Bad Girls Don't Die (Bad Girls Don't Die, #1)

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Bad Girls Don't Die (Bad Girls Don't Die #1)

by Katie Alender (Goodreads Author)

4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 · rating details · 7,095 ratings · 1,080 reviews

When Alexis' little sister, Kasey, becomes obsessed with an antique doll, Alexis thinks nothing of it. Kasey is a weird kid. Period. Alexis is considered weird, too, by the kids in her high school, by her parents, even by her own goth friends. Things get weirder, though, when the old house they live in starts changing. Doors open and close by themselves, water boils on the...more

Paperback, 346 pages

Published June 22nd 2010 by Disney-Hyperion (first published April 21st 2009)

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Apr 02, 2011 Cara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: people who enjoy ghost stories

Recommended to Cara by: Tori

Shelves: recommended-to-me, 2011, paranormal, e-book, sibilings, series

When I look at this book I think creepy. I'm glad a goodread friend recommended it to me because I probably wouldn't have picked it up on my own because I'm a wuss when it comes to anything remotely deemed as scary. This book is different because though it has that creepy feel to it, I didn't feel overwhelmed by it. Alender kept the balance just right for a reader like me.

Alexis is a spunky teenager who loves photography that is having some family issues. Lately her younger sister Kasey has been...more When I look at this book I think creepy. I'm glad a goodread friend recommended it to me because I probably wouldn't have picked it up on my own because I'm a wuss when it comes to anything remotely deemed as scary. This book is different because though it has that creepy feel to it, I didn't feel overwhelmed by it. Alender kept the balance just right for a reader like me.

Alexis is a spunky teenager who loves photography that is having some family issues. Lately her younger sister Kasey has been acting weird and her mom and dad don't seem to be noticing anything. It's not like they would because their Mom is putting all her efforts on getting promoted and her dad is off with his friends. Alexis steps up like the older sister she is and tries to help Kasey but she starts doing things that border the crazy. Along the way Alexis finds a new friend and a love interest she couldn't have seen coming, all the while trying to figure out the mystery behind Kasey's odd behavior. She'll find out that it's bigger than anything she could have imagined.

I loved how this was set in modern day because we have Alexis who doesn't believe in the supernatural and tries her hardest to come up with another reasonable explanation of why Kasey isn't herself anymore. It was interesting to see how Megan played a role here, and how her story was interwoven with the main character's. I would have liked to have seen more of Carter and how his relationship with Alexis grows because they were definitely cute together. A pet peeve I have is seeing obvious typos in books. I'm not sure if it was because I had an e-copy, but I saw some pretty obvious ones and that is always annnoying when you see it. Despite that I thought the story was great and keep me pushing on to read more and more because I just had to know what happened. The title oddly fits and it's not the reason you would suspect. I will be reading it's sequel From Bad to Cursed.

Extra sidenote: This is the first e-book I've read and I gotta say I liked the convience, but I really missed the feel of a book in my hands. I wasn't able to thumb through pages and look back at things, which I know you can do on the e-readers but I don't remember where anything is?!?!? And no smell of the pages, and seeing the book's cover calling to me. I missed all of that. It didn't effect my enjoyment that much and I will continue to use the e-reader from time to time, but I will always prefer a hard copy of a book any day.(less)

23 likes · like · see review

Aug 11, 2011 Violet Crush rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own, fav-s

Have you ever heard of those age old stories where a doll is a ghost? Many times right? That’s exactly what the base of this story is. But such a refreshing take of an age old haunting story.

In the opening chapter Alexis is taking pictures of her old, huge house at 3 in the night. While she is going in after taking the pictures she notices a strange yellow light at one of the windows of her house. This is the first occurrence of something unusual that Alexis notices. Kasey, her 12 year old young...more Have you ever heard of those age old stories where a doll is a ghost? Many times right? That’s exactly what the base of this story is. But such a refreshing take of an age old haunting story.

In the opening chapter Alexis is taking pictures of her old, huge house at 3 in the night. While she is going in after taking the pictures she notices a strange yellow light at one of the windows of her house. This is the first occurrence of something unusual that Alexis notices. Kasey, her 12 year old younger sister is acting stranger by the day. Her eyes suddenly turn from blue to green; she starts using words like oughtn’t and possesses the strength unusual for a 12 year old.

