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Chasing Alliecat

3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 · rating details · 69 ratings · 22 reviews

Dumped with relatives in a small Minnesota town for the summer, Sadie Lester is relying on her mountain bike to save her from total boredom. Then she meets Allie, a spiky-haired off-road mountain biker who's training for a major race. Allie leads Sadie and Joe, a cute fellow cyclist, up and down Mount Kato, and the three become close friends. But the exhilarating rush come...more

Paperback, 277 pages

Published February 8th 2011 by Flux (first published February 1st 2011)

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Mar 17, 2011 Michelle rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, ya, contemp

Summer is not turning out quite how Sadie Lester would have liked. Even though her mother basically dropped her off in the middle of Minnesota to live with her aunt and uncle and their bajillion kids for the summer, Sadie is determined to still find time for her true passion - mountain biking. Fortunately, Sadie quickly discovers that the wilds of Minnesota are actually the perfect place to not only one her riding skills but to escape the craziness of her new home. And her skills quickly begin t...more

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Jul 11, 2011 Page Turners Blog rated it 3 of 5 stars

From the moment I read the synopsis, I knew I wanted to read Chasing Alliecat; the premise of the story intrigued me. However, I was a little iffy about the mountain biking, would I understand the terminology, would it keep my attention? I had nothing to worry about; Chasing Alliecat is one hard book to put down.

Sadie's parents have a troubled relationship; in order to reconnect they decided to work on a project together in Egypt. Sadie and her brother are sent to spend the summer with their ext...more

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Apr 19, 2011 Reading Teen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm going to be honest, when I first heard that this book was about teens who mountain bike I was skeptical. But, I was wrong. Although I did think it was a little convenient that the only other girl she met also was a mountain biker, and then Joe came to live with her family and he rode mountain bikes as well. But, it's a story so whatever. I loved how strong Allie was, my favorite part was probably when she screamed her head off at Joe because he smoked, and after that he stopped. She always k...more

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Jan 31, 2012 Sue Wargo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

As a school librarian this was in my pile to read before putting out for my students. I tend to want to read things with material that might be mature so I can help the books get into the right hands. This was a riveting story with a fast paced plot of bike-riding teens that find a very beat-up and almost dead man in the woods that turns out to be a local priest. He survives to go to hospital for treatment, but Allie one of the teens proceeds to vanish also. The story revolves around bike racing...more

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Apr 28, 2012 Laura (booksnob) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, young-adult

It is summer in Mankato, Minnesota and Sadie is stuck spending it with her Uncle Scout's family. Her only consolation is the mountain bike she brought with her and her goal to enter a race. Then she meets an unlikely friend named Allie and they begin a unique friendship racing through the woods on their bikes. Soon Joe enters Sadie and Allie's life. Joe just moved to Mankato for the summer and now lives in Uncle Scout's very crowded house. The three are fast friends and all begin training for a...more It is summer in Mankato, Minnesota and Sadie is stuck spending it with her Uncle Scout's family. Her only consolation is the mountain bike she brought with her and her goal to enter a race. Then she meets an unlikely friend named Allie and they begin a unique friendship racing through the woods on their bikes. Soon Joe enters Sadie and Allie's life. Joe just moved to Mankato for the summer and now lives in Uncle Scout's very crowded house. The three are fast friends and all begin training for a mountain bike race on the 4th of July. That is, until they find the bloodied and beaten body of a priest in the woods and Allie disappears.

When Allie disappears, Sadie and Joe realize they don't really know her at all, even though they rode together every day. Sadie has no idea where Allie lives and she wouldn't give out her phone number. Allie admitted her father is in prison but she never mentioned her mother. Allie is one powerful, mysterious young woman and Sadie can't help but admire her strength and fortitude but she is really worried. Thus begins the heart pounding race to find Allie and discover the true meaning of friendship.

Chasing Alliecat is a wild ride through the woods where the main characters are chasing a killer, chasing Allie and chasing their dreams. The story is compelling and takes the reader for a daring ride through the pages. The characters are bound to each other through circumstance, become life-long friends and protect each other through life's dangers. In short, they ride through the chicken. They do what they are afraid of, support each other and grow stronger.

