When she is kidnapped from a school field trip at age ten and renamed “Alice,” she starts her transformation into a living dead girl, instead of the real, alive girl she used to be, living at 623 Daisy Lane with her family. Now fifteen, Alice has been abused by Ray for five years and it has understandably taken its toll. It has been drummed into her head that escape is impossible; if she runs away, Ray, her kidnapper, will kill her and her family. All Alice can hope for is death.
And then comes a different kind of request. Alice is getting too old for Ray, and he wants a new girl to be what she is. He wants Alice to find her for him. And then, she hopes, she’ll be free. But can she do it? And what will this new exposure to the world outside of Ray do to what is left of her humanity?
Living Dead Girl is very different from Elizabeth Scott‘s previous books, but she has done a wonderful job with this disturbing story. It’s dark and intense, chilling to think that while Alice’s story is fiction, terrible things like this do happen in the real world. It’s a short book, but one that strongly affects the reader. It’s not something that’s a joy to read. It’s not supposed to be, though. It’s thought provoking, and, well, as I said before, disturbing. Elizabeth Scott is an amazing writer, and she makes this story into exactly what it is supposed to be.
September 6, 2008 at 12:22 am
This book stuck in my head for days….I still need to write my review.
September 6, 2008 at 10:12 am
Wow…this sounds excellent. Thanks for a great review about a disturbing story.
September 6, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Such a good book. Looooved it.
November 18, 2010 at 8:52 pm
i loved the book also i didnt think it was to wdisturbing i actually think that kids should read it because it shows you how dangerous this world is and kids should know that people are sick and they shouldnt trust anyone even if he or she seems nice. because you dont know anyone so be careful
April 11, 2011 at 8:24 am
your dumb, whats not disturbing about a little giel being raped for 5 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 7, 2008 at 2:30 am
Sounds like a real page turner. It made me think of that young boy Steven (I think it was Steven) who was kidnapped at I believe age 5 or 6, and when he was about 15 his kidnapper took another little boy, and Steven took the little boy to the police to save him. The poor kid endured lots of tragedy. Thank you for a great review. :)
Kelly
February 23, 2012 at 12:22 pm
Yeah, I guess they also made a movie according to that story you mentioned.
September 7, 2008 at 5:33 pm
I received an ARC of this like five days before the release and read it immediately – not hard, given it’s 176 pages long. (Though for some reason they’re releasing it as hardback? Ack, I don’t get S&S Simon Pulse sometimes. Most of their stuff is paperback, but then they want to release their shortest novels as $17 hardbacks. *sigh* /rant) It horrified me the way no other sexual abuse book has – including SOLD by Patricia McCormick. Great review, Jocelyn :)
September 11, 2008 at 6:27 am
Hi Jocelyn,
you’ve won my arc of Need! Please let me know your address, and I’ll send it off– charlotteslibrary@gmail.com
thanks!
September 11, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Great review! I really liked this book too- it was just such an emotional and harrowing read, and one that you just had to read in one sitting.
Although, like Steph, I am a bit shocked that they made it a hardcover when it’s SO SHORT. No matter how gripping the story, I’m not plucking down $17 for a book that’s less than 200 pages. People could probably read this book easily in the store. They should’ve made it a paperback like her previous Simon Pulse novels.
May 3, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I am glad it comes in hardcover. Our library usually purchases mostly hardcover books since paperbacks do not survive many checkouts. This makes this title available to those who do not have book purchases in their budget. I think this book is an important statement on abducted children that are still alive with abusers. Elizabeth Smart comes to mind.
September 13, 2008 at 1:38 pm
[…] Lynne (The Hot Flash Club Chills Out)88. Lynne (Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven)89. Jocelyn (Living Dead Girl)90. Heather J. (Redeeming Love)91. Lightheaded (Fire and Hemlock)92. Lightheaded (Tender at the […]
September 16, 2008 at 3:29 pm
This book changed my life and everytime i think abouti have a newe perspective of life. My dad abused my brothers and I when i was younger and when i look back on it i don’t understand why i kept going with him but i will
always be thankful to my older brother bill for saving his two young brothers (me included) and my mom for saving us.
May 3, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Thank you for your testimony at how important this subject is. I can not stop thinking about this book either.
September 19, 2008 at 11:32 pm
I had a really hard time reading this book, and yet I couldn’t turn away. Elizabeth Scott did an incredible job with a very scary subject.
September 23, 2008 at 3:02 am
[…] Review: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott « Teen Book Review Living Dead Girl is very different from Elizabeth Scott’s previous books, but she has done a wonderful job with this disturbing story. It’s dark and intense, chilling to think that while Alice’s story is fiction, terrible things like this do happen in the real world. (tags: blog-reviews elizabeth-scott living-dead-girl) […]
December 20, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Living Dead Girl sounds like a really intriguing book. I just recieved an ARC for Scott’s newest book LOVE YOU, HATE YOU, MISS YOU, and I am already enjoying it. At some point when I next go to the bookstore, I might just pick it up…following the other twenty ARC’s I have to read first.
