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Rape Girl
Valerie always wanted to be the smart girl. The pretty girl. The popular girl.
But not the rape girl.
That’s who she is now. Rape Girl. Because everyone seems to think they know the truth about what happened with Adam that day, and they don’t think Valerie’s telling it.
Before, she had a best friend, a crush, and a close-knit family. After, she has a court case, a support group, and a house full of strangers.
The real truth is, nothing will ever be the same.
But not the rape girl.
That’s who she is now. Rape Girl. Because everyone seems to think they know the truth about what happened with Adam that day, and they don’t think Valerie’s telling it.
Before, she had a best friend, a crush, and a close-knit family. After, she has a court case, a support group, and a house full of strangers.
The real truth is, nothing will ever be the same.
126 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2012
28 people are currently reading
4615 people want to read
About the author
Alina Klein
2 books74 followersAlina Klein lives in Indiana with her husband, two sons, and a quirky assortment of pets, including both a tortoise and a hare. When she isn’t reading or writing you might find her foraging for wild edibles, hauling random materials around her yard to create pretty things for her garden, or snapping amusing photos of her children and guinea fowl. Alina volunteers as an Assistant Regional Adviser for The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Rape Girl is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
April 11, 2013
One of the truest, most tragic lines in "Rape Girl" says that a rape victim is the only crime victim who has to prove her innocence.
My friend (and Chief Book Maven) Kelly ended her review by saying, "This is not light reading or in any way fun."
Damn skippy.
Teenaged Valerie lives in a small Utah town with her widowed mom and kid sister, Ainsley. Her elder brother Sam is off at college.
One weekend, Val's mom went out of town for a workshop. Sam was unavailable to come down and "babysit" his sisters, so Valerie was left in control of the house.
As high school kids are wont to do when left without adult supervision, Valerie and her best friend, Mimi, threw a party. There were mini-kegs and cocktails, and teenaged boys and girls, which naturally leads to making-out, etc.
Valerie had a crush on a jock named Adam. By the time Adam got to the party, Valerie was already drunk. When she and Adam went into the den for some privacy, she fell down and passed out, throwing up on Adam's Nikes as she did so. She awakened the next day, showered, threw up some more, etc, and fed her sister. Ainsley went next door to play, and Valerie went to sleep.
She awoke to find her yoga pants had been pulled off, and her tank top was up around her armpits. There was Adam atop her, holding her down, raping her.
What happens next is a no-brainer, right? She goes to the police, who believe a crime has been committed, then arrest Adam the rapist, put him in jail. The case goes to trial. Adam is convicted, and sent off to prison for a few years. Valerie returns to school, where her friends and teachers are horrified that Valerie was raped. They support her and reassure her, nobody more than her BFF, Mimi.
Now take that paragraph, and reverse everything. The police go through the motions, but don't seem to believe Valerie was raped. The prosecutor basically says, "Meh. It's going to be your word against his." At school, nearly all of Valerie's friends--especially Mimi--are convinced she's lying, and that she's fabricating "this whole rape thing" just to hurt Adam and make herself more popular. At one point, a couple dozen or so of these nice Mormon boys come in and tell The Principal that they, too, have had sex with Valerie. The prosecutor refuses to take the case to trial, because of lack of evidence. Eventually, The Principal actually makes Valerie sit down in a room with Adam, because Adam wants it.
The positive elements in "Rape Girl"--and there are some--include Valerie making some true friends, and her family going through hell, but emerging far stronger (like tempered steel) on the other side.
I've dated two women who were raped--at least, these are the only two where it came up during our conversations. One was date-raped a few years before we met; the other was raped after we stopped seeing each other. The absolutely sick, horrible truth is that life was easier for the one who didn't tell anyone. The one who was raped after our relationship filed charges against the bastard who raped her. She had to move out of her neighborhood. In essence, SHE was put on trial, trying to get the police to believe she'd been raped. Even at her job, it somehow got out, and people talked non-stop behind her back.
The adjective hasn't been invented yet to express how fucking wrong this is.
That is why I got this book after reading Kelly's review: it's because this fiction is so horribly true.
This is a great book, beautifully written. The author draws from her own experiences as a survivor. This book saddened, angered, and uplifted me, all in a very short period of time. Nobody should have to go through this. Ever. Not Valerie; not my two friends.
Whether you're a high school jock in Utah, a dirtbag in Florida, or any other male anywhere, get this straight: No means no. Even for you, stud.
Highly recommended.
My friend (and Chief Book Maven) Kelly ended her review by saying, "This is not light reading or in any way fun."
Damn skippy.
Teenaged Valerie lives in a small Utah town with her widowed mom and kid sister, Ainsley. Her elder brother Sam is off at college.
One weekend, Val's mom went out of town for a workshop. Sam was unavailable to come down and "babysit" his sisters, so Valerie was left in control of the house.
As high school kids are wont to do when left without adult supervision, Valerie and her best friend, Mimi, threw a party. There were mini-kegs and cocktails, and teenaged boys and girls, which naturally leads to making-out, etc.
Valerie had a crush on a jock named Adam. By the time Adam got to the party, Valerie was already drunk. When she and Adam went into the den for some privacy, she fell down and passed out, throwing up on Adam's Nikes as she did so. She awakened the next day, showered, threw up some more, etc, and fed her sister. Ainsley went next door to play, and Valerie went to sleep.
She awoke to find her yoga pants had been pulled off, and her tank top was up around her armpits. There was Adam atop her, holding her down, raping her.
What happens next is a no-brainer, right? She goes to the police, who believe a crime has been committed, then arrest Adam the rapist, put him in jail. The case goes to trial. Adam is convicted, and sent off to prison for a few years. Valerie returns to school, where her friends and teachers are horrified that Valerie was raped. They support her and reassure her, nobody more than her BFF, Mimi.
Now take that paragraph, and reverse everything. The police go through the motions, but don't seem to believe Valerie was raped. The prosecutor basically says, "Meh. It's going to be your word against his." At school, nearly all of Valerie's friends--especially Mimi--are convinced she's lying, and that she's fabricating "this whole rape thing" just to hurt Adam and make herself more popular. At one point, a couple dozen or so of these nice Mormon boys come in and tell The Principal that they, too, have had sex with Valerie. The prosecutor refuses to take the case to trial, because of lack of evidence. Eventually, The Principal actually makes Valerie sit down in a room with Adam, because Adam wants it.
The positive elements in "Rape Girl"--and there are some--include Valerie making some true friends, and her family going through hell, but emerging far stronger (like tempered steel) on the other side.
I've dated two women who were raped--at least, these are the only two where it came up during our conversations. One was date-raped a few years before we met; the other was raped after we stopped seeing each other. The absolutely sick, horrible truth is that life was easier for the one who didn't tell anyone. The one who was raped after our relationship filed charges against the bastard who raped her. She had to move out of her neighborhood. In essence, SHE was put on trial, trying to get the police to believe she'd been raped. Even at her job, it somehow got out, and people talked non-stop behind her back.
The adjective hasn't been invented yet to express how fucking wrong this is.
That is why I got this book after reading Kelly's review: it's because this fiction is so horribly true.
This is a great book, beautifully written. The author draws from her own experiences as a survivor. This book saddened, angered, and uplifted me, all in a very short period of time. Nobody should have to go through this. Ever. Not Valerie; not my two friends.
Whether you're a high school jock in Utah, a dirtbag in Florida, or any other male anywhere, get this straight: No means no. Even for you, stud.
Highly recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 15, 2012I have to tell you—RAPE GIRL was not an easy read. As I turned the pages, I was alternately horrified, furious, appalled, saddened, dismayed, frustrated, and yes, at the very end, hopeful. As the title suggests, this book is about a girl who was raped, and it doesn’t pull punches. The author doesn’t sensationalize, nor does she sugar coat with fancy prose. Instead, RAPE GIRL is an unflinchingly honest, all-too-possible account of a terrible crime committed against one teen girl, and an unflinchingly honest, all-too-possible account of what happens when that girl tries to stand up for herself and report it.
Like Daisy Whitney’s The Mockingbirds, Rape Girl clearly shows how rape doesn’t require being held at gun point, or having a knife jabbed into your throat. It shows how we, as a society, so desperately need to not only empower our daughters, but to also educate our sons on the responsibilities of accepting limits, respecting girls, and to teach them that entitlement and sex are two words that do not belong together. Ever.
In a limited number of words, this book manages to tackle the emotional rollercoaster that so many rape survivors experience and how overall, society still suffers from a “blame the victim” mentality. I cheered when the main character Valerie let go of the things she couldn’t control—other people’s perceptions—in order to be true to herself, while at the same time burned with the urge to punch the people voicing those ignorance-fueled perceptions in their respective faces.
This is a book worth reading, worth discussing with teens. Actually, I take that back. This is a book we NEED to discuss with our teens.
I’d also like to take a moment to applaud the author for the title. Obviously, she could have gone with something prettier, something less harsh, something not as potentially off-putting to the masses. Something that tiptoed around the issue so as not to offend delicate sensibilities. But, isn’t that part of the point? That rape isn’t something for girls to be ashamed of, that it doesn’t taint them or make them weak or inferior or less than or carry any kind of negative connotation other than saying yes, a very awful crime was committed? Or at least, that’s the way it should be. Repeat after me: Rape is not a dirty word.
But it should come as no surprise that the title is brave, because the story itself is brave, as is the MC Valerie, for coming forward and speaking out. And, even though a terrible crime was committed against Valerie, you know that she’s going to get on with her life. Maybe not easily, and certainly not without hurdles, but with determination and strength and the love of the people who truly count. You see, Valerie is a survivor, and I can’t think of a more powerful message to send to other girls who are forced into becoming rape survivors too.
Like Daisy Whitney’s The Mockingbirds, Rape Girl clearly shows how rape doesn’t require being held at gun point, or having a knife jabbed into your throat. It shows how we, as a society, so desperately need to not only empower our daughters, but to also educate our sons on the responsibilities of accepting limits, respecting girls, and to teach them that entitlement and sex are two words that do not belong together. Ever.
