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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
I guess this really happens, right? Social Media used to inflict harm by a person who doesn't figure on the consequences.
I thoroughly enjoyed the way this story unwound. The plot kept me interested, each perspective told in turn.
Good book for a serious discussion topic.
I thoroughly enjoyed the way this story unwound. The plot kept me interested, each perspective told in turn.
Good book for a serious discussion topic.
A young adult novel about cyberbullying. Lara and Bree were good friends as well as next door neighbors through middle school, but in high school Bree has joined a different group. Lara was overweight and depressed, but has lost weight and had professional help that has helped her improve her self-image. Bree has been involved in cheerleading for years, due to her mother's pressure, but Lara has decided to try out for the team. She makes it, Bree doesn't, and in a moment Lara's laughter with her friend Ashley sears Bree and sends her on a path of vengeance. She creates a fake on-line guy, using her knowledge of Lara to make him everything her former friend would like, and gets Lara to friend him on Facebook. Eventually Bree's mom finds out, and actually participates in the tormenting. Bree then decides to end it and has "Christian" humiliate Lara, saying the world would be a better place without her. Lara attempts suicide, the police discover that Bree is the one who created Christian, and the whole world knows about Bullying Bree and Monster Mom in no time. The results of all this on both families, including the younger siblings who want to still be friends, is harrowing for both families. Engrossing to read, and no sex, no language, no reason not to have it in every high school library and probably every middle school one as well. And really, good for parents and teens to read and discuss.
This is my second Sarah Darer Littman book (the first was Want to Go Private?), and because I wasn't too thrilled with Want To Go Private?, I was a little wary when I realized Backlash was written by the same author. However, I loved Backlash.
From the moment I started the book, I couldn't put it down. Of course, I knew from the synopsis what the story was about, and what would happen, but I liked how we were really able to get into the characters' heads throughout the book. I appreciated how, unlike many stories, everyone who did wrong was held accountable for their actions, rather than saying a simple apology and the whole situation is forgiven.
I loved the multiple POVs because I could get into the characters' heads and really understand what motivated them, rather than hating them -- or feeling sorry for them -- because the protagonist says to.
The pace of the book is good and I feel that the length is just right for the story. I was a little unsatisfied with the ending, but all in all I liked this novel, and would definitely recommend it if you want a quick but angst-filled read.
From the moment I started the book, I couldn't put it down. Of course, I knew from the synopsis what the story was about, and what would happen, but I liked how we were really able to get into the characters' heads throughout the book. I appreciated how, unlike many stories, everyone who did wrong was held accountable for their actions, rather than saying a simple apology and the whole situation is forgiven.
I loved the multiple POVs because I could get into the characters' heads and really understand what motivated them, rather than hating them -- or feeling sorry for them -- because the protagonist says to.
The pace of the book is good and I feel that the length is just right for the story. I was a little unsatisfied with the ending, but all in all I liked this novel, and would definitely recommend it if you want a quick but angst-filled read.
I have listened a lot of emotional YA books since I started listening to audio, and this one deals with cyber bullying and suicide.
People are awful. Anyone who thinks that we ever will live in a nice world is sadly delusional. Ugh people! I understood one of them because people are idiots, but then this other bully, wtf is wrong with you! But then people are evil.
The books starts with Sydney finding her sister Lara in the bathroom. Lara who used to be overweight and has struggled with depression. And who was on her way to getting better. Poor Lara. Poor Sydney too, she is left behind at times when it was all Lara Lara. They both matter.
Then the book jumps back 2 months and we get to see how Lara meets the cutest boy online and starts to fall for him, until he posts on FB how she should just kill herself...
In that 2 month back we also get the POV of her evil ex bestie Bree, grrr, Bree! No, I could not feel sorry for you.
And Liam, Bree's brother. Him I could feel sorry for.
These 4 POVS deal with the aftermath. It makes me angry, it makes me sad. I will not mention the person I was maddest at, but it was so low, so low.
A good book about cyber bullying and the ramifications it can have.
Narrators
It had two. Liam got his own narrator, which worked well. There were 3 girl POVs anyway that had their own narrator.
