I love April Henry’s suspense/intrigue books for my middle schoolers. This one involved terrorist attack on a mall and people who are trapped. She has the ability to keep the story moving and yet she always has a quick turn at the end that leaves me completely amazed!

My first thought? At least this wasn't a school shooting. Second thought? There was very little compelling about any of the characters - no one to really root for or care about. There are other books that have tackled similar topics (although usually at a school, not a mall) and some do give us characters we become attached to. Let's face it, the news gives us so much of this anyway that without some real hook it's not compelling.

eARC provided by publisher.

This novel centers around an active shooting in mall, so fair warning that it's not for everyone.
Personally, I found that part compelling, and it seems like to author did a fair amount of research/reading into responses/advice from real police and professionals who deal with active shooters.
The core of the story and the characters were decent, but there were so many issues shoved into this book. Prejudice, drug use, undocumented immigrants, cancer, government conspiracy theories, and on and on. Ultimately it was just too much for me.

Many thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this title for review. All opinions are my own.

This was one of the best April Henry books I've read. She is always a HUGE draw in my library and many, many of my middle school students blaze through her books. I already know that I will need to order multiple copies of this one to fill the demand. And, this is one that I am happy to do so for because it is WORTH it to have that many on your shelves.

Run, Hide, Fight Back follows the story of 6 teens who are trapped in a mall when an active shooter situation unfolds. The mall is taken over by a group of domestic terrorists who are trying to draw attention to their anti-government agenda. They release some, kill many, and hold a large group hostage. Unbeknownst to them though is a group of 5 other teenagers hiding in one of the storefronts. These 5 try to find a way to escape, while also trying to unravel what is happening and why all of this is going on. The action is fast-paced and the characters are believable. Highly recommend.

This book is a first purchase book for collections where mysteries and thrillers are popular. There is no language issues, and no explicit sexual content, and I would say it is appropriate for grades 7 and up.

Mass shootings in America is a big deal these days so I applaud the author for writing a story that will apply to teens. Parts of the story were really hard to read because it could happen anywhere to anyone. Other parts of the story were written in a messy fashion and did not fit well.

This one sucked me in from the start. I was pulled into the action and felt like I was in the middle of this horrific event. The twist part I had figured out earlier but it was still believable when it was finally revealed. I enjoyed this and wish it would have been a bit longer...maybe with some more build up between the initial time and then end. Good overall though.

Also, I hate that this has been delayed. I get the reasoning but it is a really good book and I think it would be well received now or two years from now.

Thank you to Netgalley and Henry Holt Books for the advance Kindle copy of this book. I actually did read it prior to its release on 5/8, but it’s been crazy around here! All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 for April Henry’s latest thriller. Five teens are at a mall when several shooters open fire. As the shooters take anyone who is still alive hostage, the teens find themselves hiding in storage rooms, planning and fighting for their lives. This book spares no detail and is bound to really stick with readers. Because of the graphic nature and a few other details about the characters, I would recommend this for grades 8 and up.

Everyone thinks it is just another day at the Portland shopping mall when masked men open fire and start killing people in the food court. Some make it out, some are taken hostage and a group of teens hide in a store. This group has three choices. They can run, they can hide or they can fight back. What they don’t know is that the men with the guns are not the only people with secrets. Do these teens have what it takes to get out alive? What sacrifices will they need to make along the way?

Run, Hide, Fight Back is a stand-alone novel that will have readers turning page after page without pause. Henry has included a variety of characters with many flaws and strengths that give vibrancy to the story. Unfortunately, it is a tough topic that is in the news too often lately, yet readers will come away feeling as if they were given a fair interpretation of all sides. Readers will want to get to the end as quickly as they can, so that they may know who survives and who gets what they deserve.

Received from Netgalley in exchange for an Honest Review.

What I loved: Miranda...So typically female characters written as the damsels in distress. This girl...she found her strength and pushed herself through the whole thing. I loved that.
What I liked: I liked that all the characters were a little imperfect, a little broken. Everyone had something they didn't want others to know.
What I hated: Can't say I really hated anything.

Overall: Well written, well researched...while I hate that the subject matter has become our new normal, I think this book was great

Run, Hide, Fight Back is not for sensitive readers who fear mass shootings. I had a rough time with the first section. This situation could happen anywhere and was incredibly realistic, stressful and action-packed. Once the shooting was done and the mystery started, I had an easier time reading.

I enjoyed getting to know the characters. It was amazing that they were so distinct considering that the book was so short. The author didn’t shy away from the differences that they had between each other, either. It showed both sides to each story. Unfortunately, I saw the twist coming from a mile away, but I don’t think that teens, especially younger ones, will. One of the storylines is abandoned for so long that I forgot about it, but I figured out what was going on once that storyline was reintroduced. Again, I don’t think that teens necessarily will figure it out.

I think that older teens will appreciate the issues and the quick read. If younger teens can handle violence and stressful situations, they will not be able to put Run, Hide, Fight Back down.