Every once in awhile a book comes along where the reader has a lot in common with one of the main characters. Allie is the character that I related to the most and we had so much in common that by the end of the book I was crying. I can't give you all the details because it would spoil the book for you but know that Chasing Alliecat does not shy away from difficult issues.

Chasing Alliecat is a suspenseful mystery and a page turner. My advice is to chase down this book. It would make a great read for the gym while your riding the stationary bike.
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Oct 08, 2011 Ashley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, review-copy, signed, blog

Originally reviewed on my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing.

Chasing Alliecat by Rebecca Fjelland Davis is the story of Sadie, Allie and Joe, three teenagers who live to mountain bike. Sadie's parent's have a strange relationship, and after their divorce, Sadie's mom sends Sadie and her sister to stay with Sadie's aunt so that she can go to Egypt to do archeological research with her ex-husband. Joe comes to stay with his uncle, (the husband of Sadie's aunt) because he is having a hard...more Originally reviewed on my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing.

Chasing Alliecat by Rebecca Fjelland Davis is the story of Sadie, Allie and Joe, three teenagers who live to mountain bike. Sadie's parent's have a strange relationship, and after their divorce, Sadie's mom sends Sadie and her sister to stay with Sadie's aunt so that she can go to Egypt to do archeological research with her ex-husband. Joe comes to stay with his uncle, (the husband of Sadie's aunt) because he is having a hard time adjusting to life without his twin. He's a little... damaged, and his parents are hoping a change of scenery would do him good. Allie is a mystery. She lives in this tiny Minnesota town and she's hurting.

Sadie is still a beginner as far as mountain biking goes, and she has decided that this summer she is going to start competing in actual races. Joe has raced a few times before, and is above the beginner stage, but still has a lot to learn (like smoking is really bad for your lungs). And Allie? Allie's just about a professional. She competes in the expert class races, and she wins. Regularly. I'm about to make a comment that is going to prove I think about things too much, but I felt a little bit like their level of biking expertise directly correlates to how bad the inner demons come at them. I liked that. To me, it's a subtle way of being able to let the pain and the confusion onto the page. Maybe no one else saw it. Maybe there wasn't really anything about it for me to see. That's okay with me. Pain translates differently for different people.

The main complaint I have with this book, is that Allie was just a little bit too. Too mysterious, too tortured, too aloof, just too much. Because there was just so much to Allie, some aspects of her character fell a little flat for me, and left me thinking that it was included to be included, because it makes for a more dramatic story. I didn't feel like all of it needed to be in there, or if all of it felt essential to the author, some of the issues could have been fleshed out and addressed a little better. Many of them, the way they were handled felt a little like an afterthought. It's vague, I know, but I don't want to spoil anything.

Anyway, other than that, I really enjoyed this book. I thought Sadie and Joe were both awesome characters, and I liked watching them adjust to each other, and get to know each other better. The characters, especially Sadie and Joe are the real core of this story, and they made is believable for me. My favorite parts of the book focused on the biking and the racing. It makes me want to hop on a bike and start trekking all over rural Idaho. It's probably a good thing my bike needs to be tuned up after the long winter here... If I tried to ride even half-way as hardcore as these kids, it would probably kill me. ;)

Overall, I genuinely enjoyed this book. It's a worthwhile story with solid characters who aren't afraid of their pain or their strengths. They do what they gotta do to survive and they keep their head above ground. It's a story worth reading full of characters worth knowing.(less)

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Mar 31, 2011 bibliophile brouhaha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, own, blog-tour, contemp

I can sum up Chasing AllieCat in three words: exciting, mysterious, and completely believable. Rebecca Fjelland Davis has taken a dull summer out in the boons and made it a life-changing experience for three teenagers.

Sadie is a fantastic narrator. The entire story is told from her first-person perspective, and we, the readers, do not lack for any visual descriptions or her opinions on what his happening - we are always in the know, although we don't know anything until Sadie does. One of the ch...more I can sum up Chasing AllieCat in three words: exciting, mysterious, and completely believable. Rebecca Fjelland Davis has taken a dull summer out in the boons and made it a life-changing experience for three teenagers.

