5 stars The popular girls invite you to join their clique. What's the worst that can happen? This book endeavors to answer that question and it does not paint a pretty picture. How about life-long psychological damage? Most people have already been damaged by events from their teenaged years, whether they realize it or not. Teenagers are particularly adept at singling out those who are different and tormenting them mercilessly over it. Combined with the average teenagers’ deep feelings of inadequacy and fear of being ostracized, the one who discerns this as an opportunity to manipulate and torture others has an unfair advantage—and is a sociopath. Luckily, most teenagers outgrow this tendency toward inhumanity and become normal adults capable of contributing something positive to society. The sociopaths never grow past their compulsion to wreak havoc in the lives of others, the need to cause pain growing as they witness the capacity of their victims to endure the abuse. What causes the pathology is not really important to the victims. Stopping the actions of the “villain” is what matters. And I must add, the level of villainy displayed in this book is truly stunning in its depth. Still, one has to wonder whether the abuse experienced as a teen at the hands of other teens could lead to a psychological necessity to exact vengeance. To me, this book had the perfect amount of tension and mystery. I found it to be very well-written and engaging with believable, realistic characters. The story is told mostly from the POV of Emily Bennett, with the occasional POV of Grace Farmer, the bullied one. I was provided with an ARC of this book and I have to say, I am impressed by Avery Bishop. I will be happy to read more from her. September 1, 2020
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Elizabeth J ConnorWriter. Editor. Proofreader. Archives
September 2022
Categories |