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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
The book started pretty good. I like Grace a lot and Ian is okay. The thing that got me the most was her best friends. I honestly don’t get how the girls could do it to her? I cannot see myself or my best friends doing it to each other. That was so dirty, I was truly disgusted by how every single person was blaming her, I wanted to somehow enter the book and slap everyone. The end wasn’t what I expected and I feel like if it wasn’t for the video then everyone would keep blaming her.
This is not an easy book to read, but the story needs to be told.
”Giving up is easy, not right.”
A riveting tale about the aftermath of rape - not only how it affects Grace, but the reactions of her family, friends, classmates, and teachers - This book is captivating and hard to put down. Grace’s fear, anxiety, and pain gripped my heart and made my stomach lurch at times. I get it. I totally get it. Pain like that doesn’t easily go away, and reading stories like this one have a way of dredging up the past. I should know.
Told in alternating chapters, the story unfolds from Grace’s perspective and that of her attacker’s best friend, Ian. The most powerful part of the story is the way in which Grace’s words and actions are misinterpreted by Ian in his chapters and later clarified in the chapters Grace narrates. The honest voices of these two characters is enough to make others think, reflect, and (hopefully) reach that pivotal “ah-ha” moment.
At first, it seems as if the entire school is against Grace for accusing golden boy lacrosse star Zac of rape. She becomes a social pariah, ostracized and demeaned by everyone, including teachers and administrators. Some may say it’s unrealistic, but how many high school kids are actually willing to go against the popular, charming star athlete? Many times, students keep their mouths shut and their heads down for fear of being ostracized themselves. It’s easier to say nothing than to open their mouths and do what’s right.
Ian’s struggle between his best friend and Grace is honest and moving. The fact that he wrestles with what he thinks versus what he sees creates the complicated internal struggle he has with his own identity and culpability in the way he treats girls.
“It’s not about Grace, not really. It’s all about Zac. He leads, and we follow. Why? I don’t know. Nobody’s ever not followed.”
This is such a true statement. We see this sort of injustice everywhere. Smartphones and the Internet just make it all that much worse. When I was in high school, nasty, anonymous phone calls were the punishment. You can unplug the phone and erase the answering machine; but you can’t erase the Internet.
I hate to be a spoiler but,
Very well done.
And to Patty Blount: thank you.
”Giving up is easy, not right.”
A riveting tale about the aftermath of rape - not only how it affects Grace, but the reactions of her family, friends, classmates, and teachers - This book is captivating and hard to put down. Grace’s fear, anxiety, and pain gripped my heart and made my stomach lurch at times. I get it. I totally get it. Pain like that doesn’t easily go away, and reading stories like this one have a way of dredging up the past. I should know.
Told in alternating chapters, the story unfolds from Grace’s perspective and that of her attacker’s best friend, Ian. The most powerful part of the story is the way in which Grace’s words and actions are misinterpreted by Ian in his chapters and later clarified in the chapters Grace narrates. The honest voices of these two characters is enough to make others think, reflect, and (hopefully) reach that pivotal “ah-ha” moment.
At first, it seems as if the entire school is against Grace for accusing golden boy lacrosse star Zac of rape. She becomes a social pariah, ostracized and demeaned by everyone, including teachers and administrators. Some may say it’s unrealistic, but how many high school kids are actually willing to go against the popular, charming star athlete? Many times, students keep their mouths shut and their heads down for fear of being ostracized themselves. It’s easier to say nothing than to open their mouths and do what’s right.
Ian’s struggle between his best friend and Grace is honest and moving. The fact that he wrestles with what he thinks versus what he sees creates the complicated internal struggle he has with his own identity and culpability in the way he treats girls.
“It’s not about Grace, not really. It’s all about Zac. He leads, and we follow. Why? I don’t know. Nobody’s ever not followed.”
This is such a true statement. We see this sort of injustice everywhere. Smartphones and the Internet just make it all that much worse. When I was in high school, nasty, anonymous phone calls were the punishment. You can unplug the phone and erase the answering machine; but you can’t erase the Internet.
I hate to be a spoiler but,
Spoiler
I’m a sucker for a happy ending - blame it on Disney, fairy tales, what have you. Reading is an escape, and who doesn’t want the bad guy to get caught and the girl to get her happily ever after? It may be a little unrealistic, but I like it.Very well done.
And to Patty Blount: thank you.
