What do you think?
Rate this book
Escape from Memory
While playing around with hypnotism at a party, Kira remembers fleeing a war-torn country with her mother, speaking a language she can't identify. A few days later her mother disappears, and a woman who calls herself Kira's aunt Memory takes Kira to Crythe, a country that doesn't officially exist, in order to rescue her – or so she says.
Kira soon learns that Aunt Memory is not what she seems, and Kira and her mother are both in terrible danger. There are memories locked in Kira's mind that could get her and her mother killed. But those memories are the only things that might save them...
Kira soon learns that Aunt Memory is not what she seems, and Kira and her mother are both in terrible danger. There are memories locked in Kira's mind that could get her and her mother killed. But those memories are the only things that might save them...
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
32 people are currently reading
1400 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Peterson Haddix
122 books6,301 followersMargaret Peterson Haddix grew up on a farm near Washington Court House, Ohio. She graduated from Miami University (of Ohio) with degrees in English/journalism, English/creative writing and history. Before her first book was published, she worked as a newspaper copy editor in Fort Wayne, Indiana; a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis; and a community college instructor and freelance writer in Danville, Illinois.
She has since written more than 25 books for kids and teens, including Running Out of Time; Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey; Leaving Fishers; Just Ella; Turnabout; Takeoffs and Landings; The Girl with 500 Middle Names; Because of Anya; Escape from Memory; Say What?; The House on the Gulf; Double Identity; Dexter the Tough; Uprising; Palace of Mirrors; Claim to Fame; the Shadow Children series; and the Missing series. She also wrote Into the Gauntlet, the tenth book in the 39 Clues series. Her books have been honored with New York Times bestseller status, the International Reading Association’s Children’s Book Award; American Library Association Best Book and Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers notations; and more than a dozen state reader’s choice awards.
Haddix and her husband, Doug, now live in Columbus, Ohio, with their two children.
She has since written more than 25 books for kids and teens, including Running Out of Time; Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey; Leaving Fishers; Just Ella; Turnabout; Takeoffs and Landings; The Girl with 500 Middle Names; Because of Anya; Escape from Memory; Say What?; The House on the Gulf; Double Identity; Dexter the Tough; Uprising; Palace of Mirrors; Claim to Fame; the Shadow Children series; and the Missing series. She also wrote Into the Gauntlet, the tenth book in the 39 Clues series. Her books have been honored with New York Times bestseller status, the International Reading Association’s Children’s Book Award; American Library Association Best Book and Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers notations; and more than a dozen state reader’s choice awards.
Haddix and her husband, Doug, now live in Columbus, Ohio, with their two children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 241 reviews
February 21, 2019
Once I started reading this book I could not put it down. " Escape from Memory", by Margaret Peterson Haddix, is about Kira. A girl who doesn't know much about her life before moving to Williston. A girl who had never given her past much thought. A girl who let herself be hypnotized. During a sleep over, Kira and her friends thought it would be fun to hypnotize someone, and Kira was the only one willing. After revealing secrets Kira never knew she had about fleeing a war torn coutry with a woman she called mother, Kira becomes interested in what these memories locked in her brain mean. Soon after being hypnotized, Kira's mom goes missing, and a woman claiming to be Kira's aunt takes Kira to a unknown place. Crythe. In Crythe Kira discovers her friend Lynne had followed Kira there, and was even more suspicious than Kira about her so-called aunt. After Kira upset's her aunt, she is imprisoned, with her mother. With her and Lynne's life in Kira's hands, Kira must make the biggest decision in her life.
January 15, 2009
Good, good, good. Margaret Peterson Haddix it a really good author. It was very interesting and different. I loved it.
At first what made me interested, was the mystery aspect. It starts right at the first words. The mystery of Kira's true past. Just that was interesting enough for me to want to read it. But then after the mystery is gone, the suspense kicks in. Guns and treats glore! That's what really got me. I just couldn't put it down! I was always wondering what was going to happen next; were they going to die or not? The action goes on until the very last chapter. It was really good.
