Senior Noor Khan is less than thrilled when her mother uproots the family, moving them from Chicago to Bayberry, Illinois, after her father abandons tSenior Noor Khan is less than thrilled when her mother uproots the family, moving them from Chicago to Bayberry, Illinois, after her father abandons them. It's a quiet town, very white and conservative, and Noor plans to quietly sleepwalk through the rest of the year even while dealing with her feelings of loss, anger, and confusion over his betrayal. However, when her learns about the restrictive English curriculum and a new book challenge policy, she can't remain silent. Along with new friends Faiz and Juniper, who is queer, and with support from Ms. Clayton, the school librarian, she takes action and speaks out, even reading during outdoor lunch portions of some of the books that have been removed from the library shelves. She's not the first to realize that many of the books being purged are written by queer and BIPOC authors. Before she knows it, Noor is being villainized, by the principal, some classmates, including the best friends of Andrew, a boy that just might have stolen her heart, and members of the Liberty Moms and Dads. And they don't stop with words. The author inserts some of the familiar microaggressions that Muslims like Noor's family or anyone new or different has no doubt encountered, adding to the story's authenticity. There's so much to appreciate about this book--the town's name, a twist on the classic Mayberry RFD of Andy Griffith fame, the librarian's name, the explanation of what Critical Race Theory actually is, the firm reminder of what the First Amendment means and how book banning is actually ant-American as well as how some politicians manage to twist speaking up and speaking out or dissent as being problematic and those of a trouble-maker. But most impressive of all is that this is a YA title about teen activism with the adolescents leading the way when many of the adults around them fail them. Timely, eye-opening, and hopeful, Noor's story is one not to be missed. ...more
Prankster and social media star Tommy Harding has arranged for his senior class to have access to Sunny World, a Florida theme park, after it closes fPrankster and social media star Tommy Harding has arranged for his senior class to have access to Sunny World, a Florida theme park, after it closes for the day. It's hard to see what his followers--not to mention the girls he's stringing along--find attractive about him since he seems self-centered, impulsive, cruel, and dishonest, as painted in this novel. Every move he makes is calculated, intended to gain more likes, followers, and attention, while keeping his longtime girlfriend, Kiara, in line. But when all the romantic balls he's been juggling unexpectedly come down on his head, his deceitfulness is revealed online, Tommy ends up dead, and suspicion falls on the three girls with whom he's been involved. Honestly, it's hard to care about his death since he seems to have betrayed everyone around him. Since the story is told from multiple points of view [the three girls: Kiara, Priscilla, and Nevaeh, readers are treated to each of their perspectives and their possible motivations for doing him in. But this doesn't save the book since the girls are stereotypes, and readers aren't afforded much insight into their personalities or what drew them to Tommy or in the case of two of them, what kept them hooked. The book cover and teaser were quite promising, but the actual story didn't live up to its billing. Too bad since there are surely plenty of teens and older folks out there who have fallen for a Tommy or two in their time and could have used a lifeline for how to escape his clutches. Because parts of the narrative bounce around too much and the three girls are all too quick to point the finger of suspicion at one another, the entire thing became too predictable and parts of it all too unbelievable, at least for me. ...more
Once again, author Kathleen Glasgow has written quite a page-turner, tackling the tough topics of grief, loss, family dynamics, self-esteem, and alcohOnce again, author Kathleen Glasgow has written quite a page-turner, tackling the tough topics of grief, loss, family dynamics, self-esteem, and alcoholism. Just as she did in Girl in Pieces and You'd Be Home Now, she creates a likeable female protagonist in Bella Leahey, who will remind readers of themselves or someone they know. Bella, 15, drinks for many reasons. She does it to feel good, to become more outgoing, and to numb the pain. Still reeling from the loss of her beloved grandmother, Laurel, who lived nearby, and her breakup with her first boyfriend, Dylan, her social drinking is now out of control, and even at school she craves some liquid relief. Glasgow describes her downward descent, even as she lets down classmates and friends, while continuing to bear responsibility for her little sister, Ricci, and acting as a go-between for her parents. Much of the book focuses on her time in rehab after her mother finds her passed out on the front steps on Thanksgiving, having been left there by friends. Bella's journey to recovery isn't easy or assured, and she is so in denial about her addiction that it takes time before she realizes just how much harm she's done to her body and mind as well as those who love her. And even some of the others who are in rehab can't necessarily be trusted. Since the book is told from Bella's point of view, readers are able to see into her heart and mind while being fully immersed in her journey. Because drinking is so socially acceptable these days and her family often seemed so preoccupied by other matters, it's easy to see how and why Bella turned to drink to self-medicate. Readers who enjoyed this one might also want to read Thirsty by Jas Hammonds to compare the protagonists' journeys as well as how their family members and significant others react. There isn't a false note in this entire book, and it's clear that Glasgow knows the terrain quite well. ...more
