Escape

Intense #1

by Glenn Haggerty

Librarian Note: This is the latest edition with updated cover from ISBN 0999399403 (ISBN13: 9780999399408)

“I’d never seen a dead body before, but I was pretty sure the guy in the car trunk was dead.”

Middle school's tough, and Tyler Higgins just wants to hang with the cool kids. But Dustin’s idea of quality entertainment is spying on parked cars on Lover’s Lane. When two creeps show up with a body, Tyler doesn’t want to stick around. Then again, he might not have much choice.

Genres: Suspense, Young Adult, Adventure

126 pages, Paperback

Published November 9, 2017

About the author

Click the follow button on my Goodreads author profile and get an alert when my new books release, and are discounted and for my author recommendations--which I do a lot.

Glenn writes inspiring adventures with an edge. No matter how dark the day, finding hope to pursue the prize is the core of all his novels and studies.
He is a graduate of Vision Loss Resources and Bethel Seminary, the father of six and grandfather of eleven. Glenn likes tandem biking, kayaking and daydreaming and lives in Minnesota with his wife. He is also an award-winning author with short stories published in Splickety, Havok, Cadet Quest and Partners.
Sign up for my newsletter for sneak peeks of my new books, news and other deals at https://www.glennhaggerty.com/get-int...

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novella-sized prologue to Glenn Haggerty’s Intense series, “Escape” fulfilled some criteria of the genre while falling short in others. For the most part, the writing was what I would expect for the target audience (age 10 and up), although some descriptions and situations might be too frightening for the younger end of the spectrum. Bullying and pandering to the “cool” kids was a leading theme that will make this book relatable to kids and teens, and there was a Christian element, illustrated by Tyler’s thoughts and short prayers. This was definitely an exciting story, with many elements thrown in to capture the reader’s attention and keep them turning pages. It was an implausible scenario, but overall it worked for a middle-grade story. The ending, however, was quite abrupt. Prior to that point, there were so many details included about Tyler’s situation and how it was playing out minute-by-minute, and then suddenly it was over. I thought at first that he had been dreaming. I did find the scene with the rebreather fascinating, as I have never heard of such a device and thought that it was an interesting addition. Had the level of detail and explanation been maintained through the ending rather than rushing into a finale that interrupted the coherency of the narrative, this story would have rated four stars instead of three.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through CelebrateLit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

[HaloLove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hated the ending but the story was entertaining.

Definitely not a fan of the ending but the story overall had enough of that mystery thriller suspense that kept me entertained.

[Fiction Aficionado · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have a teen who likes a bit of action and suspense, then this book is worth checking out. Thirteen-year-old Tyler is the narrator, and he’s hanging with Dustin, the coolest kid in Palm Aire Christian Academy, when they get themselves into a spot of bother—as in, looking-at-the-business-end-of-a-gun-and-running-for-their-lives kind of bother. In between playing a very real game of hide-and-seek, Ty has time to reflect on some of the less-than-wise choices that have led him to this situation and whether Dustin is the best choice of friend, so there’s some good character growth woven into the story, too.

The writing style and plot are both very engaging, and if Ty turns out to be just a little more resourceful and intuitive than your average thirteen-year-old trying to escape from hardened crims, well... I’ll forgive him. Because it made for an exciting read.

[Jennifer J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jumps right in and takes off at a dizzying pace! Well-written, short enough to keep the storyline moving well, mostly believable characters in a nicely crafted setting. A good YA read and a nice way to begin this series! Enjoy!

[Kristen Parnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haggerty's story is action-packed and leaves little room for readers to catch their breaths. Twelve-year-old Tyler Higgins's poor choice of friends not only damages his character but also places him in a race for his life. I appreciated how Haggerty wove a challenge for integrity and honesty into this adventure story and highly recommend it for teen/pre-teen boys.

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glenn Haggerty’s books are full of suspense and adventure. Tyler Higgins wants to fit in with the “cool” kids. He is willing to ditch his former best friends to be “cool”. He is quickly learning that being “cool” is not all it is cracked up to be. Tyler agrees to spy on kids parked at Lover’s Lane. He invites his former best friend who declines. While hiding in the woods waiting to catch teens making out a car pulls up. When the trunk lid is opened they see what they are sure is a dead body. Unfortunately they are discovered. This book takes you on an edge of your seat adventure as these two teens try to stay alive. Discover what exactly is going on. Who is chasing them and who wants who dead. This is a lite Christian Fiction. Throughout the book Tyler talks about church and God. The reason I loved this book is because it is so true to life in the Christian aspect. Tyler has thoughts about what he believes God would want him to do, chooses to take a different path because he doesn’t want to listen to God. The other thing we see is what happens when he makes decisions he knows is wrong. This is a book that can and will be enjoyed by everyone. This is the first book of a trilogy.

