Courtney Summers’ well-written murder mystery is a modern take on the genre. Following the sister of a missing girl and the journalist trying to find her, Sadie’s format is unique, if a little confusing at times. The chapters written from Sadie’s perspective are in first person, but every second chapter is written as a script for a podcast. While this choice shows the narrative in the broader context of all the young girls that go missing in the world, in this novel the podcast chapters detract from the main narrative. With the title Sadie, the reader expects the book to focus on the girl, not on the reluctant reporter assigned to her case. The change in format can be jarring, and it makes the reader wonder if whether the narrative would have worked better asan actual podcast.
However, the two perspectives create a sense of urgency and further mystery as the reader waits for them to finally intersect or at least catch up with each other. The journalist is always one step behind Sadie, but he also knows things that she doesn’t, which quickens the pace of the plot as it develops. Summers carefully chooses what information each character knows, complete with lies and misunderstandings, so that the puzzle comes together slowly and reveals more mysteries as it goes.
Sadie is a unique protagonist in that she has a stutter, a trait that is usually used to show a timid or weak character. Sadie is far from this, and her stutter is portrayed with accuracy and depth, detailing how it impacts her everyday life. While Sadie’s physical voice is an obstacle for her, her internal voice as a narrator is powerful and strong. What makes Sadie such a compelling narrative is the use of two uniquely unreliable narrators.
Sadie knows the most about her sister, the girl who went missing, but she is young and was kept in the dark about a lot of things. On top of this, she is biased in who she believes is responsible and is single-minded in seeking revenge. The journalist, despite his investigative skills, is limited by what his interviewees are willing to tell him. These two conflicting storylines make for a thrilling and exciting mystery.
April Genevieve Tucholke’s high fantasy novel, The Boneless Mercies, sweeps the reader into a deeply evocative world that grants a feminist take on classic tales inspired by Norse mythology. A retelling of Beowulf, the story follows a band of young women called the Boneless Mercies as they abandon the life they knew and travel the …
Dragonkeeper is the first in an enchanting book series created by Carole Wilkinson. The first novel follows Ping, a slave to a ruthless master who begins a strong friendship with a captive dragon. Together, the two of them are able to escape the master and journey to Ocean, a distant land far from the ancient …
Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series played a huge role in my love of Greek mythology – the modern take on heroes and myths make them easier for a young audience to understand, and there are plenty of Easter eggs for those who already know their myths. The Lightning Thief kicks off the series wonderfully, introducing …
Highway Bodies is the second novel from Australian author Alison Evans after their debut novel Ida, which received a mixed opinion from readers, reviewers and critics. Set to be released in the February of 2019, Highway Bodies tells the tale of three distinct groups of Melbourne teenagers as the world around them falls victim to …
The absolutely electrifying Australian crime novel ‘The Tell’ by Martin Chatterton weaves a wickedly satisfying tale of Raze Tanic, an upper-class Sydney student whose family-run an illustrious crime ring in the heart of the Australian city. Raze has everything he could ever want, except the relationship with his father, who has been jailed in a …
Angel Mage–written by Australian high fantasy laureate Garth Nix–introduces readers to the city of Ystara, a land in which angels, demons, musketeers and magicians all live among one another. Throughout the land, skilled individuals enchant and produce icons, which have the power to summon specific angels to aid with daily tasks and civil battles with …
Book Review – Sadie by Courtney Summers
However, the two perspectives create a sense of urgency and further mystery as the reader waits for them to finally intersect or at least catch up with each other. The journalist is always one step behind Sadie, but he also knows things that she doesn’t, which quickens the pace of the plot as it develops. Summers carefully chooses what information each character knows, complete with lies and misunderstandings, so that the puzzle comes together slowly and reveals more mysteries as it goes.
Sadie is a unique protagonist in that she has a stutter, a trait that is usually used to show a timid or weak character. Sadie is far from this, and her stutter is portrayed with accuracy and depth, detailing how it impacts her everyday life. While Sadie’s physical voice is an obstacle for her, her internal voice as a narrator is powerful and strong. What makes Sadie such a compelling narrative is the use of two uniquely unreliable narrators.
Sadie knows the most about her sister, the girl who went missing, but she is young and was kept in the dark about a lot of things. On top of this, she is biased in who she believes is responsible and is single-minded in seeking revenge. The journalist, despite his investigative skills, is limited by what his interviewees are willing to tell him. These two conflicting storylines make for a thrilling and exciting mystery.
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Book Review – The Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke
April Genevieve Tucholke’s high fantasy novel, The Boneless Mercies, sweeps the reader into a deeply evocative world that grants a feminist take on classic tales inspired by Norse mythology. A retelling of Beowulf, the story follows a band of young women called the Boneless Mercies as they abandon the life they knew and travel the …
Book Review – Dragonkeeper by Carole Wilkinson
Dragonkeeper is the first in an enchanting book series created by Carole Wilkinson. The first novel follows Ping, a slave to a ruthless master who begins a strong friendship with a captive dragon. Together, the two of them are able to escape the master and journey to Ocean, a distant land far from the ancient …
Book Review – Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan
Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series played a huge role in my love of Greek mythology – the modern take on heroes and myths make them easier for a young audience to understand, and there are plenty of Easter eggs for those who already know their myths. The Lightning Thief kicks off the series wonderfully, introducing …
Book Review – Highway Bodies by Alison Evans
Highway Bodies is the second novel from Australian author Alison Evans after their debut novel Ida, which received a mixed opinion from readers, reviewers and critics. Set to be released in the February of 2019, Highway Bodies tells the tale of three distinct groups of Melbourne teenagers as the world around them falls victim to …
Book Review – The Tell by Martin Chatterton
The absolutely electrifying Australian crime novel ‘The Tell’ by Martin Chatterton weaves a wickedly satisfying tale of Raze Tanic, an upper-class Sydney student whose family-run an illustrious crime ring in the heart of the Australian city. Raze has everything he could ever want, except the relationship with his father, who has been jailed in a …
Book Review – Angel Mage by Garth Nix
Angel Mage–written by Australian high fantasy laureate Garth Nix–introduces readers to the city of Ystara, a land in which angels, demons, musketeers and magicians all live among one another. Throughout the land, skilled individuals enchant and produce icons, which have the power to summon specific angels to aid with daily tasks and civil battles with …