Alexis is a misfit in school, the girl with the pink hair, the one who is always at the sidelines. The cheerleaders group hates her. And Alexis in turn hates them, especially Megan, one of the cheerleaders and one of the popular girls at school. At home too, her mom is too busy with her work to pay much attention to her or Kasey. After a string of incidents she realizes that Kasey is possessed. She tries to find out the mystery behind Kasey’s behavior and the secret that seems to be surrounding her house with the help from an unexpected source. Oh and there is some romance too. Although it isn’t necessary to the story it doesn’t harm either.

For a rebellious teen Alexis is likable and Kasey, in spite of being possessed by the ghost 90% of the time, is quite cute. But then that is exactly what makes the story so creepy. It isn’t the kind where you’ll be so scared that you won’t switch off the lights or jump at any unfamiliar sound. It’s the mystery and the ‘What’s going to happen next’ factor that works so well. Also sentences like ‘It’s going to get worse’ adds to it. Have you ever watched ‘The haunting’ on the Discovery channel? Yes, the same serial which has dramatization of real life ghost stories? This book reminded me of that. It slowly build’s up to a showy kind of an ending.

It’s a page turner for sure. Read it. It’s good.

originally reviewed at http://violetcrush.wordpress.com/2009...(less)

22 likes · like · see review

Dec 20, 2010 Tori rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: EVERYONE.

Shelves: 2009, favorites, paranormal-supernatural, wishlist

**kinda spoilish**

Oh. My. Jeebus. Only way to explain this book is UH-MAZING! I would give it 10 stars if I could. I loved it!! Finished it in about 3 hours. I could really relate to Alexis, her dad gives her the same puppy-dog be my friend look that my dad does. My mom works 24/7 too. Except I don't have a sister possessed by a creepy dead girl doll ghost thing. My house also doesn't have doors that close all by themselves or water that boils on an unlit stove. This book is so unlike all the ot...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Amber Gibson for TeensReadToo.com

Alexis might not be perfectly well-adjusted to high school life, but she finds her niche as an outspoken pink-haired smart-aleck quite satisfying, thank you very much.

Her four-person family is far from perfect, but they have always managed to get by, in their spooky architectural jumble of a house. Alexis' mother spends more time at work than at home, but so do millions of other moms across America. Kasey, her doll-obsessed little sister, is sometime...more Reviewed by Amber Gibson for TeensReadToo.com

Alexis might not be perfectly well-adjusted to high school life, but she finds her niche as an outspoken pink-haired smart-aleck quite satisfying, thank you very much.

Her four-person family is far from perfect, but they have always managed to get by, in their spooky architectural jumble of a house. Alexis' mother spends more time at work than at home, but so do millions of other moms across America. Kasey, her doll-obsessed little sister, is sometimes too passive for her own good, but hopefully the doll-collecting is something she will grow out of. As for her father, they aren't exactly close, but he could be worse.

One night, after a family argument leaves Kasey in tears, Alexis comes to the rescue in the role of comforting big sister. Kasey requests a story, so Alexis soothes her with a made-up story off the top of her head. Since it is for her baby sister, the story revolves around a little girl and her doll, Kasey's favorite topic. Naturally, Alexis doesn't think much of the story, though come to think of it, it is a bit strange at how smoothly the spontaneous story rolls off her tongue.

However, shortly after Alexis' tale, Kasey starts behaving weirdly. More strangely than normal anyhow. It starts small, with her eyes sometimes changing color from blue to green and using old-fashioned language, like "oughtn't." At first, Alexis tries to brush away her foreboding feelings, deeming the odd vibes she is getting from Kasey as a figment of her imagination, nothing serious.

When mysterious lights appear in the middle of the night, doors close themselves, and the air conditioner goes haywire to the point where Alexis can see her breath in the house, she knows it is no overactive imagination. She has no idea what exactly is going on, but something weird is happening in their house, and much as she hates to admit it, Kasey has something to do with it.

Events spiral rapidly out of control, as midnight wanderings progress to thievery and even attempted murder. Alexis has no idea who to turn to - does anyone even believe in the supernatural anymore? People might just lock Kasey up as schizophrenic, but Alexis knows better. Her little sister is not crazy. Kasey is possessed.

Katie Alender's BAD GIRLS DON'T DIE is a haunting tale of one town's murderous history and a ghost that wants revenge.
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Dec 06, 2011 Meg ♥ rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-books, favs, z-2011-reads, cover-lover

This book was alright. It wasn't nearly the best book about paranormal activity, but for a book intended for younger teens it was okay.

Lexi is a girl that doesn't like cheerleaders or preps, yet she also doesn't fit in with the "Doom Squad" which are a group of kids she currently hangs out with who also hate cheerleaders or preps. I liked Lexi.

