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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Every teenager should read this book.
I wasn't sure about reading this as I thought it would be very intense and hard to read. Well - it is. I've read two YA books about misogynistic bullying recently and I definitely need a break from this.
I got sucked in on trying the first chapter as it felt like all the things I used to love about Point Horror - girl moves to a new school, lives in a cool but creepy new house, some vaguely supernatural elements. Obviously this is not a Point Horror and is much better written, but those things were there and really fun.
But this isn't a fun book. It's a good book, but not fun. Ultimately I think there are too many issues packed in, and one or two would have been more than enough. I liked the links between Anna's modern day story and the historial witchcraft plot that she's uncovering, and I did like the development between Anna and her mum, and her two friends, particularly as the book ends. I also really liked Glen, and enjoyed that the book had some positive male characters, and showed how girls can behave really badly too when in the kind of environment created at the school.
I'm not entirely sure the mystery of how the info gets onto social media is plausible, but I suppose that's not really the point of the book.
It's a really good book, just needed some editing of the issues to make it stronger. I'd also check trigger warnings if you need to because there's a lot of really horrible stuff in it.
I definitely need to go and read something much lighter and less intense after this!
I got sucked in on trying the first chapter as it felt like all the things I used to love about Point Horror - girl moves to a new school, lives in a cool but creepy new house, some vaguely supernatural elements. Obviously this is not a Point Horror and is much better written, but those things were there and really fun.
But this isn't a fun book. It's a good book, but not fun. Ultimately I think there are too many issues packed in, and one or two would have been more than enough. I liked the links between Anna's modern day story and the historial witchcraft plot that she's uncovering, and I did like the development between Anna and her mum, and her two friends, particularly as the book ends. I also really liked Glen, and enjoyed that the book had some positive male characters, and showed how girls can behave really badly too when in the kind of environment created at the school.
I'm not entirely sure the mystery of how the info gets onto social media is plausible, but I suppose that's not really the point of the book.
It's a really good book, just needed some editing of the issues to make it stronger. I'd also check trigger warnings if you need to because there's a lot of really horrible stuff in it.
I definitely need to go and read something much lighter and less intense after this!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism
Minor: Rape, Abortion
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book poses some very interesting questions in a way that isn't preachy, which I supremely appreciate. I deeply dislike the books that are so enamored with the "message" they're trying to convey that they forget to actually tell a story.
I wasn't desperately fond of the vaguely supernatural aspect and the flashbacks (I was traumatised by The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue), but I do get the point it was trying to get at. It just felt that the author could have achieved the same effect with the research for the essay rather than the flashbacks.
But again, I found it to be a pretty good vehicle for an good bit of soul searching, and a nice story of true friendship.
I wasn't desperately fond of the vaguely supernatural aspect and the flashbacks (I was traumatised by The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue), but I do get the point it was trying to get at. It just felt that the author could have achieved the same effect with the research for the essay rather than the flashbacks.
But again, I found it to be a pretty good vehicle for an good bit of soul searching, and a nice story of true friendship.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Torture, Grief
Minor: Cancer, Death, Rape, Death of parent
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
As an adult it did not necessarily challenge me; however that's not the reason why I read this book. As a teacher of teenagers, I always like to delve into young adult books so that I can make recommendations to my students. (Ironically, this one happened to be recommended to me by one of my students!)
It really encapsulates the mob mentality around teenagers and the lengths some will go to, to feel superior over others. There is a subtle nod to misogynistic attitudes towards young women and victim blaming culture, but it's not super overpowering in my opinion. I think this allows young girls to make up their own mind.
I love to the idea that the main character, through researching a historical figure accused of witchcraft, would learn about and resonate with victim blaming culture. I think I would have liked more focus on that side of the story as someone who's really interested in that part of history myself.
This would make an absolutely incredible movie or Netflix series of some kind! I think it's a really good book for young girls to read but also mothers of young girls to read and discuss with them about the realities of being a teenage girl in the modern day.
It really encapsulates the mob mentality around teenagers and the lengths some will go to, to feel superior over others. There is a subtle nod to misogynistic attitudes towards young women and victim blaming culture, but it's not super overpowering in my opinion. I think this allows young girls to make up their own mind.
