Never Coming Home
By Lucinda Dyer,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Riveting thriller explores perils of fame and social media.
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What's the Story?
In NEVER COMING HOME, 10 young social media influencers (all under 21) are chosen for an all-expenses-paid trip to Unknown Island, an exclusive tropical resort. Manny de la Cruz is a tattooed DJ from Miami. Frankie Russh is a dancer with 130 million followers and her own makeup and clothing lines. Chelsea Quinn is a trans beauty blogger and Margot Bryant the CEO of a struggling tech startup. Justice Wilson is an environmental activist whose parents don't know she's gone. Sixteen-year-old Celia Young is a gamer from San Francisco and youngest influencer on the trip. At 17, Robby Wade is a chef with a YouTube channel and his own restaurant in Atlanta. Emma Jane Ohana is a billionaire's daughter, Princeton student Graham Hoffman had been elected to office in his hometown while still in high school, and Xander Lee is a college football player turned dancing social media personality. They arrive expecting to stay at a luxury resort and instead find shabby cabins, no WiFi or cell service, a kitchen filled with snack food, and no resort staff. After everyone has arrived, Graham hands out envelopes that have been left for each of them in the resort office. A thick cream- colored piece of paper inside the envelopes tells then the real reason they were brought to Unknown Island: "You have been invited here because you are all murderers." This is followed by a list of their names and who they've killed. Manny is the first one to admit the accusation about him is true. A fire broke out at warehouse where he'd organized a party and nine people died. Others follow with excuses, half-truths, or denials about their murder charges. Then one of the 10 suddenly collapses and dies. An accident, they think. Then there's another death. A girl is attacked by a swarm of bees and and dies when she can't find her EpiPen. This time they all agree it was no accident. Death after death quickly follows as the dwindling group tries to decide if the killer is a stranger hiding on the island or one of their own. Within 48 hours, only two are left.
Is It Any Good?
This fast-paced page-turner of a thriller is filled with flawed characters who offer serious life lessons for readers about the perils of fame and the dangers of keeping secrets. Never Coming Home gives readers and parents an excellent opportunity to discuss the power of personalities on social media. The storyline shows teens they should be cautious about believing the life a social media influencer presents on their platform is an honest reflection of who they really are and that the number of followers on a platform never guarantees a happy or successful life.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the young influencers are portrayed in Never Coming Home. Did you feel it was an accurate look at what life must be like behind the scenes for a social media personality?
Who do you follow on social media? Is there a character in the novel you'd follow?
What makes for a great thriller -- the characters or the plot?
Book Details
- Author: Kate Williams
- Genre: Mystery
- Topics: Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Courage , Perseverance
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Delacorte Press
- Publication date: July 21, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 17
- Number of pages: 304
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Kindle
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: August 6, 2022
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