This book has a little of everything in it too. A little paranormal, a little mystery and suspense, and even a little romance.

I thought the story flowed...more

10 likes · like · see review

Jun 21, 2012 Bern rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, coverlust, dark-and-grimy-and-grungy, horrifically-horrifying-horror, loved-it-to-bits, paranormal-stuff, romance, ya

Sit down your behinds as comfortably as you can, people, because the illustrious uncle Bernie is about to tell you a little story:

There was once a little boy with fire-red hair that owned barbies and had lots of fun with them. He'd marry them with his Max Steel - all of them, because they were all obviously crazy about his rugged good looks and tanned six pack - and then make them have catfights and gossip sessions and whatever else he thought girls did when they looked as fabulous as did his ba...more

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May 23, 2011 Alissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: gothic, recommended-to-me, scary, suspense

Ooooooohhhh! Shiver and quiver and spookify!

This one read like the script of one of those old-school (to me) scary movies my best friend and I were, like, obsessed with watching when we were 12/13/14. The ones that were made before the joke that is the Saw franchise. The ones that were made before Freddy duked it out with Jason (or before Predator met Alien). The ones before Elm Street, back when Halloween was just a fun holiday, before the restless spirit of a deranged maniac possessed a child'...more Ooooooohhhh! Shiver and quiver and spookify!

This one read like the script of one of those old-school (to me) scary movies my best friend and I were, like, obsessed with watching when we were 12/13/14. The ones that were made before the joke that is the Saw franchise. The ones that were made before Freddy duked it out with Jason (or before Predator met Alien). The ones before Elm Street, back when Halloween was just a fun holiday, before the restless spirit of a deranged maniac possessed a child's toy... The ones that were less Buckets-o-Blood and were more suspense. The ones that let your imagination run wild and see creepy stuff moving in the shadowy corners of the room, hear footsteps on the stairs, analyze every single noise as you lay huddled in your bed at night, afraid to peek even your nose out of your safe little blanket cocoon lest the horrors in your imagination swoop out from the shadows and do things you don't even want to think about. Yes, that kind of movie. The kind they don't really make anymore. Unfortunately. Luckily, we still have books like Bad Girls Don't Die.

In Bad Girls Don't Die, the main character, Lexi, is hardly the role model. She cuts class, hangs around with the wrong crowd, and has been known to stir the pot more than once. But you can't help but like her. She's real. The opening chapters paint the picture of a typical modern American family: Lexi's Mom is overworked and overstressed, her father is distant and distracted, her formerly outgoing and cheerful 13-year-old sister, Kasey, has become sullen and angry. Could be puberty and teendom. Or is it? Then things start to get strange. Kasey's behavior is more than just typical teen angst. It's borderline psychotic. The girl becomes obsessed with dolls, she spends hours locked in her room, she may or may not have been responsible for the accident that nearly killed her father, and she's making more deadly threats. With the help of an unlikely ally, Lexi discovers Kasey is being controlled by Sarah, the angry spirit of a girl who was murdered (albeit accidently) almost one hundred years earlier--and now Sarah wants revenge. Not only on the girls who killed her, but on their daughters, their grand-daughters. Lexi must find a way to stop Sarah and save her sister before it's too late. But can she? Especially when she's #1 on Sarah's hit list?

This one is spooky and atmosphereic. There are, of course, the stereotypic elements that are in any good ghost story (the spooky old house that comes complete with the scary basement, etc), but they are woven so well into the fabric of the story that the reader doesn't even notice any cliche elements. This one will hook you, keep you reading until the final page, and keep you up at night listening for footsteps... (less)

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Mar 05, 2009 Yan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Bad Girls Don't Die was a chilling read that had an odd twist of humor. There were moments where my arms were covered in goose bumps and all of a sudden, it wasn't what you had not expected. It was actually somewhat funny, the scenes. However, it comes out more of an awkward—I’m not crazy—laugh. Extraordinary in that sense of way.

“I dreamed I was standing on an island in a swamp full of alligators…I saw Kelsey swimming towards me, blissfully unaware of the predators…I pulled out a rifle, and I s...more Bad Girls Don't Die was a chilling read that had an odd twist of humor. There were moments where my arms were covered in goose bumps and all of a sudden, it wasn't what you had not expected. It was actually somewhat funny, the scenes. However, it comes out more of an awkward—I’m not crazy—laugh. Extraordinary in that sense of way.

