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3.31 AVERAGE
3.31 AVERAGE
This book has been sitting on my reading list for quite sometime now... after reading 50% of the book I don't think I can get the hang of it. Four different POVs is really new to me but it's really HARD to bare.
Okay, first of all, let me tell you that while I don't really have a problem with this sort of thing, and even after reading some of the reviews here, I didn't expect this book to get that dark.
So if you're one of those people who read the reviews so you can get a feel for a book before actually committing to reading it, know that there are many triggers here. There's a lot of abuse here, in the form of violence and non consensual sexual situations. There is also an overall negative feel around the victim and many slurs, and also a lot of misunderstandings regarding these sensitive situations.
You get 4 POVs from 2 brothers, Alex and Kyle, from Philadelphia and 2 sisters, Katie and Julie, from New Jersey. During the summer, they all go to this place with their Russian families and that's basically where they meet. They sort of lead double lives. During these summers, they all pretend to be someone they're not during the other three seasons, back home.
Obviously, these lies never stick, and something happens that will eventually - and inevitably - ruin the painting. When it does, it goes bad. Really bad.
I have to say that I only really liked one character from beginning to end, and that was Kyle. I wasn't too big on Katie in the beginning, but then things happened and I wanted to hug her forever and stop her from making bad choices and just find her some help, really. Julie was okay in the beginning, but I ended up the book feeling such a deep hatred for her, you have no idea. Alex was ups and downs. In the beginning, I liked the summer version of Alex (or Sasha, as they called him), but eventually, it all crumbled down and he only made things worse for Katie in the end. I sort of understand how he thinks about things a certain way, given what happened at home after his father died, but still... Either way, I hate Julie more. She made everything about her when she wasn't even close to the real problem.
Anyway, it was definitely a heavy and emotionally dark thing to read. I punched a cushion a few times because certain characters were driving me up the wall, but it was so... raw at the same time. I'd find myself conflicted most times. I'd think "don't worry, Dina, this is all fictional, this never happened". But then again, another part of me would go "actually, although this particular story is fictional, this happened (and still happens) to so many people out there in the real world" and it would make me sick to my stomach considering this harsh truth.
I particularly liked the last pages with resources for people needing help fighting these situations. That was a nice touch.
All in all, it was a really good book, a solid 4.5 stars, even if I can't give it that. It really got to me. I kept going from anger to sadness between pages, and would occasionally yell a victorious "yes!" whenever a character got to hear some really hard and well-deserved truths. A lot of people in this book could do with a few reality slaps. Or punches. But, yeah, I'm going to cool off a bit now. This book messed me up.
So if you're one of those people who read the reviews so you can get a feel for a book before actually committing to reading it, know that there are many triggers here. There's a lot of abuse here, in the form of violence and non consensual sexual situations. There is also an overall negative feel around the victim and many slurs, and also a lot of misunderstandings regarding these sensitive situations.
You get 4 POVs from 2 brothers, Alex and Kyle, from Philadelphia and 2 sisters, Katie and Julie, from New Jersey. During the summer, they all go to this place with their Russian families and that's basically where they meet. They sort of lead double lives. During these summers, they all pretend to be someone they're not during the other three seasons, back home.
Obviously, these lies never stick, and something happens that will eventually - and inevitably - ruin the painting. When it does, it goes bad. Really bad.
I have to say that I only really liked one character from beginning to end, and that was Kyle. I wasn't too big on Katie in the beginning, but then things happened and I wanted to hug her forever and stop her from making bad choices and just find her some help, really. Julie was okay in the beginning, but I ended up the book feeling such a deep hatred for her, you have no idea. Alex was ups and downs. In the beginning, I liked the summer version of Alex (or Sasha, as they called him), but eventually, it all crumbled down and he only made things worse for Katie in the end. I sort of understand how he thinks about things a certain way, given what happened at home after his father died, but still... Either way, I hate Julie more. She made everything about her when she wasn't even close to the real problem.
