Homegrown Terror by Steve White Review

"Kendra is a soft spoken girl at school, and many of her friends would describe her independent and shy. But beneath the surface is a fierce warrior: Kendra is in fact a teen spy. Her "parents" are handlers for the National Security Agency, and she is sent on missions around the country. Her newest mission: a new homegrown terrorist organization has sprung up in the US, and she must tear the organization down. She will come up against more danger than she has ever faced before - will she save her country? Or will she die trying?"

NetGalley. Thanks for the copy.

So what do I think about Homegrown Terror? Well, let's list the facts. It is YA Espionage, and there is an assignment, a hunt for a certain man who is extremely dangerous. It isn't like Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series. Homegrown Terror is a novella, and it is about 100 pages long. Those of you who love short stories would might enjoy this one. 

Homegrown Terror is much darker, and honestly, I'm not a fan of it. Yes, it is a good escape to another world (specifically, Kendra's world of espionage and mental games), but Homegrown Terror needs a lot of work done. 

What I don't like:

-First of all, the plot is too quick and it is over too fast. There are some parts of the plot that should be dragged out, but isn't. It is a shame, and I'm disappointed by how quick Homegrown Terror runs. It is too fast. 

-Second, Kendra is not a great character. She isn't fleshed-out as much, and she should have some improvements. (Maybe more characterization?) Also, her thought process is extremely odd, and I find it very difficult to connect with. 

-Third, the ending. I honestly don't expect Kendra to be slightly like that (That meaning mental state) in the end. In fact, it seems as if she hasn't changed at all after going through a lot of physical things and mental manipulation. The book as a whole is unrealistic. 

What I do like:

-The book is good escapism. It provides a quick mystery and an interesting situation that draws out excitement. There are some great moments, and it is short (novella). 

Overall, Homegrown Terror is a spy game. It provides a good world to escape into, but the pacing isn't done correctly. The characters aren't explored, and a lot of the book has been underdeveloped. This could had been a novel, but instead it is a novella.

Rating: One out of Five