“I dreamed I was standing on an island in a swamp full of alligators…I saw Kelsey swimming towards me, blissfully unaware of the predators…I pulled out a rifle, and I shot any alligator that got close to her. Then Kelsey was with me on the island, braiding my hair and singing me Christmas carols. And a battered doll in a ripped petticoat came out of the water and walked over to us, but Kelsey couldn’t see her. And the doll pointed at Kelsey and looked at me and said Your sister is crazy.”

What I loved most about this quote was the randomness of it. Seriously, I love random stuff but when you include it with some not so random information, only to you of course, then it makes it only so much more fun. A little giggle to yourself looking crazed to the world through their eyes makes it so much more sweeter.

Aside from that, outside of its original content, this passage may not seem so frightening, but it left me in chills…well until the part about your sister is crazy. The main fear is the dolls, the true demonic force behind it all. Even in real life dolls are creepy to me. I’m talking about the classic porcelain ones, the ones that are so lifelike you just can’t stare them in the eye. So here I was, just anticipating something horrific about to happen, and bam, there goes a funny little surprise. So an awkward, half hilarious, half scared, laugh is elicited.

Almost all the characters are so well done. The secondary characters are of course in the background, but also giving more depth to the main character. But that doesn’t just stop there, some of them even have a bit more life in them. Carter, the male protagonist as well as being a secondary character, gave Alexis more of a girly flare that doesn’t show anywhere else. But he also has a dark past that gave him more depth. Alexis was the older sister, the person who cared for her, as well as the one who’s more than what she appears.

The action was predictable in some areas, but not so in others. The mystery aspect and the road to uncovering it was wonderfully done and left no real questions behind.

Overall: A great book to pick if you’re in the mood for creepy little dolls. Okay so it’s much more than that. Just read this book if it sounds interesting to you, trust me, it’ll be better than you expected. I took it for granted and now I’m in contentment after reading it.(less)

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Jan 18, 2013 Trisha rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: slumdog

Okay...so I should have noticed this book was published by Disney. No no, this is NOT a bad thing. I just think...had I known, I would have brought my "oh my god this book is going to blow my mind by scaring me so bad" vibe really really down.

because, this book didn't scare me at all. It didn't even concern me. I think that has a lot to do with the fact that I just didn't get to know the characters enough to really worry about them. I didn't understand why Carter liked Alexis, or why Kasey kept...more

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Dec 06, 2011 Lauren Fidler rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: abusive-relationships, authority-problems, bad-mothers, books-i-can-read-in-under-3-hours, convoluted-plot, daddy-issues, dysfunctional-family-drama, ghosties, girl-detective, guilty-pleasure, jumping-on-supernatural-bandwagon, mindroterrific, plain-jane-gets-hot-boy, predictable-villain, show-me-on-the-poppett, suburbanightmare, super-secret-shame, young-adult-fiction-secret-shame

this book is terrible AND i loved it. so there, world!

let's start with the obvious: the title.

it's dumb. like stupid-dumb. and the girl on the cover, veiled mysteriously in a curtain, making her look like a demented bride or elaborate victorian doily, isn't doing the book any favors. other than this: when you see it, you need to pick it up and say, "what's this about then?" and then you read it. because it looks awful.

does that make any sense at all?

of course, then there is the plot, which, at...more this book is terrible AND i loved it. so there, world!

let's start with the obvious: the title.

it's dumb. like stupid-dumb. and the girl on the cover, veiled mysteriously in a curtain, making her look like a demented bride or elaborate victorian doily, isn't doing the book any favors. other than this: when you see it, you need to pick it up and say, "what's this about then?" and then you read it. because it looks awful.

does that make any sense at all?

of course, then there is the plot, which, at its best, is like a rip-off of every teen flick, ghost flick, and ro-co flick out there. we've got alexis, with her pink hair and devil may care approach to education, friendships, and boys. she, of course, is a photographer (artistic, not pretentious), she is in constant trouble with school admin for skipping what she perceives to be unnecessary classes in school spirit, and she hates the cheerleaders. she's got a pesky, socially awkward little sister kasey who collects dolls, a love interest with formerly suicidal tendencies and the amazing physical similarity to a lanky cherubin, oh, and an evil spirit haunting her mishmashed gothic house of terror.

you know, that old chestnut.

there's a whole lot of action as the ghost possesses the weak-willed kasey and proceeds to use her body to steal genealogy projects (which are surprisingly thorough for middle schoolers), cut wires in cars, and make things go bump in the night. or the day. or whenever. there are good spirits, bad ones, charms, and avenging cheerleaders. there's also the prom, pyrotechnics, and psychotherapy...oh, and a girl named pepper.

