Going Underground

by Susan Vaught

Del's not a bad guy. He's just a misunderstood criminal.

Seventeen-year-old Del is a good kid, but one mimro mistake three years ago was all it took to turn him into a social outcast. Now, with a criminal record, the only job he can get is digging graves-not exactly your typical after-school gig. But it's in the graveyard that Del meets the beautiful yet sad Livia, who doesn't know anything about him. She gives him reason to be hopeful again. Except that Del's crush comes with a sea of complications and he's not sure he is ready to reveal his past. Will the truth set him free..or will it dig him in even deeper?

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Teen, Death

336 pages, Hardcover

First published September 13, 2011

About the author

Website: http://susanvaught.com


astrology sign: Libra

favorite book: Harry Potter (all of them) and His Dark Materials
(all of those, too)

favorite song:I Will Follow You Into The Dark by Death Cab for Cutie

current pet total:12 if you don't count the chickens, peafowl,
turkeys, ducks, geese, pigeons, or guineas.

names of my schools:
Vanderbilt University (MS, Ph.D.)
University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) (BA)
Germantown High School (Germantown, TN 9th-12th)
Germantown Middle School (Germantown, TN 8th)
Can't Remember, but the mascot was a purple dragon (Sandy Springs/Atlanta Georgia, 7th)
Green Street Elementary (Tupelo, MS 6th) Frances Patterson was a very cool teacher there. I write because of her.
Pierce Street Elementary (Tupelo, MS 3rd-5th)
Can't Remember, but it was big (Corinth, MS, 2nd)
Oxford Elementary (Oxford, MS, K-1st)
University of Mississippi (Day Care, Playschool)

Reviews

[ALPHAreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Del. He’s a seventeen-year-old gravedigger with a secret. He owes his parents a debt of gratitude for the way they stuck by him during the worst of a terrible time. All of his childhood friends had to leave the state and scatter across the country just to escape the stigma that attached to them all … Del has few university prospects, because who’d accept a student with a criminal record? And he has regular sessions with a psychiatrist who is constantly asking Del to explain his anger.

But Del isn’t going to tell his secret, not just yet. Because enough people know about it – it was on the news and in the papers, Del and his friends became the face of a political push and he doesn’t want to relive it all just yet.

Except, Del may just have to remember the past when a pretty girl crosses his path … Livia is dealing with her own grief, but with Del she feels hope.

But before Del can move on with Livia, he has to understand that what he did when he was fourteen-years-old will not forever define him.

‘Going Underground’ is the contemporary YA novel from Susan Vaught.

Warning – ‘Going Underground’ is a smart and compelling novel about a topical issue. I know, I know. Plenty of people will be rolling their eyes in dismay at the thought of reading a YA novel centred around a hot-button topic. They crop up all the time, in the wake of news reports revealing the new and terrifying antics of abnormal adolescent behaviour (think rainbow parties and the choking game). Normally these ‘topical’ books are filled with righteousness and are less about characters/plot and more about the lessons to be learned. Yawn.

‘Going Underground’ is topical – but Vaught’s exploration of ramifications is fascinating and infuriating, and when centred around the lovable Del the novel doesn’t feel preachy but rather cathartic.

Del is our protagonist and narrator, and he’s intent on skirting around the topic of his ‘bad deed’.

So you're waiting for it, right? I know you are.
Why am I seeing a therapist? What horrible problem do I have? What rank, lame, rotten thing did I do?
Shame on you.
What if I didn't do anything at all?
Maybe I witnessed a vicious crime. No, wait. "Brutal." When newspeople talk about murder, it's always "brutal." Brutalmurder should be a new word, since they always get said together, even though they're kind of redundant.
Wait, wait. Maybe I got hit by a drunk driver and have to live in a wheelchair now. That happens to people. It could have happened to me. But I guess that's a crummy thing to joke about, even though I'm not really joking about stuff like my life being wrecked and having no future.
Maybe I have a learning disability and I'm all frustrated by not being able to read, or sit still, or whatever.
Maybe I have real problems I didn't even cause.
See? Now don't you feel guilty?
Good.
Because God knows I do.

But as the novel progresses, the truth comes and Del’s secret slowly seeps out.

The novel is about the little known ‘Romeo and Juliet law’, concerning statutory rape. So named, because this law states that two minors who have sex with each other (even if it’s consensual) can both be found guilty of engaging in unlawful sex with the other person. It’s a water-cooler topic and beloved soapbox for US politicians. But there are those campaigning against it – claiming that those minors who are charged with statutory rape (even if they were in a relationship with someone their own age, and both were consenting) will have a rape charge or misdemeanour felony on their record.

Enter, Del. At fourteen Del and his friends became the poster children for upholding the ‘Romeo and Juliet law’ in their state. Now Del is facing his eighteenth birthday and university enrolment – his record will soon be wiped clean (but not forgotten) and he’s on the precipice of putting this mistake behind him.

But the one thing Del hasn’t counted on is how mad he is. How mad at himself and his stupid mistake. At the hypocritical politician who put a target on Del’s back and hung him out to dry. Del doesn’t realise the depth of his anger until he meets Livia – in a normal world where he isn’t a sex-offender with a parole officer, Del would talk to her and maybe they’d date and be a normal, happy couple. But that isn’t Del’s world … and all because of a stupid mistake he made when he was fourteen-years-old and in love.

I really liked ‘Going Underground’. It’s a novel about sides and perspective – looking at a topic from every angle and putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. Sure, it’s a ‘topical’ YA novel, but Del is such a compelling leading man and his tentative romance with sad Livia is so sweet and unfairly hampered that I found myself rooting for him throughout the book. Susan Vaught has written a novel of infinite grey areas, a fascinating read.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things I was expecting this book to be:

1. On the cover of my copy there is a quote that says "Few will be able to look their cellphone[s] in the screen without a shudder and a 'what if...?'" - BCCB. Which made me incredibly excited, thinking that this would be a book about mobile phones taking over people's brains! Like The X-Files episode Blood (everything is an X-Files episode, and if it's not it will have been a Simpsons episode). I do so love technology controlling us and turning us evil (in fiction!). Unfortunately that is not what this book is about. I would love it if someone did write a book about evil mobile phones, though.

