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Escape from Memory

3.81 of 5 stars 3.81 · rating details · 1,985 ratings · 158 reviews

"Well, I'm sure I don't have any secrets...," I said, trying to sound certain. "Can't we just tell them that?"Mom's steady gaze was driving me crazy.

"Oh," she said slowly, "but that's where you're wrong. You see, you do have the secrets. You know them."

When Kira agrees to let her friends hypnotize her at a slumber party, she has no idea that she will reveal secrets even sh...more

ebook, 288 pages

Published May 11th 2010 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (first published September 1st 2003)

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Apr 29, 2013 Jalyn Ely rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

I’ve read a lot of Margaret Peterson Haddix’s books. And I noticed that no matter what the plot is or who the main character is, there’s one common theme – the main character is a kid, and the adults won’t tell him or her anything.

Not that it’s a bad thing, mind you. The “what the heck is going on?” element is half of what makes her books so interesting. But the thing is, when I picked up this book, I expected that Kira’s mother wouldn’t tell her anything. And so I didn’t find that nearly as fru...more I’ve read a lot of Margaret Peterson Haddix’s books. And I noticed that no matter what the plot is or who the main character is, there’s one common theme – the main character is a kid, and the adults won’t tell him or her anything.

Not that it’s a bad thing, mind you. The “what the heck is going on?” element is half of what makes her books so interesting. But the thing is, when I picked up this book, I expected that Kira’s mother wouldn’t tell her anything. And so I didn’t find that nearly as frustrating as I would have if I didn’t expect it.

This book is a pretty average length, but it seemed really short. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I just flew through it.

Kira, as best as I can figure, was your normal girl with a strange mother who had no idea her past wasn’t quite normal. And strangely enough, she was pretty much a normal girl throughout the book. A few hidden reserves of resourcefulness, sure, but a pretty average girl. And she was still pretty much the same girl at the end. Which I’m not sure I liked so much.

Lynne was a fun character. She’s the smart, always does her homework, A-plus student kind. But I enjoyed her willingness to hide in a suitcase and her attempts to help Kira. Because in the beginning, I didn’t think she was going to play a bigger part than any of the other girls. It was a pleasant surprise to find her along for the ride.

Sophia, Kira’s mother, was a little strange. But it makes sense, considering… never mind, that’s a spoiler.

Hmm…I feel like I can’t comment on the plot without giving too much away.

The premise – or, more accurately, where Kira really came from – was highly interesting. Even though I wouldn’t really want to live there. Okay, scratch that. Living there would be kind of cool. But I’m not really sure I’d want to be one of them.

The plot was well-done and held my attention (especially once I found out who kidnapped Kira’s mother). But I’m not a big fan of the ending. I won’t give any spoilers, but let’s just say it’s not exactly happily-ever-after.

This is one of those books that are hard to review. I didn’t love it. I didn’t hate it. It was more of a “meh” book – I could take it or leave it and not really care either way. I think it’s the fact that the characters weren’t really remarkable. But either way, it’s hard to put my feelings about this book into words – because I don’t really have any, except “meh.”(less)

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Jun 05, 2012 Lyn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children

Fifteen-year-old Kira Landon allows a friend to hypnotize her during a sleepover. They get more than they expected when Kira remembers being carried through the streets of a strange city at twilight as guns sound in the distance.

This memory - if that is what it was - triggers questions for Kira that she never thought of before. Why is the only relative she has ever known her mother? Did she at one time speak another language? Was she kidnapped or saved from a war-torn country? Her mother refuses...more

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Sep 25, 2011 Shazza Maddog rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Kira is your average teenage girl, living in a small town with her somewhat distant mother. She has her friends, she attends her classes, she knows everyone and everyone knows her.

At least, that's what she thinks.

