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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
If honestly liked her as much as he said he did, he would have believed her long before he said he did. I don't care if he was Ian's best friend. Either way, I think that Ian and Grace were cute and I'm glad she found someone that could help her.
The author references Grace Brown and Project Unbreakable at the end of this incredible novel. Her work was a gun punch of emotion in the best way. I fell into this book wholeheartedly, with the same fervor as ‘Speak’ and it soothed my soul as a survivor who has attended events like Take Back the Night in the past.
Read it. Advocate. Take care of yourselves.
Read it. Advocate. Take care of yourselves.
I can't remember the exact date I finished this because I didn't write it down like I usually do and it's really annoying me.
ANYWAY. This is an absolute favorite. It was a difficult reading, considering the subject matter and having to read Ian's POV and his thoughts before he woke the hell up. But that's part of why I loved it so much. It was so raw and so realistic and just brilliant. It's incredibly underrated and I think more people should read it. Seriously. Go read it. Right now. I'll carry it with me forever.
With this book, and a number of others, Sourcebooks became my favorite publisher, particularly Sourcebooks Fire. I love the edgy quaities of the stories they publish. It would be a dream to work for/with them someday.
ANYWAY. This is an absolute favorite. It was a difficult reading, considering the subject matter and having to read Ian's POV and his thoughts before he woke the hell up. But that's part of why I loved it so much. It was so raw and so realistic and just brilliant. It's incredibly underrated and I think more people should read it. Seriously. Go read it. Right now. I'll carry it with me forever.
With this book, and a number of others, Sourcebooks became my favorite publisher, particularly Sourcebooks Fire. I love the edgy quaities of the stories they publish. It would be a dream to work for/with them someday.
I read a book about two months ago that had a similar plot to this one. Boy rapes girl. Girl tells the world. The whole world turns against said girl and supports the golden boy instead.
What's nice about this one is that it is told from the girls pov as well as the golden boy's best friend's pov.
It is sickening how many people, even Grace's parents and teachers, don't believe her and allow people to shame and insult her. I love love loveee grace's Spirit and how she doesn't let the adults get away with it and makes them squirm for being pieces of shit. As she should.
This is a very real story about a real problem in the world. I couldn't put it down.
What's nice about this one is that it is told from the girls pov as well as the golden boy's best friend's pov.
It is sickening how many people, even Grace's parents and teachers, don't believe her and allow people to shame and insult her. I love love loveee grace's Spirit and how she doesn't let the adults get away with it and makes them squirm for being pieces of shit. As she should.
This is a very real story about a real problem in the world. I couldn't put it down.
I enjoyed this book a lot. But I looked at some of the other reviews, and I see their points.
I loved Grace. And Grace's mom and Ian's dad. They were supportive and stepped in where they could (and where Grace would let them). They did what an adult is supposed to do in a situation where a teenager was victimized and tried to make her feel safe when they could.
Now all the teachers? Every adult at that school? Should be charged for neglect of a minor. They ignored the bullying and abuse dished out by the other students. Actual abuse, tripping and throwing shit. Like, are you kidding me? Are you really trying to tell me that they all had their heads up their asses and didn't notice?? And how about the fact that they made it pretty damn clear that they didn't support her. I wanted to burn down that place. And maybe it's the optimist in me but I don't think that any reasonable adult would watch somebody be abused like that and not step in. Maybe the not supporting, although cruel and cold, I can see that. But actual physical abuse? No, I don't see that actually happening.
I also wish Grace hadn't been so accommodating at the end. Her "friends" didn't deserve forgiveness. Neither did her father and step mother. At least not that soon. But perhaps, that might just be my pettiness talking. But I still don't feel it realistic that once they believed her all heard feelings were poof, gone.
Now Ian. Our love interest. He's an asshole a few too many times to count. And I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with the ending. By the end the way he was thinking was changing. But for most of the book, he didn't see that his friend had done something wrong. He didn't see how wrong the way people were treating her was. He didn't believe her. Even as they got to know each other, he still tried to say it was a misunderstanding. He had to have video graphic evidence.
I loved Grace. And Grace's mom and Ian's dad. They were supportive and stepped in where they could (and where Grace would let them). They did what an adult is supposed to do in a situation where a teenager was victimized and tried to make her feel safe when they could.
Now all the teachers? Every adult at that school? Should be charged for neglect of a minor. They ignored the bullying and abuse dished out by the other students. Actual abuse, tripping and throwing shit. Like, are you kidding me? Are you really trying to tell me that they all had their heads up their asses and didn't notice?? And how about the fact that they made it pretty damn clear that they didn't support her. I wanted to burn down that place. And maybe it's the optimist in me but I don't think that any reasonable adult would watch somebody be abused like that and not step in. Maybe the not supporting, although cruel and cold, I can see that. But actual physical abuse? No, I don't see that actually happening.
