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What the Other Three Don't Know
Will I still be loved if I show people who I really am?
Four high school seniors. Four secrets about to be told.
If Indie had it her way, she would never choose to river raft with three other high school seniors, mostly strangers to each other, from her journalism class.
A loner, a jock, an outsider, an Instagram influencer. At first they can’t see anything that they have in common. As the trip unfolds, the unpredictable river forces them to rely on each other. Social masks start to fall as, one-by-one, each teen reveals a deep secret the other three don’t know.
One is harboring immense grief and unwilling to forgive after the death of a loved one. One is dealing with a new disability and an uncertain future. One is fearful of the repercussions of coming out. One is hiding behind a carefully curated “perfect” image on Instagram.
Before they get to the end of Hells Canyon, they’ll know the truth about each other and, more importantly, learn something new about themselves.
What the Other Three Don’t Know is a poignant and gripping YA novel about the unlikely friends who accept you for who you really are and the power of self-acceptance.
Four high school seniors. Four secrets about to be told.
If Indie had it her way, she would never choose to river raft with three other high school seniors, mostly strangers to each other, from her journalism class.
A loner, a jock, an outsider, an Instagram influencer. At first they can’t see anything that they have in common. As the trip unfolds, the unpredictable river forces them to rely on each other. Social masks start to fall as, one-by-one, each teen reveals a deep secret the other three don’t know.
One is harboring immense grief and unwilling to forgive after the death of a loved one. One is dealing with a new disability and an uncertain future. One is fearful of the repercussions of coming out. One is hiding behind a carefully curated “perfect” image on Instagram.
Before they get to the end of Hells Canyon, they’ll know the truth about each other and, more importantly, learn something new about themselves.
What the Other Three Don’t Know is a poignant and gripping YA novel about the unlikely friends who accept you for who you really are and the power of self-acceptance.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2020
17 people are currently reading
2815 people want to read
About the author
Spencer Hyde
2 books103 followersSpencer Hyde spent three years of his high school experience visiting Johns Hopkins for severe OCD. He feels particularly suited to write Waiting for Fitz because he’s lived through his protagonists’ obsessions.
Spencer worked at a therapeutic boarding school before earning his MFA in Utah and his PhD in Texas, specializing in fiction. He wrote Waiting for Fitz while working as a Teaching Fellow in Denton, Texas. He is currently an assistant professor of English at Brigham Young University.
Stories have a way of changing lives—Spencer learned that the first time he picked up a Tom Stoppard play and realized that words can nudge the world and build bridges to hope.
Spencer and his wife, Brittany, are the parents of four children. They love to hike, read, watch movies, fly-fish, and bake.
Spencer worked at a therapeutic boarding school before earning his MFA in Utah and his PhD in Texas, specializing in fiction. He wrote Waiting for Fitz while working as a Teaching Fellow in Denton, Texas. He is currently an assistant professor of English at Brigham Young University.
Stories have a way of changing lives—Spencer learned that the first time he picked up a Tom Stoppard play and realized that words can nudge the world and build bridges to hope.
Spencer and his wife, Brittany, are the parents of four children. They love to hike, read, watch movies, fly-fish, and bake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
July 17, 2020
Even as a reader who prefers shorter books over huge tomes, this young adult novel felt as if it was cut abruptly – as if the real chain of events from the last fifth of the book is yet to be written. It felt incomplete.
And while I wish the plot and writing could have been tweaked more before publishing, I did enjoy the experience of going through this story, and wish the main four characters could have bonded more after their secrets got spilled because at that moment their dynamic became such a delight to read, compared to the constant teenage drama beforehand.
And while I wish the plot and writing could have been tweaked more before publishing, I did enjoy the experience of going through this story, and wish the main four characters could have bonded more after their secrets got spilled because at that moment their dynamic became such a delight to read, compared to the constant teenage drama beforehand.
February 15, 2020
I want to thank NetGalley & Shadow Mountain for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a bit disappointing being honest, I hoped to enjoy it much more. I like the promise a lot, it sounds simple but it keeps a lot of feelings and discussions about loss, sexuality, and social stereotypes. And although it sounds very promising ends up being quite flat.
2.5/5 ⭐️⭐️ 💫
You can find more of my reviews & more content on my blog A Book. A Thought.
This book is about four high school senior students who go on a trip to a river from her journalism class. A loner, a jock, an outsider, an Instagram influencer. At first, they can't see anything that they have in common. As the trip unfolds, the unpredictable river forces them to rely on each other. Social masks start to fall as, one-by-one, each teen reveals a deep secret the other three don’t know.
I think that again, as already mentioned, the concept and the idea is very interesting, but the execution fell on being quite flat and for me personally, it didn't feel real. The characters' voices are weird and un-believable for young people, and the dialogues didn't flow at all. On the other hand, I understand the final message that the author wanted to give regarding stereotypes and as in spite of everything we all have flaws and the most improbable people can end up being the ones who support you and understand you the most.
Indie is the main character and she struggles internally with the loss of her mother, who died in the river by drowning and when she goes on this trip what she least thinks is to meet her guide who, from what we understand has to do with the death of her mother or at least Indie blames him for it. And that point of the plot seemed super interesting to me and I don't think it's executed in a way that keeps you expectant, it also resolves in a rather superficial way. Her voice as a narrator was quite unbearable for me, sadly, but I admit that her internal monologs have a very nice writing style and are also atmospheric. I end up being more interested in Shelby who's the "popular girl" but ends up being a better person and her voice was the best in my opinion. I didn't like any of the guys in the story: Wyatt & Skye.
The transition from one scene to another felt quite dirty and doesn't have a good fluidity which makes it difficult to place yourself on the scene, but I really liked the setting, though, because I adore when there's a lot of nature, woods, and rivers, I think it gives a good atmosphere to the plot. On the other hand, it has an insta-love thing, that honestly seemed ridiculous to me, the characters didn't have chemistry and suddenly rebelled their secrets to each other & fall in love, I don't get it.
Speaking of the long-awaited secrets, I think the author had very good ideas and his message is super positive, I want to highlight that, but I think there's a mistake in wanting to execute these ideas through the eyes of teenagers because simply felt very artificial and forced. Secrets as such are linked to personal stories of overcoming and suffering, family violence, standards "to fill", sexuality & disability, so that was great, it didn't have an impact because of the way in which it is executed, but I respect that the idea has been so inclusive.
.Another thing that I want to highlight is that the author himself has created these characters based on his own experiences and he shares that with us before starting the story. I understand that it can be very difficult to develop a story that's so personal to him, so I really appreciate he to tell a story #OwVoices that of course deserves to be heard, that the execution hasn't worked personally for me, but I really want to you to know how much this means for the author himself
I still recommend it, if you want to read something fast-paced that also has a lot of diversity and a very atmospheric setting, but without a doubt, the execution needs work, just like the characters, their developments, and dialogues.
First Thoughts | 02/08/20
I appreciate very much and I admire that the author has put so much of himself in this story and that's something to highlight, of course, is obviously super significant, especially since he tells it at the beginning of the book.
Beyond that, and focusing on the story as such, I didn't feel at all connected to the characters, I think the dialogues are unbelievable for young teenagers, it doesn't feel natural.
I repeat the representations of disability & LGBT +
I understood the idea that each character has their own secrets and each one has to deal with internal struggles, I also understand the author's idea about stereotypes and the final message ... but I have a lot to talk about the execution, which fell short for me.
October 19, 2019
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of WHAT THE OTHER THREE DON’T KNOW by Spencer Hyde in exchange for my honest review.***
Four very different teens dealing with various challenges/secrets on a school trip.
Since Karen McManus’s wildly successful ONE OF US IS LYING, other books have tried to use the same Breakfast Club framework of storytelling. Unfortunately , the blurb for WHAT THE OTHER THREE DON’T KNOW is the best part of Spencer Hyde’s sophomore effort.
#OurOwnVoices is a positive movement in literature for people from marginalized groups to tell their own stories. For the most part, these writers can create more authentic and well rounded characters. Spencer Hyde is one of the few exceptions I’ve found as an avid #OurOwnVoices writer, perhaps because, as he says in the foreword, he writes his own story from a myopic perspective, not necessarily a character tells a compelling story.
WHAT THE OTHER THREE DON’T KNOW takes a while to get into the story and other characters. I never warmed up to Indie and didn’t trust the reliability of her narration regarding the other characters.
Fortunately, YA literature has a large representation of #OurOwnVoices books as well as other books on all types of mental health, now often integrated into characters and stories that aren’t Mental Health Books.
Four very different teens dealing with various challenges/secrets on a school trip.
Since Karen McManus’s wildly successful ONE OF US IS LYING, other books have tried to use the same Breakfast Club framework of storytelling. Unfortunately , the blurb for WHAT THE OTHER THREE DON’T KNOW is the best part of Spencer Hyde’s sophomore effort.