In a limited number of words, this book manages to tackle the emotional rollercoaster that so many rape survivors experience and how overall, society still suffers from a “blame the victim” mentality. I cheered when the main character Valerie let go of the things she couldn’t control—other people’s perceptions—in order to be true to herself, while at the same time burned with the urge to punch the people voicing those ignorance-fueled perceptions in their respective faces.
This is a book worth reading, worth discussing with teens. Actually, I take that back. This is a book we NEED to discuss with our teens.
I’d also like to take a moment to applaud the author for the title. Obviously, she could have gone with something prettier, something less harsh, something not as potentially off-putting to the masses. Something that tiptoed around the issue so as not to offend delicate sensibilities. But, isn’t that part of the point? That rape isn’t something for girls to be ashamed of, that it doesn’t taint them or make them weak or inferior or less than or carry any kind of negative connotation other than saying yes, a very awful crime was committed? Or at least, that’s the way it should be. Repeat after me: Rape is not a dirty word.
But it should come as no surprise that the title is brave, because the story itself is brave, as is the MC Valerie, for coming forward and speaking out. And, even though a terrible crime was committed against Valerie, you know that she’s going to get on with her life. Maybe not easily, and certainly not without hurdles, but with determination and strength and the love of the people who truly count. You see, Valerie is a survivor, and I can’t think of a more powerful message to send to other girls who are forced into becoming rape survivors too.
May 30, 2012
I read this book in one sitting. I made no notes or highlights whilst reading it, nor did I notice any grammatical errors or spelling mistakes or clunky sentences etc. I did not even realise I had spent the good part of a Saturday afternoon sitting inside reading a book when it was glorious weather outside as I was totally engrossed in Klein’s book from the very start.
Rape and sexual assault are very difficult subjects to write about effectively, and this book not only manages to do this but also throws in some punches at the same time. Reading the brief author biography at the end of the book, Klein mentions that she herself was raped as a teenager and by reporting this heinous crime inflicted on her, another five girls also found the courage to follow suit and come forward with similar stories. I can only applaud Klein for being brave enough to share this very personal part of her history, and for having the courage for writing this book, which could only have opened old emotional wounds. My metaphorical hat goes off to you.
Now for the book itself: I am not going to give a synopsis of the story as the title itself pretty much explains the gist of it, but in a nutshell this is the story of a sixteen year old girl who is raped, reports the crime, and the subsequent repercussions. The rape itself is not detailed at all but certainly implied; there is no guess work needed here on behalf of the reader. I think if the rape was more detailed and violent, the impact the overall book would be lost. This book highlights that the majority of rapes (I do not know the official statistics unfortunately, but it is a very high number) are committed by someone known to the victim; it highlights that not all cases are even reported, or reported far too late for any justice to occur; it highlights the suspicions of a high proportion of people who think the victim is lying, and it also highlights how few rape cases that are reported even make it court (again, official figures unknown but it is a very low percentage).
The narrating voice of Valerie, our protagonist, is refreshingly realistic in a literary world full of Mary-Sue’s. She expresses emotions of disgust, guilt, shame, disbelief and anger, all hinged with a note of depression and sadness. As she goes through these emotions, so did I. I was disgusted at her treatment, not just the rape itself but also by people she called ‘friends’, who told her to stop lying, siding with her attacker and bullying her. The headmaster at her school was simply awful as well, singling her out as though it was she who was in the wrong and not the attacker, I found myself getting increasingly frustrated and angry at him. Due to Klein’s superb writing, as a reader you understood why Valerie was ashamed of herself and why she blamed herself. Due to the actions of certain characters in the book, it was very easy to understand Valerie’s disbelief and anger, and it was easy for these feelings to transmit to the reader.
Although the title itself gives a good indication of what this book is about, I do not want to give too much away so for once I am not going to discuss individual characters (other than what I have already said about Valerie). All I will say is that this is a touching, horrifying and very realistic portrayal of a rape victim and how she deals with it. I also think this should be compulsory reading in high schools, for both girls and boys.
Now repeat after me: no means NO! No exceptions.
An advance reader copy was kindly supplied through Netgalley.
Rape and sexual assault are very difficult subjects to write about effectively, and this book not only manages to do this but also throws in some punches at the same time. Reading the brief author biography at the end of the book, Klein mentions that she herself was raped as a teenager and by reporting this heinous crime inflicted on her, another five girls also found the courage to follow suit and come forward with similar stories. I can only applaud Klein for being brave enough to share this very personal part of her history, and for having the courage for writing this book, which could only have opened old emotional wounds. My metaphorical hat goes off to you.
Now for the book itself: I am not going to give a synopsis of the story as the title itself pretty much explains the gist of it, but in a nutshell this is the story of a sixteen year old girl who is raped, reports the crime, and the subsequent repercussions. The rape itself is not detailed at all but certainly implied; there is no guess work needed here on behalf of the reader. I think if the rape was more detailed and violent, the impact the overall book would be lost. This book highlights that the majority of rapes (I do not know the official statistics unfortunately, but it is a very high number) are committed by someone known to the victim; it highlights that not all cases are even reported, or reported far too late for any justice to occur; it highlights the suspicions of a high proportion of people who think the victim is lying, and it also highlights how few rape cases that are reported even make it court (again, official figures unknown but it is a very low percentage).
The narrating voice of Valerie, our protagonist, is refreshingly realistic in a literary world full of Mary-Sue’s. She expresses emotions of disgust, guilt, shame, disbelief and anger, all hinged with a note of depression and sadness. As she goes through these emotions, so did I. I was disgusted at her treatment, not just the rape itself but also by people she called ‘friends’, who told her to stop lying, siding with her attacker and bullying her. The headmaster at her school was simply awful as well, singling her out as though it was she who was in the wrong and not the attacker, I found myself getting increasingly frustrated and angry at him. Due to Klein’s superb writing, as a reader you understood why Valerie was ashamed of herself and why she blamed herself. Due to the actions of certain characters in the book, it was very easy to understand Valerie’s disbelief and anger, and it was easy for these feelings to transmit to the reader.
Although the title itself gives a good indication of what this book is about, I do not want to give too much away so for once I am not going to discuss individual characters (other than what I have already said about Valerie). All I will say is that this is a touching, horrifying and very realistic portrayal of a rape victim and how she deals with it. I also think this should be compulsory reading in high schools, for both girls and boys.
Now repeat after me: no means NO! No exceptions.
An advance reader copy was kindly supplied through Netgalley.
November 26, 2013
"Rape Girl" is a relatively short read with a lot of impact on its respective subject matter. I'll admit I read this book inside an hour (it was around 100 some pages in my galley) and it hit me emotionally with quite a few turns, though there were some issues with it.
From the beginning of the narrative, you recognize that Valerie is a victim of rape, but the unfolding story focuses on what happened in the before and after. There's a brief exchange of Before/After incident narratives before the story returns to the present and steamrolls from there. You see the main character accounting for her story - the police involvement, the rape kit, the backlash and support from her peers. Valerie deals with fears that are both internal and external in the aftermath, and the backlash against her from people who once called her friends is very real. I appreciated that this narrative dealt with the reality of the perceptions and misconceptions put against people who are raped, specifically women who are raped, because in the unfolding scheme of rape culture - these viewpoints and stereotypes are very real.
It's a starting point that I think the audience that it's aimed for would be able to take something from, though I don't know if the narrative was nearly as intimate enough for it to have more impact than it did. I was missing the deep POV from this in places though I understood the difficult emotional place that the main character was. It certainly touched on a lot of arguments in the issues, but the characters themselves still felt at an arms length for their respective roles. The best friend that distanced herself from Val (Mimi), the boy who raped her (Adam - and I thought the scene at the end where she confronts and condemns what he did was potent in itself), the mother who's torn between her own issues and helping her daughter. Many of these characters (and more) could've had a bit more intimacy to bring their characters home more.
It's not the strongest, most intimate narrative I've read on this subject matter, but I think not only was it incredibly brave of the author to write this piece (as a survivor herself), but I also think this is a good starting point for dialogue about the matter, especially for young adults. I just wish it'd had a little more character intimacy, not just for the main character's perspective, but the development of the surrounding cast as well.
Overall score: 3.5/5 stars
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher namelos.
From the beginning of the narrative, you recognize that Valerie is a victim of rape, but the unfolding story focuses on what happened in the before and after. There's a brief exchange of Before/After incident narratives before the story returns to the present and steamrolls from there. You see the main character accounting for her story - the police involvement, the rape kit, the backlash and support from her peers. Valerie deals with fears that are both internal and external in the aftermath, and the backlash against her from people who once called her friends is very real. I appreciated that this narrative dealt with the reality of the perceptions and misconceptions put against people who are raped, specifically women who are raped, because in the unfolding scheme of rape culture - these viewpoints and stereotypes are very real.
It's a starting point that I think the audience that it's aimed for would be able to take something from, though I don't know if the narrative was nearly as intimate enough for it to have more impact than it did. I was missing the deep POV from this in places though I understood the difficult emotional place that the main character was. It certainly touched on a lot of arguments in the issues, but the characters themselves still felt at an arms length for their respective roles. The best friend that distanced herself from Val (Mimi), the boy who raped her (Adam - and I thought the scene at the end where she confronts and condemns what he did was potent in itself), the mother who's torn between her own issues and helping her daughter. Many of these characters (and more) could've had a bit more intimacy to bring their characters home more.
It's not the strongest, most intimate narrative I've read on this subject matter, but I think not only was it incredibly brave of the author to write this piece (as a survivor herself), but I also think this is a good starting point for dialogue about the matter, especially for young adults. I just wish it'd had a little more character intimacy, not just for the main character's perspective, but the development of the surrounding cast as well.
Overall score: 3.5/5 stars
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher namelos.
