Synopsis: You can’t get into St Jude’s Academy unless you’re gifted, talented and supremely rich. New girl Alyssa is on a scholarship and feels like an outsider - she's not even that smart, apart from her photographic memory (and that's cheating, right?). Then one day her room-mate Lily is found floating face down in the lake. It looks like suicide, but, torn apart with guilt and grief, Alyssa is convinced that things aren't as they seem. Soon a jolted memory puts her on the trail of a sinister secret that might hold the clues to Lily's suspicious death. But Alyssa is in too deep, and she's being watched . . .
The first in a brand-new YA series, perfect for fans of The Gallagher Girls.
The Review:
I`m not going to be very honest right now. I love to read books which come under Crime (genre), My first novel in this genre was Nancy Drew and after that, I became obsessed with books and reading. Malory Towers was another of my firsts' but more on that later.
Crime is a genre which contains books full of suspense, mystery and someone or the other guilty. You are forced to hold on to that book for hours. This book by Lucy Carver is similar to the description of the genre. It's a good book, good mystery. I loved how the author included a little history in there, whether all she mentioned about Hitler and the Nazis was just a work of fiction or truth, I didn't check. But, what keeps you glued to the book is the character, Alyssa's determination, also can be termed as stubbornness to find out who killed her roommate/ friend and dumped her in the lake. Certainly Lucy Carver thought one mystery isn't enough for our readers, so after a few chapters a new bomb is dropped and you will gasp! I guarantee you will. If not after this bomb is dropped certainly you will have to stop reading and try to catch your breath when you come to Chapter 13 (yup, the unlucky number holds a surprise) .
Another thing I liked about this book was that, it wasn't confusing and trashy or lame. I loved the plot since I`m a bit of a sucker for History but even if you are not the revelation of the psycho killer will catch you off guard. The times Alyssa fought against people, stood up for her friend, kissed a guy (here is some good news, you are welcome!) is all genuine. There is nothing too dramatic to make you roll your eyes and say "Pfft! Like as if that ever happens. Grow up" . The words used in the book were new to me. Many of them. Again, my highlighter was close at hand but not for the quotes or lines, but for the
Whether you love Crime, mystery, a little (very little) romance or not, I would still recommend this book. I`m happy I bought this and you will be too. It's a very good YA novel, in my opinion. Give it a shot.
Quotes and Lines I liked:
Nihil sed optimus meaning Nothing but the best.
"Does a psychopath have to have a reason?" Jack wondered.
Praise for the book:
By Becca Jayne (Pretty Little Memoirs)
Young, Gifted and Dead is an impressive debut which explores many contemporary issues whilst delivering a fast-moving, edgy and absorbing whodunit. (Lancashire Evening Post)
Within those pages was a hidden gem (The Guardian Children's Books)
A fun read! (nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.co.uk)
The book is full of suspense and Alyssa is a brilliant and slightly kooky narrator... [the story] is well-constructed and filled with enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing (The School Librarian)
But there's nothing predictable about Lucy Carver's characters or her plot... [and what] turns out to be a rattlingly good climax. (crimereview.co.uk)
X Happy Reading Folks! X
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