Twisted
14 Jul 2009 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: bullies, depression, suicide, Teens Top Ten 2008
Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson
Published by Speak, New York: 2007
272 pgs.
Recommended reading age: 15 and up
VOYA rating: 4P, 4Q, JS
Twisted is one of the few books in my life that I have sat down and read all at once in one continual sitting. I became so enthralled in Tyler’s life that before I knew it, it was 1:00am and I could barely see straight. For some reason I got very attached to this realistic fiction story of a regular teen guy growing up in a modern-day high school.
Tyler is in big trouble after choosing to deface school property in an act of rebellion and to make a name for himself. Tyler was tired of being overlooked and tired of being a nobody. Suddenly, over the summer, doing community service and working for a landscaper, Tyler not only builds his muscles but his reputation as well. When he starts to get bullied around by classmate Chip at his dad’s company picnic in front of the beautiful Bethany, Tyler grins and bears it. Tyler does this for his father’s sake even though he knows Chip is the one who knocks over Bethany and breaks her leg. For the sake of his family, he obeys his father’s wishes and tries to be a good guy.
Tyler starts the school year with his faithful and loyal “nerdy” friend but the rumors about him precede him. Still hsi best buddy, who winds up dating Tyler’s little sister, stands by him in support. People are looking at Tyler different and he is even catching the eye of his crush, the beautiful Bethany. Although Tyler seems like a good kid you can tell as a reader that there is this quiet rage building inside of him. A bit of this rage starts to seep out when Tyler steps up for his best friend in the locker room while Chip and his goons are trying to beat him up. There is this subtle impending sense of doom building throughout the course of the novel inside of Tyler as he talks about death and dying and his curiosity of the subject. It is a book that talks about anger and depression and dealing when your school and family life seem to be spinning out of control.
During a party Tyler does the right thing when a completely drunken Bethany, ready to pass out, wants to make out with him. Seeing she is drunk he tries to take her home but instead drunken Bethany gets incredibly upset and dumps him, calling him a couple nasty names. Feeling terrible and angry, Tyler still tries to watch out for Bethany and even insists on driving her and her evil brother Chip (who is also drunk) home. Later the next day, when pictures show up on the Internet of a naked Bethany, passed out and sprawled on a bed, everyone immediately blames poor Tyler. A legal battle even ensues as the police seize Tyler’s computer and begin investigating him.
There is a lot about relationships between teens and their families in this book. It examines Tyler’s relationship with his sister, his mother and most prominently his father. It also deals with how aware Tyler is of his parents and their marital problems and the way his father seems to rule the household with an iron fist but not really seem to care affectionately for anything but his job.
There is a huge blow out during the turning point in this story when Tyler confronts his father. (This is after an “almost” suicide attempt/experiement.) He literally forces his father to sit downby threatening him with a baseball bat. This is the turning point where both father and son, after taking a day to cool off, have a real talk and start to work through their relationship and work on their family. The reader and Tyler’s father both learn by the end of the book, just how close Tyler may have come to committing suicide or going off the deep end.
This book is would appeal to teens because it is about a very realistic teen with realistic problems. He has girl trouble, sister trouble, family trouble and bully trouble. He makes a huge mistake and winds up paying for it. On top of it all the reader would probably assume that he may suffer from depression or aggression issues too. It gives the reader and idea of what might go through the mind of a person before committing a violent act. With so much violence being broadcast on the news with school shootings, it makes this very real subject matter for teens to read. You get to see the characters work on their feelings and ask their families and friends for help instead of succumbing to violent or suicidal urges which leaves a positive message for the reader. It brings up some good things for teens to think about. I also think it would appeal to boys especially because of the main character and the issues he faces.
I don’t know that the cover was perfectly chosen but it was a very simple and cool. The bright red twisted pencil, like one he might use in class, suggests how twisted and tormented Tyler is inside. It’s clever and memorable and describes the title well so that it would stick in a teen brain.
Thirteen Reasons Why
14 Jul 2009 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: depression, friendship, Keepin' It Real, suicide
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Published by RazorBill, New York: 2007
288 pgs
Recommended reading age: 14 and up (for language and sexual content)
VOYA rating: 4P, 4Q
This is a page turner. Once you start this book, you are hooked and have to keep reading until you find out exactly how it all ends. It is a mystery but it is also a love story and a story about friendship. It has suspense. It has sex, parties, alcohol and other risky teen behavior that might be controversial for parents but still very appealing subject matter for a teen reader.
Hannah has committed suicide, which you find out almost immediately. Rather than leave a long suicide note she has instead chosen to record her reasoning behind her suicide on cassettes that she is having passed around after her death. She plans things rather intricately which, is one of the unbelievable things I had to take with a grain of salt about this novel. You follow the story through first person narrative through the voice of the protagonist Clay.
Clay use to work with Hannah at the movie theatre and has had a major crush on her for a very long time. Clay had a real crush on Hannah based not just on her looks (although they had a bit to do with it) but on her personality as well. He is shocked to find out he is one of the 13 individuals who have been given a tape. He can’t figure out what he could have possibly done to Hannah when all he ever wanted to be was a good friend, and maybe her boyfriend.
The story unfolds and the reader is compelled to keep reading to see what each person has done to Hannah. Clay finds out that all of these tiny little events from long ago have left ripples and caused evil rumors to spread about Hannah and her reputation. One thing just builds on another as Clay learns how all of these misconceptions had severely messed with Hannah’s head. It is like a bad car crash that you can’t help but looking at. You are sad that she has committed suicide, but you want to see all the gory details and be able to judge Hannah for yourself as the reader.
I don’t know how believable it would be for someone who is suicidal to plan things so well down to the last detail. According to Hannah this type of planning is apparently recognizable and typical of a depressed and suicidal person so maybe this is just from my lack of knowledge on the subject. Also, Hannah manages to sound so upbeat and happy through her tapes. She speaks so intelligently. She is witty, cunning and funny which makes her suicide all the more heartbreaking.
You eventually find out that Clay actually didn’t do anything to cause Hannah to commit suicide. He was actually one of the good people in her life which is a type of relief to Clay but also still heartbreaking. Clay is still left with the burden of knowing all the terrible things that happened to Hannah and all the lies that were told about her. He left wondering if there was something more he could have done to stop her had he only known. It is as if he is being punished even though he isn’t the one who deserves it. It speaks to the fact that Hannah just didn’t want to be alone in her sorrow. I think she just needed someone, other than the people who had shamed her, to know her real story. Clay is changed by the tapes too. He decides to start talking to an ex-girlfriend who seems to be heading down the same depression path that Hannah had taken.
I think this is an interesting story but was at times bothered by Hannah’s choices. Maybe it is the cynic in me, but I wonder what teens would think of Hannah’s suicide. Would teens argue that she had committed suicide over inconsequential events that many teens deal with? Would they judge her actions harshly or would they be sympathetic. I think this would make an EXCELLENT book discussion for a teen book club, even though the subject matter is a little dicey.
The photo of a girl on a swing used as the cover is a little heartbreaking because she seems so innocent and childlike yet you know after reading the book that she was really in a dark and strange place at the time. Teens might relate to the cover because she is a real teen dressed trendy and cute who is hiding behind the cassette tapes. I though the use of “Th1rteen R3asons” in the cover’s title was clever because it reminds the reader to read between the lines to find out the truth about the tapes and why Hannah is dead.
