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Santa;
Spanning the course of several weeks, Santa; details the physical and emotional deterioration of June, a victim of severe bullying after she survives an attack by her classmates. With no one and nothing to trust but faith, she struggles with the idea that the human spirit may not exist.
* Ten percent of the sales of this book will be donated to Project Semicolon, an organization providing love and support to those who are struggling with depression, self-injury, and suicide. Visit them online at www.projectsemicolon.org.
* Ten percent of the sales of this book will be donated to Project Semicolon, an organization providing love and support to those who are struggling with depression, self-injury, and suicide. Visit them online at www.projectsemicolon.org.
- GenresYoung Adult
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 14, 2015
1 person is currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
Nicola Mar
6 books50 followersNicola Mar was raised on the island of St. Maarten, where her first short story was published at age seven. She is currently the author of five books, including three poetry collections, and several short stories.
Nicola resides in downtown New York City with her family.
CONNECT WITH NICOLA:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/nicolamar
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolamar
Instagram: http://instagram.com/nicolamar
Nicola resides in downtown New York City with her family.
CONNECT WITH NICOLA:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/nicolamar
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicolamar
Instagram: http://instagram.com/nicolamar
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 9, 2015
The first half of this book was heartbreaking. I couldn't believe what June was going through and how some students can be so cruel. If this book wasn't inspired by real events, I would have wondered if this really happens to teenagers today. I guess I am not in touch with this crowd because my daughter is very young. Reading this novel was really an eye opener for me, and I think that's why the author probably wrote it. It couldn't have been easy to write about this subject.
I was engaged with the book the entire time and read it within a few days. I liked that her dreams brought her hope and there was a resolution at the end. I know not all teenagers get through this type of bullying, and I really hope there will be more awareness around this topic in the coming years.
I appreciated the stats at the beginning. I think a lot of us don't realize just how serious this issue has become with cyber bullying.
I was engaged with the book the entire time and read it within a few days. I liked that her dreams brought her hope and there was a resolution at the end. I know not all teenagers get through this type of bullying, and I really hope there will be more awareness around this topic in the coming years.
I appreciated the stats at the beginning. I think a lot of us don't realize just how serious this issue has become with cyber bullying.
October 17, 2015
I can't believe how pathetically lame and predictable this book is.
First, June is bullied because she is size 8. On what planet is this book set? Is this a town full of people size 0-2 only? Size 8, people; this author thinks being size 8 is fat... moving on.
The captain of the football team and his friends are jerk. Has it ever been any other way in YA? Apparently, cute, nice, and popular don't belong together.
As customary in YA #1, June goes to a party that nobody invited her to, and... (insert music here) gets drunk. Oh yes, fat, ugly chick always get drunk when at uninvited parties.
As customary in YA #2, June gets raped. And then we have the momentary "was it rape? Because I really didn't fight it" bullshit of always. Don't worry, eventually June will make up her mind and call it rape.
Ohhh! But amidst the tragedy that June is living, there is a boy that right when June's naked pictures are posted online comes forward and confesses that he likes her. And what does June do? His prince, this guy John, is there to save me! Finally someone who cares for me. BUT, how long has it been since the rape? I week, I gathered, and June goes to John's house to have sex with him. Well, I'd call that a quick recovery.
But alas!, John is not what he seemed... boomer. Just when I thought June was going to be happily ever after.
So EVERYBODY in June's school, and I mean EVERYBODY seems to hate June (because she is size 8?). Everybody calls her names and makes fun of her and her naked pictures. So, what is poor June to do? Kill herself, of course. But since everything in June's life has to go wrong, she doesn't even do that right.
So we have June back in the land of the living living her pathetic live. Desperate much? Hmmm, I wonder where were the adults in the school when all this was happening. Counseling, teachers, etc. Nope, not in this book.
The author portrays a June so miserable that it was just impossible for me to like her. Some people will eat this right up, I'm sure.
Oh! Of course June has a best friend who is the epitome of beauty. "Why is she my friend? What does she see in me?" wonders poor June.
June also has some lame dreams with an angel (or Santa) and she being someone else that... wow! Poor imagination here.
At the end, nothing changes in June's life but she recovers and learns to be happy with exactly the same house (everybody's house was prettier than June's), best friend, mother, and body she had at the beginning of the story.
Finally, in an attempt to sell this book, the author is donating 10% of the sales to Project Semicolon, an organization providing love and support to those who are struggling with depression, self-injury, and suicide.
The author was trying to rise awareness about bullying and its consequences (suicide). In my opinion, you do not fight bullying by writing about depressed characters that try to kill themselves. So, like in every other YA, being fat or ugly is the basis for bullying? What about you give me normal people that are bullied just because?
Authors, please provide a story where school leaders and the community are actually involved trying to fight bullying. ONE character alone cannot stop being bullied. Writing about fat characters that are bullied and kill themselves is not going to stop bullying. What do you think, that a bully is going to read the story and say 'oh! this could be me causing somebody to kill themselves. I'm gonna stop now."
What the f*%(%, maybe I should write a damn realistic book about bullying myself.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this title.
