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Strange Girl
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Christopher Pike comes a brand-new fascinating and seductive new novel about a girl with a mysterious ability—but one that carries an unimaginable cost.
From the moment Fred met Aja, he knew she was different. And she was.
Aja had a gift. But her gift came with a price.
After a shocking sequence of events, Fred must look back at their relationship, and piece together all of their shared moments, so he can finally understand Aja’s precious gift…and its devastating repercussions.
From the moment Fred met Aja, he knew she was different. And she was.
Aja had a gift. But her gift came with a price.
After a shocking sequence of events, Fred must look back at their relationship, and piece together all of their shared moments, so he can finally understand Aja’s precious gift…and its devastating repercussions.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published November 17, 2015
114 people are currently reading
1680 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Pike
261 books5,469 followersChristopher Pike is the pseudonym of Kevin McFadden. He is a bestselling author of young adult and children's fiction who specializes in the thriller genre.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
McFadden was born in New York but grew up in California where he stills lives in today. A college drop-out, he did factory work, painted houses and programmed computers before becoming a recognized author. Initially unsuccessful when he set out to write science fiction and adult mystery, it was not until his work caught the attention of an editor who suggested he write a teen thriller that he became a hit. The result was Slumber Party (1985), a book about a group of teenagers who run into bizarre and violent events during a ski weekend. After that he wrote Weekend and Chain Letter. All three books went on to become bestsellers.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
McFadden was born in New York but grew up in California where he stills lives in today. A college drop-out, he did factory work, painted houses and programmed computers before becoming a recognized author. Initially unsuccessful when he set out to write science fiction and adult mystery, it was not until his work caught the attention of an editor who suggested he write a teen thriller that he became a hit. The result was Slumber Party (1985), a book about a group of teenagers who run into bizarre and violent events during a ski weekend. After that he wrote Weekend and Chain Letter. All three books went on to become bestsellers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
February 8, 2017
I have to admit, from the moment I read the blurb, I was sold on this book. A girl with special abilities that carry an unimaginable cost? Yes, please.
I wanted to love this book, I really did. I was so hooked on the blurb I couldn't wait to read it, but it ultimately fell a little short for me.
I want to talk first about what I liked about the book. I really liked that it felt like it was written as a sort of memoir told of the events of Fred's life and how he met the mysterious girl named Aja. I really loved the way it reads. The idea behind the story was interesting enough, just I guess not what I expected and honestly I liked Aja more than I liked Fred.
There was romance in the story, but it did nothing for me. Honestly, it was kind of meh. Maybe it was because I honest to goodness disliked Fred. I did not like his attitude, I did not like some of the things he said or thought about Aja and overall I just did not love his character. I just could not connect on the romance, it was sudden, it was odd, and overall a bit boring.
The plot was interesting, but I felt like there was a dig at religion in a way. This is a YA novel I felt like that could have been left out of it.
The story progressed quickly, characters offered up the info quickly. Fred was annoying and boring, and flew off the handle way too easily. Honestly, I felt like the author was bored with his own writing because the twist that was added at the end felt out of place and so random my head was spinning. (Also, someone watches too many action movies - cough)
There was an interesting take on people being selfish and greedy, especially in the end and what it cost. I wanted to throttle the character for asking Aja for what she did, I did not think it was fair, it was greedy, and I guess a bit part of the human nature.
I wanted to love this book, I did and I tried, but it just fell quite a bit short with me. I did give it three stars because I did enjoy it, to an extent. Just some things did not work for me.This review was originally posted on Night Owl Book Café
November 20, 2015
The problem with being a fan for someone for over two decades and having read all their books (over 60!) is that there's so much expectation from their latest work. Add to that Christopher Pike is one of my favorite authors, that's a lot of pressure for him. But I'm relieved to say his newest young adult novel did not disappoint.
A strange girl enters the life of our male protagonist. Soon, miraculous things start to happen and people's lives begin to change. But not everyone is happy until the mystery surrounding the titular character is solved. At what cost will the truth be revealed- and will it be believed?
Pike fans may get deja vu from that description since it's very similar to his first adult novel Sati, which I highly recommend. But Strange Girl is unique and is a refreshing change from the slate of YA books out now.
Fans of Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl (which I detested) may enjoy this mystical love story.
A strange girl enters the life of our male protagonist. Soon, miraculous things start to happen and people's lives begin to change. But not everyone is happy until the mystery surrounding the titular character is solved. At what cost will the truth be revealed- and will it be believed?
Pike fans may get deja vu from that description since it's very similar to his first adult novel Sati, which I highly recommend. But Strange Girl is unique and is a refreshing change from the slate of YA books out now.
Fans of Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl (which I detested) may enjoy this mystical love story.
January 16, 2016
It breaks my heart to come out and say this but "Strange Girl" is merely okay. I'm a lifelong Christopher Pike fan and had a fair idea of what I could reasonably expect from Pike but this fell short of the mark. It's the simplistic, disjointed narration, the overuse of pop culture jargon and the characters who didn't make an impact but should've.
This story was a bit disappointing because it had the makings of a good novel but it was as if Pike was afraid that any sophisticated language and concept would distract and bore his 2016 YA audience. It felt like he was holding back, fearing perhaps that anything too "out there" would turn away the readers. Well, he did go there back in the 90's when Christopher Pike was the YA author you read when you wanted to graduate from the quick, plot-driven novellas of certain authors I won't name, and needed more tantalizing plot, more well-rounded characters and philosophical insights. When Pike delved into the Hindu-centric stories of the later iterations of Remember Me and The Last Vampire, his readers still lapped them up. I think it was because the stories were unique and they were true to the author, even though yes, there were some religious and philosophical undertones in them. Back then, Pike didn't care to be too PC. Strange Girl could have been as powerful as those novels but it falls short. I am very disappointed to say that because I know Pike is raving about this book, and he's very proud of it (according to his Facebook posts). I still love you, Christopher Pike.
This story was a bit disappointing because it had the makings of a good novel but it was as if Pike was afraid that any sophisticated language and concept would distract and bore his 2016 YA audience. It felt like he was holding back, fearing perhaps that anything too "out there" would turn away the readers. Well, he did go there back in the 90's when Christopher Pike was the YA author you read when you wanted to graduate from the quick, plot-driven novellas of certain authors I won't name, and needed more tantalizing plot, more well-rounded characters and philosophical insights. When Pike delved into the Hindu-centric stories of the later iterations of Remember Me and The Last Vampire, his readers still lapped them up. I think it was because the stories were unique and they were true to the author, even though yes, there were some religious and philosophical undertones in them. Back then, Pike didn't care to be too PC. Strange Girl could have been as powerful as those novels but it falls short. I am very disappointed to say that because I know Pike is raving about this book, and he's very proud of it (according to his Facebook posts). I still love you, Christopher Pike.
April 29, 2019
“As much as you long for it, it longs for you more. Take one step toward the Big Person and it will take a hundred steps toward you.”
― Christopher Pike, Strange Girl
This was an unusual and very interesting book. I'd grown up reading Pike but his writing style is different in this book. I really enjoyed it.
Fred, a musician, meets Aja and falls deeply in love. But Aja is not your ordinary girl. From the beginning it is obvious that she is very special and she is "gifted". What that means and what her gifts do is the focus of the story.
This was a book that just left me feeling good. I had no problem getting involved in this unusual almost mystical story line and I adored the characters, particularly Aja.
SPOILERS:
Somehow this book, although it ends on a very sad note, manages to leave you with a smile on your face anyway. It has way more emotional depth then I expected and it is a book I'd be comfortable recommending to just about anyone.
― Christopher Pike, Strange Girl
This was an unusual and very interesting book. I'd grown up reading Pike but his writing style is different in this book. I really enjoyed it.
Fred, a musician, meets Aja and falls deeply in love. But Aja is not your ordinary girl. From the beginning it is obvious that she is very special and she is "gifted". What that means and what her gifts do is the focus of the story.
