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2.61 AVERAGE
2.61 AVERAGE
Three-and-a-half stars, but I'm feeling generous. She does a good job of capturing multiple viewpoints/voices and accurately portraying the social scene. A quick read.
#bullying
A somewhat strange book about a mock trial in a classroom for a bunch of bullies told by alternate viewpoints.
Warning - there is no happy ending and one is left with the feeling that it's sad that justice is not done and that the teacher didn't intervene - I'm sure the author via the teacher was trying to "show not tell" a lesson here, but I'm not sure how sophisticated students would have to be to "get it"
A somewhat strange book about a mock trial in a classroom for a bunch of bullies told by alternate viewpoints.
Warning - there is no happy ending and one is left with the feeling that it's sad that justice is not done and that the teacher didn't intervene - I'm sure the author via the teacher was trying to "show not tell" a lesson here, but I'm not sure how sophisticated students would have to be to "get it"
When a girl who has been bullied for years decides to bring the three tormenters to their government class for a trial, the case exposes the frailties of justice when the class is made to participate.
The good: with short chapters and easy to understand language, this is a good book for reluctant readers who find the premise intriguing. It's a fast read, more middle grade fare with YA subject matter. The set up premise makes sense as well. Victimized Ivy never really makes herself sympathetic and is mostly passive, which helps in setting up the reasonableness of how this longstanding abuse has gone on and why so many classmates turn a blind eye to it. The chapters alternate between different POVs, showing how the personal desires and motivations can interfere with truthful findings.
The bad: for those who wanted a more nuanced or complex story hinted from the premise, you will find the set up promising but most of the characters behind them as one-note: the space case, the painfully shy one, the self-preservationist, the upstanding serious one. The plot hinges on a lot of failures of the kids, who are either ineffective or sycophantic (and the only one who takes it seriously sounds too much like an adult to be realistic, not to mention being conveniently removed from pulling a Twelve Angry Men with the jury pool). The continued sham of a trial compiles these problems, bringing with it a suspension of disbelief that never holds enough sympathy or character development to bring about a satisfactory resolution, guilty or innocent.
The good: with short chapters and easy to understand language, this is a good book for reluctant readers who find the premise intriguing. It's a fast read, more middle grade fare with YA subject matter. The set up premise makes sense as well. Victimized Ivy never really makes herself sympathetic and is mostly passive, which helps in setting up the reasonableness of how this longstanding abuse has gone on and why so many classmates turn a blind eye to it. The chapters alternate between different POVs, showing how the personal desires and motivations can interfere with truthful findings.
The bad: for those who wanted a more nuanced or complex story hinted from the premise, you will find the set up promising but most of the characters behind them as one-note: the space case, the painfully shy one, the self-preservationist, the upstanding serious one. The plot hinges on a lot of failures of the kids, who are either ineffective or sycophantic (and the only one who takes it seriously sounds too much like an adult to be realistic, not to mention being conveniently removed from pulling a Twelve Angry Men with the jury pool). The continued sham of a trial compiles these problems, bringing with it a suspension of disbelief that never holds enough sympathy or character development to bring about a satisfactory resolution, guilty or innocent.
The book was pretty boring and I think an important topic like in this book bullying can be handle different. But it seems pretty real. When I think about this book I could see that the same thing could happen in school. It shows good how people just do not speak against the bullies because they are scared that they also get bully. Only one person said something and only when it was almost too late. "But how about the fact that everybody here knows these girls treat Ivy like shit?" (p158) It shows that everyone just watch the situation and does not say anything not even when they can do it anonymous.
It is a book someone can read if they don't have a different book and want to read something. It has not a lot pages and you can read it fast because it is cool to have 7 different perspectives on one event.
It is a book someone can read if they don't have a different book and want to read something. It has not a lot pages and you can read it fast because it is cool to have 7 different perspectives on one event.
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One-dimensional cookie cutter characters, the story grabs you for a second and then forcefully lets you go. Short, but nothing sweet about it.
It takes a strong stomach for a bullying-victim to read a book about a bullying-victim seeking justice, but I zipped through this book once I got over my flashbacks.