First, June is bullied because she is size 8. On what planet is this book set? Is this a town full of people size 0-2 only? Size 8, people; this author thinks being size 8 is fat... moving on.
The captain of the football team and his friends are jerk. Has it ever been any other way in YA? Apparently, cute, nice, and popular don't belong together.
As customary in YA #1, June goes to a party that nobody invited her to, and... (insert music here) gets drunk. Oh yes, fat, ugly chick always get drunk when at uninvited parties.
As customary in YA #2, June gets raped. And then we have the momentary "was it rape? Because I really didn't fight it" bullshit of always. Don't worry, eventually June will make up her mind and call it rape.
Ohhh! But amidst the tragedy that June is living, there is a boy that right when June's naked pictures are posted online comes forward and confesses that he likes her. And what does June do? His prince, this guy John, is there to save me! Finally someone who cares for me. BUT, how long has it been since the rape? I week, I gathered, and June goes to John's house to have sex with him. Well, I'd call that a quick recovery.
But alas!, John is not what he seemed... boomer. Just when I thought June was going to be happily ever after.
So EVERYBODY in June's school, and I mean EVERYBODY seems to hate June (because she is size 8?). Everybody calls her names and makes fun of her and her naked pictures. So, what is poor June to do? Kill herself, of course. But since everything in June's life has to go wrong, she doesn't even do that right.
So we have June back in the land of the living living her pathetic live. Desperate much? Hmmm, I wonder where were the adults in the school when all this was happening. Counseling, teachers, etc. Nope, not in this book.
The author portrays a June so miserable that it was just impossible for me to like her. Some people will eat this right up, I'm sure.
Oh! Of course June has a best friend who is the epitome of beauty. "Why is she my friend? What does she see in me?" wonders poor June.
June also has some lame dreams with an angel (or Santa) and she being someone else that... wow! Poor imagination here.
At the end, nothing changes in June's life but she recovers and learns to be happy with exactly the same house (everybody's house was prettier than June's), best friend, mother, and body she had at the beginning of the story.
Finally, in an attempt to sell this book, the author is donating 10% of the sales to Project Semicolon, an organization providing love and support to those who are struggling with depression, self-injury, and suicide.
The author was trying to rise awareness about bullying and its consequences (suicide). In my opinion, you do not fight bullying by writing about depressed characters that try to kill themselves. So, like in every other YA, being fat or ugly is the basis for bullying? What about you give me normal people that are bullied just because?
Authors, please provide a story where school leaders and the community are actually involved trying to fight bullying. ONE character alone cannot stop being bullied. Writing about fat characters that are bullied and kill themselves is not going to stop bullying. What do you think, that a bully is going to read the story and say 'oh! this could be me causing somebody to kill themselves. I'm gonna stop now."
What the f*%(%, maybe I should write a damn realistic book about bullying myself.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this title.
September 23, 2015
Read this review and more on my blog, The Reality of Books! https://therealityofbooks.wordpress.com
So. Santa; by Nicola Mar. What can I say about this book?
For starters, the semicolon in the title is totally intentional; it’s a nod to Project Semicolon, which is a nonprofit organization that seeks to give hope and love to people who struggle with depression, self-injury, and suicide. Read more about them here: http://www.projectsemicolon.org
I guess that paragraph pretty much sums up what this book is about.
June survives a horrible attack at the hands of her classmates, and then becomes the victim of severe bullying. Her classmates needle her to the point of her considering suicide. June completely loses faith in the human spirit, which is when Santa appears—her guardian angel of sorts. Santa brings June a message of hope, but is June willing to listen?
I liked this book so much that I read it in less than a day while riding back and forth on NYC transit for work. I’m not sure why it hasn’t gotten more notice. It’s wonderfully written and arguably one of the most powerful messages I’ve seen delivered in a YA book to date. June and her story are incredibly relatable. I love the deep point of view moments, which make up a large portion of the book, and how much they allow us to really feel June’s emotions and pain. I love the backstory behind June’s family (though, as you’ll read later, I don’t care for the end). I love June, plain and simple, and because I loved her, I rooted for her. She is a fantastically created character. I also really enjoyed Alice, who I also found to be quite realistic. She continually tried to support June, and eventually became frustrated like any teen would and began to drift away slightly. The characters were all very well done.
The story in this is also well crafted. The message is so powerful, that the victims of bullying do nothing to deserve it, that this could be given to every teen as a required read. It made me cry at many points in the first two thirds, it was that well done.
But. BUT.
Here’s my beef with this book. My only beef, but it’s a huge one, and the reason for the lower rating on what easily could have been a five star. The last third of this book turns into a literal cheese fest. A big, fat, festival of cheese. I’m staying spoiler free as always, but the end in particular was like the cushy part in the middle of the cheese ball. Things wrapped up much too quickly, much too perfectly, and much too … I’ll say it again … cheesily. For a book that was so true to the detrimental effects of bullying, this last third was just really, really hard to swallow. Everything else was so realistic, and then … BAM. I get that the book is faith-based, and I’m cool with that. But even still, life does not work up perfectly this way, with every single detail perfectly stitched up like a scripted television show. People do not just get OVER trauma. Eventually, yes. Immediately? No. This really took away from the rest of the book for me, and had I not been so invested due to the WONDERFUL first two thirds of the book, it’s entirely possible I would have put it down.
