What do you think?
Rate this book
Wanted!
It all started with a phone call.
In a tense voice, Alice's very rational father suggests that she drive his precious Corvette and meet him. But Alice doesn't have a driver's license. "It doesn't matter!" he yells. Yet he never shows up. Something is very wrong.
Then Alice hears an announcement over the radio. Her father is dead. And someone has already confessed to his murder via E-mail.
That someone is Alice.
Everyone, including her mother, believes that Alice is guilty. The police are after her. And the real murderer is, too.
It's only a matter of time before somebody catches her...
In a tense voice, Alice's very rational father suggests that she drive his precious Corvette and meet him. But Alice doesn't have a driver's license. "It doesn't matter!" he yells. Yet he never shows up. Something is very wrong.
Then Alice hears an announcement over the radio. Her father is dead. And someone has already confessed to his murder via E-mail.
That someone is Alice.
Everyone, including her mother, believes that Alice is guilty. The police are after her. And the real murderer is, too.
It's only a matter of time before somebody catches her...
230 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1997
96 people are currently reading
1006 people want to read
About the author
Caroline B. Cooney
129 books1,767 followersCaroline Cooney knew in sixth grade that she wanted to be a writer when "the best teacher I ever had in my life" made writing her main focus. "He used to rip off covers from The New Yorker and pass them around and make us write a short story on whichever cover we got. I started writing then and never stopped!"
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews
September 6, 2008
The term "you can't put it down" does not BEGIN to describe this book. I stayed up reading until 3 am the first day I began reading it. I kept waiting for a boring page, paragraph or sentence...and It was impossible until the book was read all the way through. The main character's dad is murdered...and apparently the killer has confessed via email. The murderer is her. But there's one problem. She didn't do it. She was hiding under the car from a dangerously sounding intruder. She has no where to turn. Her own mother believes the faked email. She doesn't blame her. She format of the letter, the way she talked in it...the evidence. Everything aimed to her. Everything. The only thing to do is run. And so she does...
May 29, 2015
This is the first book that I've ever read that I have given a one rating that was NOT a DNF.
I actually read the entire thing ( or actually, listened to it) *sigh* I would not recommend that.......
It was so frustrating- I just kept thinking "seriously- are you really that clueless?" About the incredibly stupid things done by the main character Alice. It was just to frustrating to me. Very slow moving and not realistic with a very sappy ending.
I actually read the entire thing ( or actually, listened to it) *sigh* I would not recommend that.......
It was so frustrating- I just kept thinking "seriously- are you really that clueless?" About the incredibly stupid things done by the main character Alice. It was just to frustrating to me. Very slow moving and not realistic with a very sappy ending.
June 10, 2010
I didn’t enjoy this book that much. I thought it was really unrealistic and I didn’t like the way it was written. It’s an adventury book that at times got boring making the book seem longer than it was.
The book is about a girl who is on her way to meet up with her father but instead falls into a horrible trap. Her father ends up getting murdered and as she’s listening to the radio there is an announcement saying that someone confessed to his murder by email. They say it was his daughter, Alice. Everyone believes that Alice killed her father even her mom. So she has to run from the cops, as she’s on the run she finds out that someone else is after her. The other person who is trying to catch her is her father’s murderer. As she’s trying to escape she is also trying to figure out who is her father’s murderer so that she can be proved innocent. She transforms herself, hides at college campuses, and does other things to keep from being caught.
The book isn’t very realistic, that’s why I didn’t enjoy it that much. The whole thing about her escaping the cops, the killer, and transforming her identity makes me not like the book. And her family not believing her also throws me off.
The book is about a girl who is on her way to meet up with her father but instead falls into a horrible trap. Her father ends up getting murdered and as she’s listening to the radio there is an announcement saying that someone confessed to his murder by email. They say it was his daughter, Alice. Everyone believes that Alice killed her father even her mom. So she has to run from the cops, as she’s on the run she finds out that someone else is after her. The other person who is trying to catch her is her father’s murderer. As she’s trying to escape she is also trying to figure out who is her father’s murderer so that she can be proved innocent. She transforms herself, hides at college campuses, and does other things to keep from being caught.
The book isn’t very realistic, that’s why I didn’t enjoy it that much. The whole thing about her escaping the cops, the killer, and transforming her identity makes me not like the book. And her family not believing her also throws me off.
August 10, 2016
Wish the ending was better
October 4, 2017
This book is very nostalgic for me, both because it's from '97, and because I read it twice in high school. It was one of the few books that really drew me in and kept me going, especially since the plot is fast-paced and takes place in the span of about a day and a half. I like when stories can accomplish a lot in a little amount of time. Most people know Caroline B. Cooney for the Face on the Milk Carton series, but for me this book was a lot better. I haven’t read that many of her books, but so far, this one’s my favorite.