At a sleepover, her friends hypnotize her, asking her to tell them something they don't know. Kira recites her mother carrying her through the streets in a war-torn city, trying to keep her from crying. When Kira is snapped out of the trance, she doesn't remember any of it - but realize...more

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May 30, 2010 Annie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: summer-2010

Secrets. This is what Kira’s friends discover when they hypnotize her for fun at a sleepover. They were just playing around, and they didn’t know that the secrets they would discover would be so dark and mysterious. Kira, during her hypnotization, speaks of escaping from a war, clinging to her mom. But once Kira wakes up and is told the secrets she spoke about, Kira is confused. She doesn’t remember that event from her childhood at all.
Then, one day, her mother disappears. Kira gets a little wor...more Secrets. This is what Kira’s friends discover when they hypnotize her for fun at a sleepover. They were just playing around, and they didn’t know that the secrets they would discover would be so dark and mysterious. Kira, during her hypnotization, speaks of escaping from a war, clinging to her mom. But once Kira wakes up and is told the secrets she spoke about, Kira is confused. She doesn’t remember that event from her childhood at all.
Then, one day, her mother disappears. Kira gets a little worried, but thinks everything will be okay until she finds a note telling her to go to her friend Lynne’s house. Then she turns around and finds a woman staring at her. This person claims to be her Aunt Memory.
Aunt Memory takes her to Crythe to “save her mother”. She trusts Aunt Memory and goes along with her. Aunt Memory teaches her about Crythe and about how everyone there remembers everything because “a person is what they remember”. With memories, they can relive moments. But Aunt Memory also tells lies. That’s when Kira discovers she’s in trouble. Aunt Memory is taking advantage of her and basically kidnaps her. Can Kira truly save her mom, while Kira herself is confused because of her hidden secrets and hidden memories?

This book was incredible and suspenseful. It tells the story of an ordinary girl with an unknown extraordinary history and childhood. It teaches an important lesson…Should we dwell on our memories, and be what we remember? Or should we also look to the future and follow our dreams?

However, sometimes I wonder if Margaret Peterson Haddix books are ethical. This book talks about humans implanting computer chips into brains and messing with people’s memory. This is definitely not what was intended for humans, and although this book is science fiction, it makes me start thinking about things like that. Also, in a different Haddix book, she speaks of cloning, which, although some may disagree, is not something humans should be doing. I still love, love, love Haddix’s books, otherwise I wouldn’t be reading them! Although these books contain some methods of science I do not agree with, I put these at the top of my list of favorite books because they are well-written and are some of the best books that I have ever read. This book definitely kept me reading, and would be a great choice for a reluctant reader. I would recommend this book to everyone who wants a great read.
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Jan 15, 2009 Violet rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, sci-fi, favorite-authors

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Good, good, good. Margaret Peterson Haddix it a really good author. It was very interesting and different. I loved it.

At first what made me interested, was the mystery aspect. It starts right at the first words. The mystery of Kira's true past. Just that was interesting enough for me to want to read it. But then after the mystery is gone, the suspense kicks in. Guns and treats glore! That's what really got me. I just couldn't put it down! I was always wondering what was going to happen next; wer...more

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Apr 15, 2011 Juna rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was expecting the book to start at a sleepover where a bunch of girls are getting each other to tell secrets, and one girl with a traumatic past starts spilling too much. Don't get me wrong, now. I don't dislike the book because it was not what I thought it would be.

Instead, it was a sleepover. Two or Kira's friends were hypnotizing her, and what they got out of her is unrealistic. The rest of the book seems incredibly rushed. Suddenly, coincidentally, her mother is missing, some random woman...more

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Feb 03, 2011 Dotty rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure

Have you ever forgotten an important date or forgotten to do something that you promised to do? When you remembered, how did it make you feel? In Escape from Memory, Kira discovers that she hasn’t just forgotten a homework assignment or a friend’s birthday. She has forgotten her whole history. Kira makes this discovery when she and her friends decide to experiment with hypnotism at a sleepover. Sounds fun, huh? But how much fun will it be when Kira’s discovery leads to the kidnapping of her moth...more

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Nov 04, 2010 10-12 Jaycie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I just finished this at home it is not as good as I sugspected but it is full of suspence! One of my friends read this and recomended it TRY IT!

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Feb 21, 2012 Kailey rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: y-adult, eng-356-goodreads

Kira starts to remember things that she doesn't believe are really her memories. When she asks her mother, her mother gets jumpy and runs away leaving Kira to fend for herself to the world that a mysterious woman named Aunt Memory starts to force Kira into.