I admire Mar’s effort with this one, but it starts out strongly and fizzles out with a layer of cheese that even this former Wisconsinite can’t appreciate. 3 stars.
**I received Santa; by Nicola Mar as a DRC from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Santa; was published September 15th, 2015, by FoxDay.
So. Santa; by Nicola Mar. What can I say about this book?
For starters, the semicolon in the title is totally intentional; it’s a nod to Project Semicolon, which is a nonprofit organization that seeks to give hope and love to people who struggle with depression, self-injury, and suicide. Read more about them here: http://www.projectsemicolon.org
I guess that paragraph pretty much sums up what this book is about.
June survives a horrible attack at the hands of her classmates, and then becomes the victim of severe bullying. Her classmates needle her to the point of her considering suicide. June completely loses faith in the human spirit, which is when Santa appears—her guardian angel of sorts. Santa brings June a message of hope, but is June willing to listen?
I liked this book so much that I read it in less than a day while riding back and forth on NYC transit for work. I’m not sure why it hasn’t gotten more notice. It’s wonderfully written and arguably one of the most powerful messages I’ve seen delivered in a YA book to date. June and her story are incredibly relatable. I love the deep point of view moments, which make up a large portion of the book, and how much they allow us to really feel June’s emotions and pain. I love the backstory behind June’s family (though, as you’ll read later, I don’t care for the end). I love June, plain and simple, and because I loved her, I rooted for her. She is a fantastically created character. I also really enjoyed Alice, who I also found to be quite realistic. She continually tried to support June, and eventually became frustrated like any teen would and began to drift away slightly. The characters were all very well done.
The story in this is also well crafted. The message is so powerful, that the victims of bullying do nothing to deserve it, that this could be given to every teen as a required read. It made me cry at many points in the first two thirds, it was that well done.
But. BUT.
Here’s my beef with this book. My only beef, but it’s a huge one, and the reason for the lower rating on what easily could have been a five star. The last third of this book turns into a literal cheese fest. A big, fat, festival of cheese. I’m staying spoiler free as always, but the end in particular was like the cushy part in the middle of the cheese ball. Things wrapped up much too quickly, much too perfectly, and much too … I’ll say it again … cheesily. For a book that was so true to the detrimental effects of bullying, this last third was just really, really hard to swallow. Everything else was so realistic, and then … BAM. I get that the book is faith-based, and I’m cool with that. But even still, life does not work up perfectly this way, with every single detail perfectly stitched up like a scripted television show. People do not just get OVER trauma. Eventually, yes. Immediately? No. This really took away from the rest of the book for me, and had I not been so invested due to the WONDERFUL first two thirds of the book, it’s entirely possible I would have put it down.
I admire Mar’s effort with this one, but it starts out strongly and fizzles out with a layer of cheese that even this former Wisconsinite can’t appreciate. 3 stars.
**I received Santa; by Nicola Mar as a DRC from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Santa; was published September 15th, 2015, by FoxDay.
September 29, 2015
This is the first book of many that I will review. Here is my website: https://majestyreviewblog.wordpress.com/
*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Santa is a novel about a young woman in high school who was suffering from severe bullying. Not only do horrible, physical things happen to her during a party that she was not invited to (because she’s not “hot”), but things about her are posted online.
I was first drawn to this book because of the cover. My first thought was that it was going to be a badass horror book about Santa. Well, I wasn’t wrong about the horror part. The FIRST CHAPTER of the book had me cringing, and it was hard to keep reading because of how terrible the situation was. I even read a couple passages to my friend, and even she started to cringe.
This is your average book about bullying, depression, and suicide, but these types of topics hit me really hard in the heart because of how well I can relate to most of them.
There were a few parts in the book that made me tear up, but I never cried. I was face-palming a lot because of the main character’s best friend. June, the main character, basically told Alice, the best friend, THAT SHE WAS FREAKING RAPED. It wasn’t worded like that, but I mean…come on. And it takes Alice a while to put two and two together.
One part that REALLY irritated me about the book was when June got her tattoo. She literally walked in, got it, and then left.
Woah woah woah…what?
Yes. No fake I.D or anything. At least not to my knowledge, but I am pretty sure goody two-shoes June wouldn’t have a fake I.D.
The ending.
I’ll hold back from spoiling the ending, but let me just tell you…it came and went like *snaps fingers* THAT. I was like, “Wait…that was it? What the f-”
And it ended all…mushy and cheesy. It didn’t seem like an appropriate fit for the rest of the novel, and it made the book lose the connection that I had with it.
I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. If a few things were tweaked, and if the ending wasn’t all…cheesy…I would give it 4 stars. The other star is lacking because I’ve watched quite a few movies and heard a few stories with the same plot as this. A big twist or something that hasn’t really been a norm for this type of novel would have been a nice breath of fresh air.
*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Santa is a novel about a young woman in high school who was suffering from severe bullying. Not only do horrible, physical things happen to her during a party that she was not invited to (because she’s not “hot”), but things about her are posted online.
