But What about Me?

Hamilton High #5

by Marilyn Reynolds

Erica has always been a serious student but when her boyfriend's life starts spinning out of control, she does not anticipate the tragic consequences his behavior could have on her future. This story of young love gently interweaves several topics such as keeping parents aware of sexual relationships, the trauma of rape, the stress of college applications, and the threat of AIDS.

Genres: Realistic Fiction

206 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1996

Reviews

[Les · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of a number of "Hamilton High" novels, sort of a teenage version of After School Specials on everything from teen pregnancy to coming out of the closet to being molested by the father of the children you're babysitting. This novel deals with standing up for yourself and the impact of substance abuse. It was written in 1996 so in some ways it is dated (such as the reference to Barney) but the basic premise is still valid.

Erica is a high school senior who wants to be a vet, so she volunteers at a local clinic. Her dad is stationed in Germany so it is just her mom and younger sister at home. She has been dating Danny for a while. Unfortunately his mother is killed in an accident and Danny falls apart. He drops out of school, starts drinking and dealing drugs, and is eventually kicked out of his house by his dad.

Erica remains with him, constantly excusing his behavior because he's still in mourning. This means that she constantly gives in and does what he wants to do, which typically for him means him getting drunk and having sex. She hides condoms and spermicidal foam in her closet (which her grandmother finds) because he insists on climbing through her window at night. Despite her grades falling and the strain on her relationship with her parents and friends she doesn't tell him no.

Finally things implode on Christmas when she goes to pick him up at the drug house he's sharing with his buddies. He's coming to Christmas dinner and supposed to be sober because her dad is home. Instead when she gets there she is raped by one of the roommates because Danny is too drunk to know what's happening or intervene. So she gets to spend Christmas at the hospital followed by the police station.

She retreats into her room and bunkers down. Her parents didn't like Danny anyway so they cut him off when he tries to contact her. He finally talks her sister into delivering a note from him. When she reads it, she realizes it is all about him: he's dumb enough to say "I feel so awful about what happened, but that's over now" and he's missing her so he wants to come through her window for sex (he promises he'll be quiet so her dad won't hear. What a prince!). No admission of responsibility, no acknowledgement of her suffering. This finally makes her realize that everything has always been on his terms and that is changing now. It is finally time for her to say "But what about me?"

[Nou · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really interesting because it starts off like most young teenagers' relationships nowadays. They fall in love and sometimes lose themselves in the process of loving one "too much", but sees their worth after the toxic situations they have already put themselves in. It is a book that opens up a young mind to see that focusing on yourself is much better than always trying to help someone else who only makes you fall back lower from your goals and dreams. You must love yourself first to be able to love someone else.

[Amy Perrault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shows how good boys can turn bad & hard to go back. Also girls getting raped

[Wan Yu( Stephanie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erica had a boy friend called Danny, the one who always care about himself but not Erica. Anyway, Erica put everything included hopes on him. The more love she put, the more she losed about herself. Finally, she got raped by Danny's friend, Joey. Finally, Erica wondering:" BUT WHAT ABOUT ME?" I think this book is a powerful book I had ever read. Love a person can be fantastic, but sometimes love a person who doesn't belong to you is even worst. Caring about him, loving about him, everything about him. but what about you? Did you get anything? The answer is no. Do you really like giving without receieving? I dont' thinnk so. I think everyone might want to get something when you were trying at something. Love a wrong person can be destroy your heart and also your life. When we are TALKING about how to love someone, that's easy; But when you are STARTING to love someone, that can be the harder the thing in the world. So I think instead of pouring your heart into someone's heart, just keep your heart to your own!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erica and Danny have been an item for months and they are very much in love, at least that's what Erica thinks. She is balancing a job at the Humane Society, college prep courses and her romance, but things start to slide for her when Danny's life gets chaotic. First, his mother dies and he drops out of school. Then he starts fighting with his dad and moves in with his friend Alex ... the party house. Then, when Alex's trouble-making brother Joey gets released from jail, Danny becomes even more distracted. Each time Erica tries to be supportive to the exclusion of her own needs. But when it's Danny's turn to help Erica, he's too drunk to notice that Joey is raping her, she decides it's time that she starts taking care of herself.

[Xiao Wen · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many different kinds of people in the world, some of the people are selfish, and some of them are selfless. In the book, Erica is selfless, she can do anything to help her boyfriend Danny, and she can do whatever Danny wants her to do. In the world today, the selfless people are less and less because they may ask "But What About Me?" sometimes. However, for the totally selfless people, how many of them are caring themselves? For this book, if Erica did not ask "But What About Me?", the story will be end in a totally different way.

[Linda *Rapunzel* · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book shows the truth. A relationship where one person is caught up in the life of the other. A relationship where a young teen thinks she's in love. The only problem is people quickly think they are in love with each other. turth is 95% percent of those young couples don't last forever. "But What About Me?" reminds youg girls what a REAL relationship is and not just what a young girl thinks. Yes the feelings may think your in love, but always remember use your head!

[Pedro · Rating 5 out of 5]

the book was awesome....
i loved the action.. and it just left me in awe.

[The Third Place A Teen Library]

F REY hh bk.4

[Branyai Cloud]

But What About Me, by Marilyn Reynolds is a very tearful book. It shows how you could pour your heart out into helping someone but they still let you down. The book teaches you that sometimes you just have to let people go; no matter what the situation is you cannot let someone else bring you down, or define your happiness. If you are into life lessons, or romance books; then you would love to own have your very own copy of this one.
A teenager by the name of Erica Arrendondo lives with her mother, and sister Rocky while her dad is working overseas. Erica has a boyfriend by the name of Danny Lara; he does everything to help him out with recovering from his mothers’ death, but she fails. Danny was not a very good boyfriend for Erica, you could never imagine someone like her dating a guy like Danny. Danny made very silly mistakes after his mom died, and Erica hated it. On page 8, she stated “Danny’s change a lot since the accident”. His mistakes were beginning to become worse every day, but that never stopped Erica from loving Danny.
Danny drunk alcohol like it was water! His dad kicked him out of the house when his mom died; it’s like he had nobody but Erica, but one day that all completely changed. It was the night before Christmas, and Danny, her friend April, and her sister Rocky went out to pick up Danny. Danny was at his friend Joeys’ house putting up Christmas lights. When they arrived to pick him up he was not ready; so April and Rocky left Erica and went to pick up some things for Erica’s mom, and this is when things went crazy! Erica began yelling, “What are you doing, stop”, “Get away from me, Get off”. Erica had been raped, but I will not tell you who it was.
In conclusion, the book is outrageously incredible. Although it’s sad it really shows how crazy things could get in a matter of seconds. It kind of made me tear up a little because I can only imagine how the author felt throughout writing this book. It’s very romantic in the beginning, but later on shows you the outcome of people. I totally recommend you to buy this book, you will not regret it.