Ten by Gretchen McNeil

Ten
by Gretchen McNeil
Reading level: Ages 13 and up
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (September 18, 2012)
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Shhhh!
Don't spread the word! Three-day weekend. House party.
White Rock House on Henry Island.
You do not want to miss it.

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—three days on Henry Island at an exclusive house party. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their own reasons for wanting to be there, which involve their school's most eligible bachelor, T. J. Fletcher, and look forward to three glorious days of boys, bonding, and fun-filled luxury.

But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.
Suddenly, people are dying, and with a storm raging outside, the teens are cut off from the rest of the world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn't scheduled to return for three days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?

At a Glance:

If you're a fan of the typical teen horror movies (Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer) then you will appreciate Ten by Gretchen McNeil.  This book hits all the exciting, suspenseful moments you're hoping for, without being too complex or in depth.

Reads like a Movie:

It isn't very often that a book actually reads like a movie.  I mean, I know you can often see the things you read in your imagination, but with this one, I could almost hear the creepy music and see the hand or cat or bird jump out and scare me.  When they walk into a room and see one more red slash on the wall, I hear the loud noise they play in those horror movies to make you jump.  Do you know what I mean?  I actually feel like I watched this, instead of reading it.

Angsty!

Yeah, fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on what you like, Ten was full of teen angst.  I can't say I'm a huge fan of the drama, but it definitely made me want a lot of those teens to be offed....which may have been the point.  I guess it makes you feel a little better about a houseful of teens being killed if they're a bunch of whiny jerks, and they were a bunch of whiny jerks! 

  

And Then There Were None:

I have not read Agatha Christie's original take on this story, which I'm glad about.  I wasn't influenced by that book, and didn't know what to expect.  I think this helped me to enjoy this story more.  I pretty much suspected everyone at one time or another.  *spoiler* [I have to say I was a little disappointed in the "big reveal," though.  I don't like when there's really no way to guess who the killer is.  I want to be able to at least have the chance to figure it out, and this was completely unguessable.]

Love in the time of Slaughtera:

It never ceases to amaze me that two people falling in love can kiss in any circumstance.  Oh, someone just got stabbed in the back?  Well....let's make out!  Hey, it might be the end of our lives!  It's now or never, right?  What's worse is that I was actually begging for it.   I was like, "If something happens to these two, and they never get a chance for a good kissing session, I'm going to be pissed!"  Luckily, I was not let down.  I love how part of you wants them to get together, and part of you is wondering if one of them is actually the killer.  That'll add some tension to a relationship!

To Wrap it Up:

Ten was nothing groundbreaking or earth-shattering, but it was a fun, quick, and creepy read.  I did prefer Gretchen's previous book, Possess, to this one, but I did still enjoy this book too.

Content:

• Sexual Content: Moderate dialog
• Profanity: Heavy
• Violence: Heavy
• Other Notables:  Drinking/Partying

For more info, check out Ten on Parentalbookreviews.com