This book was different then anything I've read or heard of. It dived into something that usually isn't even thought about: Memory. Yes, there's some books that has memory in it but it's not the main thing; it's not the thing that drives some characters to do what they did, like it does in this book. The community of Crythe is based on that one thing. Memory is what drives everything that they do and what happens to them, everything. And since Crythe is so important to the story and memory is so important to Crythe, then memory is really important to the story. Plus that's what puts them all in danger in the first place. The fact that Kira has her parents memory in her mind and that's what Rona (first called Aunt Memory) wants so much that she will kill them all to get it. So memory, this thing that is rarly set on center stage in a book, is what drives the whole story and that's original!
Margaret Peterson Haddix is quickly be coming one of my favorite authors. I love the two books that I've read from her so far. I can't wait to read more!
At first what made me interested, was the mystery aspect. It starts right at the first words. The mystery of Kira's true past. Just that was interesting enough for me to want to read it. But then after the mystery is gone, the suspense kicks in. Guns and treats glore! That's what really got me. I just couldn't put it down! I was always wondering what was going to happen next; were they going to die or not? The action goes on until the very last chapter. It was really good.
This book was different then anything I've read or heard of. It dived into something that usually isn't even thought about: Memory. Yes, there's some books that has memory in it but it's not the main thing; it's not the thing that drives some characters to do what they did, like it does in this book. The community of Crythe is based on that one thing. Memory is what drives everything that they do and what happens to them, everything. And since Crythe is so important to the story and memory is so important to Crythe, then memory is really important to the story. Plus that's what puts them all in danger in the first place. The fact that Kira has her parents memory in her mind and that's what Rona (first called Aunt Memory) wants so much that she will kill them all to get it. So memory, this thing that is rarly set on center stage in a book, is what drives the whole story and that's original!
Margaret Peterson Haddix is quickly be coming one of my favorite authors. I love the two books that I've read from her so far. I can't wait to read more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2011
Kira is your average teenage girl, living in a small town with her somewhat distant mother. She has her friends, she attends her classes, she knows everyone and everyone knows her.
At least, that's what she thinks.
At a sleepover, her friends hypnotize her, asking her to tell them something they don't know. Kira recites her mother carrying her through the streets in a war-torn city, trying to keep her from crying. When Kira is snapped out of the trance, she doesn't remember any of it - but realizes that the mother who'd been carrying her was not the mother she's lived with all these years.
This starts a creepy story about a lost country where the people have a peculiar ability - the ability to remember everything. The reader finds out about this in bits and pieces along with Kira (very nicely handled - you feel Kira's frustration building along with your own). The mystery twists a little more with each chapter - first, Kira tries to find clues about her past, then her mother disappears, then a stranger claiming to be her aunt shows up to take her 'home' and to her kidnapped mother - and to the country of Crythe, where forgetting anything just doesn't happen.
Kira is in turns furious, bewildered and strong. She presents an engaging young heroine, despite going through various heartbreaks throughout the story. The ending is less happy and more bittersweet. The story combines the elements of "near to us" science fiction along with the idea of a "fantasy kingdom" and the returning royalty - but it isn't really any of that but a sort of mish-mash, turn it on its ear sort of story.
I very much enjoyed the characters - the bad guys were quite creepy; the good guys were not perfect. It's a quick read - not too much bigger than a chapbook - but so well done, I considered rereading it.
I'd rank this novel at an 'A' and recommend it highly.
At least, that's what she thinks.
At a sleepover, her friends hypnotize her, asking her to tell them something they don't know. Kira recites her mother carrying her through the streets in a war-torn city, trying to keep her from crying. When Kira is snapped out of the trance, she doesn't remember any of it - but realizes that the mother who'd been carrying her was not the mother she's lived with all these years.
This starts a creepy story about a lost country where the people have a peculiar ability - the ability to remember everything. The reader finds out about this in bits and pieces along with Kira (very nicely handled - you feel Kira's frustration building along with your own). The mystery twists a little more with each chapter - first, Kira tries to find clues about her past, then her mother disappears, then a stranger claiming to be her aunt shows up to take her 'home' and to her kidnapped mother - and to the country of Crythe, where forgetting anything just doesn't happen.
