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abbyreads2's review against another edition
4.0
**Warning: this text may contain spoilers** Loved loved loved loved it!!!
Before I picked this book up, I knew it was going to be influential but nothing prepared me for this. It was everything and much more. It was educating. In my opinion, schools and community all around should read this book or make it a priority. The subject mentioned in this book was well-written and well-approached. The author showed us the victim point of view and the perpetrators best friend's POV. She showed the way others treated the victim, the challenges she faced and her strengths through it all. She didn't give up. She refused to be silenced. She challenged them. She didn't let fear get the best of her. She knew it would be hard and didn't back down. Grace's character was admirable. I also liked how Ian character gradually changed over time. He strengthened over time and opened his eyes to reality. He did what was right instead of taking the easy way out. At times, I wanted to punch him and most of the characters in the book (besides grace and her mother). Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was phenomenal, breathtaking. Outstanding job, Patty Blount.
Edit: Some parts of the books were aggravating. These kids were absolutely naive, ignorant and clueless. It was as though they'd never been taught anything about this kind of subject before. They treated her like shit and all the adults allowed it. That pissed me off more. I would've expected that kind of behavior from the kids but the adults allowing it to happen? That was crazy messed up. Even though, the characters were a bit fucked up, stupid, ignorant, naive and etc the book was okay. It was mostly decent. The subject was an important one and the way the author executed the plots was understandable. But I feel this book could've been better. I don't think any one of those people learned their lessons besides Ian, maybe. And the ending was a bit annoying, I understand the outfits was a mask, right? But I am tired of these kinds of books where the main characters just changes how they dress in the end. It doesn't go with the message. If it's not their fault, if how they dress isn't the problem, why is it that in the end they always changes how they dress? Why can't they dress a certain way simply for themselves and stay that way in the end? That part rubbed me the wrong way because it happens in every book and only ever happens with female main characters...
Before I picked this book up, I knew it was going to be influential but nothing prepared me for this. It was everything and much more. It was educating. In my opinion, schools and community all around should read this book or make it a priority. The subject mentioned in this book was well-written and well-approached. The author showed us the victim point of view and the perpetrators best friend's POV. She showed the way others treated the victim, the challenges she faced and her strengths through it all. She didn't give up. She refused to be silenced. She challenged them. She didn't let fear get the best of her. She knew it would be hard and didn't back down. Grace's character was admirable. I also liked how Ian character gradually changed over time. He strengthened over time and opened his eyes to reality. He did what was right instead of taking the easy way out. At times, I wanted to punch him and most of the characters in the book (besides grace and her mother). Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was phenomenal, breathtaking. Outstanding job, Patty Blount.
Edit: Some parts of the books were aggravating. These kids were absolutely naive, ignorant and clueless. It was as though they'd never been taught anything about this kind of subject before. They treated her like shit and all the adults allowed it. That pissed me off more. I would've expected that kind of behavior from the kids but the adults allowing it to happen? That was crazy messed up. Even though, the characters were a bit fucked up, stupid, ignorant, naive and etc the book was okay. It was mostly decent. The subject was an important one and the way the author executed the plots was understandable. But I feel this book could've been better. I don't think any one of those people learned their lessons besides Ian, maybe. And the ending was a bit annoying, I understand the outfits was a mask, right? But I am tired of these kinds of books where the main characters just changes how they dress in the end. It doesn't go with the message. If it's not their fault, if how they dress isn't the problem, why is it that in the end they always changes how they dress? Why can't they dress a certain way simply for themselves and stay that way in the end? That part rubbed me the wrong way because it happens in every book and only ever happens with female main characters...
addivvx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
BEST BOOK YOU WILL EVER READ The story is about a girl named Grace who is trying to prove that a boy in the school has SA her named Zac. The video goes around but it looks "consensual" Everyone is against her and calls her vicious names. But she meets a guy named Ian who is coincidently Zac's Best Friend. After being forced to spend time with him cleaning lockers the two get close and Grace believes there's a chance that someone will finally believe her. As the story goes on and Ian has doubts, their friendship grows into something that Ian hopes could be a relationship, But possibly at the cost of Zac's and Ian's friendship.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Violence, Alcohol, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, and Cursing
jaimeedarling's review against another edition
3.0
Whereas I can't IMAGINE, that an ENTIRE. SCHOOL. INCLUDING THE TEACHERS. would not believe a young girl when she said she was raped, this book was pretty decent. Yes, you'll get angry at Ian quite a bit throughout this book, but because he's still pretty young, AND best friends with the rapist, I will give him a pass, because he has a lot to go through during this book as well. Especially while having a major concussion, lol.
I, however, would NOT have given ANY forgiveness to those two girls that call themselves her best friends. They are complete trash.
Anyways, point being, I like how this girl dealed with what happened to her, and I'm glad she didn't run away.
Solid 2.5 stars, I'd say.
Spoiler
No, he doesn't believe her until he has definitive proof, right at the end of the book, and YES, he was a dick when it mattered and was caring when it didn't, I still forgive him.I, however, would NOT have given ANY forgiveness to those two girls that call themselves her best friends. They are complete trash.
