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A review by melbsreads
Amelia Westlake by Erin Gough
3.0
Trigger warnings: sexual harassment, racism, cheating, incident resulting in a fear of flying (in the past), toxic/abusive relationship, homophobia, absent parents.
So here's the thing: I really wanted to like this book because it sounded GREAT. But ultimately, I found it to be sort of aggressively average. Harriet was a total wet blanket of a character who's being walked all over by her girlfriend. In contrast, Will was just sort of...a brat. I mean, I get it. Kids who are at snobby private schools often don't recognise their own privilege. But GIRL. STOP.
But beyond the characters, my main problem with this comes from the fact that a) apparently this snooty private school has zero security cameras, b) all the school staff are apparently utterly oblivious at all times, c) no one is apparently second marking or reviewing the English teacher's grading and she's just being a vindictive cow and getting away with it, and d) multiple students have lodged formal complaints about a member of staff sexually harassing/assaulting them and the school is SWEEPING IT UNDER THE RUG???
I mean, if it was set in the 90s? Maybe. If it's set any time in the past five years and ESPECIALLY if it's set after the introduction of Ministerial Order 870 (admittedly, that's Victoria and the book is set in NSW but stiiiiiiiiiill)? NOPE. Every single report legally has to be investigated in depth and the school would get their arse handed to them on a plate if they didn't do it.
So really, my problem with this is that I'm too close to the reality of this story and can spot the obvious flaws in it. (As can the intended audience, based on what kids have said to me about it...)
So here's the thing: I really wanted to like this book because it sounded GREAT. But ultimately, I found it to be sort of aggressively average. Harriet was a total wet blanket of a character who's being walked all over by her girlfriend. In contrast, Will was just sort of...a brat. I mean, I get it. Kids who are at snobby private schools often don't recognise their own privilege. But GIRL. STOP.
But beyond the characters, my main problem with this comes from the fact that a) apparently this snooty private school has zero security cameras, b) all the school staff are apparently utterly oblivious at all times, c) no one is apparently second marking or reviewing the English teacher's grading and she's just being a vindictive cow and getting away with it, and d) multiple students have lodged formal complaints about a member of staff sexually harassing/assaulting them and the school is SWEEPING IT UNDER THE RUG???
I mean, if it was set in the 90s? Maybe. If it's set any time in the past five years and ESPECIALLY if it's set after the introduction of Ministerial Order 870 (admittedly, that's Victoria and the book is set in NSW but stiiiiiiiiiill)? NOPE. Every single report legally has to be investigated in depth and the school would get their arse handed to them on a plate if they didn't do it.
So really, my problem with this is that I'm too close to the reality of this story and can spot the obvious flaws in it. (As can the intended audience, based on what kids have said to me about it...)