Reviews

Girl on the Other Side by Deborah Kerbel

trisha_thomas's review against another edition

3.0

A very good - if a little simple - look at bullying and the affect it has. Each girl in the story, Tabby and Lora, live very differently. But, both of their lives are miserable and make them unhappy for different reasons.

I really appreciated the straight forward writing and storyline. You weren't left guessing about the characters or the end. I also really liked the end and how it was all wrapped up.

readingwithemmett's review against another edition

2.0

The story is told from Tabby, the rich popular girl, and Lora's, the girl who always gets bullied, point of view. The book was more for a middle school aged girl, which isn't something I would normally read, so that is probably why I did not enjoy the author's writing style. Even though it was short, it seemed like it dragged on and I couldn't finish fast enough. I'm still not sure what the point of the story was. It wasn't very clear to me. I thought it was going to be about how Tabby and Lora become friends and overcome the teasing, but it wasn't. Even though I didn't enjoy it, I thought it was a nice story about bullying.

inkygirl's review against another edition

5.0

I identified with bits of both Tabby and Lora, and I -know- I've met them both, back in school. I found Tabby the most fascinating character. At first she seems like a stereotypical "rich bitch" but then the reader starts glimpsing hints of the more complex aspects of her personality. I wanted to keep hating Tabby for her role in the bullying, but couldn't help but feel for her as she struggled to cope with a home situation that only seemed get worse.

I enjoyed seeing various situations and people through the eyes of Tabby and Lora -- their conflicting perspectives are an eye-opening reminder of how important it is to think for yourself. The issues of bullying, both in person and cyber-bulling, are also addressed in the story.

An engrossing and enjoyable read!

aprilbooksandwine's review against another edition

4.0

Let's face it, high schoolers can be real assholes. Not all of course, but with the pressure to be in, sometimes the only way of being cool is by bringing others down. Girl on the Other Side by Deborah Kerbel is a short, gut-punch of a book featuring the intertwining of characters Lora Froggett and Tabby Freeman, two girls who lead drastically different lives. Tabby is basically a queen bee, think Mean Girls. Lora is a social outcast.
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melissayabookshelf's review

5.0

Girl on the Other Side is a really powerful novel about two girls on opposite sides of the social spectrum. One is a social pariah, and the other is the daughter of the richest family in the town and thus, the most popular girl in school. This book reminds readers that no matter where someone fits in the social ladder of high school, they're thoughts and feelings might not always be what they seem. The sad, but hopeful ending will touch readers of all ages.