Anyways, point being, I like how this girl dealed with what happened to her, and I'm glad she didn't run away.
Spoiler
I will say that she was very lucky that the truth came out in the end though. I can only imagine how awful her life still would have been if that video never existed and nobody ever did believe her. And all the girls that would get raped in the future by Zac since no one would have ever known/believed.Solid 2.5 stars, I'd say.
radarocco's review against another edition
5.0
Однозначно must read! Просто нет слов, великолепная книга, великолепная героиня и великолепное послесловие от автора. Побольше бы таких книг.
applesandtulips's review against another edition
4.0
I wish we had more after Zac got arrested, and I don't like that Grace is so forgiving of everyone, but it was a nice read regardless
hollyollyoxenfree's review against another edition
5.0
Wow.
I don't really know what else to say. This book. I have been looking at reading this book for a while now, but wasn't sure if I could handle it. I often find books with messages, the ones dealing with the really hard issues, are a struggle for me to get through. They are either too preachy, miss the point, or downplay their issue in favor of various other plots also going in the book.
This book did none of those things. Some Boys takes a hard look at rape culture, and questions why the victims are often ostracized, demonized, and shamed into believing they did something wrong. Some Boys does not pulls its punches, and it absolutely hit its intended mark.
I read this book straight through the night. I could not put it down.
I was really intrigued by the dual narrative. I always love multiple points of view in a book, and I was interested to see how Patty Blount would switch off between Grace, the survivor, and Ian, a friend of the accused. I do not want to go into too many details, because I don't want to give the story away, but I thought she did a great job capturing the confusing jumble of emotions for all of those involved, as well as the fear and anger of a survivor being taunted for telling the truth. I also really believed the characters; everything felt so real, and I their voices felt very teenager-y to me. Sometimes I struggle to hear characters as actual teens; I think authors sometimes don't quite get it right, but Ms. Blount did a great job. This book felt very relevant to today, because this is a big issue that has been in the news and has gotten a lot of coverage in the past.
While there were some minor issues I had with the book, nothing really pulled me out of the story or made me question it enough to take this down from 5 stars. Grace is a strong heroine, in contrast to many of the cowering female characters we see in YA books. I also appreciated the adult presence in the story: it often seems YA books lack adult characters, and the teens run around willy nilly with no one to answer to. There are plenty of adults in Some Boys , and it was interesting to see how they reacted.
One small note: Many of you may wonder, with the dual narrative of a boy and a girl, and after reading the description of this book, if it is a romance. I hesitate to put this on my romance shelf, because while there is a bit of romance, this book is so much bigger than that, the story so much more powerful. I don't want to see this book get lost, or considered as "just another teen romance," when at its heart, it is so much more.
In the end, I found I was wrong about my initial expectations for this book. I was worried it would be very dark, and very tragic. And it is. Don't get me wrong, any book about rape is going to be dark, and terrible, and so difficult to read. But I also found myself feeling hopeful throughout the story. And that's important to hold onto, even in the darkest of times. Hope.
I don't really know what else to say. This book. I have been looking at reading this book for a while now, but wasn't sure if I could handle it. I often find books with messages, the ones dealing with the really hard issues, are a struggle for me to get through. They are either too preachy, miss the point, or downplay their issue in favor of various other plots also going in the book.
This book did none of those things. Some Boys takes a hard look at rape culture, and questions why the victims are often ostracized, demonized, and shamed into believing they did something wrong. Some Boys does not pulls its punches, and it absolutely hit its intended mark.
I read this book straight through the night. I could not put it down.
I was really intrigued by the dual narrative. I always love multiple points of view in a book, and I was interested to see how Patty Blount would switch off between Grace, the survivor, and Ian, a friend of the accused. I do not want to go into too many details, because I don't want to give the story away, but I thought she did a great job capturing the confusing jumble of emotions for all of those involved, as well as the fear and anger of a survivor being taunted for telling the truth. I also really believed the characters; everything felt so real, and I their voices felt very teenager-y to me. Sometimes I struggle to hear characters as actual teens; I think authors sometimes don't quite get it right, but Ms. Blount did a great job. This book felt very relevant to today, because this is a big issue that has been in the news and has gotten a lot of coverage in the past.
While there were some minor issues I had with the book, nothing really pulled me out of the story or made me question it enough to take this down from 5 stars. Grace is a strong heroine, in contrast to many of the cowering female characters we see in YA books. I also appreciated the adult presence in the story: it often seems YA books lack adult characters, and the teens run around willy nilly with no one to answer to. There are plenty of adults in Some Boys , and it was interesting to see how they reacted.
One small note: Many of you may wonder, with the dual narrative of a boy and a girl, and after reading the description of this book, if it is a romance. I hesitate to put this on my romance shelf, because while there is a bit of romance, this book is so much bigger than that, the story so much more powerful. I don't want to see this book get lost, or considered as "just another teen romance," when at its heart, it is so much more.
In the end, I found I was wrong about my initial expectations for this book. I was worried it would be very dark, and very tragic. And it is. Don't get me wrong, any book about rape is going to be dark, and terrible, and so difficult to read. But I also found myself feeling hopeful throughout the story. And that's important to hold onto, even in the darkest of times. Hope.