Sadie is a fantastic narrator. The entire story is told from her first-person perspective, and we, the readers, do not lack for any visual descriptions or her opinions on what his happening - we are always in the know, although we don't know anything until Sadie does. One of the chief reasons that I like Sadie so much is because she is a laid back, take-people-as-they-are person. That doesn't mean that she doesn't have her opinions on people or doesn't gripe when she has to deal with them, but she accepts it, moves on and works past it. I particularly like that she always was offended and stuck up for Allie when she thought Joe was making very un-PC remarks about her, particularly since it is evident from the get-go that she is attracted to him! Like I said, she is easy going on people, but she sticks to her own opinions and is loyal to the people who have shown trust in her. I like a character who isn't wishy-washy or a fair-weathered friend.

Allie is a prickly type of friendly from the get-go. She is uncompromising and tough, but not necessarily a bully, although sometimes she can come off that way, particularly with Joe. She genuinely wants to see people be their best and live the best way possible, which can cause her to be abrasive to people who are not up to code. Joe, on the other, hand, is a nice guy, although not my type of guy. In an odd twist, he is the nephew of Allie's aunt-by-marriage. Like Sadie, he has been sent to live with relatives for the summer. In his case, it's to escape the aftermath of a personal tragedy. While I never bought the 'tough-guy' persona that he is originally present to us with, I did appreciate that his overall kindness and that he was working though some demons of his own. This is a summer of growth and healing for him, and riding through the fear helps him as much as it does Sadie and Allie.

All three characters have an absolute passion for mountain biking and all three also shoulder tough burdens. You get the idea from the beginning that Allie in particular comes from a sad and troubled background, but I had no clue just how bad it was until the end when the cause for her disappearance is revealed. Davis wrote an exceptional plot in this book, and specifically with Allie's story, I think her skill really shines. Throughout the book, we are given just enough clues and incidents that lead us to believe that certain possibilities were afoot, but you aren't sure which one it is until the end. She also has a remarkable balance between this being a book about friendship and coming-of-age, and also being about Very Serious Subject Matter. As the latter is never revealed until towards the end, I won't share that with you, but it's a tough thing to bear, and Davis uses very clear language when it's discussed, leaving us in no doubt of the reasons behind Allie's disappearance.

I really enjoyed this book. Although I had a little trouble getting into it at the very beginning, that quickly passed, and then I didn't want to put it down. Davis' characters are distinct, her writing simple, vivid and descriptive, the plot fast-paced, and the mystery of Allie keeps your attention. There is one, tiny aspect of the plot that I struggled with, but I will say it doesn't hinder my appreciation of the book or my recommendation of it. Chasing AllieCat is a solid read, a great book about three unlikely comrades who share a summer that teaches them about what living is, and that fear is something to be conquered, not accepted.(less)

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Feb 17, 2011 Lauren (365 Days of Reading) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Summary: Sadie Lester has been forced to stay with her aunt and uncle in the boonies, Minnesota, for the summer while her parents have a wild Egyptian adventure. While escaping from her relatives’ packed house one night, Sadie meets Allie, a girl who seems to have quite a few secrets and a passion for mountain biking. Sadie and Allie become fast friends, and one day they stumble upon something heinous while biking in the woods, setting off a chain of events that leave Allie missing and Sadie in...more

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Apr 06, 2011 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

In terms of realistic fiction, Chasing Alliecat was my first foray into this world in YA fiction. This book hooked its fingers into me and drew me into reading from the very first chapter. If this is what all realistic fiction is like, well please let me say that I'm more than happy to go find some more! I felt so invested in these characters that I loved every minute of this book. Absolutely amazing.

If you are the type of reader who wants their characters to be well developed and drive the plot...more In terms of realistic fiction, Chasing Alliecat was my first foray into this world in YA fiction. This book hooked its fingers into me and drew me into reading from the very first chapter. If this is what all realistic fiction is like, well please let me say that I'm more than happy to go find some more! I felt so invested in these characters that I loved every minute of this book. Absolutely amazing.

If you are the type of reader who wants their characters to be well developed and drive the plot, this book is for you! Sadie, Joe and Allie are all so different and yet there are similar parts in their lives that draw them together. Like a band of lovable misfits, I had a blast watching them interact. Sadie provides the sensibility, Allie the toughness and Joe the adorable awkwardness. The three of them just meshed so perfectly that I really felt like they were real people. I'd hang with them in a heartbeat.

Their love of mountain biking especially ties them together. I loved the descriptions of the way they felt as they rode. The sheer adrenaline that was described sounds amazing! Reading about how mountain bikers have such respect for nature and their bikes, it really blew me away. How much do we really hear about mountain bikers anyway? I have to say that it was refreshing to see a book about a sport like this. Mountain bikers have always impressed me, but to see younger characters who were so invested? Wow, just wow. You can definitely tell that Rebecca has a passion for this.

Story wise, Chasing Alliecat felt to me like a roller coaster. A wild ride indeed, this book starts out slow and allows you to meet the characters and get to know them. Then all of the sudden things start to happen, the characters are moving at a lightning pace and there are times when you'll forget to breathe. Trust me. The ending of this book especially just blew me away. To say that I loved Allie, Sadie and Joe's story is a bit of an understatement. I'd say more that I actually felt a part of their story. It's so true to life.

Am I being vague? Definitely. I won't give a single part of this book away for you because honestly that would be doing you a disservice my friends. Suffice it to say that this is a fantastic story! Chasing Alliecat has it all. Friendship, romance, mystery and intrigue. You want it, it's there! You'll need to go grab a copy as soon as you can to see what I'm talking about.(less)

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Jan 15, 2011 Lauren rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

It's as simple as this: Chasing AllieCat blew me away in the best way possible, and I have a very strong feeling it will do the same to many other YA book lovers out there, because this book simply has it all: strong characters, a mysterious plot that will keep the reader guessing to the very last page, romance, and plenty more!

Chasing AllieCat tells the story of Sadie, a girl who has officially been left in a Minnesota town along with her younger brother for the summer while their parents go to...more It's as simple as this: Chasing AllieCat blew me away in the best way possible, and I have a very strong feeling it will do the same to many other YA book lovers out there, because this book simply has it all: strong characters, a mysterious plot that will keep the reader guessing to the very last page, romance, and plenty more!

Chasing AllieCat tells the story of Sadie, a girl who has officially been left in a Minnesota town along with her younger brother for the summer while their parents go to Africa. At first, Sadie fears that the summer will be boring with a capital B, because not only does Sadie's aunt want her to babysit her younger cousins for the majority of it, but she barley knows anyone besides her family. But everything changes the day Allie (aka AllieCat) comes into her life. Allie is like no one Sadie's meet before. She's fearless, witty, and strong, a girl you would want on your side no matter what. Better yet, Allie loves mountain biking as much if not more than Sadie. Soon enough, this summer is looking promising to Sadie, especially when a very cut and fellow cyclist named Joe lands on her radar. But with Allie comes secrets...secrets that could mean danger and death if Joe, Sadie, and Allie aren't careful enough. Though, when Allie goes missing, Sadie and Joe know something is terribly wrong, so off they go on a mission to save their lost friend, but will they before it's too late? More importantly, what exactly is Allie hiding from them? And will Sadie and Joe every get their chance at a summer romance? Only time will tell in this fast paced tale about how far two friends will go to save a friend that needs than more than they even know.

There is so much I love about this book and one of the things I love most is the characters.

First of all, main character Sadie is the perfect pick of a narrator of this story, because not only is she easy to relate to but she's fearless, brave, and nonjudgmental, making her someone I liked from the start. Better yet, I loved reading about her friendship with Allie and Joe. Allie, Joe, and Sadie form such an incredible bond throughout the pages of Chasing AllieCat over their bad pasts (Allie and Joe mostly) and their love of mountain biking (all three), and best of all, these are three characters who managed to be their for each other time and time again, and constantly built their friendship up in a way that was believable, leaving this to be the best part of the book, no doubt about it. I also loved how Rebecca used the character's friendship to bring up several intriguing questions within the pages. Like, how far would you go to save a friend in need? More importantly would you be able to be there for someone even when the situation is something like you've never experienced before, something so bad that it makes you're stomach churn? It was very thought provoking and well done.

The plot and mysteries at this story's heart were even better. I loved how Rebecca Fjelland Davis constantly had the reader guessing about what exactly happened to Allie to whether or not Sadie and Joe would be able to find Allie to whether or not they all would be able to save the day before it was too late. All of these questions always kept me on my toes and guessing what would occur next.