This was a book that just left me feeling good. I had no problem getting involved in this unusual almost mystical story line and I adored the characters, particularly Aja.
SPOILERS:
Somehow this book, although it ends on a very sad note, manages to leave you with a smile on your face anyway. It has way more emotional depth then I expected and it is a book I'd be comfortable recommending to just about anyone.
November 18, 2015
“She was a mystery, a genuine enigma, in a world that has more trouble each day believing in such things.”
I love this book. Let me qualify that: I love everything Pike writes. Not blind love—this is a love well earned. Be it mystery, thriller, paranormal, whatever, Pike’s stories have an undercurrent of something bigger, something profound. I always walk away from a Pike story feeling as if my eyes have not only been opened, but widened. Strange Girl is no exception. In fact, after finishing the book and spending a night crying bitter-sweet tears, it occurs to me that Strange Girl might be the greatest example of Pike’s skills. Ever. Not just as a storyteller—though this one is a page turner—but in his ability to hold the human spirit up against the mysterious backdrop of the universe, daring us to see ourselves and our purpose in new and surprising ways.
Enter Aja, our strange girl. Pure, uninhibited, quirky, mesmerizingly candid. And she knows what you need. She knows what EVERYBODY needs to feel more fulfilled, more connected. For Fred, our budding rock-star narrator, that missing element will turn out to be the most breathtaking and eye opening relationship of his life. When Aja appears in his small town it’s clear there’s something different about her; she’s beautiful and richly clothed, but awkward when it comes to cultural and social mores. Turns out, she’s from a small Brazilian village where she has a mystical reputation and an affinity for floating in the river. Yet her origin story runs deeper than that, as Fred and his hometown (and the world) are about to discover. I won’t spoil the details, but Fred himself would tell you: by the time Aja finishes with them, nobody will ever see the universe the same way again.
Fans of Pike will find echoes of Sati (and even a little Sita) in Strange Girl—and yet Aja comes to us with her own unique perspective on the universe and its secrets. Strange Girl stands on her own, calling out to the dreamers, the what-if-ers, anyone who has ever looked up at the stars and ached to put that sense of awe into words. Aja is that missing voice. Now all you have to do is listen…
I love this book. Let me qualify that: I love everything Pike writes. Not blind love—this is a love well earned. Be it mystery, thriller, paranormal, whatever, Pike’s stories have an undercurrent of something bigger, something profound. I always walk away from a Pike story feeling as if my eyes have not only been opened, but widened. Strange Girl is no exception. In fact, after finishing the book and spending a night crying bitter-sweet tears, it occurs to me that Strange Girl might be the greatest example of Pike’s skills. Ever. Not just as a storyteller—though this one is a page turner—but in his ability to hold the human spirit up against the mysterious backdrop of the universe, daring us to see ourselves and our purpose in new and surprising ways.
Enter Aja, our strange girl. Pure, uninhibited, quirky, mesmerizingly candid. And she knows what you need. She knows what EVERYBODY needs to feel more fulfilled, more connected. For Fred, our budding rock-star narrator, that missing element will turn out to be the most breathtaking and eye opening relationship of his life. When Aja appears in his small town it’s clear there’s something different about her; she’s beautiful and richly clothed, but awkward when it comes to cultural and social mores. Turns out, she’s from a small Brazilian village where she has a mystical reputation and an affinity for floating in the river. Yet her origin story runs deeper than that, as Fred and his hometown (and the world) are about to discover. I won’t spoil the details, but Fred himself would tell you: by the time Aja finishes with them, nobody will ever see the universe the same way again.
Fans of Pike will find echoes of Sati (and even a little Sita) in Strange Girl—and yet Aja comes to us with her own unique perspective on the universe and its secrets. Strange Girl stands on her own, calling out to the dreamers, the what-if-ers, anyone who has ever looked up at the stars and ached to put that sense of awe into words. Aja is that missing voice. Now all you have to do is listen…
November 16, 2015
I read a lot of Christopher Pike when I was younger, but I haven't read anything in a while. I was intrigued by the premise and was eager to see if I still enjoyed the crazy things he came up with. Annnnnd that answer was no.
Fred's inner monologue is horrible. Normally I prefer boy POV, but this was several full pages of rambling nonsense that was all one paragraph. He was sort of whiny and even with the descriptions he did provide, it didn't seem like there was any sort of clarity.
I made it to around 30% before I gave up and skipped to 75% looking for the reveal. I did find it, and while it was an explanation, it still didn't make any sense. Ultimately, it just wasn't for me.
**Huge thanks to Simon Pulse and Edelweiss for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
Fred's inner monologue is horrible. Normally I prefer boy POV, but this was several full pages of rambling nonsense that was all one paragraph. He was sort of whiny and even with the descriptions he did provide, it didn't seem like there was any sort of clarity.
I made it to around 30% before I gave up and skipped to 75% looking for the reveal. I did find it, and while it was an explanation, it still didn't make any sense. Ultimately, it just wasn't for me.
**Huge thanks to Simon Pulse and Edelweiss for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
January 11, 2016
I loved having this book written from a male point of view. Fred was a very likable lead. He was your typical teenage boy. There wasn't anything special about him, which is what made him so great. Fred met Aja, and she changed his life forever. Not in any dramatic, over the top way...but slowly and subtly. She gave him something to believe it, and he loved her for that, or maybe in spite of that. Aja was quite interesting in her own way. Innocent to the point of fault, she touched everyone she met in some way.
This book told the story of Fred and Aja, but in it you also see the beauty and cruelty of human nature. Humans are selfish race, but once in a while you will find something worth living for.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book told the story of Fred and Aja, but in it you also see the beauty and cruelty of human nature. Humans are selfish race, but once in a while you will find something worth living for.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 31, 2015
Christopher Pike is a big part of the reason I devour books like crazy as an adult. I discovered his thrillers in high school and suddenly enjoyed reading.
So, when I saw a new Christopher Pike book, I had to read it. Had to.
Unfortunately, I didn't like it. Granted, Aja was a compelling and mysterious character. However, most of the book was all philosophical, religious weirdness that should have been left out. Parts of the interactions between Fred and Aja were gag-worthy (like every "romantic" part) and the pacing/plotting was off. Overall, it's just not the level of storytelling I expect from Christopher Pike.
So, when I saw a new Christopher Pike book, I had to read it. Had to.
Unfortunately, I didn't like it. Granted, Aja was a compelling and mysterious character. However, most of the book was all philosophical, religious weirdness that should have been left out. Parts of the interactions between Fred and Aja were gag-worthy (like every "romantic" part) and the pacing/plotting was off. Overall, it's just not the level of storytelling I expect from Christopher Pike.
January 12, 2016
I received Strange Girl in return for an honest review as part of the tour hosted by Bewitching Book Tours. Everything for Fred changes when a new girl arrives in town he first encounters her at the park but doesn’t talk to her till school the next day. There is something different about Aja than other girls it’s drawing Fred in. Surprisingly they connect right away forming a fast friendship he even invites her to watch his band play. At the bar when things get out of control it comes to Aja to save the day even mending a soldiers skull that bad been smashed by a bottle.
Thinking that the past was behind them Fred and Aja continue to spend time together but a video shows up on youtube that causes people to question. Than when Mike ends up in the hospital with a series head injury if not for Aja using her gift to save him he would have died instead he got better. Soon a reporter wants to know the real story behind Aja and strangers are showing up asking for her to heal their family members. Fred realizes that Aja isn’t just a girl but so much more but with her gift comes a price that may not be worth the risk.
I like Fred he’s a good guy with a good heart who found someone special to capture his heart. I wasn’t sure at first about Aja because we didn’t know much about her but the more we got to know her the more I liked her. While Fred was an interesting character it’s really Aja who stole the show the mystery surrounding her was intriguing I wanted to know more about this Strange Girl. We are also given a chance to know some great supporting character like Mike, Janet, Dale and Shelly members of the band.
