Cryer's Cross

Written by Lisa McMann

Narrated by Julia Whelan

Kendall loves her life in small town Cryer's Cross, Montana, but she also longs for something more. She knows the chances of going to school in New York are small, but she's not the type to give up easily. Even though it will mean leaving Nico, the world's sweetest boyfriend, behind.

But when Cryer's Cross is rocked by unspeakable tragedy, Kendall shoves her dreams aside and focuses on just one goal: help find her missing friends. Even if it means spending time with the one boy she shouldn't get close to... the one boy who makes her question everything she feels for Nico.

Determined to help and to stay true to the boy she's always loved, Kendall keeps up the search--and stumbles upon some frightening local history. She knows she can't stop digging, but Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.... “Cryer’s Cross is an eerie, gripping, totally addictive, breathtaking whirl of a book with an ending that left me haunted for days. Lisa McMann has done it again—this book is unputdownable!” --Alyson Noël, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Immortals series. "A brilliant, engaging, scary piece of fiction. Every word had me sliding closer to the edge of my seat and gripping the cover tighter and tighter. There are books in the world that make you question your reality and the things that go bump in the night--this is one of them." --Heather Brewer, New York Times bestselling author of the Chronicles of Vladmir Tod series

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Feb 8, 2011
• ISBN: 9781442337398

Lisa McMann

Lisa McMann is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous books for kids and teens, including the middle grade dystopian fantasy series The Unwanteds. She lives with her family in Phoenix, Arizona. You can follow Lisa on Twitter and Facebook or visit her at www.lisamcmann.com.

Reviews for Cryer's Cross

[elizajane_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reason for Reading: I enjoyed the author's Wake trilogy so much there was no way I was *not* going to read her next book. However, the plot summary of this was so captivating I would have chosen to read it anyway.I just love a good horror story and there really isn't that much available in the teen market these days in this genre. Good, old-fashioned, creepy horror story; that's what this is, forget about that paranormal romance stuff. This is the type of story that would have made a good X-Files episode. It starts with a missing teen girl in an extremely rural small town. It has a one room high school of 24 students. Then we meet and really get to know Kendall and Nico. They live on opposing farms and have grown up together; they are best friends, a couple and will everyone assumes will get married some day. Kendall is OCD and Nico is OK with that as he's used it. But then Nico disappears too. Kendall's OCD starts to act up worse because of the anxiety that she is under and she starts hearing voices, lots of whisperings, and is that Nico's voice crying out for help, to be saved? Then she finds messages scratched into his empty desk that only he could have left there and whether Kendall is going crazy or not she decides to try and help find the missing teens.This is a really good, creepy story. Kendall's OCD is represented very well. We are given a look inside her mind and how it works, what it's like to be her. (As someone with an OCD diagnosis myself, I was pleased with her portrayal. I also enjoyed how her OCD became an integral part of the plot. The supernatural element to the horror story is a little confusing at first, but that's not a bad thing. We are made aware of this element before the characters and yet we can't understand what it really is. This eventually becomes clearer to us but both the reader and characters reach full understanding at the same time. The supernatural part is quite eerie and touches on one of those subjects that most people have nightmares about. Finally, the book ends with the expected creepy horror story ending.I really enjoyed the book! I found it spooky, atmospheric and containing all the elements needed to create a gripping, fun horror story. Looking forward to Ms. McMann's next book which will be the start of a new trilogy, out in the Fall (2011).

[mandaah_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wow. I never thought a book about an evil desk could be so good. I looved it (the book, not the evil desk)! It had that great slow, creepy build going on where in the beginning you have no idea what's going on, and clues and new things pop out gradually until you're racing through, and you bite your parent's heads off when they ask if you'd like to "eat" or some such nonesense. Okay, I'm exaggerating, but it was totally engrossing.Kendall and Jacian's relationship was a slow build too, and one of my favorite parts about the book. That love-hate thing gets me everytime. And a certain scene in the woods (well two scenes) were just... fantastic. I LOVED Jacian.The chapter openers, with the "WE" and everything were such a great touch. Awesomely creepy.I definitelyyy recommend this, if you like mystery, romance, and scary desks.

