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Mirage
Seventeen-year-old Ryan Poitier Sharpe is a gutsy, outgoing girl who spends her summer days hurling herself out of planes at her parents’ skydiving center in the Mojave Desert. Fiercely independent and willing to take risks, she challenges those around her to live life fully. But after a brush with death, Ryan is severely altered—she’s not the same thrill-seeking girl she once was and seems to be teetering on the edge of psychosis. As her relationships crumble and her life unravels, Ryan must fight the girl she’s become—or lose herself forever—in this eerie and atmospheric thriller.
272 pages, Paperback
First published July 5, 2016
24 people are currently reading
1528 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
September 2, 2016
***This review has also been posted on The Social Potato
My feelings about this book are complicated because while I thoroughly enjoyed it, Mirage walks a thin line between dealing with mental health and being a thriller and the two don’t overlap in a way which allows both things to be explored and established completely.
What the book does do well is teenagers. Teens who have sex, who make bad decisions, who drink and party, have sex, take risks, fall in love, fuck up friendships, everything. Tracy Clark has such a nice balance between all of things where various things define these characters rather than just what they do when they aren’t working. They are more than just what they do, they are defined by their relationships with the people around them, they are defined by their relationship struggles, they just are.
My initial reason for being drawn to this book was that it was a psychological thriller and I love my psychological thrillers. The problem was that the psychological thrillerness aspect of this book came at the cost of having a real discussion about mental illness. I honestly don’t know what words to use to put this better and make my criticism spoiler free but I feel like the book tried to hard to be a psychological thriller that it kind of just dismissed mental health issues when it could have engaged in them and had a discussion and just been all around better for doing that?
Having said that, this book features so many wonderful relationships I could cry. Ryan has a best friend who she is super close with even though he doesn’t really like her boyfriend. She has a boyfriend who in spite of not being liked by this best friend isn’t actually sketchy. He is actually pretty sweet for the most part and a little like Ryan herself. He makes bad decisions but also, he genuinely loves and cares for Ryan and that is obvious. Ryan also has a complicated relationship with her parents because her dad has PTSD but one of the most important things about their relationship is that even though they all hurt each other from time to time, they love one another and it’s okay to not be an obnoxiously happy family all the time.
The plot could have been a little bit more well put together so that the book felt a little bit more like a thriller/mystery but I adored the setting and the uniqueness of it. How many books have you read that are set in a skydiving center?
One thing I can say for certain though is that I did have fun reading the book and it went by really fast. There are some issues and it isn’t perfect but it worth the read if you are looking for something quick to read that will have you invested.
Note that I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
My feelings about this book are complicated because while I thoroughly enjoyed it, Mirage walks a thin line between dealing with mental health and being a thriller and the two don’t overlap in a way which allows both things to be explored and established completely.
What the book does do well is teenagers. Teens who have sex, who make bad decisions, who drink and party, have sex, take risks, fall in love, fuck up friendships, everything. Tracy Clark has such a nice balance between all of things where various things define these characters rather than just what they do when they aren’t working. They are more than just what they do, they are defined by their relationships with the people around them, they are defined by their relationship struggles, they just are.
My initial reason for being drawn to this book was that it was a psychological thriller and I love my psychological thrillers. The problem was that the psychological thrillerness aspect of this book came at the cost of having a real discussion about mental illness. I honestly don’t know what words to use to put this better and make my criticism spoiler free but I feel like the book tried to hard to be a psychological thriller that it kind of just dismissed mental health issues when it could have engaged in them and had a discussion and just been all around better for doing that?
Having said that, this book features so many wonderful relationships I could cry. Ryan has a best friend who she is super close with even though he doesn’t really like her boyfriend. She has a boyfriend who in spite of not being liked by this best friend isn’t actually sketchy. He is actually pretty sweet for the most part and a little like Ryan herself. He makes bad decisions but also, he genuinely loves and cares for Ryan and that is obvious. Ryan also has a complicated relationship with her parents because her dad has PTSD but one of the most important things about their relationship is that even though they all hurt each other from time to time, they love one another and it’s okay to not be an obnoxiously happy family all the time.
