What Happened to Cass McBride? by Gail Giles

I first started recommending this book to students three years ago, and they have been obsessively reading it every since. I'm on my third copy of the book, and its cover is lovingly taped together in an attempt to get it through the rest of the school year.

We have all known someone like Cass McBride, the most popular girl at school whom everyone seems to hate. She is definitely at the top of the high school food chain, but only because she stomped and clawed her way there. David, on the other hand, despite his extreme intelligence and gentle nature, seems to hang onto the fringe of everyone else, with no real friends to call his own. When their paths cross and Cass publicly humiliates David, his deep rooted pain surfaces and he commits suicide.

By hanging himself in a tree.

In his front yard.

With a note safety pinned through his skin that reads: Words are teeth. And they eat me alive. Feed on my corpse instead.

Yeah, this is just the beginning folks. Because what happens next is that David's brother Kyle decides Cass needs to be punished, for without her involvement, his brother would still be alive. Kyle creates an elaborate "grave" for Cass, burying her alive, yet not killing her in an elaborate game of torture.

The entire book is told from alternating perspectives, primarily Kyle, Cass, and the lead investigator. Gail Giles craftily pulls us in, alternately making us feel pity for, and then despising all of the major players. I read this book in about a day, pressed to find out whether or not Cass would live or die.

Obviously, this book is intense, and not for the faint of heart. If you are a teacher, get this in the hands of your reluctant 14 year old + readers!