November 25, 2012
This was a relatively short story at just over 100 pages, but it really packed a punch. The story is about Valerie, your typical teenage girl who is looking for a good time just like everyone else. Her good time, however, ends with her being raped. We get to see very little of the events leading up to the rape, in fact, only a few hours. What this book deals with is the aftermath. You see rapes in books often, but never a book based specifically around the act.
Valerie's story, I suspect, is not that unusual. It was incredibly well written and very emotional. The author did not drag the story down with a lot of detail, but focused mainly on Valerie and her reactions to everything going on around her. It was heartbreaking reading about Valerie trying to 'get over it,' as the saying goes, and get back to her life. Because she chooses to face her attacker, she loses everything, including her reputation and her best friend.
I would have loved for this story to be longer so we could see where Valerie goes from here. She proves herself a strong individual and I would have loved to see a happy ending for her.
Valerie's story, I suspect, is not that unusual. It was incredibly well written and very emotional. The author did not drag the story down with a lot of detail, but focused mainly on Valerie and her reactions to everything going on around her. It was heartbreaking reading about Valerie trying to 'get over it,' as the saying goes, and get back to her life. Because she chooses to face her attacker, she loses everything, including her reputation and her best friend.
I would have loved for this story to be longer so we could see where Valerie goes from here. She proves herself a strong individual and I would have loved to see a happy ending for her.
May 2, 2012
What a wonderful novel!
As the title suggests, this book deals with rape, an issue that is still stigmatized and hidden from sight. But it far more than an issue book. It's a book about friendships, about family, about surviving, living, and even laughing after terrible things happen. In short, the book deals with questions and answers that all teens have to address, even while also shining a light on a particular issue.
Much of what I love most about this book has nothing to do with how Klein deals with the issue of rape. Instead, it's how she draws a main character who is both brave and afraid, all at the same time. Valerie, the MC, is not a saint, nor is she a bad girl who gets punished. She's a normal girl, so normal, in fact, that almost every reader can identify with pieces of her. She wonders which top to wear with her favorite jeans. She worries that her lip gloss has worn off. But when the rape happens, she has to ask herself much harder questions. Should she tell? Who can she trust? Did she deserve this?
Recently there has been significant media attention around the scars left by bullying and LGBT youth. To me, this ties in to the stigma and shame rape survivors feel. Klein's book addresses this issue head-on, recognizing that speaking out isn't always the key to getting support. In fact, speaking out can bring with it a whole new set of challenges, rather than an outpouring of sympathy.
Klein's book is, ultimately, a hopeful one. Valerie's character arc from insecure teen to stigmatized whistle-blower to survivor is a beautiful one to witness. RAPE GIRL does a lovely job of showing how and where courage grows.
As the title suggests, this book deals with rape, an issue that is still stigmatized and hidden from sight. But it far more than an issue book. It's a book about friendships, about family, about surviving, living, and even laughing after terrible things happen. In short, the book deals with questions and answers that all teens have to address, even while also shining a light on a particular issue.
Much of what I love most about this book has nothing to do with how Klein deals with the issue of rape. Instead, it's how she draws a main character who is both brave and afraid, all at the same time. Valerie, the MC, is not a saint, nor is she a bad girl who gets punished. She's a normal girl, so normal, in fact, that almost every reader can identify with pieces of her. She wonders which top to wear with her favorite jeans. She worries that her lip gloss has worn off. But when the rape happens, she has to ask herself much harder questions. Should she tell? Who can she trust? Did she deserve this?
Recently there has been significant media attention around the scars left by bullying and LGBT youth. To me, this ties in to the stigma and shame rape survivors feel. Klein's book addresses this issue head-on, recognizing that speaking out isn't always the key to getting support. In fact, speaking out can bring with it a whole new set of challenges, rather than an outpouring of sympathy.
Klein's book is, ultimately, a hopeful one. Valerie's character arc from insecure teen to stigmatized whistle-blower to survivor is a beautiful one to witness. RAPE GIRL does a lovely job of showing how and where courage grows.
July 16, 2012
This review can also be found on Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell-blog.
You've seen the title, you don't need to read the blurb. You already know what happens. Question isn't when or where or even how. It happens. Rape happens, and this is a story of one survivor.
This is a story about how that one moment changes everything. How it changes people around you, strangers as well as family and friends. How it turns reasonable explanations into malicious comments. How gifts aren't simple gifts anymore but something more distressing.
The rape itself isn't shown, but Valerie relives through it as she tries to cope with the ramifications. She has her family around her, her mother, little sister, and even her somewhat absent big brother. She has friends, and she doesn't have friends. There are other adults involved as well. Everyone has an opinion of what happened or didn't happen they either want to share with her or shove it down her throat.
And that's how it is in real life. Rape is everyone's business. No wonder so many--too many--go unreported.
While I loved the realistic touch of the story, the simplicity of the events unfolding, and Valerie's reaction to them, I also thought it could have been done better. For example, I doubt Valerie's little sister could have escaped the situation as unscathed as she appeared to both in school and at home. It was strange that the house, her home, where it happened never felt unsafe to Valerie, not even for a moment. I bought the anger, the hurt, the depression, guilt for feeling like a normal teenager for two seconds, and every other feeling, just not the ease of it.
I'm not a rape survivor, I'm one of the lucky ones, and yet one of the scariest moments I've read was in this book--the moment when Valerie has to face her rapist. I wanted to scream and shout how could it be?! when I know--or think I know--how easy it is for man to think like that.
I saw Angela suggest in her review that this should be compulsory reading in high schools. I have to agree:
I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
You've seen the title, you don't need to read the blurb. You already know what happens. Question isn't when or where or even how. It happens. Rape happens, and this is a story of one survivor.
This is a story about how that one moment changes everything. How it changes people around you, strangers as well as family and friends. How it turns reasonable explanations into malicious comments. How gifts aren't simple gifts anymore but something more distressing.
The rape itself isn't shown, but Valerie relives through it as she tries to cope with the ramifications. She has her family around her, her mother, little sister, and even her somewhat absent big brother. She has friends, and she doesn't have friends. There are other adults involved as well. Everyone has an opinion of what happened or didn't happen they either want to share with her or shove it down her throat.
And that's how it is in real life. Rape is everyone's business. No wonder so many--too many--go unreported.
While I loved the realistic touch of the story, the simplicity of the events unfolding, and Valerie's reaction to them, I also thought it could have been done better. For example, I doubt Valerie's little sister could have escaped the situation as unscathed as she appeared to both in school and at home. It was strange that the house, her home, where it happened never felt unsafe to Valerie, not even for a moment. I bought the anger, the hurt, the depression, guilt for feeling like a normal teenager for two seconds, and every other feeling, just not the ease of it.
I'm not a rape survivor, I'm one of the lucky ones, and yet one of the scariest moments I've read was in this book--the moment when Valerie has to face her rapist. I wanted to scream and shout how could it be?! when I know--or think I know--how easy it is for man to think like that.
I saw Angela suggest in her review that this should be compulsory reading in high schools. I have to agree:
Now repeat after me: no means NO! No exceptions.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
November 2, 2012
The emotion that I felt the most while reading this book was ANGER! Anger at Valerie’s ‘so called’ friends and anger at our fucking legal system! I apologize in advance but this book is going to cause me to rant a little…you’ve been warned!
This is a story about a 16 year old who like many teenagers decides to throw a party when her mom is out of town simply so her crush will come. Like many parties this one got out of hand and there was drinking and way too many people. Throughout the party Val gets pretty drunk and throws up on said crush. Come morning she wakes to find everyone gone and sends her little sister out to play with the neighbor. She dozes and wakes to find her clothes mostly off and said crush all over her. She says no, yeah, you heard right, she said NO!! But he proceeded to tell her to be quiet and that she wanted it. Thinking that she doesn’t want to scream and have her baby sister walk in on this she remains quiet.
Uuughh, this makes me angry just writing it! Valerie reports him and immediately becomes ‘That Rape Girl’ as everyone at school refers to her. Her best friend doesn’t believe her and drops her like the bitch she is! What was the worst part of this story for me is the reality of it and how it was the victim’s responsibility to prove her innocence! WTF?! This boy is ultimately not charged because there were witnesses that saw her kissing him the night before…again WTF??!
I know that this story is a work of fiction but in so many ways it really isn’t! This shit happens every day and we have to live with a system that is so imperfect that it is scary! All that said, this is a nicely written journey of a young woman who stands up for herself and makes the right decision which ends up hurting her even more. But she is strong and I couldn’t help cheering on her ability to move forward! All I have to say to that is GIRL POWER!!
***This book was provided to me by Netgalley
This is a story about a 16 year old who like many teenagers decides to throw a party when her mom is out of town simply so her crush will come. Like many parties this one got out of hand and there was drinking and way too many people. Throughout the party Val gets pretty drunk and throws up on said crush. Come morning she wakes to find everyone gone and sends her little sister out to play with the neighbor. She dozes and wakes to find her clothes mostly off and said crush all over her. She says no, yeah, you heard right, she said NO!! But he proceeded to tell her to be quiet and that she wanted it. Thinking that she doesn’t want to scream and have her baby sister walk in on this she remains quiet.
Uuughh, this makes me angry just writing it! Valerie reports him and immediately becomes ‘That Rape Girl’ as everyone at school refers to her. Her best friend doesn’t believe her and drops her like the bitch she is! What was the worst part of this story for me is the reality of it and how it was the victim’s responsibility to prove her innocence! WTF?! This boy is ultimately not charged because there were witnesses that saw her kissing him the night before…again WTF??!
I know that this story is a work of fiction but in so many ways it really isn’t! This shit happens every day and we have to live with a system that is so imperfect that it is scary! All that said, this is a nicely written journey of a young woman who stands up for herself and makes the right decision which ends up hurting her even more. But she is strong and I couldn’t help cheering on her ability to move forward! All I have to say to that is GIRL POWER!!
