On the Edge

by Gillian Cross

A gripping thriller from one of our best-selling writers. Tug wakes up in an unfamiliar place with people he doesn't recognize and is uncertain about his own identity. Meanwhile, Jinny knows that something strange is happening in the house and decides she must unravel the mystery herself in order to save the boy. She decides on a dangerous course of action to set Tug free, but will she be in time to save him . . .

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Childrens, Fiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Gillian Cross was born Gillian Arnold in 1945. She was educated at North London Collegiate School, Somerville College, Oxford and the University of Sussex. Although now a full-time writer who often travels and gives talks in connection with her work, she has had a number of informal jobs including being an assistant to a Member of Parliament. For eight years she also sat on the committee which advises ministers about public libraries.

She is married to Martin Cross and they have four grown-up children, two sons and two daughters.

Reviews

[Arman V · Rating 3 out of 5]

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بد نبود✅

[Lara Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was actually really pleasantly surprised by this book. After reading New World, I was sceptical of reading more of Cross' work, despite the fantastic reviews on the back. I really enjoyed it!! Its a little slow to start with but once you get into it, this book makes for a thrilling read!! I recommend you read this book!!

[Nea Poulain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy interesante, creo que a esta sí le debo un review en condiciones.

[Mirte Smekens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a boy named Liam (nickname Tug). A terrorist group named Free People have kidnapped him. He is being held in a holiday cottage by a couple who pretend to be his mother and father. Although Liam knows that this is not true, he gets confused sometimes. Jinny lives on a farm close to the holiday cottage and she discovers that there is something strange about the 'family' that is staying in the cottage. She wants to investigate this together with her best friend Keith. In the end they meet Liam's mother who tells them about the plans of the terrorists. If she calls the police, Liam will die. If she doesn't, they will kill someone of the Royal Family.

In my opinion, it is a good story. Although it is short and has only 57 pages, it is very exciting. The language is easy to read. The story is built up slowly but at the end it goes faster, because several things happen.

I would recommend this book because it is a good and exciting story. It is an excellent book to read on a train for example as it is short and easy to read. Hopefully you will enjoy this book as much as I did!

[Sunny · Rating 3 out of 5]

'On the edge' is a story about a kidnapped boy escaping from a stranger’s house. The strangers kidnapped him and forced him to call them ‘parents’ but he was not willing to do it. He knew that they were not his mom and dad. Since he stayed there for a long time, he started to get confusion about his identity. When he tried to escape the house with people’s help, dangerous situations struck him. But you can read by yourself how the situation will end!
The book is quite interesting. I have never seen the similar story before. The word choice was nice, setting was interesting and the story is not very long, too. I would recommend this book to all ages. You will love the story!

[Shuhei · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Oxford level3
2. 10/22=150min
3. Terrorist kidnapped boy girl investigate boy running
4. Hallo!
At first, I thought it is typing miss, but in UK, people write "Hallo" not "Hello". I didn't know that.
5. This story goes in two sight. One is the kidnapped boy, another is the girl who tries to help him. At first, the story begins without explanation, so we cannot understand what happens at all, but page by page, we can get this story. The kidnapped boy couldn't understand why he is locked in the room at first, so we can feel same feeling as him. It was interesting. However, the last scene was not good. I can't understand the meaning of boy's action. Do I lack of sensitiveness?

[Momoka Yamaguchi · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.oxford level2
2. 12/1=30minutes 12/2=40minutes 12/3=30minutes total=100minutes
3. Kidnapped boy - a strange woman - the cottage - accident -the edge- free people- a message
4. 'Daddy's going to tell you a bedtime story.'
This scene is really scary. Also the picture on the book is scary. I couldn't believe people on the book!!!!
5. I couldn't understand the content of this book as well, because it was difficult for me. However there are some scene which was surprised at me.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

And a half star. Enjoyed the characters in the book, even the baddies although we seem to be excluded to see them only from the outside. Neat trick that. Even when we get history on the baddies the author somehow keeps a distance, while letting us in to the thoughts and feelings of the good guys and girls. And of course the location is Derbyshire although I think the village and edge have fictional names. But Matlock library is credited.

[Alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

the whole kidnapping thing intrigues me at first, but I don't understand the concept of the book. so basically the Free People want to publicize their idea of being free from your family, and then?

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super atrapante, es impresionante como con cada capítulo me dejaba con ganas de seguir leyendo
Mi única queja es que el final me pareció un poco abrupto

[Sofía De la De la Vega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libertad, limitación. ¿La familia define quiénes somos? ¿Qué sería de nosotros si nadie se preocupara?
Esta lectura me ha dejado con mucho que pensar y me ha dado la razón en varios aspectos.
Es una lectura muy ligera que te mantiene alerta y sin uñas. Disfruté mucho la manera en que estos dos niños se encuentran a sí mismos, aunque aveces no estaba segura de que fueran a hacer lo correcto (relativamente, porque quién soy para decir qué es correcto y qué no), ella, defiriendo de los ideales de su familia y haciendo lo que le parecía correcto, él, luchando con su mente tratando de descubrir quien es en realidad, fuera de lo que sus familias le dijeron que era.
El final me dejó muy satisfecha, sobre todo de manera espiritual.
Recomiendo mucho este libro pues les aseguro que se llevarán cosas muy buenas de él.

[Shizuka · Rating 4 out of 5]

-OXFORD bookworms Level 3

-Time: 180mins

-7words summary:run sudden bedroom confusing kidnap parents gun

-Discussion question:
Q>what do you do when you were kednaped?
A>I have no idea. I might be not able to do anything. I guess I would be like Tug if I lost my usual days.

-liked the story of this book. It was exciting to read the story about Tug and the kidnappers.
Sometimes it was not very easy to understand some turnarounds in the story, but when I read
these phrases twice, I understood the most things.

[Aki Kawachi]

1. Oxford level3
2. 11/10 40min 11/11 60min
3. Here-woman terrorist investigate gun family running free
4. "What would you do on the last day of your life?" It is too difficult question to answer. I don't want to die. But if it is the last day of my life...I want to get on the roller coasters! Lol
5. I don't like this book. I could not understand the content of this book as well. It is really difficult. I wanted to know the ending. I was little disappointed because I couldn't understand the ending though I read it carefully ;(

[Masahito Ueto · Rating 2 out of 5]

1. Oxford level3
2. 7/1 30min 7/2 20min 7/3 20min 7/4 20mim 7/6 10min
3. kidnap, the cottage, free, family, paper plane, investigate, terrorist
4. I thought a passage of this book. "What would you do on the last day of your life.”
I didn't come up with a good idea, but maybe I won't do anything specially.
5. Actually, I coudn't understand this book as well. It was very difficult. Overall, the content was not clear.

[Vona · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was about a boy name Tug. He wakes up in this strange place with strangers who claim that they are his parents, but he knows they are not. He gets really unsure about his identity, and he tries to escape. This book was really fun to read, but it was an easy book for me. Great story though. :)

[Sayaka · Rating 3 out of 5]

1 level3 OXFORD
2 1/11＝40minutes 1/14＝50minutes
3 Dream, different face, Ma, terrorists, Hare-woman, family love
4 "Why do you always feel sorry for yourself? Get up and do something!"
This passage made me cheer up and made me feel I have to do something.
5 I couldn't understand some parts, however I was interested in this story. I was especially impressed with the ending.

[Viola Sung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strange, unsatisfying ending. A little bit confusing and I like the plot but I would prefer more elaboration in the ending.

[Nolan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think it was a little confusing.

[Uriel Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gran libro para niños entre 10 y 11 años. Ayuda a desarrollar de manera indirecta valores existenciales muy interesantes con su trama y situaciones.

[Javiera Soto Moreira · Rating 1 out of 5]

fooooome -.-
no lo lean