Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this book. It covers a touchy subject boldly and I love that it doesn't brush the hard and controversial issues under the rug but actually acknowledges and deals with them. I really enjoyed the back and forth views between Grace and Ian. It was interesting to get the perspective of a young man. Honestly I think a lot of boys need to read this book.
As great as the book was, I just couldn't give it 5 stars. I just didn't like how checked out and oblivious most of the adults were. The teachers let students ostracize and ridicule a girl and many of them were hostile towards her as well. This was hard for me to believe. Also the way it ended was a little too cookie cutter for me. It wraps up nicely and all the problems are solved. It was basically a happily ever after and that is not my style.
As great as the book was, I just couldn't give it 5 stars. I just didn't like how checked out and oblivious most of the adults were. The teachers let students ostracize and ridicule a girl and many of them were hostile towards her as well. This was hard for me to believe. Also the way it ended was a little too cookie cutter for me. It wraps up nicely and all the problems are solved. It was basically a happily ever after and that is not my style.
This was very moving! This book had me feeling sick to my stomach and applauding the heroine at the same time. I really admire Blount for taking the risk of addressing this topic and centering her book around it. It was brave, bold, daring and it worked out in the end. It really was touching.
More importantly, the book carries an important message to everyone out there. It makes you think. It makes you act. It makes you uncomfortable at recognizing these symptoms all over the world.
I have read in some reviews that Ian was perceived as weak or annoying but I have to say, I didn't see it that way. I appreciated his struggles with being stuck in the middle. Sometimes he appears a bit stupid at not recognizing the truth in front of him but he is engaging nonetheless.
If there is one thing I didn't like, it was the adults in this book. It shows teachers not reacting when students bully someone, it shows parents offering nothing to their children but scolding and empty words. It was concerning that apparently teenagers were left to deal with all of it alone.
More importantly, the book carries an important message to everyone out there. It makes you think. It makes you act. It makes you uncomfortable at recognizing these symptoms all over the world.
I have read in some reviews that Ian was perceived as weak or annoying but I have to say, I didn't see it that way. I appreciated his struggles with being stuck in the middle. Sometimes he appears a bit stupid at not recognizing the truth in front of him but he is engaging nonetheless.
If there is one thing I didn't like, it was the adults in this book. It shows teachers not reacting when students bully someone, it shows parents offering nothing to their children but scolding and empty words. It was concerning that apparently teenagers were left to deal with all of it alone.
One of those life changing stories where you know you'll never be the same.
The way I wanted to punch Ian in the face for the majority of this, but he kinda redeemed himself in the end I suppose.
Grace was such a strong character and I actually loved her so much. And Ian's dad... Oh, that man
Grace was such a strong character and I actually loved her so much. And Ian's dad... Oh, that man
This is the first intentional foray into the Gateway list for next year. When I looked at the list, I was pleasantly surprised. I have already read (and loved) a few of the books, so I was looking forward to seeing what the rest of the list held. This did not disappoint.
Grace was raped at a party a few weeks ago. Since then, the entire school has turned against her because she accused the golden boy of assaulting her. People are cruel beyond words to her, and many adults seem to just let it happen. Then, assigned detention for fighting back, she is forced to spend time with her attacker's best friend. Ian, for his part, believes his best friend when he says he didn't rape Grace. But the more Ian spends time with her, the more he must challenge some of the things that he thinks he knows about his best friend, girls, and how people act.
Wow. Grace is a fighter and I love her for it. She is awesome. She has struggles and doubts and isn't perfect but she is brave. Ian isn't always perfect; he is usually pretty far from it. But damn, I love his character arc. His questions and his struggles are so believable. He is fighting against assumptions he has held for his entire life, and while I hate that he just doesn't get it, it makes sense that he doesn't. It takes time to change what you fundamentally think you know.
The bullying in this book is horrifying. The release of a video of the assault, the physical attacks on Grace afterward, the destruction of property, and continued hurling of insults. It makes me sick. And why are the adults around not trying to stop any of it? I mean, from a teacher's perspective, it is hard to stop something when you don't see it, BUT THIS WAS HAPPENING RIGHT IN FRONT OF EVERYONE'S EYES. It's infuriating.
I wasn't a huge fan of the ending of the book. That didn't necessarily feel very realistic to me. And the writing was kind of clunky and was sometimes a little hard to follow. But other than that, this book is incredible. It's really good reading for people who haven't experienced sexual assault or don't know someone who has be sexually assaulted or don't think that rape culture is a thing, especially the stuff from Ian's POV. The questions that he tackles are questions that everyone needs to examine. Discussions around consent and how you can't give consent when you are passed out and how nothing that happens to a rape victim is their fault are so, so important. Discussions of how damaging the ideas that drinking and clothing attract rape are vital. Grace's attitude and the attitudes of those around her brings these points across so well.
I'll probably hand this out selectively next year. While I definitely talk to my students about consent, it is in a little vaguer way, just due to their age. But this book will be really powerful for those who are a little more mature.
Grace was raped at a party a few weeks ago. Since then, the entire school has turned against her because she accused the golden boy of assaulting her. People are cruel beyond words to her, and many adults seem to just let it happen. Then, assigned detention for fighting back, she is forced to spend time with her attacker's best friend. Ian, for his part, believes his best friend when he says he didn't rape Grace. But the more Ian spends time with her, the more he must challenge some of the things that he thinks he knows about his best friend, girls, and how people act.
