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maddi_md's review against another edition
4.0
Angie and Lizzie were best friends once upon a time, that is until Angie caught Lizzie alone in a hotel room with her boyfriend on prom night. Once the rest of the school discovered what had happened, Lizzie is quickly branded the school slut. The word ‘slut’ covers her locker and belonging so one day, feeling bullied and alone, Lizzie commits suicide. This story starts out the day after Lizzie’s funeral when more graffiti and entry’s of Lizzie’s diary begin to circulate around school. Angie struggles with the death of her best friend, the malevolence of high school students and her own guilt over what happened. Angie immediately sets out for revenge against the people who drove her friend to suicide. Angie’s mission to understand her friends final days and discover who targeted her so mercilessly leads Angie to discover dark secrets about the people around her that she was never expecting.
After some relatively recent and highly publicized events in America I became seriously disgusted and obsessed with the idea of slut shaming. Maybe this is the reason that I did enjoy this book so much because it does confront the inequality between men and women when it comes to screwing around. Why is it that the female is instantly pinned with all the guilt? Why is she the one to be alienated and bullied while the guy receives relatively no blame? It’s totally unfair and happens way too often in today’s modern society. I hate it. I hate the word “slut” and I hate the all the judgement. I love that this book confronts the issue and points out how wrong it is. Angie investigates the events that led to prom night and the consequences of that night, she asks the hard questions like ‘why did the school label her a slut?’ and, uncovers the secret’s of Lizzie’s life and those of her bullies.
This is a very emotional and dramatic book. I really felt the anguish and guilt that plagued Angie after the death of her best friend. I loved most of the characters, like Jesse and Kennedy, and absolutely loathed Drew (just like I’m supposed to). While at times this book was slightly predictable, there were a few plot twists that I was most certainly not expecting (but that just might be me) and I found that to be super exciting because I find a lot of books to be a tad predictable these days.
Of course this book isn’t perfect, but not many are. At times I found the main character to be way too melodramatic for my taste. The writing could also definitely be improved upon, there were some awkward and forced moments throughout the book that really bothered me. And while I appreciate that the author is trying to get across a lot of important social issues about bullying, gender inequality, and slut shaming, I also don’t think it needed to be so obviously pointed out. The messages could have been written into the story in a very clear but much more subtly way which would have made it sound slightly less preachery. But other than that I found myself really immersed in this story.
This book has gotten a lot of mixed reviews but I really did enjoy it and would definitely recommend you give it a go!!
After some relatively recent and highly publicized events in America I became seriously disgusted and obsessed with the idea of slut shaming. Maybe this is the reason that I did enjoy this book so much because it does confront the inequality between men and women when it comes to screwing around. Why is it that the female is instantly pinned with all the guilt? Why is she the one to be alienated and bullied while the guy receives relatively no blame? It’s totally unfair and happens way too often in today’s modern society. I hate it. I hate the word “slut” and I hate the all the judgement. I love that this book confronts the issue and points out how wrong it is. Angie investigates the events that led to prom night and the consequences of that night, she asks the hard questions like ‘why did the school label her a slut?’ and, uncovers the secret’s of Lizzie’s life and those of her bullies.
This is a very emotional and dramatic book. I really felt the anguish and guilt that plagued Angie after the death of her best friend. I loved most of the characters, like Jesse and Kennedy, and absolutely loathed Drew (just like I’m supposed to). While at times this book was slightly predictable, there were a few plot twists that I was most certainly not expecting (but that just might be me) and I found that to be super exciting because I find a lot of books to be a tad predictable these days.
Of course this book isn’t perfect, but not many are. At times I found the main character to be way too melodramatic for my taste. The writing could also definitely be improved upon, there were some awkward and forced moments throughout the book that really bothered me. And while I appreciate that the author is trying to get across a lot of important social issues about bullying, gender inequality, and slut shaming, I also don’t think it needed to be so obviously pointed out. The messages could have been written into the story in a very clear but much more subtly way which would have made it sound slightly less preachery. But other than that I found myself really immersed in this story.