Kira is in turns furious, bewildered and strong. She presents an engaging young heroine, despite going through various heartbreaks throughout the story. The ending is less happy and more bittersweet. The story combines the elements of "near to us" science fiction along with the idea of a "fantasy kingdom" and the returning royalty - but it isn't really any of that but a sort of mish-mash, turn it on its ear sort of story.
I very much enjoyed the characters - the bad guys were quite creepy; the good guys were not perfect. It's a quick read - not too much bigger than a chapbook - but so well done, I considered rereading it.
I'd rank this novel at an 'A' and recommend it highly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2015
Fifteen-year-old Kira Landon allows a friend to hypnotize her during a sleepover. They get more than they expected when Kira remembers being carried through the streets of a strange city at twilight as guns sound in the distance.
This memory - if that is what it was - triggers questions for Kira that she never thought of before. Why is the only relative she has ever known her mother? Did she at one time speak another language? Was she kidnapped or saved from a war-torn country? Her mother refuses to answer any of her questions, but doesn't deny that the memory is real. Kira sets out to find answers without her mother's help. Before she gets any farther than a bank safety deposit box that she can't open because it is not in her name, her mother disappears. Soon after, Kira herself is kidnapped.
Haddix has written a sci-fi mystery that asks interesting questions about memory. Why do we remember some things and forget others? How does our mind decide which memory is important and which is not? Can we really access hidden memories?
The story is fast moving, full of plot twists, and features a brave protagonist who must decide whether it is better to remember or leave her memories buried. Will her memories help save her and her mother, or will they make them more vulnerable? Though the plot is somewhat unconvincing in places, overall Escape from Memory offers a creative approach to a future where memories can be catalogued and used by all, or captured and used just by the elite.
This memory - if that is what it was - triggers questions for Kira that she never thought of before. Why is the only relative she has ever known her mother? Did she at one time speak another language? Was she kidnapped or saved from a war-torn country? Her mother refuses to answer any of her questions, but doesn't deny that the memory is real. Kira sets out to find answers without her mother's help. Before she gets any farther than a bank safety deposit box that she can't open because it is not in her name, her mother disappears. Soon after, Kira herself is kidnapped.
Haddix has written a sci-fi mystery that asks interesting questions about memory. Why do we remember some things and forget others? How does our mind decide which memory is important and which is not? Can we really access hidden memories?
The story is fast moving, full of plot twists, and features a brave protagonist who must decide whether it is better to remember or leave her memories buried. Will her memories help save her and her mother, or will they make them more vulnerable? Though the plot is somewhat unconvincing in places, overall Escape from Memory offers a creative approach to a future where memories can be catalogued and used by all, or captured and used just by the elite.
October 27, 2013
Margaret Peterson Haddix is an author that I see many of my students reading. I had never read any of her many books, so I was happy when our 6th grade book club voted to read Escape from Memory. Well, my experience with this book was not good. Haddix did an excellent job grabbing me in the first few chapters; however, it was all downhill from there. I found the heroine Kira less than heroic and much of the storyline unbelievable. Science fiction is not one of my favorite genres and this book had a science fiction element added to the mystery. The science fiction elements were not the problem...it was the underwhelming character traits of Kira and the cliché representation of Roma the villain that left me disappointed. Perhaps I should have read one of Haddix's more notable books in the Missing series or the Shadow Children series as my first introduction to this author.
Haddix is an Ohio native, so I found myself rooting for the book to get better. But, that never happened. I can't wait to hear what my students thought of it. For me...it was a bust.
Haddix is an Ohio native, so I found myself rooting for the book to get better. But, that never happened. I can't wait to hear what my students thought of it. For me...it was a bust.
July 1, 2010
I really enjoyed the few twists this book managed to sneak in. I also really enjoyed it because it made me feel young again, it was exactly the kind of adventure I used to dream about having, (until the end when it got scary. I was never that brave) and it had a best friend that was exactly the kind of friend I always dreamed would accompany me on wild adventures. As a mature adult (am I?) I am glad I never had these kinds of adventures (obviously) but they are exciting to read.
This one also had some interesting philosophical questions, although I don't think they were quite as fully explored as in Double Identity.
