Tease

March 10, 2014
Inspired by a real-life case of bullying and suicide, editor Maciel’s debut novel depicts a harsh environment of name-calling, both face-to-face and via social media, and girls policing other girls’ behavior. When new student Emma seems to have eyes for Sara’s boyfriend, Dylan, Sara and her best friend Brielle label Emma a slut. Maciel isn’t telling Emma’s story—she’s telling Sara’s, in sections that alternate between the escalating bullying and the aftermath, with Emma dead and Sara stuck in summer school and her lawyer’s and therapist’s offices. It’s hard to be with Sara as she insists that it’s Emma’s fault, that “No one hung the rope for her,” but as Maciel reveals Sara’s desperate efforts to hang onto a social viability that’s tied to Brielle and Dylan, the pressures of her world become clear. It’s to the author’s credit that she doesn’t make Sara immediately sympathetic, but the end, with Sara moving forward in a way that incorporates what happened rather than denying it, although welcome, feels rushed. Ages 14–up. Agent: Holly Root, Waxman Leavell Literary Agency. (May)■

April 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-Who is responsible when a bullied teen commits suicide? Sara and her friends find themselves embroiled in a legal nightmare after new classmate Emma hangs herself following months of their ruthless harassment. In Sara's mind, Emma was at fault: she stole Sara's boyfriend, so retaliation was fair game, and suicide was an unwarranted overreaction. That the story is told from a bully's perspective adds complexity to this compelling, ripped-from-the-headlines novel. The characters are three-dimensional and nobody is completely right or wrong in this realistic exploration of how bullying-related suicide affects everyone involved. Sara is in denial about her reprehensible actions, and readers who love a flawed character will root for her as she comes to terms with her role in Emma's death. It's clear how easily Sara got caught up in the act of bullying through the influence of her mean-girl best friend, Brielle. The two carelessly indulge in cyberbullying as well as face-to-face taunting, effectively demonstrating how cruelty can seem so simple when there are no immediate consequences. Family bonds and a tentatively blossoming romance play a vital role in Sara's journey to self-awareness. This nuanced look at a controversial topic will keep readers hooked until its satisfying conclusion and makes great fodder for discussion among high school students.-Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA

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