Anyway, it was definitely a heavy and emotionally dark thing to read. I punched a cushion a few times because certain characters were driving me up the wall, but it was so... raw at the same time. I'd find myself conflicted most times. I'd think "don't worry, Dina, this is all fictional, this never happened". But then again, another part of me would go "actually, although this particular story is fictional, this happened (and still happens) to so many people out there in the real world" and it would make me sick to my stomach considering this harsh truth.
I particularly liked the last pages with resources for people needing help fighting these situations. That was a nice touch.
All in all, it was a really good book, a solid 4.5 stars, even if I can't give it that. It really got to me. I kept going from anger to sadness between pages, and would occasionally yell a victorious "yes!" whenever a character got to hear some really hard and well-deserved truths. A lot of people in this book could do with a few reality slaps. Or punches. But, yeah, I'm going to cool off a bit now. This book messed me up.
Graded By: Meghan
Cover Story: Role Model
BFF Charm: A WORLD OF NO (But Here's A Pamphlet From A Counseling Facility)
Swoonworthy Scale: 0 Minus Infinity x A Trillion
Talky Talk: He Said, She Said, He Said, She Said
Bonus Factor: Summer At The Lake
Anti-Bonus Factors: The Patti Chase Awful Mom Award
Relationship Status: Mandatory Reporter
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Role Model
BFF Charm: A WORLD OF NO (But Here's A Pamphlet From A Counseling Facility)
Swoonworthy Scale: 0 Minus Infinity x A Trillion
Talky Talk: He Said, She Said, He Said, She Said
Bonus Factor: Summer At The Lake
Anti-Bonus Factors: The Patti Chase Awful Mom Award
Relationship Status: Mandatory Reporter
Read the full book report here.
Written in the same way that Courtney Summer's writing has made herself a staple with us. Made me anxious and sick, but I could not stop reading.
I have to confess that I’m saddened, and a little surprised, by some of the reactions other reviewers have had to Pieces of Us. A lot of people have said that this book just isn’t for them, and I can support that – there’s a lot of content in Gelbwasser’s novel that’s hard to handle. What I can’t support are statements I’ve seen from people saying they’d be embarrassed to be caught reading the book, that it’s too inappropriate for teens to read, that the characters have no redeeming qualities.
Yes, reading Pieces of Us is a harrowing experience. Yes, it’s crude and full of profanity and graphic depictions of rape and abuse. Yes, it will make you cringe and rage and wish, at the end, that things had turned out differently. But you know what? It’s a powerful book, and even though it isn’t exactly accurate to say that I liked it, I am very glad that I read it.
The story centers on four teenagers – brothers Alex and Kyle, whose mother is a stripper, and sisters Katie and Julie, whose own mother has more in common with a high school “it girl” than with a parent – and how their lives are changed by each other’s actions and relationships.
The two families live in different states but come together every summer for a vacation in the Catskills. Spending the summer together has always felt like a release for the teens, who view it as a chance to shrug off the pressures and past mistakes of their “real” lives and become, at least temporarily, better people than they are at home. Katie can stop pretending to be the Golden Girl and try to forget the dirty little secret that has her living in fear and shame during the school year. Alex, whose contempt for women like his mother causes him to use and debase a string of so-called “sluts” at home, shows a more sensitive side. Julie can step out of her older sister’s shadow and feel special in her own right. And Kyle, who usually copes with Alex’s abuse by distancing himself from those around him, is able to breathe, feel safe, and connect with others.
Still, the summer home can’t remain a haven forever. Misunderstandings, jealousy, and hypocrisy gradually chip away at the tenuous peace the teenagers establish in the summer, and when Katie’s big secret is finally revealed, the peace is destroyed completely.
Pieces of Us is a story about lies, secrets, judgments, and the way a person’s ghosts haunt not just them, but the others around them as well. I won’t lie and tell you that the events in this book are easy to read about. It’s an upsetting and often ugly story, with a great deal of swearing, sex, bullying, and abuse. No one should ever have to suffer the way the main characters do; and yet, the things that happen in this book happen every day in the real world.
That, in a nutshell, is why I would recommend Pieces of Us. As sad as it is, it reminds people that abuse and sexism are still out there and need to be stopped. It calls attention to the injustices that go on every day, including the injustice of unequal standards for men and women.