This one also had some interesting philosophical questions, although I don't think they were quite as fully explored as in Double Identity.
January 31, 2012
I read this over the summer for a school project and it was so good and intense and really interesting. When I finished it I was sad it was over :( The beginning is a little slow, but once you get to reading it, it captures your interest. :) Love it!
August 13, 2012
This book was just o.k. for me. While normally I enjoy reading M.P. Haddix, this one was choppy, overly rushed, and lacked character development. Felt more like a first attempt at writing from an inexperience budding author.
February 27, 2016
Very interesting book, as are all of the Margaret Haddix books that I've read. Fast-paced and keeps you on your toes.
November 4, 2010
I just finished this at home it is not as good as I sugspected but it is full of suspence! One of my friends read this and recomended it TRY IT!
June 12, 2015
Never ending and suspenseful!
June 19, 2018
It has an interesting premise, but I found myself a little bored at times. Definitely not her best work, but I'm glad I read it. It puts things in perspective, whether building and storing memories is more important than living. Like all things, I think there is a balance. This book does have a thread of mystery running through it that kept me guessing until the end.
May 30, 2010
Secrets. This is what Kira’s friends discover when they hypnotize her for fun at a sleepover. They were just playing around, and they didn’t know that the secrets they would discover would be so dark and mysterious. Kira, during her hypnotization, speaks of escaping from a war, clinging to her mom. But once Kira wakes up and is told the secrets she spoke about, Kira is confused. She doesn’t remember that event from her childhood at all.
Then, one day, her mother disappears. Kira gets a little worried, but thinks everything will be okay until she finds a note telling her to go to her friend Lynne’s house. Then she turns around and finds a woman staring at her. This person claims to be her Aunt Memory.
Aunt Memory takes her to Crythe to “save her mother”. She trusts Aunt Memory and goes along with her. Aunt Memory teaches her about Crythe and about how everyone there remembers everything because “a person is what they remember”. With memories, they can relive moments. But Aunt Memory also tells lies. That’s when Kira discovers she’s in trouble. Aunt Memory is taking advantage of her and basically kidnaps her. Can Kira truly save her mom, while Kira herself is confused because of her hidden secrets and hidden memories?
This book was incredible and suspenseful. It tells the story of an ordinary girl with an unknown extraordinary history and childhood. It teaches an important lesson…Should we dwell on our memories, and be what we remember? Or should we also look to the future and follow our dreams?
However, sometimes I wonder if Margaret Peterson Haddix books are ethical. This book talks about humans implanting computer chips into brains and messing with people’s memory. This is definitely not what was intended for humans, and although this book is science fiction, it makes me start thinking about things like that. Also, in a different Haddix book, she speaks of cloning, which, although some may disagree, is not something humans should be doing. I still love, love, love Haddix’s books, otherwise I wouldn’t be reading them! Although these books contain some methods of science I do not agree with, I put these at the top of my list of favorite books because they are well-written and are some of the best books that I have ever read. This book definitely kept me reading, and would be a great choice for a reluctant reader. I would recommend this book to everyone who wants a great read.
Then, one day, her mother disappears. Kira gets a little worried, but thinks everything will be okay until she finds a note telling her to go to her friend Lynne’s house. Then she turns around and finds a woman staring at her. This person claims to be her Aunt Memory.
Aunt Memory takes her to Crythe to “save her mother”. She trusts Aunt Memory and goes along with her. Aunt Memory teaches her about Crythe and about how everyone there remembers everything because “a person is what they remember”. With memories, they can relive moments. But Aunt Memory also tells lies. That’s when Kira discovers she’s in trouble. Aunt Memory is taking advantage of her and basically kidnaps her. Can Kira truly save her mom, while Kira herself is confused because of her hidden secrets and hidden memories?
This book was incredible and suspenseful. It tells the story of an ordinary girl with an unknown extraordinary history and childhood. It teaches an important lesson…Should we dwell on our memories, and be what we remember? Or should we also look to the future and follow our dreams?