[dairyqueen84 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A girl went missing in Kendall’s small Montana town. Then her best friend and boyfriend, Nico, went missing as well. This sends Kendall into a tailspin with her Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. She still goes into school early to arrange the classroom to her liking even though the surly new boy drives her to school now. When she notices new graffiti on the desk where Nico sat next to her, Kendall thinks she’s going crazy because she begins to hear voices. Is this part of her OCD or is Nico trying to contact her from wherever he is?

[kmajort · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Hm. Okay, I really liked AND ALSO didn't like this book. The story was pretty ho-hum really, but I'd read in her acknowledgments how it was dedicated to her daughter who has OCD.
That was hook enough to try it.
Predictable story line, but farm community life is rather like she wrote (though I know nothing of harvesting potatoes)and she dealt well with the new folks in town.
Other characters seems like shadows, but as a YA stand-alone, I can accept there wasn't much need to develop them.

If you know anyone with OCD, or if you have it yourself, definitely read.

[shahnareads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved this.

Small town keeping secrets is never a good things.

[markpsadler · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The ghosts of the poor children virtually abandoned and many beaten to death in the confines of one of Montana’s worst reform schools over a hundred years ago, are crying out from the grave to be saved. The teenagers from Cryer’s Cross, a small, one-room school town, are disappearing, two are gone, Tiffany and now Nico, leaving no trace or clue. They simply just vanished.
Kendall, Nico’s lifelong friend is distraught after his disappearance. Her whole life is interrupted, the school’s soccer team is disbanded, Juilliard turned her down and two new teenagers have moved into town, as if to take over the place of the missing teens. At least it keeps order in her OCD-riddled mind.
Unable to rest with her friend gone, Kendall finds herself drawn to the new boy, eighteen year old Jacian, when they are thrown together as the town imposes a curfew and travel restrictions on the teens in town until the mystery can be solved.
As school continues, Kendall keeps noticing the desk Nico sat in keeps getting out of place each morning. She would notice since she has to align them all in correct order every morning. She realizes this is the same desk Tiffany—the other missing teen—sat in last year and graffiti is scratched in the desk top that she doesn’t recall seeing before. It reads Please Save Me. Sitting at the desk she too is put under a spell as the voices of the past call for her help. Will Jacian be able to figure out the town’s secret in time to save Kendall from being the next to vanish forever?
McMann is again at her top-draw best as she weaves another young adult novel into a story that crosses all ages and simply becomes a great yarn that anyone will want to read.

[bryndahlquis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had the hardest time putting this book down.I don't particularly like Kendall, but I don't dislike her either. I felt like I had a hard time getting to know her. There was the OCD part of her, and then the not OCD part of her. The connection between them seemed a little fuzzy.The plot is great. Even though I couldn't stop reading, I was hesitant for the whole first half of the book. It seemed like it kept setting up for a realistic horrifying ending, but then there were the random little pages that were anything but a serial killer or whatever. I just kept getting an unexpected vibe from it, if that makes any sense.All that said, I LOVED how the supernatural aspects slowly trickled into the story. It was brilliant.I don't know if it's a a book I'll read again and again, but it is definitely pretty awesome and I highly recommend it.

[vnesting-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Liked the main character and the author's sensitive handling of her OCD. The mystery? Not so much.

[mirandalg14 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really thought this was a great creepy read.