A fun and short read. I never have read a book with the concept of having someone else's memories before. I liked Kira and her friend Lynn as such strong main characters. The other characters just bothered me and made the story confusing (espe...more

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Jun 30, 2010 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed the few twists this book managed to sneak in. I also really enjoyed it because it made me feel young again, it was exactly the kind of adventure I used to dream about having, (until the end when it got scary. I was never that brave) and it had a best friend that was exactly the kind of friend I always dreamed would accompany me on wild adventures. As a mature adult (am I?) I am glad I never had these kinds of adventures (obviously) but they are exciting to read.

This one also had...more

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Feb 20, 2013 Judy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Young adults

Haddix has a wonderful ability to make the reader empathize with the protagonist and to infuse the plot with suspense that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. That said, the plot qualifies as science fiction as much as suspense. Kira is in danger because her parents invented a procedure for transferring a person's memories to a special computer and to transfer those memories to someone else. The antagonist believes this invention is worth millions and that Kira is the key to retrieving bot...more

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Dec 14, 2011 Jodi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Haddix continues to be the most creative plot-spinner that I have ever read. Her writing isn't always as excellent but you know when you pick up a Haddix book, it won't be just like something else you've read. I do wish she would spin her tales out longer. Take some time to develop her characters. Help us believe in the unusual plots she writes. It is almost as if she gets an idea and has to get it on paper as quickly as she can before it's gone. I'm always left wanting more after reading one of...more

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Jul 19, 2011 Shaundell rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, young-adult

While at a sleepover with friends, Kira is hypnotized and she begins to remember hidden things when she was younger. Shortly after that her mother is kidnapped and a lady called Aunt Memory came to take her away to Crythe, a country where she Kira lived when she was younger.

The plot of the book is to piece together the things that she is now remembering about her hidden life to be able to save herself and her mother.

An okay book. I liked the Shadow Children series from the same author much bett...more

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Jan 10, 2010 Chris Eboch rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Chris by: chriseboch@blarg.net

This was a page turner, about a girl who learns she's not who she thought she was. At times it seems about to veer into fantasy or science fiction, but doesn't quite. It brings up some interesting ideas about memory, and how much it makes us who we are. I wasn't entirely satisfied with the later part of the book -- I wanted a bit more from the main character, who is certainly courageous and active, but also to some extent gets rescued. A final twist at the very end packs a punch, though.

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Nov 14, 2011 Natalie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, junior-books

This could have been a great book because the storyline idea was a great one. However, it ended up being my least favorite of her books. Haddix never seems to fully develop her stories, and all the pieces don't always have a coherent place. This one seemed worse than usual. Her ideas for books are so good though. She takes on the most interesting subjects. Yet, as always, the ending was thrown together and packaged up neatly leaving me wanting a lot more.

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May 12, 2011 Amber (The Musings of ALMYBNENR) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 100-reading-challenge-2011

Kira lives in a small town in Ohio with her librarian mother who shuns television and other technology that is normal in all of her friends’ houses. Needless to say, Kira spends a lot of time at her best friend Lynne’s house. Every Friday night, the girls have a sleepover and watch sappy movies, but this time, they decide they want to try hypnotizing each other. Somehow, Kira is chosen. She relates a memory that she has never remembered before and her friends are shocked. Lynne, especially, begi...more

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Jun 20, 2009 Lish rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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

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Dec 24, 2009 Ryan rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am fine with fantasy and make believe, but plausibility really does have to be part of the packages and it is not part of it here. Initially, there was some mystery that had the possibility of being interesting. Young girl, normal, from a small, mid-western town, reveals some interesting information while playing with hypnosis at a slumber party. Then her mother disappears and she is basically kidnapped...and that is where it stops being plausible. Or interesting.

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Jun 06, 2012 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, ethnic-identity, ya

I came into this book having really high expectations. I read Among The Hidden this past year with my students and loved it- I can't wait to read the rest of the series. So I was a little disappointed in Escape From Memory. I can't really put my finger on it, but it just didn't do it for me; it fell a little flat when compared to ATH. That being said, I will still continue reading Haddix's books!

