What a fun, twisty read. I sort of guessed from the very beginning how this would end, but not the specifics, and that's enoRounded up from 4.5 stars.
What a fun, twisty read. I sort of guessed from the very beginning how this would end, but not the specifics, and that's enough for me to count it as a surprise. I enjoyed the way this was written and absolutely breezed through it. This was definitely one of those reads where the journey is even better than the destination. Can't wait to read more of Walker's work....more
I really enjoyed this book! It’s been a minute since I’ve read YA, and it was a nice change of pace after some of the heavier novels I’ve been readingI really enjoyed this book! It’s been a minute since I’ve read YA, and it was a nice change of pace after some of the heavier novels I’ve been reading. The characters are so endearing - Ellery, Ezra, and Malcolm will all find a way into your heart. The first half of the book is paced incredibly well, and will give you a number of suspects to question. I will say I thought the book lost some steam in the second half, and I’m not entirely sure how I felt about the reveal of the culprit, but overall, I still really recommend this book!...more
Isobel Johnson teaches American Literature at an affluent high school in the suburbs of Minnesota and aims to ensure that students leave her classroomIsobel Johnson teaches American Literature at an affluent high school in the suburbs of Minnesota and aims to ensure that students leave her classroom with new perspectives on the world around them, despite the issues any helicopter parents may have with her teaching style. Julia Abbott is one of these overexcited parents who will do whatever it takes to ensure that nothing stands in the way of her children getting what they want - even though what they really want is for her to back off. As parents begin to push back against Isobel's social justice curriculum and Julia makes a huge mistake that goes viral on social media, each of the women's personal lives begin to unravel. What follows is an account - through the perspectives of the women and those around them - of what it takes to put yourself back together when everything seems like it's falling apart.
I sincerely enjoyed this book! When I say I read it in one sitting, I mean I started it at 10:00 PM and closed it at 4:30 AM. It's a fun, campy contemporary drama that also really gets to the heart of each of the struggles that these women are facing. The teenagers were extremely lovable - Andrew, especially, was a favorite of mine. This was a great read to pick up just a few weeks after I read Adequate Yearly Progress by Roxanna Elden, which deals with issues faced by teachers at an underfunded school. A few issues I had with this book - I felt as though the teenagers, while sweet, weren't wholly fleshed out enough. They didn't feel totally real to me, even as much as I liked them. Additionally, there were a few times where I felt West's writing got a bit repetitive - not plot-wise, but in terms of phrasing and language. Overall, this book was super fun, and I recommend it to anybody who wants something engrossing but not too heavy!...more