The lives of five captives hang in the balance while their families gather the ransom.
Two brothers, their family frantic to find their sons... read full description
Two brothers, their family frantic to find their sons... read full description
reviews
Mar 06, 2009
Tristan
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I thought this book overall amazing. The book Ransom by Lois Duncan had great plots. Nothing was unexpected really, just towards the end. You already know all the kids are going to get kidnapped. My favorite character would preferably be Marianne Paget, she is head cheerleader. I like her because throughout the whole book she thinks that her mom & dad are going to get back togetherto rescue her but it doesn't happen. I would call her the main character, although everyone has their own poi More...
Apr 21, 2008
Francesca
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Oct 22, 2009
Rhonda
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Lois Duncan is well known for her mysterious and suspenseful books. Ransom is not an exception of the great novels written by Lois Duncan. If you have read and enjoyed her other novels, you will like this one as well. This novel is in particular one of my favorites. Duncan allows the reader to read the novel from different views. The novel is written in a way that each character "says" what they see. The five protagonists are interesting and high school students will probably relate to
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Jan 17, 2012
Marlo
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I sat down and read this in an afternoon, it had looked like a book I read as a teenager and I wanted to revisit that time. I rated it as an adult reading a teen book, that's why I gave it such a low rating. It was predictable and not entirely engaging, ergo, teen book. I will say that for a teen reading this book it has interesting characters that could give a teen a lot to think on, such as what it means to have personal strength, what it means to be brave and what, interestingly enough, a
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Jan 03, 2011
Jessica
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This is a great book for upper elementary/early middle school students. I believe the author did a great job to grab the reader's attention, create suspense, and develop the characters. The only "problem" is that today's reader will notice the book is dated. The story focuses on the lives of five abducted teens--who do not have cell phones. The upside of the fact that the book is dated is that the language is mature, not written in current slang. It also does not contain a lot of
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Apr 20, 2009
Cyntanella
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This book was awsome. It was about some kids that went on a trip up to the mountains. Little did they know was that they were put on that bus to be kidnapped. Two men killed if the bus driver and held them captive in a cabin on a hill in the mountains. The men were hoping to get alot of money for the kids hostage. Because the majority of the high school had rich parents and the money was spose to be up in the millions. The men ended up getting killed and the other was arrested when the police ca
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Jun 10, 2009
Xiao Yan
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Another amazing book by Lois Duncan, Ransom, is filled with suspense and a page turner. The plot starts off with 5 high school kids who got kidnapped on a school bus. Soon, a ransom is requested from their families becasue the kidnapped are of high class,so a huge sum of money was requested. Time starts to tick by after being kidnapped. With courage,the 5 teens attempts to escape to save themselves. Finally, at the end they were saved by the police and were returned home safe and sound! I liked
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Mar 10, 2011
Clytee
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Very different book. A quick read. It's based on the Greek "Iliad", but you don't have to know to story to read the book. I liked it.
A quote I liked (p.184): "We die. Death is in our nature. Without that fee paid in advance, the world does not come to us. that is the hard bargain life makes with us - with all of us, every one - and the condition we share. And for that reason, if for no other, we should have pity for one another's losses. Fort he sorrows that must More...
A quote I liked (p.184): "We die. Death is in our nature. Without that fee paid in advance, the world does not come to us. that is the hard bargain life makes with us - with all of us, every one - and the condition we share. And for that reason, if for no other, we should have pity for one another's losses. Fort he sorrows that must More...
Feb 25, 2011
Kali
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I like this because I'm into the mystery stuff, but it's about these rich kids and they get kiddnapped ect. It's really actually a great book and I would recommend it to anyone who likes books like this but unfortanly I can't tell you anymore about the book or...I will blow it because the whole book is based on what I said before and if I said anymore than I would give it all away.
Jun 15, 2011
Vanessa
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Author kept jumping from one character to another. Basically there were 5 students named Dexter, Jesse, Bruce, Glenn, and Marianne who were kidnapped on a bus. The kids thought their bus driver was a substitute, but it actually was their kidnapper. The kids were taken up to the top of a mountain and held ransom. The kids go through hard times in a cabin in the winter. Were they able to escape? Read.
Oct 03, 2011
Grace
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I really really liked this book. I loved the way that the chapters alternated between the characters and I loved the way it was written. The story was very moving and I liked the plot line of the story a lot. My only complaint was that because it was so small, I feel like kind of rushed and I wish that the author would have gone a little more in depth with the story.
Nov 30, 2010
Jose A.
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"Ransom" is about five kids who get kidnapped by people who want money. They kidnapped them because these five kids come from a rich neighborhood. But what they dont kbnow is that the kids arent going to just sit around and wait to be rescued.
