Some Girls Are

Starred review from December 14, 2009
Backstabbing, rumor mills, and freeze-outs by the in crowd are familiar territory, but Summers (Cracked Up to Be
) takes these traumatic experiences to a new level of nasty. Regina Afton, once a member of the elite Fearsome Fivesome, is dumped after word gets out that she slept with her queen bee best friend’s boyfriend at a party. What no one knows—or doesn’t believe—is that it wasn’t consensual: Regina was nearly raped. In a series of pranks that go beyond the usual cold stares (the word “whore” painted on her locker, books thrown in the pool, a vicious “IH8RA” Web page, a four-on-one beating), her ex-friends exact a revenge meant to inflict permanent damage. Regina’s only salvation is her nascent friendship with a loner she bullied back in her heyday, but even his forgiveness is hard won. Parents and teachers are suspiciously absent (and oblivious to Regina’s suffering), but it’s Regina’s lack of recourse that makes this very real story all the more frightening and effective. Regina’s every emotion is palpable, and it’s impossible not to feel every punch—physical or emotional—she takes. Ages 12–up.

Starred review from February 1, 2010
Gr 9 Up-Regina Afton is lucky enough to be a member of the ruling clique of Hallowell High. She is best friends with Anna, Hallowell's queen bee, and she's dating Josh, one of the most popular guys in the school. Things take a drastic turn at a party when Anna's boyfriend attempts to rape her. The story gets deliberately twisted, and word gets around that Regina tried to seduce Donnie. From that point on, she is an outcast and her high school life becomes a living hell. Regina is tortured by the new Fearsome Foursome, which includes Kara, the architect of Regina's downfall. She is branded "Bitch. Whore. Slut." There's no one she can turn to for support, since she alienated all of the other kids at Hallowell with taunts and cruelty during her time at the top. As a last resort she tentatively tries to befriend Michael Hayden, who is known as unstable because Regina and her friends spread rumors about him. As Regina deals with the emotional and physical abuse heaped on her by her former friends, she also deals with the pain that she's caused so many others. This story takes an unflinching look at the intricacies of high school relationships and how easily someone's existence can change. Fans of the film "Mean Girl" will enjoy this tale of redemption and forgiveness."Laura Amos, Newport News Public Library, VA"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2010
Grades 8-10 High-school senior Regina Afton has been what she believes is an important part of the most popular girls clique during middle and high school. And then shes not. Summers spins a story in which kids are mean, abusive, and quixotic, while adults are for the most part absent or ignorant. Regina, nearly raped by her best friends boyfriend, pays for telling by being victimized in a hate campaign. Only her deceased psychiatrists teenaged son seems to really care, and when she tries to take revenge on his behalf after her former friends bully him as well, egregious behavior spins out of control. Comeuppance-seeking readers wont mind that most of the characters are flat: Regina and her once and future crowd make up for their lack of depth with spiteful tongues and dangerous degradings of themselves and their fellow students. An additional choice for collections where Gossip Girl maintains a loyal following.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)