This book has gotten a lot of mixed reviews but I really did enjoy it and would definitely recommend you give it a go!!
yyattayy's review against another edition
4.0
I'm actually kind of surprised at how many people weren't thrilled with this book. I've read some pretty crappy ones recently, and I definitely think this is one of the best out there. As if you needed yet another summary, here's a brief one:
Angie and Lizzie are best friends, and their mutual friend is also Angie's boyfriend. On prom night, however, Angie catches Lizzie and her boyfriend in bed together, and after Lizzie is ostracized (and left to face the relentless torment of her classmates), Lizzie kills herself. Angie, wrought with grief and guilt, Angie sets out on a quest to find out who bullied Lizzie in her last days, and how they did so. Along the way, Angie finds out many of the secrets her fellow classmates had been keeping themselves.
This story intrigued me from the beginning to the very end. I felt Angie's anguish as she found out more about Lizzie's last days, and my heart began to hurt for Lizzie as I found out more of what she had to endure not just in her last days, but in her whole lifetime. There were plot twists and turns that I honestly didn't see coming, and I found myself wanting to know everyone's secret just as bad as Angie did. This book sucked me in, and I had no choice but to ride it all out.
I can see how this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but if you're looking for a book that's packed with emotion and had depth, with a twist of something different, I definitely recommend this one.
Angie and Lizzie are best friends, and their mutual friend is also Angie's boyfriend. On prom night, however, Angie catches Lizzie and her boyfriend in bed together, and after Lizzie is ostracized (and left to face the relentless torment of her classmates), Lizzie kills herself. Angie, wrought with grief and guilt, Angie sets out on a quest to find out who bullied Lizzie in her last days, and how they did so. Along the way, Angie finds out many of the secrets her fellow classmates had been keeping themselves.
This story intrigued me from the beginning to the very end. I felt Angie's anguish as she found out more about Lizzie's last days, and my heart began to hurt for Lizzie as I found out more of what she had to endure not just in her last days, but in her whole lifetime. There were plot twists and turns that I honestly didn't see coming, and I found myself wanting to know everyone's secret just as bad as Angie did. This book sucked me in, and I had no choice but to ride it all out.
I can see how this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but if you're looking for a book that's packed with emotion and had depth, with a twist of something different, I definitely recommend this one.
appelkers's review against another edition
2.0
The story seemed pretty intriguing at first. Someone was smudging the reputation of the deceased girl even more after the funeral. Her former best friend sets of on a mission to find out who is doing it. I liked this premise. But then you get more insight into the situation before she committed suicide and suddenly it’s just a mess. Because she was caught in bed with Angie’s boyfriend. This must have brought on a huge jumble of confusing emotions, especially seeing the involvement Angie had in the slander campaign against her best friend, Lizzie. When suicide follows two weeks later I imagine you just don’t know how to feel about the whole thing, especially when you’re Angie. Instead Angie feels nothing apparently. She’s pretending to be a detective and find out who is to blame. This book is written a bit like a whodunit, which could have been fun. But there is just so little emotion involved, and that just struck me as weird and left me very detached to the story. I was just filled with so much disappointment by this. It’s totally understandable that she wants to find out who had anything to do with whatever lead up to the suicide, but it hardly seemed as if she was struggling with her best friend’s death at all.
I didn’t like Angie, mainly because she was so emotionless and felt like such a flat character. That which could have made her feel more realistic was just left out of this story for a big chunk of the book.in general I thought most characters in this book were very one-sided. They all just had a part which they had played in the time coming up to the suicide, and that was pretty much it. They also seemed pretty unaffected by the death of their peer, which just made it seem more unrealistic. Yes, I know that I keep yapping on about that, but it was just so annoying! I can honestly say that the beef I have with this book mostly lies right there. My other beef is that a new relationship had to be dragged in here. The book would have been so much stronger if the love had been left out and more emotions had been put in. But, on with the character discussion. Lizzie felt like a saint. She never did anything wrong, never thought anything wrong even. This made the themes in the book a lot less powerful than they could have been. Because she was such a saint no one had the right to call her those names. Ok, this does get a new twist in the ending, but still. It keeps being repeated that she would have never done anything bad to anyone and this gets old real fast as well as making her feel like a teen who I’ve never met in my life. It also just made it seem that if you haven’t been a goody two shoes all of your life you would deserve what Lizzie had happen to her. This is not an okay message to send.
