Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format: eGalley
Age Group: Young Adult
Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.
Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.
Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane.
Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.
*While I don't think this review is particularly spoilery, I do talk very favorably about a character who at one time or another during the story, may be suspected as the killer, and therefore my comments about said character may rule them out before you even start the book. Just a friendly warning :0) *
Imagine just hanging around, minding your own business, when you inadvertanly touch something that is emotionally tied to another person. Once you touch it, you slide into that person's body, and witness whatever they are doing through their eyes. That is the plight of main character Sylvia "Vee" Bell. When I first heard about SLIDE, that is what drew me to it. I love the premise of slipping into someone's body and seeing whatever they are seeing. And it's handled pretty well here, but sometimes I felt like she could have gone a little further with it. Of course, there is going to be a book two, so who knows what will be in store for us then.
As far as the mystery goes, I was not able to correctly guess who the actual killer was, which is always a nice thing to have in a book like this. Unfortunately, the killer's motives were a little to out there for me. I know that crazy people do crazy things, for crazy reasons, but I just felt like she could have given us something a little more here. It wasn't a predictable reason for the murders, but it fell a little flat in my eyes.
Despite a few dissapointments with some parts of the plot, there is one specific thing that saved this book for me. Rollins. I just fell in love with his character and I will definitely read book two, because I want to read more of Rollins. I'm also curious to see where Vee's creepy ability takes her next, but mostly I just want to spend more time with her bff!
Slide wasn't a bonafied hit for me, but I did enjoy most of the story and am certainly planning to read book two. I'm still very intrigued by Vee's ability and can't wait to see where Hathaway takes it next!
YES TO ROLLINS! :D I loved him. He wasn't just the stereotypical best friend that one often finds in YA books, there more for effect than anything. He actually had a purpose, and a personality, and I adored him.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with you, regarding the mystery. I was happy to not have predicted it, but I wish it would've had a wee bit more logic behind it.
Interesting. Intriguing! I like your review. This book sounds good and challenging, especially with not predicting the killer!! Way cool.
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