#OurOwnVoices is a positive movement in literature for people from marginalized groups to tell their own stories. For the most part, these writers can create more authentic and well rounded characters. Spencer Hyde is one of the few exceptions I’ve found as an avid #OurOwnVoices writer, perhaps because, as he says in the foreword, he writes his own story from a myopic perspective, not necessarily a character tells a compelling story.
WHAT THE OTHER THREE DON’T KNOW takes a while to get into the story and other characters. I never warmed up to Indie and didn’t trust the reliability of her narration regarding the other characters.
Fortunately, YA literature has a large representation of #OurOwnVoices books as well as other books on all types of mental health, now often integrated into characters and stories that aren’t Mental Health Books.
April 29, 2020
Thank you to the publishers over at Shadow Mountain for sending me an ARC of this book. (I am sorry it’s late!)
Look at me finishing and reading books all the time right now. It’s almost as if we were in a national lockdown because of a crazy pandemic or something.
I fully appreciate what this book was trying to do. It is full of finding self-acceptance, not judging people for what you immediately see, and forgiveness. Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting into this book. I kept putting it down and picking it up days later. Which is a shame because it’s barely over 200 pages. This should have been a quick 3 hour read.
Part of the reason it fell a bit flat for me was that I wasn’t truly emotionally invested in any of the characters. I’m not a country girl who enjoys rafting and hiking and fishing, so some of the terminology was a bit “out there” for my taste. I don’t wanna feel like I have to look something up to understand what you are trying to tell me.
At least I know what a carabiner is.
I appreciate the message of the book and I feel like a lot of us need these reminders of self-acceptance and having true friends that love us for who we truly are, not just the masks we wear.
Really, that’s all I have to say.
Look at me finishing and reading books all the time right now. It’s almost as if we were in a national lockdown because of a crazy pandemic or something.
Synopsis:
Will I still be loved if I show people who I really am?
Four high school seniors. Four secrets about to be told.
If Indie had it her way, she would never choose to river raft with three other high school seniors, mostly strangers to each other, from her journalism class.
A loner, a jock, an outsider, an Instagram influencer. At first they can’t see anything that they have in common. As the trip unfolds, the unpredictable river forces them to rely on each other. Social masks start to fall as, one-by-one, each teen reveals a deep secret the other three don’t know.
One is harboring immense grief and unwilling to forgive after the death of a loved one. One is dealing with a new disability and an uncertain future. One is fearful of the repercussions of coming out. One is hiding behind a carefully curated “perfect” image on Instagram.
Before they get to the end of Hells Canyon, they’ll know the truth about each other and, more importantly, learn something new about themselves.
What the Other Three Don’t Know is a poignant and gripping YA novel about the unlikely friends who accept you for who you really are and the power of self-acceptance.
I fully appreciate what this book was trying to do. It is full of finding self-acceptance, not judging people for what you immediately see, and forgiveness. Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting into this book. I kept putting it down and picking it up days later. Which is a shame because it’s barely over 200 pages. This should have been a quick 3 hour read.
Part of the reason it fell a bit flat for me was that I wasn’t truly emotionally invested in any of the characters. I’m not a country girl who enjoys rafting and hiking and fishing, so some of the terminology was a bit “out there” for my taste. I don’t wanna feel like I have to look something up to understand what you are trying to tell me.
At least I know what a carabiner is.
I appreciate the message of the book and I feel like a lot of us need these reminders of self-acceptance and having true friends that love us for who we truly are, not just the masks we wear.
Really, that’s all I have to say.
December 22, 2019
** this ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review
3.5/5
I have a soft spot for stories about opposite characters who finally set aside their differences to help each other and become friends. ‘What the Other Three Don’t Know’ is a great example of what I like in a ‘coming to terms’ YA story.
I was first afraid to be a bit bored by the set up in a forest/river for a camping trip but I surprisingly enjoyed it. The nature brought a strange set up - both calm and dangerous - and I quite loved that part. All the descriptions about the river, fishing, rafting puzzled me but it didn’t keep me to be intrigued into their journey.
I liked Indie a lot. She reminded me a lot of Marin, the main character of Nina LaCour’s ‘We Are Okay’. She was distant, sad, but strong and very brave. She was not afraid to take the lead of her own insecurity to help everyone. And I liked that about her. Wyatt was my second favorite character but Shelby and Skye were sufficiently layered to be just as good.
The writing was easy, and some sentences still resonate in me. I loved all the comparisons and the metaphors about how river can teach us so many things about life.
It was a very pleasant read.
3.5/5
I have a soft spot for stories about opposite characters who finally set aside their differences to help each other and become friends. ‘What the Other Three Don’t Know’ is a great example of what I like in a ‘coming to terms’ YA story.
I was first afraid to be a bit bored by the set up in a forest/river for a camping trip but I surprisingly enjoyed it. The nature brought a strange set up - both calm and dangerous - and I quite loved that part. All the descriptions about the river, fishing, rafting puzzled me but it didn’t keep me to be intrigued into their journey.
I liked Indie a lot. She reminded me a lot of Marin, the main character of Nina LaCour’s ‘We Are Okay’. She was distant, sad, but strong and very brave. She was not afraid to take the lead of her own insecurity to help everyone. And I liked that about her. Wyatt was my second favorite character but Shelby and Skye were sufficiently layered to be just as good.
The writing was easy, and some sentences still resonate in me. I loved all the comparisons and the metaphors about how river can teach us so many things about life.
It was a very pleasant read.
March 30, 2020
This is one of those young adult books that really hit me. I loved the way the author wrote it. There were secrets that all of the characters had, that they kept from each other. Even when they were getting close as friends. It really hit me, as I was reading this, that this is what we all do. We keep a part of ourselves back. Maybe it’s something that’s embarrassing, or that makes us seem not quite perfect. The thing with this group of teenagers is they were able to see past the facade that the others put on and get to know the real person. And they liked each other anyway!
The main character of this one is Indie. For one of her classes as a senior, she has to go on a trip. And it’s not just any trip. This is a trip that will take everything Indie has to offer and more. And she has to go on it with three random seniors that will be in her same class.
I liked Indie. The reader got to see glimpses of the real her, the same way the other kids did. I liked that Indie had to push past what she thought she could do. She was forced to go further than anyone would have. And she was better for it. She learned her strength. She learned about forgiveness. And she learned about love.
This is a book that all teenagers should read. I loved it!
I was sent a copy of What the Other Three Don’t Know as a gift from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
The main character of this one is Indie. For one of her classes as a senior, she has to go on a trip. And it’s not just any trip. This is a trip that will take everything Indie has to offer and more. And she has to go on it with three random seniors that will be in her same class.
I liked Indie. The reader got to see glimpses of the real her, the same way the other kids did. I liked that Indie had to push past what she thought she could do. She was forced to go further than anyone would have. And she was better for it. She learned her strength. She learned about forgiveness. And she learned about love.
This is a book that all teenagers should read. I loved it!
I was sent a copy of What the Other Three Don’t Know as a gift from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
December 2, 2019
I really loved the blend of YA contemporary, survival, and heartwarming beats within this novel. I felt like, at first, I didn't enjoy the cast of characters but as their layers pealed back I found myself loving them more and more. Indie's journey of coming to terms with her mother's death felt natural and poignant. I really appreciated that each character had something unsuspected about them, showing that people can't be judged by appearances (which is exactly what Indie was doing). I enjoyed Indie's love of fly fishing, even if that was something I had no personal knowledge of. The descriptions of nature were beautiful but not overbearing and never felt like they slowed the story down. This was well paced with an element of danger at the end to bring the story to a new level. Highly recommend this one!
March 1, 2020
3.5 Stars
Every single one of us has problems. Try and find someone who doesn't. In Spencer Hyde's new book, a group of teens are lumped together on an outdoor adventure to bond before school starts, and every single one of them has a hidden secret or issue. Even as an adult, it can be hard to let people see me as I really am--flaws and all. As stereotypes and judgements fall away, true friendships are formed and solidified in unimaginable ways.
The first part of this book was a little slow for me, much like the lazy swirls of a river, as the reader settles in and gets to know each character. I couldn't figure out who to like and who not to, as there was a lot of jostling going on. The story then hits a few bumpy rapids, as the group of unlikely teens tries to figure out how to meld. And we're finally treated to the climax of the river run, with it's tumultuous "rapids" that completely sucked me in. I couldn't help but to ponder on a few deep thoughts that were embedded in that last portion and completely loved the messages written on those pages. Forgiveness, acceptance, and love are key points to success in life and it was humbly to watch this rag-tag group of kids figure things out in relation to life and each other.
