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Dropped!
Dex is dropped onto a deserted tropical island to be a player in a social media competition. Dex is one of six contestants on Dropped! , an internet reality show. He’s glad to escape his real life after being dumped by his girlfriend, Lola, and destroying his social life. He and the other contenders have to spend five days on a deserted island, and the person who gains the most likes and followers will be the winner. The prize is a ton of money and status as an influencer. Keeping people watching is the challenge, and Dex will do whatever it takes. He needs to win―it’s the only way to get Lola and his popularity back. But on the island, away from his ex, he finds himself flirting with the gorgeous and popular Amina. When Dex keeps placing behind Amina, he realizes he has to be more daring to get the engagements he needs. But how extreme will he need to be? And is it worth it to win?
- GenresYoung Adult
96 pages, Paperback
Published February 13, 2024
12 people want to read
About the author
Alice Kuipers
25 books359 followers
Free Online Writing Course? Sign up here: eepurl.com/bA03lH
I was born in London, England, and I moved to Canada in 2003 when I fell in love with a Canadian. We live in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, which took a while for me to learn how to spell. I have four children, a girl and three boys.
My first novel, Life on the Refrigerator Door, was published in 29 countries, won several awards and was named as a New York Times book for the Teen Age. My second is called Lost For Words in the US, and The Worst Thing She Ever Did everywhere else. It won the Arthur Ellis Award, was shortlisted for the White Pine and Willow Awards, and was published in eight territories. 40 Things I Want To Tell You is my YA book published in 2012. The Death of Us, a CLA honour book, in 2014. My newest YA novel is Me (and) Me.
Violet and Victor Write the Best-Ever Bookworm Book is my first picture book. It was published with Little, Brown Books For Young Readers in December 2014, and the sequel Violet and Victor Write The Most Fabulous Fairy Tale is available now.
Find me at www.alicekuipers.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 24, 2023
Survival takes on a modern meaning in this quick and engaging read.
Dex is one of six people chosen for a new, internet reality show, where the contestants are dropped off on an island and the winner is the one who gains the highest social media status. For Dex, this is the chance to reboot his crashed internet presence thanks to a messy break-up with his girlfriend. The island is a tropical paradise and the show's promoters have everything planned out perfectly, but the competition is fierce. Dex knows his stuff and with his ex watching, he's sure he has a pretty good shot at winning...if the entire thing doesn't go too far.
This is a neat twist on the survival show insanity, which manages to keep the tension pretty high while not pushing it further than most sensitive readers could even handle. In other words, this one is perfectly fine even for the upper middle grade audience. The writing grabs as the writer cleverly weaves the media postings with described screen shots, and still, even weaves in enough traditional storytelling to keep it all together. The descriptions are concise, yet, give enough to make the world vivid. Even the emotions, on Dex's end, come across clearly and understandably. Outside of the break-up with his girlfriend, he's actually well-placed in life and fairly ordinary, making him very easy to root for.
Unlike many young adult reads, this book weighs in at less than 100 pages, and the author, for the most part, uses this space very well. Of course, the depth and background isn't as present as in a full-fledged novel, especially in the sub-characters, but for the purpose of the read, it works well. It's nice to dive in and enjoy the short tension, and this one holds enough action to keep the pacing high. The resolution, however, didn't get the attention it needed and came across as rushed and edged the last impression to superficial. But it was still an enjoyable read and does have digestible food for modern thought.
The messages in this one rotate around the addiction to social media and how much it takes over people's lives. The question surrounding appearances versus reality is also touched upon. It drives the point home in a clever way, while offering the warmth of kindness and of true, forming friendships. It is a great read for classroom settings as well as homeschoolers...or simply to grab up for a tale all on its own. I received a DRC and am so glad I picked it up because it was an engaging adventure.
Dex is one of six people chosen for a new, internet reality show, where the contestants are dropped off on an island and the winner is the one who gains the highest social media status. For Dex, this is the chance to reboot his crashed internet presence thanks to a messy break-up with his girlfriend. The island is a tropical paradise and the show's promoters have everything planned out perfectly, but the competition is fierce. Dex knows his stuff and with his ex watching, he's sure he has a pretty good shot at winning...if the entire thing doesn't go too far.
This is a neat twist on the survival show insanity, which manages to keep the tension pretty high while not pushing it further than most sensitive readers could even handle. In other words, this one is perfectly fine even for the upper middle grade audience. The writing grabs as the writer cleverly weaves the media postings with described screen shots, and still, even weaves in enough traditional storytelling to keep it all together. The descriptions are concise, yet, give enough to make the world vivid. Even the emotions, on Dex's end, come across clearly and understandably. Outside of the break-up with his girlfriend, he's actually well-placed in life and fairly ordinary, making him very easy to root for.