I was first drawn to this book because of the cover. My first thought was that it was going to be a badass horror book about Santa. Well, I wasn’t wrong about the horror part. The FIRST CHAPTER of the book had me cringing, and it was hard to keep reading because of how terrible the situation was. I even read a couple passages to my friend, and even she started to cringe.
This is your average book about bullying, depression, and suicide, but these types of topics hit me really hard in the heart because of how well I can relate to most of them.
There were a few parts in the book that made me tear up, but I never cried. I was face-palming a lot because of the main character’s best friend. June, the main character, basically told Alice, the best friend, THAT SHE WAS FREAKING RAPED. It wasn’t worded like that, but I mean…come on. And it takes Alice a while to put two and two together.
One part that REALLY irritated me about the book was when June got her tattoo. She literally walked in, got it, and then left.
Woah woah woah…what?
Yes. No fake I.D or anything. At least not to my knowledge, but I am pretty sure goody two-shoes June wouldn’t have a fake I.D.
The ending.
I’ll hold back from spoiling the ending, but let me just tell you…it came and went like *snaps fingers* THAT. I was like, “Wait…that was it? What the f-”
And it ended all…mushy and cheesy. It didn’t seem like an appropriate fit for the rest of the novel, and it made the book lose the connection that I had with it.
I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. If a few things were tweaked, and if the ending wasn’t all…cheesy…I would give it 4 stars. The other star is lacking because I’ve watched quite a few movies and heard a few stories with the same plot as this. A big twist or something that hasn’t really been a norm for this type of novel would have been a nice breath of fresh air.
April 20, 2018
We all know kids can be cruel & while this book is about bullying it's much more than that.
June is a high school student. She's a little chubbier & plainer looking than her bestie and because of that deals with the name calling and such from the other kids in school. Due to the friendship however, she goes beyond her boundaries and attends a party where there is drinking. June is left on her own as her friend disappears and finds herself very drunk. Being that she snuck out of the house and had been warned of such things by her mom, she's afraid to call her and she can't find her friend so she falls asleep in a bathroom.
What happens next is the nightmare that she deals with for the rest of the book. Here is where we have much more than the simple name calling that happened earlier in the evening. However that same person who called her the name is now the perpetrator of much worse, along with a handful of his buddies.
June makes it home after being used and abused. She showers, hides evidence, and tries to cope with what she's been through. Now as she begins going back to school she deals with her view on what has happened and tries to find a way to work through it all, without telling anyone. June does eventually open up to her friend, who at first seems very concerned but then, like June, finds ways to just make it seem ok.
The more constant bullying soon begins with the abuser blackmailing & shaming June for what occurred. The tale of what happened eventually gets out to the school, which makes matters worse for her, and life becomes too much for her to deal with any longer.
The story is told from June's point of view so as I read it I had to keep reminding myself that sure I'd do things differently but I've also lived through those teen years. I'm an adult now & view things differently but back then, I could see why she handles things the way she does. Even as an adult, there is a need to hide some of what the poor girl went through, just for your own peace of mind. It takes a while to get there & once it does it moves quickly, but there is a resolution that is good.
I received an ARC, from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
June is a high school student. She's a little chubbier & plainer looking than her bestie and because of that deals with the name calling and such from the other kids in school. Due to the friendship however, she goes beyond her boundaries and attends a party where there is drinking. June is left on her own as her friend disappears and finds herself very drunk. Being that she snuck out of the house and had been warned of such things by her mom, she's afraid to call her and she can't find her friend so she falls asleep in a bathroom.
What happens next is the nightmare that she deals with for the rest of the book. Here is where we have much more than the simple name calling that happened earlier in the evening. However that same person who called her the name is now the perpetrator of much worse, along with a handful of his buddies.
June makes it home after being used and abused. She showers, hides evidence, and tries to cope with what she's been through. Now as she begins going back to school she deals with her view on what has happened and tries to find a way to work through it all, without telling anyone. June does eventually open up to her friend, who at first seems very concerned but then, like June, finds ways to just make it seem ok.
The more constant bullying soon begins with the abuser blackmailing & shaming June for what occurred. The tale of what happened eventually gets out to the school, which makes matters worse for her, and life becomes too much for her to deal with any longer.
The story is told from June's point of view so as I read it I had to keep reminding myself that sure I'd do things differently but I've also lived through those teen years. I'm an adult now & view things differently but back then, I could see why she handles things the way she does. Even as an adult, there is a need to hide some of what the poor girl went through, just for your own peace of mind. It takes a while to get there & once it does it moves quickly, but there is a resolution that is good.
I received an ARC, from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
October 9, 2015
Firstly, I would like to thank Nicola Mar and her publisher for kindly providing me a physical copy of this book, I really appreciate it. Going into Santa;, I didn't know what to really expect; all I knew was that it was about bullying. So I was quite surprised to also find that rape also plays a big part in this book. I think my main problem was that I felt that Santa; wasn't very different or original to the ample amount of other books out there that also deal with heavy topics, such as bullying and rape. Unfortunately, I didn't feel that it offered anything new (for me at least). However, I really liked the authors easy-to-read writing style: it makes the story quite addictive.
