by L.B. Schulman
Pages: 288
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: October 1, 2012
by Amulet
Goodreads / Amazon
This suspenseful debut follows a group of teenage misfits in their delicious quest for revenge on those who have wronged them at their high school. When a mysterious note appears in Charlotte’s mailbox inviting her to join the League of Strays, she’s hopeful it will lead to making friends. What she discovers is a motley crew of loners and an alluring, manipulative ringleader named Kade. Kade convinces the group that they need one another both for friendship and to get back at the classmates and teachers who have betrayed them. But Kade has a bigger agenda. In addition to vandalizing their school and causing fights between other students, Kade’s real intention is a dangerous plot that will threaten lives and force Charlotte to choose between her loyalty to the League and her own conscience.
*A copy was provided by Amulet for review purposes*
I think I can safely say that I have never read a book like this one. From the cover, I was thinking that this book was a paranormal, but it turns out it’s contemporary. I was surprised by this. But, other than the misleading cover, I though it was a pretty good book.
The idea, the writing, the story line, the staging, everything was there in this book. The idea is one of the most original ones I’ve read of in a long time, the writing was superb, flowing together perfectly, and the story line was really good too. The beginning was a bit iffy to me, but once I got farther into the story I started to enjoy it. I though the staging was really good too. Schulman did a really good job of dropping hints about the “bad guy” (I won’t say his name) and how Charlotte grew to realize the truth. I also love how there was a happy ending. Ok, so it’s not necessarily a happy ending, like when they kiss and ride of into the sunset, more like a satisfying one, because you wanted it to end that way.
This is seriously one of the best casts I’ve seen in a long time. I loved how they were each from different walks of life, each dealing with their own problems, but were still able to be friends.
I will say that from the minute he was introduced, I hated Kade. I just had a feeling. He seemed really dark and evil and just creepy.
Even though in the middle of the book I didn’t really like her, by the end I did enjoy reading about Charlotte. The whole book, when the League was doing horrible, wrong things, I was waiting for her to step in and stop them, and when she didn’t I started to get kind of annoyed, but by the end of the book I liked her again.
Two of the supporting cast-members I really liked: Zoe and Richie. I loved how Zoe went from creepy, scary, look-at-me-and-you-die to nice, pretty, and sociable. I also liked how Richie went from being kind of a door-mat when people made fun of him for being gay to standing up for himself and not taking it anymore.
The one supporting cast member that I don’t like is Nora. I liked her in the beginning, but by the middle of the book I hated her as much as Kade.
Before I sign off I have to go into detail about what I think of this cover. First off, if you hadn’t read this book or the summery and were only looking at the cover, would you say it was a paranormal or contemporary book? If you picked paranormal, that’s what I would pick too. It looks nothing like a contemporary book.
On the other hand, this cover is perfect for this book, because of the actual people getting photographed. The guy looks just like I imagined Kade, and the girl looks just like I imagined Charlotte, so this cover is good and bad at the same time.
The idea, the writing, the story line, the staging, everything was there in this book. The idea is one of the most original ones I’ve read of in a long time, the writing was superb, flowing together perfectly, and the story line was really good too. The beginning was a bit iffy to me, but once I got farther into the story I started to enjoy it. I though the staging was really good too. Schulman did a really good job of dropping hints about the “bad guy” (I won’t say his name) and how Charlotte grew to realize the truth. I also love how there was a happy ending. Ok, so it’s not necessarily a happy ending, like when they kiss and ride of into the sunset, more like a satisfying one, because you wanted it to end that way.
This is seriously one of the best casts I’ve seen in a long time. I loved how they were each from different walks of life, each dealing with their own problems, but were still able to be friends.
I will say that from the minute he was introduced, I hated Kade. I just had a feeling. He seemed really dark and evil and just creepy.
Even though in the middle of the book I didn’t really like her, by the end I did enjoy reading about Charlotte. The whole book, when the League was doing horrible, wrong things, I was waiting for her to step in and stop them, and when she didn’t I started to get kind of annoyed, but by the end of the book I liked her again.
Two of the supporting cast-members I really liked: Zoe and Richie. I loved how Zoe went from creepy, scary, look-at-me-and-you-die to nice, pretty, and sociable. I also liked how Richie went from being kind of a door-mat when people made fun of him for being gay to standing up for himself and not taking it anymore.
The one supporting cast member that I don’t like is Nora. I liked her in the beginning, but by the middle of the book I hated her as much as Kade.
Before I sign off I have to go into detail about what I think of this cover. First off, if you hadn’t read this book or the summery and were only looking at the cover, would you say it was a paranormal or contemporary book? If you picked paranormal, that’s what I would pick too. It looks nothing like a contemporary book.
On the other hand, this cover is perfect for this book, because of the actual people getting photographed. The guy looks just like I imagined Kade, and the girl looks just like I imagined Charlotte, so this cover is good and bad at the same time.
3 pink flowers
I have seen some mixed reviews for this one, I would totally think this one was a paranormal book from it's cover, but I think I might just see what it's all about considering you enjoyed the plot and thought it was new and different. Great review!
ReplyDeleteKristin @ Young Adult Book Haven
Lol I remember seeing this at Goodreads and when I hit the book cover I was like meh, that cover didnt pique my interest and so I ignore it. Glad you enjoyed it atleast. Great review Emily. x
ReplyDeleteficbookreviews