did i mention this book was awesome?

so, here's the deal. in terms of its utter ridiculousness, of its willingness to embrace how cliched and awful it is, of its ability to be entertaining regardless of its content, i'd give this book 5 stars easily. i would. but because it's trite, and jam-packed with too many plot points (photos, teenaged rebellion, the doom squad, the repressed town culture/forbidden library books, the awkward sister, the bad mother who works so much that she is never around to actually mother, the father who spends most of the book in the hospital after a car accident, the cheerleaders, the boyfriend's sordid past, the ghost herself, the other ghost, megan's backstory, megan's grandmother, the fact that the novel is pretty much a ghost-themed ripoff of "footloose," etc. etc. etc) that never get appropriately resolved, and reeks of regurgitated ideas, the english teacher in me would give it one.

so, let's split the difference. totally a guilty pleasure and totally reading the second one!(less)

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Aug 20, 2011 Belle Forcible rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favourites

Capital P-E-R-F-E-C-T. This book is PERFECT. Katie Alender is a genius. I love how it's written. Every part of it. It's paranormal that never gives a sad vibe. The energy is drawn on its first word to the last. And not boring, not even an incy wincy tiny little part of lameness in it.

Pink haired, no friends. What a looser, I thought at first. But her straightforward rudeness, her toughness. Alexis is definitely one of the coolest kick-ass fictional character I'll ever consider.

The cover's what d...more

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May 15, 2012 Amanda (Pearl the Book Girl) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ghosts, paranormal, young-adult, series-hardback, bir-2011, own, horror, series-current

Bad Girls Don't Die is an excellent mystery and horror novel. I thought it did an excellent job of balancing the scare factor while still keeping it age appropriate. I think this is an excellent book for younger teens who are interested in ghost stories but don't want a lot of gore.

The best part of this book, hands down, was Kasey. There's something that is just terrifying about creepy little girls, and Kasey is a perfect example of this. When possessed she's sinister and manipulative and comple...more

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Oct 28, 2011 Giselle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal

The best definition of this book is Creepy. It's definitely a chilling read. Ghosts; strange happenings that made my hair stand on ends; it was off to a great start. However, I found it so full of clichés that it never developed into anything very intense or much interesting. The lack of originality is easily the biggest downfall of the novel and makes it extremely predictable. I've watched a lot of thriller/horror movies of this kind though, maybe I just have seen it all?

As expected, we have t...more

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Jun 09, 2012 Martha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-books

Well, I am not usually into the paranormal books, but this title made me a little curious. And, from the start, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough or put it down long enough, I had to keep reading! It is definitely an easy read, easy dialogue and intriguing plot. While I was reading, small noises in the house spooked me. It's like this is YOUR life, and ghosts are roaming your house too.

The narration, by Alexis, is excellent. Her descriptions of the temperature changes and the malodorous odor...more

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Jan 18, 2011 Jasmine Diaz rated it 1 of 5 stars

This book is about a girl named Lexi and her sister Kasey they have lived in their house for a very long time. One day Kasey wanted to grab her moms attention but yet her mom still ignored her she had an excuse to why she couldnt spend time with her. So kasey went down to the basement were Lexi was scared of. Lexi went after her sister to try to sheer her up but then found herself telling a story that didnt feel like she was telling it at all. When she was done with the story she started feeling...more

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Jun 30, 2009 Liberty rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone who loves a ghost story

I really enjoyed this first novel from Katie Alender. She is a wonderful writer and I loved the plot she came up with and the direction she went with it. I didn't want to put the book down once I started it. I look forward to reading more by this author. Bad Girls Don't Die tells the story of Alexis, a high school misfit. Her mom is too involved in work to pay attention to her and her younger sister Kasey. Her Dad is too involved in his own things, and Alexis doesn't want to be involved with any...more

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Oct 25, 2011 El Templo de las Mil Puertas added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 18-eltemplo, reseñas

"Alexis no es la hija perfecta y ella lo sabe. Tampoco es que sea un lince en el instituto ni que tenga muchos amigos, pero nada de eso le importa. Ella es feliz denunciando las injusticias que se cruzan en su camino y practicando siempre que tiene oportunidad su hobby favorito: la fotografía. Sin embargo, su peculiar modo de vida se ve alterado cuando su hermana pequeña, Kasey, comienza a comportarse de una manera extraña de un día para otro: olvida sucesos, habla sola… y a veces da la sensació...more

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May 17, 2013 Kayla L rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: class-reviews

Bad Girls Don't Die is a paranormal story written by Katie Alender. At first I didn't know if I wanted to read this book because I get scared really easily, but I read it anyways. I couldn't put it down once the story started to pick up. I had to know what was going to happen next.

