PAGES: 304
PUBLISHER: Scholastic
FORMAT: Paperback
BUY IT: Waterstones
RATING: 5 Stars
SUMMARY
School should be a safe place for Jess, a refuge from her difficult home life - but thanks to Kez and her friends, it's everything she dreads. Despite being beautiful and popular, Kez's life isn't any sweeter. She clings to the fact she is better off than Jess - or so she thinks...
REVIEW
This is the perfect book to sit down and read in an evening - mainly because as soon as you start you will be desperate to find out what happens to Jess and Kez. I really enjoy books with dual narratives, and in this book it was fantastic because it really gives you insight into the situation from the point of view of the bully and the victim. I can't imagine how people cope with bullying nowadays, the rise of social media has made it inescapable and it seems to be even crueller than ever. Jess and Kez are both interesting characters - they both have their insecurities but they manifest in very different ways, and for Kez, she takes things out on those she feels are even more vulnerable than her. I don't think this makes her inherently bad, she is just dealing with things in a bad way, and it's obvious as the story progresses she has her reasons. Likewise, Jess has issues and isn't getting the support she needs to overcome them. The link between the two girls is Kez's boyfriend, Jess's old school friend... Expect trouble, drama and angst as the girls struggle to overcome their situations. A fantastic debut novel that deals with some emotional issues with subtlety and tact, and will make you realise that even when you think you have someone sussed, you may need to look a little deeper.
- Gem.
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