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La dulce venganza de Celia Door
«Ese fue el día que empezaron los problemas que casi me arruinan la vida.
Los problemas que me hicieron volverme Dark, y que me suplican venganza.»
Convencida de que jamás encajará en su escuela, Celia se ha vuelto Dark. En su nueva piel, está decidida a cobrar venganza por todo lo que le hizo Sandy, la más popular –y malvada– chica de su ge- neración. La Dark comienza a cuestionar sus planes tras conocer a Drake, quien se convierte en la luz de su oscura vida. La amistad que entablan, autentica y a prueba de balas, le permitirá ver el mundo desde otra perspectiva.
¿Qué será más dulce?
¿La mejor venganza o la más plena amistad?
La dulce venganza de Celia Door retrata la complejidad de ser ado- lescente en el campo de batalla social y psicológico que representa la escuela, donde los sueños individuales se enfrentan a la sensa- ción de impotencia que a todos, tarde o temprano, nos duele.
Los problemas que me hicieron volverme Dark, y que me suplican venganza.»
Convencida de que jamás encajará en su escuela, Celia se ha vuelto Dark. En su nueva piel, está decidida a cobrar venganza por todo lo que le hizo Sandy, la más popular –y malvada– chica de su ge- neración. La Dark comienza a cuestionar sus planes tras conocer a Drake, quien se convierte en la luz de su oscura vida. La amistad que entablan, autentica y a prueba de balas, le permitirá ver el mundo desde otra perspectiva.
¿Qué será más dulce?
¿La mejor venganza o la más plena amistad?
La dulce venganza de Celia Door retrata la complejidad de ser ado- lescente en el campo de batalla social y psicológico que representa la escuela, donde los sueños individuales se enfrentan a la sensa- ción de impotencia que a todos, tarde o temprano, nos duele.
244 pages, Unknown Binding
First published February 21, 2013
40 people are currently reading
2214 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
March 25, 2013
When Sandy Firestone made Celia Door’s life miserable in middle school, Celia decides to start her high school career with revenge on her mind. When an incident prompted by Sandy and her friend Mandy, Celia places a wall and guards herself with fronting an unfriendly manner. Karen Finneyfrock’s The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door details her freshman year as she plots her revenge. Her plotting gets on paper but never seems to take flight. When the new kid from New York City, Drake, comes into her life and shares his dark secret, a new friendship is born. Although her quest for revenge is still fresh on her mind, she cannot risk ruining her relationship with Drake. Revenge just sounds so sweet, but so is this new found friendship. So she must decide which one will give her the most satisfaction: sweet revenge or sweet friendship.
The one aspect of this amazing story that will have readers coming back for more is Celia. Although her life has been plagued with some rather bad situations such as her parents going through a trial separation, her former best friends moving, and of course that incident in middle school, she takes up poetry writing as a channel to make her life meaningful. From that point on, it was poetry that really saved her. Her life is relatable to many people her age. Filled with real life situations and the drama that only high school can envelope, it delivered a story that felt real and will have readers rooting for Celia to come out on top.
The poetry that Celia writes is simply adorable. Poetry is not much exposed to teenagers of these days and I truly appreciate how author Karen incorporated her compelling story with it. We all know what poetry is, but sadly most don’t know the beauty and appreciation it has in a person’s life. Karen’s writing style is amazing and she is a remarkable storyteller. It delivers a powerful punch with its version of mean girls, the problems that bullying produces, the many painful predicaments that life presents, and the discovering of love and friendship. The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door is a wonderful piece of literature that covers a wide range of real-life issues.
The one aspect of this amazing story that will have readers coming back for more is Celia. Although her life has been plagued with some rather bad situations such as her parents going through a trial separation, her former best friends moving, and of course that incident in middle school, she takes up poetry writing as a channel to make her life meaningful. From that point on, it was poetry that really saved her. Her life is relatable to many people her age. Filled with real life situations and the drama that only high school can envelope, it delivered a story that felt real and will have readers rooting for Celia to come out on top.
The poetry that Celia writes is simply adorable. Poetry is not much exposed to teenagers of these days and I truly appreciate how author Karen incorporated her compelling story with it. We all know what poetry is, but sadly most don’t know the beauty and appreciation it has in a person’s life. Karen’s writing style is amazing and she is a remarkable storyteller. It delivers a powerful punch with its version of mean girls, the problems that bullying produces, the many painful predicaments that life presents, and the discovering of love and friendship. The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door is a wonderful piece of literature that covers a wide range of real-life issues.
July 1, 2018
Este libro tiene cosas muy buenas (un buen traductor que ha sabido conservar la armonía de los poemas de Celia, por ejemplo), pero también quedan muchas cosas desvaídas. El personaje de Celia está muy bien y me gusta el personaje de Reloj, pero el resto me parecen los típicos clichés de las novelas juveniles, incluso Drake. Aún así, entretiene.
May 28, 2013
Reading the first few pages of this book was misleading. I assumed that I would be reading a novel of a humorous yet Dark young girl in high school whose story would stand out. With a point and a lot of snarky sentences to make me laugh and giggle childishly.
I was wrong about the first part, though the laughing was minimal and the smirks few and far between.
This book, though a little bit endearing at times, really made me frustrated with the lack of...well...plot; Purpose; A point. There really wasn't any other than a "this-would-be-a-coming-of-age-story-if-the-character-actually-DID-some-growing-up." Sure, the poem at the end is supposed to give you the inclination that she has changed her view on her town. But it doesn't really do that. It's a cheap ending, to be honest.
The poems can be fantastic at times, but many of them make me grimace in their simplistic overuse of many themes we've all dredged through in our adolescent years. The idea of being "Dark" is rather annoying by the time you get past the first 100 pages. And this big event about a Book? Uttely ridiculous when you find out what it is. Very anti-climatic.