The story is a bout this girl named Alexis and her younger sister Kasey. Kasey is obsessed with all kinds of dolls. She has this huge doll collection which is pretty creepy, she never lets anyone go into her room.

Latel...more

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Apr 21, 2013 Yunhyukslover rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

i specifically came back to write a proper review.
but first of all i would like to show you my image of carter...

park chan yeol... totally legal so it's ok

image: description

i don't know why when alexis mentioned blond curly hair i automatically thought of yeollie.... ^^

the story was nice, it scares me a little. everytime i read how kasey turns into this creepy mode i feel a little uneasy reading. so the way the author writes is effective. it's kind a cliche story for me though, some common teenager plot....more

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Apr 19, 2013 Charlotte rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book had a lot of qualities that made it unique and while I thought the scare factor could have been upped the charecters and many twists and turns kept me wanting more.

The main charecter Alexis is more than likable and you find yourself rooting for her the whole book and the humor she adds to the story is a nice way of keeping the book balanced not like those trashy horror books determined to just keep the scares rolling and not making it seem in the least realistic.

One of the major draw...more This book had a lot of qualities that made it unique and while I thought the scare factor could have been upped the charecters and many twists and turns kept me wanting more.

The main charecter Alexis is more than likable and you find yourself rooting for her the whole book and the humor she adds to the story is a nice way of keeping the book balanced not like those trashy horror books determined to just keep the scares rolling and not making it seem in the least realistic.

One of the major drawbacks i had with this book was that it seemed to drag in places and sometimes the charecter Kasey seemed a little too whiney for her own good it would have been nice to see Kasey a little more strong willed but i guess that's just how the book flowed.

I think this book is a marvelous example of a ghost story done right and while the scare factor was a little dim it certainly kept me intrigued in seeing how Alexis would deal with the situation at hand.

Another thing I would have liked to have seen more in the book was Alexis relationship with Lydia small and even though she wasn't really central to the story she was a likable charecter and her chemistry with Alexis was charming and kind of enjoyable (I also thought it was kind of unfair when she dumped her for Megan)

Moving onto Megan i found that she while a integral part of the plot didn't really develop into a fully fleged likable charecter until the end of the book which i think was one of the things that let the book down in retrospect.

Finally the boyfriend I have to say while the chemistry between Alexis and Carter was certainly their I felt that Carter could have been developed a little more.

The writing flowed really well and some of the comedy in the book was certainly well worth reading especially that some of the cheerleaders were horrible writers oh man i was laughing so hard.

All in all this book is definatly a must read and it really could have been a standalone in its own right but no matter because the next two books were just as good.

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Apr 08, 2013 Tera rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Classified under the "horror and suspense" genre, Bad Girls Don't Die is hardly as scary as the cover makes it seem. With a mom who is hardly home, a dad who wants to be her best friend but can't, and a little sister who is possessed, Alexis is left with no other option: she has to team up with the person she least expects. Finding out who now controls Kasey leads Alexis to find many truths about herself and the people around her, including the rather attractive and preppy "Young Republican" Car...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Caitlin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The full review is at my blog: http://thesirenstale.wordpress.com
Quick link to review: http://wp.me/p1CgeJ-j4

”Bad Girls Don’t Die” is a young adult novel, showcasing turbulent times for two sisters, Alexis and Kasey. Alexis, the older sister, is slightly rebellious and goes against the grain in any way provided – especially when it comes to her school involvement and friendships. She is a gothic photographer who cringes at the mere idea of school spirit and cheerleaders. Kasey, the younger siste...more The full review is at my blog: http://thesirenstale.wordpress.com
Quick link to review: http://wp.me/p1CgeJ-j4

”Bad Girls Don’t Die” is a young adult novel, showcasing turbulent times for two sisters, Alexis and Kasey. Alexis, the older sister, is slightly rebellious and goes against the grain in any way provided – especially when it comes to her school involvement and friendships. She is a gothic photographer who cringes at the mere idea of school spirit and cheerleaders. Kasey, the younger sister, is peculiar and at times eccentric. Before long, Alexis is experiencing odd sensations and events at her home, making her personal and school-life difficult to juggle every day. To make matters worse, Kasey has become obsessed with childhood items and is acting oddly, including her eye color changing during times of anger. Alexis ultimately has to befriend her enemies in desperation to help her sister, save her home, and find herself.

