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Tradition
Prestigious. Powerful. Privileged. This is Fullbrook Academy, an elite prep school where history looms in the leafy branches over its brick walkways. But some traditions upheld in its hallowed halls are profoundly dangerous.
Jules Devereux just wants to keep her head down, avoid distractions, and get into the right college, so she can leave Fullbrook and its old-boy social codes behind. She wants freedom, but ex-boyfriends and ex-best friends are determined to keep her in place.
Jamie Baxter feels like an imposter at Fullbrook, but the hockey scholarship that got him in has given him a chance to escape his past and fulfill the dreams of his parents and coaches, whose mantra rings in his ears: Don’t disappoint us.
When Jamie and Jules meet, they recognize in each other a similar instinct for survival, but at a school where girls in the student handbook are rated by their looks, athletes stack hockey pucks in dorm room windows like notches on a bedpost, and school-sponsored dances push first year girls out into the night with senior boys, the stakes for safe sex, real love, and true friendship couldn’t be higher.
As Jules and Jamie’s lives intertwine, and the pressures to play by the rules and remain silent about the school’s secrets intensify, they see Fullbrook for what it really is. That tradition, a word Fullbrook hides behind, can be ugly, even violent. Ultimately, Jules and Jamie are faced with the difficult question: can they stand together against classmates—and an institution—who believe they can do no wrong?
Jules Devereux just wants to keep her head down, avoid distractions, and get into the right college, so she can leave Fullbrook and its old-boy social codes behind. She wants freedom, but ex-boyfriends and ex-best friends are determined to keep her in place.
Jamie Baxter feels like an imposter at Fullbrook, but the hockey scholarship that got him in has given him a chance to escape his past and fulfill the dreams of his parents and coaches, whose mantra rings in his ears: Don’t disappoint us.
When Jamie and Jules meet, they recognize in each other a similar instinct for survival, but at a school where girls in the student handbook are rated by their looks, athletes stack hockey pucks in dorm room windows like notches on a bedpost, and school-sponsored dances push first year girls out into the night with senior boys, the stakes for safe sex, real love, and true friendship couldn’t be higher.
As Jules and Jamie’s lives intertwine, and the pressures to play by the rules and remain silent about the school’s secrets intensify, they see Fullbrook for what it really is. That tradition, a word Fullbrook hides behind, can be ugly, even violent. Ultimately, Jules and Jamie are faced with the difficult question: can they stand together against classmates—and an institution—who believe they can do no wrong?
342 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2018
80 people are currently reading
3494 people want to read
About the author
Brendan Kiely
13 books272 followersBrendan Kiely received an MFA in creative writing from The City College of New York. His writing has appeared in Fiction, Guernica, The AWP Writer’s Chronicle, and other publications. Originally from the Boston area, he now teaches at an independent high school and lives with his wife in Greenwich Village.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 453 reviews
May 4, 2018
Campus novels will never fail to pique my interest. But when I see an elite campus-set novel that provides an insight to the rape culture perpetuated there, I am doubly sold!
This split-perspective tale follows two outsiders to the exclusive Fullbrook Acadamy. Jules Devereux is the girl who is going somewhere. She has climbed to the pinnacle of the social hierarchy but, now a senior, is divorcing herself from her role there, and the expectations placed upon the females who attend this isolated, male-dominated world. Staying silent was her insurance to success but she must now decide what is more important.
Jamie Baxter is the campus new kid. His excellence in hockey sees him instantly installed with the powerful senior males who rule. However he never quite stops feeling like the outsider, especially when their locker-room banter and the everyday sexism that peppers their conversations continues to rankle him. Jamie must make his own decision too, about whether his silence is a worthy price to pay for comfort.
This novel made no secret about the issues it was confronting. It made for an often tense and an ever uncomfortable reading experience. From the title onwards, this was a novel that probed at every area of the elite boarding school world it was investigating. It discoursed on a variety of topics - such as consent, rape culture, and toxic masculinity - and provided some excellent points of discussion. A misogynistic way of thinking was the norm here and many sexist traditions were deemed acceptable. Kiely did an excellent job at making the reader consistently disturbed by this, and fighting against the silence such thoughts and actions were previously met with.
Throughout my reading I was constantly guessing at the direction this novel would take. I feared a happily-ever-after scenario and, for much of the last third, I felt this would be delivered. Thankfully, this novel did not continue on to deliver a prettily packaged parcel. The issues here are prevalent in many real-world establishments and I think it would have been unjust of this novel to 'cure' the notions perpetuated there in just over 300 pages. Instead, this was a stand against it. It provided both an insight to the lives of the next generation elite, went some way towards making the individuals aware of the sexism and misogyny they were promoting, and ended with a calling out of this behaviour. It delivered a strong political statement but was also aware it was but one of many needed to deliver an end to this way of thinking.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Brendan Kiely, and the publisher, Margaret K. McElderry Books, for this opportunity.
This split-perspective tale follows two outsiders to the exclusive Fullbrook Acadamy. Jules Devereux is the girl who is going somewhere. She has climbed to the pinnacle of the social hierarchy but, now a senior, is divorcing herself from her role there, and the expectations placed upon the females who attend this isolated, male-dominated world. Staying silent was her insurance to success but she must now decide what is more important.
Jamie Baxter is the campus new kid. His excellence in hockey sees him instantly installed with the powerful senior males who rule. However he never quite stops feeling like the outsider, especially when their locker-room banter and the everyday sexism that peppers their conversations continues to rankle him. Jamie must make his own decision too, about whether his silence is a worthy price to pay for comfort.
This novel made no secret about the issues it was confronting. It made for an often tense and an ever uncomfortable reading experience. From the title onwards, this was a novel that probed at every area of the elite boarding school world it was investigating. It discoursed on a variety of topics - such as consent, rape culture, and toxic masculinity - and provided some excellent points of discussion. A misogynistic way of thinking was the norm here and many sexist traditions were deemed acceptable. Kiely did an excellent job at making the reader consistently disturbed by this, and fighting against the silence such thoughts and actions were previously met with.
Throughout my reading I was constantly guessing at the direction this novel would take. I feared a happily-ever-after scenario and, for much of the last third, I felt this would be delivered. Thankfully, this novel did not continue on to deliver a prettily packaged parcel. The issues here are prevalent in many real-world establishments and I think it would have been unjust of this novel to 'cure' the notions perpetuated there in just over 300 pages. Instead, this was a stand against it. It provided both an insight to the lives of the next generation elite, went some way towards making the individuals aware of the sexism and misogyny they were promoting, and ended with a calling out of this behaviour. It delivered a strong political statement but was also aware it was but one of many needed to deliver an end to this way of thinking.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Brendan Kiely, and the publisher, Margaret K. McElderry Books, for this opportunity.
July 12, 2025
1.5 STARS bumped up to 2 for trying.
TRADITION checks all the boxes for books I usually love.
Boarding school? Check
Sexual assault and recovery? Check
Calling out toxic masculinity? Check
Here’s the BUT: but I not only didn’t love the story, I didn’t even like it.
Some men write women so well, I don’t know the gender. Brendan Kiely isn’t one of those writers, at least not in TRADITION.
TRADITION is a book that means very well. It’s an important story executed in too heavy handed a way to feel authentic.
We’re introduced to Jules, a feminist with an attitude that’s more important to her than her message. She wants to hand out pamphlets about a girl/woman’s clinic on freshman move in day. Instead of presenting the info in a way not to alienate nervous parents, she’s in your face. Later, a teacher asks her to put away a tampon and she starts a campaign to put tampons on everyone’s desk. Yeah a man wrote this.
Jamie, the new guy in school we know is going to be The Boy Who Gets It, because he’s wounded and has secrets and joins in the campaign. I hope his character is a role model for boys reading the book, though I suspect if boys do read TRADITION, they already do the right thing. Those who don’t won’t read this type book.
The tone Kiely’s writing misses on the emotion. I’m sure a lot of readers will enjoy TRADITION, but I’m not one of them,
TRADITION checks all the boxes for books I usually love.
Boarding school? Check
Sexual assault and recovery? Check
Calling out toxic masculinity? Check
Here’s the BUT: but I not only didn’t love the story, I didn’t even like it.
Some men write women so well, I don’t know the gender. Brendan Kiely isn’t one of those writers, at least not in TRADITION.
TRADITION is a book that means very well. It’s an important story executed in too heavy handed a way to feel authentic.
We’re introduced to Jules, a feminist with an attitude that’s more important to her than her message. She wants to hand out pamphlets about a girl/woman’s clinic on freshman move in day. Instead of presenting the info in a way not to alienate nervous parents, she’s in your face. Later, a teacher asks her to put away a tampon and she starts a campaign to put tampons on everyone’s desk. Yeah a man wrote this.
Jamie, the new guy in school we know is going to be The Boy Who Gets It, because he’s wounded and has secrets and joins in the campaign. I hope his character is a role model for boys reading the book, though I suspect if boys do read TRADITION, they already do the right thing. Those who don’t won’t read this type book.
The tone Kiely’s writing misses on the emotion. I’m sure a lot of readers will enjoy TRADITION, but I’m not one of them,
Read
May 28, 2018What the book attempts to do -- show the way that "tradition" and "honor" allow a system of rape culture and toxic masculinity to flourish -- it fails. There's nothing really showcasing "tradition" and "honor" until the last section of the book, the Winter Ball, which literally makes no sense in the context of the grander story.
Both Jules and Bax are weakly developed. Jules is a stereotypical feminist and Bax is a ~woke white dude~ and her partner in crime. Neither are more than those stock styles.
Also, it's boring.
What a disappointing read. Pick up HONOR CODE by Kiersi Burkhart instead. It's not perfect, but it at least gives development of an elite private school and the pressure chamber and "legacies" that exist within it.
You could also skip both and read something like SPEAK or ALL THE RAGE or many, many other titles to explore rape culture in a more authentic, well-rendered manner.
Both Jules and Bax are weakly developed. Jules is a stereotypical feminist and Bax is a ~woke white dude~ and her partner in crime. Neither are more than those stock styles.
Also, it's boring.
What a disappointing read. Pick up HONOR CODE by Kiersi Burkhart instead. It's not perfect, but it at least gives development of an elite private school and the pressure chamber and "legacies" that exist within it.
You could also skip both and read something like SPEAK or ALL THE RAGE or many, many other titles to explore rape culture in a more authentic, well-rendered manner.
May 15, 2018
3.5 Stars!
May 3, 2019
5+/5 Sterne
Elite
Die Welt gehört euch nicht.
von Brendan Kiely
Bastei Lübbe
„Dafür steht die altehrwürdige Fullbrook Academy. James Baxter stammt aus bescheidenen Verhältnissen und verdankt seinen Platz an der Highschool einem Eishockey-Stipendium. Er ist ein Außenseiter in dieser Welt der Privilegierten. Ebenso wie Jules Devereux, die an der ganzen Schule als Rebellin bekannt ist und seit Jahren gegen überholte Traditionen, den alltäglichen Sexismus und jede Form von Diskriminierung kämpft. Als eine Party aus dem Ruder läuft, erheben James und Jules ihre Stimmen und stellen sich gegen die Macht der Elite.
Ein hochaktueller Roman über Traditionen von gestern und den Mut, für ein besseres Morgen einzustehen“
Ich bedanke mich bei Netgalley und dem Bastei Lübbe Verlag für das Rezensionsexemplar des Buches.
Zu diesem Buch muss ich gleich zu Beginn sagen, es ist nicht einfach nur ein Roman sondern eine Erinnerung und ein Wachrütteln an unsere Gesellschaft, die geprägt ist von Traditionen aus verschiedenen Kulturen mit deren Sitten und Gebräuchen und in vielen dieser Kulturen, ob es nun neue oder alte sind spielt immer wieder sexuelle Macht und Übergriffe ein Rolle. Nicht nur an einer Eliteuni wie hier. Daher ist meine allererste Aussage zu diesem Buch, es sollte als Pflichtlektüre an Schulen eingeführt werden.
Dieses Buch ist ein sehr realistischer Blick auf den Sport und die Aufregung des Spiels, leistet aber auch einen guten Job, wenn es darum geht, die Probleme der toxischen Männlichkeit innerhalb einer Teamstruktur zu beleuchten. Es geht darum, wie man sich dagegen wehren kann, während man selbst immer noch Teil dieser Welt ist. Es zeigt tiefe Freundschaften zwischen Männern und Frauen, die nicht auf Romantik oder Sex basieren. Es befasst sich mit sexueller Gewalt und wie Menschen versuchen, Opfer zum Schweigen zu bringen. Noch wichtiger ist, dass es Wege aufzeigt, mit sexueller Gewalt umzugehen, Überlebende zu sein und Freunde nach einem Angriff zu unterstützen.
Ich möchte, dass dieses Buch in Klassen, in Buchclubs für Jugendliche und für Männer und Frauen zu Diskussionen zu diesen Themen führt. Ich möchte, dass Jugendliche erzählen können, was sie um sich herum sehen, was sie gelernt haben, und versuchen, die Dinge herauszufinden, die sie lernen müssen. Ich kann dieses Buch wirklich nur weiter empfehlen und habe 5+/5 Sternen vergeben.
#belletristik #jugendbuch #rezension #rezensionsexemplar #roman #bookstagram #brendankiely #basteilübbe #bücher #bücherliebe #booklover #reading #bookadict #elite #dieweltgehörteuchnicht #leseratte #bücherwurm #bookworm #bookaholic #lesen #lesenmachtglücklich #instabooks #booknerd #readingtime #ilovebooks #netgalley #netgalleyde #ichliebelesen #buchnerd #ichliebebücher
Elite
Die Welt gehört euch nicht.
von Brendan Kiely
Bastei Lübbe
„Dafür steht die altehrwürdige Fullbrook Academy. James Baxter stammt aus bescheidenen Verhältnissen und verdankt seinen Platz an der Highschool einem Eishockey-Stipendium. Er ist ein Außenseiter in dieser Welt der Privilegierten. Ebenso wie Jules Devereux, die an der ganzen Schule als Rebellin bekannt ist und seit Jahren gegen überholte Traditionen, den alltäglichen Sexismus und jede Form von Diskriminierung kämpft. Als eine Party aus dem Ruder läuft, erheben James und Jules ihre Stimmen und stellen sich gegen die Macht der Elite.
Ein hochaktueller Roman über Traditionen von gestern und den Mut, für ein besseres Morgen einzustehen“
Ich bedanke mich bei Netgalley und dem Bastei Lübbe Verlag für das Rezensionsexemplar des Buches.
Zu diesem Buch muss ich gleich zu Beginn sagen, es ist nicht einfach nur ein Roman sondern eine Erinnerung und ein Wachrütteln an unsere Gesellschaft, die geprägt ist von Traditionen aus verschiedenen Kulturen mit deren Sitten und Gebräuchen und in vielen dieser Kulturen, ob es nun neue oder alte sind spielt immer wieder sexuelle Macht und Übergriffe ein Rolle. Nicht nur an einer Eliteuni wie hier. Daher ist meine allererste Aussage zu diesem Buch, es sollte als Pflichtlektüre an Schulen eingeführt werden.
Dieses Buch ist ein sehr realistischer Blick auf den Sport und die Aufregung des Spiels, leistet aber auch einen guten Job, wenn es darum geht, die Probleme der toxischen Männlichkeit innerhalb einer Teamstruktur zu beleuchten. Es geht darum, wie man sich dagegen wehren kann, während man selbst immer noch Teil dieser Welt ist. Es zeigt tiefe Freundschaften zwischen Männern und Frauen, die nicht auf Romantik oder Sex basieren. Es befasst sich mit sexueller Gewalt und wie Menschen versuchen, Opfer zum Schweigen zu bringen. Noch wichtiger ist, dass es Wege aufzeigt, mit sexueller Gewalt umzugehen, Überlebende zu sein und Freunde nach einem Angriff zu unterstützen.
Ich möchte, dass dieses Buch in Klassen, in Buchclubs für Jugendliche und für Männer und Frauen zu Diskussionen zu diesen Themen führt. Ich möchte, dass Jugendliche erzählen können, was sie um sich herum sehen, was sie gelernt haben, und versuchen, die Dinge herauszufinden, die sie lernen müssen. Ich kann dieses Buch wirklich nur weiter empfehlen und habe 5+/5 Sternen vergeben.
#belletristik #jugendbuch #rezension #rezensionsexemplar #roman #bookstagram #brendankiely #basteilübbe #bücher #bücherliebe #booklover #reading #bookadict #elite #dieweltgehörteuchnicht #leseratte #bücherwurm #bookworm #bookaholic #lesen #lesenmachtglücklich #instabooks #booknerd #readingtime #ilovebooks #netgalley #netgalleyde #ichliebelesen #buchnerd #ichliebebücher
January 15, 2018
A powerful, emotional, and important book. With the dual POV, it adds another layer to the conversations around assault and consent that we should be having with all of our adolescents of any gender.
Add this to a text set starting with Speak, and including any of the titles around assault and consent and power that you can find to reach our kids. This is a must add title for every high school classroom library.
Add this to a text set starting with Speak, and including any of the titles around assault and consent and power that you can find to reach our kids. This is a must add title for every high school classroom library.
April 17, 2018
A stunning and thoughtfully written examination of toxic masculinity and rape culture. A dual narrative that works surprisingly well and several scenes that will surprise you and make you think. I can't say too much, but there's a late-in-the-book moment that had me in tears.
September 19, 2018
i love stories set in boarding schools. Enjoyed this story immensely. Loved the central characters.
July 11, 2020
3.5 Stars. It was quite a slow burn but I loved the ending!
July 26, 2022
My worst read in years.
I would give this incredibly “trying to be woke” badly composed novel a 0 if I could.
Firstly, it’s very clear that the book tries to portray women from a man’s perspective. The main character, Jules, is the epitome of a stereotypical feminist. Her main focus of social campaign in her high school during half of the book is normalizing periods (a very irrelevant issue in the overall feminist movement, especially in a high school with severe rape culture as the author tries to portray it as).
Secondly, Kiely tries to portray EVERY SINGLE social inequality as highly prevalent in the school: sexism, homophobia, racism, classism, sexual violence, abuse of power, toxic masculinity etc. This becomes very unrealistic after a while, partly because Kiely tries to portray everyone at the school as extremely unlikeable in order to prove this point. This causes the book to be more or less boring, and extremely predictable: everything is unjust at the school, and any attempt to fix it will be met with ignorance.
April 26, 2018
3 stars.
Thank you so much, Simon & Schuster for sending me this for review.
These types of books are important. Sexual assault is an incredibly detrimental topic that needs to be discussed, so I'm willing to read pretty much any book that discusses it, but this honestly left me feeling unsatisfied.
My biggest problem was how in depth it went with the subject. I was waiting until 100 pages in for SOMETHING to happen, but the event that kicked the entire assault topic off, didn't happen till over halfway through, leaving not enough time to develop the topic - therefore, I wasn't as invested as I wanted to be.
I wanted to see more of the emotional trauma that followed what our main character went through, but with a mix of bad pacing and bland characters, I found myself not caring.
Thank you so much, Simon & Schuster for sending me this for review.
These types of books are important. Sexual assault is an incredibly detrimental topic that needs to be discussed, so I'm willing to read pretty much any book that discusses it, but this honestly left me feeling unsatisfied.
My biggest problem was how in depth it went with the subject. I was waiting until 100 pages in for SOMETHING to happen, but the event that kicked the entire assault topic off, didn't happen till over halfway through, leaving not enough time to develop the topic - therefore, I wasn't as invested as I wanted to be.
I wanted to see more of the emotional trauma that followed what our main character went through, but with a mix of bad pacing and bland characters, I found myself not caring.
February 12, 2018
Yes, it's another book about sexual assault and another book perfect for the never-ending #metoo display. Don't we have enough of these by now? No, no we don't because these stories are still happening and are stronger than ever. What sets this one apart is that it's written by a male author and it also has duel male and female first-person perspectives. I appreciated so much having that male point-of-view and think it adds another layer to the story. The ending was anti-climatic and felt a bit too forced and it's definitely not the happily-ever-after the characters deserve. Still a recommended read and a good readalike for Moxie.
July 8, 2018
This book has good intentions of tackling rape culture and toxic masculinity, but falls flat in its goal. Storytelling was boring and sort of heavy handed. Characters are flat - Jules is your stock feminist who seems to exist for her stances and not as a nuanced person. I would like to see more motivation behind her character - what makes her champion all these causes? Who is she beyond the activist? Bax - your typical woke male ally. The reader does get glimpse of the mis-step prior to Fullbrook, but for the majority of the book, he is your stock white ally. Very stereotypical characters. If you are interested in a book tackling rape culture, try All the Rage by Courtney Summers instead.
May 6, 2018
Blog tour: https://confessionsofayareader.wordpr...
Tradition is one of those books that every teenager should read. I definitely need to warn people that this book is about sexual abuse.
Jules and Bax are the two narrators in Tradition. The book takes place in a private high school in New England. The majority of the kids that go there are extremely privalaged, their parents paying the $50,000 a year tuition without a problem. Bax (James Baxter, Buckeye) isn’t one of those kids. He is there to play hockey. Bax was given a second chance after he crippled someone playing football the year before. Jules is super smart, but is tired of all the typical bullshit that goes on in a school like Fullbrook.
I actually liked both Jules and Bax. Jules was a feminist, trying to get kids to listen even when they just called her crazy. She used to be popular until she broke up with one of the most popular guys at school. The same guy who ended up dating her friend right after. Bax struggles with his studies and fitting in, but he is a loyal friend and not at all into the “traditions” at Fullbrook.
Javi is the gay best friend of Jules. They actually dated before he came out. I adored him and their friendship. Aileen is kind of an outcast who joins their group. The friendship these four develop is strong and pretty amazing.
One night at a party, Jules is assaulted by her ex. He blames her and says she wanted it to happen. When she goes to the school, nothing happens. It becomes apparent that the school would rather ignore the issue. In fact, they have these traditions that almost encourage it. Mainly, the dance where seniors are paired up as dates with the freshmen. They called it the Senior Send-Off. The boys also had graffiti all over about girls. The hockey players stacked pucks in their rooms to show how many girls they slept with.
Jules finally decides that enough is enough and finds a way to make a statement, even if it means getting kicked out of school.
This is a powerful book that exposes what we see too much of on campuses, whether high schools or colleges. So many boys get away with these assaults and so many schools cover it up. I hope that students will read this book and get inspired by Jules. That they will see that they aren’t alone and they should stand up. I also hope that boys will read this and learn to respect girls and that no means no every time.
Thank you to the publishers for sending me a copy to review for a blog tour. I gave this book 4 1/2 stars.
Tradition is one of those books that every teenager should read. I definitely need to warn people that this book is about sexual abuse.
Jules and Bax are the two narrators in Tradition. The book takes place in a private high school in New England. The majority of the kids that go there are extremely privalaged, their parents paying the $50,000 a year tuition without a problem. Bax (James Baxter, Buckeye) isn’t one of those kids. He is there to play hockey. Bax was given a second chance after he crippled someone playing football the year before. Jules is super smart, but is tired of all the typical bullshit that goes on in a school like Fullbrook.
I actually liked both Jules and Bax. Jules was a feminist, trying to get kids to listen even when they just called her crazy. She used to be popular until she broke up with one of the most popular guys at school. The same guy who ended up dating her friend right after. Bax struggles with his studies and fitting in, but he is a loyal friend and not at all into the “traditions” at Fullbrook.
Javi is the gay best friend of Jules. They actually dated before he came out. I adored him and their friendship. Aileen is kind of an outcast who joins their group. The friendship these four develop is strong and pretty amazing.
One night at a party, Jules is assaulted by her ex. He blames her and says she wanted it to happen. When she goes to the school, nothing happens. It becomes apparent that the school would rather ignore the issue. In fact, they have these traditions that almost encourage it. Mainly, the dance where seniors are paired up as dates with the freshmen. They called it the Senior Send-Off. The boys also had graffiti all over about girls. The hockey players stacked pucks in their rooms to show how many girls they slept with.
Jules finally decides that enough is enough and finds a way to make a statement, even if it means getting kicked out of school.
This is a powerful book that exposes what we see too much of on campuses, whether high schools or colleges. So many boys get away with these assaults and so many schools cover it up. I hope that students will read this book and get inspired by Jules. That they will see that they aren’t alone and they should stand up. I also hope that boys will read this and learn to respect girls and that no means no every time.
Thank you to the publishers for sending me a copy to review for a blog tour. I gave this book 4 1/2 stars.
June 4, 2018
There is no doubt this message is an important one, but I needed more from the characters. The complexity and shame and fear and frustration and entitlement and humiliation and silence of a rape culture are infuriating and confusing traits that persist because we ignore so much. I wanted this book to shake its readers a little deeper...to be more searing or sharp...to be more relatable. It is too easy to place these students in an elite boarding school where helicopters bring rich parents to emergency meetings. This behavior is everywhere.
I truly appreciate the writer taking on this subject, but there is so much more to be said.
I truly appreciate the writer taking on this subject, but there is so much more to be said.
May 7, 2018
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Although I did not attend an elite boarding school, I found some of the "traditions" in this book hit home. I went to a very small high school in a very small town, where one of the senior privileges was access to a triangle of grass, wedged between the glass hallways of the building extension and the original school structure. This area was called the "senior lounge". The seniors would sit out there, relax, and as the girls walked by, the boys would hold up pieces of paper, rating each girl who passed. This "tradition" was demeaning to the women walking the glass hallway, but was never challenged.
It's been a really long time since I thought about the senior lounge, and how it made me feel, but reading Tradition made me wish I had a Bax and a Jules back then, to challenge this activity, which was demoralizing and the norm in my school culture.
From Wikipedia:
Kiely deftly tackles toxic masculinity, sexual violence, and class issues. He does so in a way, that made me really pay attention. At no point did I feel as though I was being lectured or spoken at. Rather, Kiely let's these ideas merge with the story in an organic way, which kept me interested and listening.
One of the things I really liked, was the way the story was told. Kiely employed the dual point of view structure, and it was perfect, because it allowed the reader to learn about Fullbrook from someone on the inside and from someone on the outside.
Jules was a Fullbrook legacy student. Her mother counted herself among the first females to attend the institution, but Jules was counting down until she could escape this school and its culture that disguised bad behavior as tradition. Once part of the "in-crowd", she was now viewed less favorably as a troublemaking feminist, and seemed alone in her battled.
Bax was the outsider. He was awarded a hockey scholarship, and was automatically accepted as part of the "boys' club". However, there were circumstances, which brought Bax to Fullbrook. He had been part of a rather horrific accident, and he sort of lost it all back in Ohio. Because of what happened, he sought to become a better person. He reflected often on advice his ex-girlfriend gave him, and especially embraced the art of listening.
It was heartbreaking watching Jules fade before my eyes. I had so much rage for what happened to her, but was glad that she had Javier, Bax, and Aileen as her allies in this fight.
Bax was actually the standout for me in this book. His journey was one I was happy to be a part of. He actively had to wage a war with ideas that were so ingrained in him, but he did it, because he knew those ideas were wrong. It's a difficult line he had to walk, because he needed that scholarship. He saw Fullbrook as his last chance at a future, and therefore, Bax struggles throughout the story with challenging the school norms. There were quite a few times I wanted to cheer for Bax, because I was proud of him, when he had to make those difficult decisions.
Overall: A thoughtful and honest look at what happens when we challenge "traditions", which I think will serve as an excellent conversation starter.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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Although I did not attend an elite boarding school, I found some of the "traditions" in this book hit home. I went to a very small high school in a very small town, where one of the senior privileges was access to a triangle of grass, wedged between the glass hallways of the building extension and the original school structure. This area was called the "senior lounge". The seniors would sit out there, relax, and as the girls walked by, the boys would hold up pieces of paper, rating each girl who passed. This "tradition" was demeaning to the women walking the glass hallway, but was never challenged.
I was incensed. Filled with rage, yes, but the word "incensed" has a deeper meaning. It was first used to describe fire-breathing animals on medieval coats of arms -- and that's exactly how I felt right then, like I wanted to breathe fire and burn their aggressive laughter right up in smoke.
It's been a really long time since I thought about the senior lounge, and how it made me feel, but reading Tradition made me wish I had a Bax and a Jules back then, to challenge this activity, which was demoralizing and the norm in my school culture.
From Wikipedia:
Toxic masculinity is defined by adherence to traditional male gender roles that restrict the kinds of emotions allowable for boys and men to express, including social expectations that men seek to be dominant (the "alpha male") and limit their emotional range primarily to expressions of anger.
Kiely deftly tackles toxic masculinity, sexual violence, and class issues. He does so in a way, that made me really pay attention. At no point did I feel as though I was being lectured or spoken at. Rather, Kiely let's these ideas merge with the story in an organic way, which kept me interested and listening.
He stole something else. Something deeper -- like the voice inside my head, the thought before my word, the rest before my heart. He took it, and everywhere I went, I walked as a person with something missing. I want it back.
One of the things I really liked, was the way the story was told. Kiely employed the dual point of view structure, and it was perfect, because it allowed the reader to learn about Fullbrook from someone on the inside and from someone on the outside.
it was more how everyone acted. Like cruelty was currency, and the meaner you were, the richer you were.
Jules was a Fullbrook legacy student. Her mother counted herself among the first females to attend the institution, but Jules was counting down until she could escape this school and its culture that disguised bad behavior as tradition. Once part of the "in-crowd", she was now viewed less favorably as a troublemaking feminist, and seemed alone in her battled.
I once heard another girl put it like this: This is a boys' school and they accept girls here too.
Bax was the outsider. He was awarded a hockey scholarship, and was automatically accepted as part of the "boys' club". However, there were circumstances, which brought Bax to Fullbrook. He had been part of a rather horrific accident, and he sort of lost it all back in Ohio. Because of what happened, he sought to become a better person. He reflected often on advice his ex-girlfriend gave him, and especially embraced the art of listening.
No woman had walked on the moon. And when she did, because surely that would happen one day -- wouldn't it? -- there would be all the jokes, because that was also inevitable. For every achievement there was always the joke intended to take it away.
It was heartbreaking watching Jules fade before my eyes. I had so much rage for what happened to her, but was glad that she had Javier, Bax, and Aileen as her allies in this fight.
I guess I hadn't said anything when I'd seen others be that way to her. Collateral damage is real. What about collateral accountability? I hadn't thought about that.
Bax was actually the standout for me in this book. His journey was one I was happy to be a part of. He actively had to wage a war with ideas that were so ingrained in him, but he did it, because he knew those ideas were wrong. It's a difficult line he had to walk, because he needed that scholarship. He saw Fullbrook as his last chance at a future, and therefore, Bax struggles throughout the story with challenging the school norms. There were quite a few times I wanted to cheer for Bax, because I was proud of him, when he had to make those difficult decisions.
At a place like Fullbrook, a man could do whatever he wanted to me, to anyone, and get away with it.
Overall: A thoughtful and honest look at what happens when we challenge "traditions", which I think will serve as an excellent conversation starter.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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December 29, 2017
Very important story! I liked the characters and appreciated their bravery...
June 12, 2018
An important novel!
Wow, so much admiration for Brendan Kiely for writing a novel addressing rape culture in a private school filled with tradition that perpetuates disgusting, unacceptable, criminal behavior. This is a book about speaking up and speaking out. Memorable characters who embrace their identities.
Bravo!
Wow, so much admiration for Brendan Kiely for writing a novel addressing rape culture in a private school filled with tradition that perpetuates disgusting, unacceptable, criminal behavior. This is a book about speaking up and speaking out. Memorable characters who embrace their identities.
Bravo!
February 8, 2018
In “Tradition,” a compelling story of privilege, prominence and prestige at Fullbrook Academy, Brendan Kiely tackles the difficult topic of rape and its cultural prevalence in present society. Meet legacy Jules Devereaux, hoping to shuffle through her senior year without incident and blackballed James Baxter, a blue-collar boy given a second chance with a full-ride hockey scholarship. While questioning the rules of the institution and their precarious positions within, Jules and James form an unlikely alliance ready to topple Fullbrook’s fail-safe existence. Kiely has created a powerful tale sure to ignite a conscious conversation and add momentum to the ever present #MeToo movement.
January 23, 2019
I don't know why more people aren't talking about this book! Tradition is brilliantly written look at toxic masculinity, rape culture, and privilege, set at an exclusive boarding school. The author demonstrates perfectly how men can be allies of women AND how straight men can support gay men in a positive way. He brings a much needed perspective to these critical issues of the day.
This book is a dual perspective narrative set at Fullbrook Academy, a place where tradition institutionalizes rape culture and toxic forms of masculinity.
- Jules is a senior at Fullbrook who is shunned for being an outspoken feminist and being "crazy" after breaking up with her popular boyfriend the previous year. (Can we talk about how this narrative demonstrates women being minimized and made to feel crazy for speaking up against injustice and sexist behavior? Because it's a real thing, and we definitely see that here.)
- Jamie is a new scholarship student recruited to play hockey. Because of his massive size and involvement in sports, he has been pushed into damaging masculine behaviors, but beneath the surface he wants to listen and genuinely cares about what is right.
There is also a gay side character who experiences bullying and judgement for his sexual orientation. The author deftly handles his story in a way that is illuminating and empowering.
At times difficult to read, this is a hard-hitting story that is everything we need right now. Be aware that there are scenes of sexual assault and discussion of past sexual assault. And the way it is done effectively demonstrates that what counts as rape is not one-dimensional. Overall, I loved this and definitely recommend it.
This book is a dual perspective narrative set at Fullbrook Academy, a place where tradition institutionalizes rape culture and toxic forms of masculinity.
- Jules is a senior at Fullbrook who is shunned for being an outspoken feminist and being "crazy" after breaking up with her popular boyfriend the previous year. (Can we talk about how this narrative demonstrates women being minimized and made to feel crazy for speaking up against injustice and sexist behavior? Because it's a real thing, and we definitely see that here.)
- Jamie is a new scholarship student recruited to play hockey. Because of his massive size and involvement in sports, he has been pushed into damaging masculine behaviors, but beneath the surface he wants to listen and genuinely cares about what is right.
There is also a gay side character who experiences bullying and judgement for his sexual orientation. The author deftly handles his story in a way that is illuminating and empowering.
At times difficult to read, this is a hard-hitting story that is everything we need right now. Be aware that there are scenes of sexual assault and discussion of past sexual assault. And the way it is done effectively demonstrates that what counts as rape is not one-dimensional. Overall, I loved this and definitely recommend it.
June 18, 2019
Tradition deals with themes of consent, toxic masculinity, and male privilege in ways that feel so appropriate and timely. The narrative took a bit too long to gather steam, but once it did I was hooked. Told through two perspectives, a boy and girl at an exclusive private school, the story portrays the strength, heart, and perseverance needed to stand up against a culture that portrays women as inferior objects. I loved that the male protagonist embodies feminist ideals and has the courage to defy expectations. It was refreshing, and I hope young, male readers walk away with an understanding that it's okay to be emotional, vulnerable, and sensitive. In a world where men are taught that violence and anger are their only outlets, that's a message we could all benefit from hearing.
July 24, 2018
Review coming soon
June 28, 2021
“It was so impossible for me to understand what it was like to be afraid like that. To walk afraid.”
TW // Sexu#l Ass#ult
This was a quote that I found absolutely beautiful in this book.
Here are some things this book needed more of, as I didn’t give it a perfect rating. This is both for prospective readers and the author for feedback:
1. There was some romance. However, usually it revolves around image to the public and sex, as this is a rich kid high school full of whites and some poc and like 2 gay kids. That’s my next thing. But I was extremely disappointed that I didn’t see more of Aileen and James, especially as a cute couple. We had a failed sex scene, some fleeting kisses, and…that’s about it. No really sappy romance, or enough romance that it could be considered a common running theme in this book. It’s not. There were so many perfect—and missed—opportunities for that. PLUS JAMES AND AILEEN WERE SO CUTE OMG. Brendan Kiely, maybe take some notes from Colleen Hoover—AN ACTUAL QUEEN WHO DESERVE MORE HYPE THAN SHE DOES. This book could have been a little better and now that I think ab it I get a little sad when I consider the missed chances.
2. More diversity. Javi was perfect, and so was Max. And then they were perfect together. There were about no lgbtq+ characters in this book aside from them, those two, that were actually actively and clearly lgbtq+. mostly straight kids/couples. and i liked that, it was refreshing from modern-day lit, as it was a little bit more realistic (y’all don’t come for me) but more POC or something would have been great.
3. The SA representation. It was fine, and the victim blaming seemed accurate to me, but I just 🎢 x1 and it wasn’t good enough. There just was no resolution, which comes to my next point.
4. I would like an ending, which the author kind of owes us. Did they get suspended, expelled, on probation, or did she (the one SA, which is a spoiler so) get justice?? i’m mad. i waited all book for this and it didn’t even come. k.
5. There was also a lot of page space that was used for filler sentences and useless text, that could have been used for (see above points). thanks.
I liked the characters, though. Except Ethan and Gillian and the Headmaster (forget his name rn lol). They can 🌉
anyways that’s all.
1.5/5 stars ⭐️
Read if you like:
just kidding, don’t. maybe this author will redeem himself a little bit.
Diversity rate?: mostly white straight kids. all are cis, in case that’s something that bothers you.
✌️✌️ anyways, next read. peace out.
-M.<3
TW // Sexu#l Ass#ult
This was a quote that I found absolutely beautiful in this book.
Here are some things this book needed more of, as I didn’t give it a perfect rating. This is both for prospective readers and the author for feedback:
1. There was some romance. However, usually it revolves around image to the public and sex, as this is a rich kid high school full of whites and some poc and like 2 gay kids. That’s my next thing. But I was extremely disappointed that I didn’t see more of Aileen and James, especially as a cute couple. We had a failed sex scene, some fleeting kisses, and…that’s about it. No really sappy romance, or enough romance that it could be considered a common running theme in this book. It’s not. There were so many perfect—and missed—opportunities for that. PLUS JAMES AND AILEEN WERE SO CUTE OMG. Brendan Kiely, maybe take some notes from Colleen Hoover—AN ACTUAL QUEEN WHO DESERVE MORE HYPE THAN SHE DOES. This book could have been a little better and now that I think ab it I get a little sad when I consider the missed chances.
2. More diversity. Javi was perfect, and so was Max. And then they were perfect together. There were about no lgbtq+ characters in this book aside from them, those two, that were actually actively and clearly lgbtq+. mostly straight kids/couples. and i liked that, it was refreshing from modern-day lit, as it was a little bit more realistic (y’all don’t come for me) but more POC or something would have been great.
3. The SA representation. It was fine, and the victim blaming seemed accurate to me, but I just 🎢 x1 and it wasn’t good enough. There just was no resolution, which comes to my next point.
4. I would like an ending, which the author kind of owes us. Did they get suspended, expelled, on probation, or did she (the one SA, which is a spoiler so) get justice?? i’m mad. i waited all book for this and it didn’t even come. k.
5. There was also a lot of page space that was used for filler sentences and useless text, that could have been used for (see above points). thanks.
I liked the characters, though. Except Ethan and Gillian and the Headmaster (forget his name rn lol). They can 🌉
anyways that’s all.
1.5/5 stars ⭐️
Read if you like:
just kidding, don’t. maybe this author will redeem himself a little bit.
Diversity rate?: mostly white straight kids. all are cis, in case that’s something that bothers you.
✌️✌️ anyways, next read. peace out.
-M.<3
April 24, 2018
Tradition. Hard to shake off. Something that has stood the test of time. Sometimes traditions uphold behaviours that are toxic. So, what do you do if you find yourself part of that culture?
That is the question tackled in this contemporary novel.
Kiely presents us with a dual person narrative - one male and one female - and this gives us the opportunity to explore some of the questions circulating so widely.
Both Jules and James come from very different backgrounds, and for different reasons they find themselves increasingly concerned by the ramifications of upholding Fullbrook traditions. I enjoyed this element of the novel, and felt the character of James Baxter was the one who experienced more development.
The details are spilled gradually, and events build to a gripping finale. Ultimately, however, there’s no indication that things will change and while realistic it was a pretty depressing message to give.
Thanks to NetGalley for granting me access to read this prior to publication. I’ve already pre-ordered my copy as this is a book that I’ll encourage all my students to pick up.
That is the question tackled in this contemporary novel.
Kiely presents us with a dual person narrative - one male and one female - and this gives us the opportunity to explore some of the questions circulating so widely.
Both Jules and James come from very different backgrounds, and for different reasons they find themselves increasingly concerned by the ramifications of upholding Fullbrook traditions. I enjoyed this element of the novel, and felt the character of James Baxter was the one who experienced more development.
The details are spilled gradually, and events build to a gripping finale. Ultimately, however, there’s no indication that things will change and while realistic it was a pretty depressing message to give.
Thanks to NetGalley for granting me access to read this prior to publication. I’ve already pre-ordered my copy as this is a book that I’ll encourage all my students to pick up.
May 29, 2018
Although I felt like this book had some great messages, it felt like the writing was weak, especially with character development and storyline. It took a long time for the confronting issue to occur, so long I wasn't sure if I missed it or what. I did however zoom through the book because I wanted to know what happened.
If you want to know what the book is about, maybe read the description/ I sort of don't want to give away the plot in the review or even too much because I think it will spoil it. There are plenty of reviews with the warnings there too.
A good book, just probably not the strongest writing I've come across. Three stars.
If you want to know what the book is about, maybe read the description/ I sort of don't want to give away the plot in the review or even too much because I think it will spoil it. There are plenty of reviews with the warnings there too.
A good book, just probably not the strongest writing I've come across. Three stars.
Read
October 19, 2018I’m really sad I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I hoped to. I was about 50 pages in when I DNF’d because I just couldn’t connect to the story. It’s hard to explain that feeling. Some people might enjoy it more but this one definitely wasn’t for me.
Although, I still want to thank Penguin Random House South Africa and Penguin UK for providing me with a gratis review copy! Each and every one of the books they send my way are very much appreciated.
Although, I still want to thank Penguin Random House South Africa and Penguin UK for providing me with a gratis review copy! Each and every one of the books they send my way are very much appreciated.
November 20, 2018
Definitely a worthwhile read!
Kiely does an amazing job with character development in this novel, detailing all of the intricacies of gender roles in a private high school setting. Of the females, there is the strong-willed and the promiscuous battling the queen bees. Of the males, there is the lecherous and the openly homosexual along with the beastly athlete who has a big heart. The stereotypes obviously clash, and what results is a beautifully crafted and highly entertaining book that sends an important message today.
I highly recommend it for mature readers.
Kiely does an amazing job with character development in this novel, detailing all of the intricacies of gender roles in a private high school setting. Of the females, there is the strong-willed and the promiscuous battling the queen bees. Of the males, there is the lecherous and the openly homosexual along with the beastly athlete who has a big heart. The stereotypes obviously clash, and what results is a beautifully crafted and highly entertaining book that sends an important message today.
I highly recommend it for mature readers.
July 28, 2018
I am not entirely sure what I thought of this. I thought the school stuff was well done and I mostly believed the different characters' various awareness of social issues, but . . . then it just ended up feeling fairly by the book and unsatisfying.
And perhaps this is unfair, but I couldn't quite shake my uncomfortableness that it was a male author telling this story.
And perhaps this is unfair, but I couldn't quite shake my uncomfortableness that it was a male author telling this story.
January 10, 2019
I love that YA is tackling tough issues that even adults, at times, can shy away from discussing. Thanks, Dawn!
December 23, 2017
4.5 stars! Excellent story with an important message. I liked Baxter/Bax/Buckeye the most of course:)
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