I also wish Grace hadn't been so accommodating at the end. Her "friends" didn't deserve forgiveness. Neither did her father and step mother. At least not that soon. But perhaps, that might just be my pettiness talking. But I still don't feel it realistic that once they believed her all heard feelings were poof, gone.
Now Ian. Our love interest. He's an asshole a few too many times to count. And I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with the ending. By the end the way he was thinking was changing. But for most of the book, he didn't see that his friend had done something wrong. He didn't see how wrong the way people were treating her was. He didn't believe her. Even as they got to know each other, he still tried to say it was a misunderstanding. He had to have video graphic evidence.
I liked this book, though I had a problem with the writing. I feel like the emotions were overwritten. I've never encountered so many mouths falling open in shock before. It didn't always match up with what the characters were actually saying or what the situation called for. The dialogue was distracting; monologued thoughts helped me keep on track with the characters.
I think Grace was a well-rounded, courageous heroine. She was dimensional, which was nice. I liked that she held her head up high and challenged everyone who said she either needed to change herself or keep her mouth shut. I loved the Shrew
Speaking of shrew, the adults in this book--horrendous. So many just blindly accepting that Grace was a slut who got drunk and was now crying rape. No investigation into the incident and no protection of her when everyone at school was slut shaming her?!?! Disgusting. Everyone was content with just punishing the victim. Actually, the majority of adults were vile. Ian's parents and Grace's mom where the only decent ones. Her dad and Kristie were awful.
It's just shocking to think, in his made up world what if Grace wasn't strong? What if she didn't speak up? How many other girls would this have had happened to? It almost seemed like Kyle and that other one were being groomed by Zac, though I think they would have turned out worse.
And I am not sure what was in the video that Zac posted but if it was "porn" like Ian briefly mentioned, how that fuck did the cops or her parents NOT charge him with child pornography at a minimum?!?! And the fact that she was found unconscious and bleeding and the cops were like *shrugs*, not enough evidence. What about a rape kit?
While I did like Ian's journey to accepting what his friend had done, I lost all respect for him after his performance at school. What what fuck for? He'd already challenged his friends and came to her rescue once. Why be that nasty? It was on par with Zac's treatment. Glad she didn't just drop it.
Zac and Miranda were vile.
I think Grace was a well-rounded, courageous heroine. She was dimensional, which was nice. I liked that she held her head up high and challenged everyone who said she either needed to change herself or keep her mouth shut. I loved the Shrew
Speaking of shrew, the adults in this book--horrendous. So many just blindly accepting that Grace was a slut who got drunk and was now crying rape. No investigation into the incident and no protection of her when everyone at school was slut shaming her?!?! Disgusting. Everyone was content with just punishing the victim. Actually, the majority of adults were vile. Ian's parents and Grace's mom where the only decent ones. Her dad and Kristie were awful.
It's just shocking to think, in his made up world what if Grace wasn't strong? What if she didn't speak up? How many other girls would this have had happened to? It almost seemed like Kyle and that other one were being groomed by Zac, though I think they would have turned out worse.
And I am not sure what was in the video that Zac posted but if it was "porn" like Ian briefly mentioned, how that fuck did the cops or her parents NOT charge him with child pornography at a minimum?!?! And the fact that she was found unconscious and bleeding and the cops were like *shrugs*, not enough evidence. What about a rape kit?
While I did like Ian's journey to accepting what his friend had done, I lost all respect for him after his performance at school. What what fuck for? He'd already challenged his friends and came to her rescue once. Why be that nasty? It was on par with Zac's treatment. Glad she didn't just drop it.
Zac and Miranda were vile.
Read the full review at http://rainbowreviews.wix.com/readingfree or on Instagram @RainbowReviewsKC
Gut Instinct Rating - 5
Characters - 4.5
Believability for type and topics - 5
Similarity to other books - 4
Writing Style - 4
Excitement Factor - 4.5
Story Line - 5
Title Relevance - 5
Cover art - 5
Goodreads users gave this book a 4.09. I think it was more deserving of a 4.67.
Emoji Meter:
Gut Instinct Rating - 5
Characters - 4.5
Believability for type and topics - 5
Similarity to other books - 4
Writing Style - 4
Excitement Factor - 4.5
Story Line - 5
Title Relevance - 5
Cover art - 5
Goodreads users gave this book a 4.09. I think it was more deserving of a 4.67.
Emoji Meter:
I skimmed through this after about 1/3rd because I wanted to see how it ended but I got pretty fed up with the book's direction.
Grace is an interesting, intelligent, sympathetic character, but the entire romantic storyline with Ian was uninteresting and frustrating.
Ian is just another boy who needs to be slowly, painfully educated before he'll even consider that a girl might be telling the truth. But that isn't actually enough. He actually has to see a video.
Oh, is THAT all? If only there were always videos to convince everyone that rape victims weren't just making things up for the LULZ or to destroy men!