However, sometimes I wonder if Margaret Peterson Haddix books are ethical. This book talks about humans implanting computer chips into brains and messing with people’s memory. This is definitely not what was intended for humans, and although this book is science fiction, it makes me start thinking about things like that. Also, in a different Haddix book, she speaks of cloning, which, although some may disagree, is not something humans should be doing. I still love, love, love Haddix’s books, otherwise I wouldn’t be reading them! Although these books contain some methods of science I do not agree with, I put these at the top of my list of favorite books because they are well-written and are some of the best books that I have ever read. This book definitely kept me reading, and would be a great choice for a reluctant reader. I would recommend this book to everyone who wants a great read.
March 18, 2016
The book I read is a fiction book by Margaret Peterson Haddix. The theme of this book is people can be fake.
In the beginning of the story, it starts out with Kira being at a party with her friends and they try to hypnotize her and it works, she talks about how her and her mom ran from somewhere, and she talks in a different language and all of her friends are confused. It then continues and Kira comes home from her friends house and she sees her Aunt, who goes by the name of Memory and she tells her that her mom has gone somewhere and she needs to go with her right away. Aunt Memory tells her that she has a special power and can remember everything, from any time period. After that, Kira gets locked in her room and she opens her suitcase to find out her friend is there. And that she tried to call the cops and get the lisence plate of the car and finds out she didn’t have time.
One of the main characters in this book is Kira. Kira is nice, caring, and she also respected. I can relate her to someone like Oprah, or Ellen. If she saw someone that needed help she would help them and wouldn’t think twice about who it was.j
I think that this book was kind of boring because it doesn’t start to get good until about halfway through the book and she starts to learn more about her past, and what her “power” is. Some issues the book suggest is people can be manipulated easily.
Some emotions that this book made me feel are tired. I felt like this because the book was pretty boring because most of the book is just her talking, and it doesn’t really have much action or anything. I wouldn’t recommend this book to people because I personally didn’t enjoy it because it was boring, and it just wasn’t a book that I would read again. It had no action and it was just her talking the whole time and it didn’t really have much suspense or anything.
In the beginning of the story, it starts out with Kira being at a party with her friends and they try to hypnotize her and it works, she talks about how her and her mom ran from somewhere, and she talks in a different language and all of her friends are confused. It then continues and Kira comes home from her friends house and she sees her Aunt, who goes by the name of Memory and she tells her that her mom has gone somewhere and she needs to go with her right away. Aunt Memory tells her that she has a special power and can remember everything, from any time period. After that, Kira gets locked in her room and she opens her suitcase to find out her friend is there. And that she tried to call the cops and get the lisence plate of the car and finds out she didn’t have time.
One of the main characters in this book is Kira. Kira is nice, caring, and she also respected. I can relate her to someone like Oprah, or Ellen. If she saw someone that needed help she would help them and wouldn’t think twice about who it was.j
I think that this book was kind of boring because it doesn’t start to get good until about halfway through the book and she starts to learn more about her past, and what her “power” is. Some issues the book suggest is people can be manipulated easily.
Some emotions that this book made me feel are tired. I felt like this because the book was pretty boring because most of the book is just her talking, and it doesn’t really have much action or anything. I wouldn’t recommend this book to people because I personally didn’t enjoy it because it was boring, and it just wasn’t a book that I would read again. It had no action and it was just her talking the whole time and it didn’t really have much suspense or anything.
November 3, 2016
Margaret Peterson Haddix is an amazing author, and, having read her other books, I was actually kind of disappointed by this read. It was a very good book, but didn't keep me "wanting more," like her books usually do. I think I would've enjoyed this book more if I hadn't known that it was by her.
The book was very suspenseful, but it was hard to understand the plot sometimes. It is definitely not a fast read, even though it is a pretty short book. You have to pay attention to everything that is revealed, otherwise, you will find yourself confused at some points, and will have to reread. I found it hard to read this book in public places, or in places that were distracting, because I found it kind of hard to concentrate on the book sometimes. Like all books, it had it's up and down chapters.
I actually loved the main character in this book. I think that Kira was very easy to relate to, and she seemed like a real person. This always happens to me when reading Haddix's books, which is why I love them so much. I do think that Kira's physical appearance could've been described better, because even at the end of the book, I was having trouble picturing her.