I really like that in today’s society books around these heavier topics can be written, because they can open up a conversation about these things. I just find that this book isn’t sending the message the right way. I get that the author is trying to make these topics less of a taboo and I’m all for that. There’s just too many in this one book and they were a bit too superficial for my liking. In my opinion the author should have taken on a smaller load of topics in this book because now they are less well worked out than they could have been.
So to wrap it up: this book could have been a lot more than it was. But it ended up disappointing me, and from the reviews I’ve seen, you either really like it or it doesn’t do much for you. Have you read this book and which category do you fall into?
I didn’t like Angie, mainly because she was so emotionless and felt like such a flat character. That which could have made her feel more realistic was just left out of this story for a big chunk of the book.in general I thought most characters in this book were very one-sided. They all just had a part which they had played in the time coming up to the suicide, and that was pretty much it. They also seemed pretty unaffected by the death of their peer, which just made it seem more unrealistic. Yes, I know that I keep yapping on about that, but it was just so annoying! I can honestly say that the beef I have with this book mostly lies right there. My other beef is that a new relationship had to be dragged in here. The book would have been so much stronger if the love had been left out and more emotions had been put in. But, on with the character discussion. Lizzie felt like a saint. She never did anything wrong, never thought anything wrong even. This made the themes in the book a lot less powerful than they could have been. Because she was such a saint no one had the right to call her those names. Ok, this does get a new twist in the ending, but still. It keeps being repeated that she would have never done anything bad to anyone and this gets old real fast as well as making her feel like a teen who I’ve never met in my life. It also just made it seem that if you haven’t been a goody two shoes all of your life you would deserve what Lizzie had happen to her. This is not an okay message to send.
I really like that in today’s society books around these heavier topics can be written, because they can open up a conversation about these things. I just find that this book isn’t sending the message the right way. I get that the author is trying to make these topics less of a taboo and I’m all for that. There’s just too many in this one book and they were a bit too superficial for my liking. In my opinion the author should have taken on a smaller load of topics in this book because now they are less well worked out than they could have been.
So to wrap it up: this book could have been a lot more than it was. But it ended up disappointing me, and from the reviews I’ve seen, you either really like it or it doesn’t do much for you. Have you read this book and which category do you fall into?
sk24's review against another edition
3.0
2.5/5 stars
**A big thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC!**
(Due to the fact that it is an Advanced copy that I am reviewing,
my review will not reflect the quality of the writing)
So, The S-Word started off very boring and as a seemingly pointless story, in my opinion. It was one of those books that threatened to put me to sleep. I could not sit down for too long and read it without getting very tired. However, it did get better as it went on. Near the end, I didn't even want to put it down. There was so much happening and quite a few twists and turns (though, some were predictable and I saw coming), that I needed to keep reading to find everything out.
The book is narrated in first person by Angie. Angie has been through a rough year; she lost her boyfriend of 4 years and her best friend that she had known almost her whole life. Last year, on prom night, Angie walked in on her best friend, Lizzie, and her boyfriend cheating on her in the hotel room. After this instance, Angie could no longer deal with either of them and the rest of the school branded Lizzie a slut. As a result, Lizzie ends up committing suicide. This leaves Angie feeling sad, guilty, and angry. Her way of coping with Lizzie's death is by playing detective to try to find out what exactly happened and who the culprit of the written words on Lizzie's locker was.
Overall, the story was okay. As I said, the first bit bored me, but then the last bit enthralled me. The whole story seemed very high school -- which it was, but as an adult I didn't feel as though I was able to fully connect with the childish ways of these characters. I think this book is better for a younger audience. I also didn't feel that emotions were emitted very well. I mean, for the first half(ish) part of the novel, I felt as though Angie was devoid of any emotion. I did not feel any strong emotions coming off of her character until later in the book. With this type of storyline, shouldn't the reader feel some very strong emotions from this narrator? Well, I didn't...but maybe that is something that was fixed for the final version that hits stores tomorrow?
**A big thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC!**
(Due to the fact that it is an Advanced copy that I am reviewing,
my review will not reflect the quality of the writing)
So, The S-Word started off very boring and as a seemingly pointless story, in my opinion. It was one of those books that threatened to put me to sleep. I could not sit down for too long and read it without getting very tired. However, it did get better as it went on. Near the end, I didn't even want to put it down. There was so much happening and quite a few twists and turns (though, some were predictable and I saw coming), that I needed to keep reading to find everything out.