2. The title is 'Going Underground', and considering the amount of musical references in the book I am surprised the Jam song of the same name wasn't mentioned. (I loved the song references, despite the fact that they tended to be a little obscure and may date quickly, though the whole subject matter of the book will date quickly.) I was expecting something more death-centric. Again, mobile phones killing people. As it is, the protagonist just works as a grave digger.

3. The blurb on the back of the book begins: Del's not a bad guy. He's just a misunderstood criminal. (I dislike the word blurb. Blurb, blurb, blurb. It's like how an alien speaks.) The book is structured to jump between the present day and the event three years ago that derailed Del's life, where he became a criminal. It was suspenseful and well-placed, but what the crime actually turned out to be was quite anti-climactic. I was expecting this to be a book that made the reader empathise with a character that was genuinely bad or had done genuinely bad things. But no! The protagonist is likeable, and not a bad person at all. I was expecting something dark and twisted and it wasn't.

What this book actually was about (This is where I get a little bit spoiler-iffic, so look away now if you're planning on reading and want to be surprised. It's very easy to guess, however): sexting*.

I think this is suitable for the twelve and up YA readers, as the issue is well-handled. I think as an older reader, the story is less impactful. It would've been more surprising had I read it at twelve or thirteen, and I think the older you become the less you tolerate 'lessons' in books, as subtle as they are. I remember 'sexting' being a shocking thing that was reported on a lot five or six years ago, but I'm not sure whether that's just because that was when it first came to my attention (I was, and remain, really grossed out).

This book does tend towards just being an 'issues' novel, but it's still well-written and full of interesting characters and is genuinely enjoyable. It doesn't demonise any of the characters for their behaviour (except the attorney who prosecutes the kids, who doesn't feature in the book at all, but is mentioned as being fairly nasty), as many discussions regarding sexting do. It's not about how promiscuous/irresponsible/downright awful kids today are - the characters are largely realistic and endearing, and what happens to them occur due to naivety and general unfairness, rather than due to any big moral issue with The Youth of Today. So I liked how the issue was dealt with.

Going Underground balances humourous and serious moments well, is an easy read and I think very accessible for younger readers and both girls and boys.

*I am not aware of any actual teenager who uses the word sexting. I bet whoever came up with it felt really smart, though.

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Del never meant for any of it to happen. Neither did Cory. They were children, but they liked each other, and they decided that before they went too far too soon, they'd test the waters with photos of themselves. That one simple act sent Del's world spiraling into a dark abyss of beign a convicted felon and registered sex-offender. Years later, he's desperate to put the pieces back together, go to college and find a good job, but his past is still haunting him. Can he find peace with his past, make a future for himself and enjoy happiness again, or will his past haunt him forever?

You know, I've never really considered an "issue" book like this. I love me some twisty nonsense, but Going Underground was a whole new realm for me because it's something that I don't know too much about. Frankly, the only time I hear about someone releasing naked pictures of themselves, it's when I'm perusing Perez because I'm bored. Susan Vaught has cleverly crafted a story that tackles an extremely sensitive, controversial and delicate issue with ease with Going Underground. Creating heartfelt characters that display two sides to the controversy surrounding cell phones, their potential for misuse and the crimes that can be committed when using them. Rather than painting the story in black and white, the author has given us shades of gray in Going Underground, allowing the reader to see a victim in the perpetrator of a crime.

Going Underground wasn't the easiest read for me, but I'm by no means saying it was poorly done. The story was powerful and profound, and Del was an extremely likable MC. He was honest, respectful, hardworking and decent despite what happened three years ago. I felt for him and his situation, truly, I did. I think the main problem I had was that it's not an issue I know too much about, and I've always seen that one side of it. Sending inappropriate images via cell phones is wrong - that's what I believe, but Going Underground made me think because Del and Cory had no sort of malice in mind when they did so. It was curiosity - pure and simple. It was hard for me to reconcile the two. I will note that the book does jump from the present to three years in the past where we see what brought Del to his position today, and it was done well. The transitions weren't jarring, and it flowed smoothly. I also enjoyed the touches of lightness in an otherwise somber book...like the talking parrot, Fred. Trust me, she fits into the story of Going Underground seamlessly. The only other qualm I really had was that I felt the ending was a bit too convenient and too easy. Do I love ribbons and bows? Sure, but are they always realistic? Heck no.

All in all, Going Underground was a very good read, and I'm sure many a reader will get a powerful message out of it. I think my main problem was, perhaps, my lack of knowledge on the subject, but that's not to say the author didn't create a remarkable story. I give it a very strong 3.5 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to all fans of YA and adult reads, as well those who enjoy contemporary and issue books.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going Underground is a provocative, topical and thought provoking novel exploring the issue of sexting and it's repercussions for one young man. Fourteen year old Del was popular, athletic and planning a career in medicine or law, until the exchange of risque texts with his girlfriend, Cory, blew his world apart. Now a few months shy of his eighteenth birthday, his dreams in tatters, Del is waiting for a chance to reclaim his life.

While media cases have focused on instances where an explicit image went viral, Going Underground approaches the issue from a slightly different angle. Del was 14, Cory a few months younger at 13, when the single explicit photo they took shared only with each other, was discovered after their mobile phones were confiscated during a school camp. However Del was targeted by a self righteous DA whose claims of moral outrage resulted in felony convictions for the dissemination of child pornography and child rape, despite the pair never actually indulging in sexual intercourse.

