ARC Book Review: League of Strays by L.B. Schulman

League of Strays

L.B. Schulman

ARC Disclaimer: I was not paid in any way by the publishers to review this book favourably. The review is my own honest opinion (Whether or not it is agreed with). 

Publication Date: October 1st 2012

Publisher: Amulet

Pages: 288

Genre:  Contemporary, Thriller, Young Adult

When Charlotte Brody, a lonely 17-year-old student at a new school, receives an invitation to join The League of Strays, she's intrigued by the group's promise of "instant friendship." The League does provide companionship--and even a love interest--but Charlotte grows increasingly uncomfortable with its sinister mission to seek revenge against the bullies of Kennedy High. When escalating acts of vengeance threaten to hurl her down a path of remorse, Charlotte must choose between her new friends and the direction of a future she's never fully considered.

I loved this book. I can't say that too much about many Contemporary YA Novels, but I really liked the idea behind it and how it all played out. It is also like the other half of the idea of Circle of Silence. Instead of there being a group of prankster kid outcasts with an outside person trying to figure it out, we are shown a similar story from the inside.

Charlotte is the new girl, in fact the only person she knows in her school so far is a bully from her old school that had transferred to the same area. When she is given the promise of instant friendship and understanding from a very charming, suave fellow, she really could not help but fall face first into it all.

The characters in League of Strays are all very unique, dealing with their situations differently and striving to be different people. There is the valedictorian, the good girl, the rebel, the victim and the controller. They have all been hurt by someone, but except for Kade, none of them do anything about it. He, of course, sees things differently.

There is a feeling throughout the book of seduction by ideals and a snowball rolling down a mountain, gaining momentum and becoming so much more than anyone expected.

It is a tale of control and revenge and things getting out of hand.

About a third of the way through the book I began to realize that Kade was a sociopath and this scared me, but I truly love that the author went that route. He was so classic sociopath/future serial killer with his charming personality, good looks and need to control everything. His careful seduction of Charlotte, Nora and even Richie showed his manipulation ability to the max. He knew that he was larger than life to all of them, and wanted the attention and love. He picked the people he did, because he thought he could beguile them all to his cause. He was like a miniature Charles Manson

I was so proud of Charlotte in the end when she cut him off, when she showed him that she was stronger than his charisma. Richie was also someone I became very proud of since he had been entangled with Kade for so long.

It was good to see Nora as well, however, because it really hits home that all these characters are different and all of them grew, maybe not in the best way from the reader's standpoint, but other than Kade, they all did.

I recommend this book to people who enjoy books about outcasts, contemporary YA of the thriller variety and tales where characters truly grow up.

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