The book is narrated in first person by Angie. Angie has been through a rough year; she lost her boyfriend of 4 years and her best friend that she had known almost her whole life. Last year, on prom night, Angie walked in on her best friend, Lizzie, and her boyfriend cheating on her in the hotel room. After this instance, Angie could no longer deal with either of them and the rest of the school branded Lizzie a slut. As a result, Lizzie ends up committing suicide. This leaves Angie feeling sad, guilty, and angry. Her way of coping with Lizzie's death is by playing detective to try to find out what exactly happened and who the culprit of the written words on Lizzie's locker was.
Overall, the story was okay. As I said, the first bit bored me, but then the last bit enthralled me. The whole story seemed very high school -- which it was, but as an adult I didn't feel as though I was able to fully connect with the childish ways of these characters. I think this book is better for a younger audience. I also didn't feel that emotions were emitted very well. I mean, for the first half(ish) part of the novel, I felt as though Angie was devoid of any emotion. I did not feel any strong emotions coming off of her character until later in the book. With this type of storyline, shouldn't the reader feel some very strong emotions from this narrator? Well, I didn't...but maybe that is something that was fixed for the final version that hits stores tomorrow?
tasharobinson's review against another edition
2.0
I don't think there's ever going to be a great mystery written where the big reveal is "By the way, I, the point-of-view character investigating this crime, am actually the one who committed it." It always comes across as a colossal cheat, as it does here. It's awkward enough when the book opens with the author skirting around describing the most key scene in the book, because the big secret (that sex between the virginal, ultra-shy, hates-body-contact girl and her best friend's boyfriend wasn't consensual; she's a rape victim, not a backstabber). Even with the barely-there description of the scene, it's clear she was raped. That's enough of a frustrating dodge to scuttle the book from the start. And then there's the gorgeous gay-best-friend type who turns out to not be gay, and falls for the protagonist. And not one but THREE characters who can trace all their trauma to sexual assault in childhood. And then there's that frustrating out-of-nowhere reveal. The book has such an interesting premise that I stuck with it in spite of my doubts, but by the end, I was sorry I had.
bluebeereads's review against another edition
5.0
*I received an ARC-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
First, I must say that I won't be talking about the characters very much because I can't do that without spoilers and since this is an ARC copy, I won't spoil anything. So if you want to talk or rant or fangirl about this book and it's characters, please send me a message! I need someone to talk with about this book, lol.
The S-word is the brilliantly written debut of Chelsea Pitcher and I can't help but ask... Where in God's name have you been hiding all this time Chelsea? Why did you keep your talent from us for so long? It should be punished... But this book is great, so you are forgiven.
Yes, this is a great book. More then that. It's a must-read and one of my new favorites of this year. (Maybe even of all time.) The writing is great and I was hooked to the story from the first sentence. I could not stop reading. I just had to know how it ended. Like I said, I can't talk about it much because I don't want to spoil anything, but I have to say that it did not end the way I thought it would. There are twists and turns I did not see coming. Nothing is what it seems, that's all I can say.
I wanted to talk about bullying because it's a big theme in this novel, but I won't. It's bad and mean and low. I hate bullies. That's all.
This book is captivating, full of drama and even romance and suspence. Brilliantly written, like I already said and Chelsea, you've got a new fan. I can't wait to read more from you in the future.
First, I must say that I won't be talking about the characters very much because I can't do that without spoilers and since this is an ARC copy, I won't spoil anything. So if you want to talk or rant or fangirl about this book and it's characters, please send me a message! I need someone to talk with about this book, lol.
The S-word is the brilliantly written debut of Chelsea Pitcher and I can't help but ask... Where in God's name have you been hiding all this time Chelsea? Why did you keep your talent from us for so long? It should be punished... But this book is great, so you are forgiven.
Yes, this is a great book. More then that. It's a must-read and one of my new favorites of this year. (Maybe even of all time.) The writing is great and I was hooked to the story from the first sentence. I could not stop reading. I just had to know how it ended. Like I said, I can't talk about it much because I don't want to spoil anything, but I have to say that it did not end the way I thought it would. There are twists and turns I did not see coming. Nothing is what it seems, that's all I can say.