[coloradogirl14 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm always on the lookout for good horror/mystery/suspense, regardless of age level, so I was quite intrigued by the premise: small town wracked by grief and terror, possible supernatural causes, and a heroine with an anxiety disorder. This last aspect can be hit or miss for me, but I always try to give the character (in this case, Kendall) the benefit of the doubt before judging.The grief and terror comes from the mysterious disappearance of several high school students over the last several months, but Kendall doesn't really start to feel its effects until her boyfriend disappears as well. This disappearance wreaks havoc with her OCD, and she finds herself drawn to the mysterious boy who arrived just in time for the start of school, even though she wonders if he's someone she can trust.Overall, my impression was lukewarm. Nothing about the book enchanted me, and nothing made me particularly angry to where I could point to a specific passage and say, "THIS was why the book didn't work." Kendall's character was not particularly annoying, nor did she charm me with her wit and joi de vivre. The depiction of her OCD was respectful and accurate, but did not integrate well with the plot. The ending? Not particularly surprising or exciting. But I finished the book, so I guess that says something.Between chapters, we also get italicized portions from the antagonist's point of view. If there was anything that truly annoyed me about this book, that was it. Out of context, the passages are extremely disconnected from anything happening in the story, especially since we have no idea who is killing the students. I'm not even entirely sure they'd make sense upon a second reading.These are the types of books that drive me nuts, especially when it comes time to suggest it for a patron. Obviously, some readers really enjoy this type of suspenseful, pseudo-mystery novel, or enjoy reading about protagonists with mental/anxiety disorders, but I think there are much better examples to suggest first.Readalikes:The Body Finder - Kimberly Derting. Horror, suspense, mystery, and romance combine in this tense story about a girl who can sense the presence of murdered bodies.The Butterfly Clues - Kate Ellison. Both novels feature heroines with OCD who must solve puzzling and potentially dangerous mysteries surrounding their friends and loved ones.What Happened to Cass McBride - Gail Giles. Both novels focus on psychological disorders and missing teenagers, although Cass McBride doesn't have the same romantic angle as Cryer's Cross.

[br14hagr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

 Cryer’s Cross is a book with mysteries, love relationships, and hate. People keep disappearing and dying, but no one can stop it. It all started when Tiffany Quinn disappeared. All of her friends worry and think of what could of happened to her, even after two years. Cryer’s Cross is not a good place where you would want to go, since usually new people who move there disappear first. In my opinion Cryer’s Cross is a great book that is easy to follow but hard to predict. I rate this five stars, since this book is very suspenseful and creepy. You never realize what can happen next only if the characters in the book predict it. This book will draw you in put you right in the book.

[br14lavi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A girl disappears into what seems thin air. No one knows why. The news stations are in this small town Cryer’s Cross, with a whopping total of 212 residents. A girl disappearing in this small town is unheard of, there has to be a logical reason for her disappearance. Could she have been secretly depressed, lonely, or just needed to get away from everyone? Or could something creepy be happening in Cryer’s Cross?This disappearance doesn’t sit well with seniors, Kendall and Nico. Could their experiments and curiosity be too much that their own lives could be endangered?The novel, Cryer’s Cross is a book with twists and turns galore. You may truly believe that this is going to happen and then the masterful work of Lisa McMann will make you think something completely different. This book has you from the first page and continues to be a page turner throughout the whole novel. Main character Kendall goes on an emotional rollercoaster and you go along for the ride feeling sympathetic for her as well as screaming at the book for her to let go of her sadness and try to be happy with what she has. When you start reading be prepared for a allnighter reading this book because once you start you won’t be able to stop reading until this five star mystery comes to a dramatic conclusion. Beware!

[br14almo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lisa McMann has done it! The book Cryer's Cross is great using extreme amounts of suspense and terror. The climax is the most terrifying of some of books. Main character Jacian had a huge target on his back until he proved himself to be not so bad. OCD filled action with love and cheating. I recommend this book for anyone who is very iinto suspense and looking for a fun read. I give this book a 4.5 that was deservingly earned.

[peggydean-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I see now why Lisa McMann is such a popular YA author. This was a fast read and I was totally drawn into the story. Even though I enjoyed it, I am only giving the book 3 stars, because I felt that the ending was not conclusive enough for me.

[capnrandm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An elegant, chilling little ghost story, CRYER'S CROSS wrapped me up in Kendall's small town. McMann's decision to write a heroine with OCD was not an affectation, but rather the metronome by which a reader is hypnotized into Kendall's emotions. Who would be more terrified by the supernatural than someone who battles for normalcy everyday? A wonderful story, very well done.

