Scan barcode
laurenkara's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Young Adult for providing me with an ARC of this book
Trigger Warnings: rape, sexual assault, violence, bullying, suicide, misogyny
I have a looot of feelings about this book. It's another one I don't know how to rate. I feel like it brought up some really important topics and issues regarding rape and rape culture, but there were some things it fell short on. I'll have a full review coming soon!
Trigger Warnings: rape, sexual assault, violence, bullying, suicide, misogyny
I have a looot of feelings about this book. It's another one I don't know how to rate. I feel like it brought up some really important topics and issues regarding rape and rape culture, but there were some things it fell short on. I'll have a full review coming soon!
j4z_l0l's review against another edition
4.0
this book was very interesting to me, i sort of guessed that drew would end up dying at the end of the book, but other then that i feel like this book was very well written. i would definitely recommend but just make sure you check the trigger warnings for this book.
gdanielle's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
angelreads's review against another edition
4.0
I received an arc of Vigilante by Kady Cross from Harlequin Teen Australia in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.
When I first heard about this book, I knew that needed it in my hands. Books that deal with hard and raw subjects are difficult to read, but they are also very powerful. And Vigilante is just that.
Earlier this year I read No Virgin, a novel that explores the outcomes of a sexual assault victim and how heart-wrenching it was. And what I liked about Vigilante was that it explore that sexual assault doesn’t just affect the victim, but everyone around them.
Vigilante follows protagonist Hadley, who should be starting her senior year when her best friend. Instead, she is grieving and she watches the boys, who drove Magda to kill herself, every day. Heartbroken and angry that Magda rapists can walk free, she decides to take justice into her own hands.
Hadley was a hard character to get along with at first. She has a very small look of the world and even without meaning to, could hurt a lot of people. When Vigilante begins, we already see the grief and hurt that has consumed Hadley, but we also see her ignorance at times. There were times throughout the novel where I wanted to just yell at her, tell her to stop. But, as the novel goes on, we get to see that her thoughts do change. We see her think differently.
I found that because Hadley was full of grief and vengeance. That she couldn’t see what she was doing was wrong. And hell if I was in position. I would so want to do the same. When Hadley starts to go after the boys that raped her best friend. I felt the power, I felt great. But, as the novel goes on. An eye for eye – isn’t always right. And no matter what someone does, taking justice into our own hands – doesn’t make us the hero.
I did, however, like Hadley’s character development. Over the course of the book, we see her grow, get knocked down a bit, then grow again. It’s a great example of life and teen years. How things make us stronger and others bring us down.
The romance, ah. I am not too sure how I feel about it. I love the idea of the best friends brother. One of my favourites actually, but I felt that at times that the love interest was too intense. Maybe, if it was another book or dealt with a different situation it wouldn’t have bothered me as much. But alas it did.
I wasn’t a massive fan of the ‘wrapped-up’ ending as I like to call it. Where something happens and then the next chapter, we are told what happened after. I was left hanging on a couple of things and wanted to know more. Some issues were also thrown at the reader in those last chapters – that kind of gave a shock to the system. I felt that some of the characters didn’t have a full arc and although we have only seen a glimpse of their life, I would have liked more closures.
The friendships that Hadley builds along the way through the novel, I wanted more. I loved that she could find people, girls. That are going to be there for her. I liked seeing good girl friendships. And not such a good friendship, but a strong one. Hadley didn’t want those after losing Magda, but she needed it. She needed that support system.
I say this a lot, but books like Vigilante are needed. The world isn’t sunshine and daisies. It’s not, don’t try and trick yourself because you will be disappointed. Books that deal with rape, racism, ableism and everything that we hate in the world, are important. No matter how much you want to ignore these things in fiction – they are still happening out there in the real word. And for new generations, and if they don’t see things like this in books and understand that it is wrong, what is going to happen when they see it in real life?
Vigilante explores the notion of rape culture, grief, family, friend and love. It explores the justice system and how it doesn’t always stand for justice. It looks into standing up for yourself and others, as well as sometimes taking things into your own hands – doesn’t work and isn’t always right.
