Scan barcode
owloutstanding's review against another edition
2.0
This book really isn't like my thing? Yet discussions of depression and suicide are extremely important.
hayley_22's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It was good it shows how people go through hard times
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Bullying
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
bethanymiller415's review against another edition
3.0
The Fall is the story of the aftermath of a teen’s suicide from the point of view of a boy who was one of the victim’s few friends as well as one of her tormentors. Sam was one of many people who posted anonymous hateful comments about Morgan online. Morgan had pissed off the wrong girl – no one quite remembers what she did – and had to pay the price by becoming a target for the entire school. Sam was her friend in private but refused to acknowledge her in public, and he didn’t do anything to help even when he saw that she was struggling. After her death, Sam reflects on their relationship and wrestles with the guilt that he feels for all that he did and didn’t do.
At just under 200 pages, this slim novel has short chapters interspersed with poems that make it a quick if weighty read. The sparse language is well suited to the grim subject matter of grief, blame, and guilt. Sam is a realistic character who teens will relate to. He goes along with the online bullying of Morgan out of a sense of social expectation, not because he dislikes her or has anything to gain from torturing her. Because he knows that openly associating with her will make him a social pariah, he chooses to keep their relationship a secret, a fact that is not lost on Morgan. The Fall deals with the consequences or bullying and suicide in a way that is fresh and thought provoking. Recommended for fans of intense realistic fiction such as Thirteen Reasons Why and the novels of Laurie Halse Anderson.
Genre: Realistic
Grades: 7-12
Literary Value: Good
Characterization: Good
Recommendation: Recommended
At just under 200 pages, this slim novel has short chapters interspersed with poems that make it a quick if weighty read. The sparse language is well suited to the grim subject matter of grief, blame, and guilt. Sam is a realistic character who teens will relate to. He goes along with the online bullying of Morgan out of a sense of social expectation, not because he dislikes her or has anything to gain from torturing her. Because he knows that openly associating with her will make him a social pariah, he chooses to keep their relationship a secret, a fact that is not lost on Morgan. The Fall deals with the consequences or bullying and suicide in a way that is fresh and thought provoking. Recommended for fans of intense realistic fiction such as Thirteen Reasons Why and the novels of Laurie Halse Anderson.
Genre: Realistic
Grades: 7-12
Literary Value: Good
Characterization: Good
Recommendation: Recommended
a_connors's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Suicide
bethanyparker's review
4.0
You are not your mistakes. Even if your mistake is a combination of smaller mistakes, we can still find salvation. People the most worthy of forgiveness harbor the most guilt, as seen by Sam, someone who played into the bullying of a girl at his school who committed suicide. We learn about the complexity of mental health struggles, peer pressure, and forgiving oneself throughout the novel.
kimboslice28's review
4.0
Story of a girl who is bullied until she commits suicide and the aftermath.
engpunk77's review
3.0
Preller spoke at a library conference, and I was intrigued by the premise of this book. He said that he was inspired by a true story of a girl who committed suicide off of a water tower, and authorities discovered that she had been relentlessly harrassed on social media prior. This novel starts there in the form of a journal of a survivor who is trying to deal with his feelings. Sam's story and feelings are realistic, and the reader struggles with his actions and feelings as much as he does. I would give it 4 stars if not for the plot element on page 185 that ruined the book for me, but other than that, it is excellent. I think of the tragedies we have had in our district recently, and how similarly these deaths were handled district-wide. I would have recommended the heck out of this book if it had been in our collection, and I'm ordering it now.
Teen readers, the types who do not have perfect lives with excellent support systems and role model parents, will be able to relate to multiple characters and scenarios in this novel, and they will find guidance, meaning, and a friend in these pages.
Teen readers, the types who do not have perfect lives with excellent support systems and role model parents, will be able to relate to multiple characters and scenarios in this novel, and they will find guidance, meaning, and a friend in these pages.
library_brandy's review
5.0
Sam knew it was wrong to post things on Morgan's profile. He knew it was mean. But when his turn came, he did it anyway. How could he not, when to refuse would bring Athena's wrath upon him? Athena, the beautiful, popular, charismatic girl named for the goddess of strategic warfare: not someone of whom Sam wants to run afoul, and ruin his own social standing. He knows it's mean to torment Morgan. But it's just Morgan, so does it really matter?
That's broad strokes of the plot, but that's not what the book it's really about. Sam was a participant in the bullying, but he feels awful about it. He felt awful about it at the time, especially because Morgan was pretty cool. Sam's narrative -- his journal entries -- are a palpable blend of grief, of regret, of remorse and loss and sorrow and self-loathing. he's been a mean classmate and a terrible friend, one whose betrayal led to Morgan stepping off the water tower. From the first page, Sam's confusion, anger, grief are their own characters, part of Sam himself but so much more.
There's a subplot in Preller's Bystander about girl-on-girl bullying, about the words posted online and the more insidious types of bullying than beating each other up, and this book is a more thorough exploration of that idea, aimed at older readers. There are plenty of comparisons to be made with 13 Reasons Why, but this feels truer, maybe because Sam admits wrongdoing from the start -- he's not the White Knight who didn't do anything, for better or worse; Sam participated and regrets his actions. Fantastic read.
Via NetGalley.
That's broad strokes of the plot, but that's not what the book it's really about. Sam was a participant in the bullying, but he feels awful about it. He felt awful about it at the time, especially because Morgan was pretty cool. Sam's narrative -- his journal entries -- are a palpable blend of grief, of regret, of remorse and loss and sorrow and self-loathing. he's been a mean classmate and a terrible friend, one whose betrayal led to Morgan stepping off the water tower. From the first page, Sam's confusion, anger, grief are their own characters, part of Sam himself but so much more.
There's a subplot in Preller's Bystander about girl-on-girl bullying, about the words posted online and the more insidious types of bullying than beating each other up, and this book is a more thorough exploration of that idea, aimed at older readers. There are plenty of comparisons to be made with 13 Reasons Why, but this feels truer, maybe because Sam admits wrongdoing from the start -- he's not the White Knight who didn't do anything, for better or worse; Sam participated and regrets his actions. Fantastic read.
Via NetGalley.