This novel was not terribly written, it was just terrible boring. I really wanted to be taken some place new, that's what I look for in a book. I don't want to be taken back to high school and beaten to death with the same boring snotty "prep-school" cliche girls who are really bullies in terrible Abercrombie and Fitch disguises. I don't want to sit and read about a girl who has very little courage when it comes to that same snot-nosed brat in "designer" clothes.
The story could have been much better. It could have built up to finding out Drake was gay instead of it being thrown at you near the beginning. I kind of wish for the half-day of my life I used to read this, back. :(
I was wrong about the first part, though the laughing was minimal and the smirks few and far between.
This book, though a little bit endearing at times, really made me frustrated with the lack of...well...plot; Purpose; A point. There really wasn't any other than a "this-would-be-a-coming-of-age-story-if-the-character-actually-DID-some-growing-up." Sure, the poem at the end is supposed to give you the inclination that she has changed her view on her town. But it doesn't really do that. It's a cheap ending, to be honest.
The poems can be fantastic at times, but many of them make me grimace in their simplistic overuse of many themes we've all dredged through in our adolescent years. The idea of being "Dark" is rather annoying by the time you get past the first 100 pages. And this big event about a Book? Uttely ridiculous when you find out what it is. Very anti-climatic.
This novel was not terribly written, it was just terrible boring. I really wanted to be taken some place new, that's what I look for in a book. I don't want to be taken back to high school and beaten to death with the same boring snotty "prep-school" cliche girls who are really bullies in terrible Abercrombie and Fitch disguises. I don't want to sit and read about a girl who has very little courage when it comes to that same snot-nosed brat in "designer" clothes.
The story could have been much better. It could have built up to finding out Drake was gay instead of it being thrown at you near the beginning. I kind of wish for the half-day of my life I used to read this, back. :(
April 10, 2013
I soooo loved this book. Maybe it's because I was a young poetry geek like Celia, or that I, too, tried to read my way through sections of the library (the young readers' biography section of my county library when I was about 9 or 10). I thankfully didn't have her painful unpopularity issues, but by the age she is at the beginning of this book, 14, I was also the proud possessor of an "I could care less whether you like me or not" attitude. It sometimes takes people a little longer to grow that armor, and Celia is just donning it when she enters the halls of Hershey High as a friendless freshman who geeks out over poetry, English class, and...pretty much nothing else until the new and beautiful transfer from New York approaches her (gasp!)at her locker and actually wants to be her friend (double gasp!!). Celia and I both initially suspected some sort of cruel set up, but Drake is on the up and up. He just needs someone to talk to while he waits to get into his Art School of choice back in the City. And Celia, like any 14 year old loveless girl just wants a beautiful boy to like her for herself...the fact that she can use him as a tool in her revenge on Sandy and her mean girl pack for a cruelty they enacted on her the previous school year is just very tasty frosting on her homemade vengeance cake. (Too much?!)
Packed with themes of bullying, sexuality, divorce, and just finding oneself in high school, Sweet Revenge is brutally, beautifully moving, and I'm hoping desperately that Karen Finneyfrock (gosh, I LOVE that name!)plans to pen a follow-up.
Packed with themes of bullying, sexuality, divorce, and just finding oneself in high school, Sweet Revenge is brutally, beautifully moving, and I'm hoping desperately that Karen Finneyfrock (gosh, I LOVE that name!)plans to pen a follow-up.
September 27, 2022
English and Spanish 👇
I'm not going to judge him harshly. It reminds me a lot of the books I used to read when I was 15 and 16 and I feel like it would be a good book for people that age to read.
It is the typical story of a normal girl surviving in a high school, with normal problems that a teenager can have, making friends, teachers, dramas with parents.
Light? Yes! But it is appreciated that these books despite the load they bring are a bit of fun too.
A good book for teenagers, without as much hypersexualization as the books they are reading now on whatpatt and without toxic relationships, it teaches you that both life and problems can have solutions and a good friend can be the key to everything
Español👇
No voy a juzgarlo duramente. Me recuerda mucho a loa libros que leía con 15 y 16 años y siento que sería un buen libro para que las personas de esa edad lo lean.
Es la típica historia de una muchacha normal sobreviviendo en una escuela secundaria, con problemas normales que puede tener un adolescente, hacer amigos, los profesores, los dramas con los padres.
Ligero? si! Pero se agradece que estos libros a pesar de la carga que traen sean un poco divertidos también.
Un buen libro para adolescentes, sin tanta hipersexualizacion como los libros que están leyendo ahora en whatpatt y sin relaciones tóxicas, te enseñan que tanto la vida como los problemas pueden tener soluciones y un buen amigo puede ser la clave de todo
I'm not going to judge him harshly. It reminds me a lot of the books I used to read when I was 15 and 16 and I feel like it would be a good book for people that age to read.
It is the typical story of a normal girl surviving in a high school, with normal problems that a teenager can have, making friends, teachers, dramas with parents.
Light? Yes! But it is appreciated that these books despite the load they bring are a bit of fun too.
A good book for teenagers, without as much hypersexualization as the books they are reading now on whatpatt and without toxic relationships, it teaches you that both life and problems can have solutions and a good friend can be the key to everything
Español👇
No voy a juzgarlo duramente. Me recuerda mucho a loa libros que leía con 15 y 16 años y siento que sería un buen libro para que las personas de esa edad lo lean.
Es la típica historia de una muchacha normal sobreviviendo en una escuela secundaria, con problemas normales que puede tener un adolescente, hacer amigos, los profesores, los dramas con los padres.
Ligero? si! Pero se agradece que estos libros a pesar de la carga que traen sean un poco divertidos también.
Un buen libro para adolescentes, sin tanta hipersexualizacion como los libros que están leyendo ahora en whatpatt y sin relaciones tóxicas, te enseñan que tanto la vida como los problemas pueden tener soluciones y un buen amigo puede ser la clave de todo
January 4, 2014
When I received this ARC, I was extremely excited to begin reading it because I was familiar with and impressed by the author's spoken word/slam poetry work. That, coupled with a ringing endorsement from Sherman Alexie on the cover, made this seem like it would be a real treat for me.