4.5 Although there are those who will find this nonfiction title too detailed and too drawn out, I thoroughly enjoyed it because of the complexity of 4.5 Although there are those who will find this nonfiction title too detailed and too drawn out, I thoroughly enjoyed it because of the complexity of the topics it covers. In fact, this 2024 winner of the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award just may be the most honest coverage of the effects of ONE--yes, that's one--social media account on its creator, its followers, its victims, and the larger school and town community around them. Started in March 2017 as a private Instagram account intended to amuse one teen boy's friends, the account featured racist remarks, photos, and memes. One of the most shocking aspects of this book is the fact that many of the students knew each other; in fact, some were even friends. This means that these victims or objects of ridicule were definitely not strangers. Slater, who also wrote The 57 Bus, has gone to great pains to be as objective as possible in her coverage of these events, which spiraled into discord at the students' high school in small-town Albany, California, as well as suspensions, expulsions, lawsuits, and attempts at restorative and transformative justice. Hearts were broken, lives were changed, and it's sometimes challenging to determine exactly who is being held accountable and for what. So many parts of the book are hard to read, but doing so is important for anyone interested in trying to understand the effects of social media on users but also those who are trying to balance the importance of Free Speech and Freedom of Expression with kindness and empathy. Not only do the voices of students and faculty speak loudly in this account, but the author has also included the thoughts of various sociologists and psychologists who weigh in on various matters. Although the students survived and went on to their different futures, most readers will finish this book feeling rather unsettled as to what to do if this happens in their schools or how to have those difficult conversations about how certain types of humor can do great harm. Considering levels of culpability is also important, making this one a must-read for teens and their parents and an essential tool for understanding how racism damages those who are harmed as well as those who do the harming, even when its effects are unintended. Despite its sometimes wordiness, this book will stay with readers for a while, prompting important and essential discussions that might lead to healing and understanding. As I read about the evolution of a couple of the boys--Eren and Charles--and how they changed over the course of a few years, I found myself wondering if this might have been inevitable even if the account hadn't received so much attention and prompted self-reflection on their part. There's so much to consider after reading this book, which is well deserving of its award....more
I know this author's books are popular, especially with those who enjoy a romantic comedy, but I wasn't particularly impressed with her earlier PeopleI know this author's books are popular, especially with those who enjoy a romantic comedy, but I wasn't particularly impressed with her earlier People We Meet on Vacation because the "people" that the couple "meets" were such fleeting encounters and not particularly significant to how the plot unfolded. I was much more impressed with this, her latest offering. Even though it was easy to predict how everything would turn out, the references to the literary life and both of the would-be lovers' previous life experiences made the book worth reading. I was drawn in quickly by the opening pages and the cynicism toward romance held by the narrator, book agent Nora Stephens. Nora is quite adept at her job, known for how well she handles her clients as well as the lucrative deals she sets up for them. But she sometimes dreams of what life might have been like if she had followed her original career path and become a book editor. When she and her younger sister, Libby, leave New York City for a vacation in North Carolina, the setting for one of Libby's favorite books, she hopes to reconnect with Libby since she suspects that her sister is keeping something a secret. Libby has a to-do list intended to take the sisters out of their comfort zone, and Nora is surprised to find an editor with whom she had a rather unpleasant business lunch on the town's streets. The way the two of them interact as they edit parts of a novel by one of Nora's clients is delightful, providing a bit of insight into the editing process. Fans of this sort of thing will know what to expect and delight in some of the steamy scenes as Nora and Charlie Lastra fight the feelings that are growing between them. Plenty of readers will relate to Nora's fears and reluctance to get involved and her certainty that it's impossible to have it all. But is it? ...more
There are plenty of YA books dealing with boarding schools and private schools and their inherent privileges and prejudices, but this one--3.5 for me-There are plenty of YA books dealing with boarding schools and private schools and their inherent privileges and prejudices, but this one--3.5 for me--delves deeply into identity and thinly veiled institutionalized racism. (Or maybe it's not all that thinly veiled, after all. Read it, and decide for yourself.) Chiamaka Adebayo and Devon Richards are pleased to be selected as Senior Prefects for their school, Niveus Private Academy. This honor only cements all the ambitions and hard work of Chiamaka, and is something she is sure she earned. Devon, on the other hand, is surprised and somewhat confused by the honor. Still, he hopes to use it and his music to obtain a scholarship. Both teens are on the top of the world and seemingly the envy of their classmates. But text messages sent by someone called Aces begin to appear, and their secrets are revealed to those around them. While some of this might damage their reputations and futures, most frightening of all is how the messages begin to undercut their