Community Reviews
I've been putting off a review on this one because I can't decide how I actually feel about it.
On one hand, there are important messages here about rape culture, shaming, anxiety, and bullying.
On the other hand, it was inflated to the point where I couldn't believe that people could be that cruel, hold grudges for that long, or be that one dimensional. Some of these people were straight up demonic.
I did not have anything close to this experience in high school. I wasn't bullied at school unless you count the one time in sixth grade when Clint called me fat after we "broke up" from our one day relationship. I wasn't popular in the least either. I was the type of invisible where I had a small group of friends at the time - none of which kept in contact with me after high school - and at this time, I'd doubt most people in my small class would recall who I am or anything significant about me. And I'm cool with it. I'm not plotting revenge in my basement.
I'm not saying the things in this book don't happen.
The parties, the assaults, the horrible name calling, the intentional isolation, etc.
What I'm baffled about is that no one talked to anyone about anything and no one stood up for anyone. I understand that Regina was cruel to everyone previously (and honestly doesn't change very much throughout the book, which was disappointing) and therefore didn't warrant them wanting to help her (convenient explanation?), but I can't believe every single person in an entire student body would be so passive about it.
Unfortunately, I could be living in a fantasy land where I don't want to believe the extremes. I have two young daughters and want to believe these things will never happen to them, that they will never treat anyone else this way, and that if these things were happening to someone else, they would stand up for them.
3 Wishy Washy Stars
On one hand, there are important messages here about rape culture, shaming, anxiety, and bullying.
On the other hand, it was inflated to the point where I couldn't believe that people could be that cruel, hold grudges for that long, or be that one dimensional. Some of these people were straight up demonic.
I did not have anything close to this experience in high school. I wasn't bullied at school unless you count the one time in sixth grade when Clint called me fat after we "broke up" from our one day relationship. I wasn't popular in the least either. I was the type of invisible where I had a small group of friends at the time - none of which kept in contact with me after high school - and at this time, I'd doubt most people in my small class would recall who I am or anything significant about me. And I'm cool with it. I'm not plotting revenge in my basement.
I'm not saying the things in this book don't happen.
The parties, the assaults, the horrible name calling, the intentional isolation, etc.
What I'm baffled about is that no one talked to anyone about anything and no one stood up for anyone. I understand that Regina was cruel to everyone previously (and honestly doesn't change very much throughout the book, which was disappointing) and therefore didn't warrant them wanting to help her (convenient explanation?), but I can't believe every single person in an entire student body would be so passive about it.
Unfortunately, I could be living in a fantasy land where I don't want to believe the extremes. I have two young daughters and want to believe these things will never happen to them, that they will never treat anyone else this way, and that if these things were happening to someone else, they would stand up for them.
3 Wishy Washy Stars
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