The story is easy to follow and quickly builds with suspense. The reader will find themselves pondering over the mystery behind Kasey’s oddities, while also reminiscently smiling over the typical rebellious teenage actions of Alexis. While Alexis and Kasey take the main stage in the novel, there are some secondary characters such as Alexis’ friend/enemy, her crush, and her mother. The secondary characters are not built up and play simply in support of the main characters. With that said, the secondary characters also add details to the main characters, as they present struggles and challenges.

During the climax of the book, the mystery behind Kasey’s behavior is exposed, but the story doesn't stop there. The details and story attached to the reasoning for Kasey’s behavior will draw readers in, raising eyebrows at a sordid past event. After finishing the book, I felt as though I wanted more information. Sure enough, the author, Katie Alender, eventually expanded this book to be a series. The other books in the series are merrily being added to my ‘To Be Read’ list; I can’t wait to find out what happens next.(less)

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Feb 20, 2013 Ellie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.5 Stars.
I will start off by saying this book is right up my street. I love horror and this book didn't dissapoint! Fist off i love the mani characters in this book. I can't be the only one out there to be creeped out by little brat girls who throw people againest wall's can i? So my own summary of the book goes like this. Girl (Alexis)has a Dysfunctional life and has younger sister called Kasey who starts acting weird (eyes changing colour, speaking in weird language and alot more.) Then throw...more

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Feb 10, 2013 Deborah Markus rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Whoa. Picked this up at the library because I wanted to do some research on the author's agent. Ended up dropping everything and devouring the whole thing. (Hint: Yesterday, both the guys were out of the house and I could have watched a movie while I worked out without bugging anyone. Instead, I spent my time on the ministep so I could read while I exercised.)

"Bad Girls" is paranormal contemporary YA horror novel that offers some terrific life lessons. Okay. It's a creepy ghost story. That's fu...more Whoa. Picked this up at the library because I wanted to do some research on the author's agent. Ended up dropping everything and devouring the whole thing. (Hint: Yesterday, both the guys were out of the house and I could have watched a movie while I worked out without bugging anyone. Instead, I spent my time on the ministep so I could read while I exercised.)

"Bad Girls" is paranormal contemporary YA horror novel that offers some terrific life lessons. Okay. It's a creepy ghost story. That's fun, too. But it also has a terrific sense of humor -- and the writer has a perfect sense of timing, not to mention a nice dark edge at times. I annoyed my family by quoting them bits like this, from the teenaged narrator who enjoys old-fashioned film-based photography and is worried that her parents are about to catch her outside, snapping pics, at three in the morning -- with her little sister Kasey, no less:

"_No putting yourself or Kasey in strange and/or potentially dangerous situations to take pictures_ was the latest incarnation of the rule that had once upon a time been _Don't go on the roof._ With every fresh misstep, the rule evolved -- _No taking pictures of retail merchandise; No taking pictures on other people's property; Don't use Kasey as a decoy to get photos of people who don't want to be photographed._ I was fairly sure that pretty soon it would just be _Put the camera down, sit on the sofa, and don't move._"

Alexis, the narrator in question, is going through a tricky patch with her parents just now. They're not evil, just a little too caught up in their own problems, a little too apt to throw out platitudes rather than tuning in to what's actually going on in front of them:

"'It wouldn't hurt you to show a little school spirit,' Mom said. As if she were a fan of high school football. Mom can take a simple observation, such as saying that it wouldn't hurt for a person to show a little school spirit, and say it in such a way that she might as well be saying, 'It wouldn't hurt you to stop clubbing those baby seals.'"

Of course, Alexis is not exactly an easy person to live with herself. She's perhaps a teensy bit judgmental:

"My mother uses a knife and fork on foods that were never meant to be eaten that way. I personally think a psychologist would have a lot to say about it."

Alexis posts flyers at her high school saying that "the vending machines on school property are a sign that our school district has sold out to the corporate-industrial establishment." She gives "honest feedback to a student teacher who should clearly quit while she's ahead." She throws "an anti-fashion show outside the gym during the choir's annual fashion show."

But she also cares deeply about her younger sister. And when said sister starts acting more than a little weird, and then starts displaying powers that seem positively otherworldly, Alexis throws all her wit and determination into figuring out how to save her family. Sometimes those bad girls are just the ones you want to have your back in a fight.