The writing for me was the best part. Not only did it not linger forever on certain details (but have just the right amount of description to set the scene), it had a good style as well. I remember liking contrast between Alice’s neat/organized/precise dad and her floral/flowery/bright/colorful mother, the distress of being in so much fear and confusion that you just can’t think straight or form coherent sentences in your head and you’re just physically going through motions, some of the dark humor Alice attempts to try to get her through this (such as when she “flew, actually” through the mall door rather than ran. For some reason I remember that quote in particular). I remember a lot of other things as well, such her hiding underneath the Corvette in the garage as the “annoying itchy tears” ran down her face, her relief at finding a bunch of Coke in the fridge of the house she was in, and just a bunch a places she was at in general.
From the first time I read it I was pulled into the story, and while Alice may have made some rash and reckless decisions, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I think a lot of people (especially at fifteen) WOULD make those kind of decisions, scared, confused, terrified, and panicky. Not having much time or energy to think rationally, just wanting to get away from the people coming after you when you know you didn’t do anything wrong. I think Alice did a good job all considering, better than I would’ve done. She managed to drive to a few places regardless of not having her license, she was in a constant state of fear and grief (who wouldn’t be?), she was smart enough to be resourceful (getting some clothes at the store, taking a backpack from the elementary school, hiding out in someone’s house, playing the part of a college student and easily tricking people, etc.). And, she finally read what was on that disc and faxed it (oh boy, the nineties) to the one person who would believe her. There was even a humorous part where she road in the back of someone's truck and they waved at her amusingly when she got off.
It was especially eerie that all throughout, Alice kept reminding herself that the voice was one she recognized, but she couldn't fit it with the person. It must be really unsettling to have that fact but not be able to place it with a specific person.
It was wonderful though I don’t think it was a cheap deux-ex-machina because it made sense. It was realistic enough. We already know from the beginning that she is innocent, and I would like to think that even in ’97 people were smart enough to realize that hackers or invaders are a thing, and that just because an email is sent “from someone” doesn’t mean that person actually sent it. It was more like having to endure this struggle for about a day and a half and then finding serious relief.
I like that this is a stand-alone book and I don’t want there to ever be a sequel. But I was so invested in the story that I am left wondering how her life is after this whole ordeal. Surely she must be semi-famous at school, yeah? :)
The writing for me was the best part. Not only did it not linger forever on certain details (but have just the right amount of description to set the scene), it had a good style as well. I remember liking contrast between Alice’s neat/organized/precise dad and her floral/flowery/bright/colorful mother, the distress of being in so much fear and confusion that you just can’t think straight or form coherent sentences in your head and you’re just physically going through motions, some of the dark humor Alice attempts to try to get her through this (such as when she “flew, actually” through the mall door rather than ran. For some reason I remember that quote in particular). I remember a lot of other things as well, such her hiding underneath the Corvette in the garage as the “annoying itchy tears” ran down her face, her relief at finding a bunch of Coke in the fridge of the house she was in, and just a bunch a places she was at in general.
From the first time I read it I was pulled into the story, and while Alice may have made some rash and reckless decisions, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I think a lot of people (especially at fifteen) WOULD make those kind of decisions, scared, confused, terrified, and panicky. Not having much time or energy to think rationally, just wanting to get away from the people coming after you when you know you didn’t do anything wrong. I think Alice did a good job all considering, better than I would’ve done. She managed to drive to a few places regardless of not having her license, she was in a constant state of fear and grief (who wouldn’t be?), she was smart enough to be resourceful (getting some clothes at the store, taking a backpack from the elementary school, hiding out in someone’s house, playing the part of a college student and easily tricking people, etc.). And, she finally read what was on that disc and faxed it (oh boy, the nineties) to the one person who would believe her. There was even a humorous part where she road in the back of someone's truck and they waved at her amusingly when she got off.
It was especially eerie that all throughout, Alice kept reminding herself that the voice was one she recognized, but she couldn't fit it with the person. It must be really unsettling to have that fact but not be able to place it with a specific person.
It was wonderful though I don’t think it was a cheap deux-ex-machina because it made sense. It was realistic enough. We already know from the beginning that she is innocent, and I would like to think that even in ’97 people were smart enough to realize that hackers or invaders are a thing, and that just because an email is sent “from someone” doesn’t mean that person actually sent it. It was more like having to endure this struggle for about a day and a half and then finding serious relief.
I like that this is a stand-alone book and I don’t want there to ever be a sequel. But I was so invested in the story that I am left wondering how her life is after this whole ordeal. Surely she must be semi-famous at school, yeah? :)
January 30, 2014
I remember being in High School and just going into the library whenever I felt to look for a new book. It wasn't of much variety due to limited stock but this book really pointed out among the racks. I decided to read it and give it a chance due to me not liking the crime, and keep you on the edge of your seat type of books. I thought this book will be another one of those cliffhanger type of books that gets lost in the pages BOY! was I wrong....for this being the first time reading Caroline B. Cooney she really turned out to be one of my favorite authors. The story-line the plot and the pages really kept me occupied not knowing I finished the book in less than a week!!! I will be putting this up in my Fav Shelves.