self-confidence and self-image, making it impossible to know whom they can trust--even each other. Teen readers will race through the pages as they try to figure out Aces' identity and how it's possible for Aces to know about their secrets and what they've tried to hide. In the end, they'll uncover something shocking and realize that they'll have to trust one another since the system is set up to make others like them fail. The book jacket calls this book "relevant social commentary," and I'd agree. It forces readers to think about systems, inherent prejudices, and the lengths others may go to keep someone down. It also is a statement of empowerment, of love and loyalty, and determination. And yes, Chiamaka and Devon deserve happy endings. Although I enjoyed the breakneck pace and the slow revelation of Aces' identity, the book's conclusion seemed a bit hasty for me, and I'd have liked to have had more detail there. Still, this is a satisfying debut certain to provoke conversations about race and privilege. Chiamaka is a strong female worthy of emulation, and because the narrative shifts back and forth between her and Devon, readers are immersed in their very different worlds, which is important since Chiamaka's family is wealthy while Devon's struggles to pay the bills. ...more
This one is a 3.5 for me, and I enjoyed every minute of my reading. Anyone looking for a good whodunnit with a strong female voice will find it here. This one is a 3.5 for me, and I enjoyed every minute of my reading. Anyone looking for a good whodunnit with a strong female voice will find it here. Having thoroughly enjoyed the perfectly-titled predecessor, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, I had high expectations for this, the second, title. Pippa Fitz-Amobi has gained a certain amount of fame and infamy after the release of her podcast about a murder she and her friend Ravi Singh solved last year. Pip and Ravi have grown even closer and are now involved in a romantic relationship. Although Pip loves detective work and trying to figure out why others behave as they do, she is quite aware of the price her sleuthing cost her family. She decides that she will no longer investigate any cases. But when Jamie Reynolds, the older brother of her friend Connor, disappears and the police are too busy to follow any leads, Pip has no choice but to help. As the days of his being gone add up, Pip is increasingly frantic to find Jamie and get to the bottom of things. The chapters are divided according to the days Jamie has been away, and the story is told in traditional narrative from third-person point of view but also with podcasts, interviews, audiophile snippets, and text messages, all of which add to the book's pace while lending a modernity to the telling. As Pip and Ravi follow various clues as to Jamie's whereabouts or whether he's even still alive, they encounter red herrings, liars, deceits, and plenty of twists and turns. Pip's frustration grows as she seems stymied at every turn by a mysterious woman, and she becomes furious at the outcome of the trial of Max Hastings. I love how the entire book is designed and how Pip is depicted as smart and strong but not without flaws. Since the characters are allowed to develop slowly and some of this book's contents relate to the previous title, readers will want to read it first. The author offers slight clues as to the book's outcome, but readers will still be surprised once they reach the ending. This will only serve to make them want to read the book again while waiting eagerly for the next installment of this deservedly popular series. Write quickly, Holly Jackson, write quickly. ...more
Life was going great for Lexi Philips until she and two of her friends got into a conflict during a fiercely-competitive volleyball match. A casual woLife was going great for Lexi Philips until she and two of her friends got into a conflict during a fiercely-competitive volleyball match. A casual word leads to misunderstanding and threats, and before Lexi knows it, she has become the subject of systematic cyberbullying. An innocent selfie is enhanced to portray Lexi in a negative light, and she becomes the object of ridicule at her school. Even the mother of two of the girls gets involved in the campaign, and Lexi's other friends are too intimidated to stick by her side. Distraught and unable to see herself as she truly was due to all this negativity, Lexi moves to another school to escape the harassment. A reminder from her mother not to let others define her and the support of her father who takes her out for a celebration help her regain her equilibrium. And in an ending that is almost too good to be true, Lexi gets her happy ending and a form of revenge on the three girls who made her life a living hell for a brief time. Teen readers will relate to this story and how the graphic novel also includes several pages of the author, who clearly has moved on from what happened to her when she was younger. But as the introduction shows, that isn't always the case for those who have been bullied through social media. There are tips for parents offered in the back matter. ...more
I'd give this one a 3.5 for its snarky dialogue and interesting characters. The author clearly has her fingers on the pulses of many teens who don't fI'd give this one a 3.5 for its snarky dialogue and interesting characters. The author clearly has her fingers on the pulses of many teens who don't fit into their current situations at home or in school. The book picks up not long after its predecessor, Fat Angie, left off. Angie has become even more of a pariah at William Anders High School in Dryfalls, Ohio after a failed suicide attempt and stay in a hospital. As her sophomore year begins, she's not thrilled about having to repeat the year or the fact that her girlfriend, KC Romance, has moved to Texas. When her best friend, Jake, fails to show up to walk her into the building and to class, leaving her even more vulnerable, she becomes the object of attention for Gary Klein, a football player who commences to bully her physically and verbally. Things go from bad to worse as Gary continues to harass her until she finally stands her ground later in the year. Meanwhile at home, her mother--what a piece of work!