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The Terrorist

3.58 of 5 stars 3.58 · rating details · 896 ratings · 73 reviews

When terrorist violence in London tears an American family apart, sixteen-year-old Laura becomes obsessed with finding her brother's killer.

Paperback, 208 pages

Published November 1st 1999 by Scholastic Paperbacks (first published September 1st 1997)

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Feb 24, 2013 Amara rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, 2013, 2013-arc-reading-challenge, 2013-ebook-challenge, reviewed

After the wonderful surprise that was Fog, I didn't expect to be as disappointed as I was by The Terrorist. While Fog balanced out its sillier YA-typical elements with a well-crafted tone of eeriness and a reasonably strong female protagonist, The Terrorist stars an obnoxious teenage girl who flaunts her extreme nationalism and rampant xenophobia.

I mean, my goodness. I like the US as much as the next citizen, but hearing Laura go on and on about how it's simply the only country worth living in i...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Celeste_pewter rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Disclaimer: I received an ARC through NetGalley and Open Road Media in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

***

Okay. I need to state right at the start of this review: I feel guilty for not liking this book, because Caroline B. Cooney's Both Sides of Time quartet was my go-to time travel series when I was younger.

However, The Terrorist just isn't that well-written.

The beginning of the story is compelling - the protagonist's little brother Billy, witnesses a terrorist attack on the verge of...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Christian Wright rated it 2 of 5 stars

I thought The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney was a decently good book. The story after the main conflict was pretty boring for a while until the story started to pick up. The end was pretty disappointing in and of itself. The main conflict is resolved but not the way i would have imagined. It was eye opening for me because in the book a sister looses her brother. This made me think about what if I lost my sister and how it would affect me, my parents, and life as I know it.

This book is about a gi...more

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Feb 01, 2012 Michele rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: banned-book-week, young-adult

The more I read banned books, the more I realize that just because a book is banned, does not mean it's good literature.

I thought Cooney's writing style would have improved between The Milk Carton and The Terrorist but no, same cardboard characters and language that tells, not shows. Unlikable characters who don't mature and show nothing more than shallow development through the course of the story.

This book was challenged because of portrayals of Muslims, but, frankly, I'm offended by the way s...more

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Jan 22, 2012 Nenia Campbell rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: x-1990s, the-butler-did-it, ya-baby-ya, reviewed

Laura and her brother, Billy, are Americans living abroad in London. They go to a special school for foreign students, filled with the children of diplomats, expatriates, and refugees. Laura misses America and its many idiosyncrasies. She is puzzled by the silly slang, the lack of American junk food, and the interest its residents take in global affairs. Including her peers. She thinks high school students have more business worrying about what to wear to prom than whether Palestine and Israel a...more Laura and her brother, Billy, are Americans living abroad in London. They go to a special school for foreign students, filled with the children of diplomats, expatriates, and refugees. Laura misses America and its many idiosyncrasies. She is puzzled by the silly slang, the lack of American junk food, and the interest its residents take in global affairs. Including her peers. She thinks high school students have more business worrying about what to wear to prom than whether Palestine and Israel are in another icy truce. Despite her somewhat closed-minded attitude, Laura seems to have it all — friends, a perfect family, a highly active social life… until her brother is killed by a package bomb in the Tube for no other reason than being American. Maybe.

I can see why this book got banned in some libraries. Apart from dealing with terrorism, it also covers many other topics — like the Israel/Palestine issue, Muslim culture, and the “not in my backyard, not my problem” attitude many American people take to world issues. It is also disturbing when Laura decides — somewhat irrationally — that the person responsible for the bombing is a student at her school and starts interrogating her classmates and friends, demanding their country of origin, proof of citizenship, and what have you. Caroline B. Cooney really doesn't paint a very flattering picture of Americans. Or maybe that's just because or book lacks the self-congratulatory jingoism that many U.S.-centered books have. Laura certainly isn't a BAD person, and by the end of the book, it's pretty certain that she's learned her lesson.

What I liked about this book:
Characterization (☆☆☆): for a YA thriller, Laura wasn't three-dimensional at all. Sometimes I wanted to throttle her for her ignorance and stupidity, but I could see where she was coming from. Grief makes people irrational — for their own sake, they need SOMEBODY to blame. Mostly, I loved Laura's friends. Mohammed and Con and Jimmy were total sweethearts. They had personality and acted like what they were: very mature children who had gone through far more in their lives than they should have.