Content: mild+ violence/moments of peril; mild language
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
Every single one of us has problems. Try and find someone who doesn't. In Spencer Hyde's new book, a group of teens are lumped together on an outdoor adventure to bond before school starts, and every single one of them has a hidden secret or issue. Even as an adult, it can be hard to let people see me as I really am--flaws and all. As stereotypes and judgements fall away, true friendships are formed and solidified in unimaginable ways.
The first part of this book was a little slow for me, much like the lazy swirls of a river, as the reader settles in and gets to know each character. I couldn't figure out who to like and who not to, as there was a lot of jostling going on. The story then hits a few bumpy rapids, as the group of unlikely teens tries to figure out how to meld. And we're finally treated to the climax of the river run, with it's tumultuous "rapids" that completely sucked me in. I couldn't help but to ponder on a few deep thoughts that were embedded in that last portion and completely loved the messages written on those pages. Forgiveness, acceptance, and love are key points to success in life and it was humbly to watch this rag-tag group of kids figure things out in relation to life and each other.
Content: mild+ violence/moments of peril; mild language
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
January 9, 2020
I think it's great that so many books that has focus on mental health, gets published, but this one fell kind of flat to me.
I had high hopes for it, but i did not warm up to Indie and was mostly annoying by her narrating, and i just felt meh about the whole book. But i am glad, i gave it a try.
I had high hopes for it, but i did not warm up to Indie and was mostly annoying by her narrating, and i just felt meh about the whole book. But i am glad, i gave it a try.
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August 23, 2020DNF at 21%.
I originally started reading this book, as a fun lighthearted book. I was just looking for something in a different genre then I am reading right now. It was an interesting concept, and the main character could have been interesting too. But the conversation was sooooo cheesy. And everything seemed kind of predictable. It had no hook, I wasn’t interested in any of the characters, and I was honestly getting annoyed by their conversations. Here’s some examples of a conversation, between two seniors in high school:
“I know who you are” he said
“And I know who you are. But do either of us really know one another?”
-who says something like that? It sounds like a cheesy Lord of the Rings conversation.
“The e thing. I don’t know why I said that”
...
“Because it does matter. Spelling matters. One letter matters. It’s a difference between ‘hell’ and ‘hello’. Between ‘slaughter’ and ‘laughter’. ...”
- again. This is super cheesy and unrealistic conversation.
Anyways, the conversations are so unrealistic, to the point where it annoyed me. Another things is, the stereo-types are way overdone. You have your star athlete, popular girl, and then two other kids, who don’t really belong anywhere. As far as I have seen, no one fits these stereotypes perfectly.
I am not going to give it a star rating, because I did not finish it, but it just seemed to unrealistic, and cheesy to me. Every other conversation sounded like the author was trying to have some poetic competition.
I originally started reading this book, as a fun lighthearted book. I was just looking for something in a different genre then I am reading right now. It was an interesting concept, and the main character could have been interesting too. But the conversation was sooooo cheesy. And everything seemed kind of predictable. It had no hook, I wasn’t interested in any of the characters, and I was honestly getting annoyed by their conversations. Here’s some examples of a conversation, between two seniors in high school:
“I know who you are” he said
“And I know who you are. But do either of us really know one another?”
-who says something like that? It sounds like a cheesy Lord of the Rings conversation.
“The e thing. I don’t know why I said that”
...
“Because it does matter. Spelling matters. One letter matters. It’s a difference between ‘hell’ and ‘hello’. Between ‘slaughter’ and ‘laughter’. ...”
- again. This is super cheesy and unrealistic conversation.
Anyways, the conversations are so unrealistic, to the point where it annoyed me. Another things is, the stereo-types are way overdone. You have your star athlete, popular girl, and then two other kids, who don’t really belong anywhere. As far as I have seen, no one fits these stereotypes perfectly.
I am not going to give it a star rating, because I did not finish it, but it just seemed to unrealistic, and cheesy to me. Every other conversation sounded like the author was trying to have some poetic competition.
February 12, 2020
I really wanted to like this. I enjoy the framework of the “Breakfast Club” type story. But I’ve read a couple books like this within the last year and I guess I feel it’s kind of overdone.
I never really connected with the characters, although I did appreciate Indie’s quiet strength.
I liked the setting and nature metaphors, but honestly I couldn’t wait for this book to be finished so I could move onto something more realistic.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
I never really connected with the characters, although I did appreciate Indie’s quiet strength.
I liked the setting and nature metaphors, but honestly I couldn’t wait for this book to be finished so I could move onto something more realistic.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
August 28, 2020
I really did not enjoy this book. I read up to 90% of it and could not force my self to finish it. I felt like the story moved way too slowly, and nothing really happened.
The only thing I enjoyed about the novel was the characters, especially Wyatt. Wyatt's humor and backstory really stood out compared to the other three characters. I enjoyed reading about the other characters; however, I could not feel myself relating to them or being drawn into their pasts/secrets.
The only thing I enjoyed about the novel was the characters, especially Wyatt. Wyatt's humor and backstory really stood out compared to the other three characters. I enjoyed reading about the other characters; however, I could not feel myself relating to them or being drawn into their pasts/secrets.
February 5, 2020
This story still leaves me with an unsettled feeling. Three teens are thrown together for a school trip that I didn't quite understand. It was for a class but I have never heard of a class that required that type of trip in high school. I realize it's fiction, but . . . The different groups that each of the kids came from sure made for an interesting group. Then the secrets each of them had added to the mix. It showed very well that we don't know what the person standing next to us is struggling with or what guilt they may be hiding or what they don't want others to know. I though it showed very well what can happen when we open up to those around us and the different support we can give one another. This is not a book for a younger audience. In fact, I'd say they need to be in high school to really understand the nuances and social dynamics presented. Then again, if it's read with an adult who can help kids grasp what is being talked about, then it would be appropiate, in my opinion.
March 21, 2020
2.5 stars rounded up.
I requested this book because of the strong Breakfast Club vibes that I got from the synopsis but I was a little underwhelmed by the story. I really appreciated the author’s note at the start but I found it difficult to connect with the characters and I wasn’t all too sure about how I felt about the writing style.
The style is very descriptive, especially when it comes to describing the landscape, but also with the nature metaphors that are weaved into the writing. That said, although it was descriptive, I found it difficult to form a clear picture in my head. I also found that as someone who hasn’t lived in America and who hasn’t grown up in the area the book is set in, a lot of the terminology that’s used left me feeling confused. I felt like not being familiar with things like fly fishing/fishing, rearing horses and navigating river rapids left me at a disadvantage and in turn that also stopped me from fully connecting with the story. In a way I felt that maybe the story was trying too hard to be something it wasn’t and that also kept me from enjoying it as much.
Indie is our protagonist and while I understood her anger for her loss and her despairing at being “alone” in the world, I never really warmed up to her character. I don’t know if her thoughts were meant to inspire empathy or even pity, but I found them repetitive and annoying. She does experience growth by learning to forgive by the end though. I was hoping that since this is a story about the secrets of four students, we’d get to see the other perspectives aside from Indie’s but I was sad to quickly realise that wouldn’t be the case. I think it would’ve strengthened the story but also maybe would’ve made it easier to form a connection. My favourite character was Wyatt and I ended up genuinely caring about what happened to him. His situation really garnered my sympathy but there was also a certain purity and strength to his character that I admired.
There is a mild romance in the story but it felt unnecessary. There was no basis or strong foundation for it and it didn’t endear me more to the characters. I feel like it was thrown in just for the sake of having some romance in a YA contemporary.
What I appreciated and enjoyed most about the book was the friendship that formed between the students and in the message that the author shared about being yourself, embracing who you are and going for what you want. It was a heartwarming and positive message that I think if I had read as a young adult, would have been very reassuring, especially during such a tumultuous period in life where everything is changing. Even as an adult who’s admittedly still trying to find her place it is a comforting thought!
While this ended up being different than what I expected, I am glad that I did read it. Also, I really love this cover and it’s what caught my eye in the first place.
I requested this book because of the strong Breakfast Club vibes that I got from the synopsis but I was a little underwhelmed by the story. I really appreciated the author’s note at the start but I found it difficult to connect with the characters and I wasn’t all too sure about how I felt about the writing style.
The style is very descriptive, especially when it comes to describing the landscape, but also with the nature metaphors that are weaved into the writing. That said, although it was descriptive, I found it difficult to form a clear picture in my head. I also found that as someone who hasn’t lived in America and who hasn’t grown up in the area the book is set in, a lot of the terminology that’s used left me feeling confused. I felt like not being familiar with things like fly fishing/fishing, rearing horses and navigating river rapids left me at a disadvantage and in turn that also stopped me from fully connecting with the story. In a way I felt that maybe the story was trying too hard to be something it wasn’t and that also kept me from enjoying it as much.
“My parents named me Indiana because I was born on the roadside next to a weathered, warped green state sign that read Now Leaving Indiana. I’m sure they had no idea how prophetic that sign would be. Everyone left me.”
