Cassandra. And they all fall down

by Julie Hodgson

When Cassandra was just six years old she attacked a classmate in a frenzy of violence that left him hospitalized for three months, forcing the family to move to Garden City for a fresh start. She was treated for ADD, but now, as her sixteen birthday approaches, Dr. Sommer wants her to come off her meds. She has learned to channel her energy into running and, apart from the nightmares and the constant itching of the backs of her hands, she has had no further symptoms. Dr. Somner is confident that everything will be absolutely fine. But is she?

Genres: Contemporary

242 pages, Paperback

Published January 18, 2017

About the author

I actually had no idea that Amazon-owned GoodReads, So I have shifted ll my books to Storygraph.

I'm so very tired of this money-making monopoly!

Reviews

[Debra M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie Hodgson did a great job at describing Cassandra and her feelings. I loved the way the author described her struggle and her emotions to readers. Even Leo her gay best friend, dipped into the teen world of everyone being different but not.
The beginning of the story was very powerful and it was carried throughout the novel. You will not be able to put this book down. It is amazingly well-written and you will enjoy the tough ride that this 16-year-old girl is on. This is brilliant, even the cover of is awesome and goes really well with the whole mysterious theme of the novel. Fantasy meets buffy the vampire slayer, but with no demons! as such. Well worth reading.

[Ellie Midwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of the thriller genre, and especially when the reality of the protagonist is so distorted by a certain medical condition that I can’t possibly tell what is real and what’s not. “Cassandra” was a brilliant example of such a story, and once I started it, I simply couldn’t make myself put it down.
Cassandra is a young fifteen-year-old girl, who is trying to start a new life without medication, which she had to take after being diagnosed with ADD following a violent episode in her past. It takes her time to come to terms with changes, through which she’s going, and recent heinous attacks that suddenly start happening in her small, quiet town seem to only affect her more. On top of it, the boy, who she assaulted when they were kids, moves into town, and Cassandra gets even more confused with all the conflicted feelings she starts experiencing…
I loved how masterfully the author described the main character’s psychological state, allowing the reader to go through the whole spectrum of emotions together with this vulnerable young girl. I really couldn’t get enough of her writing in those paragraphs where Cassandra questioned her own sanity and was trying to understand what was going on with her. And the ending – wow! I’m usually pretty good with guessing what is about to happen next, but not in this case. A true must-read for all fans of the thriller genre.

[Phil Bolos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassandra: And they all fall down by Julie Hodgson is the story of a young girl who is struggle with emotions that many of us could never understand. Cassandra hurt a kids when she was six years old. But, let's explore that for a moment. The kid that was hurt was a class bully who Cassandra observed repeatedly picking on a smaller weaker student. When that student went missing on a school trip to a farm, Cassandra instantly knew the bully had something to do with it. She knocked him off a fence and got the information from him that she needed. The bully had locked his prey in the chicken coup and left him there. Once she freed the imprisoned child, she brought him back to the teachers where she saw the true damage she had done to the bully. He was bleeding all over the ground, and Cassandra did not have any memory of inflicting such terrible injuries. It was determined that Cassandra had ADD and she was given medication for it. But, why do the backs of her hands constantly itch? And did she actually do anything wrong or was she just defending a weaker person from a bully? Now as she approaches 16, her doctor has decided to take her off the medication. It is not long after this happens that the itching gets worse and Cassandra starts getting the most wicked thoughts in her mind.
This was a very interesting read. The protagonist is both a hero and a villain at the same time. In a way, the author has left it up to the reader to decide whether or not Cassandra is something to route for or against. I enjoyed the read. The narrative moved at a steady pace and the author took time with the editing to create an excellent final product.

[Bri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a plot this story has. As soon as I read the book description, I knew I had to read this book. I was not disappointed. This book was amazing! It really pulls you into it, and makes you forget everything around you while you are reading. I could not put this book down. 5 stars for this book, and i highly recommend it to other readers.

[Meemo Mcdougal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished the kindle version. A very different book to what Julie Hodgson usually writes. But I liked it, teen horror, almost like Buffy the vampire slayer meets Stephen King. Mild enough for teens, and interesting enough for adults... So be careful what you wish for when you go and get IVF :) muahhhhhhhh

[Archie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the name suggests, the book is about Cassandra, who suffers from ADD, the impact on her and the people around her. It’s her journey from childhood to being an adult, struggling with symptoms, controlling them and fighting her inner self and the surroundings that she at times cannot resist. The events in the story created by the author has really made the reader connect to the character and able to understand her reactions. The book provides readers the sense of understanding of the kids or adults that suffer from ADD disorder and how they might feel.
The plot interestingly highlights the ADD issue and its impacts. It’s full of emotional struggle of a person to find a place for herself.

