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melanied90's review against another edition
3.0
Full disclosure: I won this book in a goodreads giveaway.
Not since Jack Bauer from '24' has a week in a fictional character's life been this eventful. Charlie Dixon is having a tough week -- and that's an understatement! He's been framed for a fellow student's drug overdose, is trying to win back the love of his life, playing soccer and trying to find a flash drive with its contents unknown to Charlie.
'High and Dry' is a tangled web of lies, deceit and confusion. The students have to remain in the groups they pick at the beginning of high school and can only talk to each other with older students' permission. But, interacting with various groups is the only way to get where you want to go. And, it's meant to be a form of protection for students.
Charlie, even though he has a group for protection, has been roped into finding his way through the mystery, while trying to get his girlfriend back. The storyline makes for a good adventure and it's a quick read. But, it can be confusing at times and I genuinely wish the story had a better ending. Overall, the book was good for an adventure if you're looking to escape your reality. And, it wraps up nicely. I'm not sure if I'd recommend this book, but I can't say I hated it either.
Not since Jack Bauer from '24' has a week in a fictional character's life been this eventful. Charlie Dixon is having a tough week -- and that's an understatement! He's been framed for a fellow student's drug overdose, is trying to win back the love of his life, playing soccer and trying to find a flash drive with its contents unknown to Charlie.
'High and Dry' is a tangled web of lies, deceit and confusion. The students have to remain in the groups they pick at the beginning of high school and can only talk to each other with older students' permission. But, interacting with various groups is the only way to get where you want to go. And, it's meant to be a form of protection for students.
Charlie, even though he has a group for protection, has been roped into finding his way through the mystery, while trying to get his girlfriend back. The storyline makes for a good adventure and it's a quick read. But, it can be confusing at times and I genuinely wish the story had a better ending. Overall, the book was good for an adventure if you're looking to escape your reality. And, it wraps up nicely. I'm not sure if I'd recommend this book, but I can't say I hated it either.
scrollsofdragons's review against another edition
3.0
It read a tad unrealistic in some parts.
-When the cop is given the chance to bust a drug operation and he's like my men are stationed for DWI's but I'll try and get someone there. Seriously?
-The whole school cliques that are run like the mafia, the leaders of each clique have to give permission for other students in other cliques permission to talk to their group. What kind of a school, that was given a fresh start because it was already bad, allows this?
-A student was able to make LSD in the school lab.
-A teacher bumped up his students grades so he woudn't lose funding for the after school activity he runs because the kids in it are that important to him, right okay.
But when letting all of that go, it's an enjoyable ride.
-When the cop is given the chance to bust a drug operation and he's like my men are stationed for DWI's but I'll try and get someone there. Seriously?
-The whole school cliques that are run like the mafia, the leaders of each clique have to give permission for other students in other cliques permission to talk to their group. What kind of a school, that was given a fresh start because it was already bad, allows this?
-A student was able to make LSD in the school lab.
-A teacher bumped up his students grades so he woudn't lose funding for the after school activity he runs because the kids in it are that important to him, right okay.
But when letting all of that go, it's an enjoyable ride.
lillianhong's review against another edition
3.0
REVIEW TO COME
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
lazygal's review against another edition
2.0
There was too much that felt coincidental or forced here. The extreme stratification of the school didn't resemble any school I've known, and the nicknames for each group? Very forced. Surely there'd be some inside jokes among them. As for the plot, there were times we were supposed to believe that Charlie is incredibly naive yet at others he's supposed to be savvy about the social stratification. The search for the flash drive felt forced, and the whole Ryder subplot was just added for drama and could have been left out.
ARC provided by publisher.
ARC provided by publisher.
jenniferntremblay's review against another edition
5.0
I won a Free Uncorrected Proof copy of High & Dry by Sarah Skilton in a Goodreads giveaway.
First, I love the title of this novel and I love this book. Really, I thoroughly enjoyed this hardboiled mystery. Poor Charlie, our main character, is having a difficult week, exactly what was advertised in the description of High & Dry. He is stuck figuring out what the students and faculty are up to in his school and he’s not exactly happy at what he discovers.
The story is fast paced and entertaining, I found myself laughing out loud throughout the novel. I was always amused by Charlie's inner dialog and his interactions with the other characters. Which brings me to the conversations in High & Dry, the discussions between the characters came across as being quite genuine, which I can be pretty picky on when I’m reading a novel. If the dialog doesn’t feel real, it can really drag my opinion of a novel down.
