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A review by laurenkara
Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers
3.0
Trigger Warnings: Everything?? Sexual assault (on page), suicide mentions, eating disorders, drug & alcohol abuse/use, mental illness, death threats, violence, bullying, fat shaming, there was some MI shaming that was challenged,
I honestly have no idea what to rate this book. It was extremely draining.
On one hand I 100% understand what it was trying to convey. Bullying is a SERIOUS issue that not enough people take seriously (and yes, sometimes that includes teachers because mine did not care even when I reported my bullying). I feel like Courtney Summers did an excellent job at portraying how cruel high school and its students can be. HOWEVER, I think it relied too heavily on the "not all girls" trope.
I get that a lot of the messages in this book weren't positive, but I think that's the point. We need to remember the darker aspects. Just because we don't want to see it, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Some people's realities are this book and they deserve their stories told. I would have liked to have seen a bit more education though especially in regards of how to properly handle a bullying situation and/or mental illness. Whilst extremely jarring to read I think the sexual abuse was handled respectful although there was one scene that felt like it was a bit done for shock value.
Also in terms of the actual writing the ending was so rushed? I understand and appreciate that it wasn't sunshine and roses, but it just felt so incredibly abrupt. There was also a serious case of absent parents, but maybe that was supposed to represent the disconnect between parents and their children.
Anyway, I think this can definitely be an eye opening read especially for people who had positive school experiences. If you can handle the subject matter I'd still suggest giving it a read.
I honestly have no idea what to rate this book. It was extremely draining.
On one hand I 100% understand what it was trying to convey. Bullying is a SERIOUS issue that not enough people take seriously (and yes, sometimes that includes teachers because mine did not care even when I reported my bullying). I feel like Courtney Summers did an excellent job at portraying how cruel high school and its students can be. HOWEVER, I think it relied too heavily on the "not all girls" trope.
I get that a lot of the messages in this book weren't positive, but I think that's the point. We need to remember the darker aspects. Just because we don't want to see it, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Some people's realities are this book and they deserve their stories told. I would have liked to have seen a bit more education though especially in regards of how to properly handle a bullying situation and/or mental illness. Whilst extremely jarring to read I think the sexual abuse was handled respectful although there was one scene that felt like it was a bit done for shock value.
Also in terms of the actual writing the ending was so rushed? I understand and appreciate that it wasn't sunshine and roses, but it just felt so incredibly abrupt. There was also a serious case of absent parents, but maybe that was supposed to represent the disconnect between parents and their children.
Anyway, I think this can definitely be an eye opening read especially for people who had positive school experiences. If you can handle the subject matter I'd still suggest giving it a read.