I know it's a short book, but I would have preferred it if some of the characters where were more well-developed, such as Alice and John. I found the whole situation with John predictable, and I would have preferred it if the story revolved around Alice helping June more, and maybe instead of June being dumped with problems after problems, there was a bit more emphasis on the characters and their motives.
I also feel that the whole Ginger thing wasn't necessary, but I can understand why the author would choose this, as many teenagers are insecure of their physical appearance. But I didn't really like how June constantly asked herself "what would Ginger do?" because it seemed like Ginger was only an "ideal" girl, because of her physical appearance, as we didn't know much about her.
Overall, I didn't think Santa; was a bad book, but I had a few problems with it. Mar's writing style went along with the story really well, and I think that certain readers will enjoy this book more than I did.
I know it's a short book, but I would have preferred it if some of the characters where were more well-developed, such as Alice and John. I found the whole situation with John predictable, and I would have preferred it if the story revolved around Alice helping June more, and maybe instead of June being dumped with problems after problems, there was a bit more emphasis on the characters and their motives.
I also feel that the whole Ginger thing wasn't necessary, but I can understand why the author would choose this, as many teenagers are insecure of their physical appearance. But I didn't really like how June constantly asked herself "what would Ginger do?" because it seemed like Ginger was only an "ideal" girl, because of her physical appearance, as we didn't know much about her.
Overall, I didn't think Santa; was a bad book, but I had a few problems with it. Mar's writing style went along with the story really well, and I think that certain readers will enjoy this book more than I did.
December 13, 2015
Though this book is called Santa, it doesn't have to do with Christmas and unfortunately it isn't a cheery and happy story. I will pre-warn you readers , that if you find rape and bullying stories hard to stomach then this isn't the story for you. Santa brings us right into that sad world of what happens when a girl is raped and the guys are the rulers of the school and she becomes the girl who cried wolf. This story starts when two friends Alice and June head to a party . Alice is the pretty one and June is a little chubby but the nice and trusting girl , which is sad as you have to wonder if it was her naievty that made this worst. June has had a little too much to drink , so she heads to the bathroom to be sick . During this time , she is approached by Ryan and a couple of his football buddies - Ryan is the type of guy every guy worships and every girl wants to be with him. The popular jock. The thing though is sometimes these popular jocks have a dark side and Ryan is one of them as June is raped by not one but two of the guys and left lying on the floor . The next day, June is acting funny and goes to school and the whole school are talking about it as she was filmed and soon begins a descent of cyber-bullying as photos etc are circulated. Soon June's life starts to fall apart and she considers ending her life and then Santa appears which is her "invisible friend" . Can June get her life back together with the help of Santa and her mum/Alice ? Can they show June that justice can be served on those who hurt her and that ending her life isn't the way to go?
Find out in this heartbreaking and edgy story which sadly is something that happens more often than not especially at parties etc.
Find out in this heartbreaking and edgy story which sadly is something that happens more often than not especially at parties etc.
September 24, 2015
This book centers around June, a teenager who is cyberbullied after she is assaulted. Her bullies torment her so much that she isolates herself and feels like she has no other choice but to commit suicide. The book is based on the experiences of three girls whose stories went viral after they committed suicide due to bullying.
I applaud the author for taking on such a hard topic and making June seem very real. I cried through parts of the beginning because I felt so connected to June, as if I were actually inside her head. When Santa appears, and June becomes more desperate, my heart just started breaking more. But as June continues to have the dreams, I started to see how this book intertwined faith into the hopeless story of June. I liked the message the author delivered—in our darkest moments, we can still rely on our faith to pull us through. The ending delivered and made the reading of the terrible pain June endures worthwhile. We may not know why bad things happen to us, but good can always be seen somehow in everything that occurs.
*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I applaud the author for taking on such a hard topic and making June seem very real. I cried through parts of the beginning because I felt so connected to June, as if I were actually inside her head. When Santa appears, and June becomes more desperate, my heart just started breaking more. But as June continues to have the dreams, I started to see how this book intertwined faith into the hopeless story of June. I liked the message the author delivered—in our darkest moments, we can still rely on our faith to pull us through. The ending delivered and made the reading of the terrible pain June endures worthwhile. We may not know why bad things happen to us, but good can always be seen somehow in everything that occurs.
*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2015
As a woman, and as a mom I found this to be a difficult read but I suppose that speaks in favor of how realistic this story feels. Santa is the tale of a teen girl who is bullied both in person and over the internet, attacked, assaulted, raped and shamed to the point that she would rather die than live another day this way. It could have easily been taken from the headlines and was in fact inspired by such headlines. Schools claim a zero tolerance policy and yet they apply such policies to little boys who chew pop tarts into inappropriate shapes while they do little to nothing about the torment millions of students face daily in their halls.
October 9, 2015
Santa; By Nicola is how can I say?, is an awesome slice of life! Being a victim of bullying I could relate to June. The name may sound funny for a title, but this novel is not something light hearted it is a very serious novel. If you have read Speak you will love this. If I could rate this novel higher than five stars I would. I love this novel so much, I hope you all give Santa; a chance. I would like to thank Nicola Mar for sending me this amazing book I look forward to reading more of her books to come.