Well now it’s starting to sound like I loved everything. So I will have to admit that I had mixed emotions in the end. I was happy but I was also a little sad. But that hasn’t ruined my opinion of High & Dry.
I will definitely be recommending High & Dry to my friends.
First, I love the title of this novel and I love this book. Really, I thoroughly enjoyed this hardboiled mystery. Poor Charlie, our main character, is having a difficult week, exactly what was advertised in the description of High & Dry. He is stuck figuring out what the students and faculty are up to in his school and he’s not exactly happy at what he discovers.
The story is fast paced and entertaining, I found myself laughing out loud throughout the novel. I was always amused by Charlie's inner dialog and his interactions with the other characters. Which brings me to the conversations in High & Dry, the discussions between the characters came across as being quite genuine, which I can be pretty picky on when I’m reading a novel. If the dialog doesn’t feel real, it can really drag my opinion of a novel down.
Well now it’s starting to sound like I loved everything. So I will have to admit that I had mixed emotions in the end. I was happy but I was also a little sad. But that hasn’t ruined my opinion of High & Dry.
I will definitely be recommending High & Dry to my friends.
electraheart's review against another edition
3.0
This book is super intense! There are a lot of wild plot twists and crazy elements throughout that make you want to keep reading until the end. I wound up getting sucked in after the first 50 pages. A lot of the issues in the book are serious that most people can relate to somehow.
The school aspect was weird. The whole issue about only being allowed to talk to your clique, and how you can't even talk to someone who isn't in the same grade or group as you without prior introduction? It's apparently supposed to give the kids a sense of belonging, but that seems so depressing and backward for any kind of social development that teenagers need.
The alcohol addiction was kind of ridiculous. Like, you start drinking because your girlfriend left you and "she is water, and you are thirsty?" Cringe.
There are way too many minor characters who get thrown around and wind up being severely important later on. The problem is that they are poorly developed, and it becomes a confusing mess of she-said-he-said. I'm also not really sure how I feel about Charlie. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to take pity on him, find him brave, or despise him.
The school aspect was weird. The whole issue about only being allowed to talk to your clique, and how you can't even talk to someone who isn't in the same grade or group as you without prior introduction? It's apparently supposed to give the kids a sense of belonging, but that seems so depressing and backward for any kind of social development that teenagers need.
The alcohol addiction was kind of ridiculous. Like, you start drinking because your girlfriend left you and "she is water, and you are thirsty?" Cringe.
There are way too many minor characters who get thrown around and wind up being severely important later on. The problem is that they are poorly developed, and it becomes a confusing mess of she-said-he-said. I'm also not really sure how I feel about Charlie. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to take pity on him, find him brave, or despise him.
donnakay12's review against another edition
4.0
I chose this book "based on the cover" for the 2015 reading challenge. I'd never read this author's previous work. It was a pager turner for me for sure. Really kept me wanting to read on.
novelbloglover's review
5.0
Book Review
Title: High and Dry
Author: Sarah Skilton
Genre: YA/Family/Mystery
Rating: *****
Review: The opening pages to High and Dry were amazing and filled to the brim with teen angst. We meet our protagonist Charlie who has recently been dumped by the girl of his dreams Ellie without explanation and he wants to find out why. We also see from quite earlier on Charlie has a bit of drinking problem brought on by this break-up. While I am not a massive fan of angst in YA novels in this particular book it sets up the atmosphere and gives an insight into Charlie's personality and the state of his life at the present moment. The pacing of this novel are great and by the end of the first chapter Charlie has been framed for drugging a person at the party previously. I was completely drawn in by the writing style and was flying through the pages at an astounding rate.
As we approach the 1/4 mark in the novel, Charlie and Ellie seems to be talking but Bridget is blackmailing him to find her flash drive with sexy text messages and pictures which she threatens to show Ellie, but Charlie uses this to his advantage and uses them as an alibi to the police. I also love Charlie as a character because he is so flawed which makes him seem so human he is so different from other male protagonist who are perfect in body and personality and have 1000 watt smile that makes girls swoon. As Charlie tries to figure out what is going on with his friend Ryder and who framed him for Maria's overdose we get a lot more backstory especially about Charlie and Ryder's friendship. Charlie begins to suspect someone close to him has framed him but doesn't have any evidence pointing to a specific person yet.
