The Girl in the Wall
The Girl in the Wall book cover

The Girl in the Wall

by
Price
$9.45
Format
Hardcover
Pages
256
Publisher
Merit Press
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1440552700
Dimensions
5.5 x 1 x 8.84 inches
Weight
15.7 ounces

Description

From School Library Journal Gr 7-10-Sera really doesn't want to go to Ariel's birthday party. She and her rich friend have become estranged, and Ariel has turned all their classmates against her. Nevertheless, she grudgingly attends because of parental pressure. It can't be all bad: a hot pop star is scheduled to perform. As the lights dim for the start of the show, however, expert marksmen enter the room and assassinate Ariel's father and another guest, misidentified as his daughter. Meanwhile, Ariel escapes into the labyrinth of secret tunnels that snake throughout her family's mansion. Familiar with the tunnels from childhood explorations with her friend, Sera is overwhelmed with pressure to reveal Ariel's location as their classmates are murdered one by one. Told in alternating voices, which are at times difficult to discern, this compelling narrative includes a touch of romance. If they can forgive the unlikely action sequence at the end, readers will find this mystery satisfying.-Leah Krippner, Harlem High School, Machesney Park, ILα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. "Two high school seniors re-evaluate their failed friendship under dangerous circumstances. Benedis-Grab alternates between the two girls' perspectives; nearly every chapter ends with a cliffhanger, keeping tension high. The action and high stakes should keep readers engaged." -- Publishers Weekly "Told in alternating voices ... this compelling narrative includes a touch of romance. Readers will find this mystery satisfying." - School Library Journal "Quickly paced and without a dull moment, Benedis-Grab manages to write a disturbing, yet entertaining, novel that will entrance future readers. Budding young romance adds an extra touch to the already thriving story line, and the will to survive makes this an inspiring read. I recommend The Girl in the Wall to readers addicted to fast-paced storytelling and action. Benedis-Grab's novel is a must-read." --Blogcritics.org "In so many books, when the author tries to tell the story in alternating voices it can quickly become confusing. In The Girl in the Wall it works. Each girl has her own voice and you can easily distinguish them both. Once I started, I could hardly put them down. Daphne Benedis-Grab is definitely an author on my to-watch list." -- Mel's Reading Blog "Four stars! The Girl in the Wall was everything I hoped it would be and it sounds like Merit Press has a hit on their hands! You're definitely going to want to check out this action-packed thriller this Christmas." -- Panda Reads blog "This contemporary YA novel packs a punch. Using alternating perspectives - one of my favorite devices! - Benedis-Grab weaves a compelling, scary tale of one fateful night in the lives of two former best friends. Also, it's gratifying to see teenage girl characters kicking butt while also patching up their friendship." -- Persephone Magazine "I felt that this novel was compelling, with an interesting plot and characters I wanted to learn more about. Why are Ariel and Sera so estranged? Who is behind the hostage situation? Who will live, and who will die? I really enjoyed the story and will be on the lookout for more from Daphne Benedis-Grab and Merit Press!" --Christi, the Teen Librarian blog "Daphne Benedis-Grab's debut YA novel is filled with suspense, danger, and murder as the clock ticks through a deadly night. From the very first chapter, I was hooked, and the story got more intense every page! It's an absolutely thrilling ride, and I look forward to Ms. Benedis-Grab's next foray into young adult literature!" -- Jack and Jill Magazine "This book gripped me from the beginning and I finished it in a day. The action was intense but well-paced, the characters were realistic and meaningful, the consequences were honest. If you're looking for a different YA book, try this one." -- Book Sojourner "The book: woah. It was a fast-paced emotional rollercoaster that really kept me guessing. The characters were seriously awesome. Packed with turns and tear-at-your-heart moments. I had high expectations since it's been on my wishlist for a time, and I was not disappointed." - Nightly Reading Daphne Benedis-Grab earned an MFA from The New School in creative writing and her thesis became her first book for teens, Alive and Well in Prague, New York . She has built houses for Habitat for Humanity and taught adult literacy classes, and now lives in New York City with her husband, two kids, and a very spoiled cat. Read more

