Sadie by Courtney Summers

 

Sadie, a thriller novel written by Courtney Summers, follows the story of a missing nineteen-year-old set out to avenge her murdered sister. Told through West McCray's podcast, the man who is told to find her, and Sadie's perspective, we start to learn the unsettling truth of Sadie and her little sister Mattie's pasts. 

Determined to seek revenge and punish her sister's killer, Sadie follows a line of clues and ends up the center of a viral podcast and investigation. Will Sadie find the person who ruined her life? Will West locate Sadie before it's too late? Find out in this thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until you know the truth.

As a teen who has read this book, I really enjoyed reading Sadie's perspective because not only was she a strong female voice with a goal to pursue, but but she showed the struggles that girls face in parts of the US that are farther from achieving gender equality. As a critical consumer, I enjoyed living another point of view that is similar to mine, and different. 

Sadie's journey was far from perfect, and I appreciated that. I respected how the author shed light on many topics that are messy and often avoided because they are too uncomfortable to speak about. Summers worked these topics into the book perfectly, making you struggle to decide between putting the book on pause to act for these social justice conflicts, or keep reading in one sitting.

This book concludes with an ending that may or may not be surprising, but is extremely raw and realistic. Showcased is something that is too common for many girls, boys, and people in this country. 

-Julia, Teen Influencer