I wanted to talk about bullying because it's a big theme in this novel, but I won't. It's bad and mean and low. I hate bullies. That's all.
This book is captivating, full of drama and even romance and suspence. Brilliantly written, like I already said and Chelsea, you've got a new fan. I can't wait to read more from you in the future.
heather4994's review against another edition
5.0
First for the characters- There is Angie the one that's left behind with a mountain of unanswered questions, guilt, grief, blame, anger and self loathing. She is like an avenging angel and no one is immune to her vigilante justice. She is out to punish anyone that she thinks was involved in hurting her best friend, Lizzie, and that contributed to her state of mind, making her take her life. And Angie is not in denial. She knows she had a hand in this as well, she just wants some kind of justice. So she goes digging. She's headed down a dark path of self destruction because she can't forgive herself for not forgiving her best friend.
Jesse was Lizzie's friend in those final weeks between prom and her death. They had drama together and worked on the costumes for the play that Lizzie had the lead in, a play by Shakespeare. Jesse who is the head of the Gay-Straight Alliance and wears tutus with his pants, is often the victim of bullying, something else he and Lizzie had in common those last few weeks and ends up a reluctant partner in Angie's plans. But he also has a big heart, a big secret and worries over Angie losing herself, becoming worse than "them" or hurting herself. Jesse is a really great character, funny when needed, comforting when needed and surprising in the best way.
There are other characters, Kennedy I guess would be the Queen Bee and yeah she's a bitch, but she's got another side to her something very unexpected that Angie stumbles upon and it makes me view her in a much different light. Then there is Mr. Hart, Lizzie's dad. He comes across as broken and frail. Angie has always thought of him as nice. But people aren't always what they seem. Just look at her boyfriend Drake. Drake who participated in betraying Angie but was never branded anything. Only Lizzie. Why is that? Guys get clapped on the back and girls are sluts. There's an interesting guest post with Chelsea Pitcher about slang at Mod Podge Bookshelf that talks about the origins of the word "slut". It's very interesting.
The Story-
The story goes back and forth before Lizzie's death and back to the present. Diary pages from Lizzie's diary that are mysteriously appearing at school are interspersed throughout the novel. It sounds random, but it isn't. It's very well put together, you're never lost. You always know where, in time, you are and frankly, you need to know those bits of the past to see what leads Angie to the present state she's in.
There are a lot of twists and turns, one thing I thought I had guessed in the very beginning of the story turned out to be true, but the way the story led me, I began to doubt my guess. The final twists make you feel like you're a rock rolling down a hill, no way to stop, they come so fast and each one more hard hitting than the previous one. Thankfully, there is a calm after the storm, and the world rights itself in some ways. Except Lizzie is and always will be gone. And Angie will always miss her.
My Opinion-
I think the point is, that things aren't always black and white, people aren't what you label them, a person may be one way with you and another with someone else. You can't fit people in one category. We just don't work that way. We present ourselves to the world as we want to be seen. We hide the ugly bits if we can. Even your best friend may not know the truth about you. Your neighbor you've known for years, may be hiding terrible secrets. Angie finds out that she doesn't know anyone like she thought she did. She'd labeled them and there they stayed. She has to change her plans based on what she finds out about people she thought she knew her whole life. And words, whether they are right or wrong, HURT! They can do irreparable damage. Who cares if you're tough and you can take it? Who cares if you think it's funny? In this novel, to a sensitive soul like Lizzie, it was enough to push her over the edge. Exploring what happens when the bullies become the bullied was a very enlightening way to see that everyone has something they want to keep hidden, something they want to make sure no one knows about them.
The writing was easy, nothing wasted with a bit of snarky humor from Angie as she talks back to people in her head. It's not enough to lighten this otherwise dark look at high school and the aftermath of Lizzie's death.
It's definitely fast and will have you wondering who is behind the "Suicide Slut" written in Lizzie's handwriting on the lockers and even in the boy's bathroom. I had no suspects in mind so was very surprised to find out who the culprit was. This is a great contemporary novel with a dark edge to it and a bit of romance.