Indie is our protagonist and while I understood her anger for her loss and her despairing at being “alone” in the world, I never really warmed up to her character. I don’t know if her thoughts were meant to inspire empathy or even pity, but I found them repetitive and annoying. She does experience growth by learning to forgive by the end though. I was hoping that since this is a story about the secrets of four students, we’d get to see the other perspectives aside from Indie’s but I was sad to quickly realise that wouldn’t be the case. I think it would’ve strengthened the story but also maybe would’ve made it easier to form a connection. My favourite character was Wyatt and I ended up genuinely caring about what happened to him. His situation really garnered my sympathy but there was also a certain purity and strength to his character that I admired.
There is a mild romance in the story but it felt unnecessary. There was no basis or strong foundation for it and it didn’t endear me more to the characters. I feel like it was thrown in just for the sake of having some romance in a YA contemporary.
“Being seen as you truly are? That’s probably the best thing you can do in this life,” said Wyatt.
What I appreciated and enjoyed most about the book was the friendship that formed between the students and in the message that the author shared about being yourself, embracing who you are and going for what you want. It was a heartwarming and positive message that I think if I had read as a young adult, would have been very reassuring, especially during such a tumultuous period in life where everything is changing. Even as an adult who’s admittedly still trying to find her place it is a comforting thought!
“People matter–not the things. Be the thing that allows you to be you. Don’t let people corner you into being just one. Be both.”
While this ended up being different than what I expected, I am glad that I did read it. Also, I really love this cover and it’s what caught my eye in the first place.
April 14, 2020
Plot:
Indiana, “Indie”, lost her mother two years ago on a rafting expedition her mother was leading. As her mother tried to rescue a child, someone slipped in the raft and pushed her mother overboard, and the river claimed her life. Two years later and Indie is still not over it, wearing her mother's wedding ring on her neck as a necklace, Indie lives with her grandfather and hopes that her journalism writing would win her a scholarship out of their redneck town in Idaho. This is why she is in this advanced journalism class at school, where a major project is to do an in-person depth story on someone in their group as they go on an adventurous journey together. Wanting to do fly fishing, a hobby of Indie’s, her grandfather and teacher decided to send her on a five-day white water rafting trip through Hells Canyon, with ex-jock Skye, rich popular girl Shelby, and weirdo Wyatt. None of them wanted to be there, but being stuck together with their hippy leader Nash, the four youth refused to write their paper about each other. Yet, campfires at night spark deep conversations, and the four youth cannot help but connect. When Shelby’s secret is revealed, Skye reveals his, Wyatt and Indie felt the pressure to reveal their own secrets. As when rafting in a river you literally have to “go with the flow” the four youth bond over the river, sharing their secrets, and revealing themselves to who they truly are.
Thoughts:
This book got to me, in a way that is hard to explain. Maybe it is the deep conversations Spencer Hyde makes the kids have, right from the start even if they were supposed to be shy and not open around each other. The story takes place from the point of view of Indie, who is haunted by her past, written as a strong character who is not afraid to speak her mind. Hyde writes all four characters to be of high intelligence, making there to be no throwaway conversations, as each time the character interacts you learn something about them. The first time Hyde has Indie talking to Skye, she talks about the importance of spelling, and why Skye should tell people to include the e, as spelling matters: “Because it does matter. Spelling matters. One letter matters” (21). With mockery and bullying from Wyatt to Skye and Shelby in the beginning, it turns to friendly teasing, as Hyde was superb at the banter between the characters, both mean and friendly. Hyde kept the story flowing rapidly, not only with the adventure the youth experience on the river, but with those deep meaningful conversations at night by the fire. Each character was given deep secrets that they shared with the others, despite the few hours they spent with each other, which may be the only unrealistic part of the novel, but maybe it was the comfort of being amongst strangers that made these youth spill their deepest secrets. With a little bit of romance between Indie and Skye sprinkled in to keep things interesting, probably not necessary but cute to read, Hyde draws you into this novel with a sense of adventure and secret-keeping. The main theme of this novel is self-acceptance which Hyde really focuses on, visually for Shelby, but for the other three as well, as Hyde creates this friendship between the unlikely four, who love each other for who they are, no matter what they look like or what they did.
Indiana, “Indie”, lost her mother two years ago on a rafting expedition her mother was leading. As her mother tried to rescue a child, someone slipped in the raft and pushed her mother overboard, and the river claimed her life. Two years later and Indie is still not over it, wearing her mother's wedding ring on her neck as a necklace, Indie lives with her grandfather and hopes that her journalism writing would win her a scholarship out of their redneck town in Idaho. This is why she is in this advanced journalism class at school, where a major project is to do an in-person depth story on someone in their group as they go on an adventurous journey together. Wanting to do fly fishing, a hobby of Indie’s, her grandfather and teacher decided to send her on a five-day white water rafting trip through Hells Canyon, with ex-jock Skye, rich popular girl Shelby, and weirdo Wyatt. None of them wanted to be there, but being stuck together with their hippy leader Nash, the four youth refused to write their paper about each other. Yet, campfires at night spark deep conversations, and the four youth cannot help but connect. When Shelby’s secret is revealed, Skye reveals his, Wyatt and Indie felt the pressure to reveal their own secrets. As when rafting in a river you literally have to “go with the flow” the four youth bond over the river, sharing their secrets, and revealing themselves to who they truly are.
Thoughts:
This book got to me, in a way that is hard to explain. Maybe it is the deep conversations Spencer Hyde makes the kids have, right from the start even if they were supposed to be shy and not open around each other. The story takes place from the point of view of Indie, who is haunted by her past, written as a strong character who is not afraid to speak her mind. Hyde writes all four characters to be of high intelligence, making there to be no throwaway conversations, as each time the character interacts you learn something about them. The first time Hyde has Indie talking to Skye, she talks about the importance of spelling, and why Skye should tell people to include the e, as spelling matters: “Because it does matter. Spelling matters. One letter matters” (21). With mockery and bullying from Wyatt to Skye and Shelby in the beginning, it turns to friendly teasing, as Hyde was superb at the banter between the characters, both mean and friendly. Hyde kept the story flowing rapidly, not only with the adventure the youth experience on the river, but with those deep meaningful conversations at night by the fire. Each character was given deep secrets that they shared with the others, despite the few hours they spent with each other, which may be the only unrealistic part of the novel, but maybe it was the comfort of being amongst strangers that made these youth spill their deepest secrets. With a little bit of romance between Indie and Skye sprinkled in to keep things interesting, probably not necessary but cute to read, Hyde draws you into this novel with a sense of adventure and secret-keeping. The main theme of this novel is self-acceptance which Hyde really focuses on, visually for Shelby, but for the other three as well, as Hyde creates this friendship between the unlikely four, who love each other for who they are, no matter what they look like or what they did.
March 25, 2022
The Novel, What The Other Three Don’t Know, by Spencer Hyde is a very interesting book especially for teenagers. This is a coming of age story about 4 teenagers who go on a river side field trip to Hell’s Canyon for a school project. None of them really wanted to go because they didn’t truly like any of the people, but they decided to go. They all get to know each other better and learn the truth about everyone and their secrets. Indie is the main character and she is a very shy person who grows to like everyone and make friends. During their adventure, Hyde explains the true struggles and challenges of being an evolving teenager. As the secrets unfold, their friendships and relationships strengthen.
I really enjoyed this book because the way Hyde portrayed the teenagers was very accurate and relatable. Each character is different in their own way but they all grow to like each other when they realize their true selves. The river trip taught them so much and they formed friendships that will last a lifetime. There was a lot of irony in the book but the part that stood out to me was when they kept relating back to Nash but Indie was the only one who knew what happened. Hyde used the opposite of dramatic irony because the character knew something that the reader did not know. At first we only knew what India said, which was, “I had no choice but to ride the river with Nash—The man responsible for my mother’s death” (Hyde 39). They finally revealed what actually happened when Nash was confronted and he said, “At not feeling this boulder of guilt in my stomach every morning and every night and every moment in between. I know she was your mother, but you should remember she was also my friend. I don’t expect you to forgive me, Indie” (Hyde 95). We don’t learn this information about Indie and Nash until a little bit later in the book. This really gives insight on why Indie had so much resentment towards Nash.
I would definitely recommend this book because it has everything from suspense, drama, friendships, and love. I appreciate how Spencer Hyde uses irony throughout the book because it makes it so much more interesting and intense in some parts. My favorite part was when Shelby’s true identity was revealed when her wig fell off in the water and everybody realized that she was bald. Shelby had been putting on a fake persona so people wouldn’t judge her for being bald but Skye, Wyatt, and India accepted her for her. While reading this book you will learn that people will accept you for who you are and that you don’t need to try and be something you’re not.