Ironically, the fact that this injustice does exist is made evident by one of the reviews of the book that I read on Goodreads. The reviewer bashes Katie, calling her a slut because of certain choices she makes in the book. This shocked and deeply disappointed me, as it means that the reviewer missed the whole point of the novel. Katie is a victim, and yet people in the story, and even that Goodreads reviewer, see her as a villain. The blame is placed on her rather than on those who really deserve it. This happens all too often, and I think that’s part of the book’s message.
The themes aren’t the only strengths of Pieces of You. Something else that really stood out to me was the complexity of the characters. Even though Alex, Kyle, Katie, and Julie all did things throughout the course of the novel that made me wince, I was able to understand the motivations behind their actions. Even when they let me down and I found myself wishing they’d made different choices, I couldn’t help but pity the characters. Alex in particular struck me as a tragic character. Even though he’s the least sympathetic of the four protagonists, and the most culpable, I found myself wanting him to be better. Every now and then I caught a glimpse of the decent guy he could’ve been, which made the guy he was that much more frustrating.
One criticism I do have about Pieces of Us is that, while all of the events in this book can and do happen in real life, the ways some of them happen in the novel seem like a stretch. For example, there’s a scene when one of the characters is pressured into doing something distasteful. Although clearly reluctant to perform the distasteful task, that character concedes almost instantly with very little arm-twisting. It seemed unrealistic and detracted from the novel.
Still, Pieces of Us is definitely worth reading. It’s a tough book, but a powerful one, and I’m glad that I had the opportunity to experience it.
This review can also be found on my blog, Angela's Library.
Yes, reading Pieces of Us is a harrowing experience. Yes, it’s crude and full of profanity and graphic depictions of rape and abuse. Yes, it will make you cringe and rage and wish, at the end, that things had turned out differently. But you know what? It’s a powerful book, and even though it isn’t exactly accurate to say that I liked it, I am very glad that I read it.
The story centers on four teenagers – brothers Alex and Kyle, whose mother is a stripper, and sisters Katie and Julie, whose own mother has more in common with a high school “it girl” than with a parent – and how their lives are changed by each other’s actions and relationships.
The two families live in different states but come together every summer for a vacation in the Catskills. Spending the summer together has always felt like a release for the teens, who view it as a chance to shrug off the pressures and past mistakes of their “real” lives and become, at least temporarily, better people than they are at home. Katie can stop pretending to be the Golden Girl and try to forget the dirty little secret that has her living in fear and shame during the school year. Alex, whose contempt for women like his mother causes him to use and debase a string of so-called “sluts” at home, shows a more sensitive side. Julie can step out of her older sister’s shadow and feel special in her own right. And Kyle, who usually copes with Alex’s abuse by distancing himself from those around him, is able to breathe, feel safe, and connect with others.
Still, the summer home can’t remain a haven forever. Misunderstandings, jealousy, and hypocrisy gradually chip away at the tenuous peace the teenagers establish in the summer, and when Katie’s big secret is finally revealed, the peace is destroyed completely.
Pieces of Us is a story about lies, secrets, judgments, and the way a person’s ghosts haunt not just them, but the others around them as well. I won’t lie and tell you that the events in this book are easy to read about. It’s an upsetting and often ugly story, with a great deal of swearing, sex, bullying, and abuse. No one should ever have to suffer the way the main characters do; and yet, the things that happen in this book happen every day in the real world.
That, in a nutshell, is why I would recommend Pieces of Us. As sad as it is, it reminds people that abuse and sexism are still out there and need to be stopped. It calls attention to the injustices that go on every day, including the injustice of unequal standards for men and women.
Ironically, the fact that this injustice does exist is made evident by one of the reviews of the book that I read on Goodreads. The reviewer bashes Katie, calling her a slut because of certain choices she makes in the book. This shocked and deeply disappointed me, as it means that the reviewer missed the whole point of the novel. Katie is a victim, and yet people in the story, and even that Goodreads reviewer, see her as a villain. The blame is placed on her rather than on those who really deserve it. This happens all too often, and I think that’s part of the book’s message.