An over-zealous teacher forces Ivy to bring a mock civil suit against her tormentors in order to demonstrate the legal system to the middle-school's third period American Government class. Told from the varying perspectives of the students, we gain insight into the personalities of the studnets who range from the geek to the jock to the wise acre. We also get a startling peek into the psyches of the accused bullies. Each character is fleshed out without sympathy and the outcome of the book is surprising.
This would be the perfect book for a tween/teen book club or reluctant readers.
An over-zealous teacher forces Ivy to bring a mock civil suit against her tormentors in order to demonstrate the legal system to the middle-school's third period American Government class. Told from the varying perspectives of the students, we gain insight into the personalities of the studnets who range from the geek to the jock to the wise acre. We also get a startling peek into the psyches of the accused bullies. Each character is fleshed out without sympathy and the outcome of the book is surprising.
This would be the perfect book for a tween/teen book club or reluctant readers.
Ages 10+
When Ivy spills to her Social Studies teacher about how three popular girls (the Evil Three) have been treating her, her teacher decides that the class needs to hold a mock civil trial. This book, told from multiple points of view of the participants in the trial, explores what happens during the two weeks. There's no cookie-cutter happy ending, and the don't upset the boat mentality of middle school prevails, much to the surprise of the teacher (and a few students as well).
When Ivy spills to her Social Studies teacher about how three popular girls (the Evil Three) have been treating her, her teacher decides that the class needs to hold a mock civil trial. This book, told from multiple points of view of the participants in the trial, explores what happens during the two weeks. There's no cookie-cutter happy ending, and the don't upset the boat mentality of middle school prevails, much to the surprise of the teacher (and a few students as well).
This was a horrible book.
I guess for any book delving into bullying, it's quite horrifying to read.
Ivy's word play was witty! The constant feeling and comparison to underwater activity was entertaining, if a little concerning.
"It was the end of the day, so all the fish swam in the same direction: out to the breeding grounds. Moving together as the connected scales of one cold, single-minded sea beast. I'd lost track of my binder, however, so I swam upstream, alone against the current. Way off course, like those whales who end up panting in terror, waiting to die on dry sand. Seagulls shriek and circle. Flies appear out of nowhere to swarm. To a whale, flies and gulls are bizarre, nightmarish beings from an alien dimension; air creatures!"
I would definitely read a book featuring Marco and his life; he was maybe the only fleshed out character, family mentioned and intriguing. Although his reaction to Ann was at times unnecessary and annoying...
I guess for any book delving into bullying, it's quite horrifying to read.
Spoiler
At first I thought this book just ended, quite unexplained. One of the last things Ivy says was: "Actually, it was almost satisfyingly nightmarish. It proved it hadn't been all in my head. I hadn't imagined I was alone on earth- I really was alone." And then the book ends! What was the whole point of this? I was distraught, but it wasn't until I reread Bryce's story that the underlying result of the "court case" was fully explained. Still calling her "Poison Ivy" he heard someone say she was in the "nuthouse for trying to ice herself." There was so much left unsaid, but that line made this whole story collection make sense. Someone was investigating this "court case" because a student almost killed herself. How responsible was the teacher to exploit the situation without reporting to proper authorities? The fact that permission slips were signed obviously made the situation clear to parents... but was it not taken as seriously because bullying became part of the curriculum? Ms. Gold wasn't likable in the least, but I'm curious what happened to her.Ivy's word play was witty! The constant feeling and comparison to underwater activity was entertaining, if a little concerning.
"It was the end of the day, so all the fish swam in the same direction: out to the breeding grounds. Moving together as the connected scales of one cold, single-minded sea beast. I'd lost track of my binder, however, so I swam upstream, alone against the current. Way off course, like those whales who end up panting in terror, waiting to die on dry sand. Seagulls shriek and circle. Flies appear out of nowhere to swarm. To a whale, flies and gulls are bizarre, nightmarish beings from an alien dimension; air creatures!"
I would definitely read a book featuring Marco and his life; he was maybe the only fleshed out character, family mentioned and intriguing. Although his reaction to Ann was at times unnecessary and annoying...