Unfortunately, this novel didn't grab me like I had hoped, and I stopped reading a little before the half-way mark. Though I liked the opening and found some humor in the writing, it felt forced at times and the narrative didn't always flow smoothly. Developments like the new kid, Drake, disclosing his sexual orientation to our protagonist within days of meeting her felt unrealistic and only necessary to push the plot forward. There was much potential here, but I didn't find enough in the story to keep my interest.
March 12, 2024
A quick, satisfying YA read, particularly impressive that it's a first novel.
December 18, 2018
In The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door, Celia is an outcast and wants to be known as Celia the “Dark” and not by her real name, Celia Door. Celia is out for revenge for Sandy Firestone for making her “dark.” With her lace up black leather boots, she is writing a plan to get back at Sandy but some “light” is brought into her life, Drake. Drake moved from New York to Hershey, Pennsylvania, hoping to get into an art school in New York.
Karen Finneyfrock keeps the readers on the edge of their seats with every page they turn. Readers will also feel like they have to finish the chapter or two to find out what happens and will easily identify with her, even when she makes a few seriously Dark mistakes.
I would recommend this book to everyone.
Karen Finneyfrock keeps the readers on the edge of their seats with every page they turn. Readers will also feel like they have to finish the chapter or two to find out what happens and will easily identify with her, even when she makes a few seriously Dark mistakes.
I would recommend this book to everyone.
February 18, 2013
Wow, my favorite ARC so far from ALA midwinter. I loved this book and finished it in like a day? A must-read! It's a YA, a lower YA--I would love my almost 13 yo girl to read it. Celia's voice is perfect!
There are spoilers, so don't read anymore if you don't want to know.
To me this is a story of pure friendship and the up and down of it as you try to 'help' your friends with their schemes and plans.
Celia is a wannabe famous-poet. (the poems show so much of her character throughout the story--what a great device!) Celia has turned Dark. She was bullied into it, but this doesn't come across right away because Celia's voice is so perfectly real, and positive for so much of the story. She's a character I liked on page one. Yes she was bullied, but she also lost her best friend and her parents seperated--all within a short span of time. She's gone through all of this but still sees pain in another, like when she wonders if a classmate is fat for the same reason that Celia is Dark? Love that!
Celia has turned Dark with the plan of exacting her revenge on the mean girls at school who were responsible for humiliating her in 8th grade.
My heart breaks for Celia, being friendless and starting high school. And it breaks again when she makes one friend her first week of high school, and then crushes on him, and then finds out he is gay. This was a huge shock! I didn't see it coming so hats off to the author because there is nothing stereotypical about Drake. I as the reader didn't see it coming, I just thought wow, Celia's new friend is the 'hot' guy at school. He's cute, he's smart, he's athletic, and he doesn't care that Celia has no friends. I love him!
I love how Celia knows he is gay but still she can't help her feelings, and of course gets jealous when she thinks he is spending too much time with her rival, mean girl Sandy. He's just trying to be nice, because that's who he is.
Drake's explanations of his own crush are so natural and authentic that I forget he's talking about crushing on another boy. His journey to fulfill his dream (making his childhood pal fall for him) with the help of a popular book on visualizing your dreams resonated with me because of a very popular, real self-help book I remember reading a few years ago (um I still have my little vision board, and the little paper book I put on it with my name is pretty dusty:)
Celia struggles with, and makes the very mature decision to support Drake and his dreams and not make fun of his belief in this guru's book he is reading. She catches herself every time, and she cheers Drake on.
Drake helps Celia with her revenge, he just doesn't know it. Because Celia has not confessed her secrets to him, about what happened. There's a teary moment for me reading when Drake tells her that Clock (who Celia thinks is darker than her) likes her and Celia thought no boys liked her. But there is Drake, telling her she doesn't realize how pretty she is! And it comes at a time when she needs to hear it. I would've loved having Drake for a friend when I was Celia's age.:)
Celia's friendship is tested when one of her poems about Drake (being gay) gets posted all over school by the mean girls. I'm surprised in the best way when who comes to her rescue but Clock--dark and gothic Clock, who torments her and calls her Weird. Even though we know pretty soon that Clock has a thing for Celia. BTW this is the only part of the story I was bummed about--I was really hoping Celia and Clock would be together. I mean after he goes through school ripping down the poems for her? Oh Clock.
Despite being outed by the mean girls (even though Celia totally takes the blame) Drake still wants Celia as a friend. And when they try to run away to New York becuase Celia feels its only right to help Drake with his plan to talk to his crush and see if he feels the same, Celia tells Drake the whole backstory on what happened to her and why she turned Dark. So here my heart broke twice: the first time when Celia reveals the reason she started writing poetry (and I love how poetry saved her life), and when Drake's parents find them at the train station and tell Drake that his crush is off with his girlfriend's family. His crush has a girlfriend :(
But in the end, Celia got to keep the friend she thought she was losing to NY forever, and her plan for revenge took a natural and logical course. I loved this story, absolutely loved it!
There are spoilers, so don't read anymore if you don't want to know.
To me this is a story of pure friendship and the up and down of it as you try to 'help' your friends with their schemes and plans.
Celia is a wannabe famous-poet. (the poems show so much of her character throughout the story--what a great device!) Celia has turned Dark. She was bullied into it, but this doesn't come across right away because Celia's voice is so perfectly real, and positive for so much of the story. She's a character I liked on page one. Yes she was bullied, but she also lost her best friend and her parents seperated--all within a short span of time. She's gone through all of this but still sees pain in another, like when she wonders if a classmate is fat for the same reason that Celia is Dark? Love that!
Celia has turned Dark with the plan of exacting her revenge on the mean girls at school who were responsible for humiliating her in 8th grade.
