Review - RAPE GIRL by Alina B. Klein

The 1 in 4 number frightens me. It's not just thinking about what kind of society we live in that produces that number, it's all the victims it doesn't include, the ones that go unreported. How can we help them? How can we support them? How can we help them transition into thinking of themselves as survivors rather than victims?  It's not enough to tell them we understand because chances are we don't. Still, it is important that they know someone does.
Young Adult author and rape survivor Alina B. Klein has attempted to do so with her debut novel, Rape Girl.

Goodreads summary:

Valerie always wanted to be the smart girl. The pretty girl. The popular girl.

But not the rape girl.

That’s who she is now. Rape Girl. Because everyone seems to think they know the truth about what happened with Adam that day, and they don’t think Valerie’s telling it.

Before, she had a best friend, a crush, and a close-knit family. After, she has a court case, a support group, and a house full of strangers.

The real truth is, nothing will ever be the same.

Rape Girl is the compelling story of a survivor who does the right thing and suffers for it. It is also the story of a young woman’s struggle to find the strength to fight back.


I've recently had the honor of reading an ARC of Rape Girl (release date Aug 15 2012). Rape Girl inflamed my anger, touched my heart, and gave me hope. Our main character, Valerie, is like so many girls we know - eager to please, willing to break a few house rules to gain popularity, and dying to get some attention from her crush. We see in her the girl who could be inside any of us. Except then she shows us a bit more. It's bad enough that she has to go through the process of pressing charges and all that entails, but when that is said and done, Valerie has to go through more.  The people around her, who should be supportive, don't believe her. It is truly devastating, and to think that this happens daily (and we know it does) is just awful. Yet Valerie shows us how someone ordinary can become extraordinary. I wanted to reach through the pages and hug her, tell her that she was a wonderful human being who didn't deserve to have this happen to her, yet I knew that she was going to be okay when all was said and done. I wanted to tell her I was proud and happy that she had found strength in herself. She was beautiful and brave.

In addition to the wonderful main character, Alina B. Klein does a superlative job of bringing all the secondary players into sharp, and realistic, focus. From the flaky best friend to the un-supportive school administrators. To the loving, and unsure-of-herself mother to the rapist's crazy, and somewhat scary friends. Everyone had their role to play and even though the book is written in first person, we were able to see how they all handled it, sometimes for good, sometimes not. I think the secondary character I loved the most was Sandrina. She seems to come out of nowhere, a girl who Valerie thought was basically her enemy, only she proves to be one of the few friends that Valerie can count on. I loved her charisma and how her slips of Spanish melded into the story so smoothly and made me want to run out and find a best friend just like her. I also appreciated the character of Wesley and what he brought to the table. With the subject of rape, it's easy to assume that the victims become regressed, fearful and shy away from boys. But that's not necessarily the case, and Wesley's  role in the story and how Valerie deals with her feelings toward him illustrated that point beautifully.

Spoiler!! (highlight if you want to read): The ending tore me apart, even though there was a lot of hope there, and Valerie proves herself to be brave - yet again - I really just felt like I wanted to punch the rapist in the balls. And then scratch his eyes out. And then punch him in the balls again. Hehehe... Obviously I would have been more satisfied if Valerie had gotten her day in court, but I kind of liked that Klein decided not to do that. It was more realistic with respect to what often happens in these cases, and even though it pissed me off, I can see the value in showing that Valerie was going to be okay even though she didn't get the justice she deserved. 

The writing. I can't leave a review without touching on the writing. I thought the prose here was simply marvelous. It had a natural flow and incorporated many unique details that made the scenes come alive. It was witty and to the point. The book itself is rather short, but it says all it needs to say and then some.

This book deserves five stars, hands down. Keep your ears open because I'll be doing a Rape Girl giveaway when it comes out on August 15th! Also, be sure to visit Alina's blog. It's very cool!

Books of April

Okay, first off just some things to take care of:

1. IT'S MAY! IT'S MAY! THE LUSTY MONTH OF MAY! (Camelot lovers will recognize that song, if not, then go watch the movie! Er, the 70's/80's version that is).

2. I hate the new blogger dashboard. Why do they always have to change things just as I'm getting used to it? Also, I'm beginning to think I don't like this new layout. Any thoughts?

3. My monthly book summaries seem to be the only blog posts I'm capable of committing to, and I apologize profusely for that! But hey, one commitment is better than none.

4. Rum Runners is now on it's second round of revisions. The plan is to fix all my little (electronic) sticky notes and then send it off to beta readers by June 1st.

5. My good friend Alina did a very important post today about The Not At Fault Project for rape survivors. Go visit her blog and check it out!

