Young Adult Book Reading Challenges discussion

Now that you have started reading... what do you think? No spoilers please!

It reminds me a lot of Speak and I can't really put my finger why. I think it has something to do with how it's paced. Does anyone else have the same thought?

(FYI for anyone who didn't notice, I'm leading the rest of discussion on this one. I'd really appreciate feedback on how I did and how I can improve, so please send me a note or put comments in the boxes - thanks!).

As I read this I wondered how many 'Parkers' there are in the halls of the school where I teach. How many girls are acting out as a way to cry for help but holding terrible secrets inside. I so wanted Parker to open up and tell someone so that she had a chance to get beyond her destructive behavior.

I am still waiting to see if my library will order a copy. This is the first time my library has not had a book the group has picked. :(

Angie, Does your library do interlibrary loans? Mine had a book sent from NY for me to borrow. Complete opposite coasts and they were the only US library with a copy:) It was a good book too.

As for this book, I had mixed feelings for it, but I felt like that was the intent. As Marcia pointed out the "Parkers" out there acting out, yet asking/needing help, their behavior turns people away. I felt the author was pointing this behavior out and drawing the readers attention to it and making us turn back.

Deborah wrote: "As for this book, I had mixed feelings for it, but I felt like that was the intent. As Marcia pointed out the "Parkers" out there acting out, yet asking/needing help, their behavior turns people aw..."

I agree. Kids and teens either act out or withdraw after trama. But I don't think that Parker was a necessarily nice person to begin with. She just hid it from her family and teachers better.

It makes me think again of Speak. In Speak, the main character chooses to withdraw after trama. In Cracked Up to Be the main character acts out. Both characters are trying to turn people away from them.

Deborah wrote: "Angie, Does your library do interlibrary loans? Mine had a book sent from NY for me to borrow. Complete opposite coasts and they were the only US library with a copy:) It was a good book too."

humm... It does do that... You know what I am going to put in a request right now! Thanks!

Plus I see now it was published in 2009 which is probably why my library hasn't ordered it for me. They will only order books 2 years old.

Thats a weird rule. Our library will pretty much order anything we request. I have yet to have a request turned down, including new releases.

Kari wrote: "Thats a weird rule. Our library will pretty much order anything we request. I have yet to have a request turned down, including new releases."

I've never heard of a library with that rule. But then again, I live in a big city with a relatively large budget. I actually work for the library and the only problem I have with Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is that it takes at least 6-8 weeks to get the book because they are so understaffed.

Yea... if it is older then 2010 they won't order it. 2 years or less. :( Now our ILL is pretty fast. So I am surprised it hasn't come in yet. If I don't get and don't read along this month it will be the first time EVER!!!

I SWEAR... just now... I received an email that this book is in!!! hhahaha! I'll be picking it up tomorrow!

I just finished the book but I'll limit my comments to my first impressions - what I thought when I started reading the book.

I liked the writing style and the author's characterization of Parker. She's not a likeable character but the author make me want to know more about her - why is she like this. What has happened to make her do a complete about face in her behaviour.

I was also relieved that it didn't fall into they typical high school scenario.

I agree... this is not your typical drama teenager book and is very well written!

Grace wrote: "I liked the writing style and the author's characterization of Parker...."

I would totally agree that I liked the fact that there was a main character that I completely disliked. It made it feel genuine. As much as I disliked Parker, I really liked that the author didn't try to make us like her, just showed her for who she was and let us decide.

Hayley wrote: "Unfortunately, I didn't really get into the story, possibly because it was hard for me to avoid comparing it to Speak."

I think this was my problem exactly. I was constantly comparing it to Speak and it always came short.

I just started the book and I am already on page 66. I feel this is a book I will not be able to put down till it is done. I like that it is a book about the popular girl that is acting out so that she can disappear. I agree that it is nice to have a book where you can hate the main character, but I don;t know if i do hate her, because I do sometimes feel bad for the popular girls, because their lives are always on display and everyone is watching them. I have seen popularity do horrible things to nice people and worse things when you want out of the spotlight. I am also very interested to know what happened to cause all this in Parker's life.