Unlike many young adult reads, this book weighs in at less than 100 pages, and the author, for the most part, uses this space very well. Of course, the depth and background isn't as present as in a full-fledged novel, especially in the sub-characters, but for the purpose of the read, it works well. It's nice to dive in and enjoy the short tension, and this one holds enough action to keep the pacing high. The resolution, however, didn't get the attention it needed and came across as rushed and edged the last impression to superficial. But it was still an enjoyable read and does have digestible food for modern thought.
The messages in this one rotate around the addiction to social media and how much it takes over people's lives. The question surrounding appearances versus reality is also touched upon. It drives the point home in a clever way, while offering the warmth of kindness and of true, forming friendships. It is a great read for classroom settings as well as homeschoolers...or simply to grab up for a tale all on its own. I received a DRC and am so glad I picked it up because it was an engaging adventure.
December 9, 2024
Imagine if you were chosen with six other contestants to be dropped off into a deserted island with nothing much to survive, and whoever made the most number of followers likes and views wins a huge cash prize and gets titled a content creator! In the book Dropped by Alice Kuipers, a kid named Dex becomes one of the six contestants and is dropped by a helicopter onto the island. He has two main goals. Number 1: to impress his ex Lola and maybe get her back. Number 2: to win the cash prize to help his family and to pursue his content creation dreams. To belong at the top of the list of most views, likes and followers, Dex does anything to keep his fans entertained and to maybe gain some new ones. Everyday Dex and the other content creators receive new challenges such as climbing a huge mountain or strategic challenges such as finding the buried treasure secretly. Dex and the others all record their journeys on these challenges daily and receive lots of views and likes unlike everyone else Amina is sitting strong at the top with a bunch of followers and likes. Do you think Dex has what it takes to complete this challenge?
I used to despise reading books even if they were very short or very long. One day my friend recommended a book named Dropped by Alice Kuipers. I thought it was just another one of those boring short books. But I was wrong. Once I opened the book it was a whole different experience of reading. The book was published in 2024 which was very recent and was very relevant. Just the idea of a kid my age getting dropped into an island and making videos trying to get to the top just made me want to read more to see if he could win. It was such a short book but yet had so much action and many characters and scenes. For me it was a whole nother level of reading especially for someone like me who doesn't like to read at all.
I used to despise reading books even if they were very short or very long. One day my friend recommended a book named Dropped by Alice Kuipers. I thought it was just another one of those boring short books. But I was wrong. Once I opened the book it was a whole different experience of reading. The book was published in 2024 which was very recent and was very relevant. Just the idea of a kid my age getting dropped into an island and making videos trying to get to the top just made me want to read more to see if he could win. It was such a short book but yet had so much action and many characters and scenes. For me it was a whole nother level of reading especially for someone like me who doesn't like to read at all.
August 28, 2023
Impactful short novel for tweens, although written with a reading difficulty of something destined for nine year olds, this shows Dex, helicoptered along with five other teens onto a desert island, with a massive cash prize for whoever comes out of it with the best social media profile and ratings. Will he go all out for the money – after all, social media is all he's been geared up to all his life and his girlfriend has just left him (cue embarrassing stream of him trying to woo her back)? Will the hot girl of the six just romp away with the prize? Or will any of them actually realise that real life might actually mean more than likes and collecting emojis?
I'd like to say this felt tired and old-hat, that reality TV like the ever-feeding "Dropped!" game was so 2010s, but the fact/problem is that's not true enough – this could still convince. Alright, it might not fully convince the mince-heads stuck to their mobiles every waking minute, but they wouldn't read this, even if they could. But for those a bit more in tune with civilisation – those able to see the world away from a screen for ten minutes – they would easily find this worth the time. I mean they would also see the moral too obvious and the whole thing too slight in the finish, but they wouldn't be disappointed with the quick read this provides. A shade under four stars, perhaps, but that's what I feel this deserves.
I'd like to say this felt tired and old-hat, that reality TV like the ever-feeding "Dropped!" game was so 2010s, but the fact/problem is that's not true enough – this could still convince. Alright, it might not fully convince the mince-heads stuck to their mobiles every waking minute, but they wouldn't read this, even if they could. But for those a bit more in tune with civilisation – those able to see the world away from a screen for ten minutes – they would easily find this worth the time. I mean they would also see the moral too obvious and the whole thing too slight in the finish, but they wouldn't be disappointed with the quick read this provides. A shade under four stars, perhaps, but that's what I feel this deserves.
November 6, 2023
This quick read is ideal for inspiring a reluctant reader to engage with a book. The story is fast-paced, the topic is very relatable, and there’s a thread of humor to keep it from getting too serious. The dialogue is well done and the characters each experience an arc.
“You’re addicted to it,” Em says, next to me. She scratches at the earth with a stick.