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Dec 27, 2008 Miss Clark rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children-s, fairytale-fantasy-sci-fi-mythology

It was an interesting story, but very illogical in places and it felt like a short story rather than a full-length novel, since it took place over such a short period of time. I find this often makes it more difficult to get into a story if it is not written very well. A problem I frequently encounter with Meg Cabot's books.

Anyway, overall, a good story, with a proper climax and conflict, as well as some nice philosophical musing over what makes us who we are. Dreams? Memories? Actions? Hopes?...more

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May 03, 2009 Terrie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens-scifi, childrens-suspense

Haddix is one of my favorite authors, but this book wasn't that great. Under hypnosis Kira discovers she has a past she knows nothing about. When a woman claiming to be her Aunt Memory shows up, Kira gets involved in a situation that makes you question how much of what we are is based on our memories and dreams. This was a bare bones book that I think would have been better if it had been fleshed out a little more. Nevertheless, it was exciting and I would recommend it to Sci-
Fi lovers.

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Oct 28, 2010 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Great book. Reading it at night is not really a good Idea especially from my prospective. I mean it's not really a scary novel but there are soo many really sharp turns. You feel like you're in the book itself and it has so many plots-twists, last minute rescues, sad part etc...
It's awesome and I would really recomend it to anyone interested in Adventure and mystery

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Nov 23, 2010 Sadie Vargas is currently reading it · review of another edition

Shelves: second-quarter

I like this book very much i am currently reading it and i cant stop.
This book is about a girl whose mother is very silent and seems to dose off a little bit. No acuallly AlOT when her freinds hypnotize her she seems to spill secretes she doesnt even know herself. In astonishment her friends ask her more and more questions that she cant answer. Or can she?

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Jan 08, 2011 Bethany Huang rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have to say that margaret Peterson Haddix is one of the largest children and teen book writers that I have ever read any works of. She is my favorite Science-fiction author and I happen to find her books intriguing and full of suspense. This was not one of my favorite novels, but it wasn't the worst, either. I would definitely reccomend this book!

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Jan 24, 2011 Jenny rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, teen

Kira is a normal teenager in Willistown, OH. One night at a slumber party, she allows her friends to hypnotize her. A memory of fleeing a war in her mother's arms surfaces. After confronting her mother, events spiral out of control. Kira's mother is kidnapped, and Kira is the only one who can save her, but only if she can remember in time.

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May 27, 2012 Kelsey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I finished this book last year for a school project. It is very interesting and it's a great book; exspecially for girls who like Margaret Haddix. She is one of my favorite authors and I am reading and already have read alot of her books. I give this a 5 star rating. You never exspect what happens at the end, well at least I didn't!

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Nov 13, 2009 Kristen added it · review of another edition

I am really enjoying all the books that I have read by Margaret Peterson Haddix. All her books, so far, have been about children and their journeys through their different worlds during different times.

In Escape from Memory, Kira awakens from a hypnotic state induced by her friends at a sleep over where she was speaking in a language unknown to all the girls and leads them on a journey to find out if this is truth or something she just made up in her mind.

This book had several twists and turns,...more

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Aug 23, 2009 Britney rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love this authors Shadow children series and Just ella books but her others have not thrilled me. I liked this story about a girl who gets a glimps of an old memory and is very confused by it. Things start to piece together and she is only more confused by what she finds. I liked it:) It is a short and easy good book.

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Oct 17, 2009 Jordan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was great and the pages went flying as i read this book. She knows she had a normal life till a sleepover when her friends hyptonize her and all these secrets spill out that she didn't even know she remembered. This book is definetly recommended to every one

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Apr 15, 2009 Bethany rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is one of the best books i have ever read!I love this author she is my favorite.Any way the book is about a girl who is trying to find her real mother and learn about her family history.With her "other mother" on her back she must find a way to free herself.

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About Margaret Peterson Haddix

Margaret Peterson Haddix grew up on a farm near Washington Court House, Ohio. She graduated from Miami University (of Ohio) with degrees in English/journalism, English/creative writing and history. Before her first book was published, she worked as a newspaper copy editor in Fort Wayne, Indiana; a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis; and a community college instructor and freelance writer in Danvil...more

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Among the Impostors (Shadow Children, #2)

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