February 9, 2011
wanted is a book about a girl that made to meet her father somewhere and when she got there she found out that her dad got killed and they said that if you seen her then they want to take her for questioning because they said that she murder her father. that is when she left and her mother did not know what to do about the problem.
September 21, 2020
This was actually good! Unusually for CBC it doesn't contain any supernatural elements at all but it does have a good amount of doubling (classic uncanny stuff) and its strange structure really works. There were moments I thought we were veering into Crash territory but I properly enjoyed this.
I read this for our podcast Teenage Scream, which dissects the best (and worst) of 90s Teen Horror.
https://soundcloud.com/teenagescream
I read this for our podcast Teenage Scream, which dissects the best (and worst) of 90s Teen Horror.
https://soundcloud.com/teenagescream
November 14, 2011
In the book WANTED by Caroline B. Cooney, the character Alice is being chased by Paul Chem, and when this all started Alice had first gotten a call from her dad, and her dad was telling her to grab a computer disk labeled TWIN and a backup in a fire proof box and meet him at the place where they love to get milk shakes and to take her dads car. This seems really suspicious to Alice because her dad would never tell her to drive his car without a drivers license, because he is overly critical about the way she drives, to slow, to fast, to close to another car or side of the street, but the way her dads voice sounded when he said it didn't matter, really meant take the car and DRIVE! Also this seemed suspicious because her dad never lets anyone touch his Corvette, not even his daughter or his good friends, and the fact that he is letting her(more than touch) DRIVE his special car that he dreamed about in collage. Though it is very suspicious, Alice does what she is told to do, but her dad is dead, and no body noes who killed him and every body thinks Alice, his own daughter killed him! Where I am currently reading Alice has gone from driving in her fathers Corvette that her now dead father had cared about so much, to running on her feet, making sure to trust no one because she is trying to find the guy who murdered her dad because people are starting to blame and accuse Alice of killing her father and Paul Chem and some other guys are after Alice, the police, even her own mom! Alice wants to talk to her friends and believe that they will trust her that she had not murdered her dad, but with her own mom not believing her its hard to image what her friends might think, and with the police chewing on he back its hard to take that risk.
November 3, 2024
2024
2020
This was one of the first books that made me love a good suspense. I was probably about 16 when I read this book for the first time and I remember being so captivated by Alice's plight. Now, as an adult, it doesn't quite have the same pull for me as it once did (mostly because I have read many, many suspense books at this point. Most of which have a better plot line. It also doesn't help that this book has become quite dated over time).
Alice isn't exactly the kind of character that I connect with on a quick or deep level. She worries a lot about her nails and her dress and her makeup and her appearance in general. That has never been too much of a concern of mine. And I certainly don't think it would be the first thing that I would think about if I was on the run because I was a suspected murderer. She even contemplates cutting her hair to help disguise herself, but then vanity takes over and she decides against it.
I also think it's weird that we never really find out what her dad does for a living. Apparently everyone he works with knows that he's on a revenge mission to find out who killed his brother like 20 years ago and it's totally cool, but it's never really mentioned what he does. He works at a place with a lot of security, though, apparently. Everything is from Alice's perspective and, as a 16 year old girl, I guess knowing what's going on in her parents lives isn't top of her priority list. So, not a lot of information is put up front about things that I felt she should probably know.
Nostalgically, I want to rate this book at a 4 or 5 star, but realistically it's probably about the 3 star mark for me.
2020
This was one of the first books that made me love a good suspense. I was probably about 16 when I read this book for the first time and I remember being so captivated by Alice's plight. Now, as an adult, it doesn't quite have the same pull for me as it once did (mostly because I have read many, many suspense books at this point. Most of which have a better plot line. It also doesn't help that this book has become quite dated over time).
Alice isn't exactly the kind of character that I connect with on a quick or deep level. She worries a lot about her nails and her dress and her makeup and her appearance in general. That has never been too much of a concern of mine. And I certainly don't think it would be the first thing that I would think about if I was on the run because I was a suspected murderer. She even contemplates cutting her hair to help disguise herself, but then vanity takes over and she decides against it.
I also think it's weird that we never really find out what her dad does for a living. Apparently everyone he works with knows that he's on a revenge mission to find out who killed his brother like 20 years ago and it's totally cool, but it's never really mentioned what he does. He works at a place with a lot of security, though, apparently. Everything is from Alice's perspective and, as a 16 year old girl, I guess knowing what's going on in her parents lives isn't top of her priority list. So, not a lot of information is put up front about things that I felt she should probably know.
Nostalgically, I want to rate this book at a 4 or 5 star, but realistically it's probably about the 3 star mark for me.