Going Underground explores how the circumstances have affected Del's life. After being arrested, charged, convicted and serving time in juvenile detention, he was eventually allowed to return to ordinary life but required to attend therapy and remain on probation with strict regulations, until his eighteenth birthday. More damaging however is his lifetime registration as a sex offender, something Del is required to disclose when applying for employment or college and which severely curtails his future plans. With great sensitivity, Vaught explores the simmering emotions beneath Del's facade of resigned acceptance of his fate. While Del has scrupulously adhered to everything asked of him as the end of his schooling approaches, he silently despairs of ever having a future. It is Livia, a girl he meets in the graveyard in which he works, that prompts him to finally acknowledge the anger and fear which has kept him as bound as the terms of his probation.

The serious issues at the heart of this novel are balanced by flashes of humour and light-hearted moments. And while some circumstances may be simplified, the characters, especially Del, are realistically portrayed. I really liked Marvin's character, whose own conflicts are subtly explored and Fred, Del's African Grey parrot has a real presence in the book.

A story suitable for both teens and their parents, Going Underground is well written novel, sensitively exploring a controversial issue. I think it is both entertaining and thoughtful, and a srong contemporary young adult novel.

[Isamlq · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who am I?
Why am I here?
What’s the point?

My name is Del Hartwick and I have a felony conviction. In the eyes of the law, I am a criminal. I can’t tell you it was right, but I’m not sure I was wrong. .. The law says it was wrong, so I have to accept that, but I would like you to know the rest of the truth. I am not what those charges say about me. I’m not anything like that.

My name is Cain Delano Hartwick, and I want a future.

Judge me on what I can do, and give me a chance.

Please.

Gaah! I had a the most difficult time finishing this, given all the times I had to put it down. His circumstances are unfair; the consequences he was living, harsh. One would imagine at seventeen, the world his oyster, but it really isn’t. And well-meaning or no, all those goals they wanted him to set, and all those ‘next right things’ put on him, only made it more obvious what he could have or more apt, couldn’t.

The most real reaction here, but also the most painful, is his and Marvin’s. Neither is happy with what’s become of Del, but they both don’t do anything about it. They’d rather not rock the boat, would rather continue as is. While, an understandable reaction, it’s also so frustrating... because a lot of what’s dealt him, is not his fault.

So, take a hot button topic, put in more than a couple of well-meaning folks who don’t know how to make things right, then throw in the possibility that there is no making things right at all. And in the center of all that, a kid who sees what he could have been but has to settle for so much less..

A 3.5/5 given an ending I felt too happy, though it's not a completely happy one either.

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seventeen-year-old Del has kept to himself since getting in trouble three years ago. Big trouble. He accidentally committed a felony three years ago, but is punishing himself worse than the legal system ever could. While at his grave-digging job, he sees a beautiful girl. Legally, he's allowed to date, but will he break his self-imposed restrictions and risk forgiving himself? And, there's a sidekick female African Parrot named Fred.
GOING UNDERGROUND is a cautionary tale about the dangers of sexting, yet it's never preachy. Del is very much a victim, yet he rather than feeling sorry for himself, his guilt consumes him. Susan Vaught has created a multidimensional character with a strong memorable voice in Del about a topic teens should read. At times the book was slow paced, which kept me from giving this novel five stars.

[Alanna (The Flashlight Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my. Ohmyohmyohmy. This was a great book! I knew this would be good because of the content, but I had no idea how great it was going to be. I have to go ahead and put out there that the style of the writing in Susan Vaught's book Going Underground reminds me a lot of Chris Crutcher. (He is an awesome YA writer, BTW.) The story does alternate between the present-- Del's senior year-- and the past. It's not a choppy flip flop either; it flows really nicely. The only thing that would make it better is if there was some type of text feature clue to the present-past change. Maybe some italics or something. I could see how that might be confusing to a younger reader that isn't used to this type of writing.

I don't give out too many 5 star reviews because I don't think there are that many "you have to read this" kind of books out there. Don't get me wrong, there are PLENTY of great books, but not so many that earn a permanent place on my personal bookshelf. This book is getting a permanent home. In fact, I just pre-ordered two copies from Amazon. Two! When my son gets a little older I am going to make him read this book.

You get a pretty good idea of what the book is about from the back cover. What you don't get, however, is how amazing the writing is. This book covers a very serious (and real) problem with our youth. I know as a middle school teacher, I am constantly having to talk to kids about appropriate use of cell phones and the internet. I can't even tell you how many phones I have confiscated in the last 7 years that have had inappropriate pictures on them. Too many, that's for sure. Obviously, when I saw this book I wanted to read it. I thought it would open up a whole new door for teachable moments. Maybe, just maybe, it could teach my students a lesson about life. Oh my goodness. Wait! Isn't that what great YA literature does? I think so.

As deep and heavy as some of the content is, there is a nice bit of comic relief from Fred-- a talking bid. Don't think this bird is a random placement either. It's perfect! She (yes, the bird is a she) is the perfect tension breaker; otherwise, this book might be too serious and untouchable. Having that crazy bird makes the story so much more accessible. Then there is Del. Poor, pitiful, conflicted Del. I loved him. You get a great insight into what it would be like to be a victim of the legal system. I feel so sorry for this kid! You know there are real perverts out there that take pictures of kids and do horrible things with them, but then there are also kids that do stupid things. Unfortunately, Del gets treated as one of the perverts. He spends the remaining four years of his high school life dealing with his actions.

I'm not going to tell much more about this complicated story, because I don't want to give away too much of the beauty. This books deals with the controversial topic of sexting in such a real way that it is going to be one of those teen "must reads." I know I'm going to recommend it to my teacher friends that have teenage kids. It might be a little too mature for younger readers, but it's still a great book. There isn't any graphic details or things like that, but this is a story about a kid who gets punished for being sexually curious. You can make your call.

This is a great novel that I would probably place next to Laurie Halse Anderson's Twisted and Chris Crutcher's Inexcusable. Fantastic!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read the back of the book blurb and based on the cover, I wasn't sure how I would like this book. I mean the idea behind it is clearly something young adults should think about and understand the consequences of their actions in the eyes of the current laws, but how would it work as a story plot? Would it come off preachy? Or would it just be a back drop to an otherwise generic young adult novel about two kids in love? Since I hadn't read Vaught's work before, I had no idea what to expect.

