Cryer's Cross

By Lisa McMann

Kendall loves her life in small town Cryer's Cross, Montana, but she also longs for something more. She knows the chances of going to school in New York are small, but she's not the type to give up easily. Even though it will mean leaving Nico, the world's sweetest boyfriend, behind.

But when Cryer's Cross is rocked by unspeakable tragedy, Kendall shoves her dreams aside and focuses on just one goal: help find her missing friends. Even if it means spending time with the one boy she shouldn't get close to... the one boy who makes her question everything she feels for Nico.

Determined to help and to stay true to the boy she's always loved, Kendall keeps up the search--and stumbles upon some frightening local history. She knows she can't stop digging, but Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.... “Cryer’s Cross is an eerie, gripping, totally addictive, breathtaking whirl of a book with an ending that left me haunted for days. Lisa McMann has done it again—this book is unputdownable!” --Alyson Noël, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Immortals series. "A brilliant, engaging, scary piece of fiction. Every word had me sliding closer to the edge of my seat and gripping the cover tighter and tighter. There are books in the world that make you question your reality and the things that go bump in the night--this is one of them." --Heather Brewer, New York Times bestselling author of the Chronicles of Vladmir Tod series

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Release date: Feb 15, 2011
• ISBN: 9781442436084

Lisa McMann

Lisa McMann lives in Arizona. She is married to fellow writer and musician, Matt McMann, and they have two adult children. Her son is an artist named Kilian McMann and her daughter is an actor, Kennedy McMann. Lisa is the New York Times bestselling author of over two dozen books for young adults and children. So far she has written in genres including paranormal, realistic, dystopian, and fantasy. Some of her most well-known books are The Unwanteds series for middle grade readers and the Wake trilogy for young adults. Check out Lisa's website at LisaMcMann.com, learn more about The Unwanteds Series at UnwantedsSeries.com, and be sure to say hi on Instagram or Twitter (@Lisa_McMann), or Facebook (Facebook.com/McMannFan).

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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

SIMON PULSE

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

www.SimonandSchuster.com

First Simon Pulse hardcover edition February 2011

Copyright © 2011 by Lisa McMann

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction

in whole or in part in any form.

SIMON PULSE and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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Designed by Mike Rosamilia

The text of this book was set in Janson Text.

Manufactured in the United States of America

2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

McMann, Lisa.

Cryer’s Cross / by Lisa McMann. — 1st Simon Pulse hardcover ed.

p. cm.

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Kendall, who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, lives with her parents on a potato farm in a tiny community in Montana, where two teenagers go missing within months of each other, with no explanation.

ISBN 978-1-4169-9481-7 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-4169-9483-1 (eBook)

[1. Obsessive-compulsive disorder—Fiction. 2. Supernatural—Fiction.

3. Missing children—Fiction. 4. Interpersonal relations—Fiction. 5.

Montana—Fiction. 6. Mystery and detective stories.] I. Title.

PZ7.M2256Cr 2011 [Fic]—dc22 2010015410

For Kennedy

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty-One

Twenty-Two

Twenty-Three

Twenty-Four

Twenty-Five

Twenty-Six

Twenty-Seven

Twenty-Eight

Twenty-Nine

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many thanks:

To my daughter, Kennedy, for all the incredibly tough challenges she’s endured with her OCD, and for letting me share some of it in hopes that others might understand or find some comfort. I’m really proud of you, kiddo.

To my son, Kilian, for being one of my first readers, and for his discerning artist’s eye. Also for being the front.

To my amazing husband, Matt, my biggest supporter, who constantly picks up the slack without complaint when I’m traveling or on deadline, and who reads everything I write, even when it’s rough, and helps me make it better.

To the White House Boys for telling their story and inspiring part of this one.

To Kendall Kovalik, for whom the main character is named, and her lovely mom who donated so generously to Project Book Babe to make it happen.

To Dave Gritter and Lindy Flanigan for your help with all the soccer stuff.

To June and Karl DeJonge for knowing so much about potato farms in Montana.

To Deke Snow for carrying my luggage to my room in Rochester and for being generally awesome in all ways.

To my agent, Michael Bourret, for the encouragement, the thoughtfulness, the never-ending hard work, and the laughs. You are one amazing person. I am so grateful for everything you have done for me.

To my editor, Jennifer Klonsky, who jumped on my extremely primitive idea for this book before I even knew it was an idea, and to the entire team at Simon Pulse for all you do for me and for my books. You guys are incredible and I love you and appreciate you so much.

To all the AYT actors I’ve met over the years—you have been such awesome readers and spreaders of the book love. Thanks for telling your friends! And always remember that I am your biggest fan.

WE

When it is over, We breathe and ache like old oak, like peeling birch. One of Our lost souls set free. We move, a chess piece in the dark room, cast-iron legs a centimeter at a time, crying out in silent carved graffiti. Calling to Our next victim, Our next savior. We carve on Our face:

Touch me.