I also love how Cooney includes all these small, inconsequential personal details to give you a feel for the characters. Like, the fact that Laura's brother made lists of everything and tried hard to implement British slang in his vocabulary. Or the fact that Mohammed doesn't have a passport because he had to flee his country, but can still sympathize with the trivial (but no less upsetting) problems of his American friends. It made the characters a lot more human, and a whole lot more “in your face” with a very powerful effect.

The emphasis on current events (☆☆☆☆): It really is important to know about different cultures. Not so you know who's the most likely to be a terrorist (shame on you, Laura, giving Mohammed a hard time for being Muslim!), but just so you don't offend and establish better rapport with foreigners. I came from a small town that was mostly Latino and white. In college I met many, many Asians (and quickly learned to tell the names, music, food and language all apart at their insistence), as well as people from Russia, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Scotland, India, Pakistan, Israel, Brazil, and many, many, many more. It's important to know what to ask and what NOT to ask, and how to express an interest without getting personal. :)

What I didn't like about this book:
Laura as Nancy Drew (☆): She made me so angry with her blatant xenophobia. I could NOT believe it when she started tearing her friends' tragic histories out of them to make sure they had no connections with her brother's death. It was so insensitive and callous and UGH. I almost threw the book down in disgust. I was raised to mind my manners and not pry into people's personal business unless they seem receptive (i.e. insistent upon telling you). I guess it's good when a writer can make you hate a character that much, while sympathizing with them, but Lordy, it makes it much harder to read that book. And she was kind of an idiot with double-standards, though no more about that — shh, spoilers!

The ending (☆☆): It was somewhat anticlimactic in my opinion, to the point of being lame.

This would be a good book for a precocious child who has the emotional and intellectual maturity to deal with a mystery that revolves around culture clashes.(less)

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Nov 15, 2011 Adam rated it 5 of 5 stars

Caroline B. Cooney paints a horrifying tale of revenge as Laura Williams, a 16 year old British international student, finds out that her brother was targeted by a terrorist attack and killed. The first scene of the book has Laura's brother running through a train with his friend. A strange man hands him a package and tells him that his friend dropped it and leaves. Laura's brother remembers all the drills he had at school and realizes the package is a bomb, but didn't want anyone else to die. S...more

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Apr 17, 2011 MaryBookSwarm rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, teen-review, scholastic

SHAELI'S THOUGHTS: I would have to say that this was one of the best mystery/thriller books that I've ever read. Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. This was the first Caroline B. Cooney book I've read and, after reading this one, it had me wanting to read more. She did a wonderful job writing this story.

My favorite characters were Laura and Billy Williams. They always put others before themselves. For example, when Billy found out what the package really was, he could have...more

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Sep 01, 2009 Sandra Strange rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

When her 11 year old brother is blown up in a terrorist bombing in the London tube, Laura’s focus changes from empty headed concern over clothes and boys to avowals of revenge and terror she will be the next target. Unfortunately, the year her family is spending in London, with her attendance at an international school filled with students from varied countries and cultures, becomes a disaster rather than the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity it was meant to be. The denouement is a little unbelieva...more

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Apr 09, 2012 Selena Ibarra rated it 5 of 5 stars

I my opinion I think it was a really good book. I loved it but I understand why the book is banned in my school. it's mostly about an 11 year boy that got killed by a bomb that was given by a stranger letting him know that it was something that one of his friends left in the train. And so Billy took it and was curious and opened it an notice it was a bomb. He was in front of a women and her baby. So he hugged it so he won't harm the baby. And that was how he died. His sister Laura is now trying...more

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Sep 16, 2010 KyleeJ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: library-book, banned-books, fiction, ya, 2010-books-read-in-k

I can see why this book what challenged. Even at 34 I could only read it in small chunks. I'm sure my 16yo could handle THE TERRORIST, but I wouldn't want her to be required to read it.

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Oct 16, 2012 Heather Wood rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was very excited to read this book since I grew up being a big fan of Caroline Cooney’s books. As weird as it sounds, I used to pretend I was Janie Johnson from The Face on the Milk Carton (if you read the book, you know how strange this is). I can’t say I was a huge fan of The Terrorist and it was only an okay read for me.

What I Liked: Billy is the heart of this book. He really made this book jump from a two star rating to a three star rating. The first chapter was gripping as we experience t...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this book. It was a quick read, but it opened my eyes to situations that must be concerns for a lot of people.

Laura and her family are Americans living in London for a year for her father's job. Laura's brother Billy was handed a package bomb one day on his way to school ad he was killed. Laura spends the rest of the book trying to make sense of her brother's death and figure out who was responsible.

