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The Outliers

Review

The Outliers

New from bestselling author Kimberly McCreight comes THE OUTLIERS, the start of a new series full of mystery, thrills and danger.

Wylie is struggling to make it through the days, as her anxiety is at an all time high after "the accident,” where her mom tragically died in a car crash. Her dad and brother aren't quite affected by it like she is, and she finds herself on a downward spiral. Meanwhile, her friend Cassie has disappeared. This isn't entirely surprising news --- the distance between Wylie and Cassie has grown immensely after Cassie has taken up drinking. The worse her drinking becomes, the worse it affects her relationships with the people who care for her. Even though they aren't exactly on good terms, Wylie feels determined to find Cassie when her distressed mother comes over to their house begging for help. Although she only wants to prove that she can be a good friend, Wylie soon finds herself in more trouble than she ever imagined.

"THE OUTLIERS combines many appealing concepts while also creating some new ones, making it a unique and enjoyable read."

Cassie texts Wylie telling her she needs her help --- her help specifically --- and sends over her boyfriend Jasper to drive and assist her. Wylie and Jasper haven't met but they've both heard some not-so appealing rumors about each other and start off on bad terms. However, They know they must work together, however, in order to follow Cassie's specific instructions combined with vague information on her situation. Soon, what begins as a wild goose chase quickly turns dangerous and mysterious. Problems begin to unfold quickly as they realize there are a lot more layers to the situation than even Cassie herself is aware of. They never know who to trust, or where to go. Their expedition to find their friend soon turns into a life threatening situation for all three of them.

THE OUTLIERS by Kimberly McCreight is a novel full of mystery, excitement, and danger. The story picks up speed quickly, getting you hooked from the very start of the book, and never loses momentum. The characters all have their own backstories and personality traits --- some of which are hidden so that you're always on the edge of your seat to discover more about them. Just when you think you have this book figured out, it will turn out to be the opposite of what you expected, providing a thrilling reading experience. THE OUTLIERS combines many appealing concepts while also creating some new ones, making it a unique and enjoyable read. The story is told in a way that mixes present events with flashbacks so as to uncover more of the plot as you go along to help you figure things out. This novel creates such vivid visualizations that make it an exciting and extremely enjoyable read.

Reviewed by Maggie L., Teen Board Member on May 17, 2016

The Outliers
by Kimberly McCreight