The Hidden Agenda of Sigrid Sugden


The Hidden Agenda of Sigrid Sugden is a 2013 children's realistic fiction novel by Jill MacLean. This book is a Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication. The cover images are courtesy to Chris Mills and Shutterstock. This novel is recommended for intermediate elementary to junior high school students.

Characters

Sigrid Sugden is a member of the Shrikes, the toughest girl bullies. When one of her victims barely escapes fatal danger, Sigrid decides to quit the group—however, it is not that simple. Sigrid, by leaving the only "friends" she had, has left herself miserable from cold stares from her classmates. With problems at home and from the rest of the Shrikes, Sigrid becomes friends with Hud, determined to make everything right.

Awards and Achievements

The Hidden Agenda of Sigrid Sugden has received editorial reviews from School Library Journal and CM Magazine. School Library Journal described Sigrid's "motivation and growth" as "believable and heartbreaking". CM Magazine submitted a "highly recommended" review, wrote that "the reader proceeds with an unusual sense of disequilibrium", and described the characters as "complex and flawed" yet having "redeeming admirable qualities". CM also wrote that MacLean "places readers inside a whirlpool and shakes everything up", "helps readers to understand bullies and bullying", "pushes the story ahead, yet provides enough information about the characters", and "understands the minds of adolescents and the complexities of life for pre-teens and teenagers". The author was also described as "magnificent" with "faultless pacing".