Cryer's Cross

by Lisa McMann

Seventeen-year-old Kendall, who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, lives with her parents on a potato farm in a tiny community in Montana, where two teenagers go missing within months of each other, with no explanation.

• ISBN10: 1416994815
• ISBN13: 9781416994817
• Publish Date: 8 February 2011
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Imprint: Simon Pulse
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 240
• Language: English

Reviews

[alisoninbookland]

The contemporary fiction part of the story (missing kids and how those left behind are coping) was decent and interesting.

The paranormal/horror part of the story was lackluster.

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[nannah]

Wow, this is a little book!

I'm always wary of books that take place in small towns because most of the time the authors live in larger towns or big cities and have no idea how creepy small towns really are--and they write small towns like "how could this happen in our lovely little small town??"

But anyway, Cryer's Cross is a book with so much potential. So much. Its protagonist, Kendall, has OCD and isn't treated poorly by the author! In fact, her OCD is what saves her in the end! Talk about a happy ending. The diversity isn't done there, because several other main characters are latin@, and written well, besides.

However, it's just so . . . short. And written so poorly. Now I'm not trying to make a personal stab at Lisa McMann (this is the first book of hers I've read), but her writing is extremely juvenile and purely functional. I wish everything in this book was expanded upon and made more vibrant!

I did end up getting involved in the story, and I ended up loving the characters, but there's nothing particularly stand-out about this book and nothing really scary about it, either.

[lizarodz]

One word to describe this novel: creepy. I read the Wake series by Ms. McMann which I enjoyed (except for 'Gone'.) When I saw that she was publishing another novel, I was willing to give it a try, and I am glad I did. I normally read a lot of paranormal and sometimes these books are a bit mysterious and action packed, but I try not to read scary books (or watch scary movies.) Its a little hard to explain the book without giving away too much, but I'll do my best.

This novel contains a mix of topics, the most prominent is the fact that Kendall has OCD. It was very interesting to be in her head, so to speak. The way her mind works and the numerous compulsions that seem to dominate every waking moment were both fascinating and eye opening to me. It is a testament to Ms. McManns writing that I was able to identify with Kendall. Another topic is the one of losing a loved one, and in a community as small as Cryer's Cross, it is a tremendous loss that affects a lot of people. The relationship between Jacián and Kendall was believable since it wasn't instantaneous, and although Jacián was not too lovable at the beginning of the novel, by the end I was halfway in love with him myself.

You must be thinking, 'what is so creepy about OCD, losing a loved one and romance'? I am getting to that part, I promise. The disappearances on the book are a combination of long past evil and the search for revenge and freedom that makes the missing people do horrifying things. Between chapters there will be a part that was somewhat scary and confusing (it all makes sense at the end though.) I wish I could say more, but I really don't want to spoil the book for you.

If you haven't read a book by Ms. McMann before, she was a unique writing style, it is unadorned and straightforward and done in third person, but from the point of view of the protagonist. Overall, a fast and easy read.

About the cover: Again, creepy. The desk is a key 'character' in the novel, so it is very appropriate. The play of light and darkness gives you the impression of mystery and secrets.