Common Sense Media Review
By Rachel Sarah
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Raw thriller about a brutal crime and teen seeking justice.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Based on 17 kid reviews
Kids say this book presents a beautifully written yet haunting narrative that explores complex and mature themes like trauma, abuse, and the quest for vengeance. While some find it a gripping and engaging read, others note it may be challenging for younger readers to fully comprehend the heavy subject matter and emotional depths involved.
- mature themes
- complex narrative
- engaging storytelling
- emotional impact
- recommended age 15+
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
This story follows SADIE, the 19-year-old daughter of a single mom and addict, whose 13-year-old sister, Mattie, has been found dead. Sadie practically raised her sister in the tiny town of Cold Creek, Colorado (population 800), and now she's determined to get revenge by finding the killer. The story alternates between Sadie's point of view and that of West McCray, a radio journalist who's working on a segment about small, forgotten towns in America. He overhears Sadie's story at a local gas station, and in his true-crime podcast series, he tracks his efforts to learn what happened to Sadie, even if she doesn't want to be found.
Is It Any Good?
This is not an easy read, but a very compelling one. In the era of the #MeToo movement, Sadie seems important, and reading it might open the door talk about sexual assault and abuse.
The format of the book takes some time to get used to, as it switches back and forth between Sadie's first-person narration and the podcast script, a journalistic account of the search for Sadie. But in the end, Sadie is a raw, gritty page-turner that tackles violence, abandonment, and addiction.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how sexual abuse is portrayed and dealt with in Sadie. Why is it important to read stories about sexual abuse, even if it's difficult at times?
What do you think about Sadie's devotion to her sister? How can revenge grow out of love?
How does this book compare to other books you've read and movies you've seen that deal with addiction? Does it seem realistic?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Wednesday Books
- Publication date : September 4, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate