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27th out of 102 books
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Torn to Pieces
SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD ANNE ALWAYS thought her mother was kind of quirky. In fact, her mom’s taste in 70s-esque furniture and mysterious frequent business trips were just the tip of the quirky iceberg. When her
mom doesn’t come home on time from one of her long jaunts, Anne isn’t too surprised. But when a day late turns into a few days late, Anne knows something is very wrong.
S...more
mom doesn’t come home on time from one of her long jaunts, Anne isn’t too surprised. But when a day late turns into a few days late, Anne knows something is very wrong.
S...more
Hardcover, 258 pages
Published
September 9th 2008
by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
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This book had me hooked the very first chapter. The writing is great. The characters are charming. The plot was one that kept me guessing and I really enjoyed it. Its a YA book, a quick read, and quite enjoyable!
Anne has the perfect life...that is if her mother, Penny, would ever stay home. Penny, a ghost writer, does nothing but travel. She's always gone for days, never telling Anne any details. But one day, Penny doesn't come home. Anne begins a search that will turn her world upside down and ...more
Anne has the perfect life...that is if her mother, Penny, would ever stay home. Penny, a ghost writer, does nothing but travel. She's always gone for days, never telling Anne any details. But one day, Penny doesn't come home. Anne begins a search that will turn her world upside down and ...more
SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD ANNE ALWAYS thought her mother was kind of quirky. In fact, her mom’s taste in 70s-esque furniture and mysterious frequent business trips were just the tip of the quirky iceberg. When her
mom doesn’t come home on time from one of her long jaunts, Anne isn’t too surprised. But when a day late turns into a few days late, Anne knows something is very wrong.
She tries the hotel number that her mother left her, but it has been disconnected. Then a strange man keeps ...more
mom doesn’t come home on time from one of her long jaunts, Anne isn’t too surprised. But when a day late turns into a few days late, Anne knows something is very wrong.
She tries the hotel number that her mother left her, but it has been disconnected. Then a strange man keeps ...more
I haven't read a teen thriller in awhile, so I wasn't sure what to expect. This book was OK, but I didn't love it. However, I think reluctant adolescent readers will find it interesting and satisfying. There are many, many plot twists (which is probably which turned me off to the book -- it got less and less believable), there's a little bit of romance, and really interesting characters. It's easy to get hooked on this one, so I'll keep it in mind for kids who think books are boring. It's defini...more
Anne's mother is odd, and she knows this. Their life has always been strange, with her mother running off with little or no warning to do her job. Anne has always been told that her mother is a writer, and she believes it. And I'll give Anne this much credit: it makes sense that she would. Too often, a plot like this will drop anvil-sized hints that something is amiss. There are no anvils here. The hints that Anne's life is not all that it seems are just that, hints, and ones that would be so ea...more
I chose this book because I am interested in dramatic and suspenseful novels, as soon as I read the blurb I was immeadiatley intrigued. Novels like this one never get boring and action is continuous from begginning to end. Yes, i loved it, normally i get sick and tired of reading the same book for a long period of time, but I was happy that i took the time to grasp every aspect of the novel. No, i cannot relate to the novel because my life is not nearly as dramatic as the characters in the novel...more
Anne is an ordinary teenage girl who leads a perfect ordianry life, in her opinion anyways. Her mom is a great biography writer who travels the world 24/7. And Anne is left in a big stone house in the middle of Centerville finding new friends and trying to fit. But when her mother disappears, there is a robbery at the house, and her own friends betray her, Anne realizes something is terribly wrong. And soon the world she knows is torn apart from who is good and trustworthy to who is the traitor...more
Reviewed by Breanna F. for TeensReadToo.com
Anne is a 17-year-old girl who lives with her quirky mother. Ever since Anne was little, she and her mother (and her grandparents) would move around every once in a while. Anne's mom is a writer so she does a lot of traveling, and Anne is by herself. She often stays with her grandparents just down the street, because it's creepy being alone in that big house.
Anne has always found her mother to be a bit strange by the furniture th...more
Anne is a 17-year-old girl who lives with her quirky mother. Ever since Anne was little, she and her mother (and her grandparents) would move around every once in a while. Anne's mom is a writer so she does a lot of traveling, and Anne is by herself. She often stays with her grandparents just down the street, because it's creepy being alone in that big house.
