The Day I Met Suzie by Chris Higgins

‘My boyfriend could get into trouble if he gets caught.  He could go to jail.’  I moan softly.  ‘So could I.’

‘Anything you tell me is completely confidential.’ I sigh deeply.  ‘I wouldn’t know where to begin.’

‘At the beginning?’ she says.

So that’s what I do.  I start at the beginning like she says.

The day I met Suzie.

As Indie tells her story to the person on the end of the phone, she realises that Suzie has taken over her home, her friends, her work, her boyfriend – and her life.

Published by Hodder  Children’s Books in March 2013

361 pages

Goodreads Summary

Indigo (Indie) rings the Samaritans. She is frightened and desperate with no one to turn to. Over the course of one long night, Indie tells her story to the person on the end of the phone. She realises that her friend Suzie has taken over her home, her friends, her work, her boyfriend - and her life. After every few chapters we are brought back to the present moment, and see how piecing the story together helps Indie progress towards resolution.

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Review by Georgina Tranter

At this moment in time Indigo’s life is set to plummet onto a course she never expected it to take.  She meets Suzie in the queue at college and things are never going to be the same again.  Before she knows it, Suzie has morphed into Scarlett, and is taking over Indie’s life, in more ways than one!  This is definitely a tale of caution; of what can happen if you be-friend the wrong person, but don’t see the signs until it is too late.

I really enjoyed this book by the shortlisted ‘Queen of Teen’ Chris Higgins.  I read it in one sitting as I really wanted to know what the future held for both Indie and Suzie.  Entwined in the story are Indie’s boyfriend Rick, her hairdresser boss Gordon, and Indie’s family.  It was fast-paced, and gripping and totally suitable for today’s teenagers. 

It was realistic without having to be too hard-edged and I could see how Indie ended up on the path she was on.  The book keeps you hanging on right up to the last sentence and I would fully recommend it.