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On May 3, Kimberly McCreight released her Young Adult debut, The Outliers, with a division of HaperCollins. While not as spine-tingling as her previous novel, Reconstructing Amelia, it has an intensity all its own that teens will love.
Wylie and her best friend Cassie are on the outs. Wylie has been having a hard time watching Cassie self-destruct with drugs, alcohol and boys. She hasn’t heard from her in over a week when she gets the text, “Please, Wylie, I need your help.” It’s all Wylie needs to hear to jump into action to save the girl she’s loved since grade school.
In a twist, Cassie’s boyfriend, Jasper, shows up on Wylie’s doorstep claiming he’s there to help. Is he involved? Can they find Cassie before it’s too late? How deep has she gotten herself in this time and how much danger are Wylie and Jasper in for trying to help?
The story is a heart-pounding mystery as we try to figure out exactly what has happened to Cassie. What’s the truth behind her disappearance? The book delves into the love between friends and family and the building of trust. Every step gets Wylie and Jasper deeper into the mess. So deep, we wonder if they’ll ever get out.
This is the first of a series and while the book ties up a number of loose ends, it also ends on a cliff-hanger. We can’t help but wonder what will happen to the characters in the next book.
Kimberly McCreight knows how to build suspense and her Young Adult novel proves different only in that the intensity level is somewhat diminished. Maybe she figures teens need a little more security. Even without the high level of devastation, the book has its heart-wrenching moments and is well worth the read.