I’ve been a longtime fan of Christopher Pike so when the chance to read his new book came up I just had to jump at the chance. Strange Girl doesn’t disappoint it’s a captivating story that captured my heart as well as my imagination. In true fashion Christopher Pike has woven an intricate story that captured my attention to the very last page because I had to know who Aja really was. I think the concept of Aja is well done it’s a unique concept that works well with all the characters. Strange Girl is a captivating paranormal mystery that draws the reader in to the last page. I loved the character it was interesting to see how each of them is intertwined and Aja changed everything. I really enjoyed Strange Girl it’s a perfect example of a Christopher Pike book and reminds me a lot of the books I loved as a teen. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.
Thinking that the past was behind them Fred and Aja continue to spend time together but a video shows up on youtube that causes people to question. Than when Mike ends up in the hospital with a series head injury if not for Aja using her gift to save him he would have died instead he got better. Soon a reporter wants to know the real story behind Aja and strangers are showing up asking for her to heal their family members. Fred realizes that Aja isn’t just a girl but so much more but with her gift comes a price that may not be worth the risk.
I like Fred he’s a good guy with a good heart who found someone special to capture his heart. I wasn’t sure at first about Aja because we didn’t know much about her but the more we got to know her the more I liked her. While Fred was an interesting character it’s really Aja who stole the show the mystery surrounding her was intriguing I wanted to know more about this Strange Girl. We are also given a chance to know some great supporting character like Mike, Janet, Dale and Shelly members of the band.
I’ve been a longtime fan of Christopher Pike so when the chance to read his new book came up I just had to jump at the chance. Strange Girl doesn’t disappoint it’s a captivating story that captured my heart as well as my imagination. In true fashion Christopher Pike has woven an intricate story that captured my attention to the very last page because I had to know who Aja really was. I think the concept of Aja is well done it’s a unique concept that works well with all the characters. Strange Girl is a captivating paranormal mystery that draws the reader in to the last page. I loved the character it was interesting to see how each of them is intertwined and Aja changed everything. I really enjoyed Strange Girl it’s a perfect example of a Christopher Pike book and reminds me a lot of the books I loved as a teen. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.
January 26, 2016
Wendy and I reviewed this book and many more like it at Badass Book Reviews!
Our Review - 3 Skulls – C
Wendy: Growing up I absolutely loved every Christopher Pike book I read. I collected them, and in fact I passed them all on to my daughter. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to read and review Strange Girl. It was a very strange read.
Christal: Oh man, me too. I especially loved Chain Letter and The Last Vampire. Strange Girl was very different from all his teen horror books, but it actually reminded me a lot of his adult novel, Sati.
Wendy: I never did read his adult books, but I wondered if they were more similar.
There was a lot of world building that I didn't think made sense. Like it didn't seem like any of these kids had parents. The drinking, bar fighting, doctors not calling parents when someone underage gets hurt... I wasn't sure it made sense, and I don't remember if the books I read as a kid were the same.
Christal: That is a really good point. Actually, Fred is very concerned that Aja let Bart know where she is at most times, but he doesn't give the same respect to his own parents. It's very weird.
Wendy: Well, to be fair to poor Fred, his parents sure didn't seem to care, haha.
On the plus side, I'm not a big fan of books that are overly religious, so what was nice about this book was how it was spiritual without being actually religious. In fact, Aja seemed reluctant to claim any type of religion, and focused more in her internal spirituality which was really refreshing. I also loved the concept of 'Big Person' and 'Little Person'.
Christal: I think this is one thing that Christopher Pike is really good at. Even in the middle of some of his bloodiest, most twisted scenes, he can still inject a bit of spiritualism and make it seem to fit. It worked really well with Strange Girl; you didn't get annoyed with Aja's vagueness because of the wonderful, understated way she was written.
Wendy: Exactly! Without giving anything away, there were some plotting choices that were made toward the end of the story that made me frown. I understand why the choice was made, what Pike was trying to convey, but I wish a different path had been taken to get there.
Christal: Yeah, the ending kind of killed it for me. The way it played out made it seem like there was no point to Aja moving into town, even though we are told she is there for "reasons." The climactic event in the book felt very rushed, especially after such a meandering middle. Mr. Pike tried to tackle a deeply disturbing character relationship and he just did not give it the concern it deserved. Overall, I enjoyed reading Strange Girl, but I don't think the execution quite lived up to the idea. A solid 3 skulls seems like a worthy rating.
Wendy: It sounds like we're in total agreement on all fronts. All in all, I wasn't completely unhappy with the book and I think that a lot of the things Aja represented will stay with me. I have a feeling I'll think often of my Little Person and my Big Person, and for that I have to definitely give it 3 skulls, too.
Thank you to Simon Pulse for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Our Review - 3 Skulls – C
Wendy: Growing up I absolutely loved every Christopher Pike book I read. I collected them, and in fact I passed them all on to my daughter. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to read and review Strange Girl. It was a very strange read.
Christal: Oh man, me too. I especially loved Chain Letter and The Last Vampire. Strange Girl was very different from all his teen horror books, but it actually reminded me a lot of his adult novel, Sati.
Wendy: I never did read his adult books, but I wondered if they were more similar.
There was a lot of world building that I didn't think made sense. Like it didn't seem like any of these kids had parents. The drinking, bar fighting, doctors not calling parents when someone underage gets hurt... I wasn't sure it made sense, and I don't remember if the books I read as a kid were the same.
Christal: That is a really good point. Actually, Fred is very concerned that Aja let Bart know where she is at most times, but he doesn't give the same respect to his own parents. It's very weird.
Wendy: Well, to be fair to poor Fred, his parents sure didn't seem to care, haha.
On the plus side, I'm not a big fan of books that are overly religious, so what was nice about this book was how it was spiritual without being actually religious. In fact, Aja seemed reluctant to claim any type of religion, and focused more in her internal spirituality which was really refreshing. I also loved the concept of 'Big Person' and 'Little Person'.
Christal: I think this is one thing that Christopher Pike is really good at. Even in the middle of some of his bloodiest, most twisted scenes, he can still inject a bit of spiritualism and make it seem to fit. It worked really well with Strange Girl; you didn't get annoyed with Aja's vagueness because of the wonderful, understated way she was written.
Wendy: Exactly! Without giving anything away, there were some plotting choices that were made toward the end of the story that made me frown. I understand why the choice was made, what Pike was trying to convey, but I wish a different path had been taken to get there.
Christal: Yeah, the ending kind of killed it for me. The way it played out made it seem like there was no point to Aja moving into town, even though we are told she is there for "reasons." The climactic event in the book felt very rushed, especially after such a meandering middle. Mr. Pike tried to tackle a deeply disturbing character relationship and he just did not give it the concern it deserved. Overall, I enjoyed reading Strange Girl, but I don't think the execution quite lived up to the idea. A solid 3 skulls seems like a worthy rating.
Wendy: It sounds like we're in total agreement on all fronts. All in all, I wasn't completely unhappy with the book and I think that a lot of the things Aja represented will stay with me. I have a feeling I'll think often of my Little Person and my Big Person, and for that I have to definitely give it 3 skulls, too.
Thank you to Simon Pulse for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2021
Honestly, tell me a single character's personality in this? You can't.
This book follows Fred, a basic Mary Sue who has no flaws and no personality (common theme throughout), who becomes engrossed with new girl Aja, a manic pixie dream girl with no personality. Strange things happen when Aja is around, miracles happen at a cost.
That's it, that's all the plot. Twilight is honestly better and that's a Mormon vampire story, what are you doing Christopher Pike?
The characterisation is honestly some of the worst I've seen. Fred has no discernible traits apart from being a cocky mf and for some reason everyone seems to be in love with him. He's not a good friend, declares he's in love with Aja even though he literally can't tell you the first thing about her. Being in lust is not the same and he seems to have confused this. He also talks like an adult and is so confident for a teenager of his age, I'm just not convinced. That and people just seem to tell him everything, he's not charming or personable, why is he being told all these secrets? It doesn't help that he is the narrator, his thoughts are an awful place to be. The amount of cringey dialogue he comes up with is absolutely atrocious, again would take Bella Swan's internal monologue any day.