August 9, 2023
If only I could give this book more than a 5 star rating! This is a powerful read! This one is not your everyday read and once you start it is hard to put down!
October 22, 2015
**3.5 stars***
***SPOILER ALERT***
Alright, so I just finished this book last night and it was a quick read. I read it for about 20 minutes for a few nights and finished it. I’d like to thank the publisher for reaching out and offering to send me a hard copy, I enjoy reading with my book light and actually having a book in my hand once in a while. It’s also easier to pass on to another person. First off, this book was definitely not for my age group. This was made for younger girls experiencing puberty and having trouble with self-confidence. I would recommend this book to a friends’ younger sister or any younger female asking for a book recommendation. Also recommended for people who enjoyed the book “Speak”.
***SPOILER ALERT***
Now, my thoughts on the characters are mixed. The main character, June, was relatable at times but honestly. Sometimes I just felt so aggravated with her character. One thing I had to keep telling myself was that she was a teenager in high school and I think that’s one of the things that Nicola Mar was definitely trying to portray. However, I wasn’t as naïve as June was when I was her age so it made it just that more aggravating. It was so obvious that John didn’t invite her over just to “hang out” he was clearly just using her for sex. Then again, June was extremely vulnerable at this time with no one else to talk to, but she was acting like he was her boyfriend which I found a bit clingy and over-whelming.
Another big aspect I disliked in the story was Santa. As much as I tried to relate to the key figure in the novel (even the title was named after her) I just didn’t like this idea that sort of tried to keep the plot steady and was a symbol of June’s desires turning her into “Ginger”- which I also found a bit bizarre and sort of off-topic) while also trying to talk sense into her. This was supposedly trying to show June she needed to accept herself but I felt that idea was a bit off as well. “Santa” was giving June what she wanted- to be Ginger- the blonde, skinny girl she only became in her dreams, but also telling her it was selfish and she should just be herself. I believe that Santa was a figure of June’s imagination and clearly her conscience was fighting with itself- creating Santa and Ginger. But I still didn’t really like this aspect of the novel.
So in “Santa;”, Alice was my favorite character. She was confident and stood up for herself, which reminded me a lot of myself. I think that’s a reason why I was so aggravated with June, because I was always that girl that stood up for herself, almost to the point where people were even afraid to say anything bad to me. Maybe I was a bit much. I love how she always had June’s back no matter what and even though June thought she stopped caring, she never did. She loved her best friend.
The best part of the novel was unfortunately the end. I would have absolutely love if the suicide was elaborated a bit more (who doesn’t love a depressed character, and a shocking, utterly heart-breaking story of a teen who continuously attempts suicide?) Also, I would have loved some sort of flashbacks to Ryan’s dad kidnapping this girl and more details on that, rather than just a quick mention of it when June is discussing it on the talk show at the end.
Over all, this book was worth reading, but again, it is not a book I’d recommend to just anyone. I really liked the smaller details of the book but unfortunately didn’t enjoy some of the main story lines. However Nicola Mar, I encourage you to keep it up and keep writing books for everyone!!
October 10, 2015
This was one of those books that I wished I could reach inside it and pull some of the characters out. The main character June, I wanted to grab her into my arms and comfort her while her tormentors; I can’t even print on this review what I wanted to do to them. It’s been days since I read this novel, yet the image of what occurred in these pages still sits on my mind as I know it occurs every day, somewhere and no one says anything. Not everyone reports this behavior, not everyone understands that this behavior is not acceptable and not everyone knows that they are not at fault when this behavior is directed at them and it’s our responsibility as a society to spread the world.
In Santa; June is the victim, playing the part well until she finds the ability to stand on her own two feet. Taking a stand is not easy either as June soon realizes, for the struggle still appear it’s that these battles just appear differently. Bullied for her body size for years, she accompanies her friend to a party. June is hesitant to go but Alice is persistent and the two girls attend where the alcohol is flowing freely. June finds herself drunk, and cannot find Alice. She locates a bathroom as she feels ill. What transpires next is a nightmare that time cannot erase. The images the author describes are cruel and they leave me wondering how people can be so heartless and senseless to others. Later, when June finds herself back at her house, she attempts to find herself under the shame and physical scars that are now are a part of her. June feels lost. After thinking it over, June feels perhaps she is at fault for what transpired in the bathroom. Of course she does, it’s a way some victims rationalize the behavior when they feel all alone. Her conversation with Alice telling her about the night at the party left me speechless. I had mixed emotions about Alice. The whole novel had me wired. I liked the line the author included as June was talking about her bullying. June felt that she would rather be bullied about her weight than the night of the party. I understand her feelings but to like one type of bullying over the other, I thought it was sad. The story moved rapidly and things escalated rather quickly in the story towards the end, almost too quickly for me. It was an emotional read for me, one that I will not forget. I received a copy of this novel from Nicola Mar, this review is my honest opinion. Thank you Nicola Mar for providing me a copy of this novel, I greatly appreciate it.