I really enjoyed this book because the way Hyde portrayed the teenagers was very accurate and relatable. Each character is different in their own way but they all grow to like each other when they realize their true selves. The river trip taught them so much and they formed friendships that will last a lifetime. There was a lot of irony in the book but the part that stood out to me was when they kept relating back to Nash but Indie was the only one who knew what happened. Hyde used the opposite of dramatic irony because the character knew something that the reader did not know. At first we only knew what India said, which was, “I had no choice but to ride the river with Nash—The man responsible for my mother’s death” (Hyde 39). They finally revealed what actually happened when Nash was confronted and he said, “At not feeling this boulder of guilt in my stomach every morning and every night and every moment in between. I know she was your mother, but you should remember she was also my friend. I don’t expect you to forgive me, Indie” (Hyde 95). We don’t learn this information about Indie and Nash until a little bit later in the book. This really gives insight on why Indie had so much resentment towards Nash.
I would definitely recommend this book because it has everything from suspense, drama, friendships, and love. I appreciate how Spencer Hyde uses irony throughout the book because it makes it so much more interesting and intense in some parts. My favorite part was when Shelby’s true identity was revealed when her wig fell off in the water and everybody realized that she was bald. Shelby had been putting on a fake persona so people wouldn’t judge her for being bald but Skye, Wyatt, and India accepted her for her. While reading this book you will learn that people will accept you for who you are and that you don’t need to try and be something you’re not.
April 7, 2020
What the Other Three Don’t Know by Spencer Hyde, 209 pages. Shadow Mountain, 2020. $18.
Language: G (8 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (animal abuse)
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Indie has absolutely no desire to spend a week rafting through Hells Canyon – the same place her mother died on her job as a river guide. When she meets her companion – the jock, the queen bee, and her oddball neighbor from the trailer park – she is even less interested. It isn’t until the river turns dangerous and the kids open up that not only Indie, but all the others start revealing their secrets. When the river becomes deadly, they will need to hold onto that fragile trust.
This reads like the author read Downriver by Will Hobbs and decided to try to one-up the master. Unfortunately there is no real emotional hook until halfway through – long enough that most readers will have already pulled out. Hyde's Waiting for Fitz was so good, I don't why this one went wrong.
Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...
Language: G (8 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (animal abuse)
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Indie has absolutely no desire to spend a week rafting through Hells Canyon – the same place her mother died on her job as a river guide. When she meets her companion – the jock, the queen bee, and her oddball neighbor from the trailer park – she is even less interested. It isn’t until the river turns dangerous and the kids open up that not only Indie, but all the others start revealing their secrets. When the river becomes deadly, they will need to hold onto that fragile trust.
This reads like the author read Downriver by Will Hobbs and decided to try to one-up the master. Unfortunately there is no real emotional hook until halfway through – long enough that most readers will have already pulled out. Hyde's Waiting for Fitz was so good, I don't why this one went wrong.
Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...
October 28, 2021
Definitely geared more towards my 12 year old daughter than me. The entire inner monologue is a preteens judgmental and self righteous attitude. She is probably going to love this one, but it missed the mark from page one for me, and every page after was a struggle.
March 5, 2020
Last year, I rated Spencer Hyde's Waiting for Fitz a masterpiece. That is a very rare rating for me to give to any book. Astonishingly, there were two books I gave that rating to last year.
The reason why Hyde received such a high rating was because he made me understand what it is like to be OCD. We got to see into that mind in order to understand how someone with severe OCD ticks. He described it so perfectly, because he himself has severe OCD. He helped me to see through his eyes. His understanding of OCD, as well as other mental disabilities and challenges teens face helped him create that masterpiece.
He brings that knowledge with him as he takes four very different kids, all with their own secrets, down an unforgiving river. A loner, a jock, an outsider, and an Instagram influencer, all from different cliques become the unlikeliest band of friends as they try to survive the river.
Each one has their own devastating secret. Indiana lost her mother on this river in Hell's Canyon. The guide taking them down the river was the man with her mother when she was lost to the currents. Nash is hoping for redemption and forgiveness for what happened. Wyatt is a loner and an artist, with an even bigger secret. Shelby is an Instagram influencer that tries to keep up her fake appearances. Skye is the soccer superstar who recently lost his leg in a car accident.
As they make their way down the river, their secrets unravel.
The river though is a treacherous thing. It swipes people away so quickly, you have to fight to survive. During the last 40 pages, I turned the pages so quickly, because I needed to know if they would make it. People die in this story, so you have to read the book to find out who lives.
I really appreciated how each one of the kids remembered Indie's mother so fondly. Her mother taught their physics class and opened their minds to so many new possibilities. When they shared their stories of her, it sounded so magical. This was the side of Indie's mother that she never knew about...the way she could touch other people's lives. Her sorrow is not just hers alone.
Hyde did an excellent job navigating Indie through that sorrow and forgiveness. As each kid's secret is revealed, we learn more about how people try to hide who they really are, when they should be more accepting of themselves.
But those last 40 pages...I was so scared for them. Unlike most trips, this is the trip that will bind these kids to each other forever.
I think after reading this book, I will probably never go rafting ever in my life.
Definitely an edge of your seat kind of book filled with diverse characters and life threatening moments.
The reason why Hyde received such a high rating was because he made me understand what it is like to be OCD. We got to see into that mind in order to understand how someone with severe OCD ticks. He described it so perfectly, because he himself has severe OCD. He helped me to see through his eyes. His understanding of OCD, as well as other mental disabilities and challenges teens face helped him create that masterpiece.
He brings that knowledge with him as he takes four very different kids, all with their own secrets, down an unforgiving river. A loner, a jock, an outsider, and an Instagram influencer, all from different cliques become the unlikeliest band of friends as they try to survive the river.
Each one has their own devastating secret. Indiana lost her mother on this river in Hell's Canyon. The guide taking them down the river was the man with her mother when she was lost to the currents. Nash is hoping for redemption and forgiveness for what happened. Wyatt is a loner and an artist, with an even bigger secret. Shelby is an Instagram influencer that tries to keep up her fake appearances. Skye is the soccer superstar who recently lost his leg in a car accident.
As they make their way down the river, their secrets unravel.
The river though is a treacherous thing. It swipes people away so quickly, you have to fight to survive. During the last 40 pages, I turned the pages so quickly, because I needed to know if they would make it. People die in this story, so you have to read the book to find out who lives.
I really appreciated how each one of the kids remembered Indie's mother so fondly. Her mother taught their physics class and opened their minds to so many new possibilities. When they shared their stories of her, it sounded so magical. This was the side of Indie's mother that she never knew about...the way she could touch other people's lives. Her sorrow is not just hers alone.
Hyde did an excellent job navigating Indie through that sorrow and forgiveness. As each kid's secret is revealed, we learn more about how people try to hide who they really are, when they should be more accepting of themselves.
But those last 40 pages...I was so scared for them. Unlike most trips, this is the trip that will bind these kids to each other forever.
I think after reading this book, I will probably never go rafting ever in my life.
Definitely an edge of your seat kind of book filled with diverse characters and life threatening moments.
February 29, 2020
This is the second book I've read from this author and let's just say, he keeps it real. So far his books have been written for teens and young adults but they also have clear messages for adult readers too.
This book is about four teens with major troubles in their lives that they are trying to deal with. I could totally relate to how they felt and dealt with issues. You see, both of my kids have what other people would refer to as, "problems". They are/were not your average teens. Some reviews of this book say that they were stereotypes and were not believable; I want to say that I strongly disagree. Indie was dealing with the death of her mom who'd died in a river rafting accident and hasn't been able to forgive their river guide Nash who was there when her mother drowned. Skye was not only dealing with losing a leg in a car accident but one that he had caused to happen from driving and texting. Wyatt is a teen that is gay but afraid to tell the real world about his sexuality. The final teen is Shelby, a rich, beautiful "Instagram" girl who is hiding a secret and wears wigs because she has Alopecia. I liked their voices. I felt their journeys to find their true selves were realistic.
Being thrown into an adventure of five days on a river rafting trip together can change people. They all were out of their comfort zones. All of the teens had lessons to learn ranging from accepting others, being true to yourself, and forgiving others. I was very moved by this story and I want my teen to read it.
The action in the last half of the book was very intense. I listened to running river water on Youtube as I read this book and I felt like I was on the river with these characters. I have gone white water rafting and it is scary and exhilarating all at the same time. This story of finding friendship in an odd situation was a great read for me.