My heart breaks for Celia, being friendless and starting high school. And it breaks again when she makes one friend her first week of high school, and then crushes on him, and then finds out he is gay. This was a huge shock! I didn't see it coming so hats off to the author because there is nothing stereotypical about Drake. I as the reader didn't see it coming, I just thought wow, Celia's new friend is the 'hot' guy at school. He's cute, he's smart, he's athletic, and he doesn't care that Celia has no friends. I love him!
I love how Celia knows he is gay but still she can't help her feelings, and of course gets jealous when she thinks he is spending too much time with her rival, mean girl Sandy. He's just trying to be nice, because that's who he is.
Drake's explanations of his own crush are so natural and authentic that I forget he's talking about crushing on another boy. His journey to fulfill his dream (making his childhood pal fall for him) with the help of a popular book on visualizing your dreams resonated with me because of a very popular, real self-help book I remember reading a few years ago (um I still have my little vision board, and the little paper book I put on it with my name is pretty dusty:)
Celia struggles with, and makes the very mature decision to support Drake and his dreams and not make fun of his belief in this guru's book he is reading. She catches herself every time, and she cheers Drake on.
Drake helps Celia with her revenge, he just doesn't know it. Because Celia has not confessed her secrets to him, about what happened. There's a teary moment for me reading when Drake tells her that Clock (who Celia thinks is darker than her) likes her and Celia thought no boys liked her. But there is Drake, telling her she doesn't realize how pretty she is! And it comes at a time when she needs to hear it. I would've loved having Drake for a friend when I was Celia's age.:)
Celia's friendship is tested when one of her poems about Drake (being gay) gets posted all over school by the mean girls. I'm surprised in the best way when who comes to her rescue but Clock--dark and gothic Clock, who torments her and calls her Weird. Even though we know pretty soon that Clock has a thing for Celia. BTW this is the only part of the story I was bummed about--I was really hoping Celia and Clock would be together. I mean after he goes through school ripping down the poems for her? Oh Clock.
Despite being outed by the mean girls (even though Celia totally takes the blame) Drake still wants Celia as a friend. And when they try to run away to New York becuase Celia feels its only right to help Drake with his plan to talk to his crush and see if he feels the same, Celia tells Drake the whole backstory on what happened to her and why she turned Dark. So here my heart broke twice: the first time when Celia reveals the reason she started writing poetry (and I love how poetry saved her life), and when Drake's parents find them at the train station and tell Drake that his crush is off with his girlfriend's family. His crush has a girlfriend :(
But in the end, Celia got to keep the friend she thought she was losing to NY forever, and her plan for revenge took a natural and logical course. I loved this story, absolutely loved it!
February 21, 2013
Celia Door is known as Celia the Dark, because she has separated herself from her classmates, always wears a dark hoodie and black boots, and is all around surly. She wasn't always this way though, thanks to popular girl, Sandy, who pretty much bullied her all throughout middle school. Celia has decided to seek revenge on Sandy now that they are in high school and the stakes are higher. Things are already looking up for Celia now that she is in high school, because she meets charismatic Drake who is from New York City. He's befriends her immediately and knows that Hershey, Pennsylvania just doesn't understand Celia. Drake and Celia become good friends and he trusts her with a deep secret. Things get a bit sticky for Celia though once her plan for revenge starts to involve Drake and she must question what is more important. Karen Finneyfrock's debut, The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door is a fantastic read for young girls who are navigating their way through the social issues of middle school.
Celia is a likable protagonist in The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door despite her many defense mechanisms to push people away. You can't help but feel sorry for her when you learn more about the issues she had in middle school with Sandy and Mandy, the two resident mean girls. Celia turns to poetry and often can be found writing down her beautiful poems, which are included in the novel. Celia is a character who is witty, sarcastic and funny; I think many young girls will connect with her.
To make matters worse, Celia's parents are separated and this also impacts Celia's world. Her only friend isn't allowed to see her anymore and she really doesn't have the best relationship with her mother. Things are grim until Drake enters the picture and I really enjoyed their friendship. Drake harbors a secret that many others may deal with on a daily basis and may be too afraid to share. I like that The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door focuses on this and how Celia and Drake's relationship is a positive one as they both try to help each other.
The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door is an important and timely read, especially with all of the bullying that goes on in schools today. It really sheds light on how words can be hurtful to people and how upsetting things that happen to us many years ago can stay with us. Being a teacher, I also took to heart Celia's interactions with her 9th grade English teacher. They really didn't see eye to eye and it made me think about what some students are dealing with on a daily basis that, we, teachers can't even begin to imagine.
I am definitely going to put The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door in my classroom library, because I think it has an important message, deals with timely issues, and will make young people think, which is the perfect read for middle school.
Celia is a likable protagonist in The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door despite her many defense mechanisms to push people away. You can't help but feel sorry for her when you learn more about the issues she had in middle school with Sandy and Mandy, the two resident mean girls. Celia turns to poetry and often can be found writing down her beautiful poems, which are included in the novel. Celia is a character who is witty, sarcastic and funny; I think many young girls will connect with her.
To make matters worse, Celia's parents are separated and this also impacts Celia's world. Her only friend isn't allowed to see her anymore and she really doesn't have the best relationship with her mother. Things are grim until Drake enters the picture and I really enjoyed their friendship. Drake harbors a secret that many others may deal with on a daily basis and may be too afraid to share. I like that The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door focuses on this and how Celia and Drake's relationship is a positive one as they both try to help each other.
The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door is an important and timely read, especially with all of the bullying that goes on in schools today. It really sheds light on how words can be hurtful to people and how upsetting things that happen to us many years ago can stay with us. Being a teacher, I also took to heart Celia's interactions with her 9th grade English teacher. They really didn't see eye to eye and it made me think about what some students are dealing with on a daily basis that, we, teachers can't even begin to imagine.
I am definitely going to put The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door in my classroom library, because I think it has an important message, deals with timely issues, and will make young people think, which is the perfect read for middle school.
November 23, 2014
If I had read this book a few years ago, I probably would’ve given it a five-star rating. As it is, I’ve read too many similar books in the past couple of years to still be impressed or affected by this type of story. I expected revenge, but that’s not what I got.
