#40--What Happened to Cass McBride?

Bibliographic Information

What Happened to Cass McBride? by Gail Giles. Little Brown & Company (2006).

Price: $7.99 for paperback

Pages: 240 pages

Plot Summary

David Kirby is dead and his older brother, Kyle, is looking for someone to blame. Enter Cass McBride, popular, pretty, and the first junior Homecoming Queen. Kyle is convinced that Cass’ cruel note about his brother is what sent David over the edge causing him to take his own life. In order to avenge his brother, David kidnaps Cass and buries her alive intending to torment her as she slowly dies. But David has no idea who he has kidnapped. Cass is more than just a pretty girl; she’s resourceful and calculating and always gets what she wants.

Critical Evaluation

What Happened to Cass McBride? is certainly a novel that leaves an impression on the minds of its readers. Horrifying and disturbing Giles’ characters and their motivations are certain to stay with readers long after they have finished the book. The novel can be read at two levels.  Firstly, it can be read as a basic psychological thriller. Told in the first person perspective of two characters and the third person perspective of the investigator, the book reads quickly. In fact, it can easily be read in less than two hours. However, most readers will hopefully enjoy it on a deeper level. Giles’ characters are complex; this is more than just a story about a boy burying a girl alive. Giles explores complicated themes such as guilt, unconditional love, the meaning of life, and justice. Few characters within the novel can be dismissed as either completely good or wholly bad. Instead, readers must examine the complex motivations and backgrounds of each character. For example, Kyle Kirby is more than just a monster who buries girls alive; he is a product of an abusive mother and a submissive father. Kyle has spent his entire existence trying to both protect his brother from their mother while leading his own life. He often feels trapped by his old life and feels conflicted about shielding his brother from abuse. Cass, while popular and manipulative, learned to be so from her unloving father who uses her as a pawn in a chess game, hoping that she will elevate him to a more powerful position in society by one day marrying well. Perhaps the most intriguing character is that of David. Although readers are not privy to his inner thoughts, the portrait Cass and Kyle sketch is of a downtrodden, beaten boy. However, readers later learn that there is more to David as evidenced by his choice of death. It is a pity that we are not able to learn more about him.

Certainly the most powerful themes Giles explores are that of guilt and justice particularly as they relate to David’s death. For example, reader must ask who is really to blame for David’s death. Is everyone exonerated because David made the ultimate decision to take his own life or should blame be assigned to those who drove him to suicide? Is David’s death the fault of his verbally abusive mother who took every opportunity to insult and belittle him? Is his death the fault of his brother who did not do enough to protect him? How about Cass McBride, is she to blame for writing cruel things about him in a note she never intended for him to see? Ultimately, Giles forces readers to examine the hard truths about life, death, love, and hate. What Happened to Cass McBride does not provide any easy answers which is what ultimately makes it a more valuable novel.

Reader’s Annotation

When Cass McBride is buried alive by Kyle who is seeking to avenge the death of his younger brother she must find a way to convince Kyle to let her live.

About the Author

Author of seven novels and contributor to three short story collection, Gail Giles is an established writer of young adult novels. She was inspired to write What Happened to Cass McBride? while living in Alaska. Feeling trapped by the snow and the unflattering words of others, the idea for the book blossomed (Giles, n.d.). Her most recent book, Dark Song was published in 2010.

To learn more about Gail Giles and her books visit her website.

Giles, G. (n.d.) How I wrote Cass McBride. Retrieved from: http://www.gailgiles.com/How_I_Wrote_Cass_Mc_Bride.html

Genre

Realistic fiction, Thriller

Readalikes

Shattering Glass by Gail Giles

·         Also explores the theme of guilt and includes different perspectives

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

·         Also about a teen suicide and the cause behind it

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

·         Also a psychological thriller complete with an unreliable narrator

Tags

17 year old, Abusive parents, Cliques, First person, Homecoming, Justice, Manipulation, Multiple perspectives, Psychological thriller, Unconditional love, Verbal abuse

Awards Won/Lists On

What Happened to Cass McBride has been featured on the following lists:

2007—BCCLS Mock Printz

2007— YALSA Best Books for YA

2007—YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant YA

IRA - Young Adults' Choice

Professional Reviews

Kirkus Reviews

KLIATT

Publishers' Weekly

VOYA

Booktalk Ideas

Buried Segment

·         First person narrative of Cass (p. 12-15, 25-26)

Explain the premise of the novel

·         Start with quote at end of p. 51: “never thought that a few careless words…”

David’s Dead—Who is to blame?

·         Kyle—older brother. Didn’t adequate protect David

·         Kyle’s Mom—abusive. Attacked David at every opportunity

·         Kyle’s Father—ignored the situation

·         Cass—Wrote cruel things about David

·         General student population—excluded/ignored David

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness

This book could be used to help teens who have lived/are living with verbally abusive family members. It could also be used along with Thirteen Reasons Why to explore the causes of suicide.

Reading Level/Interest Level

Reading Level: 3rd grade

Interest Level: 9^th-12^th grade

These levels are according to AR Bookfinder

Challenge Issues

This book includes the following potentially controversial elements:

·         A teen being buried alive

·         Absent parents

·         Abusive parents

·         Graphic suicide scene

·         Language

·         Loveless marriage

·         Manipulation

·         Prescription drug abuse

·         Taking the Lord’s name in vain

·         Teenagers disrespectful to authorities

Librarians can point out that while this book can be disturbing it is helpful for exploring what makes a person “snap”. Additionally it is an excellent resource to use when discussing the cause of suicides and how they can be potentially prevented.

Why Was This Included?

I read this novel for two reasons. Firstly, because it was required reading and, secondly, because I enjoy first person perspective novels especially if the narrative includes a variety of voices. I appreciated learning both Cass’ and Kyle’s side of the story.