Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

Alexis thought she led a typically dysfunctional high school existence. Dysfunctional like her parents' marriage; her doll-crazy twelve-year-old sister, Kasey; and even her own anti-social, anti-cheerleader attitude. When a family fight results in some tearful sisterly bonding, Alexis realizes that her life is creeping from dysfunction into danger. Kasey is acting stranger than ever: her blue eyes go green sometimes; she uses old-fashioned language; and she even loses track of chunks of time, claiming to know nothing about her strange behavior. Their old house is changing, too. Doors open and close by themselves; water boils on the unlit stove; and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough to see their breath in.Alexis wants to think that it's all in her head, but soon, what she liked to think of as silly parlor tricks are becoming life-threatening--to her, her family, and to her budding relationship with the class president. Alexis knows she's the only person who can stop Kasey -- but what if that green-eyed girl isn't even Kasey anymore?

Bad Girl's Don't Die is a great horror story, with a pinch of romance, friendship, and family issues. Katie Alendar did a fantastic job on her debut novel, and I hope to see more from her in the future.

There's an eerie feeling that you get when reading the suspenseful parts, like someone is right behind you. While reading, I actually would pause and look behind myself and under the bed, just to make sure no one was there. I guess you could say I was paranoid, but it was because the book was great! The writing flowed nicely and it was an easy read.

Katie Alender did a fantastic job on creating an ominous and on-the-edge-of-your-seat feeling. I'd never read a ghost story before, and I'm glad this one was my first, because I enjoyed it! Incorporating dolls into the whole mystery of Alexis and Kasey's house was a great addition. I think dolls are creepy (Ever seen Child's Play?).

The only thing that had me a little disappointed was the lack of development of character. I really liked Carter, Megan, and Lydia, but they weren't described as much as I'd liked them to have been. The only character that I really got to know was Alexis, the main character.

Overall, Bad Girls Don't Die, was different. And I'd never read anything like it, and hopefully Katie will have more interesting books, like so, in the future. I'm looking forward to it. I love love love the cover! It is so simple and unique!

Ratings:

Writing: 5/5
Story: 3.5/5
Character: 3.5/5
Cover: 5/5