[Blanca Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tale of growing-up, with a terrible twist
Cassandra is being treated for A.D.D. because she attacked a classmate when she was six years old. Further violence has not manifested but now she is taken off her medication and finds her body and mind undergo terrifying changes. At the same time, she is scared because masked men are attacking and raping young girls in her town of Garden City. She finds that her awareness is increased to the extent that she can hear the cries of these victims as they are being attacked, and she is compelled to find them and mete out a terrible punishment to the perpetrators of these horrible crimes. She needs help, will she find it at her doctor’s? Or will her new boyfriend be able to help?

[LyndaVee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a teen and young adult story and is very topical as the main protagonist, Cassandra, is being medicated for A.D.D. This condition is so prevalent nowadays that it is no surprise to read that there is an A.D.D. Support Group in the fictional setting, Garden City, for the boys who suffer from this. Cassandra has been medicated since she was six years old, when she attacked a fellow pupil in retaliation for his bullying behaviour towards others. As this story opens Cassandra is being taken off her meds to see how she will fare. She finds various frightening symptoms materialise and she struggles to cope with these whilst falling in love.

[RR.Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never picked up a title like this one before, I found that the synopsis stood out to me as not being anything like my other, more usual reading materials. The best part about this book was probably the way that the author has created a three dimensional character in the form of Cassandra. Her plight, no matter how alien to us as the readers, may be, is still feeling very iv, and very realistic. This is all down to the way that the author, Julie Hodgson, has managed to craft her story very well. We really feel for Cassandra and the difficulties she faces throughout the book, even if, sometimes, she is not actually the victim herself. In my opinion this book gives us an interesting insight into the minds and lives living with the condition of ADD and the way that it can impact not just the sufferer, but the lives of the people around them too.

[CD · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerful story of teen angst! Cassandra who is just about 16, has to confront her inner demons! With the "help" of Dr Somner who isn't really all he seems, attempts to control the urges she has, the intense itching on the back of her hands, and the immense feelings she has, which get harder and harder to control, especially when someone is in danger, her senses are heightened! I love Leo's character, the fact that his homosexuality is open and honest is a refreshing change in teen stories. And the author is quite right, we are all different, but NOT... at the same time.. well written!

[Blue Davere · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a start, the cover is freaking awesome! that got me hooked, The storyline dealt with real world adolescent issues e.g. homosexuality, mental illness, murder, activism, dating, typical ten stuff etc. The coming of age book was an intense and wonderful read from page 1 to the last page... Cassandra is highly recommended. A purely brilliant read!

[Rosa T · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very powerful story about a young teen who's life is turned upside down with a proposed ADD diagnosis. Her Dr who seems to have been with her her whole life stops her meds. Needless to say, things start to change.
In the town of Garden City, her friends, family and her past are severely disrupted when things , that she has no control over, start to happen to her.

Love the way she runs like the wind...

Cassandra an almost superheroine!
A highly recommended read.

[Maryann · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I started reading this book, I didn't realize it was a YA horror tale. Not my style. I did finish it just to see how it would end. The suspense was good but the science was ridiculous. And how was the ending? Stupid

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping book. Cassandra certainly has a tough time in this story!

[CD · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerful story of teen angst! Cassandra who is just about 16, has to confront her inner demons! With the "help" of Dr Sommer who isn't really all he seems, attempts to control the urges she has, the intense itching on the back of her hands, and the immense feelings she has, which get harder and harder to control, especially when someone is in danger, her senses are heightened! I love Leo's character, the fact that his homosexuality is open and honest is a refreshing change in teen stories. And the author is quite right, we are all different, but NOT... at the same time.. well written!

[Billy Bartlet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an intense read, Cassandra who is on the cusp of being 16 discovers a secret about why her hands itch so badly! How she came into the world and why her feelings are like they are.
Loved the characters Leo, and the way the author portrays Braydon, simply marvellous!

Well written story of teen angst in the 21st century..

[Book Ninja · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a thoroughly gripping teen horror story! As if teens didn't have enough to cope with , hormones etc..then Cassandra has added issues and surprises in the town of garden city!

Cripes! Bloody good read.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, that ending! Please let there be a sequel to this book! This book was full of twists and turns make you unable to put it down. I really liked the character of Cassandra. She is very likable and easy to root for. The writing style is very easy to read and the plot is amazing. This book is now one of my favorites!