I feel like the characters in some of Caroline B. Cooney's other books are more f...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Allison rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

The beginning of this book will hook you immediately, as it's told from the point of view of Billy, an American living in London with his family for a year. Billy starts a normal day, exploring his new city and looking forward to everything in life. As he's racing two classmates to school, he's handed a package. By the time he realizes what the package is, it's too late. The rest of the book is told by his surviving family members as they try to find the terrorist who targeted an 11-year-old boy...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Robert E. Kennedy Library rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: banned-books

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May 24, 2011 Thien Doan rated it 3 of 5 stars

The ending has a different approach than I expected, which I'm going to like this ending. Because the author made less action involved, but more main on oral speech. I know that can be lame, but I liked it. "Jehran said nothing." The scene has built a lot of imagery. The way of how the character expresses themselves. Larua was pretty darn mad once she had figured it out. She was mad the whole time in this book. Which I found key of book. This has drag lots of emotion of out of here. "What you ta...more

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Oct 28, 2007 zhyune rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: caroline-b-cooney

After i read this book, i realised that the 'terrorist' that the author is talking about is not necessary those in army uniforms, holding huge bazookas and snipers and those who look especially tough and mean. A terrorist is just anyone with the intention of harming someone else. The author makes the idea clear that a terrorist can live in just anyone's heart, as seen in the case of Jehran, a sweet small girl whom noone would ever guess was the one who paid the guards to plant a bomb in Billy's...more After i read this book, i realised that the 'terrorist' that the author is talking about is not necessary those in army uniforms, holding huge bazookas and snipers and those who look especially tough and mean. A terrorist is just anyone with the intention of harming someone else. The author makes the idea clear that a terrorist can live in just anyone's heart, as seen in the case of Jehran, a sweet small girl whom noone would ever guess was the one who paid the guards to plant a bomb in Billy's hands. Everyone has a personal agenda. We learnt this from our literature text, The Enemy of the People, in school. This book illustrates this idea, that Jehran killed Billy because she wanted his passport to escape from her brother, who wanted her to marry a rich old man. Jehran has her own personal motive for everything she does and say to Laura. This book brings the idea clearly across that someone with his or her own personal agenda will do anything to accomplish it.
I am amazed by Billy Williams. Even though he is only a mere 11 year old boy, he is full of compassion. Like all other young boys, he is playful and enjoys tormenting her sister Laura. And he has a weird and interesting hobby of collecting everything under the sun. But he is alert and smart, when someone handed him a brown package, he instinctively knows what is in the bag, 'in a sickening moment, Billy remembers the terrorist warnings he had seen posted around London'. On seeing the baby stroller and the baby's mother in front of him, and the mess of people around him, he hugs the package to his chest and was blown to bits and pieces. He did not want the others to die as he knew that if he threw it away, the bomb would still explode and kill others. He is a very brave boy, as even at the instant he knew what was in the bag, he did not shrink away and fling it elsewhere. He'd rather he be the one who got blown up and not the mother and child in front of him or the unknowing people in the crowd. 'he could not throw the package into the innocent crowd'. At the rather touching moment, he thought of his mom before he wrapped himself around the package, and it blew up. He is compassionate, brave and i admire him a lot. Under those circumstances, not many would be willing to protect the others by hugging the bomb to himself.
The story is a fast-paced one. Laura has a long list of suspects of who killed her brother and it was fiiled with names of her schoolmates. The suspect keeps moving from one person to the other, and no one had suspected Jehran. Laura herself had not been a least bit suspicious when Jehran had requested to 'borrow' Billy's passport [Jehran is small and boyish looking though she is frail and thin. she looks a little like Billy]. This shows that even if a person looks sweet, innocent and cute, he or she should still be kept at arms distance [not literary]. There was no foreshadowin or clues on who the killer might be. And that is the whole thrill of this book, unknowing.

Great Lines from the book:
'But thoughts of Billy did not lie gently. Billy might rest in peace, but the world did not. Every senseless act of violence the world over made her heart burst for her brother. Laura would shout, "No!" into the wind, but nothing Laura ever said or did could bring a child back from death.'
'Every winter for years, the Williams family had gone skiing in New Hampshire. There was no Billy, but there was still snow, and cold, and beauty, and the hard glorious work of skiing. Coming down the slope, Laura would try to cast grief into the snow-laden wind.'(less)

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Jun 13, 2010 Niko rated it 2 of 5 stars

The book starts off with Laura's younger brother dying from a terrorist bombing. It's all downhill from there. She finds her once in a lifetime experience attending a new school to be nothing but a pain. A diverse crowd of students isn't what Laura thought it would be. After making new friends as trying to find out who her brother's killer was, Laura finds that it is one of her close friends. I think this book was meant to be a social commentary stating something negative about the concept of tr...more

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May 11, 2009 Libby rated it 2 of 5 stars

O.k., maybe my opinion is skewed because I do work in an international school in a Muslim country. I was bothered by what felt like stereotypical portrayals of third-culture-kids, of Americans and of Muslims. And of course, in a post-2001 world, parts of the book felt very dated. So...my low star rating. On the other hand, Cooney does write a fast-paced, easy read, and she does describe well the emotions of a family dealing with the violent death of their son/brother.