***This book was provided to me by Netgalley
July 30, 2012
This is the second YA book I've read on the topic of rape, but I was pleasantly pleased with how different Rape Girl was in terms of voice, premise, and style of writing. Rape Girl is about a girl who isn't afraid to speak about what happened, but when she does, suffers horrible and unexpected consequences in which she's called a liar because there's no way a smart, popular, handsome, religious young man could ever be capable of committing such a heinous act. Rape Girl is about a girl who openly admits she's a victim of rape, holds her ground to her claim, and doesn't falter in her strength to stand by the truth, even at the expense of losing most of her friends, her respect in the community, and her life as she knew it.
I believe Ms. Klein has done an amazing job at pulling me in as reader by giving her MC a strong voice and by the use of her minimalist style of writing, which I am a huge fan of. This book had me emotionally invested and I found myself crying several times—something that is not very common for me when reading a book. I imagine some of it has to do with the topic of the story as I found myself crying when I read Ms. Klein's acknowledgement section where she mentions that she herself is a survivor, having been raped at the age of 16. Ms. Klein has obviously written this story from a very dark place and I applaud her strength to not only write this story but to write it with obvious skill in character development, plotting, use of voice, and pacing. I read this story in less than 4 hours. I've NEVER read a book that quickly, but the story and pacing were THAT good. I highly recommend this book!
I believe Ms. Klein has done an amazing job at pulling me in as reader by giving her MC a strong voice and by the use of her minimalist style of writing, which I am a huge fan of. This book had me emotionally invested and I found myself crying several times—something that is not very common for me when reading a book. I imagine some of it has to do with the topic of the story as I found myself crying when I read Ms. Klein's acknowledgement section where she mentions that she herself is a survivor, having been raped at the age of 16. Ms. Klein has obviously written this story from a very dark place and I applaud her strength to not only write this story but to write it with obvious skill in character development, plotting, use of voice, and pacing. I read this story in less than 4 hours. I've NEVER read a book that quickly, but the story and pacing were THAT good. I highly recommend this book!
May 11, 2012
I didn't like this book. I didn't like it because of the way it made me feel. On the other hand, I don't have to like the way a book makes me feel to know it was a profound book, a great read. I devoured it in almost one afternoon, but had to take breaks when the subject matter overwhelmed me.
I remember when I was in school, the subject came up, and the consensus was to not tell, to not press charges, because the rape survivor was the one persecuted.
I loved that the rape in this book wasn't violent. It didn't leave obvious marks. There was nothing to scream rape. This book wasn't even totally about rape, but it was about a girl, a girl who had an experience and stayed true to herself. It was believable. It was about her family and her friends and her enemies. It was about a boy, who was---well, you'll have to read that part. I will say he was human. And it was about the potential future.
Lastly, it was a book about hope. A story of life. I want a sequel, because I want to see how Val goes on with her life and how school changes for her. I became invested in her and hope for the best. Val became more than a character in book. To me, she embodied that girl, the girl who didn't have a choice. The girl who we've all met at least once in our lives, even though we might not realize it. I admire that girl, and that's not something I give to many.
I don't know the release date, but I do know it will be pre-ordered, so it can go on my shelf for my children to one day read.
August 20, 2012
I can't imagine how much courage it must have taken to write this novel, which is loosely based on the author's own experience as a rape survivor. Not an easy read, but it is an important book--one all teens could benefit from reading.
July 10, 2012
Synopsis:
It is a story of a teenage girl called Valerie who got raped after a party in her own house by a guy she fancied; it is narrated by the victim herself and it spans a period of several months.
What I liked:
The book was well written but firstly and foremostly I appreciated the fact that all everything rang so true - the voice of Valerie, her reactions and the reactions of people around her. I know it because not so long ago I went through a similar situation in my family, which, unable to keep quiet, I described on my blog,. A short version: my cousin was raped after her prom ball by her date and his older brother who was a designated driver. She simply agreed to stop by their house after the ball and yes, most likely she drank one drink too many but she definitely didn’t want to have sex, let alone with them both at the same time. They chose to understand her otherwise; then they claimed she didn’t fight or try to defend herself or protest at all (well, she was drunk, right? Any half-decent guy would take her straight home). It was basically her word against their word. My aunt and uncle decided not to press charges, accusing my cousin that she’d led them on somehow. Plenty of other people thought the same. It was disgusting and harmful.
Date rapes or party rapes do happen all too often; well, in the case of Valerie we should actually call it a post-party rape but you know the premise: a boy and a girl are having a good time; the boy thinks the girl has nothing against sex so he continues his game although he heard her saying ‘no’. Then the victim goes to the police and all of a sudden it turns out she is the aggressor, not the victim. I am yet to meet a rapist who calls himself so – instead they blame the other part for ‘leading him on’. The excuses are surprisingly repetitive: girls/women don’t know what they really want, they often say ‘no’ meaning ‘yes’, if they don’t scream of fight or bite and scratch your face it means they agree (and even if they do it is nothing but a kind of foreplay, right?). It’s so easy, after all most often than not the victim do feel guilty. She shouldn’t have drunk so much. She shouldn’t have stayed that long. She shouldn’t have worn this or that piece of clothing.
Valerie undergoes several stages of a post-traumatic shock: disbelief, self-disgust, aggression, depression and guilt. Then she returns to school and attends a support group therapy so we can know how her situation is perceived by other people: other rape victims, her older brother, her mum, her best friend, Mimmi, and even Adam, the rapist. Who, of course, claims there was no foul play, everything was nice and consensual, he just had the bad luck of having sex with one mean girl who now wants to draw attention to herself and to ruin his future prospects as a Mormon missionary. A classic, don’t you think?
I also appreciated the very realistic outcome of the lawsuit, which ensued and the fact that Valerie found a way to get to terms with the whole situation.
What I didn’t like:
It was too short – rather a longer novella than a novel. I read it in approximately two hours. It ended too quickly.
Final verdict:
One of these books you would like to read before anything bad happens to you or to your relatives, no matter male of female. Boys: if a girl says no, no matter how she expresses it, please always assume she means it and back off . Girls: even somebody you know and like might be a potential rapist.
It is a story of a teenage girl called Valerie who got raped after a party in her own house by a guy she fancied; it is narrated by the victim herself and it spans a period of several months.
What I liked:
The book was well written but firstly and foremostly I appreciated the fact that all everything rang so true - the voice of Valerie, her reactions and the reactions of people around her. I know it because not so long ago I went through a similar situation in my family, which, unable to keep quiet, I described on my blog,. A short version: my cousin was raped after her prom ball by her date and his older brother who was a designated driver. She simply agreed to stop by their house after the ball and yes, most likely she drank one drink too many but she definitely didn’t want to have sex, let alone with them both at the same time. They chose to understand her otherwise; then they claimed she didn’t fight or try to defend herself or protest at all (well, she was drunk, right? Any half-decent guy would take her straight home). It was basically her word against their word. My aunt and uncle decided not to press charges, accusing my cousin that she’d led them on somehow. Plenty of other people thought the same. It was disgusting and harmful.
Date rapes or party rapes do happen all too often; well, in the case of Valerie we should actually call it a post-party rape but you know the premise: a boy and a girl are having a good time; the boy thinks the girl has nothing against sex so he continues his game although he heard her saying ‘no’. Then the victim goes to the police and all of a sudden it turns out she is the aggressor, not the victim. I am yet to meet a rapist who calls himself so – instead they blame the other part for ‘leading him on’. The excuses are surprisingly repetitive: girls/women don’t know what they really want, they often say ‘no’ meaning ‘yes’, if they don’t scream of fight or bite and scratch your face it means they agree (and even if they do it is nothing but a kind of foreplay, right?). It’s so easy, after all most often than not the victim do feel guilty. She shouldn’t have drunk so much. She shouldn’t have stayed that long. She shouldn’t have worn this or that piece of clothing.
Valerie undergoes several stages of a post-traumatic shock: disbelief, self-disgust, aggression, depression and guilt. Then she returns to school and attends a support group therapy so we can know how her situation is perceived by other people: other rape victims, her older brother, her mum, her best friend, Mimmi, and even Adam, the rapist. Who, of course, claims there was no foul play, everything was nice and consensual, he just had the bad luck of having sex with one mean girl who now wants to draw attention to herself and to ruin his future prospects as a Mormon missionary. A classic, don’t you think?
I also appreciated the very realistic outcome of the lawsuit, which ensued and the fact that Valerie found a way to get to terms with the whole situation.
What I didn’t like:
It was too short – rather a longer novella than a novel. I read it in approximately two hours. It ended too quickly.
Final verdict:
One of these books you would like to read before anything bad happens to you or to your relatives, no matter male of female. Boys: if a girl says no, no matter how she expresses it, please always assume she means it and back off . Girls: even somebody you know and like might be a potential rapist.
September 6, 2012
I've recently had the honor of reading an ARC of Rape Girl (release date Aug 15 2012). Rape Girl inflamed my anger, touched my heart, and gave me hope. Our main character, Valerie, is like so many girls we know - eager to please, willing to break a few house rules to gain popularity, and dying to get some attention from her crush. We see in her the girl who could be inside any of us. Except then she shows us a bit more. It's bad enough that she has to go through the process of pressing charges and all that entails, but when that is said and done, Valerie has to go through more. The people around her, who should be supportive, don't believe her. It is truly devastating, and to think that this happens daily (and we know it does) is just awful. Yet Valerie shows us how someone ordinary can become extraordinary. I wanted to reach through the pages and hug her, tell her that she was a wonderful human being who didn't deserve to have this happen to her, yet I knew that she was going to be okay when all was said and done. I wanted to tell her I was proud and happy that she had found strength in herself. She was beautiful and brave.