Vigilante is a hard book to read, but it is also powerful and empowering to women, to girls. It’s a reminder that we don’t let males rule us, let them walk over us. We can stand up for ourselves and the women around us. It’s honest, heartbreaking, empowering and confronting, but a must-read.
When I first heard about this book, I knew that needed it in my hands. Books that deal with hard and raw subjects are difficult to read, but they are also very powerful. And Vigilante is just that.
Earlier this year I read No Virgin, a novel that explores the outcomes of a sexual assault victim and how heart-wrenching it was. And what I liked about Vigilante was that it explore that sexual assault doesn’t just affect the victim, but everyone around them.
Vigilante follows protagonist Hadley, who should be starting her senior year when her best friend. Instead, she is grieving and she watches the boys, who drove Magda to kill herself, every day. Heartbroken and angry that Magda rapists can walk free, she decides to take justice into her own hands.
Hadley was a hard character to get along with at first. She has a very small look of the world and even without meaning to, could hurt a lot of people. When Vigilante begins, we already see the grief and hurt that has consumed Hadley, but we also see her ignorance at times. There were times throughout the novel where I wanted to just yell at her, tell her to stop. But, as the novel goes on, we get to see that her thoughts do change. We see her think differently.
I found that because Hadley was full of grief and vengeance. That she couldn’t see what she was doing was wrong. And hell if I was in position. I would so want to do the same. When Hadley starts to go after the boys that raped her best friend. I felt the power, I felt great. But, as the novel goes on. An eye for eye – isn’t always right. And no matter what someone does, taking justice into our own hands – doesn’t make us the hero.
I did, however, like Hadley’s character development. Over the course of the book, we see her grow, get knocked down a bit, then grow again. It’s a great example of life and teen years. How things make us stronger and others bring us down.
The romance, ah. I am not too sure how I feel about it. I love the idea of the best friends brother. One of my favourites actually, but I felt that at times that the love interest was too intense. Maybe, if it was another book or dealt with a different situation it wouldn’t have bothered me as much. But alas it did.
I wasn’t a massive fan of the ‘wrapped-up’ ending as I like to call it. Where something happens and then the next chapter, we are told what happened after. I was left hanging on a couple of things and wanted to know more. Some issues were also thrown at the reader in those last chapters – that kind of gave a shock to the system. I felt that some of the characters didn’t have a full arc and although we have only seen a glimpse of their life, I would have liked more closures.
The friendships that Hadley builds along the way through the novel, I wanted more. I loved that she could find people, girls. That are going to be there for her. I liked seeing good girl friendships. And not such a good friendship, but a strong one. Hadley didn’t want those after losing Magda, but she needed it. She needed that support system.
I say this a lot, but books like Vigilante are needed. The world isn’t sunshine and daisies. It’s not, don’t try and trick yourself because you will be disappointed. Books that deal with rape, racism, ableism and everything that we hate in the world, are important. No matter how much you want to ignore these things in fiction – they are still happening out there in the real word. And for new generations, and if they don’t see things like this in books and understand that it is wrong, what is going to happen when they see it in real life?
Vigilante explores the notion of rape culture, grief, family, friend and love. It explores the justice system and how it doesn’t always stand for justice. It looks into standing up for yourself and others, as well as sometimes taking things into your own hands – doesn’t work and isn’t always right.
Vigilante is a hard book to read, but it is also powerful and empowering to women, to girls. It’s a reminder that we don’t let males rule us, let them walk over us. We can stand up for ourselves and the women around us. It’s honest, heartbreaking, empowering and confronting, but a must-read.
maryam162424's review against another edition
4.0
What an AMAZING BOOK!!! This book touches the issue of sexual assault in a fantastic and touching manner that will cause people to critically think about it. I couldn't put this book down, it really was amazing. Hadley's perspective and pain was so real and raw, that I couldn't help but feel it too. The relationship that Hadley had with her new friends was amazing. The message of this book is also very important to girls. Us girls shouldn't fight with each other, we should fight for each other. Please read this one!!!
venti's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
She laughed. “Don’t apologise. If you’re ever attacked, I want you to be angry about it.”
I looked her in the eyes. “I’m angry if any woman gets attacked.”