Save my soul.

ONE

Everything changes when Tiffany Quinn disappears.

Of the 212 residents of Cryer’s Cross, Montana, 178 join Sheriff Greenwood in a search that lasts several days from sunup to after dark. School is closed, all the students taking part, searching roads and farms, trudging through pastures of cattle and horses, through sections of newly planted potatoes, barley, wheat. Up to the foothills and back along the woods. They travel in groups of two or three, some nervous, some crying, some resolute. Shouting to the other groups now and then so nobody else goes missing—cell phones aren’t much good out here. Cryer’s Cross is a dead spot.

After five days there is still no trace of Tiffany Quinn. She is gone, impossibly. Impossibly, because to imagine that there has been foul play here in the humble town of Cryer’s Cross is laughable, and to imagine that sweet ninth-grade bookworm running away, going off on her own . . . It’s all so impossible.

But gone she is.

Still, they search.

Kendall Fletcher flinches and casts regular glances behind her out of habit. Scared about the younger girl’s disappearance, true, but also unsettled by this shake-up in her schedule. The final week of her junior year canceled—everything left unfinished, open ended. Her whole routine is off.

She walks the hundreds of acres of her parents’ farm and beyond into the woods, wearily counting her steps through the potatoes and grain fields and trees. Counting, always counting something.

Her best friend, Nico Cruz, walks next to her.

Boyfriend, he’d say.

But boyfriend means commitment, and commitments that she can’t keep tend to make Kendall feel prickly. Come on, she says. Let’s run.

She takes off through the field, and Nico follows. They pass an imaginary soccer ball between the rows, occasionally yelling out Tiffany! Once, after they cross over to Nico’s family’s land, they see a big brown lump where the barley field meets the gravel road, but it’s not Tiffany. Just a road-killed deer.

She’s not here. She’s not anywhere.

They take a break under a tree at the edge of the farm as rain starts to fall. Kendall stares and counts the drops as they hit the gray dirt, faster and faster.

Nico talks, but Kendall isn’t listening. She needs to get to a hundred drops before she can allow herself to stop.

Eventually the search ends. Nothing more can be done locally except by professionals now. It’s prime planting season. Farmers have chores, and students do too. Plus jobs, if they work in town or for one of the farmers or ranchers. Life has to go on.

It’s a long, hot summer full of hard work for Kendall. For everyone. After a month or two, people stop talking about Tiffany Quinn.

TWO

In September when school starts again, Kendall arrives as she always does, the first one to the one-room high school, except for old Mr. Greenwood, the part-time janitor, who retreats to his basement hideout whenever students are around.

Kendall is tan and not quite freakishly tall. Athletic. Her long brown hair has natural highlights from her driving a tractor and working on the farm all summer.

There was too much time to think up there on that tractor, since all it takes is a GPS to run it up and down the rows. And when your brain has a glitch and its lap counter is broken, the same thoughts whir around on an endless loop. Tiffany Quinn. Tiffany Quinn. Tiffany Quinn.

Kendall imagines every possible scenario for Tiffany. Running away. Getting lost. Being abducted. Maybe even raped, murdered. Wondering which one really happened, and if they’ll ever know the truth. She pictures all of it happening to herself, and it almost makes her cry. Pictures Tiffany screaming for help, begging to live . . . Kendall’s eyes blur as she remembers her summer, turning the tractor through the fields and obsessing about such horrible things. It seemed so real, so scary, as if someone were about to jump out of the woods and attack her.

She knows some of her thoughts are irrational. She knows it and always has known it, even in fifth grade, when she used to layer on clothes—four shirts, three pairs of underwear, shorts under her jeans—anxiously, frantically, crying her eyes out for fear people could see her naked through her clothes. What an awful time that was. Fear like that is constant, tiring. But the psychologist over in Bozeman helped. Explained OCD—obsessive-compulsive disorder—and eventually that particular phase of worry went away, only to be replaced by other obsessions, other compulsions.

She’s not crazy. She just can’t stop thinking things when weird ideas get lodged in her head. She also can’t stop glancing behind her—it has become her latest compulsion. This whole thing with Tiffany has set her back some.

So she’s glad to be back at school, though feeling a little desperate because of how last year ended. And anxious to start this year fresh. Anxious to have new thoughts, new assignments bombard her brain, keep her mind occupied with non-scary things. Soccer practice starting up again. New DVD dance routines to learn. New things to keep her busy, body and mind. It’s a relief.

On this first day she tidies up the classroom in a way that old Mr. Greenwood doesn’t, turning the wastebasket so the dent is in the right place, straightening the markers on the dry-erase board and putting them in color order to match Roy G Biv as closely as possible, opening the curtains just so. Lining up the desks into their proper places in neat quadrants, one quadrant of six desks for each high school grade. Kendall creates aisles separating the quadrants to give the teacher room to walk between them, so she can address each grade individually rather than having all twenty-four desks together. It’s the way Kendall likes things.