5. Random science note: phosphatase assays SUCK!! BIG TIME!!

So, now that that's taken care of, here's the list of books I read in May April (thank you, editor Mel) while I was working so hard (coughprocrastinatingcough) on revisions.

29. Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma* My first thoughts when I opened this book - why is a story about incest so freaking long??? Must be a lot of good smut in there! Well, there were a lot of hot and heavy scenes, more intense than I've probably ever read in a YA book. I think it was maybe a little over the top for the genre, though it didn't bother me. I didn't like the characters much in this book, but that didn't detract me from enjoying it. I expected the ending and had an interesting conversation with a friend about how it had to end that way based on the character's personalities. I recommend it to those who wouldn't be offended by the subject.
30. Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood* Slow beginning, but once I got into it I really enjoyed it. The author did a great job of playing with the reader's emotions by presenting an unjust world where women's rights are restricted and dictated by men. And there was magic. And romance. Triple win!
31. The Ask and The Answer by Patrick Ness* Second book of the Chaos Walking series. I felt that it was much slower than the first book and didn't like it quite as much. The ending draaaaagged. Patrick Ness does do an awesome job of creating complex characters though. I keep putting off reading the third book. I almost feel like I need to "gear up" for it in some sense. Maybe over a long holiday like Memorial day? We'll see.
32. Sweethearts by Sara Zarr** My second Sara Zarr book, and I absolutely loved it. This is also one of those books where after I read it I went to Goodreads and got all disappointed that it didn't have higher marks. I felt like I could really relate to the MC, and unlike most reviewers on GR didn't care much that the romance angle wasn't what it promised to be. A good story of friendship and highly recommended.

33. Everneath by Brodi Ashton I had heard a lot of friends say that they LOVED this book, so I went into it expecting something spectacular. Sadly, it didn't live up to those expectations. I thought the characters were dull and underdeveloped, the love angle was kind of same-old, same-old that you always get with these paranormal romances, and there were a lot of inconsistencies that just didn't make much sense to me. To each his own, I suppose.
34. Rape Girl by Alina B. Klein** Aw, me lovely ARC from me lovely friend, Alina. You're in for a treat guys! I plan to do a review of this closer to it's pub date, but I'll just say this: PUT IT ON YOUR TO-READ LIST!!!
35. Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala** And yes, I have yet another favorite YA contemp writer! I loved most everything about this book, the subject matter, the characters (especially the bitchy mom and the bitchier, man-grabbing best friend), and of course the writing itself. It was dark, yet very true to life and just utterly amazing. Highly recommended.

36. Ashfall by Mike Mullin Disappointing. I enjoyed the unique angle on how the apocalypse happens in this book, but once that had run it's course, it was much the same as any of these types of books. There were the mean characters who were hell bent on hoarding and taking as much as they could get, and then there were the nice neighborly characters who helped everyone out. There was a small token of the "this is the end so let's all just jump off a building" sort of stuff, and of course by the end, the MC had grown up and changed because of everything he had seen. The only part I found refreshingly unique was the female LI. Her character was great. I might read the second book to see what happens with her, but otherwise, not too impressed.
37. Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr**Another amazing read. I am literally a Sara Zarr fangirl now. I want to write like her. I want to know teens like she does. I want to come up with these amazingly simple premises and then turn them into gold like she does. She literally has the midas touch with YA contemp, and I wish it would rub off on me!! Cuz, you know, we could all use a little gold! hehe... :)

Tuesday Teaser

I have another teaser today!! A little background: Erik has been arrested for possession of alcohol and his father decided some time in the slammer would be good for him. Just as a warning, there's a bit of swearing in this one. 

“Cookies have crumbs.”

I break off a bit of cookie – the last one.

“Rats like crumbs.”

I dip the cookie into a box of rat poison that Wiggins has kindly left me.

“This is why Erik has become The Pied Piper, calling for rats instead of enjoying the cookies himself.”

I throw the bit of cookie towards the urinal where I last saw the rat disappear into a hole in the wall.

I sigh and lean back. “Fucker could have at least left me some tape to cover the damn hole.”

Slim snores on the cot opposite mine. He was nearly passed out when he staggered in a couple hours ago so I haven’t had the chance to ask him anything. Not sure if I want to either. Right now, I can’t imagine Slim having anything good to say that would change my opinion about the son of a bitch who I call my father.

I hear the rat before he emerges - hard little taps of his nails against the concrete. There’s a slippery little squeal of glee when he spies the poison-laced cookie. I keep still when I see his flashlight eyes flicker back and forth. He scampers forward, and I scoot my butt up to the edge of the cot, so that I can see him take the cookie. 

He doesn’t.

My chest aches as I contemplate what I’m going to have to do. The rat is getting closer to Slim, could eat his fucking ear off and the old man would never wake up unless I intervene. I’m tired, and if I don’t kill this rat now I’ll be falling asleep on top of my math test tomorrow. 