February 6, 2017
The main character in this book is Alice. The story is about Alice's father being murdered and the murderer is framing Alice. Now everyone thinks Alice is the murderer and everybody is going after her especially the murderer. I think this book is really good because it's really mysterious and the readers don't know who the murderer is yet.
December 28, 2015
This book was pretty unrealistic. I guess stranger things have happened in real life but I just couldn't get in to this book enough to really enjoy it.
August 23, 2017
I picked up this book because I remember LOVING The Face on the Milk Carton when I was younger. This book is also a mystery--Alice's father has been murdered, and the killer is trying to frame her for it. The book has a VERY slow start--for the first five chapters, I wondered when something exciting would happen. I also wondered why Alice was such an idiot. She didn't do it, but instead of going to the police (who only wanted to "question" her, by the way), she becomes a fugitive.
Why? I've finished the book, and I still don't have an answer for that one.
Now, for the spoiler!
*********
We know from the get-go that the killer is someone whose voice she recognizes but can't place, he knows her email address, and he knows the special name her mom calls her and the way she types in emails, and he dislikes her father.
Who knows all of those things?!
Her mom's boyfriend, OBVIOUSLY.
Well, I guess not obviously since idiot protagonist couldn't figure that one out.
Toward the end of the book, we find out that the killer is named in the file her father had told her to grab before his death (which for some reason, she couldn't decide if it was actually of any importance at all and didn't read it for two days). The killer's name is Dick.
Mom's boyfriend's name is Richard.
Come on, idiot protagonist! Put the pieces together, already! The rest of us have!
What, just me? Well, shoot.
Alice is also convinced that everyone from her high school has made sport of "hunting" her instead of, you know, looking for her because they are concerned for her safety or something.
I'm going to stop writing now while this book still gets a 3 star rating from me. I think that if I think about it anymore, I'll have to take one away.
Why? I've finished the book, and I still don't have an answer for that one.
Now, for the spoiler!
*********
We know from the get-go that the killer is someone whose voice she recognizes but can't place, he knows her email address, and he knows the special name her mom calls her and the way she types in emails, and he dislikes her father.
Who knows all of those things?!
Her mom's boyfriend, OBVIOUSLY.
Well, I guess not obviously since idiot protagonist couldn't figure that one out.
Toward the end of the book, we find out that the killer is named in the file her father had told her to grab before his death (which for some reason, she couldn't decide if it was actually of any importance at all and didn't read it for two days). The killer's name is Dick.
Mom's boyfriend's name is Richard.
Come on, idiot protagonist! Put the pieces together, already! The rest of us have!
What, just me? Well, shoot.
Alice is also convinced that everyone from her high school has made sport of "hunting" her instead of, you know, looking for her because they are concerned for her safety or something.
I'm going to stop writing now while this book still gets a 3 star rating from me. I think that if I think about it anymore, I'll have to take one away.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2021
I remember reading this as a kid and thinking it was all-caps AMAZING. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I couldn’t put it down. I did notice a few more plot holes this time around, but Wanted holds up for the most part. One of the ways that I judge these 90s teen horror/thrillers is on whether or not they succeed at being the novel they are trying to be. By that metric, I think this one works. I thought the main character Alice was done really well; I understood who she was and why she made the choices she did. Were the scenarios that Alice found herself in plausible? Not especially. But the novel moved along fast enough that I didn’t really care. Some of the things that bugged me could have been shored by staging events differently, but nothing really took me out of the story. Caroline B. Cooney doesn’t waste the reader’s time getting to the good stuff, and I appreciate that about her. I didn’t love the ending and there were some serious flaws, but Wanted was a thoroughly entertaining read from start to finish. I’m finding that it’s hard to complain about that.
Score: 3
A full review with memes, snark, and spoilers can be found on my blog:
https://www.danstalter.com/wanted/
Score: 3
A full review with memes, snark, and spoilers can be found on my blog:
https://www.danstalter.com/wanted/
April 3, 2022
Nor thrilled with how the story wrapped up. The ending was very rushed.
December 22, 2008
Wanted
By Caroline B. Cooney.
230 pp. New York, NY.
Scholastic Inc. $5.99.
ISBN: 0-590-98849-2
Alice Robie, a high school sophomore, is suspected for the assassination of her own father. Facing the betrayal of her best friends and mother—who actually believed that ridiculous story—Alice is struggling bravely to find the real murderer, or the rest of her youth will be spent in a prison cell. If you are already a fan of detective stories, Wanted will provide you with the most thrilling adventure. If you never liked solving mysteries, then start now in the life of Alice!
Alice shows the will power of a young teenager who push herself far past the limit in order to regain freedom and to avenger her dead father. Alice learns that in order to find her father’s murderer, she must let go of her former self—the gentle Alice who would hesitate to litter a gum wrapper. Alice desperately steals a stranger’s car in order to flee from the vigilance of the persistent police. She even sneaked into the empty room of a stranger, and slept there overnight! The author, Caroline B. Cooney, changed the ordinary Alice into a valiant woman who would risk all for survival.