Nobody’s ever complained.

Nobody even knows.

The desks are ancient and sturdy beasts from the 1950s, recycled by the state from who knows where. It’s a workout moving them all, but Kendall feels better when everything is back to normal. She sees where her old desk ended up, over in the freshman quadrant this year. Now the tenth graders will have an empty seat, unless the rumors are true. There’s a new family in town, according to Nico, though Kendall hasn’t seen anyone new around town yet. Kendall hopes they have a sophomore to fill the spot left by Tiffany, to make things in that section neat again. Though Tiffany coming back would be the best thing, of course. But Sheriff Greenwood and the local news anchors say that’s just not likely. Not after all this time has passed.

Kendall opens the curtains wide enough so that the edges of them hang in line with the sides of the windows. Her irrational fear gets the better of her and she checks the window locks, first struggling to open the windows to make sure the locks are sturdy, then running her forefinger over each lock in the same manner. All checked and good, she says. No one is there to hear her, but she has to say it out loud or it doesn’t count.

When she sees students walking up the yard to the little school, Kendall looks over her handiwork. The door creaks open. Kendall moves to her new desk in the senior quadrant, takes out an antiseptic wipe from her book bag, and cleans her desk quickly before anybody can see and make fun. She’s not a compulsive hand-washer, like some. But she likes to know the germ status of her own personal work space at the beginning of a school year. Doesn’t everybody?

Nico spies her and comes over. His straight white-blond hair hangs in his eyes. He’s got his father’s Spanish name but his mother’s Dutch looks. Nico swishes his hair aside and gives Kendall a half grin. Throws his book bag onto the floor and shoves his body into the desk just to the right of Kendall. These desks aren’t getting any bigger, he mutters, trying to fit his knees under the metal basin. He leans over and pecks Kendall on the cheek. Hey. Sorry I was late. You want to go up to Bozeman this Saturday?

What for?

I gotta look at Montana State. Check out the nursing school.

The guy behind them snickers. Nurse Nico.

Shut it, Brandon, Nico says in a calm voice. He whips his arm back without looking, and it connects with the

Reviews for Cryer's Cross

[kmajort · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Hm. Okay, I really liked AND ALSO didn't like this book. The story was pretty ho-hum really, but I'd read in her acknowledgments how it was dedicated to her daughter who has OCD.
That was hook enough to try it.
Predictable story line, but farm community life is rather like she wrote (though I know nothing of harvesting potatoes)and she dealt well with the new folks in town.
Other characters seems like shadows, but as a YA stand-alone, I can accept there wasn't much need to develop them.

If you know anyone with OCD, or if you have it yourself, definitely read.

[br14almo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lisa McMann has done it! The book Cryer's Cross is great using extreme amounts of suspense and terror. The climax is the most terrifying of some of books. Main character Jacian had a huge target on his back until he proved himself to be not so bad. OCD filled action with love and cheating. I recommend this book for anyone who is very iinto suspense and looking for a fun read. I give this book a 4.5 that was deservingly earned.

[shahnareads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved this.

Small town keeping secrets is never a good things.

[bibliotropic · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If this book was an episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark, it would have been called The Tale of the Haunted Desk. The story in this book is a fairly simple concept with an interesting execution: a sleepy town with little to say for itself ends up with some big news when multiple teenagers go missing, upsetting everyone but most notably Kendall, a teenage girl with fairly disruptive OCD. After Kendall's boyfriend goes missing and Kendall starts noticing strange messages show up on the desk where he sat at school, she starts to realise that there's far more going on than meets the eye.Breaking up the chapters that are mostly from Kendalls point of view are short page-long snippets by a frantic and obsessive voice. It quickly becomes obvious that the voices are connected to the disappearing teens, though what they say is vague enough that how and why they're connected isn't entirely clear, which is a definite point in McMann's favour. Keeping the reader interested and somewhat in the dark is essential for a good mystery, driving them onward to discover what ties all the clues together.As the story progresses, Kendall herself starts getting influenced by the voices, possessed by the intent behind them. As we discover later, intent is, by and large, what the voice are, at least to an extent. The desk isn't possessed by a particular ghost but rather the pain that was felt as disturbed boys were made to bent over it while being whipper, sometimes to death, by a sadistic teacher at the school where the desk was first used. In an attempt to find solace, the pain infected those who sat at the desk, eventually forcing them to bury themselves alive as the sentient pain tried to find a release. it's a fascinating concept, and I think McMann did a wonderful job of conveying the brutality and just what can come of abuse even after the abused and abusers are long gone from the world.I was particularly impressed by McMann's handling of OCD, though upon finding out that her own daughter has the condition, that isn't too surprising. Given that I took have more than just a slight touch of it myself, I could relate to Kendall very well, could see the logic in her illogical compulsions (when you're forced to stop walking and tap your feet in a certain rhythm until a sense of balance and rightness returns to your body, or when you can't eat a sandwich without first tearing into specific sections, you'll understand exactly what I mean when I say that). Particularly interesting was that in the end, it was Kendalls OCD that played a part in saving her life, her compulsions overriding the strength to which she was possessed by the voices of pain. I liked how OCD wasn't protrayed as some freaky thing that did nothing but ostracize people and turn them into freaks, but rather as a legitimate condition that needed handling, needed dealing with, and occasionally can be useful.This is defininitely a book worth picking up. The distant tone it's written it can sometimes be a detriment to really getting into the story, but the pace is quick and smooth enough to mostly make up for that, and the characters are interesting and complete. Very good for fans of YA paranormal novels, for those looking for a good haunting that can be both simple and complex.

