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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
Cyber bullying is so big in today's Society and this book was amazing at how it captured it all. Even though this story is fiction, it showed what happens before, during and after something people think is do small can turn into a major problem. What I loved about this, is that it goes in depth but still made me want to read it and it was interesting.
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Suicide attempt
I truly enjoyed this book. I felt however once I got to the middle I knew what was going to happen but I feel this book is a good book for everyone, especially teens and young adults to read because you honestly never know who is behind the computer screen. This book deals with a lot of factors, mainly depression and cyberbullying and the consequences of both but I feel it's a subject that continues to hurt a lot of young adults today. This is a good good book if you're looking for a quick read and I like how we get the story from 4 of the characters points of view.
This book is a very well written realistic look at cyberbullying and its consequences for not only the victim but the bully. Told from the points of view of four teens, two in high school (victim Lara and her former best friend Bree) and two in 8th grade, their younger siblings Sydney and Liam. The book opens with Lara attempting suicide as a result of spiteful things said about her, and to her, by a boy on Facebook and through IM. Eventually we learn the truth behind the bullying, and follow as Lara struggles to make progress with her healing, while the bully has to deal with how what they did ruins their own reputation when the truth is known, and threatens to tear apart their family. There's some true "backlash" here. The book has some suspense, is up to the minute technology-wise, and I also liked the portrayals of the parents involved; it's not often in teen novels that you get well-rounded adult characters. The daughters are clearly influenced by their mothers for better or worse, and it is an interesting portrait of families. The younger siblings have a good storyline too, as they have to deal with their sisters' actions. Recommended for middle school readers (no language) and up; is not preachy but just a good realistic novel.
I read an advance readers' copy.
I read an advance readers' copy.
Great idea not so great execution. I seriously disliked every character but the siblings. And the sad part is that, in one aspect, I’ve been in Lara’s place. I did harm myself when I was in high school and I was put into the hospital to get help. But I couldn’t make myself like Lara. She was very flat, I couldn’t connect with her. I needed more. I also really didn’t like how it ended. It all felt very unresolved. We get Lara’s ending but what about the other three characters whose perspectives we’ve been reading about the entire book? Also side note I wish that her two friends from school played a bigger part. They were just briefly thrown in every once in a while and were then a big part of the last few pages ending Lara’s story. Ugh. To be able to really enjoy this book I needed sooo much more.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sticky Note Review http://thebooksupplier.com/?p=6510
WHO'S READY FOR ANOTHER UNPOPULAR OPINION? I SURE AM!
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I am really surprised by how high the rating is on this book, because it seemed to integrate every trope it could in the plot, and I don't think I am saying that in a positive way to be honest. This book was filled with bad parents, stereotypical mean girls, and the misunderstood sibling. It had it all. Before I rant about this topic for ages, I'll get into the actual review, because that's what you are here for, not for me ranting about one topic. Maybe you are, I don't know.
Backlash begins with a fairly strong start. Our main character, Lara, is found in a bathtub with pill bottles around her. She had been talking to a boy named Christian on Facebook, and he led her on then told her that life would be better without her in it and that she's a loser. Yada yada yada. The story develops from there, and it really was fairly slow paced.
For one, I really hated most of the characters. They were all disgusting, to the point it really isn't even realistic, especially Bree's mom and Lara's mom. Both were so self-centered and didn't even seem to care that Lara almost KILLED herself. I really hate how in books and movies they think it adds to the plot to make the parents horrible people. Can I actually read about a parent who isn't a total jerk for once? That would be nice!
Syd also seemed to be very selfish, and I found her character completely unrealistic. Syd was happy that she got the bathroom to herself when her sister was in a hospital and in a very fragile state. All she thought about was how, " it's always Lara who gets attention!" If I was Syd, I would have been crying and worried sick for my sister. I wouldn't care if I had to miss auditions for a play because my sister matters a heck of a lot more. She was just a very whiny character, and I found that extrememly irritating.
Don't get me started on Bree. I can't say why I hate her, but lets just say she never feels any remorse for anything.![]()
I felt like no character went beyond one dimensional, they were more of an idea than an actual character that was supposed to jump out of the page. This made the plot suffer immensely. With bland characters, the pace of the plot was slow. It was lots of whining and not much really seemed to happen. I feel like the novel could have been explained in ten pages or so and I still would have got the same amount out of it. There wasn't enough, and it didn't do justice for the issue it was trying to get across.
I know this book has an important message, but it wasn't executed well enough. If you are going to write a book about suicide, try to understand depression or at least explain more about the character's past with it. I want more from this. I don't want a little measley explanation of why Lara is the way she is. It seems the author didn't have much of an understanding of depression, but maybe I'm just crazy. I just really don't feel like this was a realistic take on depression and suicide at all.
For this, I had to give this two stars because of suicide and depression not being handled properly.
I am really surprised by how high the rating is on this book, because it seemed to integrate every trope it could in the plot, and I don't think I am saying that in a positive way to be honest. This book was filled with bad parents, stereotypical mean girls, and the misunderstood sibling. It had it all. Before I rant about this topic for ages, I'll get into the actual review, because that's what you are here for, not for me ranting about one topic. Maybe you are, I don't know.
Backlash begins with a fairly strong start. Our main character, Lara, is found in a bathtub with pill bottles around her. She had been talking to a boy named Christian on Facebook, and he led her on then told her that life would be better without her in it and that she's a loser. Yada yada yada. The story develops from there, and it really was fairly slow paced.
For one, I really hated most of the characters. They were all disgusting, to the point it really isn't even realistic, especially Bree's mom and Lara's mom. Both were so self-centered and didn't even seem to care that Lara almost KILLED herself. I really hate how in books and movies they think it adds to the plot to make the parents horrible people. Can I actually read about a parent who isn't a total jerk for once? That would be nice!
Syd also seemed to be very selfish, and I found her character completely unrealistic. Syd was happy that she got the bathroom to herself when her sister was in a hospital and in a very fragile state. All she thought about was how, " it's always Lara who gets attention!" If I was Syd, I would have been crying and worried sick for my sister. I wouldn't care if I had to miss auditions for a play because my sister matters a heck of a lot more. She was just a very whiny character, and I found that extrememly irritating.
Don't get me started on Bree. I can't say why I hate her, but lets just say she never feels any remorse for anything.
I felt like no character went beyond one dimensional, they were more of an idea than an actual character that was supposed to jump out of the page. This made the plot suffer immensely. With bland characters, the pace of the plot was slow. It was lots of whining and not much really seemed to happen. I feel like the novel could have been explained in ten pages or so and I still would have got the same amount out of it. There wasn't enough, and it didn't do justice for the issue it was trying to get across.
I know this book has an important message, but it wasn't executed well enough. If you are going to write a book about suicide, try to understand depression or at least explain more about the character's past with it. I want more from this. I don't want a little measley explanation of why Lara is the way she is. It seems the author didn't have much of an understanding of depression, but maybe I'm just crazy. I just really don't feel like this was a realistic take on depression and suicide at all.
For this, I had to give this two stars because of suicide and depression not being handled properly.
Absolutely amazing story! It is so engaging and realistic. I want all my middle school students to read it.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Suicide attempt