Jesse was Lizzie's friend in those final weeks between prom and her death. They had drama together and worked on the costumes for the play that Lizzie had the lead in, a play by Shakespeare. Jesse who is the head of the Gay-Straight Alliance and wears tutus with his pants, is often the victim of bullying, something else he and Lizzie had in common those last few weeks and ends up a reluctant partner in Angie's plans. But he also has a big heart, a big secret and worries over Angie losing herself, becoming worse than "them" or hurting herself. Jesse is a really great character, funny when needed, comforting when needed and surprising in the best way.
There are other characters, Kennedy I guess would be the Queen Bee and yeah she's a bitch, but she's got another side to her something very unexpected that Angie stumbles upon and it makes me view her in a much different light. Then there is Mr. Hart, Lizzie's dad. He comes across as broken and frail. Angie has always thought of him as nice. But people aren't always what they seem. Just look at her boyfriend Drake. Drake who participated in betraying Angie but was never branded anything. Only Lizzie. Why is that? Guys get clapped on the back and girls are sluts. There's an interesting guest post with Chelsea Pitcher about slang at Mod Podge Bookshelf that talks about the origins of the word "slut". It's very interesting.
The Story-
The story goes back and forth before Lizzie's death and back to the present. Diary pages from Lizzie's diary that are mysteriously appearing at school are interspersed throughout the novel. It sounds random, but it isn't. It's very well put together, you're never lost. You always know where, in time, you are and frankly, you need to know those bits of the past to see what leads Angie to the present state she's in.
There are a lot of twists and turns, one thing I thought I had guessed in the very beginning of the story turned out to be true, but the way the story led me, I began to doubt my guess. The final twists make you feel like you're a rock rolling down a hill, no way to stop, they come so fast and each one more hard hitting than the previous one. Thankfully, there is a calm after the storm, and the world rights itself in some ways. Except Lizzie is and always will be gone. And Angie will always miss her.
My Opinion-
I think the point is, that things aren't always black and white, people aren't what you label them, a person may be one way with you and another with someone else. You can't fit people in one category. We just don't work that way. We present ourselves to the world as we want to be seen. We hide the ugly bits if we can. Even your best friend may not know the truth about you. Your neighbor you've known for years, may be hiding terrible secrets. Angie finds out that she doesn't know anyone like she thought she did. She'd labeled them and there they stayed. She has to change her plans based on what she finds out about people she thought she knew her whole life. And words, whether they are right or wrong, HURT! They can do irreparable damage. Who cares if you're tough and you can take it? Who cares if you think it's funny? In this novel, to a sensitive soul like Lizzie, it was enough to push her over the edge. Exploring what happens when the bullies become the bullied was a very enlightening way to see that everyone has something they want to keep hidden, something they want to make sure no one knows about them.
The writing was easy, nothing wasted with a bit of snarky humor from Angie as she talks back to people in her head. It's not enough to lighten this otherwise dark look at high school and the aftermath of Lizzie's death.
It's definitely fast and will have you wondering who is behind the "Suicide Slut" written in Lizzie's handwriting on the lockers and even in the boy's bathroom. I had no suspects in mind so was very surprised to find out who the culprit was. This is a great contemporary novel with a dark edge to it and a bit of romance.
trisha_thomas's review against another edition
2.0
"Maybe the first step to stomping out the world's ugliness is dragging it into the light."
I appreciate what this book was trying to do, I really do. I just...think the message got lost in far too many issues it was tying to tackle.
I think the plot is really something to talk about and something I could really support. It started out dark and really tried to tackle bullying. It even tries to tackle the ridiculous double standard of men vs women and sexuality.
But it's all jumbled up in a really unlikable Main character (holy crap she was such a jerk!), a completely jumbled and unnecessary love interest thrown in and this who "mystery" thing. The mystery is a layered thing and each layer of the mystery is revealed about every 5 chapters.
With all the jumbled storylines, it was just too much. i found a lot more interest in the amazing mysterious answers I came up with and was disappointed when obvious answers were revealed. This one just spent most of the book confusing me and then swiftly let me down.
I appreciate what this book was trying to do, I really do. I just...think the message got lost in far too many issues it was tying to tackle.
I think the plot is really something to talk about and something I could really support. It started out dark and really tried to tackle bullying. It even tries to tackle the ridiculous double standard of men vs women and sexuality.