I appreciate the positive messages hidden in this story and how it focuses on more than just a girl being bullied at school. What also makes it slightly different from other such books is that it shows how revenge can sometimes backfire and that it might not always be the best solution. Still, I wanted Celia to get even with Sandy and Mandy (original names for two bullies, right?), because I felt they deserved it. Yet, it seemed that The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door should’ve more aptly been titled, The Angst-ridden Coming-Out of Celia’s Gay Best Friend and His Obsession with a Certain Self-help Book.
Oh, alright, that might be a little harsh, but honestly guys, I’m rather disappointed that the title is somewhat misleading.
Speaking of gay besties coming out…I was not impressed by all the drama surrounding Drake falling in love with Japhy. (Japhy???? Who names a character… Never mind). It was just too much. Drake was constantly fretting about Japhy not coming out the same time he did, and whether Japhy has the same feelings for him, and, and, and… It was all he could talk about THE. ENTIRE. TIME! He carried on worse than a hormonal love-struck girl! So, that’s all I have to say about that.
Apart from love-sick Drake, the rest of the story was okay. I like how things got resolved at the end between Celia and her mother, and that everything wasn’t too much of a happy ending. I don’t care for poetry at all, but I did enjoy Celia’s poetry entries into her journal. It gives the reader a deeper insight into her thoughts and feelings. Many times I felt sorry for her; especially when it came to light about “the book” that nearly destroyed her life. But like they say: all’s well that ends well.
My final thoughts are that it’s a good book if you haven’t read many such books before. Otherwise, it doesn’t really offer anything new, and I was glad when it was over and I could move on to a different book that would hopefully be more engaging.
I appreciate the positive messages hidden in this story and how it focuses on more than just a girl being bullied at school. What also makes it slightly different from other such books is that it shows how revenge can sometimes backfire and that it might not always be the best solution. Still, I wanted Celia to get even with Sandy and Mandy (original names for two bullies, right?), because I felt they deserved it. Yet, it seemed that The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door should’ve more aptly been titled, The Angst-ridden Coming-Out of Celia’s Gay Best Friend and His Obsession with a Certain Self-help Book.
Oh, alright, that might be a little harsh, but honestly guys, I’m rather disappointed that the title is somewhat misleading.
Speaking of gay besties coming out…I was not impressed by all the drama surrounding Drake falling in love with Japhy. (Japhy???? Who names a character… Never mind). It was just too much. Drake was constantly fretting about Japhy not coming out the same time he did, and whether Japhy has the same feelings for him, and, and, and… It was all he could talk about THE. ENTIRE. TIME! He carried on worse than a hormonal love-struck girl! So, that’s all I have to say about that.
Apart from love-sick Drake, the rest of the story was okay. I like how things got resolved at the end between Celia and her mother, and that everything wasn’t too much of a happy ending. I don’t care for poetry at all, but I did enjoy Celia’s poetry entries into her journal. It gives the reader a deeper insight into her thoughts and feelings. Many times I felt sorry for her; especially when it came to light about “the book” that nearly destroyed her life. But like they say: all’s well that ends well.
My final thoughts are that it’s a good book if you haven’t read many such books before. Otherwise, it doesn’t really offer anything new, and I was glad when it was over and I could move on to a different book that would hopefully be more engaging.
April 9, 2013
3.5 Stars
Anyone who reads YA on a regular basis has come across a myriad of books that confront the issue of bullying. When I first picked up this galley, I didn't know that Celia Door's story fell into that category. While it does confront that issue, it ended up being about much more. Celia was immediately endeared to me with her determination to form a protective outer shell that consisted of a bad attitude and lots of goth make-up. Her obsession with revenge on the girl who made her school life living hell was the thing that kept her going. Things at home were falling apart and she felt alone, but she had this quest to get back at Sandy. It was an interesting approach because while you didn't really know what Sandy had done, you saw how deeply it hurt Celia and you saw its results in her revenge plotting. When she meets Drake, the focus of the story shifts somewhat and you see that now Celia is confronted with a decision: should revenge be her only focus or are there friendships that are worth more than that?
I thought that The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door was a very measured and realistic view of the type of bullying that most kids encounter. Many of the books I read deal with the worst case scenario; bullying that results in death or severe injury. While that does happen, I think that the majority of bullying is the more subtle kind that doesn't end up on the evening news. Drew was an excellent vehicle because he was a friend for Celia, yes, but he also represented a choice for her. When he becomes wrapped up in Celia's web of revenge it hurts Drew, too, and I loved the way it brought things into focus for Celia. Without giving too much away, the scene between Drew and his parents on the train was one of the most touching things I have ever read. My only disappointment was the ending, which seemed to morph into an after school special, which was kind of a disappointment. That should not discourage you from reading this. Overall, this book was full of heart with a story that will speak to many people.
Anyone who reads YA on a regular basis has come across a myriad of books that confront the issue of bullying. When I first picked up this galley, I didn't know that Celia Door's story fell into that category. While it does confront that issue, it ended up being about much more. Celia was immediately endeared to me with her determination to form a protective outer shell that consisted of a bad attitude and lots of goth make-up. Her obsession with revenge on the girl who made her school life living hell was the thing that kept her going. Things at home were falling apart and she felt alone, but she had this quest to get back at Sandy. It was an interesting approach because while you didn't really know what Sandy had done, you saw how deeply it hurt Celia and you saw its results in her revenge plotting. When she meets Drake, the focus of the story shifts somewhat and you see that now Celia is confronted with a decision: should revenge be her only focus or are there friendships that are worth more than that?
