What Happened to Cass McBride?

How long could you stand being shut in your house? Your room? A closet? A coffin?

Cass McBride has it all… status, popularity, and stunning good looks. She knows how to get what she wants, and she’ll stomp all over anyone or anything to get it. She’s at the top of the “food chain,” as she puts it. Enter David, a shy, awkward, withdrawn boy who thinks he might have a chance with Cass because she was nice to him one day. So he asks her out, and she turns him down spectacularly. He later finds a note from Cass to a friend, making fun of David asking her out… she couldn’t believe that someone so low on the food chain would ask her out.

This humiliation is enough to put David over the edge, and he hangs himself from a tree in his front yard. David’s brother Kyle blames Cass for his death and plots an amazing, horrifying revenge. As the police try to unravel the mystery of what happened to Cass, time is running out for her. She must use all her wits to keep herself alive.

You will be gasping for air along with Cass as you read this suspenseful psychological thriller. This book was published in 2006, but don’t discount it because it’s not new. You will be glued to your seat and unable to put this down—make sure your homework is done before you start. Pick it up at your local bookstore, or better yet, check it out of your local library.

When you finish this book, check out Gail Giles’ other books: Dead Girls Don’t Write Letters, Playing in Traffic, and Right Behind You at any CADL location. Most of her books are for high school students. She also has a website where her humor and sarcasm come through. You can learn a lot of quirky things about Alaska, where she lived for a few years.

Go find a copy of What Happened to Cass McBride, read it, and post your comments on a great suspenseful read for high school students.