posted on 08 Oct 2023

Trapped by Sophie McKenzie

Hailey Jones is part of the Hightop Youth Singers and they’ve just finished their latest concert at the retirement home. But Hailey’s not really happy despite being with her friends, Rosie and Samira who are being their usual boisterous selves. The reason? Hailey has a crush on another member of the Singers, Kit, who she thinks might have given her some signals of romantic interest; but now he seems to be spending all his time and attention on the lovely Bex Bickerton.

Hailey finds herself sitting alone somewhere near the back of the coach home watching Kit and Bex sitting together on nearby seats and feels her antagonism towards her rival growing. But her thoughts are rudely interrupted when – bang! Disaster! Chaos!

A tree has been blown over and crashed down on the coach, trapping Hailey, Bex and Kit in the back – unable to get to their friends at the front. As the others scramble out of the trapped bus, the three teenagers find themselves not just trapped in there but also in deadly danger as the coach begins to slide over the edge of the coastal cliff:

“Hailey slowly turned her head to look through the back window of the bus. All she could see was the darkness of the cliff below. At the very bottom, everything was black, apart from the odd flash of white, which she knew came from the tips of waves crashing against the rocks.”

As the other children evacuate the bus from the front, the situation for the three who are trapped starts to get critical.

Can they find a way out? What will be the cost to them?

Well, of course, I can’t tell you because you’re going to want to read that for yourself.

What I will tell you is that all three are going to learn some important lessons about themselves, their friendships, what binds us together and how easily we can make judgements about people without the right information.

Sophie McKenzie is, of course, the multi-million selling author of other thrillers for teens (Girl, Missing; Sister, Missing) and knows how to craft a tight, exciting story. 

This new book is published by the ever-excellent Barrington Stoke, who specialise in producing books for reluctant readers of all kinds and will keep anyone picking it up turning the page. There are black and white illustrations from Melania Badosa who helps bring the action to life.

The book can be obtained from your local independent bookshop – who will be happy to order it for you if they don’t have it on their shelves.

 

Terry Potter

October 2023