Reconstructing Amelia. * * * * * (5 Stars)
Wow! This book. If you weren't aware of high school bullying, high school social classes and peer pressures most of us were most likely never exposed to, this book will be an eye opener.
Firstly, let me put out some disclaimers here: This book is full of strong, foul language. There is a lesbian relationship with details (some of which I think could have been left out). This book exposes bullying to the extreme, so some of the content may be disturbing to some. This book exposes the lack of respect for authority. Also exposed is the lack of awareness parents have in regards to their children's social life, media life and academic life.
While I don't make it a habit and I'm not drawn to books with such foul language, I do believe the author included this as a way to expose how teens talk to each other and authority. And sadly, it's true. There has been such an increase of disregard to authority and the abundance of disrespect displayed it's staggering.
In Reconstructing Amelia, Kate is a single a mother rearing Amelia. Kate is an attorney at a prestigious law firm in New York and pays high tuition for Amelia to attend a prestigious academy. However, in spite of the family dynamics of an overworked mother who leaves her daughter home alone most of the days, Amelia is a good student and a good daughter. However, she quickly became wrapped up in a social clique and became a good girl who was targeted thus leading Amelia to make bad choices.
Kate was at work when she received a phone call that Amelia had been suspended for cheating on a paper and Kate needed to come pick her up immediately. Kate was later than she had planned to pick up Amelia and when she walked up to the school, she walked up to find her daughter dead. Amelia had jumped off the school's roof. Or had she? When Kate returned to work after her sabbatical to grieve Amelia's death, she received an anonymous text from a blocked number "Amelia didn't jump". This text takes the reader on a journey full of twists and anticipation to finding the truth behind Amelia's death. And in finding the truth, the world of high school social life is exposed.
I can't say that the book is well written. It's a debut for Kimberly McCreight. But the plot is one full of twists and suspense. The plot is entertaining in regards to reading. But sadly, the plot is very real in regards to teen/high school social life. And for that reason, is why I would encourage parents to read it. This was a book I chose for our book club. Two of the women said they couldn't finish because it hit too close to home with some issues they had had with their children. They were most respectful of the choice and wouldn't discourage others to read it and they both agreed that they need to read it but in due time. I had read several discussions where mothers found this to be a hard book to read because of all the issues it exposes.
When reading this, I felt I was reading an episode of Law & Order SVU. You know the ones where a teen is involved and the detectives just keep uncovering the most twisted of plots in the secret of life the kids involved. Well, this book is much like that.
Wow! This book. If you weren't aware of high school bullying, high school social classes and peer pressures most of us were most likely never exposed to, this book will be an eye opener.
Firstly, let me put out some disclaimers here: This book is full of strong, foul language. There is a lesbian relationship with details (some of which I think could have been left out). This book exposes bullying to the extreme, so some of the content may be disturbing to some. This book exposes the lack of respect for authority. Also exposed is the lack of awareness parents have in regards to their children's social life, media life and academic life.
While I don't make it a habit and I'm not drawn to books with such foul language, I do believe the author included this as a way to expose how teens talk to each other and authority. And sadly, it's true. There has been such an increase of disregard to authority and the abundance of disrespect displayed it's staggering.
In Reconstructing Amelia, Kate is a single a mother rearing Amelia. Kate is an attorney at a prestigious law firm in New York and pays high tuition for Amelia to attend a prestigious academy. However, in spite of the family dynamics of an overworked mother who leaves her daughter home alone most of the days, Amelia is a good student and a good daughter. However, she quickly became wrapped up in a social clique and became a good girl who was targeted thus leading Amelia to make bad choices.
Kate was at work when she received a phone call that Amelia had been suspended for cheating on a paper and Kate needed to come pick her up immediately. Kate was later than she had planned to pick up Amelia and when she walked up to the school, she walked up to find her daughter dead. Amelia had jumped off the school's roof. Or had she? When Kate returned to work after her sabbatical to grieve Amelia's death, she received an anonymous text from a blocked number "Amelia didn't jump". This text takes the reader on a journey full of twists and anticipation to finding the truth behind Amelia's death. And in finding the truth, the world of high school social life is exposed.
I can't say that the book is well written. It's a debut for Kimberly McCreight. But the plot is one full of twists and suspense. The plot is entertaining in regards to reading. But sadly, the plot is very real in regards to teen/high school social life. And for that reason, is why I would encourage parents to read it. This was a book I chose for our book club. Two of the women said they couldn't finish because it hit too close to home with some issues they had had with their children. They were most respectful of the choice and wouldn't discourage others to read it and they both agreed that they need to read it but in due time. I had read several discussions where mothers found this to be a hard book to read because of all the issues it exposes.
When reading this, I felt I was reading an episode of Law & Order SVU. You know the ones where a teen is involved and the detectives just keep uncovering the most twisted of plots in the secret of life the kids involved. Well, this book is much like that.
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