Full review to follow.

[leftik_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An excellent, excellent thriller. Something you want to read with the covers pulled tight around you and a few candles flickering nearby. It's one of those books where you know something creepy and not-OK is going on, but you can't figure out what EXACTLY it is.

Did I have a guess as to what was going to be the outcome of the mystery? Yes. But I was still pretty shocked by the, as I saw it, rather bold turn of events at the end. I didn't expect McMann to go that far, but I'm glad she did - it made the novel worthy of the creepy cover and creepy vibe that was building throughout the book.

I loved Kendall. I loved her attitude towards managing her OCD, her love for Nico and her love for both theatre and soccer (two of my personal faves as well). This is def. one to check out if you're in the mood for a bit of a thrill.

[a_reader_of_fictions · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

First of all, I need to point out that this is NOT a dystopia. The reason I picked the book up was because I had seen it described thus somewhere, but it isn't. Cryer's Cross is actually more of a psychological thriller/fantasy/horror story. I wish it had been a dystopia.

Last year, I read Lisa McMann's Wake Trilogy, which I sort of liked at first, but later came to almost abhor. Her writing drove me crazy. It's so incredibly fragmented. Everyone told me that the writing was matched to Janie's thoughts and not a sign of McMann's inability to compose a complex sentence. Well, that excuse really does not fly here. The story is told in third person and yet, oddly enough, the syntax remains choppy and composed largely of sentence fragments. This will, hopefully, be my last foray into McMann.

All that so grumpily said, Cryer's Cross was not a terrible read. I think I liked it more than I disliked it. The ending was a bit too mystical for my taste, but there was a major redeeming factor. The one thing McMann does really well: she writes really attractive, atypical male leads. And some pretty hot scenes with them, even if they remain PG, as is the case here.

I recommend this for reluctant readers, although I doubt boys would be too interested. For a book with a lot of menace lingering about, there is very little action.

[princess0starr · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

While I enjoyed the Wake trilogy, I was really drawn to Cryer's Cross because the concept seemed to be a lot creepier and more claustrophobic. I really liked the writing in this- whenever Kendall got stressed and her OCD kicked in, you could really tell how she was feeling and that desperation that things had to be exactly the way they "needed" to be. Whenever they discovered Nico's disappearance, I really got drawn into the story and wanted to know more. One of the things Lisa McMann does really well is little details just to shed more light on characters' personalities (for example, whenever Kendall meets Jacian for the first time and is immediately suspicious of his appearance shortly after the first disappearance). I liked how the OCD actually plays a large role in the story, and not just as the enabler for Kendall or just a side trait, which is another thing that felt really realistic. My biggest problem with the book, however, is the resolution and explanation of the disappearances. (Spoilers ahoy!) It's explained that Tiffany and Nico's disappearing ties back into a school desk that used to be a whipping desk in a reform school. Which is never mentioned until the very end as everything is being explained. Also, throughout the book, you get passages told from the perspective of the angry spirits, but nothing really happens aside from them calling out to different characters. It also bothers me that the plot-important desks have been used for years, but it's only now that people are disappearing. I really did like this book, but the resolution left me really underwhelmed and wanted to know what exactly happened before the beginning of the story.

[br13alsu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The book Cryers Cross was amazing. It’s about a girl named Kendall who has severe OCD and she hates it. Throughout the whole book she talks about how horrible it is to have. Her whole world turns upside down when a new boy, Jacian, moves in and her best friend, Nico, ever goes missing. It kept you guessing throughout the whole book and the ending in impeccable. During the whole story I felt like I was actually there with the characters experiencing everything that they were. I very strongly recomend this book to anybody who enjoys mysteries and thrillers. I have yet to read such an intense book as this one.

[tfs93 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Total Stinker!! Terrible Plot, underwhelming writing, no connection with characters, and a HUH?? ending. I don't recommend this. Too many things wrong with this one to take the time to list them all. Don't waste your time!

