Friday, April 17, 2009

Bad Girls Don't Die Review

Bad Girls Don't Die - Katie Alender

Alexis Warren thought her life was a typical kind of dysfunctional - her parents have marriage troubles, she's having a hard time finding her niche in high school, and her thirteen-year-old sister Kasey has a creepy doll obsession.

After a bonding session with her little sister, Alexis's life sprials from typical dysfunctional to mysteriously dangerous. Kasey's erratic and unpredicatable behaviour is starting to get seriously freaky - random eye colour changes, odd old-fashioned laguage usage, and not remembering events. And why is the house acting so glitchy too?

Alexis wants to blieve it's all in her head, but when the inexplicable events turn life-threatening, Alexis knows she's the only person who can stop Kasey; but what if that green-eyed girl isn't even Kasey anymore?


In Bad Girls Don't Die, Katie Alender
has spun a chilling tale. Alexis is an intriguing character - seemingly sterotypical at first, but after delving into her personality and throughout the course of the novel, she's animated, unique, and defies classification. A spunky rebel with pink hair and a flair for photography, her snarky and at times slightly sarcastic tone provides an amusing narration.

"To me, taking digital pictures is like finding something. But working with film is like making something." - Alexis Warren (Alender 88, ARC edition).

I don't know, Alexis - being one who works mainly in digital, I'd say that with post-processing and whatnot, digital photography can be making something too. ;) Alexis holds appeal, drawing in the reader with her quirky imperfections, making her all that more realistic. (That, and the fact that I've had pinkish/red hair at one point too.) In fact, I kind of wish I had the guts to go around sticking bumper stickers on the teachers' cars in the lot as well.

Overall, characterization throughout the novel was consistently beautifully done. Megan, Kasey, her parents - all hold attributes that we can all probably relate to, on some level at least. Carter is dreamy and a geniunely nice guy - the kind which [female] readers will definitely wish they knew, and [male] readers would want to be. Alender's impeccable skill in characterization definitely comes to light upon closer inspection of how her characters seem to fit the typical sterotypes at first - the cheerleader, the rebel misfits, the overachieving nice guy - but as the story progresses they come out of the woodwork and show how they transcend these flat classifications.

Personally I would have liked to see a big more sha-bam in the argument advertised in the teaser on the back of the book, a little more action in the climax, and a little more development in Carter and Alexis's relationship, but Bad Girls Don't Die manages to take on enough of a timeless quality that it's pretty much negligible.

Now, Bad Girls Don't Die - ghost story, right? Wrong. It's that, but it's also so much more. Sure, because of that paranormal aspect there are things involved that can't be avoided; but Alender has managed to put a unique spin on it through plot twists and beautiful characterization. Diction choice was well done, and credible. So what else is Bad Girls Don't Die? Well, it's definitely chockful of mystery. And this is definitely a well woven one - it keeps you guessing and tosses in red herrings - all in a setting that could very well be next-door.

With great flow, beautiful characterization and intriguing mystery, Bad Girls Don't Die is definitely an April release to be checked out. If you scare easily, unless you plan on finishing the novel in its entireity, I suggest not starting late at night. Whoosh. The book transcends classification as much as its characters transcend sterotypes - a brilliant debut for Alender.

*Bad Girls Don't Die will be released by Hyperion on April 21st, 2009.



18 comments:

Katie Alender said...

Oh, Deltay, what a wonderful review! I'm so flattered.

And yes, I shoot digital, too. ;-) Maybe in a sequel, Alexis will get her hands on a nice DSLR and open her mind a little.

Thank you so much. I'm so glad you liked BGDD.

Marie said...

wow- awesome trailer, awesome review... i can't wait to read this one!

Jen said...

I really like that trailer! I can't wait to read this ^_^

Emilia Plater said...

Nice trailer.
Do the film pictures come into play with... capturing ghosts? ahah.

Steph Su said...

I recently read this too and really enjoyed it as well! Great review. :)

deltay said...

Katie - Thanks! I'm flattered that you liked my review ;) Ooh, a sequel would be sweet; so much could happen, tons of potential! Thanks for the book :)

cupcakewitch - Thanks! It's a great one, you'll enjoy it :)

Jen - I really like the trailer too :) Not much waiting left, comes out in less than a week now.

Emilia - It is a great one, isn't it? Haha... you'll have to wait and find out ;)

Steph - Haha, yeah, I think I saw it in your Currently Reading section. Thanks :)

Aimee said...

I put this book on the shelf at work today and couldn't help but read the back of it. It sounds super creepy. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it. Thanks for posting that trailer, it was pretty awesome!

Kate at Read This Book! said...

I seriously must read this book!!! I hope it gets here soon. :)

Race said...

Awesome trailer. Great review, Deltay.

Kay said...

Really good review, it looks like one to check out!

I'm planning on applying next year, to do English (coincidentally ha). We can all live in hope...

deltay said...

Aimee - It is quite creepy - I finished the last part in daylight ;) I really like the trailer too!

Kate - It's a great read. :) Are you waiting for it to arrive?

Race - Thanks!

Kay - Thanks, it is :)
Oh, English! Nice, I'm actually considering that as well. Hope indeed :)

Diana Dang said...

Great review =)

Anonymous said...

HELP!!! What is Carter's last name?????

Anonymous said...

PLEASE I NEED HELP!!!! WHAT IS CARTER'S LAST NAME????

Anonymous said...

OMG,i loved this bok,it was AMAZING.so my sister read and and was lik "omg jamie,u got 2 read it,its great"and oi hate reading so i told her no,but then i had a book reort coming up and i had no books 2 read so i decided to read this,and im glad i did.it was the best book in the world.i recomended it to every1 i no,and i wanna recamended it 2 u,so please read it,and u will go on a lil journy,and u will b differnt and happy u did

Anonymous said...

carter's last name is blume

Anonymous said...

I loved your blog. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

I really want to read the book but I'm afraid that it is too scary for me!! I love this tipe of books but I'm really easy to scare couse I'm too sensitive! :-(

But is amazing for sure!

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