In addition to the wonderful main character, Alina B. Klein does a superlative job of bringing all the secondary players into sharp, and realistic, focus. From the flaky best friend to the un-supportive school administrators. To the loving, and unsure-of-herself mother to the rapist's crazy, and somewhat scary friends. Everyone had their role to play and even though the book is written in first person, we were able to see how they all handled it, sometimes for good, sometimes not. I think the secondary character I loved the most was Sandrina. She seems to come out of nowhere, a girl who Valerie thought was basically her enemy, only she proves to be one of the few friends that Valerie can count on. I loved her charisma and how her slips of Spanish melded into the story so smoothly and made me want to run out and find a best friend just like her. I also appreciated the character of Wesley and what he brought to the table. With the subject of rape, it's easy to assume that the victims become regressed, fearful and shy away from boys. But that's not necessarily the case, and Wesley's role in the story and how Valerie deals with her feelings toward him illustrated that point beautifully.
Spoiler:
The writing. I can't leave a review without touching on the writing. I thought the prose here was simply marvelous. It had a natural flow and incorporated many unique details that made the scenes come alive. It was witty and to the point. The book itself is rather short, but it says all it needs to say and then some.
This book deserves five stars, hands down.
In addition to the wonderful main character, Alina B. Klein does a superlative job of bringing all the secondary players into sharp, and realistic, focus. From the flaky best friend to the un-supportive school administrators. To the loving, and unsure-of-herself mother to the rapist's crazy, and somewhat scary friends. Everyone had their role to play and even though the book is written in first person, we were able to see how they all handled it, sometimes for good, sometimes not. I think the secondary character I loved the most was Sandrina. She seems to come out of nowhere, a girl who Valerie thought was basically her enemy, only she proves to be one of the few friends that Valerie can count on. I loved her charisma and how her slips of Spanish melded into the story so smoothly and made me want to run out and find a best friend just like her. I also appreciated the character of Wesley and what he brought to the table. With the subject of rape, it's easy to assume that the victims become regressed, fearful and shy away from boys. But that's not necessarily the case, and Wesley's role in the story and how Valerie deals with her feelings toward him illustrated that point beautifully.
Spoiler:
The writing. I can't leave a review without touching on the writing. I thought the prose here was simply marvelous. It had a natural flow and incorporated many unique details that made the scenes come alive. It was witty and to the point. The book itself is rather short, but it says all it needs to say and then some.
This book deserves five stars, hands down.
August 6, 2012
Oh wow, this book. It's absolutely heartbreaking to read. Valerie has a party at her place and the guy she likes, Adam, is there. The night of the party, she willingly goes off with him into another room... where she promptly throws up on his shoes and passes out drunk.
The next morning, he comes back to her place to "pick up where they left off". She wakes up with her pants off and her top all rucked up, and then discovers him there. She can't yell because that might draw the attention of her small sister who is playing outside :(
This was quite a quick read as well, which was nice - I would have liked more of the story, but at the same time it felt a good length. It wasn't too rushed or short at all. However, I would have maybe liked a bit more explanation behind the whole Mormon thing... it seemed to be made a point of, but then not really mentioned, which made me wonder why it was made a point of in the first place.
The next morning, he comes back to her place to "pick up where they left off". She wakes up with her pants off and her top all rucked up, and then discovers him there. She can't yell because that might draw the attention of her small sister who is playing outside :(
This was quite a quick read as well, which was nice - I would have liked more of the story, but at the same time it felt a good length. It wasn't too rushed or short at all. However, I would have maybe liked a bit more explanation behind the whole Mormon thing... it seemed to be made a point of, but then not really mentioned, which made me wonder why it was made a point of in the first place.
September 21, 2012
Cover Impressions: I will be honest, the cover didn't wow me. It was the title and synopsis that got me interested. Perhaps it looks different on the physical copy, or perhaps there is some symbolism behind the cover image that I missed. Either way - do not judge this one by it's cover!
The Gist: Valerie wanted to throw a fun party and maybe flirt with her crush. She didn't know that within 24 hrs she would be labeled as The Rape Girl and that she would lose her friends, her reputation and her sense of self.
Review: Rape Girl is one of those rare books that wraps it's tendrils around my heart and refuses to let go. I read it in pretty much one sitting, over a few hours and am still left with an overwhelming need to re-examine and discuss it. I want to make my friends read it, I want to bombard the author with my questions and, more than any of those, I want to get multiple copies for my classroom.
The first few chapters of this book are divided into Before and After. This is incredibly effective and reflects the way that many victims will always structure their memories. While we follow Valerie's rape and the aftermath, we do not get the graphic descriptions that can be common in other books on this subject and this allows it to maintain appropriateness for teens. Throughout this novel, we are privy to Valerie's inner thoughts and feelings as her friends desert her and her family struggles to deal with their own sense of guilt. The pain from each of these people is palpable and poignant.
The actions on the part of Valerie, her mother, best friend and even her rapist feel incredibly realistic. At one point, we hear from this young man and my stomach turned to ice simply reading his justifications for his crimes, knowing that a person with this deluded sense of entitlement as a man will most certainly assault another woman. While his words are chilling, they seem typical of a person who has convinced himself that he has done nothing wrong. I was also seriously disturbed at the actions of the principal. As a teacher, the thought that a man in that position could so blatantly side with the perpetrator of a rape makes me ill.
Rape Girl has easily made my list of top books for 2012 and is one that I highly recommend to both teens and adults.
Teaching/Parental Notes:
Age: 13 and up
Gender: Female
Sex: Kissing, Talk of Sex
Violence: Rape - No Graphic Descriptions
Inappropriate Language: Bitch, Fuck, Ho, Dildo, Ass, Whore, Shit, Bastard
Substance Use/Abuse: Underage Drinking
The Gist: Valerie wanted to throw a fun party and maybe flirt with her crush. She didn't know that within 24 hrs she would be labeled as The Rape Girl and that she would lose her friends, her reputation and her sense of self.
Review: Rape Girl is one of those rare books that wraps it's tendrils around my heart and refuses to let go. I read it in pretty much one sitting, over a few hours and am still left with an overwhelming need to re-examine and discuss it. I want to make my friends read it, I want to bombard the author with my questions and, more than any of those, I want to get multiple copies for my classroom.
The first few chapters of this book are divided into Before and After. This is incredibly effective and reflects the way that many victims will always structure their memories. While we follow Valerie's rape and the aftermath, we do not get the graphic descriptions that can be common in other books on this subject and this allows it to maintain appropriateness for teens. Throughout this novel, we are privy to Valerie's inner thoughts and feelings as her friends desert her and her family struggles to deal with their own sense of guilt. The pain from each of these people is palpable and poignant.
The actions on the part of Valerie, her mother, best friend and even her rapist feel incredibly realistic. At one point, we hear from this young man and my stomach turned to ice simply reading his justifications for his crimes, knowing that a person with this deluded sense of entitlement as a man will most certainly assault another woman. While his words are chilling, they seem typical of a person who has convinced himself that he has done nothing wrong. I was also seriously disturbed at the actions of the principal. As a teacher, the thought that a man in that position could so blatantly side with the perpetrator of a rape makes me ill.
Rape Girl has easily made my list of top books for 2012 and is one that I highly recommend to both teens and adults.
Teaching/Parental Notes:
Age: 13 and up
Gender: Female
Sex: Kissing, Talk of Sex
Violence: Rape - No Graphic Descriptions
Inappropriate Language: Bitch, Fuck, Ho, Dildo, Ass, Whore, Shit, Bastard
Substance Use/Abuse: Underage Drinking
August 12, 2012
THIS REVIEW ON B'S BOOK BLOG!
"Hey, look. It's that girl. That rape girl, right?"
After Adam's raped Valerie and her mother's told the police, Valerie is labeled the "rape girl" and a liar. Her friends turn their backs on her because they either really don't believe her, or they just want to still be on Adam's side, the popular people side. Valerie is torn. She's the victim, but people treat her as if she's the guilty one. She's separated from class and can't show her face in public, while the rapist still lives his life normally as if nothing's happened. What's more, Valerie is blamed for making up a story that will keep Adam from his becoming a missionary. This is ridiculous.
While I was drawn to the heavy subject matter of this book at first, I regret to say I didn't like it. I didn't feel connected to Valerie at all. This is probably because the author didn't allow us readers to get to know her that well within the limited 126 pages. Yes, this novel is very short, and that's the problem for me. There's hardly any tension to feel at all. And although this is a young adult contemporary, I feel like Valerie's voice isn't strong enough. It sounds like a teen voice, as in a 13-year-old teen complaining about life or something like that. I could hardly feel anything from her words. If anything, I think she's only telling a story without showing us how she feels. It's hard to like a character when she doesn't really allow us to feel her emotions, in my opinion.
I won't argue that it sucks. Being raped and still getting treated like the wrong one. And having to go through all those tests, rape kits, interrogations, and everyone's whispers and stares are no fun. Your life changes even if you're the victim. I know, it sucks, it's terrible, it's infuriating, and it definitely isn't fair. But I have to say that the book doesn't portray it that well and is well-developed enough for me to like it. This isn't the best story about a rape victim either. In the end, it still remains unclear whether or not Valerie can put it behind her and move on. But honestly, I don't care about her enough to want to find out.
I received the digital version of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for review.
"Hey, look. It's that girl. That rape girl, right?"
After Adam's raped Valerie and her mother's told the police, Valerie is labeled the "rape girl" and a liar. Her friends turn their backs on her because they either really don't believe her, or they just want to still be on Adam's side, the popular people side. Valerie is torn. She's the victim, but people treat her as if she's the guilty one. She's separated from class and can't show her face in public, while the rapist still lives his life normally as if nothing's happened. What's more, Valerie is blamed for making up a story that will keep Adam from his becoming a missionary. This is ridiculous.
