Parents' Guide to

NEED

By Michael Berry, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Fresh cyberthriller explores dark side of social media.

NEED Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

age 16+

Intense and violent

I was surprised to read the description here describing the violence in this book as including "gun play that resultedrin fatal wounds". This is a euphemistic way to say that people are shot to death. The book also includes dogs being slaughtered, suicide, and homicidal ideation. It centers on teens and their use of a social networking site but includes intense situations and very mature themes. Many middle school students may not be capable of processing this material appropriately.

This title has:

Too much violence

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (13 ):

Finding a new twist on the cyberthriller takes some hard work and imagination, but this tale of social media run amok has some nifty surprises. Author Joelle Charbonneau devises a sure-fire concept for NEED, pitting impulsive Wisconsin teens against one another as they perform various tasks in expectation of getting their wishes granted. The stakes grow high, the suspense mounts, and characters reveal unforeseen aspects of their personalities. The final confrontation between Kaylee and the villain is a bit too talky, but Charbonneau crafts a solid thriller plot, one with a neat kick at the end.

Book Details

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