Author: Amanda Maciel
Standalone
Genres: Contemporary | Young Adult
Release Date: April 29th 2014
Publishers: Balzer + Bray
No. Pages: 336
Source: Review Copy - Balzer + Bray
Rating: 
Emma Putnam is dead, and it's all Sara Wharton's fault. At least, that's what everyone seems to think. Sara, along with her best friend and three other classmates, has been criminally charged for the bullying and harassment that led to Emma's shocking suicide. Now Sara is the one who's ostracized, already guilty according to her peers, the community, and the media. In the summer before her senior year, in between meetings with lawyers and a court-recommended therapist, Sara is forced to reflect on the events that brought her to this moment—and ultimately consider her own role in an undeniable tragedy. And she'll have to find a way to move forward, even when it feels like her own life is over.
I thought about writing an 'what happens' section of the review but didn't think it was needed, everything you need to know is pretty much stated in the summary. This book could have been really good, instead I found my self frustrated with the main characters.
Sara swears blind she didn't do anything, and will openly admit that Emma is selfish for now wrecking her life. Through out the whole book, until the end, she doesn't seem sorry at all and doesn't think that the way she treated Emma while she was alive constituted her killing herself, that having not done it her self, its down right ridiculous that she's being held accountable for her actions. Her and her best friend, Brielle were relentlessly horrible to Emma for no reason other than she was friends with Sara's boyfriend. Through out we are lead to believe that Emma gave as good as she got, and that she wasn't really as innocent as everyone was making out. Apart from having one too many boyfriends and an incident at a party, no where do you read about Emma fighting back, in fact on more than one occasion you see a scared and lonely girl who just wants to make it through the day.
Sara was not only a self centred character but a completely selfish one too. Not thinking about the effect she had on Emma and had complete disregard for her family's feelings and those of Emma's after the accident. For me, she was not a likeable character at all. My biggest issue with this book was the lack of remorse Sara had for her actions, it wasn't until the end where she seems at all sorry and owned up to being a bully. I think I would have liked this book a lot better if she at least knew that what she did was wrong, instead of just thinking of herself. Every action was in some way just to get her boyfriend away or in the end him to notice her.
I really wanted to like this book, like honestly. But I've read so many books about bullying and the character are in no way as selfish as Sara. Also I personally would have loved to see something from Emma's point of view. I know it was a book about how Sara was dealing with but it wouldn't have hurt to have a few flash backs from her side of the story. It just wasn't the book I was hoping for and for that I was disappointed.
Ooo, I couldn't finish this, the characters annoyed me too, no connection to any of them, all the slurs and swearing and bullying was just a no for me, and I'm pretty glad I didn't continue with it if it turns out like you said. Good decision by me and a good review by you Stacie, sorry you didn't like it though :)
ReplyDeleteThe swearing didn't bother me it was the bullying. I couldn't believe that the were actually treating her the way they did. Like I said, I waited for some explication as to why Emma wasn't an innocent party in all this but it never came, which made me hating the book and characters even more.
DeleteIn all honesty, I knew from very early on that I wouldn't like it. You can tell from the start that Sara doesn't care about what she's done and as you get a little deeper into the story you witness bullying that only ever seems to happen in American schools. Now don't get me wrong, I know that people get bullied all over the world and the UK isn't perfect but I've never, ever, witnessed anything in our school close to what they get. Its ridiculous.
I have this book myself and am intrigued to read it but I really feel like the main character is going to get on my nerves. I feel like I am going to be just as disappointed by this book as you were, which is a real shame. I am intrigued to read it now though, so I can see just how much of a bitch she was and then judge her harshly. I hate characters like this, who act all high and mighty and have no remorse even when they are in the wrong. Thanks for the great & honest review :)
ReplyDeletehaha you are just like me, the more you hear about a book being bad, you cant help but want to read it to see why everyone else dislikes it or the characters.
DeleteRead it if you have nothing else to read haha, but be prepared to be frustrated a little if not a lot.
Thank you :)
Sounds that the MC will also annoy and frustrate me *skeptically adds to TBR* Sorry to hear that you're disappointed with this book.
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Stacie!
haha don't be too harsh before you read it, I didn't like the book but that's not to say that you wont :)
DeleteThank you, Abby :)