February 18, 2009 at 2:19 pm
I loved this book its one of my favorite books! I have a little by and thats all i thought about when i read this book like how i was going to keep him safe from people like Ray! Amazing book!!!!!!
May 3, 2009 at 3:42 pm
I agree with you this book really makes you think about the safety of children. It is an amazing book.
April 2, 2009 at 9:20 pm
[…] Teen Book Review […]
August 4, 2009 at 12:50 pm
I loved this book. Now that I have read this amazing story I DO realize how lucky I am to have a loving family. This book have changed my life for the better! Thank you for this lovely review!
September 21, 2009 at 7:59 pm
I have not read “Living Dead Girl” yet, but I’m expected to write a book review on it for the school newspaper…I read everyone’s comment and now I think I’ll actually read the book instead of making up something since the book is so short.
October 14, 2009 at 7:44 pm
I loved this book, many people can’t believe that I could read this book. I read it in 6 hours. My sister was like how could you read that your so young, she read it in her sophmore year in high school, I read it in 8th grade. She did believe that i could read this and not be emotionally affected. I know this book was so detailed and should have made me scared for my own life, but the ending made me realize that this is something that will not happen to me. After reading this book I feel like I am so much emotionally stronger than some of these characters.
September 27, 2010 at 6:39 pm
Things like this can happen to anyone. Usually those who think that “this will never happen to me” are the ones who don’t protect themselves and get abused. I was abused myself, and you will never know what a survivor truly has to go through unless you have really been there. Reading a book can help you imagine how it’d be like, but you can’t say that you’d be stronger in Alice’s situation. Just a thought.
December 4, 2011 at 7:04 pm
WowOWOW ur sister red it in ten grade and thot u were to young? i read it it 6ix grade and thot it was easyi. you are not as strong as those caracters ! lmao troll
April 4, 2010 at 2:48 pm
wowoiwwowowow
April 4, 2010 at 2:51 pm
i am 12 years old and i bought the book thinking it was going to suck but when i started reading it was the best book i ever read i couldn’t put the book down (that’s y it only took me one day to read lol)
November 12, 2010 at 5:36 pm
this is the greatest book ever u need to read it:)
April 11, 2011 at 8:31 am
i was totally FLABBEDGASTED by this book, i mean this book made me look at my life i na whole new light
April 27, 2011 at 5:42 pm
[…] that are both understandable to younger audiences and needed. James Magine, a blogger from the Teen Book Review, states in his testimony, “this book changed my life and everytime i think about […]
December 4, 2011 at 6:59 pm
what the hel
November 29, 2011 at 9:30 pm
what would be the theme of this book?
December 4, 2011 at 6:58 pm
no
December 4, 2011 at 6:58 pm
girlllll….. this book is goodddddddddddddddddddd read it or i kil u :P
January 4, 2012 at 3:49 am
Alquati Marson…
[…]Review: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott « Teen Book Review[…]…
January 5, 2012 at 9:24 am
The Perfect 10 Diet: 10 Key Hormones That Hold the Secret to Losing Weight and Feeling Great-Fast!…
[…]Review: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott « Teen Book Review[…]…
January 16, 2012 at 12:57 am
Read & Buy $ Promotion Free To Use…
[…]Review: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott « Teen Book Review[…]…
January 17, 2012 at 12:33 am
minecraft…
[…]Review: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott « Teen Book Review[…]…
January 20, 2012 at 7:43 pm
Great article. Thanks for sharing!…
[…]Review: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott « Teen Book Review[…]…
January 21, 2012 at 2:05 am
in gia re, in cuc re, in sieu re, in offset gia re, in ky thuat so gia re…
[…]Review: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott « Teen Book Review[…]…
January 21, 2012 at 5:40 am
Audio Identifier Standalone…
[…]Review: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott « Teen Book Review[…]…
January 21, 2012 at 10:25 am
all about cute little cats…
[…]Review: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott « Teen Book Review[…]…
January 22, 2012 at 7:23 am
plastic household item…
[…]Review: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott « Teen Book Review[…]…
January 28, 2012 at 6:19 am
high pulse poker…
[…]Review: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott « Teen Book Review[…]…
February 21, 2012 at 5:13 am
סעיף 46…
[…]Review: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott « Teen Book Review[…]…
March 31, 2014 at 4:24 pm
I”m defenitly not a reader, I had to chose a book for a school project and I could honestly say I don’t think I have enjoyed a book in such a long time! It makes me want to keep reading everything and gives me chills the whole time! I’m a person thats usually addicted to my phone but for this book I actually turned my phone off and kept reading! It’s amazing and I defentily want to continue!
March 8, 2015 at 12:51 am
Great review! I really liked this book too- it was just such an emotional and harrowing read, and one that you just had to read in one sitting.