Author: Amanda Maciel
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Genre: YA Contemporary
Format: ebook
Release Date: April 19, 2014
Source: egalley received from publisher via Edelweiss
Rating: 3 Stars
Add to Goodreads
Buy the Book
***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way changed my opinion of the book. The review below is my open and honest opinion.***
Synopsis
from Goodreads:
From debut author
Amanda Maciel comes a provocative and unforgettable novel, inspired by
real-life incidents, about a teenage girl who faces criminal charges for
bullying after a classmate commits suicide.
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.
My
Review:
This story is important. Teens
should be reading this. This book should be taught in schools so kids can learn
just how CRUEL their bullying can be and just how EXTREME the
consequences can be. This book broke my heart. But more than that, this book
shot me right back to high school. It was (for me) uncomfortable to read at
times. Because the situation hit pretty close to home for me. I wasn’t the mean
girl in high school. I was Emma, the girl who made a few mistakes and was
shut-out because of them. Emma was most definitely not innocent, neither was I.
BUT she didn’t deserve to be treated the way she was.
Something that bothered me about
this story was the main character. I found it really difficult to connect with
her because to me, she was just awful. For the majority of the book she had no
redeeming qualities and I just couldn’t make myself like her or even see her
side of things. I get that she was hurt by some stuff that Emma had done, but
it didn’t give her the right to torture the poor girl. To publicly humiliate
her. I just felt so much for Emma and connected so much with her that it made
it extremely hard to ever like the main character, Sara. Sara is never really
sorry. She doesn’t understand what she did wrong and she continues to believe
that Emma deserved it. It was frustrating and there were times when I wanted to
stop reading, because I was so mad at this girl. What kept me reading though
was Emma. I just felt so bad for this girl that I had to finish her story.
Eventually the main character does
come to the realization that what her and her friends did was wrong, but it
felt pretty abrupt to me. I never really knew what the turning point was. What
made her realize that she was horrible to this girl? What made her realize that
Emma didn’t deserve it? There was no defining moment in time for Sara and I
really wanted to know what it was that made her change the way she had been
thinking the whole book.
Overall, this book was pretty good.
I would have liked it a lot better if the main character had shown some
redeeming qualities from the start. However, I think this book is really
important and sends out a loud and clear message about the consequences of
bullying. I don’t think that kids ever realize the effect their words and
actions can have on people. This book shows what can happen and I think it’s
important that it gets out in the world. Perhaps it will stop tragedies like
Emma Putnam from happening again in real life. Happy reading all!
Have you read this book? What did you think of the main character? Did your heart break for Emma?
I actually liked that Sara was so unapologetic at first. It was believable. It drove me CRAZY, but I think it made the book that much stronger.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was believable I suppose. And it definitely made this book stand out.
DeleteI have seen a lot of people have issues with the main character in this one, but I like challenging MCs....
ReplyDeleteKate @ Ex Libris
Yeah, even though she was difficult, the story itself is so important. I definitely think people should give it a shot.
DeleteGreat review! I had such a hard time with Sara I almost didn't finish Tease at around 10/15% through, but I am soooo glad I did. Such an important, if controversial, book. I too hope the book challenges young people to think more about their actions. No one deserves to be treated that way and I'm very sorry to hear you were :(
ReplyDeleteI agree. You really sit back and look at how you treat other people after reading this and think, wow, sometimes I am a horrible person. I mean, I know I've been there before too (on Sara's side), I think everybody has.
DeleteThis is one of those ripped from the headlines type book and definitely an important topic. I don't think I'll read this, though. I'm sure I would feel the same way you did about the MC and if I don't like the MC, I don't like the book.
ReplyDeleteAnd sorry you had such a tough time in high school. High school basically sucks…so many people that age are just not nice. ~Pam
Yeah, she was pretty tough to like. I still enjoyed the story though. I know, high school is terrible. Thank God I don't have to relive any of that. Lol
DeleteThis book sounds like it would make me absolutely rage from lack of accountability. I have very strong feelings in regards to bullying to these pitiful girls thinking their words and actions cannot hurt people makes me stabby. Even though you said its good, I think I have to skip it to save myself a heart attack haha.
ReplyDeleteYes, I did feel pretty stabby a few times throughout the book. I think I was even shaking my book at times trying to shake some sense into Sara. Lol.
Delete