4.5 stars
In Santa; June is the victim, playing the part well until she finds the ability to stand on her own two feet. Taking a stand is not easy either as June soon realizes, for the struggle still appear it’s that these battles just appear differently. Bullied for her body size for years, she accompanies her friend to a party. June is hesitant to go but Alice is persistent and the two girls attend where the alcohol is flowing freely. June finds herself drunk, and cannot find Alice. She locates a bathroom as she feels ill. What transpires next is a nightmare that time cannot erase. The images the author describes are cruel and they leave me wondering how people can be so heartless and senseless to others. Later, when June finds herself back at her house, she attempts to find herself under the shame and physical scars that are now are a part of her. June feels lost. After thinking it over, June feels perhaps she is at fault for what transpired in the bathroom. Of course she does, it’s a way some victims rationalize the behavior when they feel all alone. Her conversation with Alice telling her about the night at the party left me speechless. I had mixed emotions about Alice. The whole novel had me wired. I liked the line the author included as June was talking about her bullying. June felt that she would rather be bullied about her weight than the night of the party. I understand her feelings but to like one type of bullying over the other, I thought it was sad. The story moved rapidly and things escalated rather quickly in the story towards the end, almost too quickly for me. It was an emotional read for me, one that I will not forget. I received a copy of this novel from Nicola Mar, this review is my honest opinion. Thank you Nicola Mar for providing me a copy of this novel, I greatly appreciate it.
4.5 stars
October 16, 2015
June is living a difficult life. She lives with her mother after her father left them years ago to move to North Carolina and what upsets her the most is her weight. She's overweight and is the joke at her high school. Her best friend Alice is the only person she has, but yet Alice is tiny and June wonders just what Alice sees in her. One night, Alice convinces June to sneak out of her house to attend a party. June knows she isn't invited, but Alice assures her everything will be okay. They arrive at the party and June drinks too much before stumbling around and trying to find Alice whom she can't find. She passes out and then wakes up in the bathroom to which three boys assault her. Once it's over she walks home since Alice has deserted her and sneaks back into her room deciding not to tell anyone anything. She partially blames herself since she didn't exactly say no and then again she blames Alice since she deserted her. Alice finds out the next day and begs June to tell the police and her mother, but June refuses since she's embarrassed in herself for doing something her mother warned her against. Will June find her wings and decide to take action against her assailants or she will continue with the hostile treatment from her school, further retreating into her shell? When will she learn that enough is enough?
I hurt for June the whole time I read the novel. I honestly don't understand how she was friends with Alice since Alice didn't treat her nicely. Even before the party, you could pick up that Alice was self-centered and only cared about her issues. But I do understand why June kept her as a friend since she had no one else. In the end, this novel shows the cruelty of bullying and how low some people stoop to ruin the lives of others. Like the author, I agree that something should be done about bullying in this country because no one should be subjected to that kind of treatment. The low review I provided was simply because I didn't appreciate the beginning attack on June. It was too graphic in my opinion, and so I warn anyone who is triggered by any kind of assault to read with caution.
I received an ARC of Santa; from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
I hurt for June the whole time I read the novel. I honestly don't understand how she was friends with Alice since Alice didn't treat her nicely. Even before the party, you could pick up that Alice was self-centered and only cared about her issues. But I do understand why June kept her as a friend since she had no one else. In the end, this novel shows the cruelty of bullying and how low some people stoop to ruin the lives of others. Like the author, I agree that something should be done about bullying in this country because no one should be subjected to that kind of treatment. The low review I provided was simply because I didn't appreciate the beginning attack on June. It was too graphic in my opinion, and so I warn anyone who is triggered by any kind of assault to read with caution.
I received an ARC of Santa; from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
September 20, 2015
I received this ebook from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. The cover drew me in first, and the name - I thought maybe this was going to be a book about someone who was bullied and wrote to santa. It was not. It was about a young girl who gets raped, bullied, and tries to commit suicide. I thought this was a fairly realistic story and portrayal of how people can get bullied in this particular situation. I thought the book had an overall positive message about speaking out against bullies, and standing up for your classmates or friends who might be getting bullied.
However, I removed on star because of the whole tattoo business. Now I am not anti-tattoo, so don't get your panties in a twist, I myself have a large tattoo on my arm. I felt that June walking into a tattoo shop and getting a tattoo reflects badly on tattoo shops and the industry as a whole. When I got my first tattoo I was 28 years old, I had to provide a photo ID, and they took down all my information. The artist in this story did none of this. I feel this could be a wonderful scene in the story if she had a fake ID, at least to show that the shop was regulating in a professional manner. I know this may seem like a small imperfection in the book but I know there are still a lot of people who look down on people who have tattoos, and would use artists portrayed like the gentleman in this book to talk badly about the industry as a whole.
I really enjoyed this book. The cover drew me in first, and the name - I thought maybe this was going to be a book about someone who was bullied and wrote to santa. It was not. It was about a young girl who gets raped, bullied, and tries to commit suicide. I thought this was a fairly realistic story and portrayal of how people can get bullied in this particular situation. I thought the book had an overall positive message about speaking out against bullies, and standing up for your classmates or friends who might be getting bullied.
