Girl on the Run was a page-ripping thriller that exceeded expectations. This fast read had a small cast of characters that was perfect for the pacing and length of the book. The dialogue between Kaetlyn and Malcom was particularly good–flowing and natural with the occasional touch of humor. For a thriller, the action seemed plausible for the most part with no sudden development of ninja skills by the young adults, but rather tenacity, determination, and survival-induced action. The only part that did feel like a stretch was the motivation of a primary character for the climax-inducing confrontation.
This book should have wide age appeal as the protagonist is a senior in high school, but the topics and content aren’t too intense. The intensity is all in the action flow. Exciting escapist fiction recommended for the thriller/suspense young adult aficionado!
Review of a Digital Advance Reading Copy
This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Underlined
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: 2 religious profanities; 6 mild obscenities; 3 derogatory names; 1 scatological word; 3 anatomical terms.
Violence/Gore: Report someone was pepper sprayed; car chase with car rammed and injuries inflicted, mention of blood; injuries inflicted when escaping through a tight space, mention of blood; character chased; character kicked in chest; character has been kidnapped, beat (from evidence of injuries), with some description of injuries observed; report that someone murdered someone; wounds bleed; character struggles and falls on glass, cutting arms; characters are pursued and collide with people, mild injuries; characters are knocked unconscious, kicked viciously (adult male kicking teenage female), struggle, and eventually kidnapped; verbal threat to torture by extracting teeth; find a character severely injured with mention of blood, stacked bloodied towels; cut on arm; extended scene with mention and descriptions of blood involving gunshots resulting in life-threatening injuries, death, hitting with a blunt object, struggle; after-the-fact description of final injuries, etc.
Sex/Nudity: Kiss; kiss on cheek; kiss on forehead; hold hands; hand on back; character often aware of proximity of another character; hug; mild sexual reference (joking); report of pregnancy out of wedlock.
Mature Subject Matter:
Death, crime, theft.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
None
