Synopsis: Alexis thought she led a typically dysfunctional high school existence. Dysfunctional like her parents’ marriage; her doll-crazy twelve-year-old sister, Kasey; and even her own anti-social, anti-cheerleader attitude. When a family fight results in some tearful sisterly bonding, Alexis realizes that her life is creeping from dysfunction into danger. Kasey is acting stranger than ever: her blue eyes go green sometimes; she uses old-fashioned language; and she even loses track of chunks of time, claiming to know nothing about her strange behavior. Their old house is changing, too. Doors open and close by themselves; water boils on the unlit stove; and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough to see their breath in. Alexis wants to think that it’s all in her head, but soon, what she liked to think of as silly parlor tricks are becoming life-threatening-to her, her family, and to her budding relationship with the class president. Alexis knows she’s the only person who can stop Kasey — but what if that green-eyed girl isn’t even Kasey anymore?
Review: I didn’t know too much about Bad Girls Don’t Die going into the book, and I liked it that way, because the story unveiled itself to me as I read it, and I read it all in one sitting! It was a bit shorter than some of the other books I have read recently, but the story it packed was powerful, thrilling and solid.
As the synopsis indicates this book is about ghosts and possession. And at times it was very creepy! Kasey did and said things that just well.. frightened me at times. I won’t go into what she does since it’s a spoiler if I do.
I don’t know if I love Alexis’ character. I liked her, but I didn’t feel a very strong bond with her. If anything, I would say I felt more strongly about Megan and Carter. Alexis’ was so guarded and tough, and wouldn’t let anyone in. She would constantly have sarcastic remarks and cut people with her words whenever they tried to get close to her. And maybe that’s why I didn’t feel close to her as a reader… maybe I wasn’t meant to feel close to her?
Megan I felt bad for. This girl has had such a tragic life, and yet she remains strong and willing to fight to make things right again. I wanted for Alexis to stop shutting her down and just become her friend. Carter I think is someone I wish liked me when I was in high school. lol He was persistent, but in all the right ways, and not in the annoying stalker type ways. He too has a sad story and I felt bad for him at points in this story. I just wanted for things to work out well for him and Alexis - even if she wanted to fight her feelings for him for the most part.
The story line itself was clever. Little bits and pieces are given to you, and towards the end of the book, it all comes together and it all fits, and you have that “ah huh” moment when it all comes together. I loved the back story behind the haunting too.
The writing style itself was very fluid, and as I said, I read this all in one sitting… it was just such a page turner, and honestly, I just wanted to find out what happened in the end, so Katie Alender definitely did something right when writing this book!
Rating: 4 out of 5