Vaught provides an excellent novel which balances the life changing consequences with the heartbreaking challenges faced as one boy tries to put his life back together after what is thought to be an innocent act of two freshman in high school. Vaught's research and knowledge of current laws as well as how they are changing helps to expand a fictional story into a lesson (but not a preachy one) for young adults who do not always understand the consequences of their actions.

As I discussed with the girls of Explore Austin, the actions and things you say now in an ever increasing digital world, can have unknown responses down the road effecting both your personal life and potentially your professional life as well. As the world connects through various digital means, the laws may not always be current with the new situations that arise with these technologies. And as Vaught's tale of Del clearly shows, what is thought to be a very innocent exchange between two non-sexually active teenagers, results in a young man about to graduate high school who cannot find a college to accept him, and his job prospects are so limited, that he is working in a cemetary.

I wish I had copies of this book to give to my friend who teach the target audience of this book as I know they would not only devour the story, but they might also stop to think before they do something that could result in a similar situation for them. If you have a teen or even a tween, I would suggest you put this book in front of them. It's well worth a read.

An added bonus, this novel has the rare occurrence of being told from a boy's point of view; something that you don't often see in young adult novels and clearly a viewpoint that needs to be heard.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Del used to have a normal life. Back when he was still fourteen, he played sports, hung out with his friends and girlfriend, and listened to his parents. But now, at seventeen, everything’s different. He keeps his head down at school and there’s really only one person that he can truly call his friend. He knows he’ll never be able to get a job other than the one he has digging graves. He knows that no college will ever accept him as a student. The dreams that he used to have of doing things and going places are long gone. And for what? All because of a stupid text and an innocently taken picture, Del is now considered a felon. Because of the cold eyes of the law, Del’s future has been taken away from him. But with the help of a new friend, a girl that Del thinks he could fall in love with, he’ll start to realize that no matter how hard his life gets to be, he still might be able to find a way to be happy.

Going Underground is a heartbreaking yet hopeful novel that draws upon real stories of juvenile sexting scandals. I’ll admit that when I realized that this was the reason Del was in such a bad place in life, I wasn’t sure if or why I should care. I’ve had no previous exposure to how the legal side of this issue can damage personal lives, and I thought this problem only applied to creepy old men. However, Vaught quickly showed me the other realities of this issue. Del is no creepy old man; instead, he’s a hardworking high school student and dedicated friend who’s paying for a mistake he made as a kid. I loved getting to know his character through his interactions with his best friend Marvin, his boss Harper, and even his parrot Fred. Vaught presents such a vivid and realistic portrait of someone who is just such a good guy that it’s truly heartwrenching to find out how his life has been utterly destroyed. I commend Vaught for writing about a lesser known side of a controversial legal and political issue and for this incredible and touching story.

This review does little justice for how much this book moved me. Going Underground should be read by those who also enjoyed This Gorgeous Game by Donna Freitas, Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King, and Candor by Pam Bachorz.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

To begin with, I absolutely loved the fresh idea that Vaught came up with as a story plot. It had me from the description, already making me wonder what happened to Del and what caused him to be a felon. Vaught also wove a wonderful tale together using flashback chapters sporadically throughout the book. They were placed in exactly the right places, sometimes making me angry that it would switch so suddenly back to the present because I desperately wanted to find out what happened when Del was fourteen.
I also loved Del's personality. He was such a great character to watch grow as the story developed, and there were about 6 or 7 different elements in which he did that, making the story line much more complex than a simple felon story. In addition to Del, I also fell in love with Harper, the owner of the graveyard; Marvin, Del's best friend; and Fred, Del's female African parrot. I literally could not get enough of these characters. Marvin was outlandish and weird, and seemed a little bit like my friends at times. Harper was so lovable and an alcoholic, and from the moment Vaught brings him into the story, I wanted to help him and be his best friend. And don't even get me started on the parrot. At first, I was very confused. I mean, a parrot? But it was SO COOL! I ended up loving Fred way too much and the fact that she insulted people in Spanish.
The only character I didn't really like was Livia. She was the only thing I didn't like about this story, bringing my review down from a solid 5 to a 4 stars book. She just wasn't... anything. There wasn't much to her character, and since, from the beginning, she's the girl Del really likes, I just wanted something more from her. But there was no development, no anything to her character really, other than a quick explanation of why she comes to the cemetery. I was just so disappointed with her.

I also really liked how Del's personal story wove in with the legal story. It was so interesting to see his case develop and how he would handle and react to certain things. There were so many different elements to this story, and I really liked them all. Vaught did a wonderful job of weaving them all together without making it utterly chaotic and impossible to follow — everything was just right.

[Miranda Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't know what this book was about before I started reading it, but I am surprised that it's something that I ended up not liking. A quirky YA novel about a boy who works as a gravedigger? Sign me up! It sounded exactly like something I would love. But I was so underwhelmed.

The first problem is the male protagonist. I don't have anything against male protagonists in general, but I do think that it's the kind of thing where, if you're going to do it, you need to do it right. And, while this book didn't completely suck, it wasn't exactly done right either.

I always give a book at least 100 pages before choosing to not finish it, and I kept that rule with this book. But, 100 pages into this 300-page book, barely anything had happened. This book was told in alternating past and present chapters. The problem was that all of the action was in the past, but the chapters in the present were so long and nothing happened. I really, really wish that the author had just told the story normally, because I just wanted to skip all the uneventful present chapters just to read about the actually-kind-of-interesting stuff that was in the past. The story was about a topic that I've never read about before, and I don't even know of any other books that deal with it, so it definitely had the potential to be awesome. I get so aggravated when authors screw themselves like that!