I thought that The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door was a very measured and realistic view of the type of bullying that most kids encounter. Many of the books I read deal with the worst case scenario; bullying that results in death or severe injury. While that does happen, I think that the majority of bullying is the more subtle kind that doesn't end up on the evening news. Drew was an excellent vehicle because he was a friend for Celia, yes, but he also represented a choice for her. When he becomes wrapped up in Celia's web of revenge it hurts Drew, too, and I loved the way it brought things into focus for Celia. Without giving too much away, the scene between Drew and his parents on the train was one of the most touching things I have ever read. My only disappointment was the ending, which seemed to morph into an after school special, which was kind of a disappointment. That should not discourage you from reading this. Overall, this book was full of heart with a story that will speak to many people.
May 19, 2013
Me ha agradado bastante este libro con rasgos tanto infantiles como juveniles. Tenemos dos personajes de 14 años que representan las características de esa etapa de inicios de la adolescencia y que abordan entre los dos temas muy importantes, escuela, amigos, bullying, preferencias sexuales, problemas familiares... en serio, de todo.
En la historia conocemos a Celia, que no la ha pasado nada bien, ni en la escuela ni en casa y está considerando tomar venganza de la persona que le causó problemas, es su salida fácil, a lo que dedica sus días mientras está en el colegio y lo que de cierta forma le ayuda a salir adelante. Sus planes se ven afectados cuando llega Drake, un chico que ve todo su potencial y decide ser su amigo. Para ella llega como caído del cielo y por momentos llega a distraerla de sus fines, pero él tendrá sus propios conflictos para superar.
Ambos trabajan juntos en sus respectivos sueños, mientras las cosas a su alrededor no hacen más que complicarse... les toma tiempo pero aprenderán a confiar el uno en el otro y lograrán formar un equipo singlar y una muy bonita amistad. Quizá eso último suena empalagoso, pero dentro del libro no se ve así... sino que forma parte de una lección importante y dos personas encuentran justo el apoyo que necesitaban.
Me ha agradado mucho el libro, no pensé que fuera así, de hecho antes de leerlo no tenía idea de qué esperaba, solo tenía curiosidad porque había leído buenas reseñas. Creo que vale la pena leerlo, y es recomendadísimo para chicos que se encuentren en esa edad. Los protagonistas son muy simpáticos, solo hizo falta que me recordara un par de veces, cuando Celia me desesperaba, que tenía 14 años xD y listo, lo demás fue bien.
En la historia conocemos a Celia, que no la ha pasado nada bien, ni en la escuela ni en casa y está considerando tomar venganza de la persona que le causó problemas, es su salida fácil, a lo que dedica sus días mientras está en el colegio y lo que de cierta forma le ayuda a salir adelante. Sus planes se ven afectados cuando llega Drake, un chico que ve todo su potencial y decide ser su amigo. Para ella llega como caído del cielo y por momentos llega a distraerla de sus fines, pero él tendrá sus propios conflictos para superar.
Ambos trabajan juntos en sus respectivos sueños, mientras las cosas a su alrededor no hacen más que complicarse... les toma tiempo pero aprenderán a confiar el uno en el otro y lograrán formar un equipo singlar y una muy bonita amistad. Quizá eso último suena empalagoso, pero dentro del libro no se ve así... sino que forma parte de una lección importante y dos personas encuentran justo el apoyo que necesitaban.
Me ha agradado mucho el libro, no pensé que fuera así, de hecho antes de leerlo no tenía idea de qué esperaba, solo tenía curiosidad porque había leído buenas reseñas. Creo que vale la pena leerlo, y es recomendadísimo para chicos que se encuentren en esa edad. Los protagonistas son muy simpáticos, solo hizo falta que me recordara un par de veces, cuando Celia me desesperaba, que tenía 14 años xD y listo, lo demás fue bien.
September 7, 2016
In the realistic fiction book The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door by Karen Finneyfrock, which took place in Hershey Pennsylvania, The main character Celia Door seeks revenge on Sandy Firestone. In the book Sandy picks on Celia in middle school because Celia was an outsider, a loner in the eyes of mean middle school girls (Sandy and Mandy), so when Celia enters high school she has one thing set in her mind, revenge on Sandy Firestone. But in the book she soon meets Drake the cool new kid from New York and becomes good friends with him, Drake later shares his "deepest darkest secret" with Celia. Celia has to choose if her new found friendship with Drake is more important than revenge. What I liked most about the book was that it was formatted in first person, she was telling the story. I liked that because it made me feel as if I was in the book along side her. What I didn't like about the book was Sandys character and how they didn't show Sandys side, maybe the book would have had a different outcome. I would recommend this book to anyone to feels that they don't fit in. The book overall shocked me, I loved it There wasn't really anything that I didn't like about it besides Sandys character, but that's what made the book so good.
January 29, 2013
High school freshman Celia Door is Dark. She’s been Dark since middle school, when an incident instigated by mean girls Sandy and Mandy occurred. Celia guards herself with dark clothes, poetry, and a standoffish demeanor. But the thing is, she does care about how she’s treated. Sandy and Mandy continue to abuse her, and she wants revenge.
She plots and plots, but her plans for revenge don’t take off the way she wants them to. There’s a new boy at school, Drake, who’s absolutely cool and interested in her. He has a secret that Celia may compromise during her quest for revenge. Things snowball from bad to worse with the mean girls. Celia needs to extricate herself from her bad situations, and this time she won't be alone while doing so.
I loved the voice in this. Celia came across as both tough and vulnerable. The incidents of bullying and family problems were sad and realistic. Sandy and Mandy were nasty pieces of work and as the author revealed additional things about Celia’s past, my heart ached more for her. I received the galley from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.
She plots and plots, but her plans for revenge don’t take off the way she wants them to. There’s a new boy at school, Drake, who’s absolutely cool and interested in her. He has a secret that Celia may compromise during her quest for revenge. Things snowball from bad to worse with the mean girls. Celia needs to extricate herself from her bad situations, and this time she won't be alone while doing so.
I loved the voice in this. Celia came across as both tough and vulnerable. The incidents of bullying and family problems were sad and realistic. Sandy and Mandy were nasty pieces of work and as the author revealed additional things about Celia’s past, my heart ached more for her. I received the galley from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.
