah Slaight, a new teacher, kidnaps her in a misguided attempt to prove that she is also Skye's daughter, Marnie must depend on the skills she has learned in her game to save herself. Even beyond this unlikely premise, there is plenty to strain credibility, such as the Elf showing up single-handed to free Marnie (Leah captures him, too), and Marnie emerging a more together person after being locked in a basement for a week. For all the implausibility, the book is entertaining. Marnie's outsiderishness is of the kind that appeals to readers ("At least you match," she thinks, when she realizes the black eye Leah gave her is the same shade as her dress) and her personality is spirited enough to live up to the creative problem-solving Werlin assigns her. Ages 14-up. (Feb.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.
School Library Journal
Gr 6-10
Using the persona of "the Sorceress," 16-year-old Marnie Skydottor, the orphaned child of the famous but mysterious gospel singer/guru Skye, is a loner and an avid role-playing gamer. She spends most of her time at her elite boarding school in her room battling with "the Elf" for dominion over the online kingdom of Paliopolis. But fantasy and reality clash unexpectedly and violently when Marnie is kidnapped by Leah Straight, her unbalanced chemistry teacher, held prisoner, and forced to listen to the woman's fantasy about being related to Skye. When "the Elf" arrives to rescue her, he too is captured and the pair must pit their problem-solving skills against the increasingly twisted logic and paranoia of their jailor. Emily Durante narrates Nancy Werlin's tale (Delacorte, 2000), capturing the essence of Marnie's passive-aggressive personality-self-confident and cocky, yet achingly alienated from those who reach out to her. However, even the excellent narration fails to rescue the story from its unbelievable plot, lack of consistent character development, and stereotypical relationships. Too many threads remain tangled at the end of the story to provide a satisfying listening experience.-Cindy Lombardo, Cleveland Public Library, OH
Midwest Book Review
Nancy Werlin's Locked Inside is one of the most original tales to appear in
some time: a wealthy but spoiled girl is sent to live in an oppressive boarding school after her mother's death, and tries to escape her surroundings via computer games. When she's kidnapped, it may be her ability to play which will make the difference between life and death. Always unexpected and gripping to the end.
From the Publisher
"As she did in The Killer’s Cousin, Werlin offers a compelling thriller that will have readers turning pages." — Booklist