**Warning: this text may contain spoilers** Loved loved loved loved it!!!
Before I picked this book up, I knew it was going to be influential but nothing prepared me for this. It was everything and much more. It was educating. In my opinion, schools and community all around should read this book or make it a priority. The subject mentioned in this book was well-written and well-approached. The author showed us the victim point of view and the perpetrators best friend's POV. She showed the way others treated the victim, the challenges she faced and her strengths through it all. She didn't give up. She refused to be silenced. She challenged them. She didn't let fear get the best of her. She knew it would be hard and didn't back down. Grace's character was admirable. I also liked how Ian character gradually changed over time. He strengthened over time and opened his eyes to reality. He did what was right instead of taking the easy way out. At times, I wanted to punch him and most of the characters in the book (besides grace and her mother). Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was phenomenal, breathtaking. Outstanding job, Patty Blount.
Edit: Some parts of the books were aggravating. These kids were absolutely naive, ignorant and clueless. It was as though they'd never been taught anything about this kind of subject before. They treated her like shit and all the adults allowed it. That pissed me off more. I would've expected that kind of behavior from the kids but the adults allowing it to happen? That was crazy messed up. Even though, the characters were a bit fucked up, stupid, ignorant, naive and etc the book was okay. It was mostly decent. The subject was an important one and the way the author executed the plots was understandable. But I feel this book could've been better. I don't think any one of those people learned their lessons besides Ian, maybe. And the ending was a bit annoying, I understand the outfits was a mask, right? But I am tired of these kinds of books where the main characters just changes how they dress in the end. It doesn't go with the message. If it's not their fault, if how they dress isn't the problem, why is it that in the end they always changes how they dress? Why can't they dress a certain way simply for themselves and stay that way in the end? That part rubbed me the wrong way because it happens in every book and only ever happens with female main characters...
Before I picked this book up, I knew it was going to be influential but nothing prepared me for this. It was everything and much more. It was educating. In my opinion, schools and community all around should read this book or make it a priority. The subject mentioned in this book was well-written and well-approached. The author showed us the victim point of view and the perpetrators best friend's POV. She showed the way others treated the victim, the challenges she faced and her strengths through it all. She didn't give up. She refused to be silenced. She challenged them. She didn't let fear get the best of her. She knew it would be hard and didn't back down. Grace's character was admirable. I also liked how Ian character gradually changed over time. He strengthened over time and opened his eyes to reality. He did what was right instead of taking the easy way out. At times, I wanted to punch him and most of the characters in the book (besides grace and her mother). Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was phenomenal, breathtaking. Outstanding job, Patty Blount.
Edit: Some parts of the books were aggravating. These kids were absolutely naive, ignorant and clueless. It was as though they'd never been taught anything about this kind of subject before. They treated her like shit and all the adults allowed it. That pissed me off more. I would've expected that kind of behavior from the kids but the adults allowing it to happen? That was crazy messed up. Even though, the characters were a bit fucked up, stupid, ignorant, naive and etc the book was okay. It was mostly decent. The subject was an important one and the way the author executed the plots was understandable. But I feel this book could've been better. I don't think any one of those people learned their lessons besides Ian, maybe. And the ending was a bit annoying, I understand the outfits was a mask, right? But I am tired of these kinds of books where the main characters just changes how they dress in the end. It doesn't go with the message. If it's not their fault, if how they dress isn't the problem, why is it that in the end they always changes how they dress? Why can't they dress a certain way simply for themselves and stay that way in the end? That part rubbed me the wrong way because it happens in every book and only ever happens with female main characters...
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
BEST BOOK YOU WILL EVER READ The story is about a girl named Grace who is trying to prove that a boy in the school has SA her named Zac. The video goes around but it looks "consensual" Everyone is against her and calls her vicious names. But she meets a guy named Ian who is coincidently Zac's Best Friend. After being forced to spend time with him cleaning lockers the two get close and Grace believes there's a chance that someone will finally believe her. As the story goes on and Ian has doubts, their friendship grows into something that Ian hopes could be a relationship, But possibly at the cost of Zac's and Ian's friendship.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Alcohol
Whereas I can't IMAGINE, that an ENTIRE. SCHOOL. INCLUDING THE TEACHERS. would not believe a young girl when she said she was raped, this book was pretty decent. Yes, you'll get angry at Ian quite a bit throughout this book, but because he's still pretty young, AND best friends with the rapist, I will give him a pass, because he has a lot to go through during this book as well. Especially while having a major concussion, lol.
I, however, would NOT have given ANY forgiveness to those two girls that call themselves her best friends. They are complete trash.
Anyways, point being, I like how this girl dealed with what happened to her, and I'm glad she didn't run away.
Solid 2.5 stars, I'd say.
Spoiler
No, he doesn't believe her until he has definitive proof, right at the end of the book, and YES, he was a dick when it mattered and was caring when it didn't, I still forgive him.I, however, would NOT have given ANY forgiveness to those two girls that call themselves her best friends. They are complete trash.
Anyways, point being, I like how this girl dealed with what happened to her, and I'm glad she didn't run away.
