Like YA novels? Here’s the blurb of the latest one I’ve read, Jenna’s Truth:
Jenna’s just a teenager who wants to fit in. The popularity that she wanted though, quickly turns into infamy when two “well-meaning” friends spark a controversy that alters her life forever. What happens when the very group of teens you crave to belong to, end up being responsible for one of the most painful and humiliating events in your life?
Nadia L King has tackled a contemporary and gritty subject – cyberbullying – in her debut YA novel, Jenna’s truth. That’s at the heart of the book, but what comes with it is a sneak peek into the grim and disturbing ways teen sex, assault, drinking and the Internet as used as tools to treat others badly.
As a parent, it disturbs me to think that teens can be so callous in their treatment of their peers. It’s heartbreaking, really. And while it’s fiction, you’d have to have your head buried in the sand to think this doesn’t happen in real life. It does. And it sucks (here’s me sounding like a teen). Nadia has delivered a short story in which a young girl who desperately wants to belong to the popular group, but has no idea how little they care about her.
Is it an original idea? No. Does that matter? No. Because stories like this need to be told. Teenagers need face up to this, as do their parents.
It’s hard to “enjoy” a book that deals with such tough issues. But it’s a good book. A well-written and timely book. I just wish it were longer, that there was more character development and a deeper examination of the themes to give the story added power. The ending is neatly sewn up, which is probably not overly realistic, and I’d have liked that to have more impact.
Nadia, well done. You have taken an issue, a story, that means a lot to you and have delivered a story that will resonate with teenagers, teachers and parents of teens. I see great things ahead.
Available from Aulexic and Amazon. I bought my own copy.
Monique Mulligan
For more of Monique Mulligan’s writing on books, check out Write Note Reviews
Other reviews you might enjoy:
- A Nearly Normal Family (M. T. Edvardsson) – book review
- In the Clearing (J.P. Pomare) – book review
- Beautiful Messy Love by Tess Woods – book review
David Edwards is the editor of The Blurb and a contributor on film and television