A deeply affecting, valuable story and educational tool.
A debut YA novella about cyberbullying by journalist and short story writer King.
Like many teenagers, Jenna Wilson yearns to be accepted by the popular crowd at her school, Willoughby High in Australia. She naively believes that Renee, a friend from her swim team, can help her get to know Tina Scaruffi, Renee’s uber-popular cousin. When Tina and her comrade, Krissy, inexplicably begin paying attention to Jenna, she’s baffled but flattered; she also immediately starts ignoring her own lifelong friend, Alyssa. All the kids at school seem to suddenly notice Jenna, who revels in no longer feeling invisible. An invitation to a party seems like the ultimate sign of acceptance; at that event, she tries to ease her nervousness by accepting the disgusting drinks that Krissy keep pushing on her. The predictably disastrous results are only made worse when Tina and Krissy take revealing photographs of an intoxicated, half-dressed Jenna and post them all over social media. When Jenna finally has the nerve to return to school, she discovers that everyone thinks of her as “Slag Bitch,” and she longs to return to her previous invisibility. As Tina and Krissy’s bullying continues, Jenna thinks about ending the torture the only way she knows how—by drowning herself. Inspired by the real-life story of the late Canadian teenager Amanda Todd, this story puts a human face on cyberbullying, something many teens may have already learned about in school. The novella also includes supplemental lists of resources, study questions, and curriculum tie-ins for Australians. Without being preachy, the story reinforces the importance of seeking assistance, as Jenna is rescued, in more ways than one, by a favorite teacher. King crafts characters to whom readers can relate by showing not just Jenna’s unimaginable pain, but also Alyssa’s pangs of rejection as well as Jenna’s parents’ indescribable anguish. Although the Australian slang and references may prove difficult for young American readers, the Down Under setting adds an element of cool.
A deeply affecting, valuable story and educational tool.Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-9945690-1-1
Page Count: 112
Publisher: Aulexic
Review Posted Online: Oct. 4, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An adrenaline rush of a novel about an oppressive America that promises more to come.
Lawson (Counteract, 2015, etc.) continues to delve into a terrifying world of conspiracy and totalitarianism in this YA thriller, the second in her Resistance series.
Picking up immediately after the events of Counteract, this sequel throws readers into the action, as Tommy Bailey and Careen Catecher have become scapegoats for the American government and the powerful Office of Civilian Safety and Defense. It would be bad enough if they’d only interrupted a press conference and informed the public that the OCSD’s latest project—an antidote to a terrorist chemical weapon—was a hoax designed to drug and control the populace. But the director of the agency died on camera just after Careen’s shocking announcement, so she has become public enemy No. 1. While much of the first volume dealt with mystery and investigation, the stakes have only become higher in this sequel, as the confused and frightened lovers must fight for their lives and figure out how they fit into the anti–OCSD Resistance. Of course, even once the most immediate danger recedes, the Resistance fails to provide a perfect safe haven, with internal strife, confusion, treachery, and jealousy causing a wide array of problems for the couple. On top of all that, there’s the nightmare of Madalyn Davies, the wolfish new head of the OCSD and the person responsible for much of Careen and Tommy’s predicament. In a world where so few individuals have any power at all, a villain who abuses and hoards hers to such an extent is all the more striking. The setting of the series becomes even more intriguing here, as it’s difficult to imagine going against an unjust government when citizens have already given up nearly all of their basic rights and freedoms in the name of safety. The perspective of the Resistance and some forays into Tommy’s and Careen’s families and pasts also allow for a greater exploration of what they’ve really lost, driving the severity of their situation home even more than in the initial book. Character and setting were great strengths of the first installment, but they’re given even greater depth here, imparting surprise and insight with every page turned.
An adrenaline rush of a novel about an oppressive America that promises more to come.Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-9966108-2-7
Page Count: 248
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: March 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A tight, exciting, and thoughtful first volume in what promises to be a fine series about a female ninja.
In this YA historical novel set in Japan’s Sengoku period, a girl who adores climbing attends an unusual school.
“Your mother sold you to me this morning.” With this, young Kano Murasaki, called Risuko (Squirrel) for her love of climbing, learns she’s to accompany imperious old Lady Chiyome’s palanquin. Risuko’s father was a samurai, a prestigious occupation in war-torn 16th-century Japan. After being disgraced, he had to find work as a scribe; he taught Risuko to read and write, but with him now dead, the family is near starving—and Risuko’s best option is to comply. The traveling party undergoes a cold and dangerous journey as it tries to dodge the fighting between rival warlords. Along the way, Risuko displays some of her abilities—not just climbing, but calligraphy, bird calls, and presence of mind when attacked. When they finally reach the Mochizuki compound, Risuko becomes a novice, believing that she’s being trained as a shrine attendant. There’s talk of initiates becoming kunoichi, which no one will explain: “you’ll just have to find out on your own.” At first, the novices perform only menial tasks, especially kitchen work, but they eventually receive lessons in music, singing, and dancing. But suspicion and intrigue (both political and romantic), plus attempted thievery and worse, tear apart the Mochizuki community, leading to a dramatic confrontation with the truth. Kudler (How Raven Brought Back the Light, 2014, etc.) draws on one of the most fascinating elements of Japan’s feudal period—the kunoichi, or female ninja. (Mochizuki Chiyome is a historical figure who trained young women as spies and assassins, using cover identities such as shrine attendants, servants, and prostitutes.) Also intriguing are the cultural details that Kudler weaves into his story, such as the Retreat, a small building where Mochizuki’s women stay during their periods. The characters are nicely varied and all the pieces fit into place deftly, such as how Risuko’s dance movements and kitchen skills can be used in fighting.
A tight, exciting, and thoughtful first volume in what promises to be a fine series about a female ninja.Pub Date: June 15, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-938808-32-6
Page Count: 230
Publisher: Stillpoint Digital Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