The themes aren’t the only strengths of Pieces of You. Something else that really stood out to me was the complexity of the characters. Even though Alex, Kyle, Katie, and Julie all did things throughout the course of the novel that made me wince, I was able to understand the motivations behind their actions. Even when they let me down and I found myself wishing they’d made different choices, I couldn’t help but pity the characters. Alex in particular struck me as a tragic character. Even though he’s the least sympathetic of the four protagonists, and the most culpable, I found myself wanting him to be better. Every now and then I caught a glimpse of the decent guy he could’ve been, which made the guy he was that much more frustrating.
One criticism I do have about Pieces of Us is that, while all of the events in this book can and do happen in real life, the ways some of them happen in the novel seem like a stretch. For example, there’s a scene when one of the characters is pressured into doing something distasteful. Although clearly reluctant to perform the distasteful task, that character concedes almost instantly with very little arm-twisting. It seemed unrealistic and detracted from the novel.
Still, Pieces of Us is definitely worth reading. It’s a tough book, but a powerful one, and I’m glad that I had the opportunity to experience it.
This review can also be found on my blog, Angela's Library.
When I first came across this on netgalley I thought it sounded good and I wanted to give it a try but I'm not sure that I am glad that I read it as parts where too deep and other parts where far too shallow there was no balance to the book.
I do feel it had the potential to be a fantastic book as the storylines was very hard hitting and that people should know more about. Maybe this would make a better film to show people not just teens but everyone as this talks about different kinds of abuse not that they all understand what is going on. This for me was too dark there wasn't really any light points and I would say no happy ending but maybe that's just the way that I look at it.
I love that we get to hear what the different characters are feeling by changing the point of view as I always wonder what the other person is thinking about. There is Kyle's chapter that doesn't really flow as well as the others as when he speaks he says you when really he is talking about himself it just got really annoying and very fast.
Even though I have given it 2 stars I was addicted to this book and I just wanted to find out what was going to happen but I couldn't give it more stars as I just didn't like the way everything was portrayed. I didn't see the point to some of the storylines for example the chickens getting slaughted it just seemed pointless.
At first I didn't really like Katie's character she seemed very shallow but then something big happens to her and it changes her and she seems less shallow and I also very sorry for her. Even though a lot of the characters say that she is weak I would say she is strong just because she went through it and came out on the other side.
I loved Kyle's character he was my favourite as he seemed the nicest yet he has been through so much as well yet it doesn't take it out on everyone else. The only thing was like I said before the way his chapter was written put me off reading his part yet I always wanted to know what he was thinking.
Alex and Julie I couldn't stand they was horrible and it just made me feel sick the way Julie thought of Katie and yet they are sisters it was very disturbing. I know that both of these characters have been through a lot of abuse as well and that these are portraying how they cope but I still didn't like them.
I didn't like the ending as I felt like I was left with more questions than answers.
Overall this book is actually addicting in the most sick and twisted way and it won't leave you until long after you have finished it.
I do feel it had the potential to be a fantastic book as the storylines was very hard hitting and that people should know more about. Maybe this would make a better film to show people not just teens but everyone as this talks about different kinds of abuse not that they all understand what is going on. This for me was too dark there wasn't really any light points and I would say no happy ending but maybe that's just the way that I look at it.
I love that we get to hear what the different characters are feeling by changing the point of view as I always wonder what the other person is thinking about. There is Kyle's chapter that doesn't really flow as well as the others as when he speaks he says you when really he is talking about himself it just got really annoying and very fast.
Even though I have given it 2 stars I was addicted to this book and I just wanted to find out what was going to happen but I couldn't give it more stars as I just didn't like the way everything was portrayed. I didn't see the point to some of the storylines for example the chickens getting slaughted it just seemed pointless.
At first I didn't really like Katie's character she seemed very shallow but then something big happens to her and it changes her and she seems less shallow and I also very sorry for her. Even though a lot of the characters say that she is weak I would say she is strong just because she went through it and came out on the other side.
I loved Kyle's character he was my favourite as he seemed the nicest yet he has been through so much as well yet it doesn't take it out on everyone else. The only thing was like I said before the way his chapter was written put me off reading his part yet I always wanted to know what he was thinking.
