Representation: N/A?
Trigger warnings: Death of a parent, grief and loss depiction
Score: Six points out of ten.

Looking back at this, when I read this long ago, I was expecting an intriguing read by an Australian author to boot, but unfortunately, this didn't live up to that, and I highly doubt that I would pick this up again. This author has written other books that I might enjoy. I liked this book at first until the main character became an empty shell, the plot dragged, and the mystery went nowhere. She did many reckless things like lying, skipping detention and counselling, and stealing. This novel left me feeling that it could've been better, and I'm surprised that it was shortlisted. Before that, she was just a heartless "prankster" who goes out of her way to ruin people's lives. I think it's part of a feud between two schools, but I don't know how it started. Maybe she was cold and heartless all along. In the last part of the book, there is a huge plot twist where Hannah Holt is alive, William Dean is framed, and Dominic is the killer! Wow! But the ending fizzled out, so I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, but if you're looking for a book about grief or mystery, try Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley or Cop and Robber by Tristan Bancks and both of them I enjoyed more than this. ( )

Grace Foley believes that a girl, Hannah Holt, who disappeared 23 years ago has contacted her and wants her to solve the mystery of her disappearance. Grace's own mother, killed as she was crossing a road two years ago, was in Hannah's class at school so Grace feels a connection.

Grace has never fully got over her mother's death. Other teenagers suggest that Grace's mother committed suicide by deliberately walking into the path of the truck. Grace's father then gave up their farm and they moved into town. Things have never seemed right for Grace ever since.

This is a challenging YA crime fiction novel as Grace kicks against her life. Set in a fictional Australian rural town (Victoria I think). Compelling reading. ( )

It took me a long time to get into this book. Originally, the blurb intrigued me, but once I started reading it wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I didn't find the main character, Grace, very likeable at all. I kind of wanted to punch her. I get that she has a lot going on, and being a teenager just makes everything worse, but I still didn't like her. The main plot of the book wasn't bad and I did enjoy the supernatural theme, but there were definitely pieces that just didn't seem to fit. I wasn't sure of the genre either. I was expecting a supernatural thriller but found it was more a YA mystery with a supernatural twist. Not that it was a bad thing, just not what was expected. I wish there would have been more excitement throughout the entire book, rather than simply towards the end. It would have made it more enjoyable. I did love that twist though! The writing style did keep me going and I definitely kept me wanting to know how it would all play out. All in all, the book wasn't bad but it wasn't great. For me anyway. I think I will keep an eye out for this author. I see a lot of promise here.

*I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review* ( )

Not bad. For older readers. Thought this would be about mental illness but it is more about the supernatural. Grace is part of a small town pack from the local high school "Swannies' that compete against the local Catholic kids "Hearts" in all teenage comps. including the infamous quarry cross where the fastest time across a disused mining quarry on flimsy girders wins. It is after Grace freezes in mid-cross and loses the challenge that things come undone for her. She thinks she has been pelted with stones but video footage proves otherwise - is she going mad? Also what does it have to do with Hannah - a girl who went missing 20 years ago and William a guy accused of her murder who committed suicide and also Gracie's mother who has recently died? A psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the end as past and present mirror each other and are explored through the mind of "mad girl" Gracie. ( )

Grace Foley is a seventeen-year-old prankster and risk-taker. The only thing she's afraid of is losing. One night she accepts a challenge as part of a feud between the two local schools, but things don't go as planned. Something she can't explain happens and now she's haunted by voices and visions. She's drawn into a twenty-year-old mystery surrounding a missing girl named Hannah Holt, and she's having trouble figuring out what's real and what's imagined. Grace is losing herself and she doesn't know if she's uncovering the truth or if she's going mad.

I don't know what made me request this book. Reading the blurb now it doesn't interest me at all. I found this book extremely hard to get in to. The writing was disjointed, it was hard to follow along. I did not like any of the characters. I just don't care. DNF @ 43%.

Thank you to Netgalley and Text Publishing for a copy of this book. ( )