From School Library Journal
Gr 9 Up—A young woman's determination to reveal the truth behind an apparent cult exposes a more complicated look at doubt and belief than she could have imagined. Lo Denham barely survived the car accident that killed her parents. Her sister, Bea, credits her miraculous recovery to Lev Warren, leader of the Unity Project, an outwardly innocuous religious group that performs acts of service and community outreach. Bea gives up everything to join them. Years after being abandoned by her sister, Lo—who works as an assistant at an investigative magazine—follows in her path, desperate to uncover the truth behind the Project and to save her sister. With promises of atonement, redemption, and salvation, Lev's message begins to penetrate Lo's skepticism—how far will she go to get the real story? And once she discovers it, can she bear what it may reveal? Masterfully written and pulling no punches, the narrative moves back and forth in time, showing events from both Bea and Lo's perspectives. Summers creates and sustains almost unbearable tension, exploring sacrifice, loss, forgiveness, miracles, surrender, grief, and lies. The unflinching look at Bea and Lo's desperation is devastating, especially as both chase healing and salvation to counteract emptiness and loss. Readers will question the truth and everyone's motivations in this world full of manipulation and mind games. Secondary characters are of various races; Bea and Lo are described only as having brown hair. VERDICT A gripping, flawless psychological thriller ready to leave readers shattered.—Amanda MacGregor, Parkview Elem. Sch., Rosemount, MN
Review
* Winner of the International Thriller Award *
* A Spring 2021 Indie Next Pick *
* One of Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2021 *
"[A] deeply disconcerting investigative thriller that seems unassuming but worms under the skin and into the mind...Winding questions of faith and sacrifice into an already fibrous plot, Summers presents a rich offering that lingers even as it shocks." - Booklist (Starred Review)
"The beauty of the story lies in its focus on the downtrodden, the vulnerable, and the earnest, expressed with an enormous amount of empathy. A powerful, suspenseful, and heartbreaking thriller about identity, sisterhood, and belonging." - Kirkus (Starred Review)
"Masterfully written and pulling no punches...Summers creates and sustains almost unbearable tension, exploring sacrifice, loss, forgiveness, miracles, surrender, grief, and lies. Readers will question the truth and everyone’s motivations in this world full of manipulation and mind games. A gripping, flawless psychological thriller ready to leave readers shattered." - School Library Journal (Starred Review)
"In this compelling and absorbing YA novel, two sisters make the most painful of choices based on their love for one another." - Shelf Awareness
"This is a beautifully-written, compelling book about the lengths to which someone will go in order not to lose their sense of belonging. It’s full of twists and turns, keeping its readers guessing until the very end. The characterisation is masterfully done and so empathetic that the reader will find it almost impossible not to sympathise with the characters even if they are seemingly going down the wrong path." - The Nerd Daily
"A must-read for anyone who wonders how people fall victim to cults, this novel is likewise a sure hit for anyone who prizes tautly crafted, emotionally driven suspense." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"This book is brave and raw and exciting and wise―wise about girls and women, weakness and strength, and the bittersweet beauty of being human." - Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood Series
"Masterful and devastating. The Project welcomes you into its world with the warmth of a minister and peels back the psychology of its characters―joiners and questioners alike―with a precision only Courtney Summers is capable of. Trust me: there is no flaw in The Project." - Somaiya Daud, international bestselling author of Mirage and Court of Lions
"Courtney Summers has done it again: Broke my heart and pieced it back together in unexpected ways. The Project is a beautiful, thrilling testament to love. It takes a compelling deep dive into what makes people want to belong and you'll leave it gasping for air. This book is a baptism for your soul." - Maurene Goo, author of Somewhere Only We Know and The Way You Make Me Feel
"Completely electrifying from start to finish―I can't think of another writer who takes the risks Courtney Summers does and sticks the landing every single time." - Kara Thomas, author of The Cheerleaders and The Darkest Corners
"Courtney Summers has, once again, written a devastatingly perfect novel. The Project will charm you, thrill you, and ultimately gut you, all while challenging every preconceived notion you had about cults and our relationship with them." - Kaitlin Ward, author of Girl in a Bad Place and Lie to Me
Praise for Courtney Summers:
"A riveting tour de force." - Kirkus (Starred Review) on Sadie
"Summers excels at slowly unspooling both Sadie’s and West’s investigations at a measured, tantalizing pace." - Booklist (Starred Review) on Sadie
"A heartrending must-have." - School Library Journal (Starred Review) on Sadie
"A taut, suspenseful book about abuse and power." - Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) on Sadie
"Flat-out dazzling." - A.J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window on Sadie
"A haunting, gut-wrenching, and relentlessly compelling read." - Veronica Roth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Carve the Mark and The Divergent series on Sadie
"The propulsive, riveting novel that started it all." - Karen M. McManus, New York Times bestselling author of One of Us is Lying and Two Can Keep a Secret on Cracked Up to Be
"Cracked Up to Be was my first introduction to the vicious brilliance that is Courtney Summers. Right from the opening lines, that breathless hammering of beats that illustrate the terrifying and true experience of high school, I knew I was in the hands of a writer who would be honest with her readers, who would even be brutal. This book changed me as a reader and as a writer. I could never go back again. After being gutted by a Summers novel, why would anyone want to?" ―Nova Ren Suma, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Walls Around Us
"Cracked Up to Be is a blisteringly realistic exploration of high school and the trauma that can occur during adolescence. Its brutally honest portrayal of Parker Fadley and her world is unforgettable. A modern classic." ―Brandy Colbert, award-winning author of The Revolution of Birdie Randolph and Little & Lion
“This book is a raw, exposed nerve: all the mess we shouldn’t see, shouldn’t be, wrapped up in the story of one unforgettable girl. Courtney Summers and Cracked Up to Be rewrote the rules and for that I am forever grateful.” ― Rebecca Barrow, author of This Is What It Feels Like
“Parker Fadley is THE seminal unlikable female character of modern young adult literature. One of my favorite books of all time, Cracked Up to Be is absolutely riveting from first page to last.” - Laurie Devore, author of How to Break a Boyand Winner Take All
About the Author
Courtney Summers is the bestselling and critically acclaimed author of several novels for young adults, including Cracked Up to Be, All the Rage and Sadie. Her work has been released to multiple starred reviews, received numerous awards and honors--including the Edgar Award, John Spray Mystery Award, Cybils Award, Odyssey Award, and International Thriller Award--and has been recognized by many library, 'Best Of' and Readers' Choice lists. She lives and writes in Canada.