Alex and Julie I couldn't stand they was horrible and it just made me feel sick the way Julie thought of Katie and yet they are sisters it was very disturbing. I know that both of these characters have been through a lot of abuse as well and that these are portraying how they cope but I still didn't like them.
I didn't like the ending as I felt like I was left with more questions than answers.
Overall this book is actually addicting in the most sick and twisted way and it won't leave you until long after you have finished it.
I enjoyed some of the characters, but not Alex, he directed his past into his present, and was cruel to the other characters. The ending was pretty open ended, and it was hard to decide what might happen next. Not the best book I've read.
This is a book I wish I’d had the time to review when thoughts were fresh. Read in early March, the emotional reaction I initially felt has since faded but the story has not. (I warn you: this is also difficult for me to write without becoming lengthy.)
Pieces of Us alternates between four character perspectives: sisters Katie and Julie, and brothers Alex and Kyle. As events take place, we see each character’s view and how poor timing, miscommunication (or simply a lack thereof), and misunderstandings damage relationships. It is unfortunate, has power to greatly devastate, and it happens in real life to all of us at varying degrees. Each character, although driven by their unique needs, wants to discretely pocket their problems and keep the pain internal.
I would be lying if I said I loved these characters, because I didn’t. Even like is a strong word. My sympathy rose, crashed, and danced between the four, but I think this is one of Gelbwasser’s strengths. During times when I loathed Julie–absolutely despised her as an ugliness grew and swallowed her most endearing qualities– Gelbwasser gives us a wealth of insight. Yes, I was angry at Julie, but I understood the motivations behind her actions.
I cannot, however, say the same for Alex. Alex, Katie’s “summer boyfriend,” goes through one-night stands quicker than I can drink a pot of coffee. He gets an A+ in demeaning girls and showing nothing but complete disrespect toward women. To him, every hook-up girl is a “slut” or “skank,” except Katie. Katie is different, but does he feel the same when Katie’s secret is grossly smeared for everyone to look and prod at? Regardless of his reaction, he could not garner much of my understanding.
My chief complaint not only concerns his offensive treatment of women, but his failure to recognize himself as promiscuous. How is he better than the girls he sleeps with? What separates him besides gender? By societal standards, it seems, women–more often than men–are the dirty, despicable ones. This is an awfully unfair and unjust judgement.
Even more bothersome are reviewers who victim-blame Katie: it is her fault; she asked for it. People call her a slut and say “do not feel sorry for her” and so on. I feel these people are gravely ignorant while others are simply uncomfortable reading about sex. It is important to know and understand that rape and sexual coercion are not one in the same as sexual promiscuity. Gelbwasser does not explore the trauma rape victims undergo, and I still struggle in wondering if Gelbwasser should have. I think touching on deeper layers of Katie’s wounds would give these baffled readers a clearer understanding (and an educational moment). At the same time, sexual assault–although a major aspect– is not intended as the book’s focus.
To note: many feel this book is (too) graphic. I, however, disagree. I say it again: this notion seems to come from those who are uncomfortable reading or talking about sex. By my standards, for Pieces of Us to be “graphic,” then Gelbwasser would have to delve into detail. I would happily provide an excerpt if I had the book on hand, but I unfortunately don’t. There is rape, coercion, and yes: casual and ‘meaningful/first-time’ sex. Gelbwasser provides enough information for the reader to understand and have a sense of what is occurring. If that sounds graphic to you, or if the word “SEX” paints your face crimson, your literary taste may find it rotten.
Pieces of Us alternates between four character perspectives: sisters Katie and Julie, and brothers Alex and Kyle. As events take place, we see each character’s view and how poor timing, miscommunication (or simply a lack thereof), and misunderstandings damage relationships. It is unfortunate, has power to greatly devastate, and it happens in real life to all of us at varying degrees. Each character, although driven by their unique needs, wants to discretely pocket their problems and keep the pain internal.
I would be lying if I said I loved these characters, because I didn’t. Even like is a strong word. My sympathy rose, crashed, and danced between the four, but I think this is one of Gelbwasser’s strengths. During times when I loathed Julie–absolutely despised her as an ugliness grew and swallowed her most endearing qualities– Gelbwasser gives us a wealth of insight. Yes, I was angry at Julie, but I understood the motivations behind her actions.
