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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
I completely understand why this book has gotten so many good reviews, but it's just too much for me.
Brutal. Tragic. Unforgettable.
I am so glad I chose this book as my SSR in class because I would have a chance to speak about how rape culture defines our society and how people think feminism is bad and man-hating, despite the fact that it is the opposite.
“I live in a world where not being molested as a child is considered luck.”
This quote is the reality we are living in. The reason why rapists receive little to no punishments at all is the difficulty to approach the truth of the event. We have normalized rape for a very long time that nowadays it is the victim's fault to be assaulted because they seduce rapists and provoke sexual desires. Mindy does reflect all the problems in this book, which intrigues me so much to turn the pages, even tho I told myself to slow down and read it thoroughly because this book is so dark, twisty, and brutal.
[SPOILER ALERT]
Despite loving this book so much, I do have some problems with this, which makes me think a lot when giving it a 4.5 instead of 5 and adding into my favorite shelf.
1. The writing.
I am not a big fan of Mindy's writing. There is a lot of great quotes, but I did find her sentences are long and unnecessary wordy. There are some dark teeny jokes, which sometimes confuses me because I am not an English native speaker, but mostly because I have no life lol, so duh.
2. Alex and Jack's relationship.
First, I do not understand how tf they become friends, let alone lovers. Do not get me wrong. I think Jack is a sweet and good boy, but it doesn't change the fact that he is a douchebag and fucker. The way this dude is suddenly into Alex and becomes the best boyfriend ever is not convincing and realistic tbh. I also want to see more Alex's reaction when she knows he was the dude banging a girl while finding her lost sister.
3. Bran and Jack's relationship
The biggest issue with this couple is they do not know if they are FWB or any thing more than that. I know Jack is a good man, but being with a prom queen and constantly receiving nudes from her are not the best way to practice being a gentleman. I was surprised myself for feeling bad for Bran. She is a pretty girl, but she does not know her value. People take her for granted because she sells herself short. But it does not mean these boys have any rights to assault her physically and mentally. It does not mean she is fine with being hit as a kid because she did not show her panties to a boy or being told that people would rape her even if they have to go to jail. Reading about her just makes me want to go out there and help any girls and boys out there that are similar to Bran, who don't know how to love and protect themselves.
4. The ending
I actually hope that Jack will testify against Alex because to me, justice should always stand right and unchangeable. Alex's death does not solve the problem. Not only want I her to live, I also want to see how Jack and her friends help her going on the right path on the future. The way she approaches the problems is wrong, and it would not change no matter what the purposes are. I want her to live to change the law and the old thinking of this society. I want her to be a woman who inspires others to stand up for themselves. I WANT ALEX TO LIVE GODAMMIT
Overall, this book is one of the most important YA books everyone should read. Not only is it dark and brutal, it is also a future of our society if we keep ignoring the problems that make us uncomfortable to talk about.
I am so glad I chose this book as my SSR in class because I would have a chance to speak about how rape culture defines our society and how people think feminism is bad and man-hating, despite the fact that it is the opposite.
“I live in a world where not being molested as a child is considered luck.”
This quote is the reality we are living in. The reason why rapists receive little to no punishments at all is the difficulty to approach the truth of the event. We have normalized rape for a very long time that nowadays it is the victim's fault to be assaulted because they seduce rapists and provoke sexual desires. Mindy does reflect all the problems in this book, which intrigues me so much to turn the pages, even tho I told myself to slow down and read it thoroughly because this book is so dark, twisty, and brutal.
[SPOILER ALERT]
Despite loving this book so much, I do have some problems with this, which makes me think a lot when giving it a 4.5 instead of 5 and adding into my favorite shelf.
1. The writing.
I am not a big fan of Mindy's writing. There is a lot of great quotes, but I did find her sentences are long and unnecessary wordy. There are some dark teeny jokes, which sometimes confuses me because I am not an English native speaker, but mostly because I have no life lol, so duh.
2. Alex and Jack's relationship.
First, I do not understand how tf they become friends, let alone lovers. Do not get me wrong. I think Jack is a sweet and good boy, but it doesn't change the fact that he is a douchebag and fucker. The way this dude is suddenly into Alex and becomes the best boyfriend ever is not convincing and realistic tbh. I also want to see more Alex's reaction when she knows he was the dude banging a girl while finding her lost sister.