Mysterious, hasty, and hazardous, Wanted is a unique detective novel that will blow your mind with query. Caroline B. Cooney narrated this story to put you in Alice, the protagonist’s shoes, allowing you to experience the challenge in her perspective. Cooney’s style of writing will have your minds completely captivated with the twisting plots, and chains of mysteries. Her vivid descriptions of the characters’ thoughts will allow you to taste their emotions during moments of desperation, encountering danger, and receiving sympathy.
This isn’t just a simple story; it is the complex life of a typical teenager, filled with betrayal, hatred, mystery, friendship, and love. Each action of these characters is filled with meanings and doubts. They could be the clues to solving this case of murder mystery, or better yet, traps leading to the hunter. Wanted is the perfect book in the “Growing-Up” section of your shelf; it discusses problems during the teenage. Be a young detective and step into Alice’s shoes!
By Caroline B. Cooney.
230 pp. New York, NY.
Scholastic Inc. $5.99.
ISBN: 0-590-98849-2
Alice Robie, a high school sophomore, is suspected for the assassination of her own father. Facing the betrayal of her best friends and mother—who actually believed that ridiculous story—Alice is struggling bravely to find the real murderer, or the rest of her youth will be spent in a prison cell. If you are already a fan of detective stories, Wanted will provide you with the most thrilling adventure. If you never liked solving mysteries, then start now in the life of Alice!
Alice shows the will power of a young teenager who push herself far past the limit in order to regain freedom and to avenger her dead father. Alice learns that in order to find her father’s murderer, she must let go of her former self—the gentle Alice who would hesitate to litter a gum wrapper. Alice desperately steals a stranger’s car in order to flee from the vigilance of the persistent police. She even sneaked into the empty room of a stranger, and slept there overnight! The author, Caroline B. Cooney, changed the ordinary Alice into a valiant woman who would risk all for survival.
Mysterious, hasty, and hazardous, Wanted is a unique detective novel that will blow your mind with query. Caroline B. Cooney narrated this story to put you in Alice, the protagonist’s shoes, allowing you to experience the challenge in her perspective. Cooney’s style of writing will have your minds completely captivated with the twisting plots, and chains of mysteries. Her vivid descriptions of the characters’ thoughts will allow you to taste their emotions during moments of desperation, encountering danger, and receiving sympathy.
This isn’t just a simple story; it is the complex life of a typical teenager, filled with betrayal, hatred, mystery, friendship, and love. Each action of these characters is filled with meanings and doubts. They could be the clues to solving this case of murder mystery, or better yet, traps leading to the hunter. Wanted is the perfect book in the “Growing-Up” section of your shelf; it discusses problems during the teenage. Be a young detective and step into Alice’s shoes!
July 23, 2018
Wanted was a very cool novel! My version is the paperback from 1997 so the yellowed pages and thickness of it made it even more easy to get into the mood.
I must say I enjoyed Caroline Cooney’s novel as much as another Thriller. It was kind of perfect, the arrangement of things and the reasons for other things to happen, it was just perfectly written.
Alice was a good main character but a little slow sometimes. I don’t know if it’s because I’m seeing it from the reader’s point of view but I just thought Alice was a bit dumb at times. Of your father calls you giving you specific instructions and he sounds funny and in danger, you don’t stop to think things through or change clothes or take a bath, you just DO IT. But later on Alice snows us her bravery and cleverness in an unexpected series of events.
I enjoyed reading Wanted a lot and it gave me that kind of mystery, suspense and action mix that was just sweet! And let me just say that the ending was perfect and unexpected as well! ;)
I must say I enjoyed Caroline Cooney’s novel as much as another Thriller. It was kind of perfect, the arrangement of things and the reasons for other things to happen, it was just perfectly written.
Alice was a good main character but a little slow sometimes. I don’t know if it’s because I’m seeing it from the reader’s point of view but I just thought Alice was a bit dumb at times. Of your father calls you giving you specific instructions and he sounds funny and in danger, you don’t stop to think things through or change clothes or take a bath, you just DO IT. But later on Alice snows us her bravery and cleverness in an unexpected series of events.
I enjoyed reading Wanted a lot and it gave me that kind of mystery, suspense and action mix that was just sweet! And let me just say that the ending was perfect and unexpected as well! ;)
September 22, 2021
I have to say...I still think about this book, even though I read it as a young kid (I'm thinking like 1997 or 1998?). My sister got it from something (book order?) and I became obsessed with the front cover. I finally got to read it once she'd finished, and it totally freaked me out in the best way. I thought the main character was so brave/smart/resourceful for being able to navigate the city, find disguises, and evade the bad guys. And, she drove without a license!!!! Epic storyline for a kid honestly. I'd love to find a copy and revisit this one now that 1) I finally remembered the name after all these years, 2) I have read a loooot of books since this, and 3) haven't read a lot of mystery/crime stuff since this haha.