Features & Highlights

  • YALSA Quick Pick Award Winner
  • Named by
  • Huffington Post
  • Books as a Top 10 Book For Kids Who Hate Reading Ariel's birthday weekend looks to be the event of the season, with a private concert by rock star Hudson Winters on the grounds of her family's east coast estate, and all of Ariel's elite prep school friends in attendance. The only person who's dreading the party is Sera, Ariel's former best friend, whose father is forcing her to go. Sera has been the school pariah since she betrayed Ariel, and she now avoids Ariel and their former friends. Thrown together, Ariel and Sera can agree on one thing: this could be one very long night.
  • They have no idea just how right they are.
  • Only moments after the concert begins and the lights go down, thugs open fire on parents and schoolmates alike, in a plot against Ariel's father that quickly spins out of control. As the entire party is taken hostage, the girls are forced apart. Ariel escapes into the hidden tunnels in the family mansion, where she and Sera played as children. Only Sera, who forges an unlikely alliance with Hudson Winters, knows where her friend could be. As the industrial terrorist plot unravels and the death toll climbs, Ariel and Sera must recall the sisterhood that once sustained them as they try to save themselves and each other on the longest night of their lives.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(185)
★★★★
25%
(154)
★★★
15%
(93)
★★
7%
(43)
★
23%
(142)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Quick read, thrilling story, 10 stars!!

I received The Girl in the Wall by: Daphne Benedis-Grab, Jacquelyn Mitchard as part of the Vine program. What a pleasant surprise of a book!

Ariel and Sera have been the best of friends since childhood. But Sera betrayed Ariel's trust almost a year ago and has been the most-hated girl in school ever since. Ariel is having a birthday party for all of her friends and their fathers have planned for Sera to attend, with Sera's father making her go. The party is to be a weekend long event at Ariel's estate on the east coast with a private concert by a new hot young rock star, Hudson Winters.

Sera makes her way to the back of the room for the concert...and then everyone's worst nightmare comes to life. Someone is shooting at parents and kids and the entire birthday party has been taken hostage. Slowly the facts start to show themselves to Ariel and Sera who know the most about each other and must learn to trust each other again if either of them is to make it out of this weekend alive.

I read this book in two sittings of about one hour each, so it is a fairly fast read. The book is written from Sera and Ariel's alternating viewpoints. It does not duplicate things as many books written in this manner tend to do. It moves you quickly thru the mystery of the hostage situation and makes you feel as if you are right there living thru it yourself! I found myself rooting for certain characters and even surprised by some twists I did not see coming!

I highly recommend this book! Perfect for a book report you forgot you needed to do yet this week!

- 1Smileycat :-)
8 people found this helpful
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A very intense, dramatic, suspenseful, and emotional read.

You'll be at the edge of your seat with the turn of every page.

The Girl in the Wall was really interesting from jump off. The fact that the story's told from the POV of two characters was a brilliant idea, because readers are given the opportunity to experience the ordeal from different angles. And I really shouldn't pick favorites in such a setting but honestly, I gravitated more towards Sera. I connected with her from start; being left out among her peers and feeling forced into a situation where she would not be welcomed. Also, while Ariel sought out refuge in the tunnels, Sera was there in the drama mostly. I learned a lot about both personalities but Sera's grabbed my attention naturally. There's something about her that just made you want to pull her into your arms and give her a big hug. I'm not saying Ariel was a total moron, but she seemed somewhat crude and unappreciative at first. Overtime, I warmed up to her.

There were various aspects of the story that stirred your emotions, other than the itching mystery of trying to figure out what was taking place, why it was, and who was the mastermind behind it all, there were elements like the value of trust, friendship, and surprisingly-but a great addition-romance. Let's look at the inclusion of trust and real friendship. Ariel's reason for nearly throwing her bond with Sera away wasn't exactly logical, but her feeling betrayed was somewhat understandable. I was happy the two reconciled eventually, even if it took a hostage situation to mend their open wounds. The situation turned into a test of trust, and who each character could really without a doubt depend on to survive.