Anne has always found her mother to be a bit strange by the furniture th...more
Imagine that one day your mom said she was going on a business trip for three days and didn't come back for almost three months. Wouldn't you worry about where your mom was and when she would be coming back home? Wouldn't you even start to think that something wrong may have happened to her? This is how Anne felt when her mom suddenly disappeared on one of her business trips. One day late from the scheduled time her mom was suppose to come home turned into several weeks. She knew someth...more
I really enjoyed this one! There was just enough suspense at a time so there's constantly something going on. I liked the writing a lot and the concept of the novel. It is divided between Anne's POV and letters her mother has written her, helping guide her through her life. There were so many twists I wasn't expecting that I had to keep reading. My heart went out to Anne and I was always going back and forth between trusting different people. It seems to change constantly! I really enjoyed this ...more
This was a really good book! I liked the suspence however i liked how the author gave you clues on what was going to happen next. then other times you were completely on your own.
Actually some of the parts reminded me of a scary movie where the girl is about to go into the closet to check out a noise..and in your head you are screaming 'don't go in there! don't open the door' but she does it anyways...that's how some of the book was to me.
Even all the screaming in my head it was st...more
Actually some of the parts reminded me of a scary movie where the girl is about to go into the closet to check out a noise..and in your head you are screaming 'don't go in there! don't open the door' but she does it anyways...that's how some of the book was to me.
Even all the screaming in my head it was st...more
I must have read _The Face on the Milk Carton_ over five times as a teenager, so when I read a review that compared this book to that one, I knew I had to get it. Torn to Pieces is about a girl who thinks she knows her life, but really doesn't at all. Her mother isn't who she thinks she is, doesn't have the job she thinks she has and has secrets hidden all over their beautiful stone house. And once her mother goes missing, Anne has to put the pieces together and figure out who she can trust quic...more
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The writing was a little choppy for me and the story line sort of confusing. I don't read many thrillers but this one didn't really get exciting until over half way through the book. I can't really seeing a teen sticking with it. I'll recommend it to teens who like Caroline Cooney. Some drug use (pot) and underage drinking.
This book defiantly is on my list of favorites! It was the type of book that I had a hard time setting down! I'd recommend this book for any age middle school and up (due to language and mature content). Usually I'm the type of person who can call what happens next, and the only thing I (thought) I knew was wrong. 5/5 all the way!
The amazing thing about this book was that it kept you guessing. A lot of the books I've read lately, even mysteries, I've found predictable. But this one had twist after twist. And Margot McDonnell did an amazing job of foreshadowing without giving things away. A gripping, entertaining read I'd recommend to anyone.
I was drawn in from the begining with this story of a teen girl with a mysterious mom. When said mom goes missing, Anne soon learns that there are deep dark secrets about her mother, as well as, herself. There was a good bit of mystery and suspense here, and a little teenaged drama to boot. I liked all of the characters and found them mostly believable. There may have been a time or two that I didn't think someone would act a certain way in real life, but overall, a good book.
This book was a fun summer read that kept me guessing. There is a great deal of action to keep the story interesting and the main character is very likeable. Teen mysterious are hard to find so it is nice to see an author that does such a wonderful job of putting the puzzle pieces together.
WOW. usually im reallllly not into scary mysteries, but this was AMAZINGLY well written, and had a good ending! overall, I'd say definitely read it, but be prepared to be a bit freaked out--it's suspensful :-) still, i loved loved it!
I really liked this book. It is another Young Adult book and another quick and easy read. The characters are endearing and within the first couple of chapters I was hooked and couldn't put it down.
Suzanne Jamison
added it
Very good. A nice page turner. As it gets more into what Anne's mom has gotten into so that Anne will have a good life, you feel like your watching a thriller :)
The author's granddaughter is my student and gave me the book to read. I thought it was good adolescent literature. The plot was compelling and the characters likable.
Throughout the entire story, there was a vast amount of mystery and suspense. There was some violence, but its reasons were tied into the story.
This was a great mystery-suspense story. I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going on, and found that I still was surprised at the ending.
this is a suspense book that i was guessing about through the entire thing! it is not well known and that makes it even better! read it now! :)
Brittneyl
is currently reading it
It's a mystery book, and i like is so far. and i like how it always keeps you guessing what coming up next.
Very suspenseful mystery! I really enjoyed this book and am glad it's an Edgar Award nominee!
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It’s a quick read with lots of twists and turns. It gets rather unbelievable, but you have to just go along with it and enjoy the story.
Fun book trying to solve the mystery of a girl's missing mother.
EXCELLENT book..highly recommended!!
It just didn't entertain me.
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Margot McDonnell is a former high school teacher and earned an MFA from Arizona State University. She lives in Phoenix.
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