Alright that's it. I'm going to track it down.
God, I loved this book!
Alright that's it. I'm going to track it down.
God, I loved this book!
November 6, 2017
Wanted is a book about a girl who is on the run after being accused of her father's murder. I found it to be very good, probably because I love mysteries. I also like how it doesn't sugar coat anything. Alice (the main character) seems to make lots of stupid, unnecessary decisions. But when you think about it, she is a fifteen year old girl. She had to find out that her father died through the radio. She also finds out that they have her confession meaning the odds are not in her favor. But on top of that, the one person she could turn to, her mother, thinks she killed her father. The way the author expresses this girl's feelings of betrayal, fright, and isolation is what really makes this an excellent book.
January 16, 2019
This book was AMAZING! I loved how there was a mystery throughout the entire story. It's not one of those stories where you automatically know who the killer is. This story is a real mystery that takes the entire book to find out. There were some moments when I had to read over the page again because I just couldn't believe it! The action starts right from the very first page so you are never bored. I would recommend this book to any one who likes a good mystery.
November 11, 2008
This is probably one of the weirdest books that I have read. What kind of girl would runaway in her dead fathers Corvette. The thing that I mostly dont get is that she reported herself to the police saying that her father was missing instead of running away and being acused of commiting the crime of her father.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2021
What a surprise! Although I figured out the 'who dun it' early in the book, it didn't take away from the overall suspense of the story. How was she going to figure it out? Were the authorities going to believe her? It was a quick, easy read, but I couldn't put it down because I was intrigued by the story and how it would end.
January 18, 2019
Great suspense books for young readers. It catches your attention in the first couple pages, and you have to know what happens. I read it in 6th grade and have saved it for years for my kids. My 5 th grade daughter liked it had well.
November 23, 2022
Wanted! is a chilling and spooky book,I couldn't put the book down and wanted to just read it non stop and ended up finishing the book in less than a week.
I enjoyed the twist and turns throughout the story.
I'll post a full review after I reread it.
I enjoyed the twist and turns throughout the story.
I'll post a full review after I reread it.
August 9, 2022
I had read this book numerous times when I was younger and just had to find it. Great memories of one of the first murder mysteries I ever read. This book and most of Caroline B. Cooney's books really got me into the genre!
November 1, 2019
Intresting
October 14, 2023
The book was great! It kept me engaged from beginning to end!
August 14, 2021
Found this old book with crusty yellowish pages lying on my book shelf. How did it end up there? Most likely from my cousin's old stuff that we stored. They probably read it in middle school?
I never liked to throw away books so I saved it few years ago, hoping that one day I'll read it. It will be quick and fun read, I thought. So it's 2021 and I wanted to get back into books. I thought a quick easy read would be a good start and my eyes fell on this worn out tiny book on my shelf. Read it in few days. I only finished it because I wanted to finish A book. It might aswell be a short one to start with.
If I wanted to write a one word review, it would be: Annoying!
I'd have to give props to the writer though. If I had read this book in middle school or when I was in my early teenage years, I would have loved it. This would have been the book that made me fall in love with a good thriller and mystery. But as an adult, all I could think of while reading it is that this is soo annoying!
The character is a 15 year old girl, Alice. It depicts her journey from being suspected of murder to wherever that leads up to as she runs away in her dad's car. (not a spoiler as thats in the book description)
First of all, a mentally healthy 15 year old would never act like this. She just makes one dumb choice after another. As a sensible person reading this, I thought that if Alice had any sense, this book would end in couple pages. None of it was necessary. Also there is no way all of the things that happened on her run can possibly ever happen. I wanted to laugh at the convenience the character found herself in. And also at the fact that that convenience wasn't even necessary! It only happened because this book wanted to be longer than 2 pages!
The most annoying part was having to read pages upon pages about what goes on in her head as we read through her perspective. Her thoughts were not that of a 15 year old. It all sounded like she was 10 or 12 at best. I don't want to use the word dumb but thats what it felt like. I wanted to screech my face off with annoyance at how silly it all was. There were so many times I caught myself saying in my head, "Really??". She thought and acted like someone way younger than her age for the most part. I kept telling myself that I am not the target audience. Teenagers probably loved this book. I put myself mentally in a young teenager's mind to try make sense of it all. It somewhat worked. I kept telling myself, this is probably how these teenagers would act. And young teenagers are enjoying the plight of Alice in a 'makes sense' kind of way. They could maybe relate with her thoughts. But I could not. I just found myself wanting to move on.
Then there are scenes after scenes of silliness and conveniently finding solutions to problems that she wouldn't even have if she behaved like a sensible person in the first place.
This kind of story was probably something new when this book came out in 1997. I don't think people reading it in 2021 would have any problem figuring out the whole mystery behind it all. It's quite obvious today since its played out over and over again in many shows and books by now. This book must have been quite intriguing and successfully suspenseful for kids in 1997. It has not aged well. I am guessing texting and mobile phones weren't a big thing in 1997.
