Author: Colleen Clayton
Pages: 320
Publisher: Poppy
Genre: Contemporary
Release: October 9th 2012
Source: Hachette Book Group Canada
Buy the book at: Amazon
| Indigo Chapters
How can you talk about something you can’t remember? Before the ski trip, sixteen-year-old Cassidy “Sid” Murphy was a cheerleader (at the bottom of the pyramid, but still...), a straight-A student, and a member of a solid trio of best friends. When she ends up on a ski lift next to handsome local college boy, Dax Windsor, she’s thrilled; but Dax takes everything from Sid—including a lock of her perfect red curls—and she can’t remember any of it. Back home and unable to relate to her old friends, Sid drops her college prep classes and takes up residence in the A/V room with only Corey “The Living Stoner” Livingston for company. But as she gets to know Corey (slacker, baker, total dreamboat), Sid finds someone who truly makes her happy. Now, if she can just shake the nightmares and those few extra pounds, everything will be perfect... or so she thinks. witty and poignant, Colleen Clayton’s stunning debut is a story about moving on after the unthinkable happens.
I love reading contemporary novels because they are a window to different realities. In this case, What Happens Next tells the story of Sid, a girl who is drugged and raped during the school's ski trip. Yet, she can barely remember a guy with caramel eyes and then... nothing, nothing but the knowledge that those caramel eyes took something from her on that horrible night.
What Happens Next is a novel about a very shocking subject, rape. But even though is a book about rape, it never felt uncomfortable to read. Miss Clayton, with delicacy and respect, referred to this subject in a way that is appropriate for young readers. In addition, I think Miss Clayton portrayed Sid in a very convincing and realistic way. At the same time, I can't even fathom that something like what happened to Sid does happen to people in real life. The way Sid deals with this terrible event is easy to understand but very hard to accept. I understand her denial and her confused feelings to the point that I wished to be there to help her myself. Her struggles, denial and confusion felt like letting yourself drown knowing that there is a life vest right in font of you, yet still beyond your reach. Furthermore, What Happens Next makes you see below the surface of a bullied, shy girl. It opens your eyes to the countless of reasons there may be for someone to go through such radical change in less than a year, whether it is in a physical or psychological way.
In what concerns the characters, I think they were perfect! Their relationship was slowly built, increasing my excitement for the so awaited declaration of love. Sid and Corey are multi-layered characters and hard to figure out. I think their complexity portrays them very well as teenagers that deal with unfortunate and terrible life circumstances. At times, I could relate to Sid and Corey, but sometimes their life seemed very alien to me yet so understandable. Miss Clayton shaped these complex characters with knowledge, respect and empathy, and there is nothing more rewarding after reading a novel than to realize that the characters were carefully created with a big, big amount of love.
I said that I love contemporary novels because they open our eyes to different realities and even though most of them are works of fiction, they reflect the world we live in with its brightest and darkest sides. What Happens Next delivers one of those dark sides that we will never want to see ourselves into it. But it delivers it with brightness, and after reading this book, you will actually feel good to have done so. Highly recommended!
5 comments:
Vivian the Spirit says: This one's gotten a lot of really great feedback! Glad to hear that oneechan really recommends it as well ^_^ I love how you mentioned that the sensitive issue of rape was handled delicately and with respect. I usually don't read contemporaries as much but this one sounds fantastic with the whole thing of various realities while still mirroring our own world. Super-mega-fantabulicious review!!! <33333 POOF!
Vivi Chan! I just LOVE your "spirit" and the "poof!" ahahaha! you always make my day ^_^ This book was really good my dear :) If you have the chance to read a contemporary novel whenever you feel like it, pick this one! =D
yay! Happy reading sweetheart and study hard ^_^
I'm glad that some authors use this subject in a book and make it work. I always have the feeling that there is some kind of 'rule' that you don't use these subjects. Like it's too much to talk about it, you know what I mean? So I'm glad that she made a good story about it. Great review darling ^^ The sound of the characters is lovely.
Mel, I absolutely understand what you mean. It could be that it may still be a bit of a taboo to use this sort or subject in YA lit. This one works very well and it's appropriate for 14 and up. (for my taste. Ther are other books with delicate subjects such as Forbidden by Tabitha SUzuma, that one is incredible good and so freaking well written, but very shocking and defintiely for older Teens. Still, that one will always remain as one of my fav contemporaries! <333
^_^ thanks for stopping by!
Oh, Natalia, WONDERFUL review.
I'm very, very... 'thingy' about books that handle rape -- I want it handled well, and... well... exactly like how you said. SO intrgued by this. It sounds amazing! ♥♥♥
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