--is consumed with plans for a memorial for Angie's older sister who died in Iraq and seems to have little time or compassion for Angie or her adopted brother, Wang. After learning that her sister had a bucket list of sorts with places she wanted to visit and things she wanted to do with Angie, she hits the road with an unlikely set of companions, trying to tick off all those items. Along the way, she gains some self-acceptance, launches her own revolution, and begins coming to terms with her grief. And maybe, just maybe, she starts on the road toward loving herself, warts and all. Many teen readers will be able to relate to her issues with body awareness and anxiety as well as how her mother keeps trying to fix her by depriving her of food. The narrative can take some getting used to as Angie's thoughts often jump all over the place, and sometimes the musical references can make readers question when the book is set since there are songs by Tori Amos, Joan Jett, the Smiths, and Prince mentioned. If nothing else, those will send readers scurrying online to listen and learn. While parts of the book are certainly not easy to read, given the bullying Angie endures and her own anger bubbling just below the surface, the author has completely nailed how hard it is to love oneself when no one else seems to see one's value. The scenes where Angie struggles to find clothing that fits or seeks solace in chocolate bars stashed away in her bedroom are powerful, real, and painful. And while it's true that Angie has a heavy load to bear, her weight is only a symptom of what's wrong. Read this book and fall in love with Angie while watching her come to terms with herself as well. Perhaps the ending is a bit happier than it might be in real life, but if anyone deserves that, Angie does. ...more
After being kidnapped from a Seattle street and kept prisoner for years, Elian is ready to blow up the Cedar Gate Mall. Years of torture, abuse, and iAfter being kidnapped from a Seattle street and kept prisoner for years, Elian is ready to blow up the Cedar Gate Mall. Years of torture, abuse, and isolation have left him broken and obedient to his captor, a man he knows as Gabriel. But a malfunction with the bomb gives Maya, a girl who happens to be at the driver's license bureau a few seconds to intervene. A year passes, and both teens are attending the same high school. Maya suffers from acute anxiety, pulling her hair and tearing her flesh, and she's in an unhealthy relationship with an over-controlling classmate, Janice. Eli has police protection since Gabriel was never located. As Eli falls into a friendship with Graham, another troubled teen who seems to have no friends but offers him some outlets for his own anger and conflicted feelings. A surprising friendship develops between Eli and Maya with both of them drawing strength from each other and both slowly starting to heal. But Graham cannot tolerate their friendship and feels betrayed by Eli and concocts plans of his own. Although some parts of the plot made me wonder--the two youngsters attending the same school, for instance--I kept waiting for one of the characters to explode out of fear, out of rage, out of a need to be heard. I was not disappointed, but I also was encouraged when Maya spoke of how risky it is to care and to open up to someone. While it's clear that it is, indeed, risky, it's also necessary to feel that we have been heard. How discouraging it is when no one seems to be listening, all the while that we are crying out for help in our own way! Parts of this story blew me away as i was reminded that there is always a reason or a story behind violent acts and that recovery from life's horrors takes time, patience, and much work. Sometimes the individuals who seem to have your back may just be leading you on the path to self-destruction or taking advantage of your weakness. This one could have been taken for one of the recent headlines about violence in schools. ...more
This YA novel starts off with a strong premise, but it loses momentum three-fourths of the way through. There are plenty of twists and turns that willThis YA novel starts off with a strong premise, but it loses momentum three-fourths of the way through. There are plenty of twists and turns that will keep teens reading to see how things turn out, but I wish the ending had been a bit more solid. As another reviewer mentioned, while it might be comforting to some to simply say that the act of suicide is selfish, that seems to be a simplification of a complicated decision. Parts of the plot made me think of recent headlines and events at various schools, of course, and the use of a flawed narrator in Eli, a sophomore, makes the story more interesting to read. After the one-year anniversary of the suicide of freshman Jordan Bishop at Haver High, two of Jordan's friends enlist Eli's hacking services for an online competition, which turns out to be more of an attempt to wreak vengeance on all those who did wrong to Jordan and contributed to his death. Eli has secrets of his own about some of his own online actions, but as he watches some of those who disparaged Jordan when he was alive be brought to their knees by embarrassing online videos and materials, he finds himself feeling sorry for some of them. As he is drawn further and further into the plot, he's also dealing with keeping everything a secret from his best friend, a budding romance, and with an overprotective woman who's come into his father's life. But how far can he trust his new friends? After Jordan's suicide, the school gained access to students' online activity, a move that I would have liked to have seen explored even more. There is always a way around those sorts of controls and attempts to thwart the free exchange of ideas, just as there will most likely always be those who will want to basically spy on others. But how legal are those sorts of actions? Did no one express concern about them? Examining these questions would have given the book additional heft, and make it even more timely. As things stand, I sometimes felt as though I was reading a book set in today's world and sometimes one in the very near future. Teens might enjoy debating whether school or government officials can behave as they did in this book and what the consequences of posting certain materials might be for them and for others....more
