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Black Cairn Point by Claire McFall (view source)
Revision as of 15:02, 31 August 2020
, 15:02, 31 August 2020no edit summary
A year has passed, and Heather knows that she was lucky to escape Black Cairn Point alive. But, Dougie is in a coma, and unless he comes out of it, he can't prove Heather's innocence...
McFall, as an award-winning author, definitely knows how to tell a story. The book is split into two different narratives, both told by Heather and tightly interwoven throughout the course of the story. The first narrative, titled ''Then'', takes place on a camping trip to Black Cairn Point, on the Irish Sea coast (not far from Glasgow) where Heather has gone on a camping trip with her friends. The other narrative, ''Now'' takes place a year after the events at Black Cairn Point, and shows Heather in a lunatic asylum, being treated by Dr. Peterson. Dougie is comatose after what happened and Heather is sullen, rebellious and uncooperative. The two narratives perfectly show the changes in Heather’s personality, almost making the two of them seem like two different people.
The characters are well-written. Heather, is a 16-year-old hoping to study archaeology. She has a crush on Dougie, a close friend who is hoping to study archaeology at the same university as Heather. Coming along for the ride is Emma, Heather's best friend, whom Heather is growing quite disdainful of as she's in a rather shallow relationship with Darren, a brawny, alcoholic labourer. Third-wheeling on the trip is Heather's other friend Martin, Darren's polar opposite.
The more paranormal side of things is also set up very well. It is described in the same way as found-footage films such as ''The Blair Witch Project'', with the emphasis being placed on what is ''not'' seen rather than what ''is'' seen. This makes the story much tenser and leaves the reader wondering what is actually causing the events.
The book is very well written, with a twist ending to shock anyone.
[[Choker by Elizabeth Woods]] – a similarly tense teen thriller with just as much shock value.
[[The Midnight Palace by Carlos Ruiz Zafon]] – a more historical teen thriller with similarly dark fantasy themes. [[The Wren Hunt by Mary Watson]]
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