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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
Young adult book, which is not something I tend to usually go for, but I read it because the author lives in Houston and knows one of the women in my book group. So we read this book for book group and the author joined us for the discussion. It was an easy read, and it felt very real, the way rumors get started, the way they spread. If you like YA fiction, this is worth reading.
Can't decide between 3.5 and 4 stars. I remember thinking partway through that it'll be a good book to give to my (future hypothetical) tween/teen because it does such a brilliant job of showing that some bullying is on purpose, and some is on accident, and some is done out of fear & so the bully "justifies" it.
The book just sort of ended, but I think it was truer to life than having a big resolution.
The book just sort of ended, but I think it was truer to life than having a big resolution.
Pretty good quick read. The only thing is the writing style is pretty simplistic and its honestly a pretty forgettable book. Read it if you have time on your hands.
Also the ending was kinda expected.
Also the ending was kinda expected.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
the characters are insufferable
I'm surprised how much I enjoyed this one. I'm impressed that Mathieu managed to squeeze in 4 different POVs in just under 200 pages because each character had depth and added something to the story.
As a high school teacher, I feel these characters were pretty representative of some of the teenagers that exist in high school today. I am constantly telling my students not to believe everything they hear, and this book is a good example as to why. Some kids - and people really- lie to make themselves appear better to others. They often don't consider the consequences for those around them. And unfortunately today, there is a double standard when it comes to the sexual experiences of males and females.
One intriguing book. Totally worth the votes I cast for them.
Told from multiple perspectives, this is a thought provoking story about the way gossip, rumors, and slut-shaming make their way through a small town high school. Alice is in the popular crowd until a rumor makes its way around town about a party at the end of summer and then later is blamed for the death of the star quarterback. Each chapter is told by a different student and chronicles their reactions to the rumor, why they behaved the way they did, and how their own actions affected the way they felt about themselves in the end. The last chapter is told from Alice's point of view - her, feelings about the way she was treated, her observations on human nature as played out in the story and on her new friendship with someone she overlooked before. This book was a quick and easy read and would make for great discussions in teen groups.
4.5 Stars. I devoured this book in one afternoon. One the outside, this book seems like a typical high school saga. Rumors are started about Alice, she becomes THE scapegoat on campus, and Alice tries to weather it all. However, what makes this story absolutely captivating is the fact that we do not hear Alice's side of the story. The "truth" about Alice is given to the reader from the point of view of everyone around her. As the reader weaves through this fairly simple concept, the truth about Alice twists and turns until the actual truth is revealed slowly. As the reader, you do have a fairly good idea about what is going to happen eventually in the book; who is going to be revealed as a liar. However, when I recommend this book to students, I will ask them to try to actually put themselves in the character's shoes. Would you believe it? You just might. My favorite narrator throughout the entire book was Kelsie. I saw a lot of myself as a teenager in her passages, not necessarily in her experiences but in her point of view. Excellent book all around I will be buying for my library and definitely using in book talks.
Alice is a junior in high school, and she's having a REALLY rough year. Unfortunately for her, her "friends" all have reasons for why she needs to be the social outcast with rumors flying around her. It's an unique perspective, and I was definitely interested in exactly what happened that night at the party!
The novel is told in rotating POV from Josh, Elaine, Kelsie, and Kurt. As their story is told, we get Alice's story as well. It feels very one-sided, and you keep hoping for a chapter from Alice! It's horrible what happens to her, and how she is used by her classmates to cover up secrets, but what I didn't understand is why Alice never defended herself! That made me mad; I felt like, even if it didn't make a difference, the reader would see her trying to defend herself. I wished more of the characters could have had at least one redeeming quality...but Kurt was the only one who showed promise in that department.
I did like the story though. The plot was well paced, and I liked the different perspectives from each character. The ending was not what I was expecting-and I was very happy about that!! I do recommend the book; it was a good read and I think it could create interesting conversations among readers.
Thank you to Roaring Brook Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review! :)
The novel is told in rotating POV from Josh, Elaine, Kelsie, and Kurt. As their story is told, we get Alice's story as well. It feels very one-sided, and you keep hoping for a chapter from Alice! It's horrible what happens to her, and how she is used by her classmates to cover up secrets, but what I didn't understand is why Alice never defended herself! That made me mad; I felt like, even if it didn't make a difference, the reader would see her trying to defend herself.
Spoiler
The part where she confronts Kelsie really made me mad; she said she knew she couldn't do anything-so she let it all happen to her!.I did like the story though. The plot was well paced, and I liked the different perspectives from each character. The ending was not what I was expecting-and I was very happy about that!! I do recommend the book; it was a good read and I think it could create interesting conversations among readers.
Thank you to Roaring Brook Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review! :)