I'd give this one a 3.5. Although I knew from the outset how everything was going to turn out, I eagerly read on to see how close this middle grade noI'd give this one a 3.5. Although I knew from the outset how everything was going to turn out, I eagerly read on to see how close this middle grade novel would mirror its inspiration, Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol. While there are plenty of similarities, there are also enough differences to keep readers engaged although they really won't be surprised by the ending. Ellie Charles is one of the meanest girls around. She rules her eighth grade class at Lincoln Heights with a steel hand, and nobody ever dares to stand up to her. When the book opens, she's on a mission to destroy several members of the school's semi-formal dance committee, taking great delight in ridiculing some and belittling the artistic efforts of others. It's almost impossible to read those first pages without wincing in sympathy for her victims. But after she falls from a ladder while adjusting an essential decoration, someone from her past shows up and takes her back in time to when she was the most vulnerable. Just as fans of Dickens' classic see with Scrooge, readers of this story begin to see the origins of what led to the monster Ellie has become. Scene by scene, her pain and loneliness are revealed as her present day veneer of perfection is stripped away. In the end, almost impossibly, readers can feel sorry for this girl whose father seemed to have little time for her and who threw away her friendship with Marley Winters, her stalwart childhood pal. Wow! If reading this one doesn't make someone change his/her ways and determine to be nicer, I don't know what will. This is a good read for the approaching holidays, and the author has created someone to rival Scrooge in carelessness and downright meanness. It's a wonder that she has anyone at all who cares about her. ...more
It's been said that luck is what you make it, and many of us keep searching for good luck, but as this wonderful middle grade novel demonstrates, lifeIt's been said that luck is what you make it, and many of us keep searching for good luck, but as this wonderful middle grade novel demonstrates, life itself, with its good, its bad, and its seeming chances and off occurrences, is luck. The novel focuses on eighth-grader Emma Macintyre who is still mourning the loss of her mother's best friend, the woman she called Aunt Jenny and who lived with them for several years. Emma's not having the best year of her life and could use some luck. In addition to her heavy heart over Aunt Jenny, she is worried about the way her best friend Savvy is treating her. She seems more interested in impressing the popular crowd than remaining loyal to Emma. When Emma finds an anonymous letter that seems to promise good fortune over the next month, she is curious about who sent it but also unsure as to whether it will actually work. Things go from bad to worse with Savvy, who is the object of ridicule after sending a sexy picture to Tyler, the boy on whom Emma has been nursing a crush. I loved the way everything is wrapped up and how truly lucky Emma turns out to be--although not necessarily in the ways she might have expected. I also appreciated the fact that Emma does more than just wallow in her misery and do her schoolwork. She volunteers at Waggytail Rescue, animal rescue organization, and cares deeply about animals, even the crabs that are stranded along the beach on Fire Island where her grandmother lives. It's funny that I just read two books back to back in which the protagonist finds unexpected acceptance through acting and the drama crowd. Hmmm. There must be a message here for me. This one is rich in nuance and craft, and it features characters that seem true to life. I'm sure many of us know someone just like Emma, confused by the way her world is changing and wishing that everything could stay the same. ...more
**spoiler alert** Although this book focuses on ice hockey, one of the most violent sports I've ever seen played, it could also have been about footba**spoiler alert** Although this book focuses on ice hockey, one of the most violent sports I've ever seen played, it could also have been about football and how obsessive many small communities are about that particular sport. It's not that the author doesn't situate the novel within Beartown, a small community that seems bleak and with its only possible redemption coming from how its junior team performs in the national semifinals. Indeed, he captures the desperation of a town whose industries seem to be disappearing even while its citizens are moving away to larger towns. At times, it almost feels as though the town is fighting against the constant encroachment of nature as the woods try to reclaim the land that has been civilized by humans. But as I read this story, I couldn't help thinking about the end-of-the-summer ritual that occurs all over this land of ours, especially in the South, as football time approaches. Just like in the marvelous Friday Night Lights, many small communities live and die for football season, and futures are sealed on the gridiron. It doesn't seem to matter if someone has a personal connection to the team. All that matters is that the citizenry is drawn together in the pursuit of victories in the midst of the many defeats and losses in their own lives. The Bears give them something to cheer and a sense of pride. The team GM Peter Andersson, a quietly strong man who once played professional hockey until he returned home in his current position, and his