November 28, 2016
I can understand why Celia Door has received so many positive ratings, and praises from the likes of Sherman Alexie and Ruth Sepetys. The narrative bravely faces the cringe-inducing awkward and the seemingly insurmountable troubles of being 14. And it's done very well. For me, it was too well: I fully acknowledge Finneyfrock's skill in crafting such a spot-on fourteen year-old, full of flawed, overly emotional logic, angsty poetry, and everything else that is awful about being an early teen. But personally, as a reading experience, it was too much. Too much inward cringing. Too much wanting to bury my head under the covers for Celia's sake. Between how melodramatic Celia is, how self-absorbed Drake is, and how cruel so many others are - reading it made me way too uncomfortable.
So kudos to Karen Finneyfrock for writing a book that really makes the reader feel. It just made me feel TOO much.
So kudos to Karen Finneyfrock for writing a book that really makes the reader feel. It just made me feel TOO much.
Read
April 13, 2014Cuando Celia cumplió catorce años, decidió hacerse Dark. Eso no significa que empezase a vestirse de negro (aunque es cierto que es el color más habitual en su vestuario), sino que dejó de intentar agradar a la gente. Ahora, si en el instituto alguien se mete con ella, no se calla e intenta pasar desapercibida, sino que dice lo que realmente tiene ganas de contestar.
Antes de cumplir los catorce, sus padres se separaron y nadie le preguntó con cuál de los dos quería vivir. Solo tenía una amiga en el colegio, Ruth, pero los padres de Ruth decidieron que era mejor educarla en casa y que Celia no era una buena influencia. Y una de sus compañeras, Sandy, empezó a odiarla y a hacerle la vida imposible simplemente porque Celia era mejor en clase y no se dejaba intimidar.
Seguir leyendo: http://www.eltemplodelasmilpuertas.co...
Antes de cumplir los catorce, sus padres se separaron y nadie le preguntó con cuál de los dos quería vivir. Solo tenía una amiga en el colegio, Ruth, pero los padres de Ruth decidieron que era mejor educarla en casa y que Celia no era una buena influencia. Y una de sus compañeras, Sandy, empezó a odiarla y a hacerle la vida imposible simplemente porque Celia era mejor en clase y no se dejaba intimidar.
Seguir leyendo: http://www.eltemplodelasmilpuertas.co...
June 10, 2023
This book is incredibly beautiful... I did not expect it.
I started reading this book thinking it's dark and full of revenge, but it's about so much more.
It's easily one of the best books I've ever read and I highly recommend it to everyone! Especially if you're a teen and your life is a little bit shaky.
Karen Finneyfrock's writing is beautiful and sprinkled with poetry. I might've shed a few tears at times.
Completely loved it!! ❤️
I started reading this book thinking it's dark and full of revenge, but it's about so much more.
It's easily one of the best books I've ever read and I highly recommend it to everyone! Especially if you're a teen and your life is a little bit shaky.
Karen Finneyfrock's writing is beautiful and sprinkled with poetry. I might've shed a few tears at times.
Completely loved it!! ❤️
July 15, 2013
Read this in one sitting, at the beach, in moderate solitude, and found myself having flashbacks to my own high school years during this time. Celia Door, I would have been friends with both you and Drake! Having heard Karen Finneyfrock perform her poetry here in Seattle, I must admit I had high expectations for this book. Good thing I wasn't disappointed. Definitely age appropriate for teens, but relatable to the adult audience as well. Refreshing to find a young adult novel with no blatant supernatural filler to create the illusion of an engaging storyline.
September 29, 2013
Great story of friends, coming out and a library loving girl. Yes, Celia is a freshman who loves books and is awkward around people. Her best feature is her ability to stand up for what she believes in easily--that is so rare in YA books without a fight. Her issues are fitting in, which she may never do, and by the end of the book, everyone is ok with that.
April 10, 2013
Related so much to this book. Loved it. Definitely recommended to ANYONE who survived high school and being bullied and knew someone who needed help while they were getting bullied and teachers and students . . .
July 22, 2014
Fantastic - I'd read an entire series about Celia Door. Once I finished, I found myself dying to know what she'd be like later in high school.
November 2, 2015
Delightful engaging book. Many of the phrases are simply stunning.
July 2, 2022
I don't know if I'll give a major spoilers ahead warning, so read at your own risk ig.
I read this book last year...? Idk.
Anyways, I enjoyed it. It was a nice little read. The plot was well thought out and written. The characters except for one were actually really good. The character I didn't like was Drake, the emo boy. I loved him at first, but then the author ruined him by having him read a book called "Dream It! Do It!" and that was the end of the emo boy and start of the weird boy. Don't get me wrong, it was interesting to see the emo boy actually get some self-help but it was too weird for me 😂.
Also the author made the emo boy also gay and I liked that little twist. I haven't read a book where the bad/emo boy is gay and it was nice for a change (if anyone knows any books where the emo boy is gay hook me up).
But the only problem was that the story ended on a cliffhanger and I want to know what happens next? Does emo boy end up with his old best friend? There hasn't been a sequel so ig the author isn't planning to write one. I only cared about Drake more than I cared about Celia herself lmao.
Anyways I recommend this book to 8th graders since I feel like some of the content is toward that age group.
I read this book last year...? Idk.
Anyways, I enjoyed it. It was a nice little read. The plot was well thought out and written. The characters except for one were actually really good. The character I didn't like was Drake, the emo boy. I loved him at first, but then the author ruined him by having him read a book called "Dream It! Do It!" and that was the end of the emo boy and start of the weird boy. Don't get me wrong, it was interesting to see the emo boy actually get some self-help but it was too weird for me 😂.
Also the author made the emo boy also gay and I liked that little twist. I haven't read a book where the bad/emo boy is gay and it was nice for a change (if anyone knows any books where the emo boy is gay hook me up).
But the only problem was that the story ended on a cliffhanger and I want to know what happens next? Does emo boy end up with his old best friend? There hasn't been a sequel so ig the author isn't planning to write one. I only cared about Drake more than I cared about Celia herself lmao.