While I was drawn to the heavy subject matter of this book at first, I regret to say I didn't like it. I didn't feel connected to Valerie at all. This is probably because the author didn't allow us readers to get to know her that well within the limited 126 pages. Yes, this novel is very short, and that's the problem for me. There's hardly any tension to feel at all. And although this is a young adult contemporary, I feel like Valerie's voice isn't strong enough. It sounds like a teen voice, as in a 13-year-old teen complaining about life or something like that. I could hardly feel anything from her words. If anything, I think she's only telling a story without showing us how she feels. It's hard to like a character when she doesn't really allow us to feel her emotions, in my opinion.
I won't argue that it sucks. Being raped and still getting treated like the wrong one. And having to go through all those tests, rape kits, interrogations, and everyone's whispers and stares are no fun. Your life changes even if you're the victim. I know, it sucks, it's terrible, it's infuriating, and it definitely isn't fair. But I have to say that the book doesn't portray it that well and is well-developed enough for me to like it. This isn't the best story about a rape victim either. In the end, it still remains unclear whether or not Valerie can put it behind her and move on. But honestly, I don't care about her enough to want to find out.
I received the digital version of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for review.
May 11, 2012
When Valerie is raped, she does the right thing and tells someone. Then she endures the rape exam, the police questioning, and the counseling. And then the real trouble starts.
Alina Klein’s RAPE GIRL is about a girl who is ostracized after speaking out against an act of violence that is all too common.
It is also about a thousand other things: peer pressure, herd mentality, slut-shaming, religious dogma, hypocrisy, female sexuality under surveillance, courage and strength, to name a few.
And it’s a dang good book. The MC’s journey is told with heart-breaking honesty. The title itself boldly proclaims a word that is still whispered shamefully (perhaps in the hope that if we never name it, it doesn’t exist?). Klein’s writing is both adept and accessible. Her characters are real: Valerie is a girl everyone either knows or has been, her friends and classmates are uncannily familiar, the authorities are neither villainous nor infallible. The story is one we think we know, but here it is depicted with complexities that are often left untold.
The result is an important book and an incredibly compelling read—a ‘finish it in one night’ kind of read, which is not to say it is easy to read. RAPE GIRL hits hard; it doesn’t let us off the hook with a fairytale ending.
But it also paints a picture of courage; it answers back. The rays of hope are humorous and poignant and sweet. And as we witness this first hand account of a traumatic situation we ultimately learn that, like Valerie, we have the ability to plant the seeds of healing.
I love this book!
May 30, 2012
3 and a half stars
This book explores the aftermath of rape and how the victim continues to be victimized. Rape Girl is about a teenage girl named Valerie who is raped by her crush. It then goes on to show how there are people who will always blame the victim of rape, instead of opening their eyes to the harsh reality of the truth.
I won't say anything else about the plot. Except,
It was a fast paced read and I enjoyed the writing style. I guess I couldn't give it 5 stars because I couldn't help but compare it to Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, which I loved so much.
(Thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.)
This book explores the aftermath of rape and how the victim continues to be victimized. Rape Girl is about a teenage girl named Valerie who is raped by her crush. It then goes on to show how there are people who will always blame the victim of rape, instead of opening their eyes to the harsh reality of the truth.
I won't say anything else about the plot. Except,
It was a fast paced read and I enjoyed the writing style. I guess I couldn't give it 5 stars because I couldn't help but compare it to Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, which I loved so much.
(Thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.)
July 20, 2012
This is a book that everyone needs to read. It very clearly and simply tells a tale that plays out all the time. It's unfortunate, and disgusting, and horrifying, and extremely emotional. The story doesn't just talk about the actual rape, it's about Valerie and how she deals with her situation.
This story is so real, it's almost unbelievable. Everything happens quickly, and the things that do happen leave you stunned. Not just the circumstances surrounding the actual rape, but everything that happens after. The fact that people question if Valerie is telling the truth, and how everyone acts and reacts. It's horrifying and rage-inducing. You want to scream "THAT'S NOT FAIR!" It's not fair, but it's real.
If you haven't read the story yet, do it. If you want to read about how most rape happens and what happens to the victim after, pick up this book. This book should be in every school and public library, in a visible YA location. You want a girl to know about rape and how to overcome it? Hand her this book.
This story is so real, it's almost unbelievable. Everything happens quickly, and the things that do happen leave you stunned. Not just the circumstances surrounding the actual rape, but everything that happens after. The fact that people question if Valerie is telling the truth, and how everyone acts and reacts. It's horrifying and rage-inducing. You want to scream "THAT'S NOT FAIR!" It's not fair, but it's real.
If you haven't read the story yet, do it. If you want to read about how most rape happens and what happens to the victim after, pick up this book. This book should be in every school and public library, in a visible YA location. You want a girl to know about rape and how to overcome it? Hand her this book.
December 3, 2012
Rating: 4 stars*
Shell-shocked. Amazed. Appalled. Dumb-founded.
These were all adjectives that described me upon finishing Rape Girl.
Wow. Just...wow.
This is the story of Valerie, the "rape girl," as she's called by the people who don't believe her story. Why is that, you might ask? Because her rapist is an upstanding member of the community, whose dream, I might add, is to become a mormon missionary.Not exactly the sexually deviant type, and because of that, Valerie gets alienated and ridiculed as the girl who cried rape.
First off, I would just like to applaud Alina Klein for not being afraid to be in-your-face about this. I'm not saying this book is very graphic--it's not. However, from the bold title and the synopsis, Klein does not shy away from the sensitive subject about this book. She could have chosen a less-subtle title. But she didn't.
This book grabs your attention and the story keeps you captivated--whether in a good way or a bad way, that's for you to decide.
Rape Girl was very real. There were no false pretenses that rapists are always violent and scary, or that victims always get justice. Klein depicted the situation, the status quo, as it really is, however disappointing that reality might be. This book is an unflinchingly honest account of a horrible crime and it. Is. Worth. Reading.
All in all: This wasn't a light or happy read. But ultimately I am glad I read it because this book tackles a very tough issue, one that happens all too often, with amazing honesty. This isn't a very long book, but it says exactly what needs to be said.
*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
Shell-shocked. Amazed. Appalled. Dumb-founded.
These were all adjectives that described me upon finishing Rape Girl.
Wow. Just...wow.
This is the story of Valerie, the "rape girl," as she's called by the people who don't believe her story. Why is that, you might ask? Because her rapist is an upstanding member of the community, whose dream, I might add, is to become a mormon missionary.Not exactly the sexually deviant type, and because of that, Valerie gets alienated and ridiculed as the girl who cried rape.
First off, I would just like to applaud Alina Klein for not being afraid to be in-your-face about this. I'm not saying this book is very graphic--it's not. However, from the bold title and the synopsis, Klein does not shy away from the sensitive subject about this book. She could have chosen a less-subtle title. But she didn't.
This book grabs your attention and the story keeps you captivated--whether in a good way or a bad way, that's for you to decide.
Rape Girl was very real. There were no false pretenses that rapists are always violent and scary, or that victims always get justice. Klein depicted the situation, the status quo, as it really is, however disappointing that reality might be. This book is an unflinchingly honest account of a horrible crime and it. Is. Worth. Reading.
All in all: This wasn't a light or happy read. But ultimately I am glad I read it because this book tackles a very tough issue, one that happens all too often, with amazing honesty. This isn't a very long book, but it says exactly what needs to be said.
*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
December 12, 2012
In our culture, victims of non-violent rape are automatically assumed to be the guilty party. Too often, we argue that the victim is to blame, they did not take the correct measures to prevent their own rape... It is their own fault.
Rape Girl by Alina Klein works to deconstruct this concept. The main character appears to be a “normal” teenage girl. She is the Everyman figure of high school girlhood. Valerie could be anyone. And that is the point. She is not unpopular. She is not a troublemaker, reluctant to drink even at her own party. And she is not promiscuous. In fact, until the day of her rape, she is a virgin, still giggling over the thought of boys with her best friend. Valerie exists as the ideal All-American girl. The ideal All-American girl, who gets raped.
And that is exactly what makes this book scary- possibly even more so for parents than for its adolescent readers. Rape Girl reminds people (and in some cases this is more than a reminder, but it is their first leasson) that rape can, and DOES happen to anyone.
I would not be surprised to find it grazing the “Banned Books” list, as many vigilantes rallying for the protection of childhood innocence will take fault with its “provocative” topics and controversial themes. And yet, it is one of the first books I would recommend to young girls on the cusp of puberty. It is intimately crafted to provide a firsthand account of the aftermath that comes with rape, in a format that is easily approachable and hard to put down. A great read with a great lesson, for young and old readers alike.
Rape Girl by Alina Klein works to deconstruct this concept. The main character appears to be a “normal” teenage girl. She is the Everyman figure of high school girlhood. Valerie could be anyone. And that is the point. She is not unpopular. She is not a troublemaker, reluctant to drink even at her own party. And she is not promiscuous. In fact, until the day of her rape, she is a virgin, still giggling over the thought of boys with her best friend. Valerie exists as the ideal All-American girl. The ideal All-American girl, who gets raped.
And that is exactly what makes this book scary- possibly even more so for parents than for its adolescent readers. Rape Girl reminds people (and in some cases this is more than a reminder, but it is their first leasson) that rape can, and DOES happen to anyone.
I would not be surprised to find it grazing the “Banned Books” list, as many vigilantes rallying for the protection of childhood innocence will take fault with its “provocative” topics and controversial themes. And yet, it is one of the first books I would recommend to young girls on the cusp of puberty. It is intimately crafted to provide a firsthand account of the aftermath that comes with rape, in a format that is easily approachable and hard to put down. A great read with a great lesson, for young and old readers alike.
January 13, 2014
I finished this book before bed last night. It was a good, though surprisingly light read, given the subject matter. I kept expecting a tight little ending where everyone gets what they deserve, but it never came. This book reminded me that not every rape victim gets closure and not every rapist is locked up, and a lot of people are not going to be sympathetic to a person who's been raped.
Anyway, after I finished, I started thinking about rape and had so many angry thoughts I had trouble falling asleep. I'm going to write them here, so this isn't really a review so much as a rant. With forceful language.
Fuck rape.
Fuck people who just assume girls "cry" rape. And fuck that terminology.
Fuck insensitive people who try to "do the right thing" for victims by making them feel more isolated and guilty and question that they were ever raped in the first place, and fuck that these people might not even know how they're wrong.
Fuck a narrow definition of rape.
Fuck the people who shame victims to an astonishingly hateful degree and teach our sons and daughters to do the same.
Fuck rapists.
Maybe you raped someone once, even if you don't think you did. Maybe you weren't prosecuted or put in jail for it. Maybe your victim never even told anyone. Maybe you went on with your life and got married and had kids and lived the life of a good citizen. Maybe you never raped anyone ever again. Guess what? You're still a rapist. So fuck you, too.
Anyway, after I finished, I started thinking about rape and had so many angry thoughts I had trouble falling asleep. I'm going to write them here, so this isn't really a review so much as a rant. With forceful language.
Fuck rape.
Fuck people who just assume girls "cry" rape. And fuck that terminology.
Fuck insensitive people who try to "do the right thing" for victims by making them feel more isolated and guilty and question that they were ever raped in the first place, and fuck that these people might not even know how they're wrong.
Fuck a narrow definition of rape.
Fuck the people who shame victims to an astonishingly hateful degree and teach our sons and daughters to do the same.
Fuck rapists.
Maybe you raped someone once, even if you don't think you did. Maybe you weren't prosecuted or put in jail for it. Maybe your victim never even told anyone. Maybe you went on with your life and got married and had kids and lived the life of a good citizen. Maybe you never raped anyone ever again. Guess what? You're still a rapist. So fuck you, too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2012
A great book for class discussion.
This is a subject that really has no 'right' answers; a situation that should never arise, yet once it does, can never really be resovled.
Should you speak out after a rape, or hide it away? And if you do speak out, is that the end of your suffering? Could it be that things could actually get worse??
When Valerie holds a party in her house the weekend her mother is out of town, things get rather out of hand. What happens is so believable that we are immediately swept up into Valerie's life and into her struggle to remain true to herself in spite of peer pressure and bullying.
It is horrendous, just how many rape cases are never reported, and of those that are, how many are thrown out of court. My hope for this book would be that it might give rise to discussion in schools that could, hopefully, illustrate to the boys, the effect of their behaviour and just how unacceptable it is - that when a girl says 'no' she means it.
Highly recommended.
This is a subject that really has no 'right' answers; a situation that should never arise, yet once it does, can never really be resovled.
Should you speak out after a rape, or hide it away? And if you do speak out, is that the end of your suffering? Could it be that things could actually get worse??
When Valerie holds a party in her house the weekend her mother is out of town, things get rather out of hand. What happens is so believable that we are immediately swept up into Valerie's life and into her struggle to remain true to herself in spite of peer pressure and bullying.
It is horrendous, just how many rape cases are never reported, and of those that are, how many are thrown out of court. My hope for this book would be that it might give rise to discussion in schools that could, hopefully, illustrate to the boys, the effect of their behaviour and just how unacceptable it is - that when a girl says 'no' she means it.
Highly recommended.
December 31, 2014
Very intense and realistic story of a girl who is raped by a boy she likes after a party is thrown at her house when her mother is away for the evening. Her mother reports it to the police and reality hits hard when all the girl's friends side with the popular boy who could 'have any girl he wanted'. This shows the sad truth of rape: not being believed, date rape, the feelings of guilt afterwards, loss of friends, long term recovery and facing the system's view of the victim needing to prove her innocence. Well-written, absorbing reading. I only disliked the absence of chapter breaks. One continuous book without breaks (no matter how short) always seems to slow down the reading, while chapter breaks do the opposite.
July 6, 2012
More than a story about rape, this is a story about a teenager's relationships--with her best friend, her siblings, her mother--and how they are tested in a time of personal crisis. Alina Klein does a masterful job of showing us Valerie's struggles when her entire life changes overnight and her only goal is just to be normal again. Klein writes beautifully, and very effectively portrait of a girl teens will identify with and learn something from. I highly recommend RAPE GIRL to teens (both boys and girls) and adults
I like this book. It should be a required read in High School. Young men should know that No means No. It was a brave thing that Valerie did, telling her Mother.
I like this book. It should be a required read in High School. Young men should know that No means No. It was a brave thing that Valerie did, telling her Mother.
May 30, 2012
Small book - big message. One line from the book has really stuck with me "They say that rape is the only crime in which the vicitm has to prove her innocence." What a devasting statment. I also found it disturbing that most of the girls in the story sided on the side of the rapist. I would say their only excuse is that they were of high school age and just not mature. All in all - a good read.
May 14, 2012
One of those books that moves you and sticks with you. Emotional and gripping story of a girl, a victim, who's shunned and blamed. So many girls will, unfortunately, be able to relate to Alina Klein's debut. Fortunately, they won't feel voiceless and alone after reading it.
May 30, 2012
Rating: 3.5/5
I remember reading my first book that dealt with this topic, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. I read it when I was 14 or 15 and I remember being haunted by it. I never read it since. I remember the closet space at the end and the girl’s fight to resist both the second attack and her silence. As you can tell it stuck with me. This book I think will also stick with me. The moment where Valerie can hear her little sister outside, who she prays to stay outside was one scene that stuck in my head. That was the defining moment for me. Klein touches a subject which is nearly taboo in our society and she gives us a good picture of how most people react to rape. The scenes and pictures that were portrayed in Rape Girl though seemingly harsh and unbelievable are, in fact, very true.
The topic, rape, was the driving force behind this book. A controversal and yet very important topic. Rationally, everyone knows it shouldn’t be controversal. We all know it’s wrong but for some reason when someone claims rape, many people turn against the victim. They make all sorts of lies or excuses to themselves and for the victim’s attacker, and such is the case for Valerie and her attacker. The book depicts well Valerie’s alienation. Already a victim to the horrible crime, Valerie is further made a victim by being made the villain and antagonist by most everyone she knew, expect for her family. Her best friend defriends her two ways and people call her names. She no longer is Valerie but “Rape Girl.” In communities, where there’s a large majority of a group of people (inRape Girl’s case a town of mostly Mormons), when something happens to one of their own and is accused by an outsider (Valerie is Catholic or of Catholic origins) they would say and do anything to protect their own. It happens. Mormons. Christians. Muslims. Blacks. Asians. You name it… in towns and communities across the country where something horrible happens within that community, which is tightly knit, the victim will be made the villain. Klein portrays this well. From the gathering in the office, to even a teacher/educator’s disregard of Valerie and the actions they took to alienate Valerie. These actions by these people who willingly blind themselves made me sympathize with Valerie. Made me want to enter the book and offer or say something nice to her. I sympathized with Valerie which was a good thing. A very good thing.
The plot was such a strong subject that it could carry its own weight. I wanted to read on to find justice and peace. I read on only to find a strong resemblance to the realities of our world. It made me angry and upset. But I was only angry and upset and I sympathized with Valerie because of the subject matter of rape. We know it’s a horrible thing. We know it’s wrong. As such, we can easily latch onto Valerie. All the scenes worked well. Though not as well I as liked or knew Klein was capable of because some of her scenes were very well depicted. For example, I liked the scenes that included Wes. In fact, I throughly enjoyed those scenes. They were moments of hope in Valerie’s bleak current world.
But the point drops occurred because of the lack of characterization. The people inRape Girl were characterized by the rape. They either were with Valerie or weren’t. I wanted to see a closer glimpse of Valerie. I want to understand her. I want to cry for her. I wanted to be heart broken for her. I wanted to apologize to her. I wanted to do all these things but couldn’t because I was very aware that this was a rape story. This was a telling of a horrible crime. I wasn’t fully immersed. There was a barrier from a lack of Valerie being completely human. There were parts that were there that made her human. Small little things. The moment in the doctors office where the doctor was examining her and she was silent but she also shed a tear. That moment was very human, very real, and felt as if I was standing in the room with her watching her pains. That moment took me there. But for the most part, the novel was told through dialogue and the actions and reactions of others. We never really get to see Valerie experience her turmoil. Klein explains it so we know what she’s going through so we can sympathize with Valerie but we couldn’t empathize with her. I wanted to be afraid for Valerie. I wanted to fear with Valerie. But those moments were missing for the most part.
Overall, this book was well written, gives a good glimpse of the realities of rape cases. A crime which its treatment of investigation and the people involved needs to be changed. Rape victims shouldn’t have to prove their innocence. Yet they do. Many victims are villainize (I know I said that a lot in this review, but I feel like it’s a current truth) and that shouldn’t be the case. The emotional punch is there because of its subject matter and this novel rides on it. But it lacks the gasp of breath from the punch (didn’t leave me breathless) because of its lacking deep and pulling characterization. It’s a good decent read, but I also think it could be a lot better. Were it a different subject, Valerie would have come off plain. I wanted to see her world. Truly see it. Yes, it’s rape and no one wants graphic details, but why not (I’m not talking about the actual violent deed)? Why not place readers there? Why not make us feel the turmoil? Readers should cry and their hearts should break for Valerie because she was a victim. At the end, we also see her begin to stand up for herself and readers should feel that euphoric pride for her, but I didn’t because her character was lightly build. We got enough to know what was going on but never grew a deep attachment.
Verdict: It’s worth a read. It’s should be read because of its subject matter alone. It’s written well though seems to skim the surface some. A definite read. Though not one to buy for me.
Visit my book review blog at ravenousbiblioworm.wordpress.com
I remember reading my first book that dealt with this topic, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. I read it when I was 14 or 15 and I remember being haunted by it. I never read it since. I remember the closet space at the end and the girl’s fight to resist both the second attack and her silence. As you can tell it stuck with me. This book I think will also stick with me. The moment where Valerie can hear her little sister outside, who she prays to stay outside was one scene that stuck in my head. That was the defining moment for me. Klein touches a subject which is nearly taboo in our society and she gives us a good picture of how most people react to rape. The scenes and pictures that were portrayed in Rape Girl though seemingly harsh and unbelievable are, in fact, very true.
The topic, rape, was the driving force behind this book. A controversal and yet very important topic. Rationally, everyone knows it shouldn’t be controversal. We all know it’s wrong but for some reason when someone claims rape, many people turn against the victim. They make all sorts of lies or excuses to themselves and for the victim’s attacker, and such is the case for Valerie and her attacker. The book depicts well Valerie’s alienation. Already a victim to the horrible crime, Valerie is further made a victim by being made the villain and antagonist by most everyone she knew, expect for her family. Her best friend defriends her two ways and people call her names. She no longer is Valerie but “Rape Girl.” In communities, where there’s a large majority of a group of people (inRape Girl’s case a town of mostly Mormons), when something happens to one of their own and is accused by an outsider (Valerie is Catholic or of Catholic origins) they would say and do anything to protect their own. It happens. Mormons. Christians. Muslims. Blacks. Asians. You name it… in towns and communities across the country where something horrible happens within that community, which is tightly knit, the victim will be made the villain. Klein portrays this well. From the gathering in the office, to even a teacher/educator’s disregard of Valerie and the actions they took to alienate Valerie. These actions by these people who willingly blind themselves made me sympathize with Valerie. Made me want to enter the book and offer or say something nice to her. I sympathized with Valerie which was a good thing. A very good thing.
The plot was such a strong subject that it could carry its own weight. I wanted to read on to find justice and peace. I read on only to find a strong resemblance to the realities of our world. It made me angry and upset. But I was only angry and upset and I sympathized with Valerie because of the subject matter of rape. We know it’s a horrible thing. We know it’s wrong. As such, we can easily latch onto Valerie. All the scenes worked well. Though not as well I as liked or knew Klein was capable of because some of her scenes were very well depicted. For example, I liked the scenes that included Wes. In fact, I throughly enjoyed those scenes. They were moments of hope in Valerie’s bleak current world.
But the point drops occurred because of the lack of characterization. The people inRape Girl were characterized by the rape. They either were with Valerie or weren’t. I wanted to see a closer glimpse of Valerie. I want to understand her. I want to cry for her. I wanted to be heart broken for her. I wanted to apologize to her. I wanted to do all these things but couldn’t because I was very aware that this was a rape story. This was a telling of a horrible crime. I wasn’t fully immersed. There was a barrier from a lack of Valerie being completely human. There were parts that were there that made her human. Small little things. The moment in the doctors office where the doctor was examining her and she was silent but she also shed a tear. That moment was very human, very real, and felt as if I was standing in the room with her watching her pains. That moment took me there. But for the most part, the novel was told through dialogue and the actions and reactions of others. We never really get to see Valerie experience her turmoil. Klein explains it so we know what she’s going through so we can sympathize with Valerie but we couldn’t empathize with her. I wanted to be afraid for Valerie. I wanted to fear with Valerie. But those moments were missing for the most part.
Overall, this book was well written, gives a good glimpse of the realities of rape cases. A crime which its treatment of investigation and the people involved needs to be changed. Rape victims shouldn’t have to prove their innocence. Yet they do. Many victims are villainize (I know I said that a lot in this review, but I feel like it’s a current truth) and that shouldn’t be the case. The emotional punch is there because of its subject matter and this novel rides on it. But it lacks the gasp of breath from the punch (didn’t leave me breathless) because of its lacking deep and pulling characterization. It’s a good decent read, but I also think it could be a lot better. Were it a different subject, Valerie would have come off plain. I wanted to see her world. Truly see it. Yes, it’s rape and no one wants graphic details, but why not (I’m not talking about the actual violent deed)? Why not place readers there? Why not make us feel the turmoil? Readers should cry and their hearts should break for Valerie because she was a victim. At the end, we also see her begin to stand up for herself and readers should feel that euphoric pride for her, but I didn’t because her character was lightly build. We got enough to know what was going on but never grew a deep attachment.
Verdict: It’s worth a read. It’s should be read because of its subject matter alone. It’s written well though seems to skim the surface some. A definite read. Though not one to buy for me.
Visit my book review blog at ravenousbiblioworm.wordpress.com
December 27, 2018
An important book.
There is a line in it something along the lines of "rape is the only crime where it is the victim who has to prove their innocence"
The book focuses on speaking out about rape and how things unfold for Valerie following her doing just that.
I'm glad that this book exists.
There is a line in it something along the lines of "rape is the only crime where it is the victim who has to prove their innocence"
The book focuses on speaking out about rape and how things unfold for Valerie following her doing just that.
I'm glad that this book exists.
May 24, 2012
I always find it hard to review books like this - how do you explain that you 'enjoyed' a book where the subject matter is so distasteful?
Rape Girl is about just that - 16 year old Valerie is raped by the boy she likes. But it's when she tells what happened that her troubles really begin.
There was a great sense of authenticity to the teenage viewpoint in this book. The party, the drinking, the bitchy girls in the bathroom, the bullying-by-text....it all felt very 'now' and very realistic. Sadly, the rape itself and the way in which is occurred is all too realistic too.
I liked how the author handles the attack itself - it's not violent, there are no marks, no weapon, no stranger on a dark night. It's someone she knows, likes even, trusts. It's a really important message to girls out there - this is what rape looks like too - if you say NO that should be enough. I liked how that was covered again when Valerie joins the support group. There are no graphic descriptions of the act itself which I think worked well - the book focuses on what happens after, and how Valerie stays true to herself.
The way in which Valerie is treated after everyone finds out, the rallying around the perpetrator instead of the victim, the bullying, and the lack of justice make for a powerful social commentary. "Rape is the only crime where a victim has to prove her innocence" is a line that will stay with me forever.
This would make an excellent topic/ discussion piece for teenagers, boys and girls.
There are a couple of areas where I felt the book could have been strengthened. The first person narrative needed a more powerful emotional connect with the audience. While at times it was possible to make some conclusions about her emotions (body language) I would have liked to have seen more of Valerie's feeling and emotions within the text too. Lots of things happen to her, but we don't often get to see her emotional response to them. The only part of the entire book when I teared up a little is when her brother loses it. I should have been feeling that level of response to Valerie's emotions.
I wasn't sure of the significance of the Utah/Mormon references in the book (I'm not from the US). For a book about a universal theme like this, those cultural references almost felt unnecessary.
Adam. I almost felt like the author tried too hard to paint him as the 'villain'. He turns up late to her party, embarrasses her in front of everyone, doesn't stay to look after her, sends her a mean text about the shoes....why on earth did she like him in the first place? I almost instantly disliked him. I think the emotional hit (see above comments) of his betrayal would have been a lot higher if he'd been a 'nice guy' to begin with, not with a blazing red arrow pointing at him from the very beginning that says ' I am the bad guy'. Ditto with his cluelessness at the end.
While this story is about Valerie's rape and the aftermath, it is also a story about strength, being true to yourself, and about what it means to be courageous. In a genre full of teenage insta-love and HEA it is refreshing to see an author be brave with important issues - both in the subject matter and in the title. I also really love the cover (seems a shallow comment to make, but covers are important too!)
It's a quick read, but one that will stay with me for a long time. A good book, that with some more emotional connect could have been a great book. 3.5 stars.
With thanks to namelos.
Rape Girl is about just that - 16 year old Valerie is raped by the boy she likes. But it's when she tells what happened that her troubles really begin.
There was a great sense of authenticity to the teenage viewpoint in this book. The party, the drinking, the bitchy girls in the bathroom, the bullying-by-text....it all felt very 'now' and very realistic. Sadly, the rape itself and the way in which is occurred is all too realistic too.
I liked how the author handles the attack itself - it's not violent, there are no marks, no weapon, no stranger on a dark night. It's someone she knows, likes even, trusts. It's a really important message to girls out there - this is what rape looks like too - if you say NO that should be enough. I liked how that was covered again when Valerie joins the support group. There are no graphic descriptions of the act itself which I think worked well - the book focuses on what happens after, and how Valerie stays true to herself.
The way in which Valerie is treated after everyone finds out, the rallying around the perpetrator instead of the victim, the bullying, and the lack of justice make for a powerful social commentary. "Rape is the only crime where a victim has to prove her innocence" is a line that will stay with me forever.
This would make an excellent topic/ discussion piece for teenagers, boys and girls.
There are a couple of areas where I felt the book could have been strengthened. The first person narrative needed a more powerful emotional connect with the audience. While at times it was possible to make some conclusions about her emotions (body language) I would have liked to have seen more of Valerie's feeling and emotions within the text too. Lots of things happen to her, but we don't often get to see her emotional response to them. The only part of the entire book when I teared up a little is when her brother loses it. I should have been feeling that level of response to Valerie's emotions.
I wasn't sure of the significance of the Utah/Mormon references in the book (I'm not from the US). For a book about a universal theme like this, those cultural references almost felt unnecessary.
Adam. I almost felt like the author tried too hard to paint him as the 'villain'. He turns up late to her party, embarrasses her in front of everyone, doesn't stay to look after her, sends her a mean text about the shoes....why on earth did she like him in the first place? I almost instantly disliked him. I think the emotional hit (see above comments) of his betrayal would have been a lot higher if he'd been a 'nice guy' to begin with, not with a blazing red arrow pointing at him from the very beginning that says ' I am the bad guy'. Ditto with his cluelessness at the end.
While this story is about Valerie's rape and the aftermath, it is also a story about strength, being true to yourself, and about what it means to be courageous. In a genre full of teenage insta-love and HEA it is refreshing to see an author be brave with important issues - both in the subject matter and in the title. I also really love the cover (seems a shallow comment to make, but covers are important too!)
It's a quick read, but one that will stay with me for a long time. A good book, that with some more emotional connect could have been a great book. 3.5 stars.
With thanks to namelos.
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