A realistic, fictional account of a shopping mall shooting where terrorist are trying to make a political statement. This terrifying account focuses on six teens hiding in a mall store with only a metal gate between them and the killers. The strength of the group lies in the diversity of the individuals. The killers, close by in another part of the mall, have taken many hostages, threatening to kill them all if their manifesto is not fulfilled. Booby traps are in place to explode and kill law enforcement who may try a rescue operation. The men are unaware that there are people hiding; the six teens and a boy with his little sister. As the event plays out there are some very unexpected developments that shocked this reader.
The book has been well researched as evidenced by the authors notes at the end of the book, concerning the number of exits required for a mall, what doors can be locked, fire arms, munitions, how to treat injuries without a first aid kit, etc.
Therefore, this has been written in a hauntingly real manner that will stick in the mind of the reader long after you turn the last page.

Somehow the archive date on this publication changed so I was unable to download it. I am a little surprised that it is already archived since the publication date says Sept. 2019. Giving it a neutral score of 3 stars.

If you like a book purely driven by action with some social commentary thrown in then you will enjoy this book.

There is absolutely no character development, you know one thing about each character (MAYBE two if they are a "main" character) and that is their "thing" for the whole book. For me, it was boring and cliched.

This is another great read by April Henry. She has been one of my "automatic reads" for a few years now and I know my students love her titles. I was extra excited to read this one because my twitter handle is used in the book, makes me feel special. :)
I enjoyed the fast-paced, intense aspect of this book. This is what keeps me (and especially my students) reading and interested. This will be one of those titles I can recommend to those who claim they don't like reading and they will be hooked, as I have done with many of April Henry's past titles. Thanks for another great book!

With recent headlines that don't seem to ever let up, reading a story rooted in gun violence was a little difficult. Writing a review of said book proved to be even more daunting. "Run, Hide, Fight Back" is a realistic fictional account of a mall shooting where the gunmen are trying to make a political statement. Told from various perspectives that all come together, the reader will experience the shooting on the front lines as well as from a distance. The narrators are various teenagers and young adults - each reader is sure to find someone who intrigues them or who they identify with.

While the book is not intended to be a "how to survive" guide, there are several good strategies used and tried by the characters that may end up saving lives one day.

Great read for April Henry fans as well as those who enjoyed "This is Where it Ends" by Marieke Nijkamp, this is sure to be the first in a booming genre of mass shooting related YA books so our teens can grapple with the subject and come to terms with current events.

I thought that this was a really interesting read on a shooting situation, especially in light of the recent shootings in the country. When a shooting takes place in a mall, a group of teens must come together to try and survive. Told in different points of view, this story was one that is worth reading. There were a lot of things to think about when reading this book and it really made the reader think about what/how they would react in this same situation. There were twists and turns in the story and it was a good, action packed read. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

When six teens are trapped in a mall by a group of masked shooters they can either run, hide, or fight back. Their instincts go into survival mode and they decide to run and hide. But one of these teens is hiding a secret that will put the others at risk, forcing them to come out of hiding and fight for their lives.

This is a great story that has a few unexpected twists that unfold at the end. Ms. Henry is a compelling storyteller that knows how to keep the reader engaged and I was curious to see who made it through this ordeal alive.

A quick and tense read depicting six teenagers during a mall shooting in Oregon. They have three choices to hide, run or fight back while they scramble to safety and watch as people are shot down next to them. Thirty or so people are taken hostage by a radical free-government group and the US government/police force must meet their demands or else they will start killing hostages.

Parker, Miranda, Amina, Cole, Grace, and Javier band together to try and escape from the mall, but upon realizing all doors are locked, they decide to fight back in their own ways against the shooters.

Each character was down to earth and had struggles and losses, making them feel more than one dimensional. The story was short, but the action and intensity made up for it, especially since you were holding your breath and waiting to see who was going to perish. I didn’t pick up on the twist until the 65% mark and then everything started to make sense. The twist could have taken certain angles, but I liked the one the author took.

I will definitely be reading more books by this author since her writing has intrigued me!

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

Excellent! April Henry never fails to provide a nail-biting thrill ride. I know my students will eat this right up. I loved the the little surprises here and there. My only complaint may have been the “okay” deaths throughout the story. Most of the deaths were justified or necessary in some way. No one who I was truly committed to died.

Afterthought: Upon finishing the book, I was initially very satisfied; however, throughout the day I felt guilty because I thought I should have had more of a sick feeling in my stomach. Possibly due to the terrible shootings in the news, I questioned if I should have more horror when reading books like this. I don’t believe this is an issue with book, but maybe the thriller and action genres. Batman now has a conscience, Marvel Avengers are being called to task for their destruction of cities and they are not alone. Are writers and movies supposed to be teaching us or simply entertaining us? I’m not sure how I feel. I just know I enjoyed this book as entertainment , but I still very much value human life at the end of it.

Certainly tense and fast-paced, though the characters and message are a little muddled and unsubtle. A book version of a popcorn thriller.