“Not at all.” I put my phone away. But it tugs at my attention. Maybe Em is right. “What’s your story for today?” I ask.
Em shrugs.
I sit up. “What?”
“My mom is sick. I have to look after her. Cook for her. Clean for her. My aunt came to stay so I could be here. We thought the money would help. A lot.”
Em draws a smiley face on the ground with her stick. “Whatever. I don’t want to share all that.”
“You should tell everyone. People would like that.”
“That’s not who I am,” Em says. “I’m not holding my mom up for the world to look at.”
Her reply gets to me. This person is so quiet and ordinary, but Em has a strength in her that I don’t.
The ending is neither heavy nor moralistic nor overthought; it’s just simple, appropriate and… yeah, cute. Overall, recommended!
This review also appears at https://yadudebooks.ca
“You’re addicted to it,” Em says, next to me. She scratches at the earth with a stick.
“Not at all.” I put my phone away. But it tugs at my attention. Maybe Em is right. “What’s your story for today?” I ask.
Em shrugs.
I sit up. “What?”
“My mom is sick. I have to look after her. Cook for her. Clean for her. My aunt came to stay so I could be here. We thought the money would help. A lot.”
Em draws a smiley face on the ground with her stick. “Whatever. I don’t want to share all that.”
“You should tell everyone. People would like that.”
“That’s not who I am,” Em says. “I’m not holding my mom up for the world to look at.”
Her reply gets to me. This person is so quiet and ordinary, but Em has a strength in her that I don’t.
The ending is neither heavy nor moralistic nor overthought; it’s just simple, appropriate and… yeah, cute. Overall, recommended!
This review also appears at https://yadudebooks.ca
September 3, 2023
This hilo book tackles influencers and social media. As a hilo, it doesn't have a lot of space, but it still manages a tight, thriller story and interesting characters, even more than some longer books I've read!
The concept is interesting - social media 'stars' dropped on an island and asked to earn likes from the viewers - it might even be something I'd watch, though I'm not that fond of 'reality' TV usually - and the book captures some highs and lows in a really clever way. Even though it's a short, quick read, there are several different incidents, and our characters react to them in different realistic ways.
I enjoyed reading this and I think it's going to go well.
The concept is interesting - social media 'stars' dropped on an island and asked to earn likes from the viewers - it might even be something I'd watch, though I'm not that fond of 'reality' TV usually - and the book captures some highs and lows in a really clever way. Even though it's a short, quick read, there are several different incidents, and our characters react to them in different realistic ways.
I enjoyed reading this and I think it's going to go well.
October 14, 2023
Book:
DROPPED by Alice Kuiper
Review: 4 ⭐
Going into DROPPED, I didn't actually know what to expect. A gameshow, yes, but I also expect more. Like more drama that didn't dissipate so quickly, more thrills other than rock climbing and trying to cross a river. I was just expecting more Don't get me wrong, though, I liked the book. I read it in less tha an hour or so, and I never once thought about putting it down. I just had to get to the point of the book to decide if I liked it or not
What I Liked About It:
*The fast-paced chapter
*The social media aspect
*The idea of the gameshow
DROPPED by Alice Kuiper
Review: 4 ⭐
Going into DROPPED, I didn't actually know what to expect. A gameshow, yes, but I also expect more. Like more drama that didn't dissipate so quickly, more thrills other than rock climbing and trying to cross a river. I was just expecting more Don't get me wrong, though, I liked the book. I read it in less tha an hour or so, and I never once thought about putting it down. I just had to get to the point of the book to decide if I liked it or not
What I Liked About It:
*The fast-paced chapter
*The social media aspect
*The idea of the gameshow
February 8, 2024
Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This quick read (very much so) would be great for your non-readers and reluctant readers, alike.
Dex is a typical teenage boy who is a contestant in a teen game show involving livestreaming on a remote island. Up for a $250,000 prize, will he go for the likes and followers necessary to win, or rise above the artifice of social media?
This quick read (very much so) would be great for your non-readers and reluctant readers, alike.
Dex is a typical teenage boy who is a contestant in a teen game show involving livestreaming on a remote island. Up for a $250,000 prize, will he go for the likes and followers necessary to win, or rise above the artifice of social media?
June 5, 2025
Quick read - Hi-Lo style. The story keeps a lot of tension, especially for one so short, and I enjoyed the topical storyline about whether reality tv and social media presence is the most important thing in life. Great for reluctant tween/teen readers.
January 14, 2026
I was really disappointed with this one. This story had a lot of potential, but it just ended abruptly with no explanation or anything. you domt even know who wins. this could have been such a good book, but it just wasn't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2025
Easily engaging read i would recommend for someone into social media.
September 28, 2025
This book sounded so promising, but it felt as though the story just got good, and the book ended. Too bad, it had potential.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews