What do you think?
Rate this book
The Crowd
Whitfield Preparatory Academy ought to be the perfect school…
Not only does the Academy boast a distinguished faculty and lavish campus, it is also home to the privileged youth of the upper class. They will one day hold the reins of power in the business world and political arena – but for now, they exercise absolute authority at the Academy.
For seventeen-year-old Ella Parker, acceptance into the prestigious Academy is a dream come true. But her delight quickly turns to dread when she finds herself in the crosshairs of an elite group of ruthless students dubbed “the Crowd.” Ella's been at the center of unwanted attention before – but never like this – and she'll do anything to make them stop. Anything, that is, apart from accepting the advances of popular and wealthy playboy Jackson Montgomery, the leader of the Crowd.
Will Ella be humiliated, or triumph over her tormentors?
An irresistible story of faith, friendship, betrayal, and romance, The Crowd will immerse readers in Ella’s tumultuous struggle from the very first page.
Not only does the Academy boast a distinguished faculty and lavish campus, it is also home to the privileged youth of the upper class. They will one day hold the reins of power in the business world and political arena – but for now, they exercise absolute authority at the Academy.
For seventeen-year-old Ella Parker, acceptance into the prestigious Academy is a dream come true. But her delight quickly turns to dread when she finds herself in the crosshairs of an elite group of ruthless students dubbed “the Crowd.” Ella's been at the center of unwanted attention before – but never like this – and she'll do anything to make them stop. Anything, that is, apart from accepting the advances of popular and wealthy playboy Jackson Montgomery, the leader of the Crowd.
Will Ella be humiliated, or triumph over her tormentors?
An irresistible story of faith, friendship, betrayal, and romance, The Crowd will immerse readers in Ella’s tumultuous struggle from the very first page.
308 pages, Paperback
First published January 10, 2016
14 people are currently reading
472 people want to read
About the author
Alleece Balts
5 books58 followersAlleece Balts is an American author of both young adult and children’s fiction, best known for The Crowd series.
When she's not writing, you can find her studying the Bible, reading a novel with a strong heroine, or drinking (another) chai tea.
Alleece lives in Minneapolis with her cheesehead husband, four sticky children, a spoiled cat, and a shamelessly flatulent dog.
When she's not writing, you can find her studying the Bible, reading a novel with a strong heroine, or drinking (another) chai tea.
Alleece lives in Minneapolis with her cheesehead husband, four sticky children, a spoiled cat, and a shamelessly flatulent dog.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 29, 2016
4/5 stars
Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yev2R...
Oooo what a lovely book! I am really shocked at how much I enjoyed this one. Had some minor flaws but overall, enjoyed pretty much everything else. This is the first book in a trilogy and I'm super excited to read the others apart of it since this was such a pleasant reading experience. Sorry this little review is weird and rambly but it's currently 3AM and I just HAD to finish this book once I started!
**Was sent this book in exchange for an honest review**
Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yev2R...
Oooo what a lovely book! I am really shocked at how much I enjoyed this one. Had some minor flaws but overall, enjoyed pretty much everything else. This is the first book in a trilogy and I'm super excited to read the others apart of it since this was such a pleasant reading experience. Sorry this little review is weird and rambly but it's currently 3AM and I just HAD to finish this book once I started!
**Was sent this book in exchange for an honest review**
February 7, 2017
Find it on Reveries Reviews
Title: The Crowd
Author: Alleece Balts
Series: The Crowd, #1
Genre: Contemporary YA/Romance
Era: contemporary
Setting: Vermont, United States
Publisher: Alleece Balts
Source: from author (in exchange for honest review)
Overall Rating: 5/5
The Crowd by Alleece Balts
Whitfield Preparatory Academy ought to be the perfect school…
Not only does the Academy boast a distinguished faculty and lavish campus, it is also home to the privileged youth of the upper class. They will one day hold the reins of power in the business world and political arena – but for now, they exercise absolute authority at the Academy.
For seventeen-year-old Ella Parker, acceptance into the prestigious Academy is a dream come true. But her delight quickly turns to dread when she finds herself in the crosshairs of an elite group of ruthless students dubbed “the Crowd.” Ella's been at the center of unwanted attention before – but never like this – and she'll do anything to make them stop. Anything, that is, apart from accepting the advances of popular and wealthy playboy Jackson Montgomery, the leader of the Crowd.
Will Ella be humiliated, or triumph over her tormentors?
An irresistible story of faith, friendship, betrayal, and romance, The Crowd will immerse readers in Ella’s tumultuous struggle from the very first page.
The Crowd by Alleece Balts is a simply fantastic novel. That is the only word to describe this book: fantastic. I was, as the blurb says, immersed from the very first page. I loved it to death, and I can't wait to get my hands on book 2!
Plot {5/5}:
I wasn't sure exactly what to expect when I started this novel. I only knew I was sick to death of hearing about bullying. Why? Because I'm homeschooled and know nothing about it and just want people to stand up for themselves! I've read maybe a hundred YA/MG novels with characters getting bullied in it ... and it always just annoys me.
However, for some reason this one didn't annoy me at all.
Aside from that, the plot was fantastic. I'm not going to attempt to explain it to you, but I'll just say it was amazing, start to finish (and you should read it; you should definitely read it!).
Characters {5/5}:
The characters were another of this novel's strong points. Ella was one of the most individualistic characters I've read of in a long time. There was nothing generic about Ella! Jack was also super cool and interesting (his past, the redemption, etc. were all very real). I love how Ella's dad was a rockstar and her mother was a reporter and the story of their meeting ... wow. Even though we didn't get to meet either of Ella's parents (well, we didn't get to meet Ella's mom for very long, anyway), I got a super good idea of who they are just based on their actions (and because of Ella's thinking about them). The same goes for Malcolm.
I'm not going to go into every single character, but ... wow. Quite a few of them, all so beautifully done, and I never got them mixed up! How did Mrs. Balts do it? :D
Setting {4/5}:
Fairly strong. I would have liked a little more focus on the setting here and there. For the most part, though, it was good, and the description was top-notch.
