She's So Dead to Us, by Kieran Scott
Reviewed by Isabella, age 15, New Jersey
Sweet Designs Featured Writer
Ally used to live the perfect life with the rest of the trust fund babies at Orchard Hill, but that changed when her father bankrupted her friends' parents' money. She and her mother left town and her father ran away, but now, two years later, she has to move back to town - back to her former best friends, the girls who hate her. Except there's Jake Graydon, the new boy who doesn't know about the scandal, who likes her. One problem: the aforementioned ex-friends, who will do anything to keep them apart.She's So Dead to Us opens with an original premise of a girl living in the shame of her father's actions and dealing with the open hatred of most of the town. However, although the plot sets this up to be a sensitive contemporary novel, much of the story drags along at a slow pace, and the largest conflicts are left until the very end to be hastily dealt with, if at all. The romance was lukewarm, and the book ends abruptly with an unsatisfying cliffhanger ending unsuited for the genre.
While ultimately disappointing with its off-kilter pace, Kieran Scott demonstrates her great potential through She's So Dead to Us. Her ability to come up with a unique premise, likeable and real protagonist, and excellent themes are all clearly demonstrated through this novel. Even though I would not necessarily recommend this particular book, I will be waiting to read other future books by Kieran Scott.
I give She's So Dead to Us 2 out of 5 stars.