However, I removed on star because of the whole tattoo business. Now I am not anti-tattoo, so don't get your panties in a twist, I myself have a large tattoo on my arm. I felt that June walking into a tattoo shop and getting a tattoo reflects badly on tattoo shops and the industry as a whole. When I got my first tattoo I was 28 years old, I had to provide a photo ID, and they took down all my information. The artist in this story did none of this. I feel this could be a wonderful scene in the story if she had a fake ID, at least to show that the shop was regulating in a professional manner. I know this may seem like a small imperfection in the book but I know there are still a lot of people who look down on people who have tattoos, and would use artists portrayed like the gentleman in this book to talk badly about the industry as a whole.
October 12, 2015
It is hard to say "I really liked this book" when it is a book about rape, potential suicide and cyber bullying. The book provides a raw and gritty view of the horror of rape and the depression that often follows the event. For the main character, June, being a teenager has not been easy. She has struggled with her weight, creating insecurity and bearing the brunt of bullying. Then one night, it all took a terrible turn for the worse. She was raped by several popular boys at a party. Only to return to school to further mocking, name calling and cyber bullying. June felt that she had nothing left to live for. The story touched me. It was dark and depressing. It was heart breaking. I was mad. I was crying. I was begging June to talk to her mom. I wanted to kick some teenager tail. And even though I want to refrain from saying that I liked the book due to its content, this book is a must read. For young girls and for parents. Just be prepared. And I cannot say it enough... for any young girls out there in this situation, it is not your fault. You did nothing wrong. Talk to someone. Seek help.
September 30, 2015
A very short and quick read, but not exactly a light read! The bullying June suffers after being gang-raped at a house party is even more horrific than the event itself. I found that I almost could't put this down, just wanting something to go right for her - and for her to just tell someone what happened!
I didn't trust John from the start either. Asswipe.
It was very sad how, apart from her friend Alice, nobody was on June's side. And I found that to be utterly shocking - the entire student body just turned against her, and even after her suicide attempt they still joked about how it hadn't worked.
I didn't trust John from the start either. Asswipe.
It was very sad how, apart from her friend Alice, nobody was on June's side. And I found that to be utterly shocking - the entire student body just turned against her, and even after her suicide attempt they still joked about how it hadn't worked.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2016
2.5 stars.
I applaud the author for not only tackling a difficult subject like this, but for also being such a strong supporter of Project Semicolon.
The book was pretty well-written, and it was a quick read. There was a whole lot going on, and most of it was a little too weird for my taste. The Santa thing, while I understand where the author was coming from, was rather bizarre in the way it was written.
I do appreciate that the novel shows that even at your darkest point, things do get better.
*Thanks to NetGalley for providing an e-copy for me to read and review.*
I applaud the author for not only tackling a difficult subject like this, but for also being such a strong supporter of Project Semicolon.
The book was pretty well-written, and it was a quick read. There was a whole lot going on, and most of it was a little too weird for my taste. The Santa thing, while I understand where the author was coming from, was rather bizarre in the way it was written.
I do appreciate that the novel shows that even at your darkest point, things do get better.
*Thanks to NetGalley for providing an e-copy for me to read and review.*
September 25, 2015
This book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a short, quick read but quite powerful. The author takes you inside the mind of a teen who experiences rape and is then bullied about it after the rapist's release misleading photos of the act. It is difficult to read but considering what is happening today in the world of teenagers, it is also accurate, as disturbing as that is to say. I think it would have held a more powerful punch if the ending had been more true to reality.
This is a short, quick read but quite powerful. The author takes you inside the mind of a teen who experiences rape and is then bullied about it after the rapist's release misleading photos of the act. It is difficult to read but considering what is happening today in the world of teenagers, it is also accurate, as disturbing as that is to say. I think it would have held a more powerful punch if the ending had been more true to reality.
October 22, 2016
Don’t be fooled by the cheerful title of this book, the story is anything but! Following the story of June, who is cruelly assaulted by “the popular kids” at school, and the horrific bullying that comes of a result of some compromising pictures, leading June to think that there is only one way out… At times, this book is hard to read in its realness, but it really is a well-written story and allows you to reassess your own thoughts and feelings. Also, 10% of the sales are being donated to Project Semicolon.
October 4, 2015
June is the victim of a brutal gang rape and then pictures of the rape are shared on a website. She tries to hide the rape and bullying from her mother and it makes the situation worse. As the bullying escalates, June stops communicating with her friends and attempts suicide. Neither the book or characters feel fully developed but the book would probably be appropriate for reluctant readers.
March 18, 2016
A very hard subjec to read about but a well written story. In the society of camera phones and social media Bullying is probably at its most evil, hanging around for years or indefinatly and the effects as in the story could be devistating. This book will be one to have easily accessible on the shelf for my kids and nieces and nephews to read when they are older.
October 24, 2015
This was a touching yet heart breaking story centered around rape and bullying. Very emotional read that brings to light many scenarios that happen all too often. I would definitely recommend this book but to those that can handle strong subject matter. I shed quite a few tears while reading this.
March 1, 2016
A gripping tale that every teenage girl should read. Very gritty but honest perspective of a sexual assault and the after effects from it. Although it is of sensitive material, it is tastefully done with inspirational advice. I applaud this title and will definately recommend!
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