Writing {3/5}:
The author's writing is absolutely gorgeous! It reminds me of ... hmm. I don't know. Old-fashioned yet contemporary. Whimsical and sweet, but dipping into solemnity when need be. It really showed a lot of emotions and had a lot of content (not the bad kind; I mean content like deep stuff) while not overloading my tiny little brain. :P
The one problem was the head-hopping. I was never sure if I was in Ella, Jack, or Aunt Meg's head. It kept changing, oftentimes three or four times in a scene. It was confusing. It didn't bug me a ton, but it almost made me shave off half a star ... before I realized it just wasn't worth it because the novel was too strong besides that.
Content:
I'd say light PG-13. I'm gonna try to say why as accurately as possible, but I'm not going to list every little thing. Depending on the maturity level, younger teens may need parental guidance.
No cussing. Some crude language and name-calling. A mention of gay people (as a part of the name-calling, not justified). Bullying. Mentions of (and an attempted) suicide. Mentions of drug-use and drinking. Mentions of hospitals, blood, gunshot wounds, almost dying, cancer, etc. Nothing graphic.
Lots of attraction, romantic emotions, etc. There are some crude jokes that count towards sexual content. Quite a few kisses, ranging from no details to somewhat-detailed-ish. It's pretty clear that most of the girls and boys at the campus are none too moralistic. Then ... once Ella is hiding a closet (she was snooping and had to hide) and there's a couple in the room Nothing is detailed and it's not talked about a ton, but it's pretty obvious what's going on. So there's that ... *awkwardness hopefully ends* But it was such a very brief scene, so ... I don't know.
Overall {5/5}:
A fantastic novel I'd recommend to almost any older teenager/adult and some younger teenagers (depending on who they are and what they can handle). PLEASE let the sequel be coming out soon! Plllllleeeeeaaaaseeee!!!!
~Kellyn Roth, Reveries Reviews
Title: The Crowd
Author: Alleece Balts
Series: The Crowd, #1
Genre: Contemporary YA/Romance
Era: contemporary
Setting: Vermont, United States
Publisher: Alleece Balts
Source: from author (in exchange for honest review)
Overall Rating: 5/5
The Crowd by Alleece Balts
Whitfield Preparatory Academy ought to be the perfect school…
Not only does the Academy boast a distinguished faculty and lavish campus, it is also home to the privileged youth of the upper class. They will one day hold the reins of power in the business world and political arena – but for now, they exercise absolute authority at the Academy.
For seventeen-year-old Ella Parker, acceptance into the prestigious Academy is a dream come true. But her delight quickly turns to dread when she finds herself in the crosshairs of an elite group of ruthless students dubbed “the Crowd.” Ella's been at the center of unwanted attention before – but never like this – and she'll do anything to make them stop. Anything, that is, apart from accepting the advances of popular and wealthy playboy Jackson Montgomery, the leader of the Crowd.
Will Ella be humiliated, or triumph over her tormentors?
An irresistible story of faith, friendship, betrayal, and romance, The Crowd will immerse readers in Ella’s tumultuous struggle from the very first page.
The Crowd by Alleece Balts is a simply fantastic novel. That is the only word to describe this book: fantastic. I was, as the blurb says, immersed from the very first page. I loved it to death, and I can't wait to get my hands on book 2!
Plot {5/5}:
I wasn't sure exactly what to expect when I started this novel. I only knew I was sick to death of hearing about bullying. Why? Because I'm homeschooled and know nothing about it and just want people to stand up for themselves! I've read maybe a hundred YA/MG novels with characters getting bullied in it ... and it always just annoys me.
However, for some reason this one didn't annoy me at all.
Aside from that, the plot was fantastic. I'm not going to attempt to explain it to you, but I'll just say it was amazing, start to finish (and you should read it; you should definitely read it!).
Characters {5/5}:
The characters were another of this novel's strong points. Ella was one of the most individualistic characters I've read of in a long time. There was nothing generic about Ella! Jack was also super cool and interesting (his past, the redemption, etc. were all very real). I love how Ella's dad was a rockstar and her mother was a reporter and the story of their meeting ... wow. Even though we didn't get to meet either of Ella's parents (well, we didn't get to meet Ella's mom for very long, anyway), I got a super good idea of who they are just based on their actions (and because of Ella's thinking about them). The same goes for Malcolm.
I'm not going to go into every single character, but ... wow. Quite a few of them, all so beautifully done, and I never got them mixed up! How did Mrs. Balts do it? :D
Setting {4/5}:
Fairly strong. I would have liked a little more focus on the setting here and there. For the most part, though, it was good, and the description was top-notch.
Writing {3/5}:
The author's writing is absolutely gorgeous! It reminds me of ... hmm. I don't know. Old-fashioned yet contemporary. Whimsical and sweet, but dipping into solemnity when need be. It really showed a lot of emotions and had a lot of content (not the bad kind; I mean content like deep stuff) while not overloading my tiny little brain. :P
The one problem was the head-hopping. I was never sure if I was in Ella, Jack, or Aunt Meg's head. It kept changing, oftentimes three or four times in a scene. It was confusing. It didn't bug me a ton, but it almost made me shave off half a star ... before I realized it just wasn't worth it because the novel was too strong besides that.
Content:
I'd say light PG-13. I'm gonna try to say why as accurately as possible, but I'm not going to list every little thing. Depending on the maturity level, younger teens may need parental guidance.
No cussing. Some crude language and name-calling. A mention of gay people (as a part of the name-calling, not justified). Bullying. Mentions of (and an attempted) suicide. Mentions of drug-use and drinking. Mentions of hospitals, blood, gunshot wounds, almost dying, cancer, etc. Nothing graphic.
Lots of attraction, romantic emotions, etc. There are some crude jokes that count towards sexual content. Quite a few kisses, ranging from no details to somewhat-detailed-ish. It's pretty clear that most of the girls and boys at the campus are none too moralistic. Then ... once Ella is hiding a closet (she was snooping and had to hide) and there's a couple in the room Nothing is detailed and it's not talked about a ton, but it's pretty obvious what's going on. So there's that ... *awkwardness hopefully ends* But it was such a very brief scene, so ... I don't know.
Overall {5/5}:
A fantastic novel I'd recommend to almost any older teenager/adult and some younger teenagers (depending on who they are and what they can handle). PLEASE let the sequel be coming out soon! Plllllleeeeeaaaaseeee!!!!
~Kellyn Roth, Reveries Reviews
November 14, 2016
Very well written! I was pulled into the story from the start and found myself not wanting to put the book down. I loved Ella, Jack, Lucas and Aunt Meg. There were tough issues dealt with in this story, but they were handled well. I now want to find out what happens to everyone next.
The reason I gave this three stars instead of four was because of two things.
1. The amount of kissing between two unmarried people. (I'm assuming they get married later in another books, but I personally felt that it was too much.)
2. One scene I wish hadn't been in there. The "sounds" from outside the closet were too much. It felt like it was out of place for the story, and I'm hesitant to recommend the book because of it. Also, there were a few remarks that I didn't like here and there, but they were brief.
My favorite scene was the Penny Date. I laughed at the exchange between them.
"It's just this disaster of a date."
"It doesn't feel like a disaster. I was having fun up until the–" Ella paused to look at the doctor's pad on the desk. "–distal radius Fracture."
"You're on painkillers. Trust me, it's a disaster."
The reason I gave this three stars instead of four was because of two things.
1. The amount of kissing between two unmarried people. (I'm assuming they get married later in another books, but I personally felt that it was too much.)
2. One scene I wish hadn't been in there. The "sounds" from outside the closet were too much. It felt like it was out of place for the story, and I'm hesitant to recommend the book because of it. Also, there were a few remarks that I didn't like here and there, but they were brief.
My favorite scene was the Penny Date. I laughed at the exchange between them.
"It's just this disaster of a date."
"It doesn't feel like a disaster. I was having fun up until the–" Ella paused to look at the doctor's pad on the desk. "–distal radius Fracture."
"You're on painkillers. Trust me, it's a disaster."
February 5, 2017
About this book:
“Whitfield Preparatory Academy ought to be the perfect school…
Not only does the Academy boast a distinguished faculty and lavish campus, it is also home to the privileged youth of the upper class. They will one day hold the reins of power in the business world and political arena – but for now, they exercise absolute authority at the Academy.
For seventeen-year-old Ella Parker, acceptance into the prestigious Academy is a dream come true. But her delight quickly turns to dread when she finds herself in the crosshairs of an elite group of ruthless students dubbed “the Crowd.” Ella's been at the center of unwanted attention before – but never like this – and she'll do anything to make them stop. Anything, that is, apart from accepting the advances of popular and wealthy playboy Jackson Montgomery, the leader of the Crowd.
Will Ella be humiliated, or triumph over her tormentors?
An irresistible story of faith, friendship, betrayal, and romance, The Crowd will immerse readers in Ella’s tumultuous struggle from the very first page.”
Series: Book #1 in the “The Crowd” series.
Spiritual Content- Psalm 118:14 at the beginning; Many prayers; Scriptures are talked about, remembered, quoted & mentioned; Church going & singing; Talks about God; Many mentions of churches, choirs, church going, services & hymns; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers; Mentions of Bibles, Bible reading & Bible studies; Mentions of a pastor & sermon; Mentions of Christmas & the first one; Mentions of Christians, Christian artists & music; Mentions of a Christian school, religious studies & a chapel on campus; a few mentions of those in the Bible; A few mentions of Heaven; A couple mentions of being Blessed; A couple mentions of miracles; A couple mentions of an angel; A mention of a nun;
*Note: A mention of Vulcan; A mention of acting zen; A few mentions of cults & animal sacrifices.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’, a ‘gah’, a ‘shut up’, a cut off ‘son of a—‘, and twenty-three forms of ‘stupid’; Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Mentions of curses & horrible things said (not written); Pain, a broken bone, talking to a suicidal person & being shot (up to semi-detailed); Snooty & mean guys and girls along with mean tricks; Mentions of a school shooting, blood & deaths (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of injuries & blood (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of thinking about suicide & overdoses; Mentions of prison, jail & convicts; Mentions of rehabs & crack; Mentions of drinking, drunks & alcohol; Mentions of fighting, blood, injuries & wanting to punch someone (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of bullies & bullying; Mentions of envy & jealousy; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of cheating; Mentions of lying, lies & liars; Mentions of a tattoo; A few mentions of a car crash, injuries & deaths (up to semi-detailed); A few mentions of gunshot & gunfire sounds; A few mentions of parties & drinking at them; A couple mentions of wars; A couple mentions of murder; A couple mentions of a rumor of someone setting fire to a nightclub; A mention of a cocaine overdose; A mention of water balloons filled with urine; A mention of a message written out in blood; A mention of a 14 year old being either high or drunk;
*Note: A mention of an alien; A mention of a sadist; Mentions of Halloween, a haunted house, a gruesome zombie, a savage looking vampire & bloody costumes.
Sexual Content- a nose kiss, two forehead kisses, two not-detailed kisses, two barley-above-not-detailed kisses, five semi-detailed kisses, two very semi-detailed kisses and a detailed kiss; Touches, Nearness, Embraces, & Hand holding (up to semi-detailed); Noticing & Smelling (up to semi-detailed); Blushes; a form of ‘hot’, a ‘sexy’, and two ‘whore’s; Talks about kissing, kisses & wanting to kiss; Talks about dating & couples; A guy calls out that Ella can embrace him with her arms or legs; Mentions of doing “it” and a guy mention another guy not having to bang a girl anymore; Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of staring at someone’s lips; Mentions of a flirt & playboy; Mentions of dating, dates, types, crushes, boyfriends, girlfriends & couples; Mentions of blushes; A few mentions of hearing a couple roll in a bed & start moaning (hints of what they’re doing, but nothing is actually said besides “gross”); A few mentions of a girl seductively blinking & trying to undue her blouse (she doesn’t get past the first button) and other girls willing to undress for a guy; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of seducing & sexual talking; A mention of seducing someone; A mention of a guy saying he’s going to find a companionable shower; A mention of a plaything; A mention of a guy’s roaming eyes;
*Note: A mention of underfed supermodels; A mention of an NFL cheerleader; A mention of hormones; A couple mentions of PMS & menstruating; A couple mentions of girls dressed for attention & hooting; A few mentions of a curvy girl & a girl with “edges”; A few mentions of a mean rhyme about a girl making all the straight boys gay; A few mentions of kissing a shorter guy but hinted to where he’s really big (taken the wrong way, she meant his brains).
-Eleanor “Ella” Parker, age 17
P.O.V. of Ella & Jack (along with some head-jumping of others)
268 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
{Add 1/2-1 for those in public school or interested in teen issues.}
I literally cheered when I saw there was a sequel at the end. (And of course the teaser ended in a cliffhanger *crying emoji*) #LindseyAt4AM [That could literally be a hashtag I talk about in every post, but this book made the time fly by.] First off, though, I need to let everyone know that I'm completely weak for books set in boarding schools. When the author contacted me and I saw ‘boarding school’ in the description, I got a bit giddy, I won't lie. There was the typical snooty (or snotty, whichever description you prefer) girls and cliques at the school (which is honestly the only way I can stand them), but there also was a depth to this novel that I wasn't expecting. Add in Ella's faith and I was impressed. That's something I don't say often. Yes, there were comments and mentions I wasn't a fan of and thought could have just been left out; it got kissy nearing the end; there was some head jumping and a cursed love-triangle (Southern boys all the way!), which does affect my ratings. It had its not-quite gritty moments and trigger warnings, but it had all the signs of a contemporary YA novel. Content wise it was pretty much what I was expecting for a public-schooly YA, I kind of got an Ally Carter vibe from this book and plot. Everyone kept raving about Ella’s voice, so I can’t help but want to hear her! So, I’m giving this a personal rating of 3.5, since I have been craving a good public school-ish YA; I wish I could give a bit of a higher rating, but I just can’t because of some content. I am eagerly waiting for the sequel, though, and I do hope it’s less kissy, preferably. ;)
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.
“Whitfield Preparatory Academy ought to be the perfect school…
Not only does the Academy boast a distinguished faculty and lavish campus, it is also home to the privileged youth of the upper class. They will one day hold the reins of power in the business world and political arena – but for now, they exercise absolute authority at the Academy.
For seventeen-year-old Ella Parker, acceptance into the prestigious Academy is a dream come true. But her delight quickly turns to dread when she finds herself in the crosshairs of an elite group of ruthless students dubbed “the Crowd.” Ella's been at the center of unwanted attention before – but never like this – and she'll do anything to make them stop. Anything, that is, apart from accepting the advances of popular and wealthy playboy Jackson Montgomery, the leader of the Crowd.
Will Ella be humiliated, or triumph over her tormentors?
An irresistible story of faith, friendship, betrayal, and romance, The Crowd will immerse readers in Ella’s tumultuous struggle from the very first page.”
Series: Book #1 in the “The Crowd” series.
Spiritual Content- Psalm 118:14 at the beginning; Many prayers; Scriptures are talked about, remembered, quoted & mentioned; Church going & singing; Talks about God; Many mentions of churches, choirs, church going, services & hymns; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers; Mentions of Bibles, Bible reading & Bible studies; Mentions of a pastor & sermon; Mentions of Christmas & the first one; Mentions of Christians, Christian artists & music; Mentions of a Christian school, religious studies & a chapel on campus; a few mentions of those in the Bible; A few mentions of Heaven; A couple mentions of being Blessed; A couple mentions of miracles; A couple mentions of an angel; A mention of a nun;
*Note: A mention of Vulcan; A mention of acting zen; A few mentions of cults & animal sacrifices.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’, a ‘gah’, a ‘shut up’, a cut off ‘son of a—‘, and twenty-three forms of ‘stupid’; Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Mentions of curses & horrible things said (not written); Pain, a broken bone, talking to a suicidal person & being shot (up to semi-detailed); Snooty & mean guys and girls along with mean tricks; Mentions of a school shooting, blood & deaths (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of injuries & blood (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of thinking about suicide & overdoses; Mentions of prison, jail & convicts; Mentions of rehabs & crack; Mentions of drinking, drunks & alcohol; Mentions of fighting, blood, injuries & wanting to punch someone (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of bullies & bullying; Mentions of envy & jealousy; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of cheating; Mentions of lying, lies & liars; Mentions of a tattoo; A few mentions of a car crash, injuries & deaths (up to semi-detailed); A few mentions of gunshot & gunfire sounds; A few mentions of parties & drinking at them; A couple mentions of wars; A couple mentions of murder; A couple mentions of a rumor of someone setting fire to a nightclub; A mention of a cocaine overdose; A mention of water balloons filled with urine; A mention of a message written out in blood; A mention of a 14 year old being either high or drunk;
*Note: A mention of an alien; A mention of a sadist; Mentions of Halloween, a haunted house, a gruesome zombie, a savage looking vampire & bloody costumes.
Sexual Content- a nose kiss, two forehead kisses, two not-detailed kisses, two barley-above-not-detailed kisses, five semi-detailed kisses, two very semi-detailed kisses and a detailed kiss; Touches, Nearness, Embraces, & Hand holding (up to semi-detailed); Noticing & Smelling (up to semi-detailed); Blushes; a form of ‘hot’, a ‘sexy’, and two ‘whore’s; Talks about kissing, kisses & wanting to kiss; Talks about dating & couples; A guy calls out that Ella can embrace him with her arms or legs; Mentions of doing “it” and a guy mention another guy not having to bang a girl anymore; Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of staring at someone’s lips; Mentions of a flirt & playboy; Mentions of dating, dates, types, crushes, boyfriends, girlfriends & couples; Mentions of blushes; A few mentions of hearing a couple roll in a bed & start moaning (hints of what they’re doing, but nothing is actually said besides “gross”); A few mentions of a girl seductively blinking & trying to undue her blouse (she doesn’t get past the first button) and other girls willing to undress for a guy; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of seducing & sexual talking; A mention of seducing someone; A mention of a guy saying he’s going to find a companionable shower; A mention of a plaything; A mention of a guy’s roaming eyes;
*Note: A mention of underfed supermodels; A mention of an NFL cheerleader; A mention of hormones; A couple mentions of PMS & menstruating; A couple mentions of girls dressed for attention & hooting; A few mentions of a curvy girl & a girl with “edges”; A few mentions of a mean rhyme about a girl making all the straight boys gay; A few mentions of kissing a shorter guy but hinted to where he’s really big (taken the wrong way, she meant his brains).
-Eleanor “Ella” Parker, age 17
P.O.V. of Ella & Jack (along with some head-jumping of others)
268 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
{Add 1/2-1 for those in public school or interested in teen issues.}
I literally cheered when I saw there was a sequel at the end. (And of course the teaser ended in a cliffhanger *crying emoji*) #LindseyAt4AM [That could literally be a hashtag I talk about in every post, but this book made the time fly by.] First off, though, I need to let everyone know that I'm completely weak for books set in boarding schools. When the author contacted me and I saw ‘boarding school’ in the description, I got a bit giddy, I won't lie. There was the typical snooty (or snotty, whichever description you prefer) girls and cliques at the school (which is honestly the only way I can stand them), but there also was a depth to this novel that I wasn't expecting. Add in Ella's faith and I was impressed. That's something I don't say often. Yes, there were comments and mentions I wasn't a fan of and thought could have just been left out; it got kissy nearing the end; there was some head jumping and a cursed love-triangle (Southern boys all the way!), which does affect my ratings. It had its not-quite gritty moments and trigger warnings, but it had all the signs of a contemporary YA novel. Content wise it was pretty much what I was expecting for a public-schooly YA, I kind of got an Ally Carter vibe from this book and plot. Everyone kept raving about Ella’s voice, so I can’t help but want to hear her! So, I’m giving this a personal rating of 3.5, since I have been craving a good public school-ish YA; I wish I could give a bit of a higher rating, but I just can’t because of some content. I am eagerly waiting for the sequel, though, and I do hope it’s less kissy, preferably. ;)
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.
January 22, 2017
(2.5 Stars) I think I'm in the minority with this book. Ella ends up going to a boarding school when her mom goes out of the country for work and suddenly shows up at her aunt's house to live, through a misunderstanding on her mom's part. Ella's experience is anything but great and I feel so conflicted about it.
"The Crowd rules the school and gets to decide who's in and who's out. The bullying that the kids in this school display is horrifying. I was appalled that a handful of teenagers had this much control over their school, as well as over society. If someone does something to earn a demerit, then s/he is punished, but if a member of "the Crowd" does the same thing, the administration turns the other cheek and ignores it. If someone in "the Crowd" throws a tantrum and starts a fire because he's too young to enter a club, so what? It's like the whole community caters to this group of manipulating kids instead of disciplining them, like they so obviously need. I thought they all needed their entitled attitudes brought down a few notches.
I do like the loyalties and friendships that Ella shares with two of her classmates, as they bond together over being outcasts, as well as the friendship she has with the boy from church. I also love watching her use and develop her singing talent. I like the message that peer pressure can cause people to follow positive influences and not just the negative ones. When one of "the Crowd" decides to befriend Ella, everything changes.
Told in third person, there were times when I was inside of someone's head, reading thoughts and feelings, but I wasn't sure who's head I was in, as the story throws the reader into a couple of different heads. I almost felt like I was having an out-of-body experience at times and I found myself a bit confused because of it. There are a few other minor inconsistencies. Overall, it's a decent debut with some potential, but I, personally, had a hard time getting past the difficult content and connecting with the characters.
Content: While technically clean, there is an instance when Ella is hiding in a closet and hears a couple having an intimate session, and even though it's not described, it's definitely implied. There is some kissing and some crude talk. There is also talk of violence--suicide, shootings, death, underage drinking, etc. There are prayers uttered throughout, giving it a mild-moderate religious vibe.
*I received a complimentary copy from the author, which didn't affect my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
"The Crowd rules the school and gets to decide who's in and who's out. The bullying that the kids in this school display is horrifying. I was appalled that a handful of teenagers had this much control over their school, as well as over society. If someone does something to earn a demerit, then s/he is punished, but if a member of "the Crowd" does the same thing, the administration turns the other cheek and ignores it. If someone in "the Crowd" throws a tantrum and starts a fire because he's too young to enter a club, so what? It's like the whole community caters to this group of manipulating kids instead of disciplining them, like they so obviously need. I thought they all needed their entitled attitudes brought down a few notches.
I do like the loyalties and friendships that Ella shares with two of her classmates, as they bond together over being outcasts, as well as the friendship she has with the boy from church. I also love watching her use and develop her singing talent. I like the message that peer pressure can cause people to follow positive influences and not just the negative ones. When one of "the Crowd" decides to befriend Ella, everything changes.
Told in third person, there were times when I was inside of someone's head, reading thoughts and feelings, but I wasn't sure who's head I was in, as the story throws the reader into a couple of different heads. I almost felt like I was having an out-of-body experience at times and I found myself a bit confused because of it. There are a few other minor inconsistencies. Overall, it's a decent debut with some potential, but I, personally, had a hard time getting past the difficult content and connecting with the characters.