I looked her in the eyes. “I’m angry if any woman gets attacked.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Suicide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
Moderate: Gun violence and Medical content
michelle_pink_polka_dot's review against another edition
3.0
I'm giving this 3 stars because I LOVED the first 1/3 of the book. Then it spiraled into this violent, fairytale world where high school girls can beat up grown men after a few self defense classes, rapists lurk on every corner, and violence is thrown around far too casually.
I feel like there are good intentions with this book-- it's definitely got that GIRL POWER vibe. But I need my issues books to be more realistic and less lessony.
I feel like there are good intentions with this book-- it's definitely got that GIRL POWER vibe. But I need my issues books to be more realistic and less lessony.
knallen's review against another edition
4.0
This is a heartbreaking, horrible, wonderful book that sadly is needed. Somewhere in the middle of the book I felt like it was overly dramatic and exaggerated. Maybe it was and maybe it wasn't. I don't know the statistics of date rape (though some were given in the book), but if felt a little too 'a rapist on every corner'. Maybe I simply don't want to believe that, or maybe my faith in people is misplaced. Regardless, I think this is an important book for teenagers (both girls and boys) to read. This is one my library will be purchasing.
islandgeekgirl's review against another edition
4.0
I've read a lot of books dealing with this topic recently but I thought this one managed to still stand out with its revenge plot and with the addition of self defense classes. I liked that the book didn't just deal with Hadley's revenge but with Hadley's own guilt about that night and her finding a way to move on after her friend's death. It was the story of Hadley wanting to make sure no other girl was hurt the way Madga was and that no boy would get away with hurting another girl.
Hadley was dealing with a lot of guilt over, in her opinion, being a horrible friend both on the night Madga was raped and afterward. She had to see the four boys in class every day, joking, walking around because there had been no consequences for what they'd done to her best friend. When the opportunity arose for her to humiliate one of the guys, I could understand why she took it. She wanted justice for her friend and if the court wouldn't do it, she would.
I really liked seeing Hadley reluctantly reaching out to other girls and slowly realizing she had new friends. It had been just her and Madga for so long that Hadley didn't really interact with many other people. I liked the group of girls she started to hang out with, girls she convinced to join a self defense class and who were more than willing to help Hadley keep other girls safe. The self defense classes were a great addition as it gave very good advice and it allowed some very important points to be addressed in a natural situation.
With the book being so short, the main focus stayed on Hadley's revenge and guilt, which meant a lot of the supporting characters didn't get a lot of opportunities to develop. There were a few things I had to overlook, like Hadley being able to so easily get away with being the Pink Vigilante when she was targeting the boys who'd hurt her best friend, but it wasn't hard to do(no more so than accepting a pair of glasses or a hood can hide Supergirl or the Arrow's identities).
This is an important book and the way it was written, especially the self defense classes, was great in the way where I could picture the moves the girls were doing without needing graphics.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Hadley was dealing with a lot of guilt over, in her opinion, being a horrible friend both on the night Madga was raped and afterward. She had to see the four boys in class every day, joking, walking around because there had been no consequences for what they'd done to her best friend. When the opportunity arose for her to humiliate one of the guys, I could understand why she took it. She wanted justice for her friend and if the court wouldn't do it, she would.
I really liked seeing Hadley reluctantly reaching out to other girls and slowly realizing she had new friends. It had been just her and Madga for so long that Hadley didn't really interact with many other people. I liked the group of girls she started to hang out with, girls she convinced to join a self defense class and who were more than willing to help Hadley keep other girls safe. The self defense classes were a great addition as it gave very good advice and it allowed some very important points to be addressed in a natural situation.
With the book being so short, the main focus stayed on Hadley's revenge and guilt, which meant a lot of the supporting characters didn't get a lot of opportunities to develop. There were a few things I had to overlook, like Hadley being able to so easily get away with being the Pink Vigilante when she was targeting the boys who'd hurt her best friend, but it wasn't hard to do(no more so than accepting a pair of glasses or a hood can hide Supergirl or the Arrow's identities).
This is an important book and the way it was written, especially the self defense classes, was great in the way where I could picture the moves the girls were doing without needing graphics.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.