This book is about four teens with major troubles in their lives that they are trying to deal with. I could totally relate to how they felt and dealt with issues. You see, both of my kids have what other people would refer to as, "problems". They are/were not your average teens. Some reviews of this book say that they were stereotypes and were not believable; I want to say that I strongly disagree. Indie was dealing with the death of her mom who'd died in a river rafting accident and hasn't been able to forgive their river guide Nash who was there when her mother drowned. Skye was not only dealing with losing a leg in a car accident but one that he had caused to happen from driving and texting. Wyatt is a teen that is gay but afraid to tell the real world about his sexuality. The final teen is Shelby, a rich, beautiful "Instagram" girl who is hiding a secret and wears wigs because she has Alopecia. I liked their voices. I felt their journeys to find their true selves were realistic.
Being thrown into an adventure of five days on a river rafting trip together can change people. They all were out of their comfort zones. All of the teens had lessons to learn ranging from accepting others, being true to yourself, and forgiving others. I was very moved by this story and I want my teen to read it.
The action in the last half of the book was very intense. I listened to running river water on Youtube as I read this book and I felt like I was on the river with these characters. I have gone white water rafting and it is scary and exhilarating all at the same time. This story of finding friendship in an odd situation was a great read for me.
January 31, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!
A group of kids experiencing something dangerous together and learning about their darkest secrets? I was here for it. I wanted to learn all of their secrets.
I don’t feel like I learned much about any of the characters, though, beyond surface-level characteristics. Like I know that Indie has curly hair, lots of freckles, and has a very angsty attitude. She doesn’t take shit from people, which I applaud. But sometimes her narration felt weird to me and I didn’t always trust her.
Some of the dialogue was a little weird too. I don’t think it felt like real conversations sometimes because I could never picture someone saying some of the things the characters did. They made weird comparisons, especially Indie’s grandfather in the beginning.
The book was entertaining; it actually kept me reading until the end. I think it would be a great book to read in the summer!
A group of kids experiencing something dangerous together and learning about their darkest secrets? I was here for it. I wanted to learn all of their secrets.
I don’t feel like I learned much about any of the characters, though, beyond surface-level characteristics. Like I know that Indie has curly hair, lots of freckles, and has a very angsty attitude. She doesn’t take shit from people, which I applaud. But sometimes her narration felt weird to me and I didn’t always trust her.
Some of the dialogue was a little weird too. I don’t think it felt like real conversations sometimes because I could never picture someone saying some of the things the characters did. They made weird comparisons, especially Indie’s grandfather in the beginning.
The book was entertaining; it actually kept me reading until the end. I think it would be a great book to read in the summer!
March 10, 2020
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
What The Other Three Don't Know is the story of 4 kids on a trip who know of each other, but don't actually know each other.
I feel like this book was so busy trying to throw out life lessons that it forgot to include an interesting story. The trouble with covering things that have been done a million times is you need something that makes it stand apart and this one didn't do that for me. The characters were just okay. The main character wasn't remotely interesting. The story itself was forgettable.
In the end, I rushed through the last 80% of this book just to get it done and over with. I'm glad it's over so I can just put it out of my brain and forget it.
What The Other Three Don't Know is the story of 4 kids on a trip who know of each other, but don't actually know each other.
I feel like this book was so busy trying to throw out life lessons that it forgot to include an interesting story. The trouble with covering things that have been done a million times is you need something that makes it stand apart and this one didn't do that for me. The characters were just okay. The main character wasn't remotely interesting. The story itself was forgettable.
In the end, I rushed through the last 80% of this book just to get it done and over with. I'm glad it's over so I can just put it out of my brain and forget it.
Read
March 24, 2020DNF @ 30%
Thank you to Netgalley for the eArc but sadly this book was not for me. I really loved the idea of this book and the mental health rep and I loved hearing what the author had to say but I just couldn't connect with the characters sadly and I just wasn't wanting to pick this book back up. I kept stopping and starting and it just wasn't right for me at this time.
Thank you to Netgalley for the eArc but sadly this book was not for me. I really loved the idea of this book and the mental health rep and I loved hearing what the author had to say but I just couldn't connect with the characters sadly and I just wasn't wanting to pick this book back up. I kept stopping and starting and it just wasn't right for me at this time.
June 29, 2020
This was a really lovely YA about the secrets we all keep. It was set in my home state so I really enjoyed the pieces of culture mixed into the narrative. There were the usual YA tropes but I felt the author did a good job of mixing the predictable with the unexpected. There are some lovely gut-punches and belly-laughs along the way. My son and I read it together and really enjoyed the book.
February 3, 2021
A good book with a lot of profound lines. Very John Green-esque. So, if you like his novels you'll like book. Some of the larger themes it explores is is forgiveness, empathy, and those of different sects coming together.
Four students who couldn't be more different, a river guide who shares a sad past with one of the students, and the beautiful but unforgiving force that is mother nature. Relatable characters who are forced to work with unlikely allies out of necessity teach the reader they can do the same without the treat of the force of nature.
An intense read at time, filled with hope and profundity.
Four students who couldn't be more different, a river guide who shares a sad past with one of the students, and the beautiful but unforgiving force that is mother nature. Relatable characters who are forced to work with unlikely allies out of necessity teach the reader they can do the same without the treat of the force of nature.
An intense read at time, filled with hope and profundity.
August 28, 2023
This book was really good. It started off very slow but by the end I was on my toes dying to read the rest of it. It’s so suspenseful. Love it!
December 27, 2019
I got an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
First disclaimer: if you're a dumbass like me and you read the synopsis and think this is a girl-group book: it isn't. It's two girls and two boys. Just in case you were looking for wlw rep and stumbled across this and thought this was it.
What would've made this book an automatic 5 stars for me is having a more character study perspective. These are four kids stuck in a dangerous school trip with a guide that one of them blames of killing her mother, and all of them have secrets. It's in the freaking title! But it all came and went in a scene and a half, and I really wish we had had more of that, because it was my favorite part of the book. Not that I didn't care, but I cared less about what happened to them in the rapids than about getting to really know them. They were all really interesting and potentially complex characters, but the bits and pieces we get about their stories weren't enough, and at the end it made it seem like they were all just a bunch of stereotypes and tropes and personalities tied together to make functional characters.
The rowing and climbing scenes could've done with either more or less descriptions, because it fell in the midle and it ended looking like a lot of technical words that I didn't know the meaning of, English being my second language (but good enough to have a bilingual-level understanding of it). I really didn't understand what was going on in the end, I just knew they were struggling. And the days when they were camping felt a bit repetitive, though it's understandable. I loved the campfire chats and the group-cuddling scene and I wish we'd gotten more of that, instead of cooking trouts and climbing cliffs. There also could've been more character study in those scenes so it's a win-win.
Now talking about the MC, she was a bit insufferable at times, but she was going through a grieving process so it's understandable. What I didn't get was the whole list-making thing she had going on? I felt like it was just there to make her look edgy. A situation like a boy talking to her or something would come up and she would make a list in her head of all the things she could say/do in response to it. Then she would say "my favorite options are 1 and 3, but I ended up going with a mix of 2 and 4". This happens around 5 times in the book, more or less. And I just never understood how that was supposed to be funny/sassy/edgy? The first time it was okay, I guess, but by the fourth time I was annoyed and just wanted her to be upfront with what she wantes to say/do and just SAY IT. It had nothing to do with how she behaved the rest of the book, and this isn't a multiple universes novel so it made no sense. Btw this wasn't related to her trauma at all either.
The instalove she had with another boy in the group was also just too much. They knew each other before (and the other two kids in the trip) because they went to the same school, but they thought the other was just a walking stereotype of a weird girl/football guy or whatever. They knew NOTHING about each other. And they flirted and fell in love and kissed in, what, two days? At this point I was taking deep breaths and mentalizing myself like "okay, this was written by a man, just hold on, don't go apeshit over this" but THEN........
There's a gay character. You can just TELL the author hasn't made contact with the LGBT+ community since he watched some TV show in like 2012 with a gay character. The poor boy has to explain the other kids that he didn't CHOOSE to be gay and that he can't just come out and. The four MCs were in risk of LITERALLY FREEZING TO DEATH, so they had to cuddle together, and the author made the gay boy APOLOGIZE TO THE STRAIGHT ONE because it was his turn to cuddle behind him or whatever. Listen. I know how small towns are because I happen to live in one. But no gen Z kid is so out of the loop in 2019. Maybe some son-of-conservatives, or some Christian family, sure, but your average teenager knows better than that. And even if they didn't, it's fiction, you can CHOOSE to have a more progressive, up-to-date depiction of a gay character, and you just didn't. It was irrespondible, to say the least, to handle the gay character so poorly.
Nash, the guide, also needs a bit of revision. We're told he was the MC dead mom's friend for decades, and that he was there when she tragically died. Keyword: told. He does go into a whole "I'm hiding my grief" rant near the end, I'll give you that, but we had so little material to believe that they were close, lifelong friends.
At one point, he tells the MC how her mom died and the MC is surprised, but we weren't told why it was a revelation. Did she not know how her own mom died? Did anyone lie to her? We are so entangled into her still-spiraling grief that we don't get the minimm information to know what is going on, why it affects the MC the way it does, why it's important.