Aja herself again has no personality, she just sits and doesn't talk, then performs miracles when it suits her. The philosophy of big person, little person kind of felt like it was infantilising her, didn't like it at all. Then don't get me started on her moving to town just to sleep with Fred, that make me feel ill.
None of the background characters felt any further fleshed out. When describing female characters Pike describes their looks in detail and obviously the fact they're in love with Fred. None of the male characters seem to get a description of their looks, but have their "personalities" explained.
Then to have the novel's twist hinge on a background character that you spent virtually no time with just doesn't work. At the reveal having to state the foreshadowing you included means you haven't done a good job.
This book feels lazy and out of touch. Never again, absolutely not. And is the moral of the story brush up on your yoga? Genuinely?
This book follows Fred, a basic Mary Sue who has no flaws and no personality (common theme throughout), who becomes engrossed with new girl Aja, a manic pixie dream girl with no personality. Strange things happen when Aja is around, miracles happen at a cost.
That's it, that's all the plot. Twilight is honestly better and that's a Mormon vampire story, what are you doing Christopher Pike?
The characterisation is honestly some of the worst I've seen. Fred has no discernible traits apart from being a cocky mf and for some reason everyone seems to be in love with him. He's not a good friend, declares he's in love with Aja even though he literally can't tell you the first thing about her. Being in lust is not the same and he seems to have confused this. He also talks like an adult and is so confident for a teenager of his age, I'm just not convinced. That and people just seem to tell him everything, he's not charming or personable, why is he being told all these secrets? It doesn't help that he is the narrator, his thoughts are an awful place to be. The amount of cringey dialogue he comes up with is absolutely atrocious, again would take Bella Swan's internal monologue any day.
Aja herself again has no personality, she just sits and doesn't talk, then performs miracles when it suits her. The philosophy of big person, little person kind of felt like it was infantilising her, didn't like it at all. Then don't get me started on her moving to town just to sleep with Fred, that make me feel ill.
None of the background characters felt any further fleshed out. When describing female characters Pike describes their looks in detail and obviously the fact they're in love with Fred. None of the male characters seem to get a description of their looks, but have their "personalities" explained.
Then to have the novel's twist hinge on a background character that you spent virtually no time with just doesn't work. At the reveal having to state the foreshadowing you included means you haven't done a good job.
This book feels lazy and out of touch. Never again, absolutely not. And is the moral of the story brush up on your yoga? Genuinely?
May 28, 2016
Originally posted on Fables Library
Christopher Pike is probably one of my most read authors. Not only is he my most read author but he also writes the books I read the quickest. Both of those go together so nicely, and Strange Girl was NO exception to it. He amazed me, simply speaking!
Strange Girl was written strangely though it fit the whole mood perfectly. In the end not all answers were solved but I felt like it was for the best, not because I didn't want answers, just because the story deserved questions. These questions added to the mystery of who Aja was, how she could preform miracles and who the Big Person and Little People where.
Most books nowadays have main characters losing their faith, no longer believing in their religions or praying to someone they don't believe in. I find this in books absolutely UNNECESSARY and most of the time I drop the book right then and there when I read it, books don't need this, if you're gonna bash my religion then don't even bother putting it into the story. Especially if it doesn't further the plot. Strange Girl was kind of like this BUT the main character found himself starting to believe in something he hadn't believed in a long time. And this, my friends, THIS is what I LOVED so much about Strange Girl. (Mini Spoilers) In my opinion Aja worked for someone like Jesus and God in Christianity, she helped people and preformed miracles and that's what I want to believe, (mini spoilers comes to its ends) This is what it should be :D FINDING faith not LOSING it! Isn't this what people need? Hope? Faith? Love? Strange Girl dwells in this topic as well :) *It's fine if you're no religious, just don't put others beliefs as a joke.
Honestly this story couldn't have been any better, I have no complaints. Strange Girl was easily the best book I've read of 2015 so far! ^^
Strange Girl is a book unlike any other book I have ever read before! It dwells on hope and faith, finding it and holding it close. What's not to love about such a book? Really, I LOVED it!
Christopher Pike is probably one of my most read authors. Not only is he my most read author but he also writes the books I read the quickest. Both of those go together so nicely, and Strange Girl was NO exception to it. He amazed me, simply speaking!
What I Liked:
Strange Girl was written strangely though it fit the whole mood perfectly. In the end not all answers were solved but I felt like it was for the best, not because I didn't want answers, just because the story deserved questions. These questions added to the mystery of who Aja was, how she could preform miracles and who the Big Person and Little People where.
Most books nowadays have main characters losing their faith, no longer believing in their religions or praying to someone they don't believe in. I find this in books absolutely UNNECESSARY and most of the time I drop the book right then and there when I read it, books don't need this, if you're gonna bash my religion then don't even bother putting it into the story. Especially if it doesn't further the plot. Strange Girl was kind of like this BUT the main character found himself starting to believe in something he hadn't believed in a long time. And this, my friends, THIS is what I LOVED so much about Strange Girl. (Mini Spoilers) In my opinion Aja worked for someone like Jesus and God in Christianity, she helped people and preformed miracles and that's what I want to believe, (mini spoilers comes to its ends) This is what it should be :D FINDING faith not LOSING it! Isn't this what people need? Hope? Faith? Love? Strange Girl dwells in this topic as well :) *It's fine if you're no religious, just don't put others beliefs as a joke.
What I Didn't Like:
Honestly this story couldn't have been any better, I have no complaints. Strange Girl was easily the best book I've read of 2015 so far! ^^
In A Nutshell:
Strange Girl is a book unlike any other book I have ever read before! It dwells on hope and faith, finding it and holding it close. What's not to love about such a book? Really, I LOVED it!
November 22, 2015
From the moment Fred met Aja, he knew she was different. And she was.
Aja had a gift. But her gift came with a price.
After a shocking sequence of events, Fred must look back at their relationship, and piece together all of their shared moments, so he can finally understand Aja’s precious gift…and its devastating repercussions.
I had read Pike's The Last Vampire a few years ago, and while the blend of Indian mythology should have reeled me in, it left me feeling confused and overall disappointed in the book. I thought it would be different this time around, but sometimes things never change. Strange Girl's plot rests on Aja, a miraculous saint-like girl who is able to channel the will of the universe (Brahman, or universe, in Indian mythology) and cause miracles. She, for reasons unknown, moves to a traditional Christian town in South Dakota, where she meets our douche-y main character. I call him douche-y because he displays all the things we hate about a hormonal teenage boy.
Fred is perhaps not the most interesting character this book should have been written through. He is a talented musician, who wants a girlfriend to have sex with, and lands a saint. I can't even accuse him of manic-pixie-dreamgirling her, because she needs to have a personality for that. Throughout the book, she is this bland person, who by her own admission, doesn't have an individuality or any particular will of her own. She coasts through the town, heals people all around if the universe is willing, but doesn't actually do the healing. She is just a tool for the universe to wield it's will, and even Fred feels dismayed for her. When she finally exerts her will, it is to save a child molester, which is so many shades of wrong, even if the victim herself wanted him to be saved.
The secondary characters are also cookie-cutter, with barely any personality. Fred considers them inconsequential in any matter, and frequently brings up how he is better than all of them, while saying he is not bragging. Way to be modest, dude. Another thing that irked me was when Aja said she was only a person when she was being his girlfriend - I get that achieving a higher level of enlightenment devoids her of individuality, but why can she forgo that oneness with the universe only when she has to be his girlfriend? Even their supposed 'love' doesn't convince me, and this book was only going downhill from when her powers were revealed. It's sad when a story that has potential suffers from poor writing.
Received a free galley from Simon Pulse via Edelweiss; this does not influence my opinions or the review.
Aja had a gift. But her gift came with a price.