wife Kira, an outspoken lawyer, are rearing their two offspring to be true to themselves. All of them love--and hate, in some respects--the sport for various reasons. After the Bears triumph during the semifinals, things quickly unravel for the team and the town during a drug- and alcohol-fueled after party. Peter's fifteen-year-old daughter Maya is assaulted, and almost everyone doubts her word. The author captures perfectly the town's reaction and the bullying she endures at school as the result of finally speaking up and thus destroying the town's dreams. But what would the town be if its success were based on lies and cover-ups or if its citizenry turned out to be morally bankrupt? How can men and women and adolescents with good hearts make such bad decisions and not be willing to face the consequences of their actions? How much courage does it take to finally stand up and say, "Enough! This is wrong!" Readers will be drawn by turns to Maya, to Benji, to Ana, to Amat, and especially to Ramona, the owner of the Bearskin, a local bar whose patrons are avid Bears' fans. Even Kevin, the skater with enormous talent on the ice, has his own story, one that may soften readers' hearts even while not excusing his actions. In the end, the novel concludes on some hopeful notes even while raising many questions about winning at all costs, how society glorifies certain athletes and sports, and what it means to do the right thing when it might seem to be a betrayal of the team and the town. Ultimately, Fredrik Backman succeeds here because he has brought to life so many interesting characters, each with a story, each with hopes, dreams, disappointments, and failings, and each faced with a tough decision. It's easy to see how quickly individuals can get swept along by a current of opinion and how hard, but how necessary, it is to fight against that current. If nothing else, this well-told story reminds readers about the necessity of speaking truth to power and sorting out what really matters. This book and the questions it raises will be in my thoughts for some time. It's the perfect book for me to have read as I prepare for the fall semester. ...more
Eighteen-year-old Emma O'Donovan is hard to like. She's a party girl, interested in having fun and having her ego stoked while enjoying the attention Eighteen-year-old Emma O'Donovan is hard to like. She's a party girl, interested in having fun and having her ego stoked while enjoying the attention of any guy who comes near her. She isn't the best friend in the world since she often flirts with her friends' boyfriends and dresses provocatively. There are some who would maintain that her behavior and attire might lead others to assume that she is "asking for it." Nevertheless, she certainly doesn't deserve what happens to her one night when she's partying hard with some older men. After drinking and consuming various substances, Emma is left on her parents' doorstep, half-dressed, confused, and bleeding, and she cannot remember how she got there. At first she tries to say that whatever happened was consensual; after all, that's what a good girl would do, right? She wouldn't want to get her male friends in trouble or look as though she was taken advantage of. But images of what happened begin to appear online, and the media gets involved and tries to make Emma into a poster child for rape awareness and women's rights. As anyone might imagine, Emma vacillates about what to do, even while feeling increasingly isolated by those in her small Irish town. Although her parents express their support for whatever she chooses to do, even agreeing to prosecute the young men involved, it's clear that they wish all this would just go away. Emma even notices that her father finds it hard to look at her while her older brother Bryan steadfastly offers his support. I appreciated the author's decision to break the book up into different sections, one, "Last Year," describing the events of that life-changing night, and the second section, "This Year," tracing Emma's life one year after the sexual assaults she experienced when it's clear that she's barely holding on. The author offers no easy answers to Emma's dilemma about how to proceed and how to get her life back, and the ending, however realistic it may be, might be disappointing for some readers. This book raises important issues that need to be discussed while bringing to mind the 1988 Jodie Foster film, The Accused, that tackles similar terrain. How can it be that someone who dresses provocatively or is inebriated and unable to give consent is somehow seen as "asking for it"? Do we give the males in our society so little credit for being able to discern right from wrong or to be unable to resist having sex with someone just because it seems as though it will be easy to do so? Is saying nothing the same thing as agreeing to it? In the same way that Speak tackled this issue several years ago, this book explores the so-called rape culture that often seems to seethe right below the surface of society. This important book needs to be read, discussed, and shared with teens and young adults. It's by no means an easy read, but avoiding it won't make the issues it tackles disappear. It made me, by turns, frustrated, angry, confused, and incredibly sad. I still didn't like Emma as the book comes to a close, but no one deserves to be treated in that way. ...more