Sadly the fact that she lost her mom in a river accident felt like an afterthought, like the author had three characters that he liked a lot but needed a fourth one because he didn't like the rest as POV characters so he threw in a dead mother. This needs to be more developed, with the respect it deserves.
First disclaimer: if you're a dumbass like me and you read the synopsis and think this is a girl-group book: it isn't. It's two girls and two boys. Just in case you were looking for wlw rep and stumbled across this and thought this was it.
What would've made this book an automatic 5 stars for me is having a more character study perspective. These are four kids stuck in a dangerous school trip with a guide that one of them blames of killing her mother, and all of them have secrets. It's in the freaking title! But it all came and went in a scene and a half, and I really wish we had had more of that, because it was my favorite part of the book. Not that I didn't care, but I cared less about what happened to them in the rapids than about getting to really know them. They were all really interesting and potentially complex characters, but the bits and pieces we get about their stories weren't enough, and at the end it made it seem like they were all just a bunch of stereotypes and tropes and personalities tied together to make functional characters.
The rowing and climbing scenes could've done with either more or less descriptions, because it fell in the midle and it ended looking like a lot of technical words that I didn't know the meaning of, English being my second language (but good enough to have a bilingual-level understanding of it). I really didn't understand what was going on in the end, I just knew they were struggling. And the days when they were camping felt a bit repetitive, though it's understandable. I loved the campfire chats and the group-cuddling scene and I wish we'd gotten more of that, instead of cooking trouts and climbing cliffs. There also could've been more character study in those scenes so it's a win-win.
Now talking about the MC, she was a bit insufferable at times, but she was going through a grieving process so it's understandable. What I didn't get was the whole list-making thing she had going on? I felt like it was just there to make her look edgy. A situation like a boy talking to her or something would come up and she would make a list in her head of all the things she could say/do in response to it. Then she would say "my favorite options are 1 and 3, but I ended up going with a mix of 2 and 4". This happens around 5 times in the book, more or less. And I just never understood how that was supposed to be funny/sassy/edgy? The first time it was okay, I guess, but by the fourth time I was annoyed and just wanted her to be upfront with what she wantes to say/do and just SAY IT. It had nothing to do with how she behaved the rest of the book, and this isn't a multiple universes novel so it made no sense. Btw this wasn't related to her trauma at all either.
The instalove she had with another boy in the group was also just too much. They knew each other before (and the other two kids in the trip) because they went to the same school, but they thought the other was just a walking stereotype of a weird girl/football guy or whatever. They knew NOTHING about each other. And they flirted and fell in love and kissed in, what, two days? At this point I was taking deep breaths and mentalizing myself like "okay, this was written by a man, just hold on, don't go apeshit over this" but THEN........
There's a gay character. You can just TELL the author hasn't made contact with the LGBT+ community since he watched some TV show in like 2012 with a gay character. The poor boy has to explain the other kids that he didn't CHOOSE to be gay and that he can't just come out and. The four MCs were in risk of LITERALLY FREEZING TO DEATH, so they had to cuddle together, and the author made the gay boy APOLOGIZE TO THE STRAIGHT ONE because it was his turn to cuddle behind him or whatever. Listen. I know how small towns are because I happen to live in one. But no gen Z kid is so out of the loop in 2019. Maybe some son-of-conservatives, or some Christian family, sure, but your average teenager knows better than that. And even if they didn't, it's fiction, you can CHOOSE to have a more progressive, up-to-date depiction of a gay character, and you just didn't. It was irrespondible, to say the least, to handle the gay character so poorly.
Nash, the guide, also needs a bit of revision. We're told he was the MC dead mom's friend for decades, and that he was there when she tragically died. Keyword: told. He does go into a whole "I'm hiding my grief" rant near the end, I'll give you that, but we had so little material to believe that they were close, lifelong friends.
At one point, he tells the MC how her mom died and the MC is surprised, but we weren't told why it was a revelation. Did she not know how her own mom died? Did anyone lie to her? We are so entangled into her still-spiraling grief that we don't get the minimm information to know what is going on, why it affects the MC the way it does, why it's important.
Sadly the fact that she lost her mom in a river accident felt like an afterthought, like the author had three characters that he liked a lot but needed a fourth one because he didn't like the rest as POV characters so he threw in a dead mother. This needs to be more developed, with the respect it deserves.
March 4, 2020
This arc gave me unprecedented joy: I never knew e-arcs can be this beautiful! I have read e-arcs of poetry and comics/graphic novels but never an e-arc in other genres, that made my reading experience better and not a pain in the eyes, for all the bad editing that I cannot hold anyone accountable for since it is an arc.
Since the early reviews, in most cases, decides how a book will work out, the e-arcs must be presentable and comforting. One of the best ways to make sure that your books give out good vibes and make one's reading experience better when giving out e-arcs is to make sure that they are pleasant for one's eyes.
For international folks, like me, as arc reviewers, we only have the opportunity to review e-arcs even though we have good stats. So when we are constantly on-screen, the reading experience starts to become irritative, as days go by, when the e-arc doesn't feel comfortable and pleasant for the eyes. The reason why I am talking about this is that this is my first e-arc from Shadow Mountain Publishing and the joy this book gave my eyes is palpable by making my reading experience savouring!
Indie, our narrator, is an aspiring journalist in her high school senior year, who ends up on a river rafting group for her journalism class with three other high schoolers: Wyatt, Shelby and Skye.
A loner, a jock, an outsider and an Instagram influencer- there is nothing in common between the four, above the surface. As the unpredictability of the river forces them to rely on each other, their secrets which the other three do not know starts to run free amidst them.
One is wallowing in grief under the facade after the death of a loved one. One is closeted and is in fear of coming out. One is facing a new disability and an undetermined future. One is hiding behind the perfectly curated social mask. As they make a perilous journey through the Hell's Canyon, they all discover the undermining truth in themselves and know and accept each other's secrets, laid bare in front of them.
As an articulately woven genius, this engaging and poignant story hooks you on its very first page. Even though the fact a teacher wanted her students to go out on this journey for admission into her class, knowing for a fact how perilous it can be, even when the forecast states that it will be good- made me want to put her behind the bars for endangering lives and annoyed me, it didn't stop me from wanting to indulge more in this story. I give that credits to Spencer's masterful writing that paints vivid imagery and transports you to experience every inch of this story poetically.
Anything related to water makes sure to steal my heart but this one just hits the right strings to be a beautiful read for young adults and adults alike with the themes of finding light through darkness, forgiveness, loss, strength, internal chaos and owning the person you truly are by self-acceptance. Every character in this is crafted with a realistic sense of chaos that all of us are condemned to and that made me find these characters more humane than anyone would expect to. This heart-touching and thought-provoking tale will make sure to leave its influence on you and in hunger for more of Spencer's story-telling skills!
I absolutely cannot wait to read more works by Spencer! I loved this read so much and I hope anyone who picks it, loves it as much as I did or maybe, even more!
Thank you, NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this eye-pleasing e-arc!
Since the early reviews, in most cases, decides how a book will work out, the e-arcs must be presentable and comforting. One of the best ways to make sure that your books give out good vibes and make one's reading experience better when giving out e-arcs is to make sure that they are pleasant for one's eyes.
For international folks, like me, as arc reviewers, we only have the opportunity to review e-arcs even though we have good stats. So when we are constantly on-screen, the reading experience starts to become irritative, as days go by, when the e-arc doesn't feel comfortable and pleasant for the eyes. The reason why I am talking about this is that this is my first e-arc from Shadow Mountain Publishing and the joy this book gave my eyes is palpable by making my reading experience savouring!
Indie, our narrator, is an aspiring journalist in her high school senior year, who ends up on a river rafting group for her journalism class with three other high schoolers: Wyatt, Shelby and Skye.
A loner, a jock, an outsider and an Instagram influencer- there is nothing in common between the four, above the surface. As the unpredictability of the river forces them to rely on each other, their secrets which the other three do not know starts to run free amidst them.
One is wallowing in grief under the facade after the death of a loved one. One is closeted and is in fear of coming out. One is facing a new disability and an undetermined future. One is hiding behind the perfectly curated social mask. As they make a perilous journey through the Hell's Canyon, they all discover the undermining truth in themselves and know and accept each other's secrets, laid bare in front of them.
As an articulately woven genius, this engaging and poignant story hooks you on its very first page. Even though the fact a teacher wanted her students to go out on this journey for admission into her class, knowing for a fact how perilous it can be, even when the forecast states that it will be good- made me want to put her behind the bars for endangering lives and annoyed me, it didn't stop me from wanting to indulge more in this story. I give that credits to Spencer's masterful writing that paints vivid imagery and transports you to experience every inch of this story poetically.