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Jun 04, 2009 Rachel added it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 23, 2010 Mrs Johnnie Tate rated it 5 of 5 stars

My step-daughter was enthralled with this book so I asked her to borrow it. By page three I knew I'd be up all night!

Excellent to the end, this book portrays a girl whom begins to think of the world in terms other than herself. The end result is amazingly written in this poignant book.

Cooney did a wonderful work with this.

Miss Johnnie

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Nov 27, 2010 Matthew Johnson rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: children 10-13

This book was based in London, where recent terrorist attacks have happened. Every body is scared but they can't stop their daily lives just to avoid a bombing. So After her brothers heroic death, Laura wants revenge, but after the attack they move back to America, the one place that Laura wanted to go before the attack. But now she wants to stay.

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Sep 24, 2012 Zach Auerbach added it

Shelves: quarter-2, quarter-1

I thought that the book. "The Terrorist" was a very suspenseful novel about a young boy from Boston named Billy who is in the London Train Station and gets blown up when he gets handed a package. His sister, Laura, tries to find the killer while her Arabic friend has to flee the country. It is a very suspenseful and dramatic novel.

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Feb 18, 2010 Angelina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: loved, it-s-a-must-read, by-an-awesome-author

As most of Caroline B. Cooney's books, this one is filled with suspense. After Billy gets killed by terrorists, his sister's only want is...REVENGE! A great book for young adults and perfect for both boys AND girls. I HAVE TO get back to reading this book! If you have read it, don't spoil it for the rest of us!

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May 23, 2012 Nicolas rated it 3 of 5 stars

I found this on the bookshelf in my classroom while i was student teaching this year. The plot seemed intriguing so i read it. The book just seemed to land all over the place. I was confused more than anything and it never really kept my interest. It wasn't a terrible book, just not one that i will remember.

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Apr 14, 2013 Joan rated it 3 of 5 stars

An American family is caught up in violence in England. Laura's little brother, Billy is handed a bomb on the metro. Rather than throw it, he curls around it to protect others. Laura cannot believe he is dead. She is determined to find out who killed her brother. The answer is shocking.

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Sep 19, 2012 Lisa Ard rated it 4 of 5 stars

When Laura's younger brother is killed by a terrorist bombing in the London tube, this American girl determines to find his killer. Everyone at her international school is under suspicion. Tense, thrilling, this is a short read that's sure to please.

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Sep 26, 2009 Bill Littell rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone who wants to read a good thriller.

Shelves: ya-female-protagonist, ya-mystery-suspense-horror

Lexile: 710

This is Caroline B. Cooney at her best. The reader can't help but identify with the protagonist's anger and be impressed with her search for her brother's killer. The ending is full of suspense and drama.

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Apr 19, 2009 Tomas rated it 4 of 5 stars

I definetly reccomend this book if u are Mystery type reader.
I is how a girl tries to solve the mystery of this bomb that let to
the deth of her brother.
Its really great.It can be found in the Library of Ms.Lacy at Ms.324

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Dec 05, 2008 Ali C rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone!!

This is absolutely my favorite book by caroline b. cooney. I cried (just a little), got mad.. basically related to the character.. No I haven't dealt with anything like that but I could only imagine how she felt.

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Jan 28, 2009 Allie is currently reading it

So far this book is really good, it is a really easy read, and it keeps your attention. My friend told me about it, and now i cant put it down. I can't wait to find out in the end.!

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About Caroline B. Cooney

Caroline Cooney knew in sixth grade that she wanted to be a writer when "the best teacher I ever had in my life" made writing her main focus. "He used to rip off covers from The New Yorker and pass them around and make us write a short story on whichever cover we got. I started writing then and never stopped!"
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with rem...more

More about Caroline B. Cooney...

Books by Caroline B. Cooney

The Face on the Milk Carton (Janie Johnson, #1)

Whatever Happened to Janie? (Janie Johnson, #2)

The Voice on the Radio (Janie Johnson, #3)

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