Content: While technically clean, there is an instance when Ella is hiding in a closet and hears a couple having an intimate session, and even though it's not described, it's definitely implied. There is some kissing and some crude talk. There is also talk of violence--suicide, shootings, death, underage drinking, etc. There are prayers uttered throughout, giving it a mild-moderate religious vibe.
*I received a complimentary copy from the author, which didn't affect my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
September 22, 2016
The Crowd by Alleece Balts is a fairly quick read that engages all of your emotions by the time you’re finished. Just because it’s quick, don’t assume that it lacks substance or grit. A lot of tough – and important – topics covered in this story. But the author’s wit, her smooth writing style, and a sweet romance plot keep it light when appropriate and provide levity amid any lingering heaviness.
Ella is at once a sympathetic character and a strong character. At times over the course of the novel she’s more of one than the other, and at other times she’s a pretty even mix of both. Jack and Lucas are each a bit of an enigma in their own right, and for the majority of the novel I couldn’t decide which (if either… or maybe both) was being sincere with Ella. Jack’s Southern accent did get a bit cliche and seemed too “country” for a rich kid, Southern or not. (If only used occasionally, his colloquialisms and omitting the “g” from the ends of words and “reckon” and “Miss Eleanor” would have been charming. Their sheer frequency, however, felt unnatural.) He makes up for it though by genuinely being a likable guy, and I kept hoping against hope that his friendship with Ella would prove true.
In Alleece Balts’ debut novel, the topic of bullying is handled honestly and realistically, but it’s not left to be just another story about teen angst. It’s one of those books that takes you by surprise more than once. Redemption hovers in the wings of The Crowd, as well as a reminder that the power of peer pressure works in both directions. I think this would be a great book for teen and young adult readers to choose for book clubs as many scenes and characters provide excellent topics for discussions! The romance is sweet and will bring a grin to your face more than once. The setup for the second book in the series has me anxiously waiting for updates on its release! Must. Find. Out. What. Happens.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)
see my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower
Ella is at once a sympathetic character and a strong character. At times over the course of the novel she’s more of one than the other, and at other times she’s a pretty even mix of both. Jack and Lucas are each a bit of an enigma in their own right, and for the majority of the novel I couldn’t decide which (if either… or maybe both) was being sincere with Ella. Jack’s Southern accent did get a bit cliche and seemed too “country” for a rich kid, Southern or not. (If only used occasionally, his colloquialisms and omitting the “g” from the ends of words and “reckon” and “Miss Eleanor” would have been charming. Their sheer frequency, however, felt unnatural.) He makes up for it though by genuinely being a likable guy, and I kept hoping against hope that his friendship with Ella would prove true.
In Alleece Balts’ debut novel, the topic of bullying is handled honestly and realistically, but it’s not left to be just another story about teen angst. It’s one of those books that takes you by surprise more than once. Redemption hovers in the wings of The Crowd, as well as a reminder that the power of peer pressure works in both directions. I think this would be a great book for teen and young adult readers to choose for book clubs as many scenes and characters provide excellent topics for discussions! The romance is sweet and will bring a grin to your face more than once. The setup for the second book in the series has me anxiously waiting for updates on its release! Must. Find. Out. What. Happens.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)
see my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower
July 30, 2022
Really love this book way more than I thought I would!❤❤❤
February 6, 2017
This review is also posted on Book by Book.
Author Alleece Balts debuts with The Crowd, an uplifting novel for the YA reader. A blend of hard, humorous, and heartfelt moments, it delivers a story worth reading and characters worth loving.
I don’t think I could have read The Crowd at a better time. Balts handily addresses issues of bullying, loneliness, and grief within the context of a prestigious boarding school, but the ensuing—and important—lessons of kindness, forgiveness, and redemption (plus the fitting quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt) apply far beyond student-to-student interaction and behavior. I couldn’t help but see relevance in the way a word or act of kindness (in the face of cruelty, peer pressure, abuse of privilege) can have a meaningful positive influence.
And of course, I can’t neglect to mention the sweet romance integrated among the tough issues. Smart and musical, determined yet sensitive, Ella Parker has her choice of two very different guys—both provoking moments of liking and disliking for me. As the problems escalate and settle around her, the romance develops happily and proves not only sweet, but also invaluable for challenging the status quo.
All in all, The Crowd—quick yet memorable—is a pleasure to read, and readers of inspirational YA are sure to find it enjoyable. I quite enjoyed reading it and, naturally, now look forward to discovering what Alleece Balts has planned next for her characters and their story.
Thanks to the author, I received a complimentary copy of The Crowd and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
Author Alleece Balts debuts with The Crowd, an uplifting novel for the YA reader. A blend of hard, humorous, and heartfelt moments, it delivers a story worth reading and characters worth loving.
I don’t think I could have read The Crowd at a better time. Balts handily addresses issues of bullying, loneliness, and grief within the context of a prestigious boarding school, but the ensuing—and important—lessons of kindness, forgiveness, and redemption (plus the fitting quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt) apply far beyond student-to-student interaction and behavior. I couldn’t help but see relevance in the way a word or act of kindness (in the face of cruelty, peer pressure, abuse of privilege) can have a meaningful positive influence.
And of course, I can’t neglect to mention the sweet romance integrated among the tough issues. Smart and musical, determined yet sensitive, Ella Parker has her choice of two very different guys—both provoking moments of liking and disliking for me. As the problems escalate and settle around her, the romance develops happily and proves not only sweet, but also invaluable for challenging the status quo.
All in all, The Crowd—quick yet memorable—is a pleasure to read, and readers of inspirational YA are sure to find it enjoyable. I quite enjoyed reading it and, naturally, now look forward to discovering what Alleece Balts has planned next for her characters and their story.
