HMH Children's, 2011
237 pages
YA; Contemporary
3/5 stars
Source: Received a free ecopy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was intrigued by the cover of this and psyched to see another book eligible for the DAC. However the story was less than pleasing to me, mainly because of the main character, April.
April's one friend has moved, leaving her again a pariah and vulnerable to popular Britney and her crew's "friendship." I really felt April's loneliness and that helped explain how she was willing to compromise what she knew was right for the chance to have people to hang out with. Soon she is caught up in the world of the popular girls until she breaks a "Lipstick Law" and is kicked out with Britney's continued vengeance against her.
In order to cope, April tries to find other girls who were ostracized and they form the Lipstick Lawbreakers to take revenge on Britney. I was glad to see April make new friends but they went so far in their anger and I had trouble cheering from them. I kept wanting to say, "Turn the other cheek, girls!" April does have a brief epiphany that she is as bad as Britney but I'm not sure she will make any lasting changes. Her treatment of a boy who she considers a major loser was what drew most of my censure; he seemed nice even if he didn't look the way her shallow mind wanted him to look.
I wonder if this book would be better for someone in high school, dealing with the brutality of cliques instead of someone who is almost a graduate of college (just over a month until graduation!) and who was never picked on (I had my group of friends and needless to say we liked to read a lot).
Read for YA Debut Authors Challenge and Ebook Challenge.
The cover is great, but I'm not sp psyched about the premise. I guess I need something more than just regular high-school drama. I'm glad you had a good high-school experience and yay for graduating soon!
ReplyDeleteI thought this book was pretty awesome! =D
ReplyDeleteI agree. Her treatment of the guy at the end is what really bothered me the most. She just didn't seem like she had learned anything at all. I liked her a lot more in the beginning of the book.
ReplyDeleteYeah totally agree, couldn't stand April. I read this book a while ago so I don't remember all the details but I do remember really hoping I'd like it because the cover was super cool. Alas.
ReplyDeleteBeing at that age i enjoy itt much more. It was entertaining, and i liked. Maybe what made it saw good for me was the fact people like that with extreme cliquiness arent at my school . But i was entertained
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