I thought the book was okay. Like it would grab your attention at times but at other times it can be a bit slow.
I thought the book was okay. Like it would grab your attention at times but at other times it can be a bit slow.
Apr 14, 2009
I am reading this with Sarah. She is reading the book for her Language Arts class. We are reading it together. This way I can help her in her Literature Circle assignments for class. So far so good! It is about 5 high school students who get kidnapped on the school bus and their adventures...
Jan 22, 2009
Kate
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An interesting idea, about kids on a schoolbus getting kidnapped... the group dynamics of the kids was what made the story--it really made me think about the kids on my own bus, and whether or not I'd want to be in a crisis situation with any of them (the answer was NO).
Feb 16, 2011
Inoli
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1966 Doubleday library binding - I'm pretty sure it's the first edition.
This is a good suspenseful study for a middle grade story. I've seen it listed as YA. It's not. Unless one gets into the personality study the story isn't going to be exciting for anyone over maybe 15. And the personality/psychological study is on a younger level. I debated whether it should get the fourth star as, even for me, it didn't have an ageless appeal.
This is a good suspenseful study for a middle grade story. I've seen it listed as YA. It's not. Unless one gets into the personality study the story isn't going to be exciting for anyone over maybe 15. And the personality/psychological study is on a younger level. I debated whether it should get the fourth star as, even for me, it didn't have an ageless appeal.
Apr 07, 2009
Crystal
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This book i loved the most b/c they really kidnapped 5 kids and u did not expect it on the dot.They realy cought u by serprise.Then in the middle of the book there is some thing very crazy that happends . read this book it is good. You can find this book in ms woodards bascit.
Jan 31, 2010
Jessica
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Ransom is one of my favorite books. I like that it has a lot of action and suspense which makes you keep on reading the book. I liked how the author put the loner,the nerd,the cheer leader,the jock, and the jock's brother all together to work as a team. :D
Oct 23, 2010
Angela
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I first read this book when I was a young teenager. I remember it as a very exciting book with lots of suspense. Recently I found this book at a thrift store and just had to have it so I could re-read it. The second time around wasn't quite as exciting as the first, although the beginning is very much as I remember it. But the ending....blech. It ended so quickly I almost wasn't prepared for it. Although the story was written from two views, one--the teenagers who were kidnapped and two--th
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Feb 24, 2010
Sarai
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This tells the story of five teens who are kidnapped on the bus ride home from school. Their reactions are very different and the story goes into their home lives and what has made them who they are.
Lois Duncan was one of my favorite YA authors.
Lois Duncan was one of my favorite YA authors.
Mar 13, 2009
Lucas
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Ransom was good but i kinda knew how it was going to end. every time you read a book about a kidnapping its always the same. i did like the stuff in the middle and though predictable i did like the ending
Oct 19, 2011
Coleton
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This book is about a group of kids that get kidnapped from school. 2 girls 3 boys. There taken to a cabin in the middle of nowheredeep in the woods with the 3 kidnappers.The kidnappers treated the girls good but they treated the guys bad. The kids devise a plan to steel the keys to the kidnappers truck and drive to the closest town. They succeed and drive to the closest police station there the cops ask them tons of questions (thats all i have read right now)
I like this book because More...
I like this book because More...
Apr 08, 2011
Lorelei
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Five teenagers are kidnapped. It's an adventure story. I read it in high school and loved it, I wondered it if would read as well now, thirty years later. It does. Good book.
May 29, 2010
Daniel
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I really liked the idea of this, but I thought the story itself was a little too boring. It was her first book, though, so that's to be understood.
May 22, 2009
Gracie
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I loved it! It was intense. But not as....suspensful as her other books. The ending was so obvious and predictable. But it was cool anyways.
Sep 25, 2011
Brittney
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"Ransom" is a story about five students who were kidnapped on their school bus. Their families are forced to gather ransom, but one family struggles. This story is great to use in a classroom to show students to stick together through hard times and that anything can happen.
Sep 21, 2011
Ingrid's book. (I'm not sure this is the right one. There are several authors using this title.)
Read by:
Currently: Jane
Read by:
Currently: Jane
Aug 28, 2011
Amber
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This was the first Lois Duncan book I read and I became hooked! I love her mysterious story telling and endings.
Jul 12, 2009
Bodea
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This was one of my favorite books growing up. In fact, I just about died when I lost it in middle school after moving!
Jan 05, 2009
Rachel
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interesting plot, but kind of boring and very predictable. the main characters weren't very likeable to me.
Jun 17, 2011
Bronwyn
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This is one of my favourite books from my childhood. I re-read it every few years and it still holds up.