[Devi Vil Vil · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

an interesting but predictable story...

[lalawe_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As a kid, I used to pour through endless books of ghost stories, and then got hooked on "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" as a teen. I still read adult horror novels occasionally, but there is just something delicious about scary stories featuring a teenage protagonist -perhaps it's the reliance on spookiness and good storytelling rather than gore and violence. Whatever it is, this book has it in spades. It has all the hallmarks of a good spooky story - missing boyfriend, small town, and some other bits I won't spoil - plus some added freshness in the form of the protagonist's OCD. I loved how the author set up the realities of the small town of Cryer's Cross, from the one diner in town to the one room schoolhouse and farming life. I liked the main characters - Kendall felt real, and Jacián reminded me of some teenage boys I know. At times, the pacing seemed a bit uneven, and occasionally the book seemed like it was struggling between being an "issues" book or a romance or a mystery. But, overall, this was a really fun read, and definitely recommended for anyone who loves spooky books.Note: I received this as an ARC for free from the publisher.

[br14hagr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

 Cryer’s Cross is a book with mysteries, love relationships, and hate. People keep disappearing and dying, but no one can stop it. It all started when Tiffany Quinn disappeared. All of her friends worry and think of what could of happened to her, even after two years. Cryer’s Cross is not a good place where you would want to go, since usually new people who move there disappear first. In my opinion Cryer’s Cross is a great book that is easy to follow but hard to predict. I rate this five stars, since this book is very suspenseful and creepy. You never realize what can happen next only if the characters in the book predict it. This book will draw you in put you right in the book.

[br14lavi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A girl disappears into what seems thin air. No one knows why. The news stations are in this small town Cryer’s Cross, with a whopping total of 212 residents. A girl disappearing in this small town is unheard of, there has to be a logical reason for her disappearance. Could she have been secretly depressed, lonely, or just needed to get away from everyone? Or could something creepy be happening in Cryer’s Cross?This disappearance doesn’t sit well with seniors, Kendall and Nico. Could their experiments and curiosity be too much that their own lives could be endangered?The novel, Cryer’s Cross is a book with twists and turns galore. You may truly believe that this is going to happen and then the masterful work of Lisa McMann will make you think something completely different. This book has you from the first page and continues to be a page turner throughout the whole novel. Main character Kendall goes on an emotional rollercoaster and you go along for the ride feeling sympathetic for her as well as screaming at the book for her to let go of her sadness and try to be happy with what she has. When you start reading be prepared for a allnighter reading this book because once you start you won’t be able to stop reading until this five star mystery comes to a dramatic conclusion. Beware!

[bryndahlquis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had the hardest time putting this book down.I don't particularly like Kendall, but I don't dislike her either. I felt like I had a hard time getting to know her. There was the OCD part of her, and then the not OCD part of her. The connection between them seemed a little fuzzy.The plot is great. Even though I couldn't stop reading, I was hesitant for the whole first half of the book. It seemed like it kept setting up for a realistic horrifying ending, but then there were the random little pages that were anything but a serial killer or whatever. I just kept getting an unexpected vibe from it, if that makes any sense.All that said, I LOVED how the supernatural aspects slowly trickled into the story. It was brilliant.I don't know if it's a a book I'll read again and again, but it is definitely pretty awesome and I highly recommend it.

[vnesting-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Liked the main character and the author's sensitive handling of her OCD. The mystery? Not so much.

[mirandalg14 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really thought this was a great creepy read.