But it's all jumbled up in a really unlikable Main character (holy crap she was such a jerk!), a completely jumbled and unnecessary love interest thrown in and this who "mystery" thing. The mystery is a layered thing and each layer of the mystery is revealed about every 5 chapters.
With all the jumbled storylines, it was just too much. i found a lot more interest in the amazing mysterious answers I came up with and was disappointed when obvious answers were revealed. This one just spent most of the book confusing me and then swiftly let me down.
angelreads's review against another edition
4.0
I Give this book a 3.5 Stars
Synopsis:
First it was SLUT scribbled all over Lizzie Hart’s locker.But one week after Lizzie kills herself, SUICIDE SLUT replaces it—in Lizzie's looping scrawl.
Lizzie’s reputation is destroyed when she's caught in bed with her best friend’s boyfriend on prom night. With the whole school turned against her, and Angie not speaking to her, Lizzie takes her own life. But someone isn’t letting her go quietly. As graffiti and photocopies of Lizzie’s diary plaster the school, Angie begins a relentless investigation into who, exactly, made Lizzie feel she didn’t deserve to keep living. And while she claims she simply wants to punish Lizzie’s tormentors, Angie's own anguish over abandoning her best friend will drive her deep into the dark, twisted side of Verity High—and she might not be able to pull herself back out.
Debut author Chelsea Pitcher daringly depicts the harsh reality of modern high schools, where one bad decision can ruin a reputation, and one cruel word can ruin a life. Angie’s quest for the truth behind Lizzie’s suicide is addictive and thrilling, and her razor-sharp wit and fierce sleuthing skills makes her impossible not to root for—even when it becomes clear that both avenging Lizzie and avoiding self-destruction might not be possible.
My Review
The S-Word was a very interesting book, It incorporates the harsh reality of what modern high schools could be like, how one bad decision can ruin someone's reputation and cruel words can ruin someone's life. First I have never read a book like the S-word before in the context of Suicide/Death. When I started reading the S-Word I found it very intriguing, the storyline pulled me in. I like the writing style of Chelsea Pitcher and they way she captured the hurt, passion and feelings of a teen that not only had her friend sleep with her boyfriend but that friend committed suicide and she had to deal with the after mat. I liked the character of Angie, I thought she was written very well and when someone don't like her consent 'obsession' with finding out who cause all the pain to her friend, I found it something that a true real friend would do in a way. I also liked the structure of the novel with the Dairy Entry of Lizzie's in-between the dialogue of the novel, it's very different and it was enjoyable to read. This book pulled alot of heart strings and really got you to think deep down. A few negatives I have to point out are that there could have been more character building in Characters not so much Lizzie but Angie and the book did drag on a little bit. But Overall I liked the book quite a bit
Synopsis:
First it was SLUT scribbled all over Lizzie Hart’s locker.But one week after Lizzie kills herself, SUICIDE SLUT replaces it—in Lizzie's looping scrawl.
Lizzie’s reputation is destroyed when she's caught in bed with her best friend’s boyfriend on prom night. With the whole school turned against her, and Angie not speaking to her, Lizzie takes her own life. But someone isn’t letting her go quietly. As graffiti and photocopies of Lizzie’s diary plaster the school, Angie begins a relentless investigation into who, exactly, made Lizzie feel she didn’t deserve to keep living. And while she claims she simply wants to punish Lizzie’s tormentors, Angie's own anguish over abandoning her best friend will drive her deep into the dark, twisted side of Verity High—and she might not be able to pull herself back out.
Debut author Chelsea Pitcher daringly depicts the harsh reality of modern high schools, where one bad decision can ruin a reputation, and one cruel word can ruin a life. Angie’s quest for the truth behind Lizzie’s suicide is addictive and thrilling, and her razor-sharp wit and fierce sleuthing skills makes her impossible not to root for—even when it becomes clear that both avenging Lizzie and avoiding self-destruction might not be possible.
