Deadly Stranger

by Peg Kehret

When twelve-year-old Shannon is kidnapped by a psychopath, her new friend, Katie, finds her life in danger when she unknowingly becomes the kidnapper's only witness.

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Thriller, Middle Grade, Kidnapping, Suspense, Juvenile

Paperback

First published January 28, 1987

About the author

Peg Kehret writes middle grade fiction and nonfiction. She's won dozens of state children's choice awards, where kids vote for their favorite book.

When she was twelve, Peg was paralyzed with polio. Most of her protagonists are the age she was then.

A volunteer with animal rescue groups, three of Peg's books are co-authored by Pete the Cat."

Reviews

[Selena Chandler-williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first "grown up" book I ever read. I read this book when I was in the 5th grade. As I was reading this book when I was 11 years old I felt like I was in the story. It sparked my love for reading and the total escape from reality that a good book offers it's reader. I hope to find it so I can add it to my bookshelf at home.

[Bailey Van Sickle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The setting of this book is modern day, in Shannon's house, and a barn out in the middle of no where. The conflict is Shannon has been kidnapped by this man who claims to be her brother. Katie shows and up and see's this man ,but since she just met Shannon she didn't know who this man really was. The main characters are Shannon Lindstorm, Katie Osborne, and the kidnapper (never really use his real name a lot mostly call him "he" or "him"). Shannon has been kidnapped by someone who is convinced is his sister "Angie" ,but no one knows who or where he's taken her ,except Katie Osborne. Shannon must go through a suspenseful journey to get away, meaning she has to not only outsmart the kidnapper ,but use her studies on disturbed people to become a psychiatrist. Except she is not the only one in danger of this kidnapper, he's after someone else who know's what he looks like and could give him away.
I thought this was a very good book because it was not only suspenseful but kept you hanging with questions, also it puts you in the shoes of girl who got kidnapped. I thought through this book it was amazing how the author put this into such detailed words that you could almost see what Shannon and Katie was going through and it gave you a kind of agony. Not only does it put you in the shoes of the victim ,but it also makes you think what would I do if this happened to me? How would I get away without getting killed?
You might want to read this book not only because you get to see almost what it is like to be in the victims shoes ,but to also wonder what would I do in this situation. Also, this book is very suspenseful leaving you wanting more. No words to put how the author put it. You might also want to read this book if you are a person who likes kidnapping and suspenseful stories. In conclusion, this book is a marvelous book that keeps you on edge and keeps you questioning at the end.

[YARITZA SANTIAGO · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was amazing. This book is about this girl named Katie and her family move to a new town and she go to a new school but she doesn't want to. But on Katie's first day she meets this girl named Shannon and they start talking and becoming good friends. Then and the end of school they walk home together and when Shannon gets home she starts eating an apple when someone grabs her and closes her mouth and tells her not to speak or scream or she dies and then he starts looking around for something but she doesn't know what he is looking for and then all of a sudden someone rings the door bell.. if u want to find out who is at the door you ave to read the book and find out.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reading intervention class I work in just finished the book. I liked how the book takes a very real, yet delicate topic - the kidnapping of a young girl - and keeps it PG. The kids in the class, all very reluctant readers, were sucked into the book and would complain when it was put down for the day. Any book that can do that for kids like these deserves to be shared. Great story.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good kidnapping novel for young readers.

[Kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was really good.

[Paige Horrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like books with suspenseful cliff-hangers this is definitely the book for you! It all starts when Katie Osborne moves to a new town. On her first day she meets a girl named Shannon Lindsrtom when they begin to become friends Shannon asked for Katie to go shopping later that day with her. It all falls apart when Katie gets stuck babysitting her little brother. When Katie goes over to Shannon's to tell her she cant go shopping some guy answers the door.. Katie does remember Shannon talking about her older brother who is about 10 years of age apart. But when Katie gets told Shannon went to piano lessons now she is definitely confused. Katie hands the guy her name, number and address. The next day when Katie goes into school she hears the horrible news of Shannon's disappearance.. On Katie's way home from school she hears an approaching green car who seems to have turns just to hit Katie. Now with Katie in the hospital with a broken leg. On the other hand, Shannon is in the middle of nowhere in a barn trying to think of an escape plan. Finally she comes up with one.. Does it work or not? Now with Katie at home alone with a broken leg does Shannon's kidnapper come for Katie or not? Find out when you read this story in which you can't put the book down!