I did like both, they did well with female and male voices. Young and old.
People are awful. Anyone who thinks that we ever will live in a nice world is sadly delusional. Ugh people! I understood one of them because people are idiots, but then this other bully, wtf is wrong with you! But then people are evil.
The books starts with Sydney finding her sister Lara in the bathroom. Lara who used to be overweight and has struggled with depression. And who was on her way to getting better. Poor Lara. Poor Sydney too, she is left behind at times when it was all Lara Lara. They both matter.
Then the book jumps back 2 months and we get to see how Lara meets the cutest boy online and starts to fall for him, until he posts on FB how she should just kill herself...
In that 2 month back we also get the POV of her evil ex bestie Bree, grrr, Bree! No, I could not feel sorry for you.
And Liam, Bree's brother. Him I could feel sorry for.
These 4 POVS deal with the aftermath. It makes me angry, it makes me sad. I will not mention the person I was maddest at, but it was so low, so low.
A good book about cyber bullying and the ramifications it can have.
Narrators
It had two. Liam got his own narrator, which worked well. There were 3 girl POVs anyway that had their own narrator.
I did like both, they did well with female and male voices. Young and old.
Lara thought that Christian liked her, but then one day he publically posts on her Facebook wall that the world would be better off without her. Lara tries to commit suicide, leaving her and the people around her to deal with the backlash. Bree, Lara’s former best friend, is partly responsible for what happened on Facebook, but in some ways she feels that Lara deserves it for being depressed and self-absorbed for so long. Sydney, Lara’s sister, is dealing with feeling constantly overshadowed by her sister and feels like her life is constantly ruined by what is happening with Lara. Liam, Bree’s sister, is dealing with a sister and mother he can’t understand and not wanting his life to be ruined by their decisions. Online life collides with real life in this book while they all work on dealing with the backlash, anger, forgiveness, and moving on from the mistakes that have been made.
This is a hard book to read because of how much it can apply to real situations. Based on real-life episodes of cyberbullying and online manipulation, Backlash tells the story from the perspective of innocent bystanders, the victim, and the bully. No one in this book is perfect. In fact, they are all deeply flawed but perfectly human. Some people might think that Lara’s willingness to kill herself over a boy she’s never met is unrealistic, but that is something that has happened in real life. This book shows the consequences of online bullying and how people need to carefully think before they do something. The ending is perhaps a little too neat and hard to believe that they moved on from the horrible things that happened to them that easily, but the overall book shares an important message about how something that might seem like a simple act can ruin someone’s or multiple people’s lives. Backlash is an emotionally-charged story to help prompt discussion about the consequences of cyberbullying.
This is a hard book to read because of how much it can apply to real situations. Based on real-life episodes of cyberbullying and online manipulation, Backlash tells the story from the perspective of innocent bystanders, the victim, and the bully. No one in this book is perfect. In fact, they are all deeply flawed but perfectly human. Some people might think that Lara’s willingness to kill herself over a boy she’s never met is unrealistic, but that is something that has happened in real life. This book shows the consequences of online bullying and how people need to carefully think before they do something. The ending is perhaps a little too neat and hard to believe that they moved on from the horrible things that happened to them that easily, but the overall book shares an important message about how something that might seem like a simple act can ruin someone’s or multiple people’s lives. Backlash is an emotionally-charged story to help prompt discussion about the consequences of cyberbullying.
If i can be honest, this author writes like a middle schooler. But, it is so addictive. Like i WANT to know what happens. I mean, the twist on who made the account was obvious but there are also another twist that not only got me SHOOK but pissed. I like this author a lot tbh, this is the third book i have read from her.
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I know this is marked as young adult but it reads like middle grade in my opinion. Overall it was a good book though, some passages just hit way too close to home
I read this because it's a 6th-8th grade Louisiana Young Readers' Choice nominee, and also because my middle school student book club picked it for the fall. I wasn't expecting to like it much (last years' stuff sucked, honestly), but it was so good! A page-turner and an important book for all young people today to read. My students picked a good one!