[markpsadler · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The ghosts of the poor children virtually abandoned and many beaten to death in the confines of one of Montana’s worst reform schools over a hundred years ago, are crying out from the grave to be saved. The teenagers from Cryer’s Cross, a small, one-room school town, are disappearing, two are gone, Tiffany and now Nico, leaving no trace or clue. They simply just vanished.
Kendall, Nico’s lifelong friend is distraught after his disappearance. Her whole life is interrupted, the school’s soccer team is disbanded, Juilliard turned her down and two new teenagers have moved into town, as if to take over the place of the missing teens. At least it keeps order in her OCD-riddled mind.
Unable to rest with her friend gone, Kendall finds herself drawn to the new boy, eighteen year old Jacian, when they are thrown together as the town imposes a curfew and travel restrictions on the teens in town until the mystery can be solved.
As school continues, Kendall keeps noticing the desk Nico sat in keeps getting out of place each morning. She would notice since she has to align them all in correct order every morning. She realizes this is the same desk Tiffany—the other missing teen—sat in last year and graffiti is scratched in the desk top that she doesn’t recall seeing before. It reads Please Save Me. Sitting at the desk she too is put under a spell as the voices of the past call for her help. Will Jacian be able to figure out the town’s secret in time to save Kendall from being the next to vanish forever?
McMann is again at her top-draw best as she weaves another young adult novel into a story that crosses all ages and simply becomes a great yarn that anyone will want to read.

[coloradogirl14 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm always on the lookout for good horror/mystery/suspense, regardless of age level, so I was quite intrigued by the premise: small town wracked by grief and terror, possible supernatural causes, and a heroine with an anxiety disorder. This last aspect can be hit or miss for me, but I always try to give the character (in this case, Kendall) the benefit of the doubt before judging.The grief and terror comes from the mysterious disappearance of several high school students over the last several months, but Kendall doesn't really start to feel its effects until her boyfriend disappears as well. This disappearance wreaks havoc with her OCD, and she finds herself drawn to the mysterious boy who arrived just in time for the start of school, even though she wonders if he's someone she can trust.Overall, my impression was lukewarm. Nothing about the book enchanted me, and nothing made me particularly angry to where I could point to a specific passage and say, "THIS was why the book didn't work." Kendall's character was not particularly annoying, nor did she charm me with her wit and joi de vivre. The depiction of her OCD was respectful and accurate, but did not integrate well with the plot. The ending? Not particularly surprising or exciting. But I finished the book, so I guess that says something.Between chapters, we also get italicized portions from the antagonist's point of view. If there was anything that truly annoyed me about this book, that was it. Out of context, the passages are extremely disconnected from anything happening in the story, especially since we have no idea who is killing the students. I'm not even entirely sure they'd make sense upon a second reading.These are the types of books that drive me nuts, especially when it comes time to suggest it for a patron. Obviously, some readers really enjoy this type of suspenseful, pseudo-mystery novel, or enjoy reading about protagonists with mental/anxiety disorders, but I think there are much better examples to suggest first.Readalikes:The Body Finder - Kimberly Derting. Horror, suspense, mystery, and romance combine in this tense story about a girl who can sense the presence of murdered bodies.The Butterfly Clues - Kate Ellison. Both novels feature heroines with OCD who must solve puzzling and potentially dangerous mysteries surrounding their friends and loved ones.What Happened to Cass McBride - Gail Giles. Both novels focus on psychological disorders and missing teenagers, although Cass McBride doesn't have the same romantic angle as Cryer's Cross.

[peggydean-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I see now why Lisa McMann is such a popular YA author. This was a fast read and I was totally drawn into the story. Even though I enjoyed it, I am only giving the book 3 stars, because I felt that the ending was not conclusive enough for me.

[capnrandm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An elegant, chilling little ghost story, CRYER'S CROSS wrapped me up in Kendall's small town. McMann's decision to write a heroine with OCD was not an affectation, but rather the metronome by which a reader is hypnotized into Kendall's emotions. Who would be more terrified by the supernatural than someone who battles for normalcy everyday? A wonderful story, very well done.

Full review to follow.

[leftik_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An excellent, excellent thriller. Something you want to read with the covers pulled tight around you and a few candles flickering nearby. It's one of those books where you know something creepy and not-OK is going on, but you can't figure out what EXACTLY it is.

Did I have a guess as to what was going to be the outcome of the mystery? Yes. But I was still pretty shocked by the, as I saw it, rather bold turn of events at the end. I didn't expect McMann to go that far, but I'm glad she did - it made the novel worthy of the creepy cover and creepy vibe that was building throughout the book.

I loved Kendall. I loved her attitude towards managing her OCD, her love for Nico and her love for both theatre and soccer (two of my personal faves as well). This is def. one to check out if you're in the mood for a bit of a thrill.

[a_reader_of_fictions · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

First of all, I need to point out that this is NOT a dystopia. The reason I picked the book up was because I had seen it described thus somewhere, but it isn't. Cryer's Cross is actually more of a psychological thriller/fantasy/horror story. I wish it had been a dystopia.

