Review: Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

4 yummy oatmeal creme filled cookies. (click for the recipes)

Cover Love: Yes! This is a perfect cover for this book, creepy and very symbolic that you recognize once you read the book.

Why I Wanted to Read This Book: First of all, it takes place in a small town in Montana. I live in Montana so that intrigued me right away. Plus it looks creepy! Here's the synopsis from Good Reads:

The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

I Kept Reading Because: It was a good read! I enjoyed Kendall, she was a good main character. Lisa is a good writer and I really wanted to know the answer to the mystery!

Romance: Yes! I loved the romance that developed for Kendall.

What I Liked (& Didn't): Awhile ago I wrote a post on when something in a book bothers you, normally something small, that has nothing to do with the actual plot, but that you just can't seem to let go. This happened to me a lot in this book. And the only reason it did was because it is based in Montana and there was a few things that just weren't overly true to small town Montana (while my town is way bigger than Cryer's Cross, my mom grew up in a tiny Montana town, that I still visit a lot). However, I talked myself into accepting the author's version of Montana and I relaxed. Once I did I was able to really enjoy the ride.

I really liked how it was a supernatural book, but the supernatural element was such a small thing. It was really a coming-of-age tale for Kendall.

This is the first of Lisa McMann's books I have read, nut I am sure it won't be the last. I have an interest in the Dream Catcher series now after reading this. Well-written!

I LOVED how the nuggets for the mystery were not even mentioned until late into the book. It was perfect timing. And, the supernatural element was almost plausible.

What I Would Like to See:
This was perfect where it ended...no sequel needed.

To Sum Up:
I really enjoyed this book--perfect length, likeable main character and well written. I will be getting it for my library because I know plenty of middle school readers who will like the mystery/supernatural/romance elements of this book!

Book received through Simon & Schuster's Galley Grab program.