Thanks to the author, I received a complimentary copy of The Crowd and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
December 19, 2016
When I began reading The Crowd, I really didn't know what to expect. I had heard bits and pieces about the story line, but I was not prepared for the twists and turns that are a part of this book! Ella is a wonderful main character and I found myself caring so much about her life, her relationships with others, and her school experiences. This book was an easy and enjoyable read. I found that I read it very quickly because I wanted to know what was going to happen! I am very excited to see what the author comes up with for the sequel to The Crowd.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of The Crowd in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of The Crowd in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2017
I loved this book so much - it's one of the few I've read as ebooks and thought "I have to get a paperback copy of this!" It's got to be one of the sweetest romances I've ever read, and I'm torn between shipping Ella and Jack way too hard and being madly in love with Jack myself :P Like the blurb says, The Crowd is irresistible. And I. Need. The. Sequel. Now.
The only thing about the book was there was some sexual content, especially one scene where Ella was hiding in a closet (she'd been snooping) while two students were... well. It wasn't a detailed scene but I would recommend this read for ages 15 or 16+.
The only thing about the book was there was some sexual content, especially one scene where Ella was hiding in a closet (she'd been snooping) while two students were... well. It wasn't a detailed scene but I would recommend this read for ages 15 or 16+.
June 29, 2016
I really enjoyed reading this book. The romance was sweet and I definitely had moments of being on pins and needles waiting for them to get together. I loved that the author tackled the topic of bullying in a clean but realistic way.
January 16, 2023
Very cute story. For a first novel it was so fun and interesting! I can't wait to see what happens with Ella, Jack, and Lucas in the next two books!
I loved all the characters and their backgrounds.
Boarding school stories are always fun and this one was no exception.
Loved it!
I loved all the characters and their backgrounds.
Boarding school stories are always fun and this one was no exception.
Loved it!
August 18, 2018
It's supposed to be clean but not nearly as much as I wanted or was led to believe. I'm disappointed by what is supposed to be contemporary Christian YA. 16+.
Read
July 12, 2023Facing an army of bullies wasn't part of the curriculum...
When bright and musically-gifted Ella Parker moves to a quiet town in southern Vermont to attend an illustrious private boarding school, she unwittingly catches the eye of the Academy's most influential pupil and discovers herself in the crosshairs of a powerful group of students known as "the Crowd." Ella quickly learns about the harsh social laws of popularity that rule her new school as she becomes the focus of physical bullying and cruel rumors.
But after an unlikely person comes to her rescue, Ella grows to better know the people around her and finds herself torn between a budding affection for Lucas Morales, a handsome and ambitious outcast from the town's public school, and Jack Montgomery, a popular and wealthy member of the Crowd with a dark past who seems intent on pursuing her.
Amid the tumult, Ella must rely on her faith in order to follow her heart, defy the Crowd, and challenge the school's social order.
When bright and musically-gifted Ella Parker moves to a quiet town in southern Vermont to attend an illustrious private boarding school, she unwittingly catches the eye of the Academy's most influential pupil and discovers herself in the crosshairs of a powerful group of students known as "the Crowd." Ella quickly learns about the harsh social laws of popularity that rule her new school as she becomes the focus of physical bullying and cruel rumors.
But after an unlikely person comes to her rescue, Ella grows to better know the people around her and finds herself torn between a budding affection for Lucas Morales, a handsome and ambitious outcast from the town's public school, and Jack Montgomery, a popular and wealthy member of the Crowd with a dark past who seems intent on pursuing her.
Amid the tumult, Ella must rely on her faith in order to follow her heart, defy the Crowd, and challenge the school's social order.
April 25, 2016
The Crowd by Alleece Balts is a book that is hard to put down. Finishing it in 2 days from start to finish, I stayed up late just to finish it. One bullied girl, a whole school of bullies (and victims), one popular guy, and one guy with a bad reputation and dark path. Twisted events, dark secrets, and unknown motives. This story touches on the tough topics in life. I would really recommend reading this book (unless you don't like tough topics). I could write about this book all day long, but I will keep it short.
**Got this book free from goodreads giveaways (THANK YOU SO MUCH)**
**Got this book free from goodreads giveaways (THANK YOU SO MUCH)**
May 2, 2016
I loved this book, I was instantly engrossed and attached to these characters and their stories. What seems to be a typical story about a girl and her troubles in school very quickly morphs into something much deeper and keeps surprising you. This is the kind of story where "just one more chapter" quickly turns into 3 or 4 (or 5...). I can't wait for the sequel!
July 24, 2016
I loved this debut novel by indie author Alleece Balts! The characters are real with flaws. If you like YA and romance stories that deal with friendship, bullying, fitting in, being an outsider, loss, love, finding one's self, etc., you will love this one. A sequel is in the works, and I can't wait!
April 1, 2016
Wonderful book, lovely story and fascinating characters. Quite a change from the thrillers(shoot-em-ups), a Trump bio, and and erotic submission I won and felt "obliged" to read.
Can't recommend it highly enough; understand it's a trilogy, can't wait for part 2!!!
Can't recommend it highly enough; understand it's a trilogy, can't wait for part 2!!!
May 17, 2016
Loved this and can't wait for book two! Good job Mrs. Balts! :D
September 10, 2023
I had a hard time putting this one down!
I don't read a lot of YA contemporary so I went in not knowing what to expect from this debut novel and was more than pleasantly surprised and how much I enjoyed the story! I was completely sucked in by the halfway point and then had to binge the rest!
Ella has transferred to an elite private high school and from day one, is the target of bullies. As she seeks to find her way, she makes friends with a boy from church and eventually with the most popular boy at the school.
Ella soon figures out that peer pressure can work both ways and as she seeks to make positive changes at the school, she also has to decide where her heart lies but shocking events may just r
What to expect:
High school YA
Prep school
New girl in class
Tutoring trope
Love triangle (sortof-ish?)
Multiple points of view
The "Penny" Date
Aunt Meg
Eleanor Roosevelt quotes
Jackson's redemption story
Light Christian themes -
The first kiss!!!
Ella's strong character
This was a quick and catchy read that was hard to put down. I thought the characters were well-developed and interesting, and though there is sort of a love triangle, it is pretty clear (at least it was to me) who Ella is going to choose so it didn't really feeling like a love triangle for very long.
