Mercy Rule by Tom Leveen

Mercy Rule by Tom Leveen

Published: February 20th 2018 by Sky Pony Press

Danny’s parents yanked him from the art school that let him wear a kilt and listen to bands that no one’s heard of. Now he’s starting sophomore year at the public high school–the one with the gymnasium at the heart of the building and the glorified athletes who rule it all. The smart thing would be to blend in, but Danny has always been about making statements.

Brady just wants to get out. Go to college, play football, maybe reach the NFL. He definitely wants to stop waiting for his deadbeat mother to come home, sleeping on park benches, and going to bed hungry. But first he has to lead the team to the championships. It all adds up to a lot of stress. So who can really blame him when he and the football team turn their aggressions on the new freak? Even the quarterback needs to blow off steam sometimes.

Coach turns a blind eye to his players’ crimes–because this year, they’re going to States. But maybe if Coach had paid more attention they could’ve caught it before it all happened. Maybe it could’ve been avoided.

Maybe.

With quick cuts between a large cast of unforgettable characters, and razor-sharp plotting, Tom Leeven takes readers on a countdown to an inevitable, horrifying act. This gripping novel offers an intense, smart perspective on the tragic, toxic mindsets behind the celebrated American sport and the monsters it creates.

This has been a highly anticipated read of mine since I discovered it at the end of last year on GR. I was so excited to grab my copy when it released – but I’m left with mixed feelings. I loved the idea behind this book and the different societal issues it represents, but I feel like it could have been better. There’s a lot I want to say and I don’t want to give out spoilers, so some parts might seem a little vague.

What I liked about this book was the fact that it focused on the build up toward the crime that was committed. It showed off a variety of different reasons as to why the character did what they did (I don’t want to give away who). Leveen also did a great job of showing the signs of what wa going to happen and who was going commit the crime from the beginning.I liked the fact that the characters never saw the signs, but w as outsiders (readers) do because that’s how it usually happens in real life. I often read book based on this subject matter and it usually focuses on the event itself or the aftermath, so it was a refreshing change to focus on what happens before hand and the fact that everyone processes things in a different way.

I also feel that Leveen did a great job in showing a variety of different issues that led up to what happened at the end. A lot of boson this subject matter focus on one particular issue and call it a day – which I don’t think is a fair representation. Leveen managed to intertwine every aspect of a persons life to really show how far someone gets pushed before they do the unthinkable – drugs, mental issues that were not properly dealt with and cared for, familial issues, school issues etc.

I have mixed feelings about the multiple POV’s. I liked the fact that Leveen used multiple POV’s to really represent what was going on. He showed the idea that everyone is different and that everyone has a different breaking point. The multiplePOVs managed to paint a bigger picture and really show what was happening and why the character ultimately does what they do. I liked the idea that, whilst a lot of the issues (not all, but most) seemed like mundane issues to me, they aren’t to someone else – again reinforcing the idea that everyone reacts to things differently. I also liked the idea behind having POVs from characters who didn’t have anything to do with the character because it reinforced the ending and the way in which people can et caught up in things that have nothing to do with them though no fault of their own.

Having said that, I also feel that there were too many POV’s. Whilst I liked the idea of showing what the crime can really do to other people and the way in which it weaved itself into the aftermath etc. I would have liked to have had the focus completely on the person who committed the crime – both from their POV (which we got) as well as the POVs from the people who interacted with him, both good and bad. I feel that the other POV s who had nothing to do with the end game, and only really came into play when everything was said and done, distracted from the character and the snowball effect that was going on.

The multiple POVs also served to keep the reader as an outsider looking in. I liked the fact that this book had me sympathising with the characters – including the person who committed the crime. I felt sorry for all of them a one point or another and there were times where I would laugh with them etc. Having said that, I was still an outsider looking in as opposed to really connected to the characters as I usually am. Usually this would bother me, but I liked the effect it had on me as a reader. It represented what a lot of us actually are when things like this happen in real life – we’re outsiders looking in, we relate to the people who have gone through something that horrific and we sympathise with them. What this book does which we don’t usually consider, is show us the other side. I sympathised throughout the book with the person who committed the crime. I felt angry for them and I was upset with everything that was going on. I felt conflicted when they did what they did because I know that its wrong and its something that I wouldn’t wish on anyone… but I also understand why they did what they did and how the ended up at that point.

