Wish You Were Dead

The title of my book is Wish You Were Dead by Tom Strausser, who has also written Give a Boy a Gun, Boot Camp and more fascinating books. This book differs from his others because this story can interest more teenagers due to high school society problems, rather than just mysteries or sport stories. Two friends never expected their best friend would disappear, especially since more than one are no where to be found. Since they are scared and their parents encourage them to find out as much possible, they still are concerned who the kidnapper is. As they gain the strength and bravery to try and find their friends, the two friends are trapped for a while by the suspect, someone they are close with.

The main characters in this story are Lucy, Madison, Tyler, Courtney, Adam, Ethan and Ms. Skelling. The teenagers face the conflicts of worrying about where their friends are dissapearing to, dissapearing themselves and wondering if their friends who are gone are okay. The hardships and obstacles are the distractions, causing tension and suspense in the story. Without the extreme tension throughout the suspicious story, there would be no motivation to keep us readers going.

The level of quality put into the book from the author, shows there is nothing more sacrificing than a friend or two risking their lives for loved ones. Tyler and Madison, along with the other friends, will strive to do anything to know where Lucy is and if she is okay, the first friend who disappeared. By the time they take their risk, they know where Lucy has been during the whole investigation time period.

Wish You Were Dead is about teenagers who were scared for their own lives ever since their friend Lucy disappeared from own her front yard. They never knew what was going on, except the fact that more friends were being kidnapped one at a time. Everyday these teens lived in shock and concern, along with their families, wondering if they're next to disappear or if their friends are okay. Without any idea, the teenagers discovered who was causing all of the problems for them. A person they would never think of was the suspect the whole time, creating the most action in this story.

I absolutely loved this story by Tom Strausser because its suspense kept me reading throughout the whole thing. I suggest that everyone who is interested in reading or those looking for a book in English classes, to immediately read this story. This is an amazing story with tons of action. It is also one of those books that you cannot miss a chapter of. In Wish You Were Dead, there is a key point to every chapter that keeps the story seem like you're a character in the book.

Book Review by Jaylen F.