And, I don't know about you, but it really annoys me when a book is hiding something from you on purpose. Like when the main character has a "secret" that they know about and sometimes other characters know about, but won't tell you about...even though you know that it's there and they keep being super vague and sketchy about it. It just seems very gimmicky to me.

Especially when you're this far into a book and the whole plot is just the fact that the character is dealing with the aftermath of this secret that you still don't know about (except you know enough vague details to have an idea of what's going on, to the point where the character's trying to keep it from you seems ridiculous and immature).

The whole thing was just completely annoying and really boring. Next!

[Once · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that parents HAVE to read. If you have kids, especially teenagers, then you must read this. I have to say that this really made me think about our legal system. Things are not always black and white and when it comes to sex offenders we often think of sick perverted people (adults) that do horrible things to someone else. Well, this was not the case in this book.

Del had a normal life. He was 14 years old and into sports and top of this class. He played baseball and had a sweet girlfriend named Corey, who was 13 years old, but only a few weeks from turning 13. But after a sexting incident that landed him in juvenile detention and a sex offender record, his whole world came tumbling down. Now 17 and about to graduate high school, Del doesn’t know what to do. Colleges keep denying him because of this past. The only job he can get is at a local cemetery digging graves. Then one day while digging, he sees Livia and he is instantly infatuated by her. Livia is a sweet smart girl who also falls for Del, but the only problem is that she doesn’t know about his past.

Going Underground was a great book that opened my eyes to an issue that no one really talks about - sexting. This was a horrible thing that happened to Del and what makes it worse is that this is something that teenagers are doing all the time and don’t even know the legal ramifications for it. I recommend that ALL parents with teenagers and teenagers too read this book and do some research on this issue. Because this is something that is happening every day.

review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2012...

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

For what ever reason this book started off slow for me. And I am amazed now to think that it did because I really liked this book. It was only slow through the first chapter and a little of the second but then I started to really get into it and read it in one sitting. I actually stayed up until 11:30 last night just so that I could finish it and see how it ended.
One thing that I absolutely loved about this book was all the music. I am a huge music lover. I always have music playing if i'm cleaning, on the computer or like now, writing a review. (If anyone is wondering I am listening to "Mr. Know It All" by Kelly Clarkson.) I also play music depending on my mood, it always puts me in a better mood to hear songs that are relating to how I am feeling.
I really liked how the book ended. This book kept you flipping the pages. I wanted to know what ended up happening between Del and Livia. What happens to Del and his sex offender status. Saying that, through the whole book I just could not wrap my head around him getting in trouble for what he did. I think that's what kept me so interested was that I couldn't believe that happened to him and I had to know how it turned out for him.
This was just an all around great book and I really enjoyed it. And I love the cover of this book, it was actually the first thing that drew me into the story. And it first perfectly with my favorite month, October.. =)

[Jolene Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one day, in a matter of a few hours. I attribute most of this to the exquisite story telling of this author Susan Vaught.

I must say that originally, I was beyond drawn to this story, because the macabre side of me loves anything involving graves, cemeteries, and boys who live or dwell in them. But I wasn't prepared for how good this novel actually turned out to be!

Vaught does an amazing job portraying the voice of a teenage boy. I fell in love with Del, the protagonist, easily. I also found it enjoyable the way she revealed much of the storyline. Del insists that he doesn’t want to tell the audience right away what he did that got him arrested, for fear of being judged by the audience, just like everyone else in his town judges him. But, as Del gains confidence in himself and his newfound love interest, we find out exactly what happened in a series of flashbacks and conversations.

Del is a teenage boy, obsessed with music, his bird Fred, and haunted by his past. In a digital age, one can’t help but relate to this story of living with the consequences of your actions, no matter how unprepared you may feel or how safe cyberspace may feel. This dark secret that Del keeps from the reader, webs the entire plot together, and threatens to come lose at the story’s climax.

I don’t want to spoil it for you, but trust me. You want to read this novel. It’s intriguing, it’s funny, it’s serious, and it’s well done.

I love you Del.

[Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It just goes to show you that expectations ruin everything. Lately, I've read a bunch of books that although I was super-psyched to read them when checking them out the library, turned out to be wholly disappointing upon actually reading them. Weird, right? So, in truth, I had no expectations regarding Susan Vaught's Going Underground. I liked the cover a lot. I'd heard some good stuff. But that was about it.

But man, it was really good. Not kick me in the ass stupendous but easily the best YA thing I've read in a while. I really loved Del and his voice. I loved the complicated & interesting peripheral teen characters--especially Del's best friend Marvin and his supposed arch-nemesis Jonah. I even loved the grown-ups (which if you know me at all is usually my major gripe in YA fiction). And Fred--don't even get me started about Fred! Name one other book who has as its moral compass a foul-mouthed African gray parrot.

Did the end seem a little too pat and easily political? Of course it did but at the point I was cheering for Del so much that I really didn't care. I wanted good things for him and if the political process had to be simplified and idealized than I'm okay with that.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the premise and this was very readable story. As a young adult book it was still thought provoking. I have had lots of conversations about the unfairness of statutory rape charges and that when two people are similar in age, they should both (not just the boy) be held accountable.

I wasn't quite sure that Del would be quite so guilty. I get that he'd be angry and that he would feel outcast, but I would have expected more righteous resentment (rather than guilt) over the issue. I understand that it is hard to talk about and that he would shy away from explaining things to Livia, but I guess I wasn't quite sure that he would be afraid that she wouldn't believe or understand his position.

Overall, certainly worth the time. I'm trying to decide if I'm going to allow my 10 year old (who is recently very interested in sex and all things sexual) read this..I think waiting a year or two makes sense, but it is a good "fear read" for a young boy about thinking before acting and not "putting yourself between a bullet and a target."

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read this year, and it's one that would make such a good pairing with WANT TO GO PRIVATE? Del is a fantastic character and the story is heartbreaking. Oh how much I wanted him to succeed. It's rare I love a good character so much and want nothing more for them to succeed, but Vaught was so successful in eliciting these feelings from me as a reader. Does that make me sound crazy? Sometimes you want the good ones to have a rough road, right? This time, I didn't. Because, well, he DESERVED to do well. The world was against him.

Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2011/11/g...

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really didn't care for this book. It is about a kid who commits a crime, unknowingly, a crime which isn't dramatically revealed until about halfway through the book. The book starts in the present and flashes back and forth three years in the past, which is when the crime was committed. The crime, sexting, was done without the character knowing what he really did wrong until after the fact. And while i do realize this is a social issue that many teens know nothing about, I got the feeling that the book was written around this issue, almost like a PSA, which annoyed me. And so did the parrot!

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

So improbable that it's got to be based on a true story.

[Zach Braggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been reading the book Going Underground by Susan Vaught for about a week now and have enjoyed it a lot. I found this book in the U.H.S library just randomly and decided to read it because it sounded kinda interesting. Susan Vaught is the author of many books for teens including Trigger, My Big Fat Manifesto, Going Underground, and Freaks Like Us. She is also a practicing psychology in Kentucky where she lives.

The Book Going underground by Susan Vaught shows how Del, the main character, life was affected by one choice he made three years ago. After being arrested and sent to juvenile detention, Del was allowed to go back to living an ordinary life but still had to go to therapy and be on probation until his eighteenth birthday. Because of his criminal record, the only job Del can get in digging graves. But this isn’t all bad because, at the graveyard, Del meets a beautiful girl named Livia, who doesn’t know anything about his history and record. Throughout the story, Del has to go through the conflict of deciding whether or not to tell Livia about his past and at the same time, trying to hide it from her.

I like how the book introduces you to Del and then talks about his past and what got him to where he is today (digging graves). I also like how there is a lot of dialogue in the book because it really helps you get inside of Del’s head and allows you to know how he is feeling at a certain moment. I have not gotten to the ending of the book yet, but I am extremely excited to see what happens next.

Quote: “That Bird is possessed by the devil, Del. Really. Seriously.” This quote is by Marvin after Dels Bird, Fred, attacks his shoes. I like this quote because it is really funny and I like Marvin because he is also really funny.

I would recommend this book to someone who doesn’t really know what they want to read at the moment. I liked the book a lot but don’t think I would have read it unless, at the moment of getting it, I had an idea of what I wanted to read. Overall, the book Going Underground by Susan Vaught was a good read and I think that anyone who enjoys reading the realistic fiction genre would enjoy it.

Some quotes I liked from the book:
“Avoiding life, avoiding making any concrete plans for your life--that's just one way you're pretending you can keep bad things from happening to you again.”
This shows the effect that sexting had on Del's life.

“I'm lost in space and I want to find a way home. Nobody else can get me back to the planet, so I have to do it myself.”
This quote shows that after what happened to Del, he felt all alone and it shows the effect that sexting can have.

[VDC · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an intense issue to cover. Really loved Del and the way he processed his trauma. Plus who doesn’t love a parrot named Fred?

[Maria Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.5

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book hoping that it would be... something? I don't know really. It was kind of slow for me. It wasn't the worst book I have read, but it wasn't the best either. It was just average for me. I don't know what to say on this book apart from the fact that it was slow in the beginning but it picked up around half way.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a little hard to wrap my mind around this book. It was completely different from what I had expected. I'm glad I didn't read the plot teaser on Goodreads or another site, because I just picked up the book and started reading without the foggiest idea what it was about. I liked going into it with a clean slate because the suspense kept me turning the pages.

After I had finished this book I couldn't decide if I liked it or not. It dealt with a tough subject I hadn't even heard about. My initial reaction was not good because I could sense the author's bias in the subtext of the plot and it bothered me because I didn't have the same sentiments as her. But after thinking about Del and his life, I realized that while I didn't whole-heartedly agree with the author, I did share some of her sentiments. Del's life was completely messed up and his whole situation should have been handled another way, because it was not fair.

I had never realized how severe the law could be for this type of situation. And it really shined a light on teenagers and choices they thought were harmless but could lead to drastic consequences, which I thought was portrayed well. It was morbidly fascinating to see how messed up Del's life had become because of things he had done when he was younger. But at the same time, I do think that those sorts of things (I know, I know, I'm being cryptic, but I don't want to give away any spoilers) should have pretty severe laws because of the way it could damage someone else's life.

My thoughts about why I think the law should be severe: people who send revealing photos of themselves to their significant others don't often think of the ramifications if the relationship goes south. I can easily see people getting majorly hurt when those pictures end up online or published when the relationship ends with bad feelings. And that's when I think people should have severe consequences for making those images public.

It was a lot to think about, and while I wouldn't say that I loved this novel, but I was glad I read it. The story was pretty engaging, but I did feel like parts of it were unrealistic or brushed over. I wasn't sure why Livia was so interested in Del or equally, Del's fascination with her. Their whole relationship seemed fake and underdeveloped. I also thought Cherie was completely crazy and needed to get a life, I felt extremely sorry for Del throughout their entire interactions. I think the author was trying to soften us up to Cherie near the ending, but I wasn't buying any of it, I just wanted her to go somewhere else. I also wasn't sure about the parrot. She was just weird.

I applaud the author for writing about this and bringing it to people's attention. Hopefully it will open the eyes of teenagers who might not realize the legal ramifications of their actions. I don't know if I would recommend this book per se, but I wouldn't unrecommend it either. It just isn't one of those books that's chipper and engaging, but it does handle a difficult subject well.

*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2012...

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

When Del was 14, he got caught up in a sexting scandal that labeled him a felon. Now, at 17, he’s a pariah of society, can’t get into college, and digs graves for a living because no one else will give him a job. After living three years in near solitude, save for his parrot, Fred, and only loyal friend, Marvin, Del has met a girl who may be the one. He’s afraid to get too close though, because he fears she will leave when she learns of his past, or that he’ll find himself in trouble again. Del must learn to not give up on life or himself and to remove himself from isolation in order to find happiness again.

I hardly ever read novels from the point of view of a male character because I feel like I can’t relate as well or that I won’t click with the story. Yeah, it’s weird. But anyways, the story sounded intriguing enough for me to pick it up anyways, and I’m glad that I did.

I love, love, loved Del. He was so sympathetic, sweet-natured, and mild-mannered. He could have been so much more than what he was, but his fire was squelched when he was arrested, sent to juvie, and labeled a rapist, at just 14 years old. Throughout the novel, we see Del start to grow and rise up from his past. In that way, I think the story is hopeful, albeit sad.

I also liked the writing style. It switches back and forth between Del in the present, and Del at 14. We don’t know exactly what happened upfront, but more and more is revealed throughout the flashback scenes. Those were actually my favorite chapters because I was dying to find out what really happened.

This book was also filled with quirky and interesting characters. Aside from Del, I’d have to say my favorite was Fred, his female parrot who farted, counted out of order, and said inappropriate things at all the wrong times. There were some great secondary characters as well, such as his parents who are animal rescuers, which is where Fred came from, and a goth girl from school who won’t stop stalking Del at the graveyard, despite all of his protestations.

All in all, a well written contemporary YA novel that I enjoyed reading. It didn’t blow me away or anything, but I did think it was pretty good. It was somewhat subtle and quiet, where I think it could have been slightly more dramatic or intense, but I did find it to be timely and modern. I’d definitely recommend it for all fans of contemporary YA, though.

If you’re interested in reading other novels on the topic of sexting, I’d also recommend Exposure by Therese Fowler, which is a much more intense and explosive look at a teenage sexting scandal, and one of my favorite reads of 2011. If you’re looking for drama and OMG, then check out Exposure. If you’re looking for a more toned down novel, then stick with Going Underground. Or, better yet, read both! 🙂

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going Underground wasn’t an easy book for me to read, mostly because I knew during the flashbacks what the end result was going to be for Del (since it’s revealed at the beginning of the book that he got into huge trouble for something and it’s basically destroyed his life). But it is also very tough subject matter, because it’s an issue that should be black and white – punishment of a sex offender – but this book shows you that there is a very, very large gray area. There were no criminals in this book, regardless of their legal histories. There were just kids who made a mistake and did something without realizing what the consequences of their actions would be and how the rest of their lives would be affected. Del may be a criminal on paper but in reality he’s something very different. He’s a victim of an overzealous legal system and political maneuvering. And without getting overly political, he’s an example of someone trying to take a moral stand and inflict their beliefs on someone else, to the detriment of that person and with a lack of common sense.

You feel awful, awful, awful for Del, who comes out as a thoughtful and intelligent young man who continues to be repeatedly kicked while he’s down further than most people could possibly stand to be. At the age of 17, his life is for all intents and purposes over. He’ll never be able to pursue his dreams or even hold down an average job because of his criminal record. He’s afraid to approach the girl he has a crush on from afar because he’ll have to tell his story and let her decide if she feels comfortable around him. I want to stay spoiler free so I won’t give much away about Del’s struggles and how everything eventually shakes out. It becomes clear throughout the course of the book, though, that Del needs to take a stand and start doing for himself instead of being terrified that every move he makes is the wrong one, and whether or not he’s able to do that is pivotal to how the story ends.

Vaught’s writing is compelling and I was extremely engrossed in the story. I liked it that the chapters toward the beginning have music that they’re supposed to be set to, since Del is so into music as a mechanism for coping with his life. It was a really unique and cool touch. Honestly, I’m probably one of the few people who keep music and books totally separate. I don’t read to music and and I don’t generally read a book and think, “hey, this song would fit this book perfectly!” Though I do have one minor quibble – Gary Jules does the best version of Mad World, not Tears for Fears or Adam Lambert.

This is a book about a tough subject that will really make you think. I really recommend it to readers of contemporary YA.

4.25/5 Stars.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I try not to give away too many details about the books I read, as I don't want to spoil it for the readers. In this case I am going to give away more, because of the content, it's not going to be a book for everyone (although maybe it should be).

Del is 17, and when he was 13, he had a girlfriend who he loved. They didn't want to have sex, they thought they should wait, but they did send each other naked pictures of each other. When a teacher confiscates their mobile phones, the matter falls into the hands of the police, and then the District Attorney. You see, Del and his girlfriend were under age, and in the eyes of the law the photos were considered child pornography, that and the fact that they had 'fooled aound' in a sexual way, Del was charged with rape. There were other friends, and other 'sexting' photos, but Del was the only one who admitted to the nature of his and Corey's relationship, thinking that they had been doing the right thing (not having sex).

Despite the themes, this book is not sexually explicit. What we see is Del, at 17, struggling with what he is going to do with the rest of his life. He is now living back at home (after doing time in juvenile detention), but he is a convicted rapist and a registered sex offender. This means he isn't allowed to be in public places where there are children, he has no Internet or mobile phone, and he is being rejected from colleges, because he has to disclose the fact that he is a sex offender. He works in a graveyard, has two friends, and a parrot. His life was ruined, and he's still not sure that he ever did anything wrong. In fact he is is encouraged to speak at the High Court so that the laws regarding under age sexual contact between consenting partners can be changed. In Australia we are looking at finding a way to protect children against sexual exloitation from adults, without criminalising them for their normal sexual exploration.

This book is set in America, and our age of consent law may be different in Australia, they even vary from state to state. In Australia we are looking at finding a way to protect children against sexual exloitation from adults, without criminalising them for their normal sexual exploration. I am not a parent of teenagers, or a teacher of teenagers, so I am not sure what is taught or talked about. This book makes me hope that, as well as safe sex, the laws regarding under age sex are discussed, and also the new implications of the new trend of 'sexting'. It is a look at things we do when we are young, without thinking what impact it could have with the rest of our lives.