Throughout the events of lives being taken (the details were as graphic as seeing them with your own eyes), love was in the air for both of the main characters. The end result of each was caught between sweet and painful. That part of the book nearly brought me to tears. At first I was unsure as to how I'd feel about that facet in the story but it made me realize that such things could happen and probably have.

Other good points about the story was how everyone worked together towards the end to get out of the situation. They each had a shared sense of goal, to survive or at least go down fighting. It was truly hurtful when they lost their friends along the way but in the end, justice was served, and lives were changed forever.

In conclusion, I enjoyed the book. The overall situation was so well constructed that it almost seemed like the author had been through such a terror herself. It's definitely a stretch from the sugary romance and fantasy-like YA books, but The Girl in the Wall is a must read if you'd like to challenge yourself to a gripping tale of best friends reuniting in the event of a violent night, among other intriguing things.
4 people found this helpful
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A quick-paced read with great characters.

Sera is dreading the evening - attending the birthday party of her former best friend, Ariel. Her father is demanding she go, as he and Ariel's father are business partners. Ariel hasn't spoken to Sera in months, and in doing so, most of her friends and classmates give Sera the cold shoulder. She doesn't feel she did anything wrong, but Ariel believes she did and now hates her.
The girls and their friends all come from wealthy families, so famous rock star singer Hudson Winters has been hired to sing at Ariel's birthday party. Sera adores his music, so she's looking forward to that. When the lights are turned down low for Hudson to sing, shots ring out. Not only is Ariel's father shot, but so is a student. But Ariel has disappeared and only Sera knows where she could possibly be.

Hudson and she form a fast friendship and try and outwit the terrorists. But the classmates quickly inform them that if anyone can help them find Ariel, it would be Sera. Now, if she doesn't tell them in the next hour, they'll start killing more kids.

The Girl in the Wall is a quick-paced read with great characters and a plot that twists and turns. I didn't figure out who was behind the attack until almost the big reveal as it could have been several people. Ariel and Sera were well-developed characters, as well as Hudson, even though I would have liked to have seen more of the supporting cast have more of a back-story All in all, a quick, entertaining read!
4 people found this helpful
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Intense thriller

I don't think I've ever enjoyed a YA thriller as much as I enjoyed The Girl in the Wall. What an intense read! I sped through this book in one sitting, staying up really late to finishi it, because I just could not put it down. I kept telling myself, "just one more chapter," only to realize that there was no way I could sleep until I knew what happened with the characters I grew to really care about.

Ariel and Sera were once best-friends, but are now estranged. Sera goes to Ariel's birthday party, with serious misgivings about how she'll be treated there. Little does she know what she's really walking into. I felt so badly for both girls, given that they were both very hurt by the events of the past, and enjoyed the way Benedis-Grab resolved the conflict between them as the book progressed.

I was not expecting The Girl in the Wall to have any kind of a love story, but to my delight, there was a sweet romance that blossomed between two of the characters. It was nicely done and did not detract from the thrilling plot, instead it just added some emotional lightness to the story.

I was so surprised by the ending to The Girl in the Wall. I could not believe the way things ended! I really, really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to an older YA audience, due to the violence. I will definitely be reading more from Daphne Benedis-Grab!
3 people found this helpful
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Spellbinding

Fascinating and fast-paced, The Girl in the Wall, kept me spell-bound until the very last page. Daphne Benedis-Grab wove a rich tapestry of multi-dimensional characters trying to survive an impossible situation. This book tackles both bullying and violence and is a must read for our times.
-Lynn Maddalena Menna, author Piece of My Heart
3 people found this helpful
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Read in one sitting

Yep, that's right- this book earned 5 birdies. And here's why. I've been in a bit of a reading slump. I have two books that I'd been waiting for for a while sitting here, started, but not holding my attention. I have a stack of books that I know will be wonderful once I can focus on them, but I've had trouble doing just that. Until I picked this book up Sunday, determined to read it for this review today.