The big "reveal" in the book (that Kira's mom is indeed her real mom) was kind of predictable. I guess I would've enjoyed that part more if I hadn't suspected this.
All in all, this is a very good book, and I would recommend it to someone who has read and liked Haddix's other books. But don't be discouraged if you read this and not her others.
The book was very suspenseful, but it was hard to understand the plot sometimes. It is definitely not a fast read, even though it is a pretty short book. You have to pay attention to everything that is revealed, otherwise, you will find yourself confused at some points, and will have to reread. I found it hard to read this book in public places, or in places that were distracting, because I found it kind of hard to concentrate on the book sometimes. Like all books, it had it's up and down chapters.
I actually loved the main character in this book. I think that Kira was very easy to relate to, and she seemed like a real person. This always happens to me when reading Haddix's books, which is why I love them so much. I do think that Kira's physical appearance could've been described better, because even at the end of the book, I was having trouble picturing her.
The big "reveal" in the book (that Kira's mom is indeed her real mom) was kind of predictable. I guess I would've enjoyed that part more if I hadn't suspected this.
All in all, this is a very good book, and I would recommend it to someone who has read and liked Haddix's other books. But don't be discouraged if you read this and not her others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2014
At first, I couldn't get into this book. I thought I would just put this book down and stop reading it but I decided to keep going. I'm glad I did, because this book just kept getting better as it went along.
I thought Kira's mom was a little bit weird, being so detached from her daughter and all. But later in the story I realized why, and it made a lot more sense. Reading this story further made it make more sense, because the whole storyline eventually gets put into place and makes it easier to understand.
Lynne the ultimate best friend, always looking out for you. She had to make sure that Kira was okay, even if it meant putting herself in danger to save someone else. She was smart, loyal, and brave.
I didn't really like Rona because even though money really meant nothing to the Crythians she still wanted the idea that wasn't hers to get money. There was no way that she was Kira's Aunt Memory even though she said she was. She acted kind of funny, but it wasn't too noticeable.
I hope you enjoy Escape from Memoryy by Margaret Peterson Haddix!
I thought Kira's mom was a little bit weird, being so detached from her daughter and all. But later in the story I realized why, and it made a lot more sense. Reading this story further made it make more sense, because the whole storyline eventually gets put into place and makes it easier to understand.
Lynne the ultimate best friend, always looking out for you. She had to make sure that Kira was okay, even if it meant putting herself in danger to save someone else. She was smart, loyal, and brave.
I didn't really like Rona because even though money really meant nothing to the Crythians she still wanted the idea that wasn't hers to get money. There was no way that she was Kira's Aunt Memory even though she said she was. She acted kind of funny, but it wasn't too noticeable.
I hope you enjoy Escape from Memoryy by Margaret Peterson Haddix!
December 4, 2014
This was my third Haddix book. I had enjoyed the tenth 39 Clues book, so I figured this one would be good as well. I was wrong.
For me, the character is the biggest part of the story. I mean, Alice in Wonderland doesn't have too much of a plot, but we love it anyway because of Alice and Carroll's other characters. I did not, however, love this story's characters. All of them seemed to be kind of flat and cliche. I couldn't stand how unrelatable and predictable the characters were.
I was already disappointed on the first page. It should have given us a little bit more-it seemed to start in the middle of the first scene. That began the pacing that I grew to hate. The pacing drove me nuts. If the book had fifty pages, forty seven would be rising action, one and a half would be climax, and the other one and a half would be falling action. There needs to be more!
And then the ending...let's just say that it was extremely disappointing and not what you want. This book was a time waster for me.
For me, the character is the biggest part of the story. I mean, Alice in Wonderland doesn't have too much of a plot, but we love it anyway because of Alice and Carroll's other characters. I did not, however, love this story's characters. All of them seemed to be kind of flat and cliche. I couldn't stand how unrelatable and predictable the characters were.
I was already disappointed on the first page. It should have given us a little bit more-it seemed to start in the middle of the first scene. That began the pacing that I grew to hate. The pacing drove me nuts. If the book had fifty pages, forty seven would be rising action, one and a half would be climax, and the other one and a half would be falling action. There needs to be more!
And then the ending...let's just say that it was extremely disappointing and not what you want. This book was a time waster for me.
October 10, 2017
In this book Escape from memory, it was so unpredictable. I think this book was great because I enjoyed it, but- I wanted to hear more like an second book because it kind of left me hanging a little. Kira was a great character, but she was kind of to gullible which means she believes almost every single thing. That kind of relates to the characteristics that I have kind of..But the thing that was so crazy was that her "mother" may not be her actually mother and that her "mother" may be her aunt or a crazy person who needed help at the time. I would rate it 3-5 though, only because it was good but it could have been better and the book should've explained more in some of the problems that had been going on. It was sad to hear that Kira's father had died earlier in her life. But Kira's friend Lynne is a friend that I would always want later in life because she hid in Kira's suitcase just to make sure that her friend was going to be safe. Other than that the events that happened was crazy and you should read it.
December 7, 2017
This book...was not what I was expecting. It was certainly interesting, and certain aspects of it reminded me of a character from the Ilyon Chronicles. Another noteworthy thing: I finally got my library card! Yay! I had to wait a while, but the wait is finally over, and I can start getting new books again.
Writing: 5/5
It was well-done. It immersed you into the head of the main character and portrayed her and her thoughts well. Descriptions weren't lacking, and the grammar and spelling was good as well.
Setting: 5/5
It was set in the Mid-West and a place...well, in California. The settings were realistic and interesting.
Plot: 5/5
The plot was very exciting. It had unexpected bits, and rounded off well. It was an intriguing plot.
Characters: 5/5
I really liked the characters in this book. They were well-rounded and interesting. The villain was well-done and had believable motives.
This book is another good one of Margaret Peterson Haddix's, and I certainly recommend it.
Writing: 5/5
It was well-done. It immersed you into the head of the main character and portrayed her and her thoughts well. Descriptions weren't lacking, and the grammar and spelling was good as well.
Setting: 5/5
It was set in the Mid-West and a place...well, in California. The settings were realistic and interesting.
Plot: 5/5
The plot was very exciting. It had unexpected bits, and rounded off well. It was an intriguing plot.
Characters: 5/5
I really liked the characters in this book. They were well-rounded and interesting. The villain was well-done and had believable motives.
This book is another good one of Margaret Peterson Haddix's, and I certainly recommend it.
December 27, 2008
It was an interesting story, but very illogical in places and it felt like a short story rather than a full-length novel, since it took place over such a short period of time. I find this often makes it more difficult to get into a story if it is not written very well. A problem I frequently encounter with Meg Cabot's books.
Anyway, overall, a good story, with a proper climax and conflict, as well as some nice philosophical musing over what makes us who we are. Dreams? Memories? Actions? Hopes? Aspirations? Intentions? If you had the choice to remember everything, EVERYTHING, in exact detail, would you? If you could choose to remember just what you wanted and just forget the rest, would you? Is the sum of a person their memories...or is it something more?
"Having a good memory isn't the same as intelligence. Intelligence involves insight, being able to make connections, solve problems."
Anyway, overall, a good story, with a proper climax and conflict, as well as some nice philosophical musing over what makes us who we are. Dreams? Memories? Actions? Hopes? Aspirations? Intentions? If you had the choice to remember everything, EVERYTHING, in exact detail, would you? If you could choose to remember just what you wanted and just forget the rest, would you? Is the sum of a person their memories...or is it something more?
"Having a good memory isn't the same as intelligence. Intelligence involves insight, being able to make connections, solve problems."
May 21, 2014
I chose this book because my friend recommended it. This book is about a girl named Kira who was hypnotized by her friends and woke up with a memory of fleeing a war-torn country with her mother. Her mother disappears and a woman, Aunt Memory, takes Kira to Crythe, a place that doesn't really exist and is destined to find her mother. My favorite quote is "I am your Aunt Memory." I chose this quote because this "Aunt Memory appeared out of nowhere, which is creepy, yet strange, and is to help Kira find her mother. How does "Aunt Memory know Kira's mom? I like how the author uses first person point of view because I get to feel Kira's inner emotions and what she has to say about Aunt Memory and losing her mother. I would recommend this book to my other friend because she loves stories that have to do with friends and then waking up in some unknown place and have to fid their way back, which includes losing someone and then finding them.
December 4, 2017
This books is good for middle or high schools students. Nothing inappropriate, but more relateable for an older reader.
Kira leads the life of a typical teenager - school, tests, friends, sleepovers. This typical teenager, however, has a secret family history. A part of this history is revealed when her friends play a game of hypnotizing her. While under hypnosis, Kira speaks words in an unknown language. Kira confronts her mother, but she is secretive and will not explain anything to Kira.
Kira is confused and decides to demand details. Unfortunately, her mother is gone. Kira is then kidnapped herself and must figure out how to function in an unfamiliar world and save the lives of those that she loves.
Kira leads the life of a typical teenager - school, tests, friends, sleepovers. This typical teenager, however, has a secret family history. A part of this history is revealed when her friends play a game of hypnotizing her. While under hypnosis, Kira speaks words in an unknown language. Kira confronts her mother, but she is secretive and will not explain anything to Kira.
Kira is confused and decides to demand details. Unfortunately, her mother is gone. Kira is then kidnapped herself and must figure out how to function in an unfamiliar world and save the lives of those that she loves.
March 13, 2018
As I read this book, I found myself intrigued by the elaborate details of this novel's backstory. The twists and turns kept me turning the pages, not just to see what came next, but to see how Kira, the main character, would save not only her friend but the mother who raised her. The linking of technology to memories and the ability to captures the lost memories of the entire population of a city, not to mention a family Kira does not recall, makes this a riveting read.
October 31, 2010
i love this book. it is fascinating!! it was about a girl, who had these memories that was being locked.. she didnt even know about it until her "mom", which turn out to be her aunt memory, told her about it.she did all these things to keep from getting her memories back, but if she didnt get them back, she and her mom will be in danger!
August 24, 2009
I love this authors Shadow children series and Just ella books but her others have not thrilled me. I liked this story about a girl who gets a glimps of an old memory and is very confused by it. Things start to piece together and she is only more confused by what she finds. I liked it:) It is a short and easy good book.
September 30, 2009
After experimenting with hypnotism at a party, Kira finds her life spiraling out of control when her mother mysteriously vanishes and a woman named Aunt Memory arrives, claiming to know where her mother is, but Kira soon learns that the power of her memories is the only way she can ever save her mother.
May 26, 2011
This book was a little boring at first, but then (the fake) Aunt Memory came and took her to Crythe. And when Lynne popped up out of nowhere... things were starting to get interesting. Especially at the end of the book with Rona shooting all over the place. All those things made me continue to read. And that's also how this book earned four stars! ****(Really liked it)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2011
I really do enjoy reading Haddix's books. They're clever. And while this one was enjoyable to read and had some twists I wasn't expecting, the ending came quite abruptly. So it's "just ok" for me.
The book was about a teenager who has a hidden past she does not remember, but is hypnotized into remembering a small part of it. Her mother is kidnapped and so her journey begins.
The book was about a teenager who has a hidden past she does not remember, but is hypnotized into remembering a small part of it. Her mother is kidnapped and so her journey begins.
October 29, 2010
Great book. Reading it at night is not really a good Idea especially from my prospective. I mean it's not really a scary novel but there are soo many really sharp turns. You feel like you're in the book itself and it has so many plots-twists, last minute rescues, sad part etc...
It's awesome and I would really recomend it to anyone interested in Adventure and mystery
It's awesome and I would really recomend it to anyone interested in Adventure and mystery
Currently reading
November 23, 2010I like this book very much i am currently reading it and i cant stop.
This book is about a girl whose mother is very silent and seems to dose off a little bit. No acuallly AlOT when her freinds hypnotize her she seems to spill secretes she doesnt even know herself. In astonishment her friends ask her more and more questions that she cant answer. Or can she?
This book is about a girl whose mother is very silent and seems to dose off a little bit. No acuallly AlOT when her freinds hypnotize her she seems to spill secretes she doesnt even know herself. In astonishment her friends ask her more and more questions that she cant answer. Or can she?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 241 reviews