Kit Lowell is completely at sea after her father's death in a car accident. While her classmates and best friends expect her to bounce back after a brKit Lowell is completely at sea after her father's death in a car accident. While her classmates and best friends expect her to bounce back after a brief period of mourning, Kit just can't let things go and is desperate to make sense of what happened. For reasons not entirely clear to her but partly to do with the need to shirk mundane conversations and the appearance of normality expected by her friends, Kit decides to eat lunch next to David Drucker, the socially awkward younger brother of Lauren, a popular girl who's gone on to college but protected David from ridicule when she was at school. Lauren provides emotional and practical support for David, even suggesting ways to behave as acceptably as possible when it comes to social situations. To make sure he understands the social rules, David keeps a notebook in which he records rules and encounters with others. As David reaches out in his own way to Kit and the two investigate the circumstances surrounding her father's death, they become closer. There are many bumps along the way in this most unlikely pairing, including the loss of David's notebook and what he uncovers about the accident, and surprisingly, the always spot-on Lauren has lost her mojo and returns home from college for a brief period to lick her wounds. Having the story be told from alternating points of view allows readers to see what the two main characters are thinking, offering much insight into David's sometimes puzzling behavior. The author delivers a scathing indictment of the intricacies and cruelties of high school in the book's pages, but she also shows that finding the right friends or those who allow us to be ourselves can serve as a balm for our wounds. While no one would expect Kit and David to be anywhere close to the same social orbit, stranger things have happened. ...more
**spoiler alert** Although I could probably have done without the romance near the end of the book, sometimes things just happen, and someone in pain **spoiler alert** Although I could probably have done without the romance near the end of the book, sometimes things just happen, and someone in pain turns to someone else in pain. It might not be right, and it might not happen at the right time, but there it is. No doubt having musician Ben McCallister in the book heightens its appeal for teen readers as well as giving the protagonist an easy person to blame. Nevertheless, what I appreciated about this emotionally-wrenching account of the aftermath of suicide is how well the author, Gayle Forman, describes how it affects those who have been left behind and how desperately the survivors try to make sense of what has happened. Cody Reynolds and her best friend Meg Garcia have always been close and dreamed of escaping their small town in eastern Washington. But Meg leaves before Cody, the recipient of a scholarship to Cascades in Tacoma, while Cody hangs back in her familiar surroundings, cleaning houses to earn money, and planning to eventually join her friend once she enters the University of Washington. As the book opens, Cody is angry over Meg's suicide and trying to figure out why her best friend killed herself as well as why she didn't see any of the signs of her depression. At the behest of Meg's grieving parents, Cody heads to Tacoma to pack up Meg's things. While there, she stumbles on some emails that lead her to blame Ben who she meets later at a club. Once she returns home, she finds evidence in an encrypted file of Meg's involvement in something called the Final Solution, a support group for those contemplating suicide, but this group encourages others to take that final step. Cody is astounded that someone would actually provide tips for how to successfully kill oneself and she decides to smoke out the person with whom Meg seemed to have connected so strongly. With plenty of support of different kinds from some of Meg's former roommates, Cody locates this man and impulsively decides to confront him. She persuades Ben to drive her to Nevada where he lives. While some parts of the story strained my credulity, others touched me deeply. Ultimately, it is impossible for us to ever know what is in someone else's heart or mind, and while Cody berates herself for not doing more to save her friend, it's clear that there really was nothing she could do. It might sound heartless, but Meg needed to stay on her medications; with hindsight and the information shared by Meg's parents, Cody realizes that the truth about her friend was right there all along, but she just didn't see it. That vibrant, creative spirit that was Meg was offset by the girl who could barely manage to leave her bed or her room at times. But who sees that side? How many of us show that side of ourselves, even though it's not as debilitating as it was for Meg, to anyone, even our closest friends? If nothing else, this book shows readers how one teen deals with grief and loss and guilt and somehow finds the strength to go on, even when it seems impossibly hard to do so. As Cody explores her own feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness, most readers like me will think back to times that they have had similar feelings and maybe even wished they weren't around, not necessarily having suicidal thoughts, but wishing things were fixed somehow, even magically. As the author points out in her afterword, though, anyone contemplating self-harm should confide in someone and then get help from a professional. As dark as those dark times may seem, it does eventually get better. This is the hope that I have always somehow managed to cling to. Meg's story only confirms that as I think of all that might have been if she had not taken her own life. This is an important story that needed to be written and needs to be shared and discussed with teens. ...more
**spoiler alert** This one is a 3.5 for me because I enjoyed trying to figure out whodunit, but I found the characters fairly stereotypical and yes, a**spoiler alert** This one is a 3.5 for me because I enjoyed trying to figure out whodunit, but I found the characters fairly stereotypical and yes, as others have noted, reminiscent of The Breakfast Club. Still, I tore through the book's pages in an attempt to see if my suspicions were right. Since the author deftly plays fast and loose with several secondary characters, there is plenty of suspicion to be placed in several directions. The conclusion saddened me, partly because I could certainly see this sort of thing happening in one of the nation's schools. Gossip maven Simon Kelleher has an app that he uses to report the latest gossip at Bayview High School, a school