I cannot, however, say the same for Alex. Alex, Katie’s “summer boyfriend,” goes through one-night stands quicker than I can drink a pot of coffee. He gets an A+ in demeaning girls and showing nothing but complete disrespect toward women. To him, every hook-up girl is a “slut” or “skank,” except Katie. Katie is different, but does he feel the same when Katie’s secret is grossly smeared for everyone to look and prod at? Regardless of his reaction, he could not garner much of my understanding.
My chief complaint not only concerns his offensive treatment of women, but his failure to recognize himself as promiscuous. How is he better than the girls he sleeps with? What separates him besides gender? By societal standards, it seems, women–more often than men–are the dirty, despicable ones. This is an awfully unfair and unjust judgement.
Even more bothersome are reviewers who victim-blame Katie: it is her fault; she asked for it. People call her a slut and say “do not feel sorry for her” and so on. I feel these people are gravely ignorant while others are simply uncomfortable reading about sex. It is important to know and understand that rape and sexual coercion are not one in the same as sexual promiscuity. Gelbwasser does not explore the trauma rape victims undergo, and I still struggle in wondering if Gelbwasser should have. I think touching on deeper layers of Katie’s wounds would give these baffled readers a clearer understanding (and an educational moment). At the same time, sexual assault–although a major aspect– is not intended as the book’s focus.
To note: many feel this book is (too) graphic. I, however, disagree. I say it again: this notion seems to come from those who are uncomfortable reading or talking about sex. By my standards, for Pieces of Us to be “graphic,” then Gelbwasser would have to delve into detail. I would happily provide an excerpt if I had the book on hand, but I unfortunately don’t. There is rape, coercion, and yes: casual and ‘meaningful/first-time’ sex. Gelbwasser provides enough information for the reader to understand and have a sense of what is occurring. If that sounds graphic to you, or if the word “SEX” paints your face crimson, your literary taste may find it rotten.
Well...it took me a few hours to get my head wrapped around the book. It was just so raw and heart breaking; I don't think i've cried this hard for a book in a while. This book made me feel so many different emotions, and i absolutely loved it for that.
Gelbwasser writes this book from four different POVs' so that we get to see each character's story and understand their part. Contrary to what people might think, this does not break the pace of the book, which is what i really love about this book. A few of Katie's parts are written in verse form, which makes them even more emotional and almost lyrical, a nice touch by the author. Also, Most of Kyle's parts are written in second form which makes it much easier to feel his part of the story as he is the most complex (and weird) character in this book.
Margie Gelbwasser's writing gave life to the characters, and their flaws made them that much more real. The only character that i really truly liked in this book was Kyle. Even though he did seem messed up at times, he was the most sympathetic character in the book (besides Katie's Dad, but we don't see him much). I loved it how he stuck with Katie till the end when even her mother turned her back on her (That's not to say that i didn't hate him for not standing up to his brother Alex).
I really liked Katie despite everything. I could see why she did what she did, even though it was very wrong. She had her reasons and i understood them. In the beginning, i might have hated her a little, but that changed as we saw more of the story from her POV. She wasn't a strong character, but she was real enough to make me pity her. The one thing that bugged me about her was her stupidity with Alex. I wanted to scream at her that Alex was no saint. Sure he seemed a little sweet with Katie, but the way he treated other girls like trash was just messed up.
Alex. Alex. Alex. How can i say it nicely? Let's just say he was a total you-know-what (use your imagination). He had a very bad childhood and he was treated like trash, but that's really no excuse for what he became when he grew up. I understood a little of his anger towards Katie, after all Katie could have told him about the incident, but still, the way he treated her afterwards was just heartless and really cruel.
Now Julie is an another character that rivaled Alex for my hatred. She was just so jealous and bitter, it was impossible to think that she was Katie's sister. If only she had taken the time to ask Katie rather than just jump to conclusions about the incident, and so quick to judge her sister, she might've been a little likable. Don't get me wrong, she was sweet sometimes. But sadly, she was a heartless little sister, and i hated her as much as Alex.
As for Katie's mother, well let's just say she was a sorry excuse for a mother. I mean, what kind of mother chooses between her daughters, then turns her back on said daughter when she is less-than-perfect and needs her mom the most? That made me super mad at her.
The ending wasn't what i was expecting. It was abrupt, but it did give us a little flicker of hope. I was rather happy that Julie, her mom and Alex were outta Katie's life because really she deserves way better than them. And Kyle. He was with her till the end and that is the only thing that made the end a little bearable.
I loved the cover as soon as i saw it, but reading the book and knowing it's significance just made me love it that much more. This book broke my heart and crushed it. I know for a fact that this book will stay with me for a long while.
Gelbwasser writes this book from four different POVs' so that we get to see each character's story and understand their part. Contrary to what people might think, this does not break the pace of the book, which is what i really love about this book. A few of Katie's parts are written in verse form, which makes them even more emotional and almost lyrical, a nice touch by the author. Also, Most of Kyle's parts are written in second form which makes it much easier to feel his part of the story as he is the most complex (and weird) character in this book.
Margie Gelbwasser's writing gave life to the characters, and their flaws made them that much more real. The only character that i really truly liked in this book was Kyle. Even though he did seem messed up at times, he was the most sympathetic character in the book (besides Katie's Dad, but we don't see him much). I loved it how he stuck with Katie till the end when even her mother turned her back on her (That's not to say that i didn't hate him for not standing up to his brother Alex).
I really liked Katie despite everything. I could see why she did what she did, even though it was very wrong. She had her reasons and i understood them. In the beginning, i might have hated her a little, but that changed as we saw more of the story from her POV. She wasn't a strong character, but she was real enough to make me pity her. The one thing that bugged me about her was her stupidity with Alex. I wanted to scream at her that Alex was no saint. Sure he seemed a little sweet with Katie, but the way he treated other girls like trash was just messed up.
Alex. Alex. Alex. How can i say it nicely? Let's just say he was a total you-know-what (use your imagination). He had a very bad childhood and he was treated like trash, but that's really no excuse for what he became when he grew up. I understood a little of his anger towards Katie, after all Katie could have told him about the incident, but still, the way he treated her afterwards was just heartless and really cruel.
Now Julie is an another character that rivaled Alex for my hatred. She was just so jealous and bitter, it was impossible to think that she was Katie's sister. If only she had taken the time to ask Katie rather than just jump to conclusions about the incident, and so quick to judge her sister, she might've been a little likable. Don't get me wrong, she was sweet sometimes. But sadly, she was a heartless little sister, and i hated her as much as Alex.
As for Katie's mother, well let's just say she was a sorry excuse for a mother. I mean, what kind of mother chooses between her daughters, then turns her back on said daughter when she is less-than-perfect and needs her mom the most? That made me super mad at her.
The ending wasn't what i was expecting. It was abrupt, but it did give us a little flicker of hope. I was rather happy that Julie, her mom and Alex were outta Katie's life because really she deserves way better than them. And Kyle. He was with her till the end and that is the only thing that made the end a little bearable.
I loved the cover as soon as i saw it, but reading the book and knowing it's significance just made me love it that much more. This book broke my heart and crushed it. I know for a fact that this book will stay with me for a long while.
There is graphic writing that aids a plot and graphic writing that’s done to shock. Unfortunately, this book is full of shock value scenes. The characters are your average messed up teens so common in the YA field but I suppose in an attempt to make it “different” their level of problems is so high it becomes completely unbelievable. Before you think of this as a summer read as it is advertised, the summer plays little part in this story. The families get together a few times and the kids meet up but it’s the in between times that the real storyline takes place. I say that but as I’m writing this I realize that’s not exactly true because it doesn’t really have a storyline. It’s more a conglomeration of bad choices and decisions that go far beyond normal teen behavior and are loosely strung together because the kids met each other once upon a time. These characters aren’t likeable from the very first page and I’m not sure why the author chose to do that – it made any concern might have had for these character evaporate. I would like to say the ending redeemed the graphic, poorly characterized story but alas it did not. Very very disappointed in this title and every teen that’s picked it up in my library has brought it back after reading only a chapter or so.
Arc Galley Proof
Arc Galley Proof