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Sadie

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'Sadie' by Courtney Summers is a gripping YA novel that follows the story of Sadie, a teenage girl on a mission to avenge her sister's death. The book is structured with dual storylines - one from Sadie's perspective as she embarks on a dangerous journey to find her sister's killer, and the other from the viewpoint of a journalist creating a podcast about Sadie's disappearance. Through these alternating narratives, the reader gets a glimpse into Sadie's harrowing life filled with abandonment, abuse, and the search for justice.

The writing style of 'Sadie' is unique and engaging, utilizing the podcast format to provide additional insights and perspectives into the story. The book delves into dark and serious topics such as drug addiction, sexual abuse, and family dysfunction, offering a thought-provoking and emotionally taut mystery that keeps readers on edge until the end.

Characters:

The characters are complex and nuanced, particularly Sadie, whose resilience and emotional struggles drive the narrative.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style combines a poignant narrative with a unique podcast format, effectively conveying the emotional weight of the story.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers on Sadie's journey to avenge her sister's murder, intertwined with a podcast that explores her disappearance.

Setting:

Set in a small, struggling town, the setting reflects the themes of poverty, neglect, and the harsh realities of Sadie's life.

Pacing:

The pacing is initially slow but picks up significantly as the story unfolds, keeping readers engaged through suspenseful twists.
I’m going to steal the light from his eyes. I want to watch it go out. You aren’t supposed to answer violence with more violence but sometimes I think violence is the only answer. It’s no less than he...

Notes:

Sadie is a 19-year-old girl with a traumatic childhood, raised by a single, addicted mother in a trailer park.
The story alternates between Sadie's perspective and a podcast created by journalist West McCray, exploring her disappearance.
Sadie's younger sister, Mattie, is found murdered, leading Sadie to seek revenge on their mother's ex-boyfriend, Keith, who she believes is responsible.
The book discusses heavy themes including child abuse, drug addiction, and violence against women and children.
It emphasizes the harsh realities faced by young women in a society permeated by misogyny and rape culture.
The narrative style utilizes podcast-like elements to enhance the storytelling, providing a unique reading experience.
Courtney Summers addresses societal issues such as neglect and trauma with sensitivity, avoiding gratuitous depictions of violence.
The audiobook features a full cast and sound design, enhancing the immersive experience of the story.
The ending is intentionally ambiguous, leaving readers with an unsettling sense of unresolved emotions.
Sadie has received critical acclaim and has become a notable work in modern young adult literature, reflecting real-world issues.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for Sadie include themes of child abuse, sexual assault, murder, violence, and drug addiction.

From The Publisher:

"Sadie: a novel for readers of any age, and a character as indelible as a scar. Flat-out dazzling." -A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window

A New York Times bestseller!

An Edgar Award Winner!

Appearing on over 30 Best Book of 2018 lists including The Boston Globe, Bustle, Buzzfeed, Globe and Mail, Good Morning America, NPR, Publishers Weekly, and more!

A YALSA Top 10 Quick Pick

4 Starred Reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal, Booklist, Publishers Weekly!

"Sadie is an electrifying, high-stakes road trip. Clear your schedule. You're not going anywhere until you've reached the end." -Stephanie Perkins, New York Times bestselling author of There's Someone Inside Your House and Anna and the French Kiss

"A haunting, gut-wrenching, and relentlessly compelling read." -Veronica Roth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Carve the Mark and the Divergent series

A missing girl on a journey of revenge. A Serial-like podcast following the clues she's left behind. And an ending you won't be able to stop talking about. Now with special bonus material!

"Today, WNRK is launching the first episode of our new serialized podcast, The Girls, created and hosted by West McCray."

When popular radio personality West McCray receives a desperate phone call from a stranger imploring him to find nineteen-year-old runaway Sadie Hunter, he's not convinced there's a story there; girls go missing all the time. But when it's revealed that Sadie fled home after the brutal murder of her little sister, Mattie, West travels to the small town of Cold Creek, Colorado, to uncover what happened.

Sadie has no idea that her journey to avenge her sister will soon become the subject of a blockbuster podcast. Armed with a switchblade, Sadie follows meager clues hoping they'll lead to the man who took Mattie's life, because she's determined to make him pay with his own. But as West traces her path to the darkest, most dangerous corners of big cities and small towns, a deeply unsettling mystery begins to unfold-one that's bigger than them both. Can he find Sadie before it's too late?

Alternating between Sadie's unflinching voice as she hunts the killer and the podcast transcripts tracking the clues she's left behind, Courtney Summers' Sadie is a breathless thriller about the lengths we go to protect the ones we love and the high price we pay when we can't. It will haunt you long after you reach the final page.

Ratings (51)

Incredible (14)
Loved It (15)
Liked It (8)
It Was OK (9)
Did Not Like (3)
Hated It (2)

Reader Stats (115):

Read It (52)
Want To Read (49)
Did Not Finish (3)
Not Interested (11)

5 comment(s)

Incredible
2 weeks

4.7 stars

I enjoyed reading this book and only had a few minor annoyances. This book made me feel a certain way, and I can understand Sadie. I would reccomend this book.

 
Incredible
2 months

This book left me stunned. It is rich in sister-love, love that transcends the law and leads Sadie to do what she believes must be done for the sister she loves.

I was so moved by the thought of someone who loves you so much, they will go to extremes, they won't accept injustice regarding your health, protection, or life; they will give everything in pursuit of justice for you.

It can be seen from the point of view that vigilante justice is unnecessary and worse, breaks the rule of law. But the law has let Sadie down. She and her sister were so close, they lived in a relationship that transcended society. Sadie does what she has to do for her sister, no matter how people will judge her for it.

It would be incredible to be loved like that.

 
Incredible
3 months

I've never understood the appeal of true crime pods--now I know. I really loved this. The audiobook is definitely the way to go, though--highly recommended. The narrators did an amazing job.

 
Loved It
5 months

honestly i was not expecting for a YA thriller be this heavy or hit this hard

 
Incredible
1 year

I really enjoyed this, and it quickly became pretty much my favorite book. Its an easy read, and also relatively quick- if you like true crime podcasts and plot twists, this is for you. It had me on the edge of my seat, dying to know what was next.

 

About the Author:

Courtney Summers is the bestselling and critically acclaimed author of several novels for young adults, including Cracked Up to Be, All the Rage and Sadie. Her work has been released to multiple starred reviews, received numerous awards and honors-including the Edgar Award, John Spray Mystery Award, Cybils Award and Odyssey Award-and has been recognized by many library, 'Best Of' and Readers' Choice lists. She lives and writes in Canada.

 
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