Review: All the Rage by Courtney Summers

All the Rage by Courtney Summers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love Courtney Summers. She knows how to tackle tough subjects. But, even this one was hard for me to read. Mainstream society is getting better about handling rape, but it's still not were it should be. I'm afraid what happens in this book happens far to frequently. Society has a tendency to blame the victim. It's easy to look away.

I really felt for Romy. She's just trying to move forward. She's constantly the target for intense teasing and ridicule. I can't even begin to imagine all the internal turmoil she would go through on a daily basis. It's too much for any one person to bear. I think her mother really tries to help her, but she doesn't know how to reach her.

The side story of the missing girl felt a little bit like filler. I didn't mind it because it did weave into the story in a way. I would have like more redemption and forgiveness for Romy when it came to that situation.

Over, it was a very good read.

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Review - This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

Title: This Is Not A Test

Author: Courtney Summers

Series: Stand Alone (but could see series)

Pages: 320

Published: June 19th 2012 by St. Martin's Griffin

ISBN: 9780312656744

Source: Around The World Tours

Description: It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to? 

I Give This ...

This immediately went on my to-read list just because its Courtney Summers.  I have to admit I was a little wary about zombies (not because I don't like zombie book, but because Courtney hasn't tackled this type of book before).   Turns out that I should have realized this book really isn't about zombies.  

I found it interesting that Sloane is so ready to turn it all in.  We get a little bit of a glimpse of why (and the full pictures comes throughout the story), but she never seems suicidal.  To me it just didn't fit with her character.  If she was that willing to die, I don't think she would have made such an effort to get to the high school.  I think in the back of her mind she knew she had something to live for.

At first I was a little annoyed about how the zombie apocalypse takes place.  We know next to nothing about it.  And it's never explained.  One moment the world is fine, the next its not.   But, as the characters get their moments in the book, I came to realize this story was about them.  It's focusing on the tensions that can be created when faced with this grim reality.  That the people who will survive are the ones who find their inner strength and courage to push on no matter what.  And that sometimes the only way to do that is to put your trust in someone you normally would have nothing to do with.  This type of catastrophe breaks down all social barriers.  I think the author did a fabulous job with this. 

Once I let go of the zombie portion of the story,  I found that this was really just like every other book I've read by Courtney Summers.  And I enjoyed it immensely.

    

Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers

Title: Fall For Anything

Author: Courtney Summers

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 230

Published: Available now from St. Martin's Griffin

ISBN: 9780312656737

Source: ARC from Around The World Tours

Description: When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?

I Give This ...

 

Two novels later (I still need to read her first one), and I'm quickly becoming a fan of Courtney Summers.  Her stories are haunting and very real world.

Ever have a book that totally works it's way into your brain because of something that has happened to you personally recently?  For me this was one of them.  No, I didn't recently have someone close to be commit suicide but the death of a friend that came as quite a shock.  I don't deal well with death, there I said it.  And this book brings up a lot of my fears and other emotions that I can only imagine if I had lost a parent at a young age (although this one also made me think about losing a child).

Eddie was marvelous.  I think I might have cried right along with her.  I hated Beth for all the things she was doing, even though I knew it was her own way of coping.  I felt sorry for Eddie's mom, because I could imagine what she was going though.  And most of all, I wanted Eddie to wake up and realize who she could trust and who she couldn't.  Sometimes grief makes you do things you wouldn't normally do.

I honestly wasn't surprised at the twist in the story.  I think I was expecting it.   Although the motives given, I honestly questioned.  It seemed to convenient for me.  I was happy to see Milo stick by her through it all.  It must have been hard for him too.  His feelings for Eddie mixed in with what happened would be hard for anybody to bear.

I can't wait to see what Courtney Summers produces for us next.

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

 

 Title: Some Girls Are

Author: Courtney Summers

Series: None

Published: January 2010

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Pages: 256

ISBN: 9780312573805

Source: ARC from Other Shelf Tours 

Description: Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard--falling from it is even harder. Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High... until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around.  Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex-best friends are out for revenge. If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day. She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully. Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first.  Tensions grow and the abuse worsens as the final days of senior year march toward an explosive conclusion in this dark new tale from the author of Cracked Up To Be.  

I Give This Book 4 Stars!

This book still haunts me a little and makes me a little sick to my stomach.  In today's world of bullying and teens committing suicide from it, the events that take place in the book feel far to real.  You want to hate Regina for who she is (or use to be), but you can't help but ache for who she is becoming.  Because, she's learning her lesson the extremely hard way.  The bullying in this book isn't light.  The girls at the top of the social ladder are out for blood and they don't care what happens to make sure everyone knows their place.   I was amazed at the lengths they went through to make sure Regina was left completely isolated.  The only people who she can turn to are those who were once in the same position when she was the tormentor.  Watching Regina come to terms with what she has done to others is bittersweet.  She forges new relationships and realizes that she never wants to go back to how things were, but it willing to pretend to protect those who have been hurt before.  The ending was truly shocking.  Another book I would recommend to teens and their parents!