The plot could have been a little bit more well put together so that the book felt a little bit more like a thriller/mystery but I adored the setting and the uniqueness of it. How many books have you read that are set in a skydiving center?
One thing I can say for certain though is that I did have fun reading the book and it went by really fast. There are some issues and it isn’t perfect but it worth the read if you are looking for something quick to read that will have you invested.
Note that I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
March 28, 2016
Here is where I will list some of the things I love about this book:
1. Ryan is this amazingly complex character. We get to see her as a fearless badass one minute and a wounded little girl the next...like we all are. She reads so real to me, and I love her.
2. Nothing is tidy in this story. There aren't any shiny red bows on anything, no easy answers.
3. Maybe because this is set up as a stark reality, the supernatural pieces feel as real and true as the rest of it, and that feeling compounds the creepiness.
Overall, I was so thoroughly in love with Ryan by the end of the story, I wanted to keep following her into her next adventure! (and the next...and the next) Everyone needs Ryan in their lives! Buy this book the minute it comes out. You will love.
1. Ryan is this amazingly complex character. We get to see her as a fearless badass one minute and a wounded little girl the next...like we all are. She reads so real to me, and I love her.
2. Nothing is tidy in this story. There aren't any shiny red bows on anything, no easy answers.
3. Maybe because this is set up as a stark reality, the supernatural pieces feel as real and true as the rest of it, and that feeling compounds the creepiness.
Overall, I was so thoroughly in love with Ryan by the end of the story, I wanted to keep following her into her next adventure! (and the next...and the next) Everyone needs Ryan in their lives! Buy this book the minute it comes out. You will love.
May 9, 2018
Wow, this book! A great, action-packed thriller with a deep message...
Ryan was such a great character--a strong, likeable girl who was soooo believable. And the writing in this book is beautiful. Sooo beautiful. My head's kind of mush after reading this one as it was so good and I can't stop thinking about the ending. All the characters were well-written, rounded, and had flaws.
This is the first book I've read by Tracy Clark, but I'll definitely be picking up another!
Ryan was such a great character--a strong, likeable girl who was soooo believable. And the writing in this book is beautiful. Sooo beautiful. My head's kind of mush after reading this one as it was so good and I can't stop thinking about the ending. All the characters were well-written, rounded, and had flaws.
This is the first book I've read by Tracy Clark, but I'll definitely be picking up another!
August 14, 2016
This is one of those books that is hard to write a review for. What makes the book so interesting and worth reading is something that would be a spoiler to include.
The synopsis does a good job of setting the scene. Also of relevance to the story, there's a great deal of pressure on the family as the business is in danger of going belly up.
For those who like stories about sky-diving, this is definitely a book for you as it is an integral part of the story.
Go along with Ryan as she revels in adrenaline highs, examines why that is, struggles with her relationship with her father, starts losing her sense of self and tries to stop her life from derailing.
Recommended for YA readers especially. Also good for those who enjoy YA. I did classify it as in the supernatural genre but it's not an intense part of the plot. More like mystical beliefs and superstitions.
Thank you to the publisher for the free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The synopsis does a good job of setting the scene. Also of relevance to the story, there's a great deal of pressure on the family as the business is in danger of going belly up.
For those who like stories about sky-diving, this is definitely a book for you as it is an integral part of the story.
Go along with Ryan as she revels in adrenaline highs, examines why that is, struggles with her relationship with her father, starts losing her sense of self and tries to stop her life from derailing.
Recommended for YA readers especially. Also good for those who enjoy YA. I did classify it as in the supernatural genre but it's not an intense part of the plot. More like mystical beliefs and superstitions.
Thank you to the publisher for the free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 27, 2016
“…trumpets and neon and hot sauce.”
That about sums up this book. Psychological. Thriller.
This story is a whisper that strikes like a velvet hammer. It defines the universal struggle to be unapologetically oneself, and to be truly seen.
Gutsy sky diver tests the limits of her mortality while being both an inspiration and a cautionary tale, simultaneously. What she finds as she draws ever closer to the precipice is truly haunting. The narrative hurtles toward a final few chapters that left me breathless.