[shaelipar · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Okay here's something you may not know about me, I am not a fan of horror novels. Now I know technically Cryer's Cross is probably not considered horror but lets just say this novel was always going to wigged me out, LOL. I both loved and hated the creepy, unsettling feeling of the story and its pacing ( I know I'm a wussy) but I had the harder time with the main character, Kendall. I just didn't connect with her like I wanted. Sure, I felt bad that all these things were happening to her but she felt more like an idea rather then a person. Gosh, I hope that makes sense. It was a quick read though and it made me realize I can handle reading more thriller/horror novels.

[thehidingspot · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I adored Lisa McMann's first three novels, WAKE, FADE, and GONE, but had no idea what to expect of CRYER'S CROSS. The verse is absent, but there is still a certain cadence to the writing that identifies it as a McMann novel... It's entirely different from her first three, but no less impressive. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this novel is the main character's OCD and the role it plays. To my knowledge, there aren't very many YA books that deal with OCD and there definitely aren't any that handle it this particular way. Kendall's disorder is both a blessing and a curse and McMann sends this message in an entirely new, brilliant way.CRYER'S CROSS has a sinister feel, but it's not so scary that it'll keep you up at night. Instead, it's more of a slow, steady buildup to the revelations at the end of the novel... When I reached that point, all I could say was 'Wow.' For me, the novel reached it's most intense near the very end, but it wouldn't have packed the same punch if not for the slow journey to that point.I'll admit that I still favor McMann's trilogy over CRYER'S CROSS, but this novel proves that she's fully capable of doing something completely different and still blow readers away. I'll definitely be reading McMann's next novel, THE UNWANTEDS... I'm curious to see what she'll show readers next!

[annakay21 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was not as well written as it could have been and the story of it was just plain WEIRD! But I liked it a lot and that's why it gets four stars. Kendall was very realistic and her personality reminded me a lot of my own which was uncomfortable at times. The bit with the desk being possessed was really odd but it made total sense. I am probably going to have to read this a couple more times before it fully sinks in but I would definitely recommend it!

[readingthruthenight · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First, I truly love a good ghost story. The problem with ghost stories however is MOST of them aren't that good. It's a real easy downward spiral from being creepy and believable to over the top and b-flickish.* And I was a bit nervous about this one. But there's more haunting and less spooking so it was fantastic! Kendall lives in a small town. (I pictured Little House on the Prairie, but not so pious?) Everyone knows everyone else, so when a sixteen year old goes missing the whole town joins together. Tiffany is never found. There's a small schoolhouse which includes all grades, so Kendall is constantly reminded of her missing friend. And it's even a bit enhanced by her OCD, which was handle smashingly.** THEN her boyfriend, Nico, disappears months later. Uh, something pretty freakin' weird is going on in the CC. So it makes perfect sense when new boy Jacien moves into town with his family he is immediately questioned. Who would have thought that after Kendall begins to notice odd things going on that Jacien is the only one that believes her. (Oh who am I kidding?! OF COURSE we knew that would happen. What's better than a paranormal read other than a paranormal read with ROMANCE).Here's the thing that I loved the most. And aren't you going to be surprised when I say it's not the paranormal or highly-involved thriller aspect of the story. Nope. It was the realism of it. You know, besides the missing folk and town clues. Check it out. Kendall has been with Nico ALL HER LIFE. The are in Lurrrvvee and destined to get married because that's what folks do in this town. Who cares that she is only sixteen. So when he goes missing and she finds herself attracted to Jacien, well, hello. Of course I'm cheering her on, but she's so guilt ridden over her disloyalty to Nico. Two thumbs up for not forgetting about your young love before moving on to a new boy. Also, once again. Hello to the ocd-ness. I think it's awesome that her disorder(?) dysfunction (?) lifestyle (?) isn't the center. Uh hello to three-dimensionalism. Believe it or not, when not in extremes, people carry on and live normal lives. Mostly. I refer to them as my ticks. And sure they get exacerbated when I'm stressed. But they're well-hidden and only those who either live with me or I choose to tell would know.Evidently McMann has also written a trilogy. The WAKE trilogy? Has anyone read it? Is it good?

[fallingforbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First Line: Everything changes when Tiffany Quinn disappears. Favorite Quote: Kendall tries, fails to tune them all out. It’s all she can do to breathe. And count. Count breaths: thirty-six. Count stones in the dirt: more than fifty. Count people saying stupid things: all of them.My thoughts: This book has been on my to be read list for a while. I’m glad that I finally picked it up. I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely a fast paced read. I was immediately drawn into this book from the first page. I thought McMann did a really good job describing the very small town of Cryer’s Cross. If you’ve grown up in a small town, you understand the feeling of wanting to get out! The book deals with the fact that there have been a lot of strange disappearances occurring in Cryer’s Cross. I enjoyed Kendall’s character and reading about her OCD. I sometimes think I have traces of it in my blood also. I, too check the locks sometimes more than once! I felt bad for Kendall that she had to deal with the loss of her boyfriend. I couldn’t believe what happened to her in the end. It was definitely creepy. There is also a little romance in the book, although filled with lots of tension. I thought this was a really good read. Ok , call me crazy, but I feel like something like this could happen in real life! This is a spooky read but I was never actually scared! I was more intrigued to find out what were behind these strange happenings. Overall: A little creepy, but a page turning mystery!

[lovetoreadforfun · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I love Lisa McMann's Wake Trilogy so when I heard she written a new YA Paranormal, Cryer's Cross, I knew I had to get my hands on it! I don't know what to think about Cryer's Cross. The story started off great with the disappearance of Tracy and then Nico (no spoiler. His disappearance is mentioned in the book summary). Kendall is trying to deal with her grief and OCD while trying to figure out what happened to Nico. She is suspicious of the new kid in town, Jacian. Jacian and his family moved to Cryer's Cross when Tiffany disappeared. The first thing that bothered me was Kendall's obsession with believing that Jacian had something to do with the disappearances. He'd given her no reason to believe that he was dangerous or violent. He had major attitude but other than that, I couldn't understand why she was so set on believing he was guilty even though the sheriff told her that Jacian was innocent. Once Kendall got over her preconceived notions of Jacian, Kendall and Jacian slowly became friends. They bonded over the love of soccer and Jacian was the only kid who noticed Kendall's secret, her OCD. Instead of pushing her away or making her feel ostracized, he was understanding. As their friendship grew, it started turning into something more. Cryer's Cross is only 240 pages and the majority of those pages were dedicated to Kendall and her budding relationship with Jacian. This book is described as a Paranormal but the PNR aspects were greatly missing. What kept me reading was I wanted to find out what happened to these kids. When we finally got to what was causing the disappearances (where only 2 kids disappeared. I thought there'd be more) the big reveal was laughable and had scratching my head in confusion. Cryer's Cross would have been better if the paranormal aspect of the book had more build-up. I almost forgot that there was a mystery that needed to be solved. The ending was too neat and quick. Everything was wrapped up in the last 30 pages or so. I had such high expectations for this book but was sorely disappointed.

[danijohns_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was creepy. It takes a lot for a book to actually creep me out, but this book was able to do that. Cryer’s Cross was an excellent blend of creepy, mystery, suspense and even romance. I loved how Lisa McMann unveiled the story and mystery. The mystery is unveiled slowly, but not too slowly, just slow enough to keep you on the edge of your seat wonder who, or what, is behind the disappearance of two students. I was unsure who or what was the cause of the disappearances until the end, and when I found out I was extra creeped out. I love how Lisa McMann writes. I writing was perfect in this book. The writing for the “WE” was perfect, creepy yet adding to the story. You’ll understand what I mean when you read the book. I also loved how she unveiled the story. It was perfect. Kendall was such a great character. Not only does she struggle daily with her OCD, but add to that the fact that her best friend, and sort of boyfriend that she has know her who life, has disappeared. Kendall’s emotions were raw. I loved how her OCD, the thing she was most embarrassed about was the thing that helped save her the most. I loved how through the book Kendall grew as a character, with the help of Jacian. Jacian and Kendall had great chemistry and I loved how there relationship progressed. It was perfect. I recommend that when you read this book, don’t stay up late at night reading it because it will leave you creeped out. I definitely will be picking up a finished copy of this book when it is released.