Once I got started, I spent hours telling myself, "Just one more chapter." I chewed through page after page of this thriller, unable to slow down, let alone stop reading. I was entranced.

Others will pick this up and wonder why I'm talking it up so much. At first glance, there doesn't seem to be anything exceptional about the book; it's from a largely unknown author, from a largely unknown pub house, with a cover image that does the job, but isn't really remarkable. The craftsmanship of the plot, however, is so finely-tuned, it's pretty difficult to find a spot where the pacing is anything less than pristine. The suspense builds steadily and without pause, while the author builds in just enough back-story to explain character relationships without getting in the way of the action.

Another element I enjoy: this is a perfectly wrapped-up stand-alone, without a love triangle. I love my series books, but it was refreshing to finish this one in a single afternoon and know that I've read the whole story; I don't have to wait months and months for the next installment. There were elements of innocent romance sprinkled throughout, but I wasn't asked to sympathize with a heroine who had to choose between two boys. Thank you, dear author.

Readers should be forewarned that there is some graphic violence in this book; characters get shot and die, and some of the description is unpleasant for the squeamish. Otherwise, the book is quite clean of elements that some consider inappropriate for young readers. I'd especially recommend for the reluctant reader, since the action is so engaging.

If you're at all inclined to take a chance on a book that may not have been on your to-read list, something just for fun, try this one. I dare ya.
3 people found this helpful
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An Exciting Page Turner!

The Girl in the Wall by Daphne Benedis-Grab is a heart pounding thriller that will leave you breathless. It's about two ex-friends who are trapped together in a house taken over by terrorists, during one of the girl's birthday party. They must depend on their knowledge of the house and each other to get themselves out alive.

I really enjoyed reading from the dual points of view of both Ariel and Sera. They both had enough personality that I was able to easily switch between chapters without forgetting who was where and doing what. Ariel had a mean girl vibe to her but with everything else going on this was a bit of comedic relief in the middle of a stressful situation.

Switching POV's every chapter leaves you in horrible suspense, but then you get to the end of the next chapter and want to scream, "No! Don't switch!" It was definitely an intense and gripping read that I'm sure fans of thrillers will love!

I really enjoyed The Girl in the Wall and highly recommend it to others. If you're in the mood for a suspenseful, yet cute, thrill ride than look no further. The Girl in the Wall definitely delivers.
3 people found this helpful
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The Girl in the Wall

I absolutely adored Benedis-Grab's debut, Alive and Well in Prague, NY, and had been looking forward to another book from her for YEARS. I was so excited to hear about this new book, and even more so when she sent me an advance copy.

It did take me a bit of time to get into the book. It just didn't jump out at me, but since the book is so short (it takes place in one evening), it wasn't too long before the action started. Once that happened, I flew through it. The mystery was intriguing, and I really enjoyed seeing it unravel as I read the book. I also really liked the interaction between Sera and Hudson; it was just fun seeing those two together forging a friendship that evolved into a little bit more.

I also liked the dual narrative going on; it was interesting to go back and forth between these ex-friends and seeing what they're going through. The climax was handled really well and realistically, I think. When I got to that, I was flipping the pages so quickly just to get to the end.

Overall, a good book, but I will admit that it wasn't as good as her debut. But if you're looking for an action-packed, intense mystery, this is it. I do also suggest checking out her debut too, which is kind of the opposite of this book in terms of tone.
3 people found this helpful
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Well-paced & characters pull you right in.

I didn't know what to expect from this book. I was just looking forward to something a bit different from what I'd been reading. What The Girl in the Wall turned out to be was a book that far exceeded my expectations. This book gripped me from the beginning and I finished it in a day.

The Girl in the Wall alternates between Sera's and Ariel's POV. I really liked this approach because we know from the beginning that Sera and Ariel used to be best friends until a little over 9 months ago when something happened, causing Ariel to call Sera a back-stabber and turn her into a pariah at school. Through these alternating POVs we are gradually able to find out what happened to their friendship, and if there is any hope of reconciliation. This is also how we know that Sera is the only one who knows where Ariel is, testing her loyalty to Ariel once again.

This broken friendship is only part of the story. The main problem is that Ariel's birthday party has been taken hostage for reasons that Ariel is not aware of initially. This part of the storyline is scary and suspenseful - a group of high school students, plus one rock star, taken hostage by a huge group of gun-toting agents who show no mercy. There are meaningless deaths, physical wounds, and emotional scars to last a lifetime. But this is a hostage situation gone wrong, so that's where even more suspense occurs, because we don't know what the next move of the bad guys will be, and we don't know if the choices that Sera and Ariel make are good or will be more costly in the end.

Then there is the minor storyline of the budding potential romances. I liked how the author handled this. In a situation like this, of course emotions would be high, but these kids are also getting to know each other in a intense kind of way, all their fears exposed, their emotions bare, and honesty their only course. So for some of them to form special bonds makes sense. But I also like how this did not overtake the storyline. With Sera and Hudson in particular, they were able to work together as a team as well as get to know each other on a personal level, yet always kept their heads in the game. You could see their connection, yet the author did not overly-romanticize anything. This also holds true for the other potential relationship, though it was not explored as much.

I will say that I had a few discrepancies with a few plot points and situation handlings in the book, but I was able to overlook them enough to continue enjoying the storyline. Though perhaps some of these details detracted from my overall rating.

To keep this spoiler-free, I will not reveal any deaths or outcomes in detail, but as you can imagine, this type of situation takes its toll and not everyone survives. I found myself teary-eyed at the end, which I did not expect to feel. One character in particular touched a chord with me, but I could understand why the author chose the outcome she did. Because the reality is that this is not a happily-ever-after story. It is an ugly situation caused by hateful, selfish people. The author touches on how some of the characters react after the trauma, some in more detail than others. You'd need a whole other book to deal with all the PTSD. But not all is lost, and there is some hope and happiness left after all the tragedy.

Bottomline: This is a fast-paced story dealing with a brutal situation that I did not want to put down. The action was intense but well-paced, the characters were realistic and meaningful, the consequences were honest. If you're looking for a different YA book, try this one.
3 people found this helpful
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A tense and exciting read

Sometimes it is refreshing to read a book that turns out to be completely different to what you were expecting. I was expecting this to be a fluffy easy-read book, but I found it to be an engaging thriller that made my eyes well up at points.

So to set the scene we have Sera, who is a fairly recent social outcast, and Ariel who is the one that exiled Sera from having any social standing at school or within the powerful group of friends. Sera has been made to go to Ariel's fabulous birthday party by her parents since they used to be best friends. The party is going to be fabulous, her whole class is going to be there, and there is will be a musical performance by Hudson Winters, rock star extraordinare. Suddenly the party is taken over by men at gunpoint in an attempt to kidnap Ariel's Father. Ariel manages to hide in the secret passages in the walls of her house which angers the kidnappers. As the hostages begin to die, Ariel has to decide if she stays where she is or gives herself up, and Sera has to decide if she tells the kidnappers where Ariel is or stays quiet.

The story in this book only covers a few hours, but it is a gripping read. The chapters switch between Ariel and Sera being the narrator. At the beginning when the two girls have really different personalities which made it easy to know who you were reading. Ariel is incredibly strong and closed off emotionally at the beginning of the book. She quickly decides that she will have to sort this problem out herself and takes charge of the situation the best she can. As Ariel's character evolves and we find out why there is a rift between her and Sera she begins to soften a little and become a rich character.

Sera starts off as a quiet character who tries to keep her head down and not get involved with what is going on. She is a little bitter about why she has been socially exiled. As her character develops and she begins to understand Ariel's issues a little more she starts to get stronger and less willing to roll over and accept the situation. I felt that towards the end Ariel and Sera had become extremely similar as characters and I would forget who I was reading.

This story and the characters gripped me and made this an amazing read. I love a good thriller and a bit of a mystery, and with the addition of it being YA and having some solid characters, made this book really enjoyable and something I will be recommending to others in the future.

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3 people found this helpful

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