Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

author’s website: Elizabeth Scott
release date: September 2, 2008
appeals to: ages 16 and up (grades 10 and up)
genre: Contemporary
length: 176 pages
overall rating: 5 stars
Content Warning: The author points out that this book is for ages 16 and up.

*the inside flap*
Once upon a time, I was a little girl who disappeared.
Once upon a time, my name was not Alice.
Once upon a time, I didn’t know how lucky I was.

When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friend – her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over.
Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her.
This is Alice’s story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget.

*my review*
I feel awkward saying that I loved this story, because of the terrifyingly horrible things that happen in it, but this is an incredible book. Without being graphic or explicit, you are able to understand the terrible experiences that Alice goes through on a daily basis. Short chapters and intense writing move this story along at a pace that was difficult to put down. It is easily read in one sitting, but at the same time, it is a difficult story to get out of your mind.

The topics of kidnapping, sexual abuse, powerlessness, and total mind control are apparent on every page, but there are no detailed descriptions of any of them. (*Not a spoiler) I think the ending for me was difficult, because you aren’t really sure about what is happening, and then it is just over. It is a striking ending, but at the same time, you are thinking, “But what now?!?!”

Gripping, horrifying, and absolutely amazing!

*short and snappy*
writing: short chapters, fragmented thoughts, and short memory scenes create a striking story
plot: fast moving, but in a pieced-together way that makes you get a better feel for Alice’s reality
characters: fascinating – both Alice and Ray are incredibly developed, but at the same time, nothing is spelled out. You get everything from Alice’s thoughts and from the interactions between the two.
judging by the cover: I prefer the hardback cover (which I used in this post). I think it gives more of a picture of the actually story than the paperback cover which can be seen here.
miscellaneous: The idea for this book came to Scott in a recurring dream. This interview is incredible, but it is very spoilery!! Good to read after you’ve read the book (or if you don’t mind spoilers, I guess)