In terms of realistic fiction, Chasing Alliecat was my first foray into this world in YA fiction. This book hooked its fingers into me and drew me into reading from the very first chapter. If this is what all realistic fiction is like, well please let me say that I'm more than happy to go find some more! I felt so invested in these characters that I loved every minute of this book. Absolutely amazing.

If you are the type of reader who wants their characters to be well developed and drive the plot, this book is for you! Sadie, Joe and Allie are all so different and yet there are similar parts in their lives that draw them together. Like a band of lovable misfits, I had a blast watching them interact. Sadie provides the sensibility, Allie the toughness and Joe the adorable awkwardness. The three of them just meshed so perfectly that I really felt like they were real people. I'd hang with them in a heartbeat.

Their love of mountain biking especially ties them together. I loved the descriptions of the way they felt as they rode. The sheer adrenaline that was described sounds amazing! Reading about how mountain bikers have such respect for nature and their bikes, it really blew me away. How much do we really hear about mountain bikers anyway? I have to say that it was refreshing to see a book about a sport like this. Mountain bikers have always impressed me, but to see younger characters who were so invested? Wow, just wow. You can definitely tell that Rebecca has a passion for this.

Story wise, Chasing Alliecat felt to me like a roller coaster. A wild ride indeed, this book starts out slow and allows you to meet the characters and get to know them. Then all of the sudden things start to happen, the characters are moving at a lightning pace and there are times when you'll forget to breathe. Trust me. The ending of this book especially just blew me away. To say that I loved Allie, Sadie and Joe's story is a bit of an understatement. I'd say more that I actually felt a part of their story. It's so true to life.

Am I being vague? Definitely. I won't give a single part of this book away for you because honestly that would be doing you a disservice my friends. Suffice it to say that this is a fantastic story! Chasing Alliecat has it all. Friendship, romance, mystery and intrigue. You want it, it's there! You'll need to go grab a copy as soon as you can to see what I'm talking about. ( )

I haven't been on a bike since I was about 12 and my older brother firmly refused to accompany me on any bike rides. He said I was going to get myself killed and he would get in trouble. Seriously, that car missed me by whole feet!
Yeah, I have some trouble judging distances. I'm better at it now (but if you see a small dark green car with lots of ribbons tied to the antennae, beware)

This book made me want to go mountain biking. Desperately. I couldn't stop reading it. I devoured the pulse-pounding descriptions of biking, I completely felt the desperation Sadie feels to escape from the crowded house she shares with her relatives, I wanted to cheer for Allie as she fights to escape from the dark and horrible mystery that pursues her, and got all teary-eyed when Sadie and Joe start cautiously opening up to each other.

I'm not a big reader of YA, but when I do, I often read Flux and I'm always satisfied. This story was very satisfying. I loved the crisp but descriptive writing, the realistic characters, the pulse-pounding mystery, and I especially loved the way the author didn't write a happily-ever-after romance for any of her teens. It's all about the mystery, the dark secrets, the friendship, and the biking.

Verdict: Buy it. Even if your teens aren't into biking, they will be after they read this. Hand it to readers who want books with lots of action and not a ton of mushy stuff and especially to teens looking for a good mystery.

ISBN: 9780738721309; Published February 8, 2011; Review copy provided by publisher at ALA Midwinter 2011.

I can sum up Chasing AllieCat in three words: exciting, mysterious, and completely believable. Rebecca Fjelland Davis has taken a dull summer out in the boons and made it a life-changing experience for three teenagers.

Sadie is a fantastic narrator. The entire story is told from her first-person perspective, and we, the readers, do not lack for any visual descriptions or her opinions on what his happening - we are always in the know, although we don't know anything until Sadie does. One of the chief reasons that I like Sadie so much is because she is a laid back, take-people-as-they-are person. That doesn't mean that she doesn't have her opinions on people or doesn't gripe when she has to deal with them, but she accepts it, moves on and works past it. I particularly like that she always was offended and stuck up for Allie when she thought Joe was making very un-PC remarks about her, particularly since it is evident from the get-go that she is attracted to him! Like I said, she is easy going on people, but she sticks to her own opinions and is loyal to the people who have shown trust in her. I like a character who isn't wishy-washy or a fair-weathered friend.

Allie is a prickly type of friendly from the get-go. She is uncompromising and tough, but not necessarily a bully, although sometimes she can come off that way, particularly with Joe. She genuinely wants to see people be their best and live the best way possible, which can cause her to be abrasive to people who are not up to code. Joe, on the other, hand, is a nice guy, although not my type of guy. In an odd twist, he is the nephew of Allie's aunt-by-marriage. Like Sadie, he has been sent to live with relatives for the summer. In his case, it's to escape the aftermath of a personal tragedy. While I never bought the 'tough-guy' persona that he is originally present to us with, I did appreciate that his overall kindness and that he was working though some demons of his own. This is a summer of growth and healing for him, and riding through the fear helps him as much as it does Sadie and Allie.

All three characters have an absolute passion for mountain biking and all three also shoulder tough burdens. You get the idea from the beginning that Allie in particular comes from a sad and troubled background, but I had no clue just how bad it was until the end when the cause for her disappearance is revealed. Davis wrote an exceptional plot in this book, and specifically with Allie's story, I think her skill really shines. Throughout the book, we are given just enough clues and incidents that lead us to believe that certain possibilities were afoot, but you aren't sure which one it is until the end. She also has a remarkable balance between this being a book about friendship and coming-of-age, and also being about Very Serious Subject Matter. As the latter is never revealed until towards the end, I won't share that with you, but it's a tough thing to bear, and Davis uses very clear language when it's discussed, leaving us in no doubt of the reasons behind Allie's disappearance.

I really enjoyed this book. Although I had a little trouble getting into it at the very beginning, that quickly passed, and then I didn't want to put it down. Davis' characters are distinct, her writing simple, vivid and descriptive, the plot fast-paced, and the mystery of Allie keeps your attention. There is one, tiny aspect of the plot that I struggled with, but I will say it doesn't hinder my appreciation of the book or my recommendation of it. Chasing AllieCat is a solid read, a great book about three unlikely comrades who share a summer that teaches them about what living is, and that fear is something to be conquered, not accepted. ( )

Summary: Sadie Lester has been forced to stay with her aunt and uncle in the boonies, Minnesota, for the summer while her parents have a wild Egyptian adventure. While escaping from her relatives’ packed house one night, Sadie meets Allie, a girl who seems to have quite a few secrets and a passion for mountain biking. Sadie and Allie become fast friends, and one day they stumble upon something heinous while biking in the woods, setting off a chain of events that leave Allie missing and Sadie in grave danger.

My thoughts: Chasing AllieCat is an exciting story about friendship and facing your fears. Though the real action doesn’t start until halfway through the book, the slower beginning builds the setting and the three main characters until you feel like you’ve known them a while.

Chasing AllieCat centered around mountain biking, and I enjoyed how the author used biking to parallel the themes she later introduced through the Allie and Joe’s misfortunes. I’ve never been mountain biking before, but now I’d kind of like to give it a go! Rebecca Fjelland Davis makes it sound so exhilarating!

The thing I enjoyed most about Chasing AllieCat was the story. There were humorous moments, suspenseful moments, and downright scary moments. Every sub-plot woven into the story felt developed. The mystery revolving around Allie, though somewhat confusing at first, was very realistic and intense.

Overall, I would definitely suggest reading Chasing AllieCat. It was a real breath of fresh air for me, and I was pleased with how satisfied it left me feeling. If you’re looking for something different and exciting, give it a go! ( )