I mean, seriously. A video. He has to see a video. Finding Grace bleeding and abandoned post-rape isn't enough. Having her say "I was raped" isn't enough. To believe her, he needs video evidence. To believe his buddy? Nothing. His word is enough. Enough to make him angry with Grace, mean to Grace, treat her like damaged goods because she'd had sex with his friend which is basically like he owns her now and forever.
UUUUUgggggh.
I'm not sure why Grace would ever do more than pat him on the head for finally catching up. Forgive him? DATE him?! I mean, he was so obtuse and even actively mean to her throughout the book and in the end, he gets praised for finally realizing he was wrong.
Well gooooooood for hiiiiiiim.
The book addresses and attempts to deconstruct very complex gender politics but having Ian as a POV character gives uncomfortable weight to his wrong-headed, victim-blaming, slut-shaming, objectifying opinions which he expresses through most of the book. By the time he gets dismantled and converted and Grace's innocence is proven to him, we've spent a lot of time with him as he normalizes really gross behavior and vouches for his heinous friends.
I also had a pretty difficult time believing that Grace would have no allies at all. Some other girl(s) who Zac has abused? Some other girl(s) who've had similar experiences or are the school feminists (there are always school feminists)? People who just think the jocks are assholes (there are always people who think the jocks are assholes)?
Her so-called friends are awful cartoons and no one else in the entire school will even be quietly supportive of her except via a note stuck in a book which she may never find? I mean, really? That's one of those probably-true things that doesn't feel true. I figure there'd be at least one or two people who'd at least sneak up beside Grace and say, "hang in there" out of the corner of their mouth before scuttling away as quickly as possible.
This book had a lot of things going for it but I think far too much time and energy was focused on just another dudebro. Grace deserves better -- she -- and all rape victims -- deserve someone who actually believes her when she says, "I was raped." I get that wasn't the story the author was telling; she was telling the story of a guy who evolves (but, y'know, not really as his path to enlightenment is actual video proof).
In the end, rewarding Ian for finally finally FINALLY coming around after shitting on Grace the whole book is gross.
Grace is an interesting, intelligent, sympathetic character, but the entire romantic storyline with Ian was uninteresting and frustrating.
Ian is just another boy who needs to be slowly, painfully educated before he'll even consider that a girl might be telling the truth. But that isn't actually enough. He actually has to see a video.
Oh, is THAT all? If only there were always videos to convince everyone that rape victims weren't just making things up for the LULZ or to destroy men!
I mean, seriously. A video. He has to see a video. Finding Grace bleeding and abandoned post-rape isn't enough. Having her say "I was raped" isn't enough. To believe her, he needs video evidence. To believe his buddy? Nothing. His word is enough. Enough to make him angry with Grace, mean to Grace, treat her like damaged goods because she'd had sex with his friend which is basically like he owns her now and forever.
UUUUUgggggh.
I'm not sure why Grace would ever do more than pat him on the head for finally catching up. Forgive him? DATE him?! I mean, he was so obtuse and even actively mean to her throughout the book and in the end, he gets praised for finally realizing he was wrong.
Well gooooooood for hiiiiiiim.
The book addresses and attempts to deconstruct very complex gender politics but having Ian as a POV character gives uncomfortable weight to his wrong-headed, victim-blaming, slut-shaming, objectifying opinions which he expresses through most of the book. By the time he gets dismantled and converted and Grace's innocence is proven to him, we've spent a lot of time with him as he normalizes really gross behavior and vouches for his heinous friends.
I also had a pretty difficult time believing that Grace would have no allies at all. Some other girl(s) who Zac has abused? Some other girl(s) who've had similar experiences or are the school feminists (there are always school feminists)? People who just think the jocks are assholes (there are always people who think the jocks are assholes)?
Her so-called friends are awful cartoons and no one else in the entire school will even be quietly supportive of her except via a note stuck in a book which she may never find? I mean, really? That's one of those probably-true things that doesn't feel true. I figure there'd be at least one or two people who'd at least sneak up beside Grace and say, "hang in there" out of the corner of their mouth before scuttling away as quickly as possible.
This book had a lot of things going for it but I think far too much time and energy was focused on just another dudebro. Grace deserves better -- she -- and all rape victims -- deserve someone who actually believes her when she says, "I was raped." I get that wasn't the story the author was telling; she was telling the story of a guy who evolves (but, y'know, not really as his path to enlightenment is actual video proof).
In the end, rewarding Ian for finally finally FINALLY coming around after shitting on Grace the whole book is gross.
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What an important book. It's so scary that there are stories out there very similar to this one. I can see how people may not appreciate everything about how this book was written. They may think the author missed a few things, didn't expand on others...and maybe so. But this is a story about a girl who had something awful happen to her, and about how society reacted, which I think was portrayed well. Rape culture is real. It's out there, it's horrible, and it places blame on the innocent. I'm so glad there are authors out there who are willing to tackle such a horrible subject, and do it well. Reading about Grace, and how she handled her situation was inspiring. You ever know what it's like unless you've been through it.