Author: Daisy Whitney
Release Date: 11/2/2010
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Number of Pages: 352 Pages
Reading Level: Young Adult
5 out of 5 Stars
Description from Goodreads:
Some schools have honor codes.
Others have handbooks.
Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.
Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honorable way--the Themis Way. So when Alex is date raped during her junior year, she has two options: stay silent and hope someone helps her, or enlist the Mockingbirds--a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of their fellow peers.
My thoughts:
Alex wakes up in a strange bed with very little recollection from the night before. She is also naked and next to a boy she can’t remember. While attempting to dress and leave before he wakes, she notices two condom wrappers in the trash. The boy wastes no time in trashing Alex’s reputation. As the pieces from the evening come back to her ,she realizes it is very likely she was date raped. She starts to avoid the cafeteria, and takes the long way to class in order to avoid coming face to face with the boy who raped her. Encouraged by her friends and older sister, she seeks out the assistance of The Mockingbirds. The Mockingbirds are a group of students that help to right the wrongs the staff of Themis Academy choose to ignore. They agree to help not only prove what happened that night, but also help Alex cope with the anxiety she experiences when facing her peers.
I have to rave about this book. I was completely engrossed from start to finish. The emotional aftermath that Alex had to deal with brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion. It was a powerful read that touches on a very sensitive topic. The author, Daisy Whitney, has firsthand knowledge when it comes to the horrors of date rape. I applaud her for writing this book, and not being afraid to admit she was a victim of this loathsome crime. It features excellent characters, and a rapidly moving plot. I couldn’t put this one down. This is a book I’d recommend to teens and adults who are dating or even thinking about dating.
This is Daisy Whitney’s debut novel. I hope to have the opportunity to read more books from this very talented author.
Daisy Whitney on the web:
*Received via Book It Forward Tours
Great review! I was drawn in by your 5 star review, but after reading your rationale, I think I'll actually get this book. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAwesome review. I love that it moved you!
ReplyDeleteWow, this book truly addresses a very sensitive topic. And I have to applaud the author on finding a creative way to address the topic without being too dark - this definitely sounds like a page turner. Adding to my TBR list!
ReplyDeleteHi, I found you through Waiting on Wednesday, but I was so struck by this review, that I thought I would comment here...
ReplyDeleteI really appreciated your thoughts on this one...I might not have tried it otherwise because I was concerned about how the author would deal with the subject, but after reading your endorsement, I have put it on my TBR pile...thanks :)
Your blog is great...I will be back!
Everything I read about this book just repeatedly reinforces that I absolutely have to read it. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteI already have this one on my to-buy list based on all of the reviews I've read. Your review totally reinforces my choice! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteJulie @ Knitting and Sundries