Bad Girls Don’t Die
By Katie Alender
ISBN: 978-1423108771
Publisher: Hyperion
Date of Publication: 2010
Reader’s Annotation:
Alexis Warren discovers that her sister might be working with something supernatural, something that wants revenge.
Plot Summary:
Alexis Warren isn’t known for fitting in at her high school. Alexis would rather be behind her camera than be part of school activities, such as decorating the gym for the Homecoming Banquet. But Alexis is used to being the outcast. When her best friend, Beth, was publicly humiliated, thanks to some mean-spirited cheerleaders, Alexis struck back with the intention of protecting Beth and her reputation. Beth eventually moved away, leaving Alexis to fend for herself.
Nowadays, Alexis reluctantly spends more time with her younger sister, Kasey. Lately, Kasey has been acting strange. First there’s the “accident” where Kasey’s friend breaks her arm. Then there’s the voices that seem to linger in the middle of the night and the strange lights in the attic. Alexis wakes up in the middle of the night to find her arms are scattered with little cuts.
Alexis fears that something is controlling Kasey. It’s up to Alexis to find the truth and save her family from the danger inside the house.
Critical Evaluation:
While it’s obvious from the book’s title this novel is about something undead, the mystery behind the supernatural encounter is still gripping and terrifying. Alender succeeds in creating characters that showcase both positive and negative qualities. Alexis is not perfect and is willing to admit she’s made mistakes in the past. The supporting cast of characters that help Alexis in this mystery are well-written additions to the story and don’t detract from Alexis’s search for answers.
There are some cliches scattered through the book that will induce some eye rolls, especially from hardcore horror fans. An example of this would be with Alexis and Kasey’s parents, who never seem to listen or be around when they are needed.
Alender has created a very scary book, despite those little cliches. As the bigger mystery begins to emerge, Alender succeeds in building great tension towards the climax of the book. Readers will find the story moves fast and is well paced. A great suggestion for those looking for stories outside of the paranormal romance genre.
Information about the author:
From Katie Alender’s Webpage, Alender is a graduate of Florida State Univeristy Film School. She currently lives with her husband in Los Angeles. Alender has worked in televisions, specifically with the Animal Planet channel. She is now a full-time writer.
Katie Alender on Twitter
Katie Alender on Facebook
Genre:
Horror/Thriller, Mystery/Crime
Curriculum Ties:
Ghost Stories
Booktalking Ideas:
Have you ever heard voices in your home that don’t sound familiar?
How can the past affect future generations?
Reading Level/Interest Age:
Kirkus Reviews suggests an age range of 13-18.
Challenging Issues:
There are no current challenges for this book. The American Library Association’s Guide to Library Materials Challenges is a great resource if the book is challenged in the future.
Why did I include this book in the title selections?
I was looking to expand my genre knowledge and picked this book up on a whim. Beyond paranormal romance books, I’ve noticed that there aren’t too many modern ghost stories. At least since I’ve been a teen myself. I enjoyed the story and thought this would be a fun recommendation.
Reference:
Alender, K. (n.d.). Bio. Retrieved from http://katiealender.com/?page_id=378
Kirkus Reviews. (2010). Bad Girls Don’t Die. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/katie-alender/bad-girls-dont-die/
Bonus Features!
Mini Review!
Bad Girls Don’t Die Series
That Small Reading Addiction 