I love to the idea that the main character, through researching a historical figure accused of witchcraft, would learn about and resonate with victim blaming culture. I think I would have liked more focus on that side of the story as someone who's really interested in that part of history myself.
This would make an absolutely incredible movie or Netflix series of some kind! I think it's a really good book for young girls to read but also mothers of young girls to read and discuss with them about the realities of being a teenage girl in the modern day.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Death of parent
An interesting exploration of the responsibilities of teenagers and the implications of simple actions in the digital age. I really enjoyed the discussion of women's image and slut shaming in this book, these are the sorts of conversations that young people need to be engaging with to understand the ramifications of their actions when it comes to releasing risque images of themselves and others. I really appreciated how the relationship between the main character and her mother was portrayed, I thought it was realistic but also demonstrated how a supportive parent would react in this situation. The one thing I really disliked about this book was the parallel timeline to the witch trials. I understand the connection the author was trying to make but it felt way too cheesy and superficial and fell into the trope of "main character does a book report on book that ends up relating to their life in some aspect". The additional perspective felt unecessary and jarring, considering it was written in second person - I just couldn't suspend my belief long enough to care or even engage with Maggie's storyline. I think the text would still have been just as interesting and poignant without the random flashbacks and magical realism.
So intense and so necessary and so good. Full review to come soon.
*EDITED*
I received this copy in exchange for an honest review from Definitely Books (Pansing). All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Pansing!
This book is available where all good books are.
Have you ever read a book that you have to keep putting down because it hits you too hard? Even though you have never experienced the exact events taking place in the book, the emotions feel too raw and real for you to face in one sitting. A book that punches you in the stomach, reaches in, grabs your insides and squeezes and twists until you want to throw up a little from the emotional upheaval you are facing.
This was that book for me.
Content warnings for: mentions of rape, torture, murder, slut shaming.
(I am probably missing a few, and for that, I am sorry.)
The cover of the copy I have states that this is a book that every teen girl needs to read. I agree. I also think this is a book that everyone needs to read. It is uncomfortable and raw, and it highlights things that every woman has faced in her life - the misogyny in their lives, the societal expectations, the pressures, and the unfairness of it all.
The novel shows two parallel storylines - that of Anna, and 400 years before her, that of Maggie. Both these girls face hardships that are very similar, and the thing that struck me most was that for all our progress, in a lot of ways, nothing has changed for women.
The author used different tenses and voices for the two storylines, and it made the read very atmospheric. It worked surprisingly well, something I honestly did not expect the first time we switched point of views.
I don’t know if I will read this book again - it was super intense and made me feel a roller coaster of emotions - but it is a very necessary story, and I know I’m going to keep the copy for my daughter to read when she’s older.
*EDITED*
I received this copy in exchange for an honest review from Definitely Books (Pansing). All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Pansing!
This book is available where all good books are.
Have you ever read a book that you have to keep putting down because it hits you too hard? Even though you have never experienced the exact events taking place in the book, the emotions feel too raw and real for you to face in one sitting. A book that punches you in the stomach, reaches in, grabs your insides and squeezes and twists until you want to throw up a little from the emotional upheaval you are facing.
This was that book for me.
Content warnings for: mentions of rape, torture, murder, slut shaming.
(I am probably missing a few, and for that, I am sorry.)
The cover of the copy I have states that this is a book that every teen girl needs to read. I agree. I also think this is a book that everyone needs to read. It is uncomfortable and raw, and it highlights things that every woman has faced in her life - the misogyny in their lives, the societal expectations, the pressures, and the unfairness of it all.
The novel shows two parallel storylines - that of Anna, and 400 years before her, that of Maggie. Both these girls face hardships that are very similar, and the thing that struck me most was that for all our progress, in a lot of ways, nothing has changed for women.
The author used different tenses and voices for the two storylines, and it made the read very atmospheric. It worked surprisingly well, something I honestly did not expect the first time we switched point of views.
I don’t know if I will read this book again - it was super intense and made me feel a roller coaster of emotions - but it is a very necessary story, and I know I’m going to keep the copy for my daughter to read when she’s older.