After a shocking sequence of events, Fred must look back at their relationship, and piece together all of their shared moments, so he can finally understand Aja’s precious gift…and its devastating repercussions.
I had read Pike's The Last Vampire a few years ago, and while the blend of Indian mythology should have reeled me in, it left me feeling confused and overall disappointed in the book. I thought it would be different this time around, but sometimes things never change. Strange Girl's plot rests on Aja, a miraculous saint-like girl who is able to channel the will of the universe (Brahman, or universe, in Indian mythology) and cause miracles. She, for reasons unknown, moves to a traditional Christian town in South Dakota, where she meets our douche-y main character. I call him douche-y because he displays all the things we hate about a hormonal teenage boy.
Fred is perhaps not the most interesting character this book should have been written through. He is a talented musician, who wants a girlfriend to have sex with, and lands a saint. I can't even accuse him of manic-pixie-dreamgirling her, because she needs to have a personality for that. Throughout the book, she is this bland person, who by her own admission, doesn't have an individuality or any particular will of her own. She coasts through the town, heals people all around if the universe is willing, but doesn't actually do the healing. She is just a tool for the universe to wield it's will, and even Fred feels dismayed for her. When she finally exerts her will, it is to save a child molester, which is so many shades of wrong, even if the victim herself wanted him to be saved.
The secondary characters are also cookie-cutter, with barely any personality. Fred considers them inconsequential in any matter, and frequently brings up how he is better than all of them, while saying he is not bragging. Way to be modest, dude. Another thing that irked me was when Aja said she was only a person when she was being his girlfriend - I get that achieving a higher level of enlightenment devoids her of individuality, but why can she forgo that oneness with the universe only when she has to be his girlfriend? Even their supposed 'love' doesn't convince me, and this book was only going downhill from when her powers were revealed. It's sad when a story that has potential suffers from poor writing.
Received a free galley from Simon Pulse via Edelweiss; this does not influence my opinions or the review.
March 25, 2016
Strange Girl by Christopher Pike is at its heart, a tragic teenage love story. It has all the trappings of a romantic tale with the added twist of the paranormal. Only this time the teenager involved isn't in love/lust with a vampire or werewolf or any other dark creature of the night. Instead he is in love with a young girl who has the ability to heal.
Fred is a normal teenager as much as normal teenagers can be. He goes to school, plays in a band and sticks close to his small group of friends. This school year looks to be a same until Fred meets Aja, a new girl in town from South America. She is pretty, quiet and when he is around her, he feels this incredible calm. Only not everyone reacts to Aja in the same way. From his friends to his teachers, Aja seems to illicit a sense of mistrust and tension.
The a riot breaks out in one of Fred's gigs and with just a few words, Aja is able to stop the fighting. But stranger still is the fact that when one of Fred's friends suffers a serious head injury, he is miraculously cured. Aja swears that she has done nothing, but the eye witnesses and video tell another story. When a reporter tells Fred of Aja's past he knows he can no longer ignore the truth. There is something different about Aja, something very strange.
Strange Girl is an interesting and entertaining story but for my tastes, and remarkably not what I would expect from a Christopher Pike novel, it moves at such a slow pace that it was difficult to maintain my interest for any period of time. Fred is a likable character but there is little about him that drives this story and Aja herself is as monotone as they come. The anti-Christian sentiment in the book and the ensuing witch hunt that comes from the Christians is a tiresome ploy in today's writing. Something that has become a cheap trick to endear your novel to an audience that may feel the same.
Overall it is not a bad book and the story is good, but the delivery is severely lacking.
Fred is a normal teenager as much as normal teenagers can be. He goes to school, plays in a band and sticks close to his small group of friends. This school year looks to be a same until Fred meets Aja, a new girl in town from South America. She is pretty, quiet and when he is around her, he feels this incredible calm. Only not everyone reacts to Aja in the same way. From his friends to his teachers, Aja seems to illicit a sense of mistrust and tension.
The a riot breaks out in one of Fred's gigs and with just a few words, Aja is able to stop the fighting. But stranger still is the fact that when one of Fred's friends suffers a serious head injury, he is miraculously cured. Aja swears that she has done nothing, but the eye witnesses and video tell another story. When a reporter tells Fred of Aja's past he knows he can no longer ignore the truth. There is something different about Aja, something very strange.
Strange Girl is an interesting and entertaining story but for my tastes, and remarkably not what I would expect from a Christopher Pike novel, it moves at such a slow pace that it was difficult to maintain my interest for any period of time. Fred is a likable character but there is little about him that drives this story and Aja herself is as monotone as they come. The anti-Christian sentiment in the book and the ensuing witch hunt that comes from the Christians is a tiresome ploy in today's writing. Something that has become a cheap trick to endear your novel to an audience that may feel the same.
Overall it is not a bad book and the story is good, but the delivery is severely lacking.
Read
July 25, 2020[ADULT REVIEWER, YA/New Adult book]
IN SHORT: Pike-lite.
OR: Stargirl with a different twist.
VERDICT: ~2 adult stars for me. For YA readers, this could easily be a 3-to-5 star book if they like unusual/mysterious characters and some philosophy/religious underpinnings, and don't want anything too deep.
DETAILS:
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CONSIDER THESE SIMILAR-ISH BOOKS (ratings shown are mine, not GR's):
* The Last Day by Glenn Kleier (4 stars)
* Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (5 stars)
* Thirst No. 1: The Last Vampire, Black Blood, and Red Dice by Christopher Pike (5 stars)
IN SHORT: Pike-lite.
OR: Stargirl with a different twist.
VERDICT: ~2 adult stars for me. For YA readers, this could easily be a 3-to-5 star book if they like unusual/mysterious characters and some philosophy/religious underpinnings, and don't want anything too deep.
DETAILS:
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CONSIDER THESE SIMILAR-ISH BOOKS (ratings shown are mine, not GR's):
* The Last Day by Glenn Kleier (4 stars)
* Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (5 stars)
* Thirst No. 1: The Last Vampire, Black Blood, and Red Dice by Christopher Pike (5 stars)
May 3, 2024
I love, love, LOVE Christopher Pike, so it kills me to give this only three stars. In the end, though, this suffered from a number of issues for me. These included wooden dialogue, unrealistic interactions, and a story that didn't actually go much of anywhere. Aja was a really interesting character, and Fred's circle had its shining stars, but the plot doesn't live up to anyone's potential.
More subtle is the disconnect between Pike and teens of 2015. Often, the main characters would communicate via voice mails or be frustrated when they couldn't get in touch with a friend who wasn't picking up their call. When characters needed information, they went onto their computers. I don't think I remember a single instance of a character texting or using their phone to look something up.
Also, Aja is left in relative peace for someone attracting as much worldwide attention as it's implied she does. There's really very little intrusion by the outside world in this story.
Small things, but they started taking me out of the story after long enough.
In short, Pike's Sita did this story better, I think.
More subtle is the disconnect between Pike and teens of 2015. Often, the main characters would communicate via voice mails or be frustrated when they couldn't get in touch with a friend who wasn't picking up their call. When characters needed information, they went onto their computers. I don't think I remember a single instance of a character texting or using their phone to look something up.
Also, Aja is left in relative peace for someone attracting as much worldwide attention as it's implied she does. There's really very little intrusion by the outside world in this story.
Small things, but they started taking me out of the story after long enough.
In short, Pike's Sita did this story better, I think.
September 11, 2017
Christopher Pike was my favourite author back when I was a teenager, and I was curious about this book as it was one of the more recent ones he had done. The blurb about this book made me think this was the same story as “Sati”, a book he had written 30 years prior. And sure enough after reading it, I feel like he updated the story of “Sati” to reflect social media and the modern world.
Still, I read this book within one day, so it was definitely a compelling story. But if you’ve read Sati you already know that.
Still, I read this book within one day, so it was definitely a compelling story. But if you’ve read Sati you already know that.
January 17, 2016
A thought provoking story about a strange new girl and how others are affected by meeting her.