Anything related to water makes sure to steal my heart but this one just hits the right strings to be a beautiful read for young adults and adults alike with the themes of finding light through darkness, forgiveness, loss, strength, internal chaos and owning the person you truly are by self-acceptance. Every character in this is crafted with a realistic sense of chaos that all of us are condemned to and that made me find these characters more humane than anyone would expect to. This heart-touching and thought-provoking tale will make sure to leave its influence on you and in hunger for more of Spencer's story-telling skills!
I absolutely cannot wait to read more works by Spencer! I loved this read so much and I hope anyone who picks it, loves it as much as I did or maybe, even more!
Thank you, NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this eye-pleasing e-arc!
March 3, 2020
4.5 rounded to 5 stars!
What the Other Three Don't Know by Spencer Hyde is such a beautifully written YA contemporary story about forgiveness, courage, acceptance, friendship and finally learning to let go and move forward. It's haunting, exciting, and an asbolutely fantastic emotional adventure and I loved it all.
This story was so utterly heartbreaking at times, but also truly and wonderfully moving. Hyde's storytelling style captivated me from the start. I enjoyed his literary techniques which made me feel like I was a character in the story rather than just a reader. The vivid and lush descriptions of the settings, the river, and the landscapes enthralled me and I enjoyed experiencing what the characters felt in every moment. I loved the suspense, the thrills, and the anticipation of never knowing what's going to happen next. I felt like I was friends with the characters and I was taking the journey with them. At the end of it all, I think this book's best surprise is all the important and inspiring messages throughout the story.
The pacing has a really nice flow and the plot moves just like a river. There are some calm and touching moments that warmed my heart, a few bumps, twists, and turns that surprised me, and some very intense and terrifying situations that had me holding my breath. There was teen drama, action, excitement, suspense, humor, and even romance. This adventure was definitely an exhilarating, emotional, and breathtaking experience I won't easily forget.
I think the characters are just so precious and wonderful. I didn’t like all of them right away, but by the end, I can definitely say that I love, adore, and admire Indie, Wyatt, Skye and Shelby for different reasons. They're dealing with their own issues and insecurities so each of them affected me and I coulnd't help but root for each of them throughout their journey. I felt their joy, their pain, their anger, their sadness, and their fears. It was real and raw and quite beautiful to watch them all grow and mature. After spending time with them, I felt proud of what they've conquered and accomplished. I loved seeing them work through their issues, become friends amidst all their differences, and ultimately find the strength to be true to who they really are.
What the Other Three Don't Know is a such a poignant, touching, and beautiful story. The writing is amazing, the plot is twisty, intense, and thrilling, and the characters are realistic and loveable. I loved the friendships. I loved the chemistry between Indie and Skye. I loved the humor and sweet moments. I loved all the emotions I felt and the scenes that had me on edge. I loved that I couldn’t put this book down and was absolutely engrossed from the start. As a first time reader of Hyde's stories, I can honestly say that I completely enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more from this talented and brilliant author!
I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
What the Other Three Don't Know by Spencer Hyde is such a beautifully written YA contemporary story about forgiveness, courage, acceptance, friendship and finally learning to let go and move forward. It's haunting, exciting, and an asbolutely fantastic emotional adventure and I loved it all.
This story was so utterly heartbreaking at times, but also truly and wonderfully moving. Hyde's storytelling style captivated me from the start. I enjoyed his literary techniques which made me feel like I was a character in the story rather than just a reader. The vivid and lush descriptions of the settings, the river, and the landscapes enthralled me and I enjoyed experiencing what the characters felt in every moment. I loved the suspense, the thrills, and the anticipation of never knowing what's going to happen next. I felt like I was friends with the characters and I was taking the journey with them. At the end of it all, I think this book's best surprise is all the important and inspiring messages throughout the story.
The pacing has a really nice flow and the plot moves just like a river. There are some calm and touching moments that warmed my heart, a few bumps, twists, and turns that surprised me, and some very intense and terrifying situations that had me holding my breath. There was teen drama, action, excitement, suspense, humor, and even romance. This adventure was definitely an exhilarating, emotional, and breathtaking experience I won't easily forget.
I think the characters are just so precious and wonderful. I didn’t like all of them right away, but by the end, I can definitely say that I love, adore, and admire Indie, Wyatt, Skye and Shelby for different reasons. They're dealing with their own issues and insecurities so each of them affected me and I coulnd't help but root for each of them throughout their journey. I felt their joy, their pain, their anger, their sadness, and their fears. It was real and raw and quite beautiful to watch them all grow and mature. After spending time with them, I felt proud of what they've conquered and accomplished. I loved seeing them work through their issues, become friends amidst all their differences, and ultimately find the strength to be true to who they really are.
What the Other Three Don't Know is a such a poignant, touching, and beautiful story. The writing is amazing, the plot is twisty, intense, and thrilling, and the characters are realistic and loveable. I loved the friendships. I loved the chemistry between Indie and Skye. I loved the humor and sweet moments. I loved all the emotions I felt and the scenes that had me on edge. I loved that I couldn’t put this book down and was absolutely engrossed from the start. As a first time reader of Hyde's stories, I can honestly say that I completely enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more from this talented and brilliant author!
I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 22, 2020
This is a powerful book about forgiveness and being who you really are. It is written for young adults and I think teens will relate well to the characters. I cared about Indie after just the first two pages of the book and wanted to find out what would happen to her. She’s a 17 year old girl who lives with her grandpa in a tiny town because her dad left them and her mom died in a rafting accident. Her grandpa is the town mortician and drives the hearse when they go on trips. Indie thinks this is part of the reason she doesn’t have any friends, but admits she doesn’t let people close to her for fear they will hurt her by leaving.
Indie is forced to do the unthinkable and go on a rafting trip down the same river her mom died on two years prior, even with the same guide who she blames for her mother’s death. While that may not be realistic, it is true that we need to face our grief and fears in life and overcome them rather than be limited by them. She makes mental lists of options when faced with a choice which I enjoyed reading. Multiple rock climbing and rafting terms are used but not explained. It doesn’t prevent the reader from following the story but it would be helpful to know their meaning.
Something noteworthy happens on almost every page whether it’s action and excitement, character development, or a meaningful quote. Some of the content is a little difficult to face such as bullying, suicide, and death. Each of the characters is totally different from the others and they start out really disliking each other. Skye is a boy who was a star athlete, had multiple scholarships for soccer, and likes to rock climb, but all that changed when he lost his leg in an accident. Wyatt is a really good artist, knows survival skills, and lives next to Indie with his father who is an abusive drunk. Shelby is beautiful, rich, lives her life on social media and seems to have it all. Normally people wouldn’t bond after only a few days together, but I think it’s realistic for these teens to be close after the life-threatening danger they experience and having to rely on each other for their survival.
Forgiveness and grief are main themes in this book. Indie is still dealing with her grief over losing her mom. Skye tells Indie to forgive Nash and relates it to fly fishing and releasing the fish. “Mercy is only mercy when it’s given to the people we don’t want to have it, who we don’t think are deserving of such a thing.” Each of the characters has a challenge they’re facing that they don’t want anyone to know about. They learn to share their true self with others and carry their loads together.
I’d like to thank the publisher for an ARC to use for my review.
Indie is forced to do the unthinkable and go on a rafting trip down the same river her mom died on two years prior, even with the same guide who she blames for her mother’s death. While that may not be realistic, it is true that we need to face our grief and fears in life and overcome them rather than be limited by them. She makes mental lists of options when faced with a choice which I enjoyed reading. Multiple rock climbing and rafting terms are used but not explained. It doesn’t prevent the reader from following the story but it would be helpful to know their meaning.
Something noteworthy happens on almost every page whether it’s action and excitement, character development, or a meaningful quote. Some of the content is a little difficult to face such as bullying, suicide, and death. Each of the characters is totally different from the others and they start out really disliking each other. Skye is a boy who was a star athlete, had multiple scholarships for soccer, and likes to rock climb, but all that changed when he lost his leg in an accident. Wyatt is a really good artist, knows survival skills, and lives next to Indie with his father who is an abusive drunk. Shelby is beautiful, rich, lives her life on social media and seems to have it all. Normally people wouldn’t bond after only a few days together, but I think it’s realistic for these teens to be close after the life-threatening danger they experience and having to rely on each other for their survival.
Forgiveness and grief are main themes in this book. Indie is still dealing with her grief over losing her mom. Skye tells Indie to forgive Nash and relates it to fly fishing and releasing the fish. “Mercy is only mercy when it’s given to the people we don’t want to have it, who we don’t think are deserving of such a thing.” Each of the characters has a challenge they’re facing that they don’t want anyone to know about. They learn to share their true self with others and carry their loads together.
I’d like to thank the publisher for an ARC to use for my review.
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