Anyways, I bet if I was 12 and this was 90's I might have loved this book a lot more. I am guessing thats the target audience and when I try to put myself in their place, I seem to understand how enjoyable this book must be.
But as an adult in 2021, it was mostly annoying and silly. The story can be given some props but the character, not so much. Atleast it made me feel accomplished for finishing it. It inspired me to write this review and continue my reading journey! If you have never read this book before, like me, it's a pretty fast read and might help you get out of a reading slump. It has some usefulness. There are better books out there though. Some people like it due to nostalgia which I had none of. So read at your own risk!
I never liked to throw away books so I saved it few years ago, hoping that one day I'll read it. It will be quick and fun read, I thought. So it's 2021 and I wanted to get back into books. I thought a quick easy read would be a good start and my eyes fell on this worn out tiny book on my shelf. Read it in few days. I only finished it because I wanted to finish A book. It might aswell be a short one to start with.
If I wanted to write a one word review, it would be: Annoying!
I'd have to give props to the writer though. If I had read this book in middle school or when I was in my early teenage years, I would have loved it. This would have been the book that made me fall in love with a good thriller and mystery. But as an adult, all I could think of while reading it is that this is soo annoying!
The character is a 15 year old girl, Alice. It depicts her journey from being suspected of murder to wherever that leads up to as she runs away in her dad's car. (not a spoiler as thats in the book description)
First of all, a mentally healthy 15 year old would never act like this. She just makes one dumb choice after another. As a sensible person reading this, I thought that if Alice had any sense, this book would end in couple pages. None of it was necessary. Also there is no way all of the things that happened on her run can possibly ever happen. I wanted to laugh at the convenience the character found herself in. And also at the fact that that convenience wasn't even necessary! It only happened because this book wanted to be longer than 2 pages!
The most annoying part was having to read pages upon pages about what goes on in her head as we read through her perspective. Her thoughts were not that of a 15 year old. It all sounded like she was 10 or 12 at best. I don't want to use the word dumb but thats what it felt like. I wanted to screech my face off with annoyance at how silly it all was. There were so many times I caught myself saying in my head, "Really??". She thought and acted like someone way younger than her age for the most part. I kept telling myself that I am not the target audience. Teenagers probably loved this book. I put myself mentally in a young teenager's mind to try make sense of it all. It somewhat worked. I kept telling myself, this is probably how these teenagers would act. And young teenagers are enjoying the plight of Alice in a 'makes sense' kind of way. They could maybe relate with her thoughts. But I could not. I just found myself wanting to move on.
Then there are scenes after scenes of silliness and conveniently finding solutions to problems that she wouldn't even have if she behaved like a sensible person in the first place.
This kind of story was probably something new when this book came out in 1997. I don't think people reading it in 2021 would have any problem figuring out the whole mystery behind it all. It's quite obvious today since its played out over and over again in many shows and books by now. This book must have been quite intriguing and successfully suspenseful for kids in 1997. It has not aged well. I am guessing texting and mobile phones weren't a big thing in 1997.
Anyways, I bet if I was 12 and this was 90's I might have loved this book a lot more. I am guessing thats the target audience and when I try to put myself in their place, I seem to understand how enjoyable this book must be.
But as an adult in 2021, it was mostly annoying and silly. The story can be given some props but the character, not so much. Atleast it made me feel accomplished for finishing it. It inspired me to write this review and continue my reading journey! If you have never read this book before, like me, it's a pretty fast read and might help you get out of a reading slump. It has some usefulness. There are better books out there though. Some people like it due to nostalgia which I had none of. So read at your own risk!
December 14, 2018
I read the book “Wanted!” by Caroline B. Cooney. The book is about a girl named Alice, got a call from her dad. It ended up turning very bad as she found out her dad was murdered and she was framed for it. Even her mom couldn't deny the evidence they had against her. But Alice was determined to prove she was innocent. She was chased by mall cops and strangers would even help stop her. She got away and called her dad's number but a stranger answered but she recognized the voice but not whos voice. She meets many people and makes a fake name, Emily to avoid suspicion. The murder ends up being his boss Dick Arren, the man who Alice's dad believed killed his brother. Her dad kept following him because he thought he killed his brother. Her dad planned to send Dicks wanted poster out when her dad found him in the middle of the act. She had to turn herself in and convince and prove that it was Dick Arren. Alice found a guy named Rick Rallen who she gets suspicious that he is Dick Arren, she was right and he picked her up. He smiled the whole time and Alice bluffed that she sent out her picture. Then she heard sirens and tried to get away and succeeded and police found everyone. But how she got outsmarted when Rick showed his wounds. Alice got took into the police car but police knew the whole time because her father's friends gave the police tips. She got out free and back with her.