The story is narrated by Fred, a teenage boy in high school, who is a member of an alternative rock band starting to get small gigs. He is an artist that writes truly soulful song lyrics that seem to captivate audiences. Fred is very talented but lacks faith and confidence. He meets her, the new girl in school, a beautiful yet bizarre girl named Aja, who recently moved to the small town from Brazil. She shows interest and excitement about Fred’s music and by showing she believes in him, helps him believe in himself. She has a unique way of looking at herself and the world. She begins creating what some would call miracles and others magic. It causes fear in some members of the school and community. People begin to the bible as a weapon to attack her, someone that they don’t understand.
The story makes you really think and examine your own beliefs about our connections to a higher power or spirit, others and the universe. It explores fears and hysteria in society and how people may discriminate because of that fear. It shows how some people can behave poorly and get ugly quickly, but others, can rise, step up and do better. I like that the story has these deeper questions and themes explored in a very smart way without shoving faith down our throats. The story is well told, very refreshing and surprising. It made me think after I put the book down, which is, always a good thing.
Strange Girl kept me turning pages to learn more about whom this strange girl is and how she reveals herself and affects those around her. The author manages to maintain the story line about the group of friends, their relationships, friendships and their families. It shows a typical group of friends dealing with real life issues, such as love, pain, alcohol and drug use, loss of a parent, child abuse, money problems, insecurity, broken heart’s etc. It is a love story with the excitement and mystery of meeting a new person and getting to know that person. It is about forgiveness, it is about not being a harsh judge of others or yourself. It is about every person being valuable and important. It is about love and sacrifice and not trying to control everything or everyone. Lastly it is about being at peace and accepting that we are always connected to those we love, even when not physically with them.
If there is one negative critique about this book, it is that I wish it would have finished at the end and not continued with the Epilogue. That may just be my issue but I don’t like the ten years later or twenty years later glimpse when you are forced to say goodbye to the young characters you have come to know and would like to see more of. It is sad to see the reality of them growing up, friends going in different directions and becoming less than you would have hoped or imagined. Maybe I still have a bit of PTSD after seeing Harry, Ron and Hermione as adults. - Liz
The story is narrated by Fred, a teenage boy in high school, who is a member of an alternative rock band starting to get small gigs. He is an artist that writes truly soulful song lyrics that seem to captivate audiences. Fred is very talented but lacks faith and confidence. He meets her, the new girl in school, a beautiful yet bizarre girl named Aja, who recently moved to the small town from Brazil. She shows interest and excitement about Fred’s music and by showing she believes in him, helps him believe in himself. She has a unique way of looking at herself and the world. She begins creating what some would call miracles and others magic. It causes fear in some members of the school and community. People begin to the bible as a weapon to attack her, someone that they don’t understand.
The story makes you really think and examine your own beliefs about our connections to a higher power or spirit, others and the universe. It explores fears and hysteria in society and how people may discriminate because of that fear. It shows how some people can behave poorly and get ugly quickly, but others, can rise, step up and do better. I like that the story has these deeper questions and themes explored in a very smart way without shoving faith down our throats. The story is well told, very refreshing and surprising. It made me think after I put the book down, which is, always a good thing.
Strange Girl kept me turning pages to learn more about whom this strange girl is and how she reveals herself and affects those around her. The author manages to maintain the story line about the group of friends, their relationships, friendships and their families. It shows a typical group of friends dealing with real life issues, such as love, pain, alcohol and drug use, loss of a parent, child abuse, money problems, insecurity, broken heart’s etc. It is a love story with the excitement and mystery of meeting a new person and getting to know that person. It is about forgiveness, it is about not being a harsh judge of others or yourself. It is about every person being valuable and important. It is about love and sacrifice and not trying to control everything or everyone. Lastly it is about being at peace and accepting that we are always connected to those we love, even when not physically with them.
If there is one negative critique about this book, it is that I wish it would have finished at the end and not continued with the Epilogue. That may just be my issue but I don’t like the ten years later or twenty years later glimpse when you are forced to say goodbye to the young characters you have come to know and would like to see more of. It is sad to see the reality of them growing up, friends going in different directions and becoming less than you would have hoped or imagined. Maybe I still have a bit of PTSD after seeing Harry, Ron and Hermione as adults. - Liz
October 23, 2024
It’s was ok. Not one of his best.
December 6, 2015
Christopher Pike has been writing the same story for awhile now. Ordinarily that would be the beginning to a really blistering review but in this case its meant as very sincere praise.
I've always been a closet Pike champion. Awhile back I did a review of one of his older books The Midnight Club another YA novel that asks some of the same questions he explores in Strange Girl. Why are we here? Who's in charge? What are we supposed to do with the time we've been given?
This particular story concerns Fred, a high school senior (who occasionally sounds like a 45 year old man but I'll forgive Pike for that) and a gifted musician who's a little lost. He's spent most of his life keeping the peace and taking care of those around him. He's got a bit more insight than your average teenager and his friends look to him as a leader.
Then he meets Aja, a young woman with a mysterious past and some uncanny abilities. She's got some personality quirks and a funny way of moving through the world as if she's not really a part of it, not the way Fred and his friends are.
They fall in love, an action that will ultimately change the course of Fred's entire life.
The interesting thing about Christopher Pike as compared to the other authors out there who try to ask big questions about god or the afterlife or what our purpose in the universe is, is that he's more interested in the questions than the answers. Because for him its clear the answers are pretty obvious.
Pike has always had an uncanny gift for understanding the mind of a teenager even if his dialogue could use a little work. He grasps that unnatural wisdom and tenuous grasp of emotions that are the hallmarks of almost everyone between the ages of thirteen and eighteen.
This novel is no different. Its simple in its message and beautiful in its execution. I wish he got more attention then he does because I think he has such a gift for a type of YA novel that tends to either totally overdue it with the kumbaya rhetoric or downplays the importance of things like faith in a teenagers life. His covers often mark him firmly in the camp of Caroline Cooney and R.L. Stine but I've always thought his prose far to grown up and his subject matter far more complex than his peers.
Check this out, its well worth it. A gentle, sophisticated, questioning look at the future of the spiritual world and the young men and women who might be ushering it in.
I've always been a closet Pike champion. Awhile back I did a review of one of his older books The Midnight Club another YA novel that asks some of the same questions he explores in Strange Girl. Why are we here? Who's in charge? What are we supposed to do with the time we've been given?
This particular story concerns Fred, a high school senior (who occasionally sounds like a 45 year old man but I'll forgive Pike for that) and a gifted musician who's a little lost. He's spent most of his life keeping the peace and taking care of those around him. He's got a bit more insight than your average teenager and his friends look to him as a leader.
Then he meets Aja, a young woman with a mysterious past and some uncanny abilities. She's got some personality quirks and a funny way of moving through the world as if she's not really a part of it, not the way Fred and his friends are.
They fall in love, an action that will ultimately change the course of Fred's entire life.
The interesting thing about Christopher Pike as compared to the other authors out there who try to ask big questions about god or the afterlife or what our purpose in the universe is, is that he's more interested in the questions than the answers. Because for him its clear the answers are pretty obvious.
Pike has always had an uncanny gift for understanding the mind of a teenager even if his dialogue could use a little work. He grasps that unnatural wisdom and tenuous grasp of emotions that are the hallmarks of almost everyone between the ages of thirteen and eighteen.
This novel is no different. Its simple in its message and beautiful in its execution. I wish he got more attention then he does because I think he has such a gift for a type of YA novel that tends to either totally overdue it with the kumbaya rhetoric or downplays the importance of things like faith in a teenagers life. His covers often mark him firmly in the camp of Caroline Cooney and R.L. Stine but I've always thought his prose far to grown up and his subject matter far more complex than his peers.
Check this out, its well worth it. A gentle, sophisticated, questioning look at the future of the spiritual world and the young men and women who might be ushering it in.