I absolutely love Ryan to the sun and back. She’s brazen and badass, yes. But sometimes the fearlessness masks her vulnerability, which is the thread that knits together the entire tale. The author walks the line between sanity and psychosis, between dauntless fortitude and unguarded nakedness, with nimble deft.
That about sums up this book. Psychological. Thriller.
This story is a whisper that strikes like a velvet hammer. It defines the universal struggle to be unapologetically oneself, and to be truly seen.
Gutsy sky diver tests the limits of her mortality while being both an inspiration and a cautionary tale, simultaneously. What she finds as she draws ever closer to the precipice is truly haunting. The narrative hurtles toward a final few chapters that left me breathless.
I absolutely love Ryan to the sun and back. She’s brazen and badass, yes. But sometimes the fearlessness masks her vulnerability, which is the thread that knits together the entire tale. The author walks the line between sanity and psychosis, between dauntless fortitude and unguarded nakedness, with nimble deft.
July 14, 2016
Mirage took my breath away! What an incredible book, so beautifully written and haunting all at the same time. I literally felt like I had experienced a mirage after reading it. The very definition of a mirage is something that appears real or possible but is not in fact so. That is exactly how I felt after I read the last page of the book.... Kind of like all mixed up inside, a little confused even though I know what occurred. I was left with a lingering experience of a mirage like did that just happen, what just happened... What was real and what wasn't? It is hard to put into words but that's how one feels after seeing a mirage in the desert. I have never had such an experience while reading a book. Usually I read the words and I may feel certain feelings, but this was a specific experience. I highly recommend this book!
January 13, 2025
This is a YA read and would be appropriate for high school teens. I would have loved it at that age. Now... not so much, but it is still a fast, interesting read.
July 2, 2016
"Your reflection is your own."
I have been following Tracy Clark on Facebook since I read Scintillate about a year ago, and as a stalker fan, I’ve witnessed the process she’s gone through to write Mirage. I’ve seen the skydiving pictures, I remember the questions about respectfully creating ethnically diverse characters. I know how much of herself she pours into her stories, and this is why I treasure her books. She is nothing if not the definition of authentic.
Mirage is a departure from her Light Key Trilogy. It’s considered a YA thriller, and the feel of the story is different immediately. Ryan, the main character, is brazen, perhaps overly so; she is a too-self-assured 17-year-old whose bravado is a cover for the ache she feels due to her father’s coldness. There were times when I didn’t like her, to be honest; I found her total disregard for her family and friends selfish. However, I then remembered that she is a teenager and, well, teenagers are known for their selfishness. (It’s been far too long since I’ve been a teen, so I tend to forget these minor details).
Everything changes when Ryan has a few odd . . . encounters? Yes, let’s just call them encounters. Ryan is suddenly scared, withdrawn, and possibly borderline psychotic. And this is where the mystery lies. Is Ryan actually psychotic? Is something supernatural at play? The beauty of this story is that every reader will draw their own conclusion. Tracy is tricky like that; I don’t believe she gives a definitive answer. Or does she?
The story is solid, which isn’t a word I would normally use, but it’s true! It’s bold, brash, and unapologetically honest—just like its main character. It’s frustrating, and it’s hauntingly sad. There are just so many layers, and they are all beautifully constructed. I can’t tell you how many screenshots I took of amazing quotes I wanted to use in the review.
5/5 Stars. Heartbreaking, beautiful, intelligent, meticulously crafted.
Quotes
Joe starts to touch my hair and then stops himself like a good and proper best friend. My hair does not like being touched. “Honey, you could never be invisible. Not you. You’re trumpets and neon and hot sauce.”
“Go home, poppet. Check on your grandmother. I’ll speak to you later. In the meantime, why don’t you ponder the treasure that is this life, cause baby girl, you spend it like it’s cash burning a hole in your pocket.”
Like clockwork, when I laugh, Mom laughs. And my mother doesn’t just chuckle. Her laugh is full-bodied and carbonated. Her laugh is dark, sticky soda.
Clarity strikes like lightning. We never die. Never. I feel like the universe has whispered a secret. The secret. We are as eternal as the winds that flow like rivers.
I have been following Tracy Clark on Facebook since I read Scintillate about a year ago, and as a stalker fan, I’ve witnessed the process she’s gone through to write Mirage. I’ve seen the skydiving pictures, I remember the questions about respectfully creating ethnically diverse characters. I know how much of herself she pours into her stories, and this is why I treasure her books. She is nothing if not the definition of authentic.
Mirage is a departure from her Light Key Trilogy. It’s considered a YA thriller, and the feel of the story is different immediately. Ryan, the main character, is brazen, perhaps overly so; she is a too-self-assured 17-year-old whose bravado is a cover for the ache she feels due to her father’s coldness. There were times when I didn’t like her, to be honest; I found her total disregard for her family and friends selfish. However, I then remembered that she is a teenager and, well, teenagers are known for their selfishness. (It’s been far too long since I’ve been a teen, so I tend to forget these minor details).
Everything changes when Ryan has a few odd . . . encounters? Yes, let’s just call them encounters. Ryan is suddenly scared, withdrawn, and possibly borderline psychotic. And this is where the mystery lies. Is Ryan actually psychotic? Is something supernatural at play? The beauty of this story is that every reader will draw their own conclusion. Tracy is tricky like that; I don’t believe she gives a definitive answer. Or does she?
The story is solid, which isn’t a word I would normally use, but it’s true! It’s bold, brash, and unapologetically honest—just like its main character. It’s frustrating, and it’s hauntingly sad. There are just so many layers, and they are all beautifully constructed. I can’t tell you how many screenshots I took of amazing quotes I wanted to use in the review.
5/5 Stars. Heartbreaking, beautiful, intelligent, meticulously crafted.
Quotes
Joe starts to touch my hair and then stops himself like a good and proper best friend. My hair does not like being touched. “Honey, you could never be invisible. Not you. You’re trumpets and neon and hot sauce.”
“Go home, poppet. Check on your grandmother. I’ll speak to you later. In the meantime, why don’t you ponder the treasure that is this life, cause baby girl, you spend it like it’s cash burning a hole in your pocket.”
Like clockwork, when I laugh, Mom laughs. And my mother doesn’t just chuckle. Her laugh is full-bodied and carbonated. Her laugh is dark, sticky soda.
Clarity strikes like lightning. We never die. Never. I feel like the universe has whispered a secret. The secret. We are as eternal as the winds that flow like rivers.
July 4, 2016
'Mirage' is a young adult contemporary thriller where the threat doesn't come from someone else, but from inside the main character herself. I was excited to read this book from the moment I read the description, and I wasn't disappointed. The concept of fighting a battle within oneself isn't necessarily a new one, but it hasn't been used in this way in a long time. The book is written in the first person point of view - from our main character's perspective - which made the entire story much more personal and suspenseful. I love the first person POV, and I think it was the perfect choice for the novel. Ryan was a fantastic main character and I enjoyed getting to know her - all of her - throughout the book. I don't want to give away any spoilers, so I can't really say much more about the plot than what the description states. It's an interesting concept of self versus self - a raging battle between two sides of the same person. We all have aspects of ourselves that we hide or suppress as best we can, so this was a fascinating look at what can happen in someone's psyche. It's thrilling because it could possibly happen to you or someone you know - that aspect alone made the book thrilling. It's not the normal type of thriller that I'm used to reading, but it was a welcome change in the genre. I definitely recommend it to fans of thrillers, suspense, mysteries, and contemporary YA fiction!
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2016
Mirage was an adventure into the mind where some dare not take a closer look. Tracy took every aspect of people and amped the question of insanity, humanity and vulnerability. I was completely wrapped up in Ryan and what was happening to her throughout. The story is so fast paced you will fly though it. I love the fact that if you read this over and over again you would find new details every time.
July 21, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It had a memorable protagonist, an intriguing family and an unusual setting. The story line kept me turning pages!
May 4, 2018
I am really enjoying this book, it brings you on edge to what comes next. And the main character is very bold and brave. She is very determined and want allow anyone to get in her way. She thrives for skydiving. She wants to be apart of the X games, but her dad doesn’t want her to be in it. She pulls off this stunt that for which her father grounds her. Angry at what her dad dictates for her to be she hangs with the wrong crowd and something unimaginable happens that changes her life.
Ryan changes right before your eyes when reading this, she tries LSD and that changes her from the thrill - seeking girl to a more caution, less excitement with quietness, and more sadness than joy. Because it was frightening to almost face death after making that mistake with friends. And she is disappointing family and friends with her antics.
She ends up leaving the shell of a girl everyone remembers behind. Her relationship crumbles and her behavior becomes very bizarre, Ryan must fight the girl she has become or lose herself forever. The book has a lot of thriller and suspense. The skydiving will have you wanting to face your fears if you have a fear of heights or if your just going through something at the moment it’ll take away so much stress and it’ll have you in a whole new world. This is just my opinion about the book because I really enjoy it.
Ryan changes right before your eyes when reading this, she tries LSD and that changes her from the thrill - seeking girl to a more caution, less excitement with quietness, and more sadness than joy. Because it was frightening to almost face death after making that mistake with friends. And she is disappointing family and friends with her antics.
She ends up leaving the shell of a girl everyone remembers behind. Her relationship crumbles and her behavior becomes very bizarre, Ryan must fight the girl she has become or lose herself forever. The book has a lot of thriller and suspense. The skydiving will have you wanting to face your fears if you have a fear of heights or if your just going through something at the moment it’ll take away so much stress and it’ll have you in a whole new world. This is just my opinion about the book because I really enjoy it.
January 20, 2021
I wasn’t ready! This book was a firework... slow burn with an explosive ending. This book literally gave me life and death and fierceness. A-MAZING! Best read this year!!!! My new fave!!!
February 27, 2017
Mirage is about Ryan Poitier Sharpe a teenage girl with a love of all that is dangerous. Whether she is jumping out of planes at her parent’s skydiving center or taking other risks, she challenges everyone around her to embrace life to the fullest. However, after a LSD trip gone wrong, Ryan is no longer the same. She is afraid of the things she used to embrace and her relationships begin to fall apart. Ryan must fight for her identity before it is too late and the new Ryan destroys everything.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel because it surpasses the restrictions of reality and fantasy. Although the jump into the paranormal surprised me at first, after finishing the book I am glad that the author included it. Ryan is also a dynamic character whose range of emotion is both realistic and relatable. I think readers will really appreciate the nuances of Ryan’s personality, which shows that despite her self-confidence she is insecure just like the rest of us. Finally, I thought that this book dealt with issues such as PTSD and mental illness in a poignant manner that exposes readers to the complexity of both.
I think this book could be used to expose students to the difficulties of mental illness in a manner that is both engaging and relatable. It could be used as a conversation starter about how to improve access to mental health services, as the main characters are noticibley underserved. One thing to note, nonetheless, is that there are several sex scenes and a suicide attempt.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel because it surpasses the restrictions of reality and fantasy. Although the jump into the paranormal surprised me at first, after finishing the book I am glad that the author included it. Ryan is also a dynamic character whose range of emotion is both realistic and relatable. I think readers will really appreciate the nuances of Ryan’s personality, which shows that despite her self-confidence she is insecure just like the rest of us. Finally, I thought that this book dealt with issues such as PTSD and mental illness in a poignant manner that exposes readers to the complexity of both.
I think this book could be used to expose students to the difficulties of mental illness in a manner that is both engaging and relatable. It could be used as a conversation starter about how to improve access to mental health services, as the main characters are noticibley underserved. One thing to note, nonetheless, is that there are several sex scenes and a suicide attempt.
Read
July 6, 2016Wow. What an absolute rush this book was! It’s fitting that a book starring a girl who has jumped from airplanes dozens of times would create an adrenaline surge in the reader, I suppose. I certainly felt my heart racing as I raced through this book! I felt like I didn’t just read it, I devoured it. And it was spectacular!
Tracy’s characters all felt so real, despite the fact that I only spent about 4-5 hours over the course of 2 days reading the book. They each connected with me from their first appearance on the page. Characterization is a skill I respect so much in a writer, because the number one thing that will make me connect with a book (and result in a 5-star review) - even above plot, adventure, romance, whatever - is GREAT CHARACTERS. In Mirage, Tracy has given us characters so real I laughed, freaked out, and cried (okay, bawled) right along with them. I absolutely adore our MC, Ryan, a 17-year-old biracial girl, daughter of a mom from the Caribbean and a white father who suffers from PTSD after serving in Iraq. I really felt Ryan’s need for her father’s approval and respect, and her belief that she didn’t have either. Her dad was a hard-ass, but I really felt for him, at the same time. Her mother was delightful, as was her grandma, who I totally fell in love with! Oh, Gram. She had some great stories and an amazing...sixth sense? Magical ability? Whatever you’d call it, I just adore her, too. Ryan’s BFF, Joe, was also wonderful (and my heart broke when they fought), and I could go on for days and days about Dom. Dom, Dom, DOM!!! I looooove Dom!
On top of great characters, I love the plot for Mirage, too. Ryan has a near-death experience and begins to feel haunted, to lose herself completely. Her family and friends battle to get her help, but she swears she’s not crazy. We are just as unsure as her family about what’s going on (because we hear it from Ryan, who becomes an unreliable narrator), and it was heartbreaking to watch Ryan’s love of life, her spontaneous, risk-taking nature, just melt away. I felt a little crazy right along with her at times! Tracy definitely made me wonder what it must be like to have schizophrenia, or to think you might have it, and I can’t imagine how truly frightening it must be to have that happen. I love how her family and friends rallied around her, though, and Ryan is such a strong girl that she has a lot of fight in her.
I just love this book so much, and I would highly recommend it! You should especially read this if you enjoy psychological thrillers. If you’re a parent wondering if it’s okay for your child to read, I personally would recommend it for 15 and up. Thank you so much to Rockstar Book Tours for having me on the blog tour, and to HMH BFYR for allowing me to read an early copy!
Tracy’s characters all felt so real, despite the fact that I only spent about 4-5 hours over the course of 2 days reading the book. They each connected with me from their first appearance on the page. Characterization is a skill I respect so much in a writer, because the number one thing that will make me connect with a book (and result in a 5-star review) - even above plot, adventure, romance, whatever - is GREAT CHARACTERS. In Mirage, Tracy has given us characters so real I laughed, freaked out, and cried (okay, bawled) right along with them. I absolutely adore our MC, Ryan, a 17-year-old biracial girl, daughter of a mom from the Caribbean and a white father who suffers from PTSD after serving in Iraq. I really felt Ryan’s need for her father’s approval and respect, and her belief that she didn’t have either. Her dad was a hard-ass, but I really felt for him, at the same time. Her mother was delightful, as was her grandma, who I totally fell in love with! Oh, Gram. She had some great stories and an amazing...sixth sense? Magical ability? Whatever you’d call it, I just adore her, too. Ryan’s BFF, Joe, was also wonderful (and my heart broke when they fought), and I could go on for days and days about Dom. Dom, Dom, DOM!!! I looooove Dom!
On top of great characters, I love the plot for Mirage, too. Ryan has a near-death experience and begins to feel haunted, to lose herself completely. Her family and friends battle to get her help, but she swears she’s not crazy. We are just as unsure as her family about what’s going on (because we hear it from Ryan, who becomes an unreliable narrator), and it was heartbreaking to watch Ryan’s love of life, her spontaneous, risk-taking nature, just melt away. I felt a little crazy right along with her at times! Tracy definitely made me wonder what it must be like to have schizophrenia, or to think you might have it, and I can’t imagine how truly frightening it must be to have that happen. I love how her family and friends rallied around her, though, and Ryan is such a strong girl that she has a lot of fight in her.
I just love this book so much, and I would highly recommend it! You should especially read this if you enjoy psychological thrillers. If you’re a parent wondering if it’s okay for your child to read, I personally would recommend it for 15 and up. Thank you so much to Rockstar Book Tours for having me on the blog tour, and to HMH BFYR for allowing me to read an early copy!
September 18, 2016
Wow, this book! A great, action-packed thriller with a deep message...
Ryan was such a great character--a strong, likeable girl who was soooo believable. And the writing in this book is beautiful. Sooo beautiful. My head's kind of mush after reading this one as it was so good and I can't stop thinking about the ending. All the characters were well-written, rounded, and had flaws.
This is the first book I've read by Tracy Clark, but I'll definitely be picking up another!
Ryan was such a great character--a strong, likeable girl who was soooo believable. And the writing in this book is beautiful. Sooo beautiful. My head's kind of mush after reading this one as it was so good and I can't stop thinking about the ending. All the characters were well-written, rounded, and had flaws.
This is the first book I've read by Tracy Clark, but I'll definitely be picking up another!
July 22, 2016
I am a big fan of Tracy Clark's Light Key Trilogy, Scintillate however, this book takes it to a whole new level. The characters are beautifully diverse and believable. She puts the main character, Ryan, in real world scenarios, like potential loss of the family business and a retired soldier Dad with PTSD, right along side a front row experience with the super-natural. It is hard to tell where realty begins and ends. The pace is an adrenalin rush on par with the skydiving so beautifully described. I could not put it down once I started the ride. But it is not without humor and well placed levity. Clark's writing is down to earth and poetic providing a voice that makes the reader want to find their own inner bravery. I will happily read every book Tracy Clark writes! They keep getting better and better.
June 23, 2016
Thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the arc of Mirage by Tracy Clark! Ryan loves skydiving and she does it often because her parents own a skydive business. Ryan starts seeing another reflection in the mirror along with her own and she sees eyes looking at her in random places. She feels as though someone is watching her. Ryan loves adrenaline so much, it's almost like a death wish. Something changes and Ryan is not the same, she has to struggle for her identity amid confusion, heartbreak and tragedy. Mirage is a powerful story that I read in one evening because I became so immersed that it was impossible for me to stop. Some adult content described vaguely (for those readers who prefer to know ahead of time). Mirage contains dynamic characters, suspense and thrills and it is a deep and thought provoking story! I would read it again!
November 17, 2016
Seventeen-year-old Ryan Poitier Sharpe is a gutsy, outgoing girl who spends her school break jumping out of planes at her parents’ skydiving center. Complex and independent, Ryan enjoys taking risks and embraces life fully. But after a brush with death, Ryan changes and battles a mental slide that leads to psychosis. As her relationships crumble and her life unravels, Ryan must fight to become the girl she once was in an atmospheric and gripping contemporary thriller. The theme of self-versus-self is made more intense by the first-person point-of-view. The characters are authentic and well-drawn, particularly Ryan and her father, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Set against the backdrop of the Mojave Desert, Mirage is a memorable page-turner.
March 12, 2017
I loved this book so much. It makes you want to love life more and not take it for granted. This book will have you wanting to cry, laugh, and be angry throughout the book. Definitely a recommended read!
July 8, 2016
Wow this story is an eye opener and with a powerful message in the end. This is a must read folks!
*******
Stop what you're doing right now and go get this book! Buy it, borrow it, trade it, do what it takes to get a copy as long as it's legal because this is a story I think everyone must read! Not convinced yet? Then check out my full review at hoot reads books
*******
Stop what you're doing right now and go get this book! Buy it, borrow it, trade it, do what it takes to get a copy as long as it's legal because this is a story I think everyone must read! Not convinced yet? Then check out my full review at hoot reads books
September 2, 2016
Really liked this book!!!! Ryan who's an adrenaline junkie and lives life in the fast lane, has a near death experience. Afterwards she starts having paranormal things happening to her. Hallucinations and the like. Very good! Real rating: 4.8
August 2, 2016
This book was won through Goodreads giveaways.
While this book did have some good potential, I was not a fan of the paranormal aspects. I will not be finishing this one. DNF at 53%.
While this book did have some good potential, I was not a fan of the paranormal aspects. I will not be finishing this one. DNF at 53%.
July 15, 2016
This book make my day because the author gives justice about what happening inside the head of main character Ryan. I will recommend it to those people who like a good psychological thriller.
July 17, 2018
If this book was supposed to be based on the supernatural, it missed its mark. Meet Ryan, a spoiled bratty adrenaline junky that gets her high by jumping out of planes at her dad's business. Her military dad is a hard ass that shows little emotion to his daughter and with every breath proves that he'd wished she wasn't is. Her mom is a pushover who spends most of her time berating her daughter for annoying her father then opening up her eyes to see that her daughter is suffering from the lack of love from her father. The grandma is the only one who seems to have a little bit of sense but no one pays attention to anything she says because she has dementia.
Ryan wants the chance to jump in an coming up event to prove to her dad just how good she is. But when she's does something reckless that almost takes her life, she follows that up by doing some more reckless by taking LSD. As expected, she ends up in the hospital barely clinging to life. Now she is a shell of what she use to be and is being haunted by either a ghost or her imagination. The story is all over the place and the ending just caused me to roll my eyes. After reading the synopsis of the novel, I expected this book to be really good. But in the end, I just couldn't wait to get it over with.
Ryan wants the chance to jump in an coming up event to prove to her dad just how good she is. But when she's does something reckless that almost takes her life, she follows that up by doing some more reckless by taking LSD. As expected, she ends up in the hospital barely clinging to life. Now she is a shell of what she use to be and is being haunted by either a ghost or her imagination. The story is all over the place and the ending just caused me to roll my eyes. After reading the synopsis of the novel, I expected this book to be really good. But in the end, I just couldn't wait to get it over with.
May 23, 2017
I love that there is a strong, ethnic, female protagonist in this book, clearly featured in the cover art as well.
Ryan is 17 and she is addicted to adrenaline, especially in the form of skydiving. Oh, and getting her thrills with bad boy boyfriend Dom as well. Due to this relationship, there is some sexual content and innuendo that is better suited to high school and older audiences.
Ryan is thrilled that her parent's skydiving center is on the short list of places to host a competition that could save their struggling business. However, she needs to prove to her dad that she is good enough to be a part of the action. Sadly, everything she does just sets him more against her involvement, especially when she overdoses on LSD. After that incident, everything about Ryan changes and they are convinced that she is going crazy or that the drugs have been a catalyst for a latent mental illness.
Lots of action and adventure. However, there are times when the voice of Ryan is hard to distinguish from another character and can be confusing to less than competent readers. I think teens will be drawn to the drama of the story, though.
Ryan is 17 and she is addicted to adrenaline, especially in the form of skydiving. Oh, and getting her thrills with bad boy boyfriend Dom as well. Due to this relationship, there is some sexual content and innuendo that is better suited to high school and older audiences.
Ryan is thrilled that her parent's skydiving center is on the short list of places to host a competition that could save their struggling business. However, she needs to prove to her dad that she is good enough to be a part of the action. Sadly, everything she does just sets him more against her involvement, especially when she overdoses on LSD. After that incident, everything about Ryan changes and they are convinced that she is going crazy or that the drugs have been a catalyst for a latent mental illness.
Lots of action and adventure. However, there are times when the voice of Ryan is hard to distinguish from another character and can be confusing to less than competent readers. I think teens will be drawn to the drama of the story, though.
October 8, 2023
This is a pretty slow read but the subject matter kept me going. If I had more uninterrupted time, I would have been engaged more consistently and read it quite a bit more quickly. The story looks at the intersection between drug use, possession, and undiagnosed schizophrenia, against that backdrop of skydiving. The ending really made the story in this case and is worth the ride. Give this to your persistent, more advanced readers as it's relevant to older YA readers.
May 6, 2017
Read up to chapter 15 but just couldn't go any further. Wasn't enjoying the caotic and neurotic ness of this plot and style of writing the main character's storyline even though this is probably exactly what the author intended to portray. No doubt others would say this is what makes it a good book, just wasn't my cup of tea.
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December 22, 2020BTSYA / Teen Reader (14): Mirage prompts you to think about life a lot. It is slightly depressing in the middle, but still very interesting to see a different perspective on life. The author does a great job of making Ryan’s struggles almost palpable.
July 9, 2023
The author, Tracy Clark, did an amazing job with this book. Following the character Ryan’s journey felt like being on a rollercoaster. I appreciate the authors approach to serious topics such as mental health and suicide. I think you found a good balance between reality and the alternate side of life(death). Finding ways to urge Ryan and reminding readers to seek fight and pursue life.
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