This book *ended* when it ended -- no loose ends, no outstanding mysteries, no "And what about Naomi?" As I've mentioned in other reviews, there's an annoying trend in YA fiction these days for first books to end on a cliffhanger. Somebody out there clearly decided that having series potential means that *every single new book in the world* can't just be itself, but has to be first in a series. Apparently Katie Alender went on to write a couple more books about Alexis and her family, and I'm excited to read them. I'm also very glad that she let this book finish telling its own story before she moved on to write more stories. (less)

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Jan 28, 2013 Alisa (The Reading Obsession) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Alisa (The Reading Obsession) by: a good friend

Shelves: great

Am I the only person that thinks the title is stupid? But the cover was sort of pretty. I wasn't going to read this until my friend shoved it into my face and threatened me to read it.

Alexis is a great main character. She's really spunky, and I like her. The way the author wrote her voice really made me relate to her.

Kasey being posessed was really interesting to read about. This girl made me realize I wasn't crazy for hating dolls.

The love interest, Carter, was awesome. He didn't take up Ale...more

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Nov 27, 2012 Cecelia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bad Girls Don’t Die
The book Bad Girls Don’t Die by Katie Alender is a thriller fiction about a teenage girl, Alexis. Alexis thinks that she leads a typically dysfunctional teenage life as an outcast, when things start changing. Her younger sister Kasey starts acting weird. She uses old fashioned languages, becomes obsessed with dolls, and her blue eyes even turn green sometimes. The house is also doing strange things. Water boils on an unlit stove and an unplugged air conditioner freezes the wh...more

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Oct 26, 2012 Jami Lowe rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

it was nice to read a haunting that is a good old spirit possession. the ghost was the bad guy, none of this, "Hey a ghost lets be friends!" or "oh, a vampire. let's date even though you could kill me and i'm okay with it" crap. i just wouldn't peg this book as a pre-teen book as it says it is for. personally, i'm wouldn't let my 12 year old read it or 15 year old either. the author invokes the emotion of fear well and people are getting hurt. It is a thriller/horror story all about revenge for...more

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Oct 20, 2012 Sarah ♥Loves Dimitri Belikov♥ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review can also be seen here

Going into it, I really didn't expect the book to be too good. Boy was I wrong. I loved how creepy this book was! It left me wondering if maybe my sibling would become obsessed with dolls and turn into a possessed monster. This book really brought the creepy factor without being gory or too horror-y. And come on, Alexis' sister was just plain scary. I must admit I read it because it was a ghost story, I am a sucker for them.

There were some things that bothered...more

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Oct 16, 2012 Dora rated it 5 of 5 stars

When I started reading this book I thought it was going to be slow and boring. However, the book was not slow at the beginning or any parts of the book. It was intriguing and I literally could not put the book down. The suspense in the book was captivating. The author’s style of writing is very simple. Her words are simple and easy to understand, but at the same time very descriptive and you actually can paint a picture in your mind of what is going on in the book.
I really liked the book, but...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Autumn Doughton rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

So... yeah, this book kinda freaked me out which is a bit embarrassing. I pride myself on getting into horror-ish things--haunted houses, scary movies, freaky gothic novels. Most of the time I end up laughing. I wasn't laughing last night.
I don't know if I just happened to pick this one up at the perfect time when I was primed for a scare, or if it really is that eerie. I may have to do a reread. Whatever the case, I was thoroughly spooked last night and actually had to put it down because I wa...more

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Katie Alexander	6	13	Mar 27, 2013 07:56am
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About Katie Alender

Katie Alender (rhymes with “calendar”!) grew up in South Florida, which probably explains the recurring alligator dreams (one of which is documented in Bad Girls Don’t Die). She is the third of four children (three girls and a boy) and the child of three very loving and encouraging parents.

She attended high school at the Palm Beach County School of the Arts, studying Communication Arts. From there...more

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Books by Katie Alender

From Bad to Cursed (Bad Girls Don't Die, #2)

As Dead As It Gets (Bad Girls Don't Die, #3)

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Quotes from Bad Girls Don't Die

“ That's the pathetic thing about high school. Everyone tries so hard to be something they aren't. It's gotten so I don't know who I am, so how can I even try to be who I am, much less who I'm not?
My problem is that I don't even fit in with the misfits.
I don't fit anywhere.” — 132 people liked it

“Just say something real. Everyone just always tries so hard, and it all comes out the same. I just want someone to say something real.” — 49 people liked it

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