Wow. Grace is a fighter and I love her for it. She is awesome. She has struggles and doubts and isn't perfect but she is brave. Ian isn't always perfect; he is usually pretty far from it. But damn, I love his character arc. His questions and his struggles are so believable. He is fighting against assumptions he has held for his entire life, and while I hate that he just doesn't get it, it makes sense that he doesn't. It takes time to change what you fundamentally think you know.
The bullying in this book is horrifying. The release of a video of the assault, the physical attacks on Grace afterward, the destruction of property, and continued hurling of insults. It makes me sick. And why are the adults around not trying to stop any of it? I mean, from a teacher's perspective, it is hard to stop something when you don't see it, BUT THIS WAS HAPPENING RIGHT IN FRONT OF EVERYONE'S EYES. It's infuriating.
I wasn't a huge fan of the ending of the book. That didn't necessarily feel very realistic to me. And the writing was kind of clunky and was sometimes a little hard to follow. But other than that, this book is incredible. It's really good reading for people who haven't experienced sexual assault or don't know someone who has be sexually assaulted or don't think that rape culture is a thing, especially the stuff from Ian's POV. The questions that he tackles are questions that everyone needs to examine. Discussions around consent and how you can't give consent when you are passed out and how nothing that happens to a rape victim is their fault are so, so important. Discussions of how damaging the ideas that drinking and clothing attract rape are vital. Grace's attitude and the attitudes of those around her brings these points across so well.
I'll probably hand this out selectively next year. While I definitely talk to my students about consent, it is in a little vaguer way, just due to their age. But this book will be really powerful for those who are a little more mature.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"After she accuses the town golden boy of rape, everyone turns against Grace. They call her a slut and a liar. But...Ian doesn't. He's funny and kind with secrets of his own."
Yeah that's kind of funny cause Ian turning against Grace and being an asshole to her is what happens for the majority of this book. Only when Ian finally finds proof of the rape, does he treat Grace like an actual human being. And you know what sucks? Not everyone who gets raped actually has fucking proof. Cameras aren't around all the time. Victims everywhere have to deal with the doubt from even the people closest to them. I'm just wondering what would have happened if there WAS NO video of Grace and her rapist? Cause um... not every rapist tapes the whole event and keeps it in their phone as a "trophy"??? Like what the hell?
Ian is different from all the other boys? No. He's exactly the same. He views Grace as an object, and it's evident in the way he thinks about her. The only "nice" thoughts Ian had of Grace was that she was "hot", she had "nice lips", etc. Oh Ian... HOw WONDERFUL of YOU. While every other douchebag was calling her a slut and other degrading names, you actually were brave and different enough to think that she was HOT. What a kind soul you are. I'm tearing. That's so great. Those compliments were exactly what Grace needed after weeks of being objectified. *rolling my eyes*
I really wanted Grace to beat Ian's ass after what he said to her. Sadly, it doesn't happen. No matter how much Ian shamed her and blamed her, all it took was one apology for Grace to take him back and love him as if none of that bs happened. I really don't know who wrote that blurb, but Ian doesn't accept her. At all. He even had the nerve to say that there is a fine line between looking good and asking for it.. I really want to ask the writer of this blurb how that's not turning against her. Where did he/she even get that idea?
I was going to give this two stars, because there were some really powerful quotes and lessons in this book. But the more I wrote in this review, the angrier I got. Ian and the way he's the "love interest" of the book, really diminishes the whole lesson the author tried to convey. The ending of this book was unsatisfying as well. It was literally a book of apologies. Literally, Grace accepted everyone who apologized. She even hugs all of them and treats them as close friends in the end. Yeah, I guess you could say she's being the bigger person. But it's just not realistic.
Yeah that's kind of funny cause Ian turning against Grace and being an asshole to her is what happens for the majority of this book. Only when Ian finally finds proof of the rape, does he treat Grace like an actual human being. And you know what sucks? Not everyone who gets raped actually has fucking proof. Cameras aren't around all the time. Victims everywhere have to deal with the doubt from even the people closest to them. I'm just wondering what would have happened if there WAS NO video of Grace and her rapist? Cause um... not every rapist tapes the whole event and keeps it in their phone as a "trophy"??? Like what the hell?
Ian is different from all the other boys? No. He's exactly the same. He views Grace as an object, and it's evident in the way he thinks about her. The only "nice" thoughts Ian had of Grace was that she was "hot", she had "nice lips", etc. Oh Ian... HOw WONDERFUL of YOU. While every other douchebag was calling her a slut and other degrading names, you actually were brave and different enough to think that she was HOT. What a kind soul you are. I'm tearing. That's so great. Those compliments were exactly what Grace needed after weeks of being objectified. *rolling my eyes*
I really wanted Grace to beat Ian's ass after what he said to her. Sadly, it doesn't happen. No matter how much Ian shamed her and blamed her, all it took was one apology for Grace to take him back and love him as if none of that bs happened. I really don't know who wrote that blurb, but Ian doesn't accept her. At all. He even had the nerve to say that there is a fine line between looking good and asking for it.. I really want to ask the writer of this blurb how that's not turning against her. Where did he/she even get that idea?
I was going to give this two stars, because there were some really powerful quotes and lessons in this book. But the more I wrote in this review, the angrier I got. Ian and the way he's the "love interest" of the book, really diminishes the whole lesson the author tried to convey. The ending of this book was unsatisfying as well. It was literally a book of apologies. Literally, Grace accepted everyone who apologized. She even hugs all of them and treats them as close friends in the end. Yeah, I guess you could say she's being the bigger person. But it's just not realistic.