As we cross into the second half of the novel Charlie is getting closer to getting his hands on the flash drive but he has a problem he doesn't know who to trust. Bridget desperately wants the drive but Ryder is telling him to forget about it and then there's the mysterious BM whose offering over $2000 for the drive. I have a feeling Charlie is going to have some difficult decisions to make over the rest of the novel. As the truths begins to come to light Charlie and Ryder seems to be working together and Ellie and Charlie are moving closer together once more. While there are several mysteries overlapping on another, it never gets confusing about which course Charlie is pursuing. When Charlie finally gets his hands on the flash drive and uncovers everyone who is involved in the mystery instead of turning them in he orchestrates an auction with the flash drive being sold to the highest bidder.
As we enter the final section of the novel, everything seems to be going to plan until a new player steps into the game and throws a major spanner in the works. This was an unexpected twist so close to the end of the novel and I couldn't wait to see how the novel ended. Overall, I loved this book it was action packed and fast paced from the first paced and full of twists and turns that kept going to the final page. This book was extremely well written and kept the promises it made right at the beginning and followed through with an amazingly gripping story. I was highly recommend this novel to all mystery fans and anyone looking for a quick read.
Title: High and Dry
Author: Sarah Skilton
Genre: YA/Family/Mystery
Rating: *****
Review: The opening pages to High and Dry were amazing and filled to the brim with teen angst. We meet our protagonist Charlie who has recently been dumped by the girl of his dreams Ellie without explanation and he wants to find out why. We also see from quite earlier on Charlie has a bit of drinking problem brought on by this break-up. While I am not a massive fan of angst in YA novels in this particular book it sets up the atmosphere and gives an insight into Charlie's personality and the state of his life at the present moment. The pacing of this novel are great and by the end of the first chapter Charlie has been framed for drugging a person at the party previously. I was completely drawn in by the writing style and was flying through the pages at an astounding rate.
As we approach the 1/4 mark in the novel, Charlie and Ellie seems to be talking but Bridget is blackmailing him to find her flash drive with sexy text messages and pictures which she threatens to show Ellie, but Charlie uses this to his advantage and uses them as an alibi to the police. I also love Charlie as a character because he is so flawed which makes him seem so human he is so different from other male protagonist who are perfect in body and personality and have 1000 watt smile that makes girls swoon. As Charlie tries to figure out what is going on with his friend Ryder and who framed him for Maria's overdose we get a lot more backstory especially about Charlie and Ryder's friendship. Charlie begins to suspect someone close to him has framed him but doesn't have any evidence pointing to a specific person yet.
As we cross into the second half of the novel Charlie is getting closer to getting his hands on the flash drive but he has a problem he doesn't know who to trust. Bridget desperately wants the drive but Ryder is telling him to forget about it and then there's the mysterious BM whose offering over $2000 for the drive. I have a feeling Charlie is going to have some difficult decisions to make over the rest of the novel. As the truths begins to come to light Charlie and Ryder seems to be working together and Ellie and Charlie are moving closer together once more. While there are several mysteries overlapping on another, it never gets confusing about which course Charlie is pursuing. When Charlie finally gets his hands on the flash drive and uncovers everyone who is involved in the mystery instead of turning them in he orchestrates an auction with the flash drive being sold to the highest bidder.
As we enter the final section of the novel, everything seems to be going to plan until a new player steps into the game and throws a major spanner in the works. This was an unexpected twist so close to the end of the novel and I couldn't wait to see how the novel ended. Overall, I loved this book it was action packed and fast paced from the first paced and full of twists and turns that kept going to the final page. This book was extremely well written and kept the promises it made right at the beginning and followed through with an amazingly gripping story. I was highly recommend this novel to all mystery fans and anyone looking for a quick read.
jada223's review
4.0
For a book that's clearly aimed towards high schoolers, it actually wasn't half bad. There were a lot of instances that made you stop and think about the secret lives of the people we trust and care most about. It also had a lot of twists and turns, almost too much for so short a book, but Skilton managed to swing things around and cut everything off nice and neat. All in all it was a quick enjoyable read and worth the time.
I received this book through Goodread's First Reads.
I received this book through Goodread's First Reads.
dodie's review
4.0
I really liked Skilton's last book, Bruised, and thought I might know what to expect to find in High & Dry. I was both right and wrong! Charlie is a tough character to like - he has a bad attitude, acts entitled, and is drunk much of the time - not great attributes for a high school soccer player. But when push comes to shove, Charlie steps up and tried to do what's right. There is a mystery to solve, and a personal slate to wipe clean. High & Dry moves at a good clip - hey, there's a lot to get done in just one week! - and readers will fly through the pages. The cover is a display winner - teen won't be able to walk by this without at least a glance. High school librarians may want to tip off the guidance counselors and coaches to this title.