Finding Cassie Crazy - Jaclyn Moriarty

The Year ten notice board at Ashbury High is full of crazy messages. One of them is Mr Botherit’s ‘Joy of the Envelope’ Pen-Pal Project. Best friends Cassie, Em and Lydia are forced to write letters to unknown boys at downtown Brookfield High – where the kids are all psychopaths, drug-dealers, tattooed bunny-killers, etc.

Naturally, this leads to all-out war between the schools, plus secret meetings and surprising snogging.

Having had the book in my possession for some time and not managing to read it, I was reluctant to start. I especially didn’t know what to expect since the book is written entirely in: letters, notes, emails and short diary entries.  However I was pleasantly surprised and have now started reading ‘Feeling Sorry for Celia’ a book that is in the same series.

Cassie, Em and Lydia are all best friends and attend the ‘posh’ school for rich kids, and aren’t happy to have write letters to the ‘rough’ kids at Brookfield. However the schools bad reputation deceives some of the students who attend there (Seb and Charlie) and is a lesson about don’t judge others before you understand who they truly are.

Lydia and Seb’s relationship is charming and slightly comedic, whilst Charlie and Em’s relationship is comedic and fascinating, as it is clear they are attracted to one another but neither wants to admit it. I love how their relationships develop and how they aren’t afraid to be themselves; with Lydia’s secret missions and Em’s growing trust with Charlie.

However Cassie’s relationship with Matthew (Paul) is based around Cassie’s stubbornness not to be scared, which does eventually lead to everyone thinking she is going crazy. Matthew is a character clearly used to getting his own way, and shows how easy it is to be cruel when you are anonymous. But it also shows how easy it is to be someone who you’re not, and the reality of bullies with easy targets.

Cassie having friends around her who are also slightly ‘crazy’ helps her to push past her problems and get her revenge. I like that the story isn’t just based on Cassie, and it shows how different relationships can develop in different ways, it adds a fresh twist to the story. Overall this book was a refreshing change from the usual storys, and unexpected events kept the book going.

3.5 stars out of 5