December 4, 2015
I was a massive fan of Chris Pike's work in my early teen years, and his books literally got me through a tough time at a private school where I didn't fit in. Literally, as in I spent much more time reading his books than paying attention in class or talking to other people. But as I hit my older teens, I aged out of his target audience and went on to other authors.
Then I got the bug to come and revisit his work. I'm glad I did - Strange Girl is more of a slow simmer than a hard boil, but it's worth the journey. In fact, I feel like the lower-key nature of the story (opposed to the outright action and horror of some of his other works) are what give it heart. Despite the supernatural elements, it is a "small story," in that the world is not at stake and millions won't die dependent on the conclusion of the plot. I like small stories; they are human and have heart - and this book is brimming with heart. It's a story of star-crossed lovers with a hint of the supernatural, though the titular Strange Girl is more Jesus Christ than superhero (or villain.)
Maybe Jesus isn't quite right, because this book hit another note that I love to see in literature - the existential. Aja is a vehicle through which Pike espouses some heavy Buddhist philosophy. Well, I say Buddhist because it's what I'm familiar with, though the book actually pins it on a Hindu faith. The themes are familiar to many philosophies: what separates ourselves from each other, why did we create this illusion of the ego, and why can't we see our own insignificance in the face of a timeless universe. The Strange Girl becomes a vehicle to plant these seeds in reader's heads, and I'm always happy to see that.
I'm happy I read Strange Girl. It was emotional, at times suspenseful, and it left me with something I crave from any great book: Strange Girl left me feeling haunted. It's a novel I'll be thinking about for a few weeks, and I urge anyone, whether they're a Pike fan or not, to pick it up. You'll be glad you did.
Then I got the bug to come and revisit his work. I'm glad I did - Strange Girl is more of a slow simmer than a hard boil, but it's worth the journey. In fact, I feel like the lower-key nature of the story (opposed to the outright action and horror of some of his other works) are what give it heart. Despite the supernatural elements, it is a "small story," in that the world is not at stake and millions won't die dependent on the conclusion of the plot. I like small stories; they are human and have heart - and this book is brimming with heart. It's a story of star-crossed lovers with a hint of the supernatural, though the titular Strange Girl is more Jesus Christ than superhero (or villain.)
Maybe Jesus isn't quite right, because this book hit another note that I love to see in literature - the existential. Aja is a vehicle through which Pike espouses some heavy Buddhist philosophy. Well, I say Buddhist because it's what I'm familiar with, though the book actually pins it on a Hindu faith. The themes are familiar to many philosophies: what separates ourselves from each other, why did we create this illusion of the ego, and why can't we see our own insignificance in the face of a timeless universe. The Strange Girl becomes a vehicle to plant these seeds in reader's heads, and I'm always happy to see that.
I'm happy I read Strange Girl. It was emotional, at times suspenseful, and it left me with something I crave from any great book: Strange Girl left me feeling haunted. It's a novel I'll be thinking about for a few weeks, and I urge anyone, whether they're a Pike fan or not, to pick it up. You'll be glad you did.
January 8, 2021
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Racism, child molestation, misogyny
The cover was beautiful. I didn't bother reading the blurb before checking out the book. When I got home, I read the blurb on the dust jacket three times to try and figure out what the plot was. The blurb claims it's three genres in one: love story, mystery, and there's a mystical girl in the novel. A love story and a mystery put together is called a romantic suspense novel. The fact that the blurb didn't refer to it as such annoyed me greatly. This is none of those things, anyway. "Strange Girl" is the wish fulfillment fantasy of a teenage boy: overnight massive musical success, hot girlfriend, girls agonizing over him, lives in a small town but has money enough for tons of instruments and cables for them. The author of this novel is actually in his mid-sixties. He wrote some great horror novels in the 90s and is obviously trying to branch out here. It doesn't work.
The book has entire chapters stuffed full of info-dumps and backstory and UGHHH THE DAMN SONG LYRICS. SHUT UP, LITTLE BOY, I DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR SONGS. He would not shut up. Like, every. Every italicized, center-formatted word was on each page when the teen felt like singing and I haaaated it. Song lyrics, especially entire transcribed songs, in books -do not work for me-. Guaranteed way for me to skip those pages and be cranky at the author. The only place it really worked was "The Hunger Games" book series, and it was not only characterization, it was -foreshadowing.- Even then, I remember thinking the movie would help me appreciate it more. The song turned out to be amaaazing and the whole scene was breathtaking and deserved tons of awards. Back to this book review. The writing in general was super padded. Kids wouldn't take so many words to say such simple things. Adults might if they were at the end of their patience and enunciating each word slowly and clearly to a child.
The novel has tons of racist microaggressions and racist portrayals. Mike, a fellow band member, is Latinx, a stoner, and violent. Does Pike think pot is meth? Mike the Racial Stereotype is unreliable, doesn't care about much, and is seriously injured during a drug bust. The closeted gay band member has a huge crush on Mike, and--I'm not sure if it was supposed to portray Mike as--I'm not sure. Anyway, Pike tries to score I'm So With the Times points by having the two date and/or hook up near the end of the novel, only to retcon it hardcore in the epilogue. The principal is part of the KKK, but secretly had a child by a Black woman, announces it and cries and hugs the woman at a school assembly.
Aja herself is a walking, talking Magical Negro Trope. She literally appears out of nowhere. White people are obsessed with her. Nearly every person of color in this book is connected to her in some way. Her name gets an in-dialogue, in-conversation pronunciation and spelling guide between the main character and his platonic gal pal. I just briefly looked up the name to fact-check and got four different definitions and origins for the name. I am so annoyed. Pike claims his character Aja is from Brazil. I don't know enough about the name to comment, but I knew how to spell and pronounce it before this book. My problem is, the way Pike wrote this book, might make people think Aja is a mystical fantasy name. It is not: Aja Raiden wrote a wonderful book about jewelry titled "Stoned." I went on a tirade for a bit but am refocusing briefly. Anyway, this book's character Aja being a personified Magical Negro Trope -is- the whole plot. She has no likes or dislikes, parrots others constantly, and whips back and forth between So Wise and Super Naive with breaking speed. Her speech often consists of cryptic, mystical statements when she's not trying to figure out English idioms. Despite the story repeatedly stating she shouldn't know English, she not only knows it but has a photographic memory of it. Her supernatural beauty is mentioned every five seconds. It's written in such a way that...it could easily be a teenage boy -or- Pike himself describing her. She's a person, not a platter of meat.
She heals people unnaturally quickly and successfully, hence the book's plot. Her only flaw is that healing can exhaust or injure her. The book outright states this. Fine. But readers are quickly clobbered over the head with CAN YOU GUESS WHAT HAPPENS OH WOW SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN OOH in regards to this. (sigh) Aja brings the protagonist overnight and unrealistic songwriter success because he fucks her. And he's seriously self-congratulatory over it. Sure, he tries to be all sensitive and caring, but his undisguised salivation and previous jealousy have such attempts fall flat. He's mean about girls in general and ruthlessly categorizes them: Nicole's the evil ex who uuused to be pretty, but is now tooootally a slattern who's juuuust too used to getting her way. He...says the same thing about Aja later on in the book, but she's not demonized for it. Quite the contrary. Janet is the platonic gal pal and at some point, it was hinted that she wasn't heterosexual. I see that a lot in books and media. It's old, annoying, and useless. Shelly is so hurt and heartbroken about the teen protagonist not dating her that she constantly hides. I fully admit: I was that kid. I didn't break the behavior until I was in my early twenties, and it took a -lot- of trying.