Anyways I recommend this book to 8th graders since I feel like some of the content is toward that age group.
February 25, 2018
Últimamente los libros juveniles que he leído han terminado decepcionandome terriblemente, por lo cuál decidí no crearme altas expectativas con La dulce venganza de Celia Door.
Esperaba una historia entretenida y nada más, pero me he llevado una gran sorpresa con este libro; prácticamente lo devoré en cuestión de horas.
Nunca ninguna historia me ha hecho revivir tan bien los sentimientos de la adolescencia; en verdad puede meterme en la piel de Celia y sentir tan vividamente sus experiencias. Celia y Drake podrán no ser los niños modelo, pero son jóvenes muy reales.
La dulce venganza de Celia Door no nos cuenta una historia de amor, no nos cuenta los pasados extremadamente tormentosos de sus protagonistas pero nos cuenta la historia de dos muchachos que aman y sufren como cualquier otro ser humano y a causa de otros, así como es que se apoyan mutuamente.
Un gran acierto de su escritora el no haber apostado por una historia juvenil estereotipica. En verdad que no alcanzó a expresar con palabras lo que he hizo sentir el libro.
Esperaba una historia entretenida y nada más, pero me he llevado una gran sorpresa con este libro; prácticamente lo devoré en cuestión de horas.
Nunca ninguna historia me ha hecho revivir tan bien los sentimientos de la adolescencia; en verdad puede meterme en la piel de Celia y sentir tan vividamente sus experiencias. Celia y Drake podrán no ser los niños modelo, pero son jóvenes muy reales.
La dulce venganza de Celia Door no nos cuenta una historia de amor, no nos cuenta los pasados extremadamente tormentosos de sus protagonistas pero nos cuenta la historia de dos muchachos que aman y sufren como cualquier otro ser humano y a causa de otros, así como es que se apoyan mutuamente.
Un gran acierto de su escritora el no haber apostado por una historia juvenil estereotipica. En verdad que no alcanzó a expresar con palabras lo que he hizo sentir el libro.
April 13, 2018
I had enjoyed "The Sweet revenge of Celia Door." This was a coming of age novel about a young girl struggling to find out were she is suppose to fit in. Celia is fourteen years old with newly split parents and just entering high school. Celia does not have any friends as she struggles to fit in with the other kids, that is until this new boy comes to town. Drake is from New York and right away takes a liking to Celia even though people tell her to stay away. Celia is struggling with fitting in as the year previously she had become a social outcast from Sandy and Mandy. Celia had gotten so wrapped up in trying to seek revenge upon them and trying to handle the divorce of her parents.
I like this book because it shows the struggles of growing up and trying to fit in but also not caring. Celia wants to fit in but she gave up on trying after Sandy and Mandy did to her. I liked this book as the characters were well likable and not only showed how Celia was struggling but also how everyone she interacts with as well through her eyes.
I like this book because it shows the struggles of growing up and trying to fit in but also not caring. Celia wants to fit in but she gave up on trying after Sandy and Mandy did to her. I liked this book as the characters were well likable and not only showed how Celia was struggling but also how everyone she interacts with as well through her eyes.
January 29, 2019
I rate "The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door" a little less than 4 stars but overall it's a very interesting book. I love how the author weaves in her love for poem into this book while keeping a good storyline. Another thing I really love is how she doesn't reveal what happened in the past, but gave hints along the way, until the end. Which can also be shown in books like One of Us Is Lying, another book that I really love as well. Sometimes, I found it hard to relate to the characters, more specifically Drake, not because of him being gay but because of how he was too obsessed with his dream that he was wayyyyyy too optimistic. The only reason I think it was hard is because I've never met anyone with the same personality as him. Overall I'd recommend this book to anyone, honestly, because it addressed a lot of issues and the plot isn't too complicated.
June 18, 2017
This book is about a girl named Celia who has been an outcast at school ever since her enemy, Sandy, made a book listing all of Celia's flaws. As the new school year starts, Celia plots to get revenge. She becomes friends with Drake, the new boy who tells Celia one of his biggest secrets: he's gay. Through drake, Celia learns a lot of valuable life lessons, and Sandy ends up getting what she deserves.
In my opinion, this wasn't that good of a book because it got really boring and I found my mind drifting away many times while reading it.
In my opinion, this wasn't that good of a book because it got really boring and I found my mind drifting away many times while reading it.
February 23, 2018
Der locker leichte Schreibstil, sorgt dafür dass man gerade zu durch die Seiten fliegt. Die Story ist okay. Ich hätte mir mehr von Clock gewünscht. Was ich aber ziemlich seltsam finde und was ich die ganze Zeit im Hinterkopf hatte: Celia und Drake kennen sich gerade mal zwei Tage und kletten sich schon so aneinander? Sie wird eifersüchtig, wenn er von anderen Freunden spricht und er erzählt ihr, was er noch niemandem erzählt hat - und das schon am zweiten Tag?! Das Ende hat mich unangenehm in der Luft hängen lassen...
April 20, 2019
Read as part of the PopSugar Reading Challenge 2019, to fill A book with a title that contains "salty", "sweet", "bitter", or "spicy".
I liked this book, but as someone who is no longer fourteen, reading this gives a lot of feelings of oh god, how I do not miss being fourteen.
The fact that 75% of the story is spoiled on the blurb is a definite downside, but it was fine as a whole. LGBTQ+ issues were handled pretty well although I don't how how realistic the queer portrayal was. Not massively realistic to my own personal experience, but ah well. People are different.
I liked this book, but as someone who is no longer fourteen, reading this gives a lot of feelings of oh god, how I do not miss being fourteen.
The fact that 75% of the story is spoiled on the blurb is a definite downside, but it was fine as a whole. LGBTQ+ issues were handled pretty well although I don't how how realistic the queer portrayal was. Not massively realistic to my own personal experience, but ah well. People are different.
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