The book also left me feeling like I had failed the character themselves. Whilst I saw the signs from very early on and knew what was going to happen by the end based on those signs, it never clicked who the character actually was until the end. I feel like I should have maybe guessed it before it was revealed. I loved the way that Leveen weaved this story and the way in which he kept the true characters identity hazy until the very final pages. It brought the story together a lot more.

I also liked the way in which sports was added into the story. I liked the way in which the wrong doings of those in the sport – including the coach – wove into what happened at the end. It really highlighted a societal issue that still goes on today in the idea that sports people really do get away with a lot more because of their status and the idea that people don’t want to ruin their futures. Having said that,I would have liked maybe more of an explanation to the Mercy Rule and the way in which it contributed the story. WhilstI googled and it was also explained in the book at some point, I still don’t really understand what it has to do with the story itself.

All in all, I enjoyed this book. This book intertwined a lot of different factors and reasons and really showed the snowball effect of what a persons actions can do to another person. I liked the psychology behind everything that was going on and the way in which sports was woven into the story. It really showed the idea that people in sports have a lot more influence that most and that they should be role models to people because of the amount of ‘power’ they have in every day lives. This book had me thinking about it long after it was over. I gave this book 4.5/5 stars.

 

Winning by Lara Deloza

Winning by Lara Deloza

Published June 28th 2016 by Harper Teen

Whoever said being nice would get you to the top?

Certainly not Alexandra Miles. She isn’t nice, but she’s more than skilled at playing the part. She floats through the halls of Spencer High, effortlessly orchestrating the actions of everyone around her, making people bend to her whim without even noticing they’re doing it. She is the queen of Spencer High—and it’s time to make it official.

Alexandra has a goal, you see—Homecoming Queen. Her ambitions are far grander than her small town will allow, but homecoming is just the first step to achieving total domination. So when peppy, popular Erin Hewett moves to town and seems to have a real shot at the crown, Alexandra has to take action.

With the help of her trusted friend Sam, she devises her most devious plot yet. She’ll introduce an unexpected third competitor in the mix, one whose meteoric rise—and devastating fall—will destroy Erin’s chances once and for all. Alexandra can run a scheme like this in her sleep. What could possibly go wrong?

I’m not actually sure I know where to start with this book. It was good in a I’m – scared – of – overachieving – girls kinda way. I felt like I was reading Mean Girls, but about Homecoming…. Anyone who lives in America, can you please enlighten me as to whether your schools are really like they are portrayed? If they are, I’m so glad I grew up in England!!

Alexandra Miles is our Grade A Psycho Girl who uses and abuses people to stay at the top. She tries to hide her horrible ways behind a sickly sweet demeanour of being nice to people … but obviously no one buys it! Everyone knows exactly who and what she is! Girls like this actually genuinely scare me! AS a reader, I was hoping that she would see the error of her ways and actually change by the end of the book… however, it was not meant to be!

I felt really sorry for her best friend Sam! I mean, she is her own worst enemy because she was best friends with such a psycho, but the way she was treated was horrible!! I was happy that, by the end of the book, she really does change and we see someone who is liable in general rather than the best friend of the schools queen bee! I really liked her as a character and I felt sorry for her throughout most of the book! I’m glad she found her ending the way that she did!!

I think the character that went through the most change was Ivy! Sure, Alexandra helped to make her the person that she was, but she still remained true to herself! she didn’t turn into queen wannabe and she became a stronger person because of that! She got a push in the right direction from Alexandra and then she stood on her own two feet and defended herself when she needed to! Which is something she would never have done at the beginning of the book! Way to go Ivy! I felt like a proud mother with her!

The ending of the book definitely left it open for a sequel – however, whether one has been planned or not, I don’t know. We could easily revisit this high school where it left off and watch the girls go for another round. I think it would be interesting to see where the author takes these characters if she does decide to do a sequel!

There were times when I had to push myself through this book a little bit because I thought the pacing was a little iffy. For me, the high school drama – whilst fun to read ever now and then – it can get a little same old same old, especially because every one of us lives through some sort of school drama at some point in our lives!! I did enjoy this book, but sometimes it felt like a little too much and I just kinda wanted to roll my eyes and put the book back down again!

All in all, I mostly enjoyed this book and the characters within it! I would definitely read a sequel to this book because I would be interested to know where the author takes these characters and just how far some of them are willing to go to remain on top! I gave this book 3/5 stars!

Have you read this book? Did you enjoy it? Would you read this book, if you haven’t already? 

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Pretty Wicked by Kelly Charron

Pretty Wicked by Kelly Charron

Expected Publication: September 30th 2016 by Dark Arts Publishing

The daughter of a local police detective, fifteen-year-old Ryann has spent most of her life studying how to pull off the most gruesome murders her small Colorado town has ever seen.

But killing is only part of it. Ryann enjoys being the reason the cops are frenzied. The one who makes the neighbors lock their doors and windows on a hot summer’s day. The one everyone fears but no one suspects. 

Carving out her own murderous legacy proves harder than she predicted. Mistakes start adding up. And with the police getting closer, and her own father becoming suspicious, Ryann has to prove once and for all that she’s smarter than anyone else—or she’ll pay the ultimate price. 

Written in a mature YA voice. Some graphic content.

Note: I received an ARC of this through Netgalley. This in no way influences my opinion.

When I saw this on Netgalley, I just had to request it! We often see books like this, but they are written from the perspectives of people who are being hunted, people who are on the outside etc. But never actually the killers themselves! It was interesting to see what the author did with this and which mentality she took for our favourite serial Killer here!

I think the most enjoyable thing about this book was the fact that it raised the question of Nature vs Nurture. Are we born evil or are we made evil? Our MC had a pretty good upbringing and home life, so our author took away the normal stereotypes we have for people who commit crimes such as these. We, as a society, are always looking to place the blame onto something – video games, violent films, terrible upbringing etc. But what about the people who don’t play video games, who don’t watch films like this… who have had a pretty normal and good upbringing? The author questioned this through the style of the book and the mentality of the MC and it was a great thing to watch!! The question really is, can we be born with the DNA of a killer?

What I also loved about this book was the fact that this wasn’t a mystery!! We knew all along who it was, but the others didn’t! It was like being in on a secret! For me, Ryann began to show the many traits of a serial killer – at least what we know about them!! She started off really well, and then became sloppy. She wanted the kill, and began to leave marks behind! She became jumpy etc – which, if you look at any other serial killer, is exactly what happens! I read once somewhere that serial killers want to be caught because they want the recognition of what they have done…

It was a really weird feeling, as a reader, to be inside the head of a character like this. It feels wrong. Which was another thing I really enjoyed about this book. As someone who doesn’t go around killing, I enjoyed reading and looking inside the psychology behind what it takes to be a serial killer, but at the same time, my mind was telling me to abort because the thought process behind it is abhorrent! I think any book that can create those kinds of feelings is just fantastic!

I think this book is definitely for the higher end of YA, with the kind of content that it has within it. While this kind of thing doesn’t actually disturb me, it may disturb others, especially younger readers – so its a good thing that this book comes with a warning!

I really enjoyed this book and apparently there is going to be a sequel, which should be interesting! I can’t imagine how the author is going to top that, so I guess we shall find out! I am definitely going to be buying a physical copy of this book to put on my shelf because I loved it! I can’t wait to read more from this author 🙂 I gave this book 5/5 stars!

Have you read this book? Would you read this book?

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Goodreads Monday

Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme hosted here. To participate, all you need to do is choose a random book from your TBR and show it off! don’t forget to link back here!

Hey guys! Time for another Goodreads Monday. This weeks pick is a book that I recently added to my shelf! I have heard some amazing things, so I am definitely looking forward to getting to it!

Winning by Lara Deloza

Published: June 28th 2016 by HarperTeen

Whoever said being nice would get you to the top?

Certainly not Alexandra Miles. She isn’t nice, but she’s more than skilled at playing the part. She floats through the halls of Spencer High, effortlessly orchestrating the actions of everyone around her, making people bend to her whim without even noticing they’re doing it. She is the queen of Spencer High—and it’s time to make it official.

Alexandra has a goal, you see—Homecoming Queen. Her ambitions are far grander than her small town will allow, but homecoming is just the first step to achieving total domination. So when peppy, popular Erin Hewett moves to town and seems to have a real shot at the crown, Alexandra has to take action.

With the help of her trusted friend Sam, she devises her most devious plot yet. She’ll introduce an unexpected third competitor in the mix, one whose meteoric rise—and devastating fall—will destroy Erin’s chances once and for all. Alexandra can run a scheme like this in her sleep. What could possibly go wrong?

Doesn’t this sound so exciting!! I love books like these when they are done well, so I am definitely looking forward to getting to it!

What books are on you TBR’s?

With Malice by Eileen Cook

With Malice by Eileen Cook

Published: June 7th 2016 by HMH Books for Young Readers

It was the perfect trip…until it wasn’t.

Eighteen-year-old Jill Charron wakes up in a hospital room, leg in a cast, stitches in her face and a big blank canvas where the last six weeks should be. She discovers she was involved in a fatal car accident while on a school trip in Italy. A trip she doesn’t even remember taking. She was jetted home by her affluent father in order to receive quality care. Care that includes a lawyer. And a press team. Because maybe the accident…wasn’t an accident.

As the accident makes national headlines, Jill finds herself at the center of a murder investigation. It doesn’t help that the media is portraying her as a sociopath who killed her bubbly best friend, Simone, in a jealous rage. With the evidence mounting against her, there’s only one thing Jill knows for sure: She would never hurt Simone. But what really happened? Questioning who she can trust and what she’s capable of, Jill desperately tries to piece together the events of the past six weeks before she loses her thin hold on her once-perfect life.

Ok, so, I have had this book on my TBR for ages now. I was so stoked to finally get a copy because I was so excited to finally see what was going on with this premise. I had seen reviews about it being too much like Dangerous Girls, but I decided to give it a shot anyway. They were right. I should have listened! Whilst I did enjoy the book to some extent, there were a lot of things that were similar to Dangerous Girls, which was a major disappointment for me! I wanted unique! Anyway, here are some lists!

Likes:

• The beginning. Right from the very beginning, we are thrown into the events of what happened, with no actual knowledge of it. We know as much as the MC does and how much the MC family decides to disclose. The mystery of it all was what kept me hooked at the beginning.
• I liked the fact that the MC didn’t know anything that was happening because of the injuries she sustained. It was realistically done and this kind of thing does actually happen on a day to day basis.
• The use of Social media and the media in general was also pretty good. When something like this hits the news, people do tend to flock to social media to talk about what happened, whether it is good or bad. People also tend to be swayed pretty heavily by media itself, so whether they are spinning a good or bad light on the person involved, is generally the direction that comments on social media will take!
• The way in which it was written with interviews, news reports etc, interspersed between chapters was pretty interesting. We have the view from the MC and what she is hearing and getting on a day to day life basis and then we have it from the other side of people hitting social media, the media themselves and the police force and the people they are interviewing. It gave an extra insight into the characters from the opinions of the people who are supposed to know them because they taught them or they went to school with them etc. The extra insight helped to really get into the minds of the characters.

Dislikes:

• It was TOO much like Dangerous Girls. I don’t want to say too much… but the news reports, the way in which it happened in a country that is not the MC’s own, the doubt from people  around them, the way in which the case itself was built against the MC… even the ending was pretty similar! I was holding out hope that it would be something completely different, but it wasn’t… which was a shame! I don’t want a Dangerous Girls part two, I want something unique!
• The ending felt rushed. The explanation and the way in which it ended all happened way too fast. I think it could have may been stretched out from earlier on so that the build up was a little better. I felt like the build up toward to explanation was lacking and then I was info dumped by what had actually happened.
• Some of characters were really irritating! Like, the lawyer. Lawyers wouldn’t usually act like that (or so I would hope) so it felt a little unrealistic to me. HE was the kind of guy that constantly gets under your skin and you just want to punch him in the face. AS well as the father!
• It sometimes felt a little slow plot wise. I don’t know whether this was just me, but some parts were a little dry and I had to push myself through it!
• I wanted to see more from and about Nico! He was a majorly suspicious character for me and could have easily swinger around to him. I disliked him from the get go, but I still wanted more from him!

All in all, whilst I vaguely enjoyed this book, it was too much like Dangerous Girls for me to actually fully enjoy it. I was getting a watered down version of an amazing book where I wanted something unique and with its own story! I gave this book 2.5/5.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

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Dear Charlie by N. D. Gomes

Dear Charlie by N. D. Gomes

Expected Publication: October 20th 2016 by Mira Ink

Death should never meet the young. But it did. Thanks to my brother, death made fourteen new friends that day. Maybe even fifteen, if you count Charlie.

At sixteen, Sam Macmillan is supposed to be thinking about girls, homework and his upcoming application to music college, not picking up the pieces after the school shooting that his brother Charlie committed.

Yet as Sam desperately tries to hang on to the memories he has of his brother, the media storm surrounding their family threatens to destroy everything. And Sam has to question all he thought he knew about life, death, right and wrong.

Note: I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley in return for an honest review. This in no way influences my opinion.

This book. I don’t even know where to begin with THIS BOOK!! I don’t know why I do this to myself. I always choose books which I know will make me blubber like a baby and feel all the feels and I go and read it anyway. I torture myself… in a good way. If you are looking for a hard hitting book that hits all of the general stereotypes about a school shooting on the head and then addresses the fact that it isn’t really the way it always appears to be, this would be it.

I loved the unique beginning of the book. It starts of in a letter format, which gives the reader an insight into the thoughts and feelings of Charlie’s brother, Sam. Charlie is now dead, but Sam is struggling to deal with what happened that day and why Charlie did what he did. At first I was worried that the entire book was going to be set in letter, form, but it wasn’t. I don’t want to say too much, but I definitely think that the letter at the beginning helped to highlight the changes and the transitions that the characters go through.

This book dealt with a really tough subject. There are quite a few books out there that look at and deal with the aftermath of a school shooting, but this is the first one that I have read that dealt with the family and what they had to go through in the wake of Charlie’s actions. I found myself rooting for the family to get through it and I was actually angry because the actions within this book of other people, is actually what happens in today’s society.

I think the book highlighted the fact that we are always looking for someone to blame extremely well. Someone always has to take the brunt of it, whether it was the actual person who did it or not. I lao think it highlighted extremely well the way in which the media has a role in swaying the masses. The media can make someone wither love you or hate you and they are always looking for their next victim, whether they are to blame or not.

I wanted to adopt Sam and put him in my little puddle of protection! I felt so sorry for him and I had a hard time dealing with his feelings!! That is how hard hitting this book is! I think I felt pretty much the same way that Sam did and I don’t even know what I would do if I was stuck in his position!

I also think the ending was perfect! I don’t want to give too much away, but I definitely think it helped to highlight the changes the entire family had to go through and the things they had to accept. I struggled with the ending, and it made me bawl my eyes out!! Like a baby. I was a blubbering mess!

I definitely recommend this book because it is so true to society on how we look at school shootings in the aftermath and how we treat the family of the perpetrator afterwards. It is hard hitting, it takes stereotypes and throws them out of the window!! I definitely think this book needs to be read by the masses!! I gave this book 5/5 stars.

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Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews

Hey guys! It is time for another STS. I have pretty much given up on trying any form of self control – I think I will just bury myself even further!!

Netgalley:

 The Alchemists of Loom by Elise Kova. Expected Publication: January 10th 2017 by Keymaster Press. I actually requested a copy of this from the publisher a couple of weeks ago – they invited me to review a digital copy of this book!! To say I am excited doesn’t even begin to describe my feelings!!

 Dear Charlie by N. D. Gomes. Expected publication: October 20th 2016 by Harlequin. I wished for this book on Netgalley, again a while back, and I was invited by the publishers to read this book!! I love books that centre around these kind of issues, so I am definitely looking forward to this one!

 Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova. Expected Publication: September 6th 2016 by Sourcebooks Fire. I was originally declined on Netgalley to review this book, but I sent an email to the publisher afterward and they granted me access!! 🙂 I have heard a lot about this book and I can’t wait to read it!

Bought:

 A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir. Expected Publication: August 30th 2016 by Razorbill. I’m not sure if the bookstore made a mistake, or whether it was published here earlier or whatever, but I bought a copy of this book from my local bookstore on Thursday!! It is so pretty and blue!!

That’s it for me!! I am excited for all of these books!

What have you guys added to your shelves this week? Feel free to leave links and comments and I will check them all out! 

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Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.

Hey guys! It is time for another STS! I say to myself every single week that I am not going to request any more review books or ARC’s because I already have a ton of books to read. Do I listen to myself? Of course not! So, without further ado, here are the books I acquired this week:

 Isle of Winds by James Fahy – I accidentally requested the second book in this series from Netgalley without actually realising it was the second book in a series!! When I realised the mistake, I contacted the publisher who kindly gave me a copy of this book!!

 The Drowned Tomb by James Fahy – Second book in said series!! I mean, who wouldn’t be drawn in by this cover!!

 Finding Me by Dawn Brazil – I requested a review copy of this book from the author – who then kindly sent me a physical copy!! Not the biggest fan of the cover, but I have high hopes for the premise!

 Taking the Reins by Katrina Abott – This was a freebie this week on Amazon (which I found on one of the sites I subscribe to for bargains etc.), I decided to download a copy and give it a whirl!

That’s it from me!! I seriously need to consider listening to my brain sometimes… I think I now have so many books to read, I’m buried!! Time to stop binge watching Hell’s Kitchen!

What have you guys added to your shelves? Feel free to leave links and comments and I will check them all out! 

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the Broke and Bookish

Hey guys! It is time for another TTT! Before I begin, I just want to say that this post may look a little funny because I am doing it on my phone!! My links appear to be working on the phone, but not on the computer… Which is weird! Anyway, this weeks topic is top ten book set in x place. I decided to do high school setting because I think that there is a lot of fantasy settings out there etc.

10.

 Because I Love You by Tori Rigby – I really enjoyed this book. It dealt with issues that haven’t really been written about a lot with the Young Adult world, so it was definitely unique for me!

9.

 Unnatural Deeds by Cyn Balog – so technically this book hasn’t been released yet, but this book left me reeling! Even thinking about it now, I just… I have no words!!

8.

 This is Where it Ends by Marieke Niejkamp – I read this book on the day it came out in one sitting. It was amazing!!

7.

 What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler – this was a very powerful read and based on true events!! Definitely recommend this to everyone!

6.

 The Merciless by Danielle Vega – ok, this book did not turn out to be what I expected… It isn’t all set in secondary school, only some of it … But still!!

5.

 To all the boys I’ve loved before by Jenny Han – if you need a feel good pick me up, this one is definitely for you!!

4.

 Biggest Flirts by Jennifer Echols – I absolutely adored this book and I connected to the characters really quickly! It’s definitely a cute summer read and it is a series that I need to finish!

3.

 The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu – I think this book is a very true look at rumours created during your time in school and the people who create them!!

2.

 Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill – so, technically this is set on a school trip, but for me that still counts as secondary school!! This book was a really cute, fast read and definitely one to re read if I need a pick me up!

1.

 Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas – again, not technically set in school, but it is set during spring break of senior year, so I’m using it! I think anyone who has read this book will agree that this is a must read!! For everybody!!

That’s it!! Have you guys read any of these books? Did you enjoy them?

What settings did you guys pick? Feel free to leave links and comments and I will check them all out! 

Goodreads Monday

Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme hosted here. To take part, choose a random book from your TBR and show it off! Don’t forget to link back here and link meep so that I can check out your posts!

Hey guys! In case you haven’t noticed, I haven’t posted a lot recently and that is because I have been ill! I mean, I’m still ill, but not as ill as I was before. I don’t tend to read when ill, because I don’t really want to have to concentrate that hard, but hopefully I will get back to my book now!! Although, now my son is ill… it’s a never ending circle!! Anyway, here is this weeks pick:

Quad by C. G. Watson

Published: May 10th 2007 by Razorbill

Everything led up to this moment—, the point when the teasing, the cruelty, the pressure all became too much. And someone finally snapped.

Now six students, from six different cliques, are trapped in the student store while a shooter terrorizes their school. The shooter’s identity is teased out through the students’ flashbacks until the reader breathlessly reaches the final page. It’s only there that he discovers the shocking answer to the question: Who is shooting out in the quad?

This gripping thriller by educator C. G. Watson is inspired by observations made in her own high school. Quad examines in heartrending detail how even the most casual cruelties can tear people apart.

There are always a lot of books that focus on the aftermath of a school shooting, and there are very few that focus on during the shooting and who is actually doing it and why. I found this book after read This is how it Ends by Marie Niejkamp and I am definitely looking forward to getting a copy! Although, I don’t know if I will be able to get one to Germany!! I will have to have a look around! By the way, my link up is still not working!

What books are on your TBR’s? Feel free to leave comments and I will get back to all of you!