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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
This is a difficult read and graphically descriptive at times. For many this book might be triggering. But I think it addresses some important issues and does it well, the writer quickly made me care about these characters!
When we were teenagers, we spent a lot of nights sitting around bonfires in the middle of fields, drinking, because what else was there to do in rural, southeast Ohio? Eventually, someone, half drunk, would throw something on the fire that they shouldn't have, and it would blaze up, hot and fast and unexpected. And we would all sit there, breathless, watching as the flames licked the low hanging branches of the trees. We were exhilarated and terrified. The flames would cool, and we would laugh as they died down, and pretend we all weren't scared shitless moments before.
That's what this book is like. It burns hot and bright and scares the shit out of you and then it's over. And I cannot recommend it highly enough. I also want to add that it has this outstanding quote, that is long and sad and beautiful:
That's what this book is like. It burns hot and bright and scares the shit out of you and then it's over. And I cannot recommend it highly enough. I also want to add that it has this outstanding quote, that is long and sad and beautiful:
But when Phil's mom called, there had been no jokes, no diversions. Anna had set her fork down after Mom's diatribe, which had ended with her favorite question. "She's defending her sister," she said. "And there's nothing wrong with that."
And there wasn't. And there isn't. And I'll keep doing it.
I’ll keep doing it even though she’s not here to defend.
Because there are others like him still. Tonight they used words they know, words that don’t bother people anymore. They said bitch. They told another girl they would put their dicks in her mouth. No one protested because this is our language now. But then I used my words, strung in phrases that cut deep, and people paid attention; people gasped. People didn’t know what to think.
My language is shocking.
Revenge sets the tone for this novel as Alex is consumed with rage and retribution when her sister is brutally murdered. A senior in high school, she finds herself a part of a friendship with unexpected people who make her feel safe, but events spiral out of control that test her emotions.
These characters were some of the most interesting characters I've ever read. They were so morally gray, I felt so many conflicting emotions about them, loving and hating none.
While the drugs/alcohol/partying/sexual assualt wasn't my high school experience, it still is a very real experience.
I loved the commentary on the "boys will be boys" attitude that runs wild in high school. It's so true—girls don't run around drawing vaginas everywhere!
Reading this has left me shooooook.
While the drugs/alcohol/partying/sexual assualt wasn't my high school experience, it still is a very real experience.
I loved the commentary on the "boys will be boys" attitude that runs wild in high school. It's so true—girls don't run around drawing vaginas everywhere!
Reading this has left me shooooook.
Alex's older sister Anna was kidnapped and brutally raped over three years ago, but Alex still can't keep it far from her mind. Partially because the killer walked free, but mostly because Alex herself killed him. I was her own brand of justice, and she was never caught, so she kept attending class and acting normal at school. Well, as normal as she could with her anger issues. She tried to just ignore everyone and pass through her days undetected, but when jock Jack sets his sights on her, he's not going to stop until he gets her. At the same time, the Preacher's Kid befriends Alex during their volunteer hours at the animal shelter. Alex doesn't want to let people get close to her, because once she cares about someone, she'll do anything for them - including kill.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, Sexual harassment
Very well written. Dark. Wish it didn’t ring so true and wasn’t so relatable.
If I wasn't reading this book for a summer reading contest, I would have DNFed. It was interesting in the beginning, but then lost sight of the plot, became boring, and then had the weirdest ending. I went into this thinking we would learn more about the murder Alex committed, or seeing her struggling with keeping it a secret, and NOPE, here's 200 pages about her relationship with a guy that I don't care about. There wasn't a lot of action, and what action it had was even boring. I honestly think the story would have been better if the murder hadn't already happened. I would have much rather seen Alex plan out a murder while keeping it secret and having to juggle her boyfriend and new best friend. But it just wasn't engaging, and I ended up skimming the last 100 pages. In short, I just felt cheated. I thought I was getting one thing, and ended up getting something completely different. None of the "introspective" quotes or anything really meant much to me.
Also - the victim blaming and slut shaming in this book did NOT make it enjoyable. It didn't even really contribute to the main message. What's the main message of this book? Honestly, I don't even know.
Also - the victim blaming and slut shaming in this book did NOT make it enjoyable. It didn't even really contribute to the main message. What's the main message of this book? Honestly, I don't even know.