I inch forward slowly as the rat explores his meatier prey. He stands on his hind legs, sniffing the air. 

I get ready. 

He scampers away, but I leap in front of him. He dodges to the left, and I slam my knee against Slim’s cot trying to follow. The drunk grumbles and rolls over, still asleep, but the rat is cornered now.  The only way to get back to his hole is to go past me. He thinks he’s faster, so he comes forward. 

My boot is ready.

There’s a crunch as I smash his head. This is followed by the ear-splitting squeal of a dying animal.

Slim snores again.

I grind my heel against the rat’s neck, feeling my belly roll at the bony-squishiness. I kick the twitching carcass to the corner next to his skeletal friend, and then lean against the wall, waiting for my heart to slow, my breathing to ease.

I stare through the bars and out the window.

My throat burns from unshed tears.

I told Matt that you decide before you do something whether you’re prepared to face the consequences. And I was, but it doesn’t change the fact that I wouldn’t be in here if my father weren’t such an asshole. He left me in here, with fucking rats. And he hasn’t even had the decency to call or stop in to check on me. 

I slide to the floor and draw my knees up. I rest my head in my arms and rock from side to side, thinking I can contain it. But I can’t. I’m weak. 

He hates me. 

My father hates me.

Books of March

Howdy hi ho!! I have good news. I finished my first draft of Rum Runners!! My plan is to put it through one round of revisions and hopefully have it off to beta readers by May 1. It's doable. Totally. In the meantime, here's my reading list for March. Let me know what you've read!

20. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor* I admit that it took me a while to get into this one, but once I did I really loved it. Though, the ending kind of left me with my mouth hanging open. How very very cruel. The world building was fantastico and I'd definitely recommend it.
21. Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr* Finally I am done with this series! I always feel like Melissa Marr's books involve a lot of talk and little action, though I really love all of her description. For those who have read the rest of the series, I do feel like the ending was a bit too convenient. I felt like, whoa, if that was possible then why go through ALL of this (4 books) to get to that point. I kind of wonder if I'm the only one who felt that way.
22. Legend by Marie Lu** Another slow starter, but somewhere around the middle I got so caught up in this one that I couldn't stop reading. If a book gives me chills then I have to give it 5 stars and this one definitely chilled me.
23. Wherever Nina Lies * Not AT ALL what I was expecting. I need to stop skimming cover blurbs because I really thought this was going to be a different sort of book than it turned out to be, and that sort of ruined the read for me. I did love the voice and I think if you don't go into it so blindly then readers can be prone to love it. I guess this was a case of totally MY fault that I didn't like as much as I could have.
24. How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr ** New favorite author alert!!! I loved this book so much. It felt so real and heartbreaking. I wanted to just take the characters and hug them to death. I can't wait to dive into some more books by this author.
25. Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan* I felt just a tiny bit out of place reading it because these characters are so far removed from my world. Though I LOVED the premise of a town/community/school that was so open to all different things.

26. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin There was plenty that irritated me about this one. Stereotypical beginning - new school, bitchy girls, LI that is so hot! But he's a jerk! But he's so hot! I wanted it to die a tiny death at points. And slow. And then the whole premise of whether this was real or not when you KNOW that it is (the first scene completely gives it away). *sigh* I really wish the ending hadn't gone and gotten so good because up until about 20 pages to the end I had no desire to read the sequel, but now... Basically I don't recommend the book even though I plan to read the sequel myself. I know, contradictory much?? Hmmm....
27. Zombie Tag by Hannah Moskowitz Fun little read though the middle was too slow for my taste. Not enough action for a MG book about zombies, but my son is reading it so I guess he will be the deciding factor. Hannah does do MG boy voice very well though. I do hand it to her for that.
28. There Is No Dog by Meg Rosoff* FUNNY! Well, the beginning was. I wanted the characters to change more than they did (or maybe in a different way) so it was a bit of a disappointment. But still, the first few chapters are just hilarious.

Wanderlove winner!

Thanks guys for all the wonderful travel ideas. I got goosebumps just thinking of how much fun it'd be to go to all those places. As for myself, I've been around the US a bit and to Malaysia a couple times, but I'd really love to go to Australia. IF I were to get my butt in gear I could maybe go there next year for work, but that's a huge IF. Anywho, I know you're dying to find out the winner of the contest, but I just want to say that if you didn't win, do yourself a favor and find a copy of this book - it is one of my faves!! And be sure to check out Kirsten Hubbard's blog while you're reading it. She has a lot of pictures of the places in the book and it really helps to visualize it all. Now for the winner!!

Congrats to SHARI!!! 

Thanks to everyone for entering! And waves a big hello to new followers!  :)