Helpful Score: 4
This book is small, short, sparse. Not a lot of pages or words but the imprint of what is written will linger long after you put the book down. I read a lot of thrillers and a lot of YA. I thought I'd probably have read this story before, wondered how this author would approach the topics of child abduction, molestation, rape, imprisonment. Suffice to say that Scott was master of the task. The life of Alice in Ray's prison was hell and terror, fright and pain. She was starved, abused, beaten and repeatedly forced to sexual surrender to a man who was himself abused by a sexual sadist (his mother). Alice no longer hopes for release or for any other life, that dream has been destroyed along with her girlhood. As she grows from a child of 10 to a teen of 15, Ray no longer is happy with her body or her attitude. He wants a new girl and has assigned Alice to help him acquire her. Alice is powerless to resist, beaten down by 5 years of submission and only longs for the substitute to release her from this bond. She can't say NO. The new girl has been chosen and then what will happen to Alice? The last Alice was killed, and yet, that is a release of sorts. No one sees, no one hears, no one there to help.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
Helpful Score: 4
LIVING DEAD GIRL is immediately gripping; even the synopsis draws you in. From there, the story just builds and builds on you, a combination of the horrifying predicament that Alice is in and the spare, unapologetic language that Elizabeth Scott uses to strike a chord in readers. I think the greatest lesson I can take out of LIVING DEAD GIRL is that any abuse victim's psyche is fathomless. This book requires a patient and dedicated audience for its impact to be felt fully, but, when felt, will reverberate with you as strongly as Laurie Halse Anderson's SPEAK does.
Helpful Score: 2
My Thoughts: Elizabeth has done it again! She needs to write faster though because I'm almost through all of her books and I want more dangit! We are introduced to Alice and the details surrounding her abduction. She was only 10 when she was taken by Ray and she was only his second victim. He tells her he loves her and that this is the way its supposed to be, she belongs to him. If she runs away, he'll go hurt her family. She longs to get away from him, far far away. She is tired of everything he puts her through. This book is a quick devastating read. It is heartbreaking in so many ways because the fact of the matter is, this happens in real life. Kids get abducted, kids get abused, kids get hurt. Its just not right!!! I could totally feel for Alice and there were a few times during the story I wanted to run away for Alice! Ray starts looking for a new "girl" with Alice, and Alice fears her time has come to an end. She's 15 now and not what he is "looking" for. Even though this book is heartbreaking, it still needs to be read! So go get yourself a copy today from amazon HERE and read it to find out what happens to Alice.
Overall: Heartbreaking, emotional, but a great story. This book is realistic and you will be sucked right into Alice's life. You will feel what she feels, think what she thinks, long for what she longs for.
Overall: Heartbreaking, emotional, but a great story. This book is realistic and you will be sucked right into Alice's life. You will feel what she feels, think what she thinks, long for what she longs for.
Helpful Score: 1
Wonderful book. Read it in a few hours. The storyline pulls you in and will not let you go. Once finished the characters will stay with you. A horrible story, beautifully told.
Helpful Score: 1
WOW! This was a fast read but in no way a light one. I don't even know what to say here. I'm seriously shocked. All I want to do is go grab my daughter and hold her close and warn her once again to never ever go anywhere with anyone no matter what they say or how helpful they may seem.
It's absolutely terrifying to think about this book....
It's absolutely terrifying to think about this book....