Lastly, Rebecca Fjelland Davis proves herself to be a fantastic writer within the pages of this one. I couldn't get over how amazing of job she did creating the characters and the plot lines, and best of all, this story has left me craving more stories by her, because I have a feeling they'll be pretty great if Chasing AllieCat is any indicator.

In all, Chasing AllieCat is spectacular, thought provoking, and intense, a read that I just can't stop thinking about, and one I could never describe just how amazing it was. So, read this book. Buy it, borrow it, I don't care just find a way to get your hands on a copy. Because if I know one thing, it's that this book is simply fantastic, and I hope you feel the same once you read it!

Grade: A+(less)

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Dec 27, 2010 Rebecca Fjelland Davis rated it 5 of 5 stars

One early reader says: "A good read for any age. Judy Blume meets Steig Larsson."

Here's the publisher's synopsis:
Sadie Lester has been dumped with relatives for the summer. Boredom seems inevitable in her small Minnesota town until she meets Allie—a spiky-haired off-road biker with incredible grace and speed. Training for the upcoming bike race, Allie leads Sadie and cute fellow cyclist Joe up and down Mount Kato—an exhilarating rush that pushes their limits. The fun ends abruptly when they str...more

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Mar 19, 2011 Kristen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: youngadult, signed, own-it, mystery

Why I read this: I don't real a lot of realistic fiction, but this one looked intriguing.

Plot: I love the mystery behind Allie when you meet her in the book, how tough she is and how unwilling to reveal any type of contact information to Sadie. It becomes apparent that something is going on pretty much from the start when it comes to Allie. She won't share a lot about herself with Sadie except for her love of riding. When Joe comes along and steals Sadie's attention just a bit, you can feel the...more

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Feb 07, 2011 Kelly rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction, read-in-2011

2.5

There was stuff I really liked in here and some stuff that didn't work for me. This is a good one for reluctant readers and those looking for a good story about alternate athletes -- these kids are bikers! I saw the mystery from a mile away but I don't think that other readers will nor will it deter them. Longer review to come.

Full review here: http://stackedbooks.blogspot.com/2011...

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Apr 16, 2012 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Very interesting story, and I liked how the biking was incorporated into the book. Some of the writing was a bit meh, but the story moved along quickly and it really held my interest. I'm giving this book to a friend of mine who lives in Mankato. They'll love it!

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Sep 27, 2011 O'h rated it 5 of 5 stars

Chasing AllieCat is an exciting story with lots of mystery and action--and great sports sequences! You get to know a wonderful group of characters and care for them--and fear for them. I loved it. Chasing AllieCat is a blood-pumping, heart-thumping ride!

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May 28, 2011 Kyra rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a really good book full of adventure, mystery, friendship, and romance. It was a very fast read, but one that I very much enjoyed.

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Apr 11, 2011 BCPL Youth Services Librarian added it

Shelves: realistic-fiction, mystery

Click to see book in BCPL's online catalog

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Aug 23, 2011 Caroline H rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow, loved the characters, several twists I did not expect, I want to know more about the the lead characters!

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Jul 19, 2012 Stephanie A. rated it 2 of 5 stars

Other than the Minnesota-wth-recognizable-towns setting, nothing particularly memorable.

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Mar 27, 2013 Carmela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great storyline/plot, and set in an area that I know pretty well/can relate to, so that was cool. I read it in one sitting. :)
(Many thanks to Toria for letting me borrow her copy!)

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Jul 12, 2011 Becky rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

A good book, and unusual in that it's a YA where the teens seek help from adults when they're in a very scary situation. But one major frustration. What adult in their right mind lets three teenagers wander around town on their own with a nutcase and his henchmen out to get them?

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Dec 03, 2012 Carol Riggs added it

The characters were interesting and well-drawn, and amazingly, I actually liked the sports/mountain bike scenes! The scenes were woven in with the plot and characters. It wasn't a book ABOUT mountain biking, but it was a story that involved it. And that worked well.

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About Rebecca Fjelland Davis

Rebecca Fjelland Davis is a novelist and children's book author who lives in Minnesota. She is currently an instructor at South Central College in Mankato, where she teaches Composition studies, Literature and Film, and Critical Thinking in Humanities.

Becky grew up on a farm outside of Huxley, Iowa. She graduated with honors from Waldorf College, from St. Cloud State University (earning her Bachel...more

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