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nms5989's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
sc104906's review against another edition
2.0
I received this through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
After Jamie got into some trouble on his football team at his last school, he was sent to Fullbrook Academy. Jamie is not used to be surrounded by the privileged and prestigious and he feels more out of place because he is on scholarship and working against his past. Jamie tries to move beyond last year, but he is put in difficult situations with the unwritten traditions occurring around school.
Jules dislikes Fullbrook Academy and is tired of the boys club environment. While she attempts to stand up for herself and the other women at the school, she is ostracized and begins fighting a losing battle.
Things become extremely difficult after one party, where something bad happens (avoiding spoilers) and the characters are left to deal with the ramifications.
This book was tricky for me. While this is a story to be told, I just don't know if it was developed enough to provide the characters justice. I think it will be a great book discussion book.
After Jamie got into some trouble on his football team at his last school, he was sent to Fullbrook Academy. Jamie is not used to be surrounded by the privileged and prestigious and he feels more out of place because he is on scholarship and working against his past. Jamie tries to move beyond last year, but he is put in difficult situations with the unwritten traditions occurring around school.
Jules dislikes Fullbrook Academy and is tired of the boys club environment. While she attempts to stand up for herself and the other women at the school, she is ostracized and begins fighting a losing battle.
Things become extremely difficult after one party, where something bad happens (avoiding spoilers) and the characters are left to deal with the ramifications.
This book was tricky for me. While this is a story to be told, I just don't know if it was developed enough to provide the characters justice. I think it will be a great book discussion book.
notlikethebeer's review against another edition
3.0
A compelling look at r*pe culture within an elite boarding school. I particularly liked that The four main characters were great, although Javi and Aileen definitely could have been more developed. I also like that it ended quite messily, without a perfect conclusion, and with the acceptance that, within r*pe culture, the right people don't always win!
I think at the moment there are so many YA books out there about r*pe culture and feminism that it's hard to really excel in the genre, and for me this wasn't a stand out. However it was good in it's own right.
Spoiler
the two main characters didn't get together!I think at the moment there are so many YA books out there about r*pe culture and feminism that it's hard to really excel in the genre, and for me this wasn't a stand out. However it was good in it's own right.
resslesa's review against another edition
4.0
I love the points made by this book and was intrigued by the characters and situation. I felt it was a little slow and the characters’ voices didn’t always ring true to me.
southernbellebooks's review against another edition
2.0
Overall it, a fairly decent read but I thought it was incredibly choppy and all over the place in terms of storyline. It was pretty hard to follow and there were way too many times when I had to read something over and over to understand it.
bestdressedbookworm's review against another edition
2.0
This book is; every YA book about bullying meets bold and the beautiful meets cruel intentions and it bored me to tears. At page 96 when nothing of note had really happened I started to lose interest and at page 150 I started to skim. Although the book, like so many before it, deals with some serious issues, there was no real interesting spin too it. It’s a story I have read many times before.
saoreads's review against another edition
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
For the most part, it's like a wild attempt to make it seem as if it makes any sense, but the plot is all over. The two characters do not even have that much chemistry in the friendship aspect, so it wouldn't have been necessary to make the book in two povs as there is a disconnect for the emotional factor for the readers to step in and empathize with the characters, but instead the focus in the first part of the book lacked striking elements for engagement. It's a good thing that relevant issues were tackled, but it was more the storytelling that did not deliver, which was a disappointing read. It was still deep-rooted, and justice was not enough to suffice to even make something that'll pull you to read it, but it taught something: tradition is a scary thing, especially when you've been hardwired that your detrimental inhumane actions are fine, and the enabling was a reality slap.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Drug use, Rape, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
msethna's review against another edition
4.0
When you think about high school, what traditions pop into your mind? Are they school events or actions taken by those who attended? Brendan Kiely tackles the difficult topic of sexual assault at a high school boarding school and how these behaviors are perpetuated by the traditions allowed at the schools.
Tradition is told in a dual narrative: Jules, a strong opinionated senior who fights for the the rights she believes in, is sexually assaulted by her ex-boyfriend, who is the son of a rich private donor. When she shares what has happened the principal (head master) treats the matter as if she is the one in the wrong.
Jamie (Bax) is a new student who is trying to find a new start after an accident in his home town. He is at Fullbrook Academy on a scholarship and doesn't want to get into trouble or do anything to jeopardize his future. That is... until he meets and gets to know Jules.
Together the two of them fight the "traditions" that have developed over the years at Fullbrook.
In the time of #MeToo, I am grateful that a white male author is willing to speak up against sexual assault among high school teens. No means No. This is a story that needs to be read and shared. Make it required reading and have genuine conversations about the actions of these teenagers and why their behaviors are NOT okay.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and spread the importance of this book. I will be book talking this one to whoever will listen.
Tradition is told in a dual narrative: Jules, a strong opinionated senior who fights for the the rights she believes in, is sexually assaulted by her ex-boyfriend, who is the son of a rich private donor. When she shares what has happened the principal (head master) treats the matter as if she is the one in the wrong.
Jamie (Bax) is a new student who is trying to find a new start after an accident in his home town. He is at Fullbrook Academy on a scholarship and doesn't want to get into trouble or do anything to jeopardize his future. That is... until he meets and gets to know Jules.
Together the two of them fight the "traditions" that have developed over the years at Fullbrook.
In the time of #MeToo, I am grateful that a white male author is willing to speak up against sexual assault among high school teens. No means No. This is a story that needs to be read and shared. Make it required reading and have genuine conversations about the actions of these teenagers and why their behaviors are NOT okay.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and spread the importance of this book. I will be book talking this one to whoever will listen.
candaceallison's review against another edition
challenging
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75