3. Bran and Jack's relationship
The biggest issue with this couple is they do not know if they are FWB or any thing more than that. I know Jack is a good man, but being with a prom queen and constantly receiving nudes from her are not the best way to practice being a gentleman. I was surprised myself for feeling bad for Bran. She is a pretty girl, but she does not know her value. People take her for granted because she sells herself short. But it does not mean these boys have any rights to assault her physically and mentally. It does not mean she is fine with being hit as a kid because she did not show her panties to a boy or being told that people would rape her even if they have to go to jail. Reading about her just makes me want to go out there and help any girls and boys out there that are similar to Bran, who don't know how to love and protect themselves.
4. The ending
I actually hope that Jack will testify against Alex because to me, justice should always stand right and unchangeable. Alex's death does not solve the problem. Not only want I her to live, I also want to see how Jack and her friends help her going on the right path on the future. The way she approaches the problems is wrong, and it would not change no matter what the purposes are. I want her to live to change the law and the old thinking of this society. I want her to be a woman who inspires others to stand up for themselves. I WANT ALEX TO LIVE GODAMMIT
Overall, this book is one of the most important YA books everyone should read. Not only is it dark and brutal, it is also a future of our society if we keep ignoring the problems that make us uncomfortable to talk about.
While fast moving, I had many issues with this book. Among them, the portrayal of Branley, the idea that a man only has to treat a woman well if he *really* cares about her/she's "different" from other girls, that a woman is responsible for other rapes if she's too scared to come forward, and that men can't be expected to think with their brains in high school so girls...be careful. I liked Alex, and wish that had been explored more, but the rest, nah.
Commits the cardinal sins of YA: first person, present tense, abuse of starting sentences with "and." Still a real gut-punch of a novel. As others have noted, it's not the revenge fantasy you might expect given the back-cover summary but a dark and piercing look at misogyny and rape culture. Note to self: Emily May said it better than you, so if you want to know what you thought about this book 7 years from now, read her review.
I went into this book only knowing it had something to do with murder. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I thought each perspective presented was interesting and needed for the story to develop as it did. It has many dark themes all of which I found fascinating. I think if you are going to read this you should go into it not knowing what to expect because it truly enhances the story.
I am really afraid of dogs and once a character was bitten by a big dog I had to stop reading immediately. It's just way too triggering for me.
Also, in the first chapter, the main character kills the murderer of her sister, but then she gets all upset when puppies are hurt? That's just two huge no go's for me: vigilante and hate for other human beings that is masked as love for animals. I despise this "animals are better than humans" thing where they make it sound like violence towards an animal was worse than towards another person.. I mean, come on! I'm just tired of that crap. No one deserves to be killed, not even the murderer of your sister.. Americans and their death penalty shit. It's sickening.
Not to mention, that I then read a random page in the middle of the book where the above mentioned character eats eggs. Oh, the hypocrisy!!
Also, in the first chapter, the main character kills the murderer of her sister, but then she gets all upset when puppies are hurt? That's just two huge no go's for me: vigilante and hate for other human beings that is masked as love for animals. I despise this "animals are better than humans" thing where they make it sound like violence towards an animal was worse than towards another person.. I mean, come on! I'm just tired of that crap. No one deserves to be killed, not even the murderer of your sister.. Americans and their death penalty shit. It's sickening.
Not to mention, that I then read a random page in the middle of the book where the above mentioned character eats eggs. Oh, the hypocrisy!!
This was really hard to rate, because it wasn't at all what I was expecting, but now that I think about it, I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting anyway? RTC!
Damn, girl!!! I met you in AZ at AASL and you told me that this book was a surprise to even you and, well, DAMN! Whatta great read. I was so moved in so many ways by so many different people and events and emotions in this baby! So unexpected and so gritty and so going to the top of my recommended lists! ♥
This book gets ALL the stars. One of the best books I've ever read.
No boys to get swoony over-this isn't that kind of book. It's all about the girls here and how they deal with misogyny. It's relevance to 2016 is creeeepy.
Someone call Mindy McGinnis and tell her I love her. <3
No boys to get swoony over-this isn't that kind of book. It's all about the girls here and how they deal with misogyny. It's relevance to 2016 is creeeepy.
Someone call Mindy McGinnis and tell her I love her. <3
3.5 stars
WHAT NO THAT WAS NOT HOW THIS BOOK WAS SUPPOSED TO END WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK I HATE THIS
WHAT NO THAT WAS NOT HOW THIS BOOK WAS SUPPOSED TO END WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK I HATE THIS