The story is told from multiple points of view and it does jump from one character's head to another without warning and in the middle of chapters. Once I got used to it, I didn't mind at all. In fact, it was kind of fun to see lots of scenes from both character's viewpoints but that may not be something that every reader enjoys.
This is a Christian fiction and I loved that the beautiful themes of kindness, forgiveness, and redemption were included but not in a preachy way. It was more in how the characters lived their lives. Ella's quest to change the school showed that peer pressure can work both ways and that one person really can make a difference.
There was so much to love about this book, and once I realized that the story continues in the next book, I will definitely be picking that one up sometime.
TW: loss of parent, drug abuse/drinking (mentioned in past), bullying/teasing, school shooting (mentioned in past)
I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.
I don't read a lot of YA contemporary so I went in not knowing what to expect from this debut novel and was more than pleasantly surprised and how much I enjoyed the story! I was completely sucked in by the halfway point and then had to binge the rest!
Ella has transferred to an elite private high school and from day one, is the target of bullies. As she seeks to find her way, she makes friends with a boy from church and eventually with the most popular boy at the school.
Ella soon figures out that peer pressure can work both ways and as she seeks to make positive changes at the school, she also has to decide where her heart lies but shocking events may just r
What to expect:
High school YA
Prep school
New girl in class
Tutoring trope
Love triangle (sortof-ish?)
Multiple points of view
The "Penny" Date
Aunt Meg
Eleanor Roosevelt quotes
Jackson's redemption story
Light Christian themes -
The first kiss!!!
Ella's strong character
This was a quick and catchy read that was hard to put down. I thought the characters were well-developed and interesting, and though there is sort of a love triangle, it is pretty clear (at least it was to me) who Ella is going to choose so it didn't really feeling like a love triangle for very long.
The story is told from multiple points of view and it does jump from one character's head to another without warning and in the middle of chapters. Once I got used to it, I didn't mind at all. In fact, it was kind of fun to see lots of scenes from both character's viewpoints but that may not be something that every reader enjoys.
This is a Christian fiction and I loved that the beautiful themes of kindness, forgiveness, and redemption were included but not in a preachy way. It was more in how the characters lived their lives. Ella's quest to change the school showed that peer pressure can work both ways and that one person really can make a difference.
There was so much to love about this book, and once I realized that the story continues in the next book, I will definitely be picking that one up sometime.
TW: loss of parent, drug abuse/drinking (mentioned in past), bullying/teasing, school shooting (mentioned in past)
I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.
February 5, 2024
It is nice to find a contemporary young adult Christian fiction book. The Crowd has a lot to recommend it to high school aged readers. It dives into some hard topics including gun violence, substance abuse, and bullying, just to name a few. It was definitely hard for Ella to know who she could trust. Was there anyone authentic?
I, personally, am probably not the best target audience for this novel as I struggled with this story for the first half of the book. The point of view would randomly switch between characters within the same chapter and often even within the same paragraph. This made it hard for me to follow along at times. However, I adjusted to this writing style after awhile. I still felt a bit like I was on the outside looking in to the storyline, in general. More a spectator to what was going on rather than experiencing it myself.
Yet, I do have to mention that at the halfway mark, I found myself much more invested in the story. The author added some unique challenges and twists to this tale, which kept things interesting and kept me reading. I would recommended this for older teens.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
I, personally, am probably not the best target audience for this novel as I struggled with this story for the first half of the book. The point of view would randomly switch between characters within the same chapter and often even within the same paragraph. This made it hard for me to follow along at times. However, I adjusted to this writing style after awhile. I still felt a bit like I was on the outside looking in to the storyline, in general. More a spectator to what was going on rather than experiencing it myself.
Yet, I do have to mention that at the halfway mark, I found myself much more invested in the story. The author added some unique challenges and twists to this tale, which kept things interesting and kept me reading. I would recommended this for older teens.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
February 9, 2024
Seventeen year old Ella Parker is a bright and musically gifted girl. She is exited when accepted into a prestigious Whitfield Preparatory Academy for her senior year of high school. However, Ella finds her self in spotlight by an elite group of ruthless students dubbed “the Crowd. Life gets hard and daunting. It’s up to Ella, with the choice be humiliated or be able to stand up against tormentors in more ways than one…
“Kindness is contagious. Acts of kindness have a way of multiplying themselves.“
This is a book about chasing dreams, bitter disappointments, broken hard pasts, hopeful love, the weight of forgiveness, endearing characters, humor, choices, and being brave.
-Content: loss of parent, drug abuse/drinking (mentioned in past), bullying/teasing, violence, school shooting (mentioned in past), some kissing/implied situation, some crude talk.
“Kindness is contagious. Acts of kindness have a way of multiplying themselves.“
This is a book about chasing dreams, bitter disappointments, broken hard pasts, hopeful love, the weight of forgiveness, endearing characters, humor, choices, and being brave.
-Content: loss of parent, drug abuse/drinking (mentioned in past), bullying/teasing, violence, school shooting (mentioned in past), some kissing/implied situation, some crude talk.
October 11, 2023
Worth Your Time.
This is not at all a typical YA book. It does have a love triangle. It does have a boarding school. It has popular kids and cliques. But it deals with heavy topics in a good way. Ella is a great main character and I am glad I read this.
True story, I stopped part way through because the POVs switch a lot and it confused me but you'll get used to it. So just read it. Stick with it. It's worth your time.
This is not at all a typical YA book. It does have a love triangle. It does have a boarding school. It has popular kids and cliques. But it deals with heavy topics in a good way. Ella is a great main character and I am glad I read this.
True story, I stopped part way through because the POVs switch a lot and it confused me but you'll get used to it. So just read it. Stick with it. It's worth your time.
May 1, 2024
Physically got me kicking my feet in the air.😍
January 19, 2020
So enjoyed this book! Several topics are covered in this story. I laughed and I cried, I worried and rejoiced. Definitely looking forward to the next book!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews