When Alex’s older sister, Anna, was murdered, Alex unleashed what she knows best: violence. She knows how to kill someone. And though she doesn’t feel bad about it, as her crime goes unpunished, she quickly folds into the shadows, hiding from her fellow classmates.
At least, so she thinks. Jack and Peekay see her. Jack, the star athlete, the jock that everyone wants, in the running for valedictorian. But all Jack wants is to know Alex. Peekay is the preacher’s daughter, which doesn’t stop her from acting out once in a while. Peekay and Alex begin working together at the animal shelter, where Peekay sees Alex’s protective nature.
Brought together through unlikely circumstances, Alex, Jack, and Peekay navigate the waters of their senior year. Until Alex’s true nature breaks out at a party one night, sending the three on a path that’s going to change their lives forever.
Though probably not for the squeamish or sensitive, this book is an absolutely important read. Mindy McGinnis exposes rape culture through the story of Alex and her desire to get revenge for her sister. Alex’s character in particular points out the flaws of our society when it comes to dealing with rape, especially in the way that we help to perpetuate it with things like “boys will be boys,” as Alex points out:
“But boys will be boys, our favorite phrase that excuses so many things, while the only thing we have for the opposite gender is women, said with disdain and punctuated with an eye roll.”
These kinds of statements punctuate the novel, forcing the reader to think about rape culture and gender and how they might contribute to that.
In addition to the morally grey center of the novel, McGinnis also creates realistically complex characters that aid in the exploration of important themes. Told in alternating perspectives from Alex, Jack, and Peekay, the reader gets a glimpse into each one of their characters, each one as complex as the next. The three main characters as supported by an almost equally complex supporting cast, expertly destroying the stereotype that teenagers can’t be complex.
Overall, if you can get past some of the descriptions and violence against animals (which I’ll admit was difficult for me), this is definitely a must-read. Add it to your TBR shelf immediately.
5/5 Stars