Spoiler
I will say that she was very lucky that the truth came out in the end though. I can only imagine how awful her life still would have been if that video never existed and nobody ever did believe her. And all the girls that would get raped in the future by Zac since no one would have ever known/believed.Solid 2.5 stars, I'd say.
I wish we had more after Zac got arrested, and I don't like that Grace is so forgiving of everyone, but it was a nice read regardless
Wow.
I don't really know what else to say. This book. I have been looking at reading this book for a while now, but wasn't sure if I could handle it. I often find books with messages, the ones dealing with the really hard issues, are a struggle for me to get through. They are either too preachy, miss the point, or downplay their issue in favor of various other plots also going in the book.
This book did none of those things. Some Boys takes a hard look at rape culture, and questions why the victims are often ostracized, demonized, and shamed into believing they did something wrong. Some Boys does not pulls its punches, and it absolutely hit its intended mark.
I read this book straight through the night. I could not put it down.
I was really intrigued by the dual narrative. I always love multiple points of view in a book, and I was interested to see how Patty Blount would switch off between Grace, the survivor, and Ian, a friend of the accused. I do not want to go into too many details, because I don't want to give the story away, but I thought she did a great job capturing the confusing jumble of emotions for all of those involved, as well as the fear and anger of a survivor being taunted for telling the truth. I also really believed the characters; everything felt so real, and I their voices felt very teenager-y to me. Sometimes I struggle to hear characters as actual teens; I think authors sometimes don't quite get it right, but Ms. Blount did a great job. This book felt very relevant to today, because this is a big issue that has been in the news and has gotten a lot of coverage in the past.
While there were some minor issues I had with the book, nothing really pulled me out of the story or made me question it enough to take this down from 5 stars. Grace is a strong heroine, in contrast to many of the cowering female characters we see in YA books. I also appreciated the adult presence in the story: it often seems YA books lack adult characters, and the teens run around willy nilly with no one to answer to. There are plenty of adults in Some Boys , and it was interesting to see how they reacted.
One small note: Many of you may wonder, with the dual narrative of a boy and a girl, and after reading the description of this book, if it is a romance. I hesitate to put this on my romance shelf, because while there is a bit of romance, this book is so much bigger than that, the story so much more powerful. I don't want to see this book get lost, or considered as "just another teen romance," when at its heart, it is so much more.
In the end, I found I was wrong about my initial expectations for this book. I was worried it would be very dark, and very tragic. And it is. Don't get me wrong, any book about rape is going to be dark, and terrible, and so difficult to read. But I also found myself feeling hopeful throughout the story. And that's important to hold onto, even in the darkest of times. Hope.
I don't really know what else to say. This book. I have been looking at reading this book for a while now, but wasn't sure if I could handle it. I often find books with messages, the ones dealing with the really hard issues, are a struggle for me to get through. They are either too preachy, miss the point, or downplay their issue in favor of various other plots also going in the book.
This book did none of those things. Some Boys takes a hard look at rape culture, and questions why the victims are often ostracized, demonized, and shamed into believing they did something wrong. Some Boys does not pulls its punches, and it absolutely hit its intended mark.
I read this book straight through the night. I could not put it down.
I was really intrigued by the dual narrative. I always love multiple points of view in a book, and I was interested to see how Patty Blount would switch off between Grace, the survivor, and Ian, a friend of the accused. I do not want to go into too many details, because I don't want to give the story away, but I thought she did a great job capturing the confusing jumble of emotions for all of those involved, as well as the fear and anger of a survivor being taunted for telling the truth. I also really believed the characters; everything felt so real, and I their voices felt very teenager-y to me. Sometimes I struggle to hear characters as actual teens; I think authors sometimes don't quite get it right, but Ms. Blount did a great job. This book felt very relevant to today, because this is a big issue that has been in the news and has gotten a lot of coverage in the past.
While there were some minor issues I had with the book, nothing really pulled me out of the story or made me question it enough to take this down from 5 stars. Grace is a strong heroine, in contrast to many of the cowering female characters we see in YA books. I also appreciated the adult presence in the story: it often seems YA books lack adult characters, and the teens run around willy nilly with no one to answer to. There are plenty of adults in Some Boys , and it was interesting to see how they reacted.
One small note: Many of you may wonder, with the dual narrative of a boy and a girl, and after reading the description of this book, if it is a romance. I hesitate to put this on my romance shelf, because while there is a bit of romance, this book is so much bigger than that, the story so much more powerful. I don't want to see this book get lost, or considered as "just another teen romance," when at its heart, it is so much more.
In the end, I found I was wrong about my initial expectations for this book. I was worried it would be very dark, and very tragic. And it is. Don't get me wrong, any book about rape is going to be dark, and terrible, and so difficult to read. But I also found myself feeling hopeful throughout the story. And that's important to hold onto, even in the darkest of times. Hope.