Member Reviews

I do love a twist however, it didn't feel like it was completely plausible. It did have the sixth sense thing going that you could go back and look at what happened and say "OH, now I get it" but still a little too much happening to buy in.

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This one was slow. Slow moving throughout. And the story was told through two different points of view, with a lot of repeated information. I felt like the story went in circles for a long time and the characters weren't very developed, so I didn't care about any of them. And then the twist came and I didn't care anymore at all.

Will my students enjoy it? Probably. I'll stick it on the shelf and some will read it. But this was a dud for me.

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I found Silent Sister to be an enjoyable mystery/thriller. The premise, and cover definitely pulled me in and I finished this in one sitting.

I'm a big fan of YA thrillers, and have been my whole life as an avid reader. I grew up devouring Fear Street books as soon as they hit shelves. That being said, I often give them more leeway when rating and reviewing, which is what I had to do with this particular story. The writing was fine, the story was fine, but it was a bit of a slog to get through as I determined the ending very early on. It's a fun (if not a bit obvious) twist, but you really had to suspend disbelief for it to be dragged out through the entirety of the book. It being YA certainly made me more forgiving of this.

All in all, this was a just fine read and was a nice way to spend an afternoon. I would recommend it to those that enjoy YA thrillers, but especially those that are actuality YA.

Thank you to Random House Children's for the e-ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

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Unnecessary information and repetition made this a slow read for me. Plot points seem to go around and around in circles. It felt like the author was trying to have too much going on and not successfully developing any of them. The ending was underwhelming because I had guessed the big reveal early on. Sadly, I didn't find the book to be mysterious at all.

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Great book!! I loved the plot and even though I saw the twist coming, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story at all! She writes in such an engaging manner, I was sucked in from start to finish. The characters were rich, the twists fully fleshed out, and the story was thrilling. I’d love to read more from her any day of the week!

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This book was written in multiple perspectives. I was able to figure out the "twist" early on, based on multiple things. I think the author tried to throw suspicion off by making it be a "murder" investigation about the sister's death.

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I didn’t not enjoy the characters, nor the writing style. I’m sure others will enjoy it as it is a bit suspenseful.

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"Sister Sister" is a young adult novel that follows the perspectives of two sisters, Maddy and Grace. Both of them are about to embark on the yearly Senior Sabbatical, but only one of them returns home with no recollection of what happened. This raises the question, what happened to the sister who did not return? The novel creates great suspense by alternating between the past and present perspectives of both sisters, leading readers closer to the truth. The story is full of twists and turns, making it a great read for anyone who enjoys suspenseful novels.

I would like to express my gratitude to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC to review. My review is unbiased and honest.

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This is a YA book and my students will relate to some of the themes of the book for sure. The relationship between the sisters was interesting and all the hardships of high school. As an adult, sometimes it was hard to distinguish the between the two sister's voices, unless this was done deliberately? I found it somewhat long and somewhat predictable and could have gone deeper, but again my students will like it

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I did enjoy this book although I feel like it was very predictable. I had it figured out wry early but kept hoping something else would turn or twist. It did not. The book was well written and still enjoyable. Just predictable.

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I think the cover was more suspenseful that the book ended up being. However, I'll admit there were some parts, that I thought were leading up to something.

This is simply a heartbreaking book about grief, trauma, and two sisters who believe totally different things about themselves than the world around them sees.

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Decent mystery, well-created main characters, and good sisterly relationship. A little slower, but good payoff.

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Thank you to netgalley and Random House Children's | Delacorte Press for allowing me to read this book. I really enjoyed the elements of this book.

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Two sisters, Grace and Maddy, less than a year apart in age and look enough alike that everyone thinks they are twins. They are both seniors in high school and are going on the Senior Sabbatical that all seniors for many years have done, only this time, one sister comes home and the other doesn't.

This YA was written so well that all I wanted to do was sit and read. I finished quicker than I do many books because I couldn't stop turning pages. You hear from both girls telling the story of the week at Sabbatical leading ever closer to the truth of what happened. Davidhizar is a talented author and I look forward to her next book.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

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Silent Sister is a debut novel that undeniably showcases the author’s ambition and thoughtfulness in crafting a complex narrative. The premise itself is gripping: two sisters, Grace and Maddy, vanish during a class trip, but only Grace returns, her memory lost and her clothes stained with her sister's blood. This sets a chilling stage that immediately captures the reader's attention.

The author excels in maintaining suspense throughout the book, skillfully keeping readers on edge as they ponder the twist that will unravel the mystery. While I found myself hoping for a different twist, the one provided still offers a satisfying conclusion to the tangled web of secrets.

Despite some pacing issues where the story occasionally lagged, the novel successfully holds the reader's intrigue. The use of Maddy’s journal and poetry as a narrative device is particularly effective, providing insight into her character and adding depth to the plot. I found myself in awe of some of the poetry and techniques the author came up with. The exploration of each sister's perspective, along with the dynamics of their relationships, enriches the story and adds layers to the mystery.

Silent Sister is an admirable debut that bravely tackles a complex plot with numerous characters and moving parts. The author's effort to weave this intricate tale is commendable, making it a promising start to their writing career. While not without its flaws, the novel is a testament to the author's potential, and I look forward to seeing how their storytelling evolves in future works.

Thank you for the eARC!

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I think this will be a hard review to put into words without spoilers.

I think the cover was more suspenseful that the book ended up being. However, I'll admit there were some parts, that I thought were leading up to something.

This is simply a heartbreaking book about grief, trauma, and two sisters who believe totally different things about themselves than the world around them sees.

While I may have guessed at the big reveal pretty much from the start, it did not detract from the story and message. And the author did a great job having me second guess myself throughout.

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Very engaging and creative. I loved the dual pov that spanned across two different times and gave pieces of info a little at a time and in a natural way. I didn't see the twist/answer coming which I appreciate but I also wish some of the pieces we'd seen earlier fit into place a little better once we had a resolution

***Spoilers from here on***
I was super excited and surprised to see the identity swap but I thought some parts were glossed over too quickly. I wish a little bit more time had been spent connecting all the dots and really showing all the signs we the reader missed along the way and all the times she was showing her delusion. Felt a little weird that her parents and therapist kinda knew what was going on but they didn't do anything lol. Didn't feel super believable.

Overall it was smart and cute. I liked the poems interspersed and as a youngest sibling I could feel and relate to the main character's angst and feelings of living in the shadows.

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To say I'm flabbergasted by the reveal would be a complete understatement. I had a budding theory throughout the novel and yet was thoroughly satisfied by what happened. The author did a fantastic job of laying down the groundwork for two incredibly layered individuals who at the end of the day needed each other.

All that is to say, the ending did feel rather abrupt and I would have liked more emotional closure for Maddy by the end.

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This book got me out of a book slump!! I have a sister and I really enjoy reading books about sisters. There were so many layers to the characters. The characters and plot were so detailed and very well developed. The threads that the author wove to get to the end….incredible!

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Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. This book is told in alternate chapters between Grace and Maddy. As we read Maddy's point of view we start to feel sorry for her and how she has not stood up for herself. Then we start to wonder as we seen tension rise between Maddy and Grace especially as Maddy is writing down her thoughts during the senior trip if she really did harm her sister. It's a sad book but it's a good reminder to live your best life. Don't be afraid to just grab on to life and actually live.

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