I am giving all these characters far richer description and backstories than Pike actually gave them. Each was hardly developed. Aja is one of those "so beautiful that she's not used to hearing no" girls. They actually exist. I know three of them. But they are real people, with actual depth and experiences of rejection and sadness and heartbreak. It is extremely difficult to write them convincingly in books and other media. Pike tried. Aja just got creepier and creepier as the book continued. I fully expected her to murder someone and laugh, and -then- develop character. The book got super preachy about spirituality and tried to talk about different religions, for a good chunk of the book. I was -furious-. I actually wondered if my arteries would be damaged due to my fury, at the end of the book. Aja The Hot Exotic Healing Girl dies so a child molester can live, and his victim sobs and screams and blames herself. CHRISTOPHER PIKE, YOU AWFUL PERSON.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2018
When I Strange Girl by Christopher Pike , it sounded interesting. I was very intrigued by the cover picture of the book and the title. As I started reading this book, I lost interest. I thought it was going to be about a girl who no one knew or bothered to talk to. To me, it seemed as if the book would be all about the girl and not about who the book is truly about.
This book has some interesting ideas in it. It’s about a girl named Aja with a lovable personality but she is very different from everyone else. She's not very open, but no one knows that at the beginning. A guy named Fred has a crush on her so they start hanging out and talking consistently , but it turns into something different than expected. It started out as interesting and I could not keep away from reading it. But, as the story goes on, I lost complete interest. I did not understand a lot of what was going on in the book. Halfway through the book, I was lost.
Overall, this book was very interesting on the outside and at the beginning , but as you read on in the book, it was very confusing. If you are a very understanding person and you can read books all of the time, this is the book for you. Personally, this is not a good book for me. The plot and the characters just aren't what I would like to read for fun.
This book has some interesting ideas in it. It’s about a girl named Aja with a lovable personality but she is very different from everyone else. She's not very open, but no one knows that at the beginning. A guy named Fred has a crush on her so they start hanging out and talking consistently , but it turns into something different than expected. It started out as interesting and I could not keep away from reading it. But, as the story goes on, I lost complete interest. I did not understand a lot of what was going on in the book. Halfway through the book, I was lost.
Overall, this book was very interesting on the outside and at the beginning , but as you read on in the book, it was very confusing. If you are a very understanding person and you can read books all of the time, this is the book for you. Personally, this is not a good book for me. The plot and the characters just aren't what I would like to read for fun.
August 8, 2015
Not so much a supernatural romance as a spiritual romance.
Fred sees Aja at his tiny town high school in South Dakota and is smitten. Encouraged by his lifelong friend Janet he approaches Aja and starts a life changing relationship.
Aja is a spiritual being who lives in 'this body'. People with Aja's qualities can instigate 'miracles' of healing and spiritual discovery. This attracts a young journalist who wants to use Aja to make her mark and launch her career. She has followed Aja across continents and has lured informers to keep her posted on Aja's movements, she sensationalizes Aja's gifts via youtube and intrudes on the small town of Elder, SD. Aja could not care less, she lives in the greater consciousness and observes the workings of what the local folk want to call God.
The book seems to be a vehicle for a philosophy demonstrating the barriers that our awareness of self places between us and the overarching awareness of unity with everything past, present and throughout the galaxies. This book will intrigue kids who want to ponder these thoughts.
Fred sees Aja at his tiny town high school in South Dakota and is smitten. Encouraged by his lifelong friend Janet he approaches Aja and starts a life changing relationship.
Aja is a spiritual being who lives in 'this body'. People with Aja's qualities can instigate 'miracles' of healing and spiritual discovery. This attracts a young journalist who wants to use Aja to make her mark and launch her career. She has followed Aja across continents and has lured informers to keep her posted on Aja's movements, she sensationalizes Aja's gifts via youtube and intrudes on the small town of Elder, SD. Aja could not care less, she lives in the greater consciousness and observes the workings of what the local folk want to call God.
The book seems to be a vehicle for a philosophy demonstrating the barriers that our awareness of self places between us and the overarching awareness of unity with everything past, present and throughout the galaxies. This book will intrigue kids who want to ponder these thoughts.
November 27, 2015
I was very pleased with this read. I had trouble putting it down! I can sense that you have put much effort into writing this book, but at the same time it was also effortless... does that make sense? I love your characters but I wish I could have gotten to know them a bit better before they left! I hope someone like Aha truly exists in the world. There is so much evidence of pain and violence and loss but now often do you see goodness so pure. I enjoyed the psychology of your book and no doubt you were spot on with the DID aspect. Thank you! - Caitlin
I would recommend this book to those in search of hope. 'Not to make them a believer, but to erase their disbelief'.......
I would recommend this book to those in search of hope. 'Not to make them a believer, but to erase their disbelief'.......
September 16, 2017
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Christopher Pike comes a brand-new fascinating and seductive new novel about a girl with a mysterious ability—but one that carries an unimaginable cost.
From the moment Fred met Aja, he knew she was different. And she was.
Aja had a gift. But her gift came with a price.
After a shocking sequence of events, Fred must look back at their relationship, and piece together all of their shared moments, so he can finally understand Aja’s precious gift…and its devastating
From the moment Fred met Aja, he knew she was different. And she was.
Aja had a gift. But her gift came with a price.
After a shocking sequence of events, Fred must look back at their relationship, and piece together all of their shared moments, so he can finally understand Aja’s precious gift…and its devastating
November 19, 2015
I'm a big fan of all Christopher Pike's work. I have read everything he has written....this one was a page turner, I couldn't put it down. It reminded me a lot of his book Sati, formerly my favorite Pike novel. This one might replace it as my favorite. Very well written and thought-provoking. Definitely worth your time, stay open-minded.
November 20, 2019
This book was really good if you are into romance novels this is for you.The plot gets thicker the more you read which makes it really exciting to read.This book also is more of a mature book is what I found when reading this book as well as strong words. Over all i would rate this a 4 out of 5 stars.
September 3, 2016
This was garbage.
October 10, 2020
I keep having this problem with Pike's books where I will read it and not know if I've read it before and forgotten, or if he's simply so repetitive I only THINK I've read it before. And I kinda think as far as books go, the worst thing you can be is forgettable.
I've been a fan of Pike's for literal decades, though I'm sure nothing I say here will sound like I'm a fan. I wanted to like this. I've wanted to like everything Pike's ever written but I seriously just can't with his newer stuff, and I want to save others the disappointment.
I don't think anybody in this book acts like an actual person (even discounting the character who is SUPPOSED to act like she's not quite human). Everybody talks exactly the same as everyone else - something that makes sense if you're looking at a group of teens adopting each others' slang, but not when you're having dialogue between people of various ages and backgrounds and everybody is just as stilted as everybody else.
mild spoilers I guess
Bottom line, Pike is at his best when he's writing 250-page thrillers for teens, but he hasn't done that in years. Here he's trying too hard to be clever and it's just leaving me cold. I'd rather see him put out a memoir about his spiritual beliefs than have him shoehorn expository speeches into everything he's written in the last 20 years. (and yes, it is shoehorned speeches that are the problem. putting your beliefs into a work is absolutely normal - it just seeps in even if it's not your point. but lengthy debates and explanations of what the book's guru/deity/dreamgirl is trying to impart just make me wish for a stronger editorial team
I've been a fan of Pike's for literal decades, though I'm sure nothing I say here will sound like I'm a fan. I wanted to like this. I've wanted to like everything Pike's ever written but I seriously just can't with his newer stuff, and I want to save others the disappointment.
I don't think anybody in this book acts like an actual person (even discounting the character who is SUPPOSED to act like she's not quite human). Everybody talks exactly the same as everyone else - something that makes sense if you're looking at a group of teens adopting each others' slang, but not when you're having dialogue between people of various ages and backgrounds and everybody is just as stilted as everybody else.
mild spoilers I guess
Bottom line, Pike is at his best when he's writing 250-page thrillers for teens, but he hasn't done that in years. Here he's trying too hard to be clever and it's just leaving me cold. I'd rather see him put out a memoir about his spiritual beliefs than have him shoehorn expository speeches into everything he's written in the last 20 years. (and yes, it is shoehorned speeches that are the problem. putting your beliefs into a work is absolutely normal - it just seeps in even if it's not your point. but lengthy debates and explanations of what the book's guru/deity/dreamgirl is trying to impart just make me wish for a stronger editorial team
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