[Deana Dick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was certainly a action book geared for middle school to teen readers. It deals with peer pressure and how a young boy finds his way to do the right thing. I'm sure all of us have been pressured at some point in life to do something we knew was wrong. What happens to Tyler when he gets involved with the wrong kid? There is always that one boy or girl who everyone thinks is cool. They want to hang out with them even though they are headed for trouble.

The story finds Tyler and Dustin first doing something on school campus that brings out the police and other emergency personnel. I was hoping that Tyler would learn his lesson, but no he decides to follow Dustin again into something much more dangerous. The adventure is intense and there are a few scenes in the book that I found the descriptions to be a bit too graphic and some of the story was over the top and hard to believe. The author does have a good story concept and a great lesson about telling the truth and doing the right thing. It did feel like the author abruptly stopped the story and left readers wandering what happened. It didn't seem to be a finished story and there were lots of holes that needed to be explained.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Escape: Intense, Book 1 " by Glenn Haggerty is written for children but this 59 year old reader loved it. It was a fast paced intense read. Tyler wants to be a cool kid so he follows Dustin's lead which leads to trouble. The book starts out with “I’d never seen a dead body before, but I was pretty sure the guy in the car trunk was dead.”and then describes the rest of the action and then tells the story of what lead to them being there to be in that kind of trouble.

This story tells what happens when you follow someone just to be part of the cool crowd, you definitely get what you don't want.

This is the first book in the series and I have added the other two books to my to be read list.

I don't know if I should admit this, but I will, I laughed out loud at the end because "Life isn't fair"

I was given a complimentary copy by the author and Celebrate Lit. These opinions are my own.

[Janice Sisemore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escape: intense , book 1

This was a very intense book for sure. Two young boys are up to mischief but accidentally gets involved with bad guys and has the run of their life. Definitely will keep you on the edge of your seat. Felt like I was watching a TV show.

This is a short read, depending how fast you read but can only take a couple of hours or less. I do love books that don’t take long to read to have a break from long ones. As long as the story is complete and this one is. It does basically take place in one day but does include a little backstory. I was concerned since it was short and said book one that it would not have an end but I was happy to find out there was. A great beginning to a series.

I received an complementary copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write an positive review. This is my own opinion.

[Mary Hake · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-paced book for youth, this could be enjoyed by adults as well. It would make a good read-aloud with kids and provide plenty of material for discussion. Middle-schooler Tyler Higgins struggles with peer pressure as he tries to fit in with the cool group. However, this leads to plenty of trouble and even a life-threatening adventure. The drama seems authentic and the characters true-to-life. The outdoor Florida setting also comes to life and plays a big role in the story. This is book one in the Intense series. It will definitely hold readers’ attention and make them long for the rest of the novels. I think the author did a good job writing for that age level. It should make even reluctant male readers dig in and keep flipping pages. The kindle version is free and the print copy only $.99, so you can try it out. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. All opinions are my own.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escape is a fun action novel for middle school and up. Tyler Higgins, the main character, is a Christian boy who struggles with navigating the pressures of middle school and remaining true to his beliefs.

A series of questionable decisions lead Tyler into a dangerous situation. And he must rely on his faith and his limited experience to steer him through.

Young teens will resonate with his common middle school struggles. And maybe they’ll connect with his poked conscience too. Either way, Tyler’s thought processes and actions can inspire them.

It’s never too late to turn from a bad decision. Will you do what’s right, no matter the cost?

[Leslea Wahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escape is a fast read, jam-packed with action.

Younger boys especially will enjoy the story of thirteen-year-old Tyler. Tyler has made some bad decisions lately that have caused a lot of problems lately. But nothing compares to the danger he finds himself in on this particular day.

While I love the adventure aspects, my favorite part of this book is the Christian messages. As Tyler fights for his life, his friendships, and his reputation, he begins to clearly see the bad choices he made. The lessons he learns are powerful reminders for everyone about telling the truth, being a good friend, and the importance of a loving family.

[Joleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Christian boy who wants to be cool starts hanging out with some cool but not nice kids and is way too influenced by the leader into doing things his conscience tells him not to.