My Review
The S-Word was a very interesting book, It incorporates the harsh reality of what modern high schools could be like, how one bad decision can ruin someone's reputation and cruel words can ruin someone's life. First I have never read a book like the S-word before in the context of Suicide/Death. When I started reading the S-Word I found it very intriguing, the storyline pulled me in. I like the writing style of Chelsea Pitcher and they way she captured the hurt, passion and feelings of a teen that not only had her friend sleep with her boyfriend but that friend committed suicide and she had to deal with the after mat. I liked the character of Angie, I thought she was written very well and when someone don't like her consent 'obsession' with finding out who cause all the pain to her friend, I found it something that a true real friend would do in a way. I also liked the structure of the novel with the Dairy Entry of Lizzie's in-between the dialogue of the novel, it's very different and it was enjoyable to read. This book pulled alot of heart strings and really got you to think deep down. A few negatives I have to point out are that there could have been more character building in Characters not so much Lizzie but Angie and the book did drag on a little bit. But Overall I liked the book quite a bit
fictionalkate's review against another edition
3.0
In one of the biggest scandals Verity High has ever seen, the preacher’s daughter is found in bed with her best friend’s boyfriend. On prom night. And instantly good girl and “untouchable saint” Lizzie Hart is branded the S-word. People have covered her locker, her notebooks, her book bag – and even her car – with a single word. The S-word. Slut.
A week after Lizzie takes her own life the words “Suicide Slut” start appearing all over the school – in Lizzie’s own distinctive handwriting. Lizzie’s former best friend, Angie, sets out to find out the truth. The truth behind prom night, the graffiti on Lizzie’s possessions and Lizzie’s death.
This is a book about the power of labels. As Angie investigates the circumstances Lizzie we get to meet a cast of colour characters. There’s a boy who wears women’s fashion with a certain flair, borderline alcoholic cheerleaders, the straight A students who would do anything for a glowing reference and slightly creepy computer nerds. But they are all so much more than who they first appear at a glance. They have layers and yet most people never get to see beyond the superficial front.
I liked reading about the characters – Angie is a fantastic lead. She’s trying to repent for the apologies she can never make. Like a dog with a bone she won’t give up the search to find out who’s responsible. The mystery angle was an interesting take to a novel that’s about some rather serious issues. Lizzie – who we never get to see in person – makes an impression from her diary entries and memories Angie shares throughout the novel. I found her harder to relate to – in many ways she felt unrealistic. Her diary entries were awkward in their style and took me out of the story slightly. That said – there were lines and passages in this novel that were beautifully written and really got to me. The ones that make you think about how applicable the message in this book is to real life and situations.
Overall I enjoyed reading the S-Word. I found the characters engaging and dynamic. The plot contained so many of those issues that people don’t talk about for whatever reasons – abuse, neglect, racism, bullying and teen suicide – and I felt like most of these were dealt with in an appropriate way.
The S-Word is a novel that deals with the darker side of high school. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a YA contemporary novel that’s a bit edgier than the usual and doesn’t mind touching on serious issues.
A week after Lizzie takes her own life the words “Suicide Slut” start appearing all over the school – in Lizzie’s own distinctive handwriting. Lizzie’s former best friend, Angie, sets out to find out the truth. The truth behind prom night, the graffiti on Lizzie’s possessions and Lizzie’s death.
This is a book about the power of labels. As Angie investigates the circumstances Lizzie we get to meet a cast of colour characters. There’s a boy who wears women’s fashion with a certain flair, borderline alcoholic cheerleaders, the straight A students who would do anything for a glowing reference and slightly creepy computer nerds. But they are all so much more than who they first appear at a glance. They have layers and yet most people never get to see beyond the superficial front.
I liked reading about the characters – Angie is a fantastic lead. She’s trying to repent for the apologies she can never make. Like a dog with a bone she won’t give up the search to find out who’s responsible. The mystery angle was an interesting take to a novel that’s about some rather serious issues. Lizzie – who we never get to see in person – makes an impression from her diary entries and memories Angie shares throughout the novel. I found her harder to relate to – in many ways she felt unrealistic. Her diary entries were awkward in their style and took me out of the story slightly. That said – there were lines and passages in this novel that were beautifully written and really got to me. The ones that make you think about how applicable the message in this book is to real life and situations.
Overall I enjoyed reading the S-Word. I found the characters engaging and dynamic. The plot contained so many of those issues that people don’t talk about for whatever reasons – abuse, neglect, racism, bullying and teen suicide – and I felt like most of these were dealt with in an appropriate way.
The S-Word is a novel that deals with the darker side of high school. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a YA contemporary novel that’s a bit edgier than the usual and doesn’t mind touching on serious issues.