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

,,
Katie has just moved to town and is starting a new school where she meets Shannon, who ends up getting kidnapped. Before the kidnapping, Katie and Shannon tell the other what they want to do for a living. Katie wants to work with animals, and Shannon wants to be a Psychiatrist. Katie likes to refer to people as the various animals mostly dogs, that she sees them as, and this is cute.
The book tells alternating chapters of both Shannon, and Katie. Shannon spends a lot of the book trying to figure out how to get away from the kidnapping, and Katie spends a good bit of the book in the hospital.
The only real complaint that i've got about this book is that I wish that Katie would have come forth with all the information that she had, but if she had, I guess the book would have been a bit boring. I did like both of the girls in this book, and I felt that the book delt pretty well with kidnapping, and what could come of it.

[G Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Deadly stranger Katie Osborne was going to a new school and wasnt sure if she would fit in.She went to school and made a new friend Shannon Lindstrom, Shannon helps katie find all her classes and even lets her sit at her table for lunch,the next day Shannon was missing.Katie didnt even think that she ran away because she knew Shannon didnt seem like thjat type of person.Later on in the story Katie got hit by a car and that gave eveyone ven more suspicion if Shannon really ran away or got hit and couldnt be located.Want to find out what really happened to Shannon and katie?Read this book and youll find out.

[Abigayle Hulslander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie moved to a new school and then meet a girl named Shannon who was kidnapped the first day they met. Katie seen the stranger who played as Shannon's brother so Katie never told the police about her meeting Shannon's "brother". Shannon real brother is only two years old. Katie was hit by the man who took Shannon, he wanted her dead, so the police can't find him because Katie knows what he looked like. The man who took Shannon thought that she was his sister who died in a crash like his mom, he escaped and mental hospital to look for his sister.

[Mariah Dickerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the book "Deadly Stranger" Katie Osborne is going to a new school and town! Katie moved from Mill Valley to the town of Franklin. Katie did not think she was going to fit into her new school but she did! When Katie arrived she met a young girl named Shannon Lindstrom. Katie and Shannon became good friends, maybe even true friends. One day, Katie went to class but Shannon was nowhere to be found. The teacher had given an announcement that Shannon Lindstom went missing the day before. If you want to find out where Shannon is or what happened to her you'll have to read "Deadly Stranger"

[Izzy Book Queen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with every Peg Kehret book, it was crazy. Same routine: The beginning was sort of slow, then there was action, then a stupid character made a mistake, then the action packed addicting climax, then the character development and resolution, and finally a reflection of the lesson/moral.
So basically, every one of her books is exciting but also has a greater meaning.

[Ninfa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book ,this book makes u feel like your in the story like for reals. Its really that good.This is a girl who has a mind and dosent completely shut down once something bad happens she thinkS and looks for clues and possible answers to what shes loking for ....Read this book!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books of all time! It is about a girl who gets kidnapped. She doesn't know why, and she doesn't even know the guy. He comes in and takes her from her house. Read the book to find out what happens. I suggest for eveyone to read this book! :)

[Jordyn]

I love this book! It's awesome and I just love the books this author creates! She has so much passion for kidnapping and close to the heart stories! Not finished reading yet but I think this is one of my favorite books by peg!
GO PEG!!!!!! How do you read your books!?!?!

[mia :) edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book that I have ever read!! This book has 2 point of views. 1 point of view from a girl who gets kidnapped, and 1 point of view of a girl who gets hit by a car. It is the Best Book Ever & I recommend this book to you!

[Catherine Mustread · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspenseful middle-grade fiction.

[Mattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWSOME BOOK LOVED IT

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katie is a new girl in school, and meets Shannon. But Shannon goes missing that very afternoon.

[Chelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it how it the author made it go back and forth between the two girls, but I really didn't like how it started and how it ended.

[Cece · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was totally awesome! I would suggest it if you like kidnapping stories. I know I definitely do...

[Heather Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

i think it is asome i luv it who ever write this book i will give them 100 dollers that how good this book was...

[Jeremiah N.]

Deadly stranger one of the best books I have ever read.

[Shay Debeer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome and totally suspenseful..

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I was in the fourth grade when this book first caught my eye, and I read it a few times more after that. It was the 'gateway' book that put me onto the mystery/thriller novels I LOVE to read!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a really good action packed book. I could not stop reading this book over the weekend, so i gad to finish it.

[J~a~z~z~i~e · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg when i found out that David was going to kill Kate i couldn't stop reading the book but i had to..

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was good!

[LeAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

fast paced and well-written, but not particularly profound. 2 POVs

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as part of my quest to find the book I remember reading as a kid where a character remembers a license plate with MBA by reciting "mom buys apples." This didn't happen in this book, but it did have a character remembering the license plate HES by saying "hogs eat slop." This makes me wonder, did I read this book and then see a license plate with MBA in real life and remember it? I remember sitting in the car when my mom would quickly run into the store and memorizing license plates of cars in case someone kidnapped me. So maybe my would-be kidnapper had an MBA license plate?