My husband always says if a glove plays with mud, the glove always gets muddy, but the mud never gets glovey. 😄

If I was a thirteen-year-old boy I would have loved this book. My 3-star star rating is simply because this was not my type of book. I needed to look at the back cover (if Kindle had one). I bought this years ago so I thought I’d read it. And now I did.

Just a quick novella, fairly clean, just mentions of swearing. Also thirteen-year-olds sneaking off to a popular wooded area to watch high schoolers in cars doing things they probably wouldn't do out in the open. Meh.

[Patti Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book about bullying offers a lot of action and captivates the reader. The book’s target audience is for ages 10 and up and I found it appropriate for those ages. Based on my initial information about the book, I wanted to really be drawn into this book. While it had moments where I was drawn into the story, others left me wondering what was going on in the story. I feel most young people in the target age group will enjoy this book. So check it out for yourself.

[Kendra Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escape is a short book that focuses on an important topic for todays young kids, bullying. The main character, Tyler, wants to fit in but may be hanging with the wrong crowd to do so. It took me a bit to get into the book, but once I got a couple chapters in, the reading picked up. The book is meant for young kids and teens, but for some parts it might be a little to much for kids under 14.

Fast, easy read. GREAT book that covers a topic that necessary for today's Christian youth!

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good short novel with a lot of action and suspense. I enjoyed it, and I recommend it especially for boys who might not like long novels. It's a clean read with some violence but not too graphic for my taste. I especially appreciated the details in description of the Florida setting that placed me right in the story.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you can't get enough of Tyler Higgins and his adventures, you'll enjoy fast-paced Escape. The reader gets some insight into Tyler's past in Florida, before he moved to a new home and school (Run, Book 2). I didn't enjoy it as much as the full-length novel, and it could've used another pass by a proofreader, but Escape gives you a good sample of the author's style.

[Betti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young Tyler makes some obviously poor choices trying to be one of the popular kids. Fortunately or perhaps unfortunately they catch up with him and his 'friend' putting them both in real danger. It was nice to read about how verses learned in Awana helped him deal with his situation.
An interesting, intense story received from CelebrateLit. All impressions and opinions are my own.

[Virginia Winfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good young adult suspense story. I enjoyed the suspense and how the story unfolded. This would have been hard to handle at any age. I don’t think I would have had the know how to survive the way that Tyler did against the bad guys and Dustin. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

A neat book for young readers. I found it easy to read and engaging in most of it. Tyler is a well-done character and easy to like as a reader. The mystery is set nicely and has active points that keep your mind going along with the story. I think that I would easily recommend this book to young readers.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What else could possibly happen to a boy who wants to be with the in crowd?

This is a refreshing and entertaining story of the crazy things that could go wrong when you do not follow the rules you were raised to believe in because you want to be included with a special group. It is well written and enjoyable.

[Julane Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't get my son to read anything until now. An author friend recommended Escape and my son devoured it. He liked it so much, he asked me to purchase Book 2. He liked the FBI chase, guns, and murder mystery. I liked that it had good messages on honesty. Thank you Glenn Haggerty for writing quality books for teen boys that hate reading!

[Carrie Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read for young boys

Escape is a great way to get tween and young teen boys excited about reading for entertainment. Tyler faces struggles that every middle schooler can relate to.

[Randy Tramp · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Middle Schooler, Tyler Higgins spies on parked cars on Lover's Lane. “I’d never seen a dead body before, but I was pretty sure the guy in the car trunk was dead,” says Tyler.

Likable characters with an action-packed plot. I found myself in to the story from the first scene. Great read.

[Scott Shjefte · Rating 4 out of 5]

YA thriller, wrong place wrong time, nearly caught and on the run from bad terrorists. Purchased this item on March 2, 2023, from Amazon for free.

[Brielle Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escape is very hard to put down and is a fast-paced, action-packed adventure. Along the way Tyler also learns about choosing friends wisely and the effects of some not so great decisions while trying to fit in. Definitely recommend this excellent prequel to the Intense series!

[Carol Keen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be full of action adventure, drama, and bullying. It has some animals, and this story has a faith theme. It is very short but that's good for young readers and those of us who are in need of a good, fast read. I loved the core of who is and who isn't your friend. Tyler has some major lessons to learn in this story. I enjoyed it and I may read more of this author's books.

My copy came through Celebrate Lit's Book Blast, but I also got my own copy. My review is my own.