Guest Review- The Hollow

Today my real life good friend, Sarah, is giving us a review. Her blog is: http://booksaremybff.blogspot.com/

The Hollow
Jessica Verday

Simon and Schuster
U.S. $17.99 (Hardcover)

FTC: This is my firend's book. She did receive it from a publisher with an agreement that an honest review with no compensation would be given.

Synopsis by Barnes and Noble:
When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead?and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.

My Thoughts:
This was ana amazing book. It took me a few chapters to get into it, but omnce I did I had a hard time putting it down. Abbey was a strong female character. I could truly relate to her, she spoke her mind as well as stood up for herself. I found the plot of this book to be very engrossing. I felt like a part of the story and felt like I was experiencing what the characters were. Jessica Verday did an amazing job incorporating the old with the new. I loved that she had quotes from Sleepy Hollow before every chapter. I think this added to the book in a major way. I think the setting was amazing. Placing the book in Sleepy Hollow added more depth to the book. I also think that it worked well with the characters and emotions of the book. I found the ending of this book horrible. Everything that could go wrong went wrong, but I know there is another one coming so I can accept the ending and wait.

Recommendation: Anyone and everyone

Grade: Beginning "B", Middle "A+", End "B-"

Age: 15 and up (Some scary scenes, and lots of mature emotional problems)

Quote: "I looked down at the shallow stream below me and felt silly. The horseman couldn't cross water." ~Abbey