The author always makes the book suspenseful even though it's kind of repetitive. Everything that gets repeated still has something different about it. It is suspenseful because the author gives very little foreshadowing other than in the beginning. The other thing to maintain suspense is you are confused and never know what will happen next.
I would recommend this book to people in elementary who like a mystery. The book has many holes that confuse the reader and gets extremely repetitive by the end of the book. The plot holes would be ignored or never thought of by younger audiences. The chase goes over a chapter which is very annoying to me. The story other than the beginning is very slow. I disliked the book, it was very hard to read. I had to go back and reread every page once or twice to find out if something was important. This book was just flat out boring to me. I made a few connections such as losing someone I cared a lot about, having divorced parents, feeling jealousy, and recognizing someone or something. The author's style of writing is a bit dumbed down to an elementary level. The book is kind of like “The Boxcar Children” but repetitive and made for kids instead of teen - kids. Some parts of the book make no sense to even have in the book or just pointless things.
The author always makes the book suspenseful even though it's kind of repetitive. Everything that gets repeated still has something different about it. It is suspenseful because the author gives very little foreshadowing other than in the beginning. The other thing to maintain suspense is you are confused and never know what will happen next.
I would recommend this book to people in elementary who like a mystery. The book has many holes that confuse the reader and gets extremely repetitive by the end of the book. The plot holes would be ignored or never thought of by younger audiences. The chase goes over a chapter which is very annoying to me. The story other than the beginning is very slow. I disliked the book, it was very hard to read. I had to go back and reread every page once or twice to find out if something was important. This book was just flat out boring to me. I made a few connections such as losing someone I cared a lot about, having divorced parents, feeling jealousy, and recognizing someone or something. The author's style of writing is a bit dumbed down to an elementary level. The book is kind of like “The Boxcar Children” but repetitive and made for kids instead of teen - kids. Some parts of the book make no sense to even have in the book or just pointless things.
November 11, 2017
I feel like this book had a lot of potential for being a memorable fast paced thriller. The plot itself makes you want to pick it up and find out what happens next. However, after reading it, I felt like that I had wasted my time reading this lackluster thriller.
Firstly, I felt the pacing of the story was a bit haphazard and the storyline had a lot of unwanted information that was not needed. For instance, when Alice meets Paul, do we really need half a page of how she knew another Paul from school who was joining MIT? Or when she looks at the high tower offices and wonders how glass structure stays that way and if her dad worked in one of those buildings? Or how about describing how neat Ginger’s room is and spend another two pages of how it reminded her of her dad? I felt like for every action Alice was taking, we got an additional few pages description of how it reminded her of her father. I understand that Cooney probably did this to show that the character was mourning for her father and was in a confused state of mind, but it got monotonous to read it repeatedly.
Secondly, the ending was very disappointing. Considering that I spent around 220 pages reading about how Alice is a fugitive and doesn’t know how to stop the nightmare she’s in, I would have expected the climax to be a little more interesting and drawn out when Alice finally confronts the killer, but things just happened with a blink of an eye, and I just sat rolling my eyes thinking how everything just unbelievably wrapped up neatly in place in the last three pages.
Despite all this, I am giving this book 2.5 stars as the book did hold my interest in the second half where I kept wondering what Alice would do next and how the story would end. I feel like in these kind of thrillers, you really need to love the main character and root for them, but at times I really couldn’t care of what happened to Alice as I found her to be stupid and careless, but I can understand that’s probably how any teenager would have behaved in that situation.
Overall, “Wanted” is a quick read but not a very memorable one.
Firstly, I felt the pacing of the story was a bit haphazard and the storyline had a lot of unwanted information that was not needed. For instance, when Alice meets Paul, do we really need half a page of how she knew another Paul from school who was joining MIT? Or when she looks at the high tower offices and wonders how glass structure stays that way and if her dad worked in one of those buildings? Or how about describing how neat Ginger’s room is and spend another two pages of how it reminded her of her dad? I felt like for every action Alice was taking, we got an additional few pages description of how it reminded her of her father. I understand that Cooney probably did this to show that the character was mourning for her father and was in a confused state of mind, but it got monotonous to read it repeatedly.
Secondly, the ending was very disappointing. Considering that I spent around 220 pages reading about how Alice is a fugitive and doesn’t know how to stop the nightmare she’s in, I would have expected the climax to be a little more interesting and drawn out when Alice finally confronts the killer, but things just happened with a blink of an eye, and I just sat rolling my eyes thinking how everything just unbelievably wrapped up neatly in place in the last three pages.
Despite all this, I am giving this book 2.5 stars as the book did hold my interest in the second half where I kept wondering what Alice would do next and how the story would end. I feel like in these kind of thrillers, you really need to love the main character and root for them, but at times I really couldn’t care of what happened to Alice as I found her to be stupid and careless, but I can understand that’s probably how any teenager would have behaved in that situation.
Overall, “Wanted” is a quick read but not a very memorable one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews