I was, at first, reluctant to read Sadie on account of the countless cautionary reviews I saw online. Almost every reviewer warned of dark themes and an absolutely heart-breaking conclusion. However, they were also sure to include just how masterfully crafted the story was. With its unapologetic intensity, Sadie is able to do the rare thing of making its readers feel virtually every point in the story as viscerally as the characters themselves. Now, after rereading the book two times, Sadie, and Courtney Summers in general, is not for the faint of heart.

Sadie, the story’s protagonist, is 19 years old when her 13-year-old sister Mattie is found dead a few days after disappearing from the trailer park they call home. And although the police are unable to find a leading suspect, Sadie knows exactly who’s responsible. The story alternates between Sadie’s perspective and transcriptions of a podcast focused on her journey to find and seek revenge on her sister’s murderer. The varying points of view seemed off-putting to me at first, but they play off each other well in the novel. We are privy to Sadie’s personal monologue and emotional progression, only to watch as the podcasters retrace her steps months later. It’s definitely frustrating to watch podcasters run into dead-ends, knowing Sadie’s path, but it also contributes to rich storytelling. Sadie’s grief and fury influence every aspect of her decision-making, to the point where it would be almost impossible to know exactly what she was thinking if she didn’t tell the reader so herself.

Personally, Sadie cemented Courtney Summers as an author to keep an eye out for. I can’t necessarily claim that she’s among my favorites since every book she’s published has made me feel as if I’ve been emptied out from the inside, but she is definitely a master of her craft. The world-building in Sadie only works to make the tragic points in the narrative even more intense. I’d recommend Sadie to anyone looking for a story that will rip your heart out and smash it to pieces. However, do be warned that the themes discussed are definitely on the mature side.

Review by: Kristine S, 11th Grade

—Amanda Charles, Young Adult Librarian, Central Library, Teen'Scape