a few miles from San Diego. He and four other students are serving detention for having cellphones in a teacher's class, but they're sure that the phones that were confiscated weren't theirs. With detention barely begun, Simon has a severe allergic reaction and dies. Suspicion immediately lands on his fellow detainees, each of whom has secrets that would ruin lives if they were revealed. Since the story is told from the alternating points of view of brainy Bronwyn, gorgeous Addy, All-American boy Cooper, and bad boy Nate, readers have the chance to peek inside their hearts and minds and tease out any possible motivations for the crime as well as identifying weak points. Friendships and relationships fray and fracture under the pressure of a police investigation and media spotlight, and these four unlikely individuals find connections among themselves as they go from being investigated for the crime to investigating it. Clearly, someone is lying, but is it one of them? I appreciated how the author carefully played on the assumptions of many readers that Nate would be the easiest one to blame. Sometimes the most guilty-looking party is not guilty at all, and in the case of this book, the resolution is fairly chilling in its own respect. Teen readers will have a blast reading this book and taking sides and wondering how they might have reacted as well as thinking twice before belittling one of their classmates with a long memory and a taste for revenge....more
**spoiler alert** Junior Sammy Wallach is sure that handsome lacrosse player Jamie Moss is going to ask her to the school prom. Life is filled with th**spoiler alert** Junior Sammy Wallach is sure that handsome lacrosse player Jamie Moss is going to ask her to the school prom. Life is filled with the usual ups and downs, including a secret trip to see her favorite band. But things come crashing down around her head when Sammy's father, a CEO for a large bank, becomes the target of protesters and a group of hackers who release the contents of family's private cloud alongside her father's professional emails. Suddenly, all the truth comes out, and Sammy's digital journal becomes food for the masses. To her horror, her crush on Jamie and speculations on the probability of his asking her to the dance as well as some of her snarky remarks about her two best friends, Rosa and Margo, are out there in the open for everyone to see. Sammy becomes a joke at her school, with many of her classmates teasing her, and her former friends avoiding her. Even while she suffers the embarrassment of the revelation of her secret writings, she finds new supporters in others who reach out to her. Meanwhile, Sammy and her younger brother, RJ, struggle with the news that their mother has breast cancer, and that their father supported paying a female colleague less than others. The book tackles a lot of issues, but seemed a little longer and slower than it needed to be. While I was pleased to see another book describing the perils of social media and even information contained in the cloud, it seemed to take a long, long time before Sammy finally forced her father to see his role in all the mess and take ownership for saying one thing to her and treating another woman differently. Hopefully, he will see the dishonesty in his actions and be one of the ones who makes a change as he promises Sammy. Still, despite the critical comments, I enjoyed reading this and liked seeing Sammy change and find the inner strength to keep going even when times were bleak. It was amusing to see how she didn't notice Noah, even when he was right there, under her nose all along. Yes, that aspect of the book and her cluelessness about how Jamie was only using her to copy her homework seem to ring all too true to high school life. ...more
Nikki Baylor is a lot like most of us. When her friends collaborate on a cyberbullying incident depicting another classmate in a questionable light, sNikki Baylor is a lot like most of us. When her friends collaborate on a cyberbullying incident depicting another classmate in a questionable light, she goes along with the plot and does nothing to stop it from happening. Because the incident occurred during a party at her house and the provocative images were posted from her Facebook account, Nikki bears all the blame, and is even kicked out of her New Jersey school. The fallout from the incident is widespread with her parents no longer able to trust her, and her friends abandoning her, unwilling to take any responsibility for what happened. But while doing community service in a rehab center, Nikki finds friendship and romance with Pax, a handsome athletic paraplegic who reminds her that one mistake doesn't have to destroy her life. Although the life she has now and in the future will not be the one she had originally planned, he shows her by his own example that she does have a future and there are bright spots ahead. Although the author softens the challenges of being romantically involved with a man in a wheelchair, she does spell out some of the unexpected challenges, including the inaccessibility of certain activities and places and the ways in which others often stare or embarrass someone in a wheelchair. Although Pax's kindness toward Nikki is impressive, he isn't always as kind or as thoughtful toward himself at some points. I liked how he saw the goodness and potential in Nikki that she was often unable to see and how the relationship helped her rearrange her priorities. Since the story begins after the cyberbullying, readers don't have a chance to see what Nikki was like in her previous life except from her perspective, but it's clear that she was one of the movers and shakers of her school and could have used her influence in a positive way. Teen readers will certainly relate to how she goes along with her friends rather than trying to stop them, and they will learn from her example as well as the author's admonition in the back matter to resist making others feel small in order to make themselves feel important, an important lesson worth considering. ...more