Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: April 14th 2015
My rating: 3 stars
The sheriff’s son, Kellan Turner, is not the golden boy everyone thinks he is, and Romy Grey knows that for a fact. Because no one wants to believe a girl from the wrong side of town, the truth about him has cost her everything—friends, family, and her community. Branded a liar and bullied relentlessly by a group of kids she used to hang out with, Romy’s only refuge is the diner where she works outside of town. No one knows her name or her past there; she can finally be anonymous. But when a girl with ties to both Romy and Kellan goes missing after a party, and news of him assaulting another girl in a town close by gets out, Romy must decide whether she wants to fight or carry the burden of knowing more girls could get hurt if she doesn’t speak up. Nobody believed her the first time—and they certainly won’t now — but the cost of her silence might be more than she can bear. With a shocking conclusion and writing that will absolutely knock you out, All the Rage examines the shame and silence inflicted upon young women after an act of sexual violence, forcing us to ask ourselves: In a culture that refuses to protect its young girls, how can they survive?
Summers has always had the knack of writing hard hitting
stories. All the Rage tackles the issue of rape, an issue which a lot of people
don’t want to discuss, but Summers really dealt well with this issue; just how
hard it can be for the person going through it when no one wants to believe the
supposed accusations you’re throwing about. When everyone including your best
friend drops you because of the accusations you make against the popular guy,
because of course the sheriff’s son would never have done that. All the Rage
did really make me want to rage in places, the so called bullies who thought it
was okay to step all over you and treat you like crap. But I think I was madder
with the sheriff, just because he was the sheriff he was quick to make
judgements and assume he knew everything. I really can’t stand people who
disrespect their use of authority like that. Even in the end when people had
come to him telling him things, he was still quick to doubt Romy. Like who does
this?
It was really difficult at times to be inside Romy’s head,
after everything she had been put through, from not being believed to the
constant torment she had to deal with. I could see why Romy would find it a
struggle to say things or put things right. But I’m glad despite the stuff she
had to deal with at school; she still had Swan’s, a place where she could be
herself. And honestly I adored Leon, he was such a super sweet guy, with the
way Romy was he didn’t have an inkling about what she had been through, but I
loved that he tried to be there for her, even when she pushed him away. I could
understand how tough it could be for Romy to have somebody want to get close to
you and spend time with you, but you just couldn’t let them experience this
whole another side of your life. I also liked Romy’s mum and boyfriend,
although they didn’t know about the full extent to what Romy had to go through,
I loved how they were a constant support for her. It’s pretty hard to find
family which is there for you in YA books these days so I was hugely grateful
for Summers for including these decent ones.
All the Rage was a raw powerful read, Summers was pretty
able to get under the skin of Romy’s character and make her story come to life
for us. Summers once again was able to give us a story I totally found myself
immersed in, that at times I lost track of things going on around me as I just
wanted to know how things were going to go down, how things would turn out for
Romy and who was behind everything. I was taken by surprise by the way things
did go down, the big reveal I wasn’t expecting, I really don’t know what I was expecting, but
certainly not that. All the Rage was certainly a book which will make you think
about days after finishing it, churn your insides and wish that things never
had to be this way.
15 comments:
Beautiful review Jasprit. <3 I'm so glad you enjoyed this book. But aw. Three stars? I'm so sorry that you did not love it :( I loved it so much. But omg, yes. It made me rage too. It was so heartbreaking. And so evil. Yet so perfect too. I loved Romy and Leon so so much :) Thank you for sharing your thoughts about this book sweetie. <3
Lovely review, Jasprit. I'm still thinking about whether I should pick this one up or not. I already feel so much for Romy and I already want to rage at everyone in the book who don't believe Romy. It's a hard topic to read about so I'll have to emotionally prepare myself for it.
I really am intrigued by this book, but I know it will hurt me. So I think I'll postpone it for a bit yet. Just long enough to grow a pair of balls. Lol.
Isn't this the author of This Is Not a Test? God, I was so looking forward to that book when it came out, but then I forgot about it. at first glance, All the Rage sounds really interesting, I only wish it had worked out better for you. Nonetheless, it still looks like there's some positives here and there. Great review, Jasprit!
Sarika @ The Readdicts
Great review, Jasper. I've seen this praised on a number of blogs and I'm looking forward to reading it myself, however scary the prospect :)
I am sorry you didn't like this one as much as other reviewers. It was an intense and raw read. I was definitley left wanting more at the end, but I was so impressed with the writing.
Summers' novels are so difficult to read because she does such a terrific job of putting readers into the minds of her characters--characters who have suffered so, so much. It's difficult to read which is why, though I desperately want to read this, I've been putting it off. Thanks for such an honest and comprehensive review, though, Jasprit--I definitely need to make time for this one.
Atleast you enjoyed somewhat of the novel - the open ending and the lack of the action bothered me, although I did love the powerful message the book sent out. It is a raw read, agreed. I feel many people could learn from this as well, Lovely review Jasprit.<3 Benish | Feminist Reflections
Does sound powerful and important subject matter
Most of my friends were impressed with this book.I have it on my tbr list too and I can definitely see why it's a type of a book which stays with you days after finishing it. Glad you enjoyed despite some issues.
Great review, J! I had to pass on this one because grief books are really hard for me to read right now. Only once in a blue moon am I in the mood to read one.
But I've heard good things about this one - especially with how powerful it is. And Leon does sound like my kinda guy.
Jas, I am glad you enjoyed this one!!! This is one of my favorite books of the year and it's just such a wonderful and important book in my opinion. The issues the book deals with are so important and frustrating. This book was just so heart breaking to read at times :(
BUT LEON BRIGHTENED IT UP. Because Leon is beautiful <3 and I loved her Mom and her Mom's Boyfriend too. They were so kind and I loved that they never turned their backs on her. :)
Lovely review, hon <333
Rashika @ The Social Potato
This book made me so angry too! I felt horrible for Romy and how people treated her like she was just a speck of dirt.
Yes, I adored Leon as well! <3 I was actually not expecting to like him when we first met him, but eventually he grew on me. :)
I totally get what you mean. I was a bit confused sometimes with the way the before/now chapters were done, and also because sometimes I wanted one more than the other.
This book really was confronting and even realistically done, to te point that it made me so angry that there are actually people like the sheriff and the sheriff's son and the people in this small town who would rather protect a suspect than a victim. Awesome review, Jasprit!
Faye at The Social Potato
I really want to go all mama-bear for Romy, what happened to her and how she was treated! It's just not right and the title is so right -- All the Rage right there for Romy!
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