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bookwyrmbella's review
4.0
This was a very interesting story. I quite enjoyed the relationship between the different characters as well as the tech aspects. I did feel like there were times the main character was more of a jerk to his stop-mom than he needed to be. It did deal with important topics, like bullying and suicide. The things it showed about internet and social media culture is very relevant to what we are currently going through.
I received an eARC via Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I received an eARC via Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
watermelonhead's review
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
maddiemcevoy's review
4.0
in general, this book was well developed and enjoyable, with an actual unique and realistic take on social media and the dangers of cyberbullying. this was what i wanted easy prey to be!! characters acknowledging their toxic masculinity and working to change their mindsets!!! the main character owning up for his mistakes in a healthy way and trying to move on and be a productive member of society!!! yes please!!!!
this is a book about a teenage hacker named Eli who is a self proclaimed genius and computer geek. he gets caught up in coding a website dedicated to avenging the people who bullied a boy named Jordan who committed suicide a year prior to the events of this book. i loved the way that even the bullies and cheaters and bigots were portrayed as three dimensional. their actions were not erased or forgiven, but the reader was able to see them as real people instead of cartoon villains. the themes of hero vs villain and the way that Eli came to see the poisonous nature of revenge and the fact that everyone had shades of grey in them-- not just good or evil-- was extremely well done. it is rare to see such complex themes in YA.
i wish that Eli's relationship with his father had been delved into further, but i loved reading about the way his view of his father's girlfriend changed. i feel this story took a common trope "the evil stepmother/ dad's new girlfriend" trope and handled it in a very unique and effective way. i loved Misty, and she was such a positive example. i also loved the subplot about Isabel and that scene where she puts makeup on Eli and explains that men can wear makeup too was so precious.
i feel that this book is a very important addition to the genre and is something that many teens and adults could benefit from reading. i felt that in certain situations, the topic of homophobia was not dealt with in the best way, but other than that, delicate issues like suicide, drug use and cyberbullying were handled well.
one of the most important scenes in this book was the climax and i loved the way that Eli told Mouse that SPOILER Jordan lit his own match and although many people treated him unfairly and were completely in the wrong, Jordan's suicide was not anyone's fault. that line alone ended 13 reasons why.
the writing was nothing memorable to me, but i very much enjoyed the plot, and the writing did nothing to inhibit that. although some of the dialogue and teen slang made me cringe, a lot of it was very realistic and made me laugh at times. i feel like Lange really nailed it on the head when Eli said something in his monologue to the effect of "disgust is an easy emotion to fall back on when you don't want your parents to know your actual emotions." as a teenager, those words are almost to true to handle.
the characters were fun and likable for the most part, but i didn't feel very connected to any of them, and i felt that the characters and relationships could have benefitted from much more development.
in general, i enjoyed this book and would recommend it to teens and parents. the exploration of social media and morality was extremely well done and the way the internet was portrayed here was a lot more realistic than other books. this book actually showed it's messages in a fairly subtle and nuanced way, which i greatly appreciated. nothing makes me cringe harder than when authors make their characters preach about social and political values-- even when i agree with them. this book was enjoyable and well done and i think is a very important and meaningful addition to the genre.
this is a book about a teenage hacker named Eli who is a self proclaimed genius and computer geek. he gets caught up in coding a website dedicated to avenging the people who bullied a boy named Jordan who committed suicide a year prior to the events of this book. i loved the way that even the bullies and cheaters and bigots were portrayed as three dimensional. their actions were not erased or forgiven, but the reader was able to see them as real people instead of cartoon villains. the themes of hero vs villain and the way that Eli came to see the poisonous nature of revenge and the fact that everyone had shades of grey in them-- not just good or evil-- was extremely well done. it is rare to see such complex themes in YA.
i wish that Eli's relationship with his father had been delved into further, but i loved reading about the way his view of his father's girlfriend changed. i feel this story took a common trope "the evil stepmother/ dad's new girlfriend" trope and handled it in a very unique and effective way. i loved Misty, and she was such a positive example. i also loved the subplot about Isabel and that scene where she puts makeup on Eli and explains that men can wear makeup too was so precious.
i feel that this book is a very important addition to the genre and is something that many teens and adults could benefit from reading. i felt that in certain situations, the topic of homophobia was not dealt with in the best way, but other than that, delicate issues like suicide, drug use and cyberbullying were handled well.
one of the most important scenes in this book was the climax and i loved the way that Eli told Mouse that SPOILER Jordan lit his own match and although many people treated him unfairly and were completely in the wrong, Jordan's suicide was not anyone's fault. that line alone ended 13 reasons why.
the writing was nothing memorable to me, but i very much enjoyed the plot, and the writing did nothing to inhibit that. although some of the dialogue and teen slang made me cringe, a lot of it was very realistic and made me laugh at times. i feel like Lange really nailed it on the head when Eli said something in his monologue to the effect of "disgust is an easy emotion to fall back on when you don't want your parents to know your actual emotions." as a teenager, those words are almost to true to handle.
the characters were fun and likable for the most part, but i didn't feel very connected to any of them, and i felt that the characters and relationships could have benefitted from much more development.
in general, i enjoyed this book and would recommend it to teens and parents. the exploration of social media and morality was extremely well done and the way the internet was portrayed here was a lot more realistic than other books. this book actually showed it's messages in a fairly subtle and nuanced way, which i greatly appreciated. nothing makes me cringe harder than when authors make their characters preach about social and political values-- even when i agree with them. this book was enjoyable and well done and i think is a very important and meaningful addition to the genre.
laurenm_'s review against another edition
1.0
yeah this book was terrible. i’ve read shopping lists with more suspense in them. for such a dramatic story the build up is nonexistent and you feel nothing for the characters you should feel for. the relationships between characters are weak and you’re not left to work anything out yourself, every plot point is explained and laboured beyond necessity. peak trashy ya novel that tries to do too many things at once. the men are childish and annoying as hell, the women are nonexistent apart from the few who are present and oversexualised.
madeleinecella's review
Sister borrowed my Kindle to read this – I have not read it. She enjoyed it though
evedxncan's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
thepagemistress's review against another edition
4.0
Trigger Warning: suicide, bullying, self harm, amongst other similar topics. Wow. So this was an absolute page turner. I couldn't put it down. The writing was well done. I enjoyed how real the characters were. The emotions and inner debate was very relatable. The plot was simple but had twists you didn't see coming. The dialog flowed really smoothly. Overall, I just really enjoyed and flew through this. The ending is still with me and has left me with lots to think about.
kellyhager's review against another edition
I love Erin Jade Lange's books. They're compulsively readable and part of it is because the reader is always curious to see how much the narrator will be able to get away with. There is a cinematic quality to them; it's so easy to picture everything. I'm hoping movies will be coming soon.
This one may be my favorite yet. We all know how awful cyberbullying can be but at the same time, there's the question of how long it takes until "justice" or "vengeance" becomes a problem in its own rite. Eli and his friends may have started this with the best of intentions but it doesn't take long for them to be seen as the villains instead of the heroes.
And that's the thing, really. We all do great and horrible things; we all use words to heal and to destroy. But what action means most? Is it the best thing you do or the worst? Is it it what you do the most or is it just the most recent action?
Either way, Jordan's suicide is horrific and it's all through this novel. But no matter what Eli, Seth and Mouse do and no matter who they punish for it, Jordan's still dead. They're just adding to the collateral damage. Is that reckoning or just more carnage? There aren't any answers to this, and the book doesn't provide them. We all have to decide where we think things should go.
Highly recommended.
This one may be my favorite yet. We all know how awful cyberbullying can be but at the same time, there's the question of how long it takes until "justice" or "vengeance" becomes a problem in its own rite. Eli and his friends may have started this with the best of intentions but it doesn't take long for them to be seen as the villains instead of the heroes.
And that's the thing, really. We all do great and horrible things; we all use words to heal and to destroy. But what action means most? Is it the best thing you do or the worst? Is it it what you do the most or is it just the most recent action?
Either way, Jordan's suicide is horrific and it's all through this novel. But no matter what Eli, Seth and Mouse do and no matter who they punish for it, Jordan's still dead. They're just adding to the collateral damage. Is that reckoning or just more carnage? There aren't any answers to this, and the book doesn't provide them. We all have to decide where we think things should go.
Highly recommended.
paigehettinger's review against another edition
2.0
full review: https://yabooksdaily.wordpress.com/2018/09/13/arc-review-the-chaos-of-now-by-erin-jade-lange/#more-2079
knocked this down to two stars upon further reflection. i just found myself with such a sour taste in my mouth after this book that i couldn't move past when writing my review. it just irked me.
knocked this down to two stars upon further reflection. i just found myself with such a sour taste in my mouth after this book that i couldn't move past when writing my review. it just irked me.
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