Last year, I read Lisa McMann's Wake Trilogy, which I sort of liked at first, but later came to almost abhor. Her writing drove me crazy. It's so incredibly fragmented. Everyone told me that the writing was matched to Janie's thoughts and not a sign of McMann's inability to compose a complex sentence. Well, that excuse really does not fly here. The story is told in third person and yet, oddly enough, the syntax remains choppy and composed largely of sentence fragments. This will, hopefully, be my last foray into McMann.

All that so grumpily said, Cryer's Cross was not a terrible read. I think I liked it more than I disliked it. The ending was a bit too mystical for my taste, but there was a major redeeming factor. The one thing McMann does really well: she writes really attractive, atypical male leads. And some pretty hot scenes with them, even if they remain PG, as is the case here.

I recommend this for reluctant readers, although I doubt boys would be too interested. For a book with a lot of menace lingering about, there is very little action.

[princess0starr · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

While I enjoyed the Wake trilogy, I was really drawn to Cryer's Cross because the concept seemed to be a lot creepier and more claustrophobic. I really liked the writing in this- whenever Kendall got stressed and her OCD kicked in, you could really tell how she was feeling and that desperation that things had to be exactly the way they "needed" to be. Whenever they discovered Nico's disappearance, I really got drawn into the story and wanted to know more. One of the things Lisa McMann does really well is little details just to shed more light on characters' personalities (for example, whenever Kendall meets Jacian for the first time and is immediately suspicious of his appearance shortly after the first disappearance). I liked how the OCD actually plays a large role in the story, and not just as the enabler for Kendall or just a side trait, which is another thing that felt really realistic. My biggest problem with the book, however, is the resolution and explanation of the disappearances. (Spoilers ahoy!) It's explained that Tiffany and Nico's disappearing ties back into a school desk that used to be a whipping desk in a reform school. Which is never mentioned until the very end as everything is being explained. Also, throughout the book, you get passages told from the perspective of the angry spirits, but nothing really happens aside from them calling out to different characters. It also bothers me that the plot-important desks have been used for years, but it's only now that people are disappearing. I really did like this book, but the resolution left me really underwhelmed and wanted to know what exactly happened before the beginning of the story.

[br13alsu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The book Cryers Cross was amazing. It’s about a girl named Kendall who has severe OCD and she hates it. Throughout the whole book she talks about how horrible it is to have. Her whole world turns upside down when a new boy, Jacian, moves in and her best friend, Nico, ever goes missing. It kept you guessing throughout the whole book and the ending in impeccable. During the whole story I felt like I was actually there with the characters experiencing everything that they were. I very strongly recomend this book to anybody who enjoys mysteries and thrillers. I have yet to read such an intense book as this one.

[tfs93 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Total Stinker!! Terrible Plot, underwhelming writing, no connection with characters, and a HUH?? ending. I don't recommend this. Too many things wrong with this one to take the time to list them all. Don't waste your time!

[shaelipar · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Okay here's something you may not know about me, I am not a fan of horror novels. Now I know technically Cryer's Cross is probably not considered horror but lets just say this novel was always going to wigged me out, LOL. I both loved and hated the creepy, unsettling feeling of the story and its pacing ( I know I'm a wussy) but I had the harder time with the main character, Kendall. I just didn't connect with her like I wanted. Sure, I felt bad that all these things were happening to her but she felt more like an idea rather then a person. Gosh, I hope that makes sense. It was a quick read though and it made me realize I can handle reading more thriller/horror novels.

[thehidingspot · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I adored Lisa McMann's first three novels, WAKE, FADE, and GONE, but had no idea what to expect of CRYER'S CROSS. The verse is absent, but there is still a certain cadence to the writing that identifies it as a McMann novel... It's entirely different from her first three, but no less impressive. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this novel is the main character's OCD and the role it plays. To my knowledge, there aren't very many YA books that deal with OCD and there definitely aren't any that handle it this particular way. Kendall's disorder is both a blessing and a curse and McMann sends this message in an entirely new, brilliant way.CRYER'S CROSS has a sinister feel, but it's not so scary that it'll keep you up at night. Instead, it's more of a slow, steady buildup to the revelations at the end of the novel... When I reached that point, all I could say was 'Wow.' For me, the novel reached it's most intense near the very end, but it wouldn't have packed the same punch if not for the slow journey to that point.I'll admit that I still favor McMann's trilogy over CRYER'S CROSS, but this novel proves that she's fully capable of doing something completely different and still blow readers away. I'll definitely be reading McMann's next novel, THE UNWANTEDS... I'm curious to see what she'll show readers next!

[annakay21 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was not as well written as it could have been and the story of it was just plain WEIRD! But I liked it a lot and that's why it gets four stars. Kendall was very realistic and her personality reminded me a lot of my own which was uncomfortable at times. The bit with the desk being possessed was really odd but it made total sense. I am probably going to have to read this a couple more times before it fully sinks in but I would definitely recommend it!

[readingthruthenight · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First, I truly love a good ghost story. The problem with ghost stories however is MOST of them aren't that good. It's a real easy downward spiral from being creepy and believable to over the top and b-flickish.* And I was a bit nervous about this one. But there's more haunting and less spooking so it was fantastic! Kendall lives in a small town. (I pictured Little House on the Prairie, but not so pious?) Everyone knows everyone else, so when a sixteen year old goes missing the whole town joins together. Tiffany is never found. There's a small schoolhouse which includes all grades, so Kendall is constantly reminded of her missing friend. And it's even a bit enhanced by her OCD, which was handle smashingly.** THEN her boyfriend, Nico, disappears months later. Uh, something pretty freakin' weird is going on in the CC. So it makes perfect sense when new boy Jacien moves into town with his family he is immediately questioned. Who would have thought that after Kendall begins to notice odd things going on that Jacien is the only one that believes her. (Oh who am I kidding?! OF COURSE we knew that would happen. What's better than a paranormal read other than a paranormal read with ROMANCE).Here's the thing that I loved the most. And aren't you going to be surprised when I say it's not the paranormal or highly-involved thriller aspect of the story. Nope. It was the realism of it. You know, besides the missing folk and town clues. Check it out. Kendall has been with Nico ALL HER LIFE. The are in Lurrrvvee and destined to get married because that's what folks do in this town. Who cares that she is only sixteen. So when he goes missing and she finds herself attracted to Jacien, well, hello. Of course I'm cheering her on, but she's so guilt ridden over her disloyalty to Nico. Two thumbs up for not forgetting about your young love before moving on to a new boy. Also, once again. Hello to the ocd-ness. I think it's awesome that her disorder(?) dysfunction (?) lifestyle (?) isn't the center. Uh hello to three-dimensionalism. Believe it or not, when not in extremes, people carry on and live normal lives. Mostly. I refer to them as my ticks. And sure they get exacerbated when I'm stressed. But they're well-hidden and only those who either live with me or I choose to tell would know.Evidently McMann has also written a trilogy. The WAKE trilogy? Has anyone read it? Is it good?

[fallingforbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First Line: Everything changes when Tiffany Quinn disappears. Favorite Quote: Kendall tries, fails to tune them all out. It’s all she can do to breathe. And count. Count breaths: thirty-six. Count stones in the dirt: more than fifty. Count people saying stupid things: all of them.My thoughts: This book has been on my to be read list for a while. I’m glad that I finally picked it up. I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely a fast paced read. I was immediately drawn into this book from the first page. I thought McMann did a really good job describing the very small town of Cryer’s Cross. If you’ve grown up in a small town, you understand the feeling of wanting to get out! The book deals with the fact that there have been a lot of strange disappearances occurring in Cryer’s Cross. I enjoyed Kendall’s character and reading about her OCD. I sometimes think I have traces of it in my blood also. I, too check the locks sometimes more than once! I felt bad for Kendall that she had to deal with the loss of her boyfriend. I couldn’t believe what happened to her in the end. It was definitely creepy. There is also a little romance in the book, although filled with lots of tension. I thought this was a really good read. Ok , call me crazy, but I feel like something like this could happen in real life! This is a spooky read but I was never actually scared! I was more intrigued to find out what were behind these strange happenings. Overall: A little creepy, but a page turning mystery!

[lovetoreadforfun · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I love Lisa McMann's Wake Trilogy so when I heard she written a new YA Paranormal, Cryer's Cross, I knew I had to get my hands on it! I don't know what to think about Cryer's Cross. The story started off great with the disappearance of Tracy and then Nico (no spoiler. His disappearance is mentioned in the book summary). Kendall is trying to deal with her grief and OCD while trying to figure out what happened to Nico. She is suspicious of the new kid in town, Jacian. Jacian and his family moved to Cryer's Cross when Tiffany disappeared. The first thing that bothered me was Kendall's obsession with believing that Jacian had something to do with the disappearances. He'd given her no reason to believe that he was dangerous or violent. He had major attitude but other than that, I couldn't understand why she was so set on believing he was guilty even though the sheriff told her that Jacian was innocent. Once Kendall got over her preconceived notions of Jacian, Kendall and Jacian slowly became friends. They bonded over the love of soccer and Jacian was the only kid who noticed Kendall's secret, her OCD. Instead of pushing her away or making her feel ostracized, he was understanding. As their friendship grew, it started turning into something more. Cryer's Cross is only 240 pages and the majority of those pages were dedicated to Kendall and her budding relationship with Jacian. This book is described as a Paranormal but the PNR aspects were greatly missing. What kept me reading was I wanted to find out what happened to these kids. When we finally got to what was causing the disappearances (where only 2 kids disappeared. I thought there'd be more) the big reveal was laughable and had scratching my head in confusion. Cryer's Cross would have been better if the paranormal aspect of the book had more build-up. I almost forgot that there was a mystery that needed to be solved. The ending was too neat and quick. Everything was wrapped up in the last 30 pages or so. I had such high expectations for this book but was sorely disappointed.

[danijohns_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was creepy. It takes a lot for a book to actually creep me out, but this book was able to do that. Cryer’s Cross was an excellent blend of creepy, mystery, suspense and even romance. I loved how Lisa McMann unveiled the story and mystery. The mystery is unveiled slowly, but not too slowly, just slow enough to keep you on the edge of your seat wonder who, or what, is behind the disappearance of two students. I was unsure who or what was the cause of the disappearances until the end, and when I found out I was extra creeped out. I love how Lisa McMann writes. I writing was perfect in this book. The writing for the “WE” was perfect, creepy yet adding to the story. You’ll understand what I mean when you read the book. I also loved how she unveiled the story. It was perfect. Kendall was such a great character. Not only does she struggle daily with her OCD, but add to that the fact that her best friend, and sort of boyfriend that she has know her who life, has disappeared. Kendall’s emotions were raw. I loved how her OCD, the thing she was most embarrassed about was the thing that helped save her the most. I loved how through the book Kendall grew as a character, with the help of Jacian. Jacian and Kendall had great chemistry and I loved how there relationship progressed. It was perfect. I recommend that when you read this book, don’t stay up late at night reading it because it will leave you creeped out. I definitely will be picking up a finished copy of this book when it is released.

[runa_17 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I went into reading this not having read a plot summary. Lisa McMann had mentioned the book in a Pittsburgh event she did, and I’ve had it on my to-read list since then. I read it in the middle of the night alone on a train, which, in retrospect, not the greatest setting to be reading a horror story. McMann is great at crafting straightforward, simplistic in a sense, plots. Her cards are laid on the table early on, and the reader knows what they’re getting into, for the most part. She does keep some secrets which make for great reveals later on in the story, but there’s no getting lost in too many plot threads or unnecessary verbage. It’s short, sweet, and to the point. I’m not sure what McMann’s plans are for this story, but I do hope it remains a standalone. It functions well as a one-read story, and was great for reading on the train. Rating: 5/5

[allureofbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The premise is creepy and fascinating, and I was really looking forward to picking up the book. There are a lot of things I like about the story, but in many ways it fails to deliver.The thing that drew me to the story was the mystery/horror side of the plot. What was up with the missing teenagers and creepy desk messages? Overall, I ended up being disappointed in how that part of the plot developed. Not enough to keep me from enjoying the story, but definitely enough to keep me from loving it.As for the characters...we never really go beyond the surface here. I never felt like I was getting to personally know Kendall. This was not a character-driven story and that is a major strike against it.However, something about it kept me turning the pages. I loved the developing romance and the setting...and even though I was ultimately let down by the mystery, it was intriguing enough to make me want to know how things would turn out. One thing I hated was the whole "We" messages thing. Really? That was more ridiculous than anything else. Not at all a fan. The book could have definitely done without all that mess.So - as you can see I have some pretty mixed feelings about this book. I definitely don't feel like I wasted time by reading it, but it isn't a story I will ever be revisiting. If you're a fan of the budding YA horror genre, I would recommend picking up a copy at the library!

[spazzydragon13 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I tend to go for books with one of two things; a topic or subject I love or am obsessed with. Or, something I can relate to.I saw Cryer's Cross on WORD for Teens' website, and Nicki was kind enough to send it to me to read. The first thing that caught me was the line on the cover, "The smaller the town, the bigger the secrets."See, I live in a small town, and I know this to be SO incredibly true. And I own a desk just like the one on the cover, so I had to read it.Then, there's the fact that the description sounded delicious. Oh boy, did the book live up to that. The plot was so incredibly wonderful, if at times a little predictable, and I couldn't put the book down. I read this book for an hour straight.The story was so creepy! I do think areas of the story, as well as characters, should have been fluffed out more. However, McMann writes shorter than norm. stories, and I think it was left out for the sake of simplicity. I would have liked to know more about Jacian, more background about Cryer's Reform School for Delinquent Boys.I loved Kendall; she's OCD to the extreme. It was interesting to see the story through her eyes. She couldn't stop obsessing over the kidnappings, or trying to find blame in Jacian. And who wouldn't? He was such a jerk at the beginning!The relationship between her and Jacian developed slowly and ended up realistic and I loved that! (I dislike mushy, fast relationships.) Nico was cute, but he was overboard. And Kendall didn't lower her standards for him, which made her rock even more.The creeptastic factor of the book was super high, and I think that's what kept me reading. Cryer's Cross is definitely full of a nasty evil.The only thing I didn't care for, was the way the story was written. I'm not a huge fan of McMann's writing style. It feels....awkward. That's why I gave it four stars, instead of five. In the end, I was able to look past that and find the wonderful story that is Cryer's Cross. I'd definitely recommend it!