[runa_17 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I went into reading this not having read a plot summary. Lisa McMann had mentioned the book in a Pittsburgh event she did, and I’ve had it on my to-read list since then. I read it in the middle of the night alone on a train, which, in retrospect, not the greatest setting to be reading a horror story. McMann is great at crafting straightforward, simplistic in a sense, plots. Her cards are laid on the table early on, and the reader knows what they’re getting into, for the most part. She does keep some secrets which make for great reveals later on in the story, but there’s no getting lost in too many plot threads or unnecessary verbage. It’s short, sweet, and to the point. I’m not sure what McMann’s plans are for this story, but I do hope it remains a standalone. It functions well as a one-read story, and was great for reading on the train. Rating: 5/5

[allureofbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The premise is creepy and fascinating, and I was really looking forward to picking up the book. There are a lot of things I like about the story, but in many ways it fails to deliver.The thing that drew me to the story was the mystery/horror side of the plot. What was up with the missing teenagers and creepy desk messages? Overall, I ended up being disappointed in how that part of the plot developed. Not enough to keep me from enjoying the story, but definitely enough to keep me from loving it.As for the characters...we never really go beyond the surface here. I never felt like I was getting to personally know Kendall. This was not a character-driven story and that is a major strike against it.However, something about it kept me turning the pages. I loved the developing romance and the setting...and even though I was ultimately let down by the mystery, it was intriguing enough to make me want to know how things would turn out. One thing I hated was the whole "We" messages thing. Really? That was more ridiculous than anything else. Not at all a fan. The book could have definitely done without all that mess.So - as you can see I have some pretty mixed feelings about this book. I definitely don't feel like I wasted time by reading it, but it isn't a story I will ever be revisiting. If you're a fan of the budding YA horror genre, I would recommend picking up a copy at the library!

[spazzydragon13 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I tend to go for books with one of two things; a topic or subject I love or am obsessed with. Or, something I can relate to.I saw Cryer's Cross on WORD for Teens' website, and Nicki was kind enough to send it to me to read. The first thing that caught me was the line on the cover, "The smaller the town, the bigger the secrets."See, I live in a small town, and I know this to be SO incredibly true. And I own a desk just like the one on the cover, so I had to read it.Then, there's the fact that the description sounded delicious. Oh boy, did the book live up to that. The plot was so incredibly wonderful, if at times a little predictable, and I couldn't put the book down. I read this book for an hour straight.The story was so creepy! I do think areas of the story, as well as characters, should have been fluffed out more. However, McMann writes shorter than norm. stories, and I think it was left out for the sake of simplicity. I would have liked to know more about Jacian, more background about Cryer's Reform School for Delinquent Boys.I loved Kendall; she's OCD to the extreme. It was interesting to see the story through her eyes. She couldn't stop obsessing over the kidnappings, or trying to find blame in Jacian. And who wouldn't? He was such a jerk at the beginning!The relationship between her and Jacian developed slowly and ended up realistic and I loved that! (I dislike mushy, fast relationships.) Nico was cute, but he was overboard. And Kendall didn't lower her standards for him, which made her rock even more.The creeptastic factor of the book was super high, and I think that's what kept me reading. Cryer's Cross is definitely full of a nasty evil.The only thing I didn't care for, was the way the story was written. I'm not a huge fan of McMann's writing style. It feels....awkward. That's why I gave it four stars, instead of five. In the end, I was able to look past that and find the wonderful story that is Cryer's Cross. I'd definitely recommend it!