2018 Beyond the Classics discussion

This book is a beautiful monster containing bits and pieces of many different book / tv show plots. A mashup of a current show “Pretty Little Liars” and the classic and iconic “Breakfast Club”. The story begins in a stereotypical high school where the reader meets the 5 main characters. The Jock, the princess, the trouble maker, the brain, and the outcast. After getting in trouble, they all must go and serve Saturday detention. They all expect it to just be a regular uneventful detention. They could not have seen what would come of that detention, when only 4 of the 5 kids walk out of it alive. High school is a place where everyone has secrets, its all about keeping them a secret. A website called “About That” is the biggest source of gossip in this high school. Where peoples secrets sit just waiting to be posted. After his tragic death in detention, many students are conflicted about how to feel now that he is gone. Sad about the way he went? Or relief that there is no longer the threat of “About That”, or so they thought. The students in detention when the incident happened are all suspects for murder. While going through trials and trying to live normal lives, slowly secrets start to spill. The unlikely team of students join together to try and prove their innocence. As the book progresses we see relationships form between characters. After being accused, the reader feels instant empathy for the characters involved. As their normal lives spiral away from them with no hope of controlling it. Secrets are spilled and make things even more complicated. As the story progresses the characters learn to ignore all the rumors and try to live as moral as they can. If i had to pick out one thing I didn't love about this book it would be the fact that there are some cliche parts. I am a high schooler reading a book about other high schoolers, so some cliche parts are to be expected. It didn't turn me off from the book to much but for other people it might. Karen M. McManus right from the start draws in readers with the murder mystery plot. Having the book be compared to a popular teen tv show and being compared to a classic movie really helps to gain attention from a wide audience. I recommend this book to any age any gender. Especially if a person enjoy solving mysteries this book is perfect for them. To sum it up this book was a great read. Not too easy or too hard. A very interesting plot with lots of unexpected twists that kept you on your feet and constantly thinking. Definitely recommend.