Six teenagers. One sniper. Only five survive.
Five Survive by Holly Jackson, the author of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, is a young adult thriller told from the perspective of Red Kenny, a shy and sensitive 18-year-old. It follows the story of Red and five of her friends as they drive in an RV to a campground for spring break. The group includes Maddy Lavoy, the best friend; Oliver Lavoy, the headstrong older brother; Reyna Flores-Serrano, the perfect girlfriend; Simon Yoo, the fun one; and Arthur Moore, the quiet one. But as they near the end of their trip, they take a wrong turn. Suddenly, there is a gunshot: one tire gone, then three more. They’re trapped! Soon, they realize that this was no accident; a sniper lurks in the forest, ready to shoot if they run. One of them has a secret, a secret that the sniper wants. There’s no cell service and no escape plan, only a warning that if the sniper doesn’t get the secret, they’re all dead. Over the next eight hours, tensions rise in the cramped RV, secrets are revealed, and people are betrayed. They all wonder, who holds the secret the sniper wants? Will they all survive the night, and at what cost?
I read this book in a single day and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ve always loved thriller books, especially ones by Holly Jackson. You’re always hooked from the first page to the last word, and Five Survive did not disappoint. I enjoyed the suspense created by the storytelling from a single perspective. I found that telling the story from Red’s perspective kept me in the dark about the other characters’ secrets, but it also helped me understand how Red’s character developed over the course of the story. At the beginning of the story, Red is very insecure; however, as these horrific events happen in the RV, Red becomes more confident in what she knows and believes about herself. I also think that the characters of Maddie, Arthur, and Oliver also grew throughout the story. However, although I felt that Red and a couple of the characters progressed, others did not receive as much attention. For example, Simon Yoo was one whom I felt didn’t get enough attention. We learn a couple of things about him, but then he essentially disappears from the storyline. The same goes for Reyna; both of them are essential to the story, but they aren’t explored in depth as much as the other characters. Furthermore, I enjoyed the book’s timeline, which spanned just eight hours overnight. Each chapter went hour by hour, uncovering each character’s role, slowly building to the end of the book. I felt that the hour-by-hour timeline heightened the tension and mystery of the story’s events. You’re always wondering what’s next. But, I think my favorite and the most heartbreaking part was the end of this book; it is one of my favorite endings to any book I’ve read. It brings you on a rollercoaster of emotions, shock, horror, heartbreak, sadness, and relief. If you want to experience this emotional ride and find out what happens to those six teenagers that night, go read Five Survive by Holly Jackson right now.
Overall, I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves a good murder mystery. I would give it a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars. For those interested, here are some additional titles by Holly Jackson: The Reappearance of Rachel Price, Kill Joy, and Not Quite Dead Yet.
Furthermore, if you have any book recommendations or suggestions for a book I could review for this column in our next issue, email me at: [email protected]–happy reading!