I know I have raved on a bit, but I wouldn't want anyone to pick up this book without knowing what it is about.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating - 3.5

The Short Story? - I'm completely floored by this bittersweet YA contemporary. Vaught has created this highly controversial scenario that deals with a very authentic teenager and his problems with the law. Firstly, the male POV is a real highlight and treat, Del is such an aspiring character. Beautifully written, deeply moving and thoroughly enjoyable. Going Underground is a very unique YA contemporary!

The Long Story? - When I first started Going Underground I wasn't too keen because I was in the middle of exam preparation, I was in a reading slump and I just wasn't in the mood for a serius contemporary read. So I put the book down and read something else. When I picked up Going Underground, my whole perspective of the novel changed. I really enjoyed, it's not really in my comfort zone but I enjoyed it. Vaught explores some deep issues in Going Underground including trouble with the law, sexting, child pornography and rape (heavy - I know). The plot is incredibly bittersweet, Del really has coped the worst of life and Going Underground is kind of a moving-on story and teaching readers that there is always hope. We follow Del through his everyday life and it's a very aspiring story. I don't want to get too deep into the plot and spoil it but contemporary fans would definitely dig this one.

One of the best things I like about this book was the protagonist - Del. Going Underground told from a males POV (perk) and Del was brilliant ( another perk). He's such an aspiring character, he's so so so strong. Life has really given him lemons yet he soldiers on. The turning point for Del was really his meeting with Livia, who is the love interest. This novel definitely doesn't focus of romance, in fact it plays a really minor part. The majority of the novel was about Del moving with his life, choosing what's best for him and fighting for it. I felt a real connection to Del as a character because he's a really sweet but completely misunderstood boy and his troubled past really does haunt him everyday. I really, REALLY though Del was a very well developed character :)

Overall, Going Underground wasn't my favourite contemporary read of the year ( that honour goes to The Fault in Our Stars by John Green) but it's definitely one of the better ones I've read. The male POV is refreshing and Del is a very authentic character. It's a very realistic scenario and covers some difficult topics that are usually unexplored in YA fiction. I'll definitely recommend Going Underground to YA readers who enjoys contemporary fiction about second chances and teen issues!

[Andye.Reads]

READ THIS BOOK!! If you are a teenager, the parent of a teen, or have a teen in your life in any way, READ THIS BOOK! It will scare you to death, make you want to scream and cry and hurt your heart. I hesitate to put too much detail into this review because part of my emotions were drawn from wondering what exactly had happened. The main character is Cain Delano Hartwick, who goes by Del. He is a 17 year old high school senior who is a talented athlete and good student. Del has a part time job and is also the main provider for a parrot named Fred. These credentials sound great until you get to the part that says Del is a convicted sex offender who has no hope of going to college, getting a decent job or living any kind of normal life. Even more astounding is the fact that the events that led to his conviction took place when he was 14 years old in the summer before his freshman year of high school. What horrific and despicable act could this young man (child) have done to cause this judgement? For me, the answer to this question is amazing and horrifying and sad. I don't know how factual this story is but the author is a practicing psychiatrist whose professional and personal experiences inspired this story. My perspective is most assuredly different now as a grandmother than it would have been as a mother but hopefully there has been some wisdom gained in those years. It is inconceivable to me that the life of a very young person should be ruined forever because of an error in judgement. As Del himself says, "In the eyes of the law, I am a criminal. I can't tell you I didn't do it, because I did. I can't tell you it was right, but I'm not sure it was wrong." A few pages before I read this in the book, I had the exact same thought. This story should make us take a hard look at the laws on the books and how they might impact those people who are not twisted and perverted and should also serve as a strong warning to us and our children.

This book has some strong themes in it including teenage sexuality, death, loss and the legal system. It would best be served to spark open and frank conversations between parents and children. Life is very different for teens today than it was even for my own children. I didn't have to worry about monitoring cell phones, Facebook, Twitter, etc, etc. Being vigilant for our children's health and well being is a much more complicated task now and promises to become even more so in the future. The story holds your interest throughout as you get to know Del and his situation. I recommend it highly.

Janeth

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Del was deemed a felon at age 14. It wasn't really his fault though. Now he's stuck at seventeen with no conceivable future in front of him. The only thing he has in his world is his parrot Fred and digging graves. It's here, at the graveyard, where he meets a girl who shines a little light in his life. He has to tell her about his past, but Del doesn't know if he can say the words out loud. If he wants a future though, he has to overcome his past as best he can.

Wow. This was an amazing story. I have read and loved Susan Vaught and the past and this novel just cements that I will continue to keep reading her novels. Del was an amazing character who answered the door when the wrong fate came a-knockin'. I loved the take on sexting in this novel. Susan presented in with hard facts. It may not really be wrong in the eyes of your parents and yourselves, but the swift hand of the law takes prisoners. Del was an extremely well-mannered kid considering all the crap that had been thrust into his lap. I would have been friends with him, because he seemed like a great person who just happened to have this black cloud following him around. Del's parrot Fred was amazing. She made me wish I could get an African Grey parrot (parrot is a girl). I would love it if this book had push buttons that made Fred noises, that way it would be just as ridiculous as I imagine Fred to be. Harper was pretty fantastic too. He was the graveyard owner and he was just a swell guy (minus the drinking). He understood Del in a lot of ways that nobody else seemed to, which is something Del really needed. This novel was just good in every way. The characters were vivid and alive and the small town seemed normal. It was interesting that Del worked at a graveyard too. A place to be alone with his thoughts and take a different perspective on a lot of things. Before the end of this year you all should definitely pick up this book; it will make you laugh and it will make you cry and it will make you angry. Hopefully you'll love it as much as I did though.

First Line:
"Dead zones."

Favorite Lines:
"The air fills chilled as I climb the rest of the stairs like a badly oiled robot, jerking at the joints."

"Some of these people look so old they might have died last week and somebody forgot to wheel them out."

Read more: http://www.areadingnook.com/#ixzz1fVJ...