Book: What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler

★★★★★/★★★★★   

"Not being able to say no isn't the same as saying yes."

Here's how the story goes: There was a party, drunk highschool students, Twitter and you know what happens when there's a party with a bunch of drunk highschool students and their Twitter.

It's a really good story that tells us that one brave voice can change the course of everyone's life, that one brave girl can change another girl's life.

Four Reasons Why I Love Kate Weston.

1. She's not like everyone else and by everyone else I mean EVERYONE WHO WITNESSED what happened.

I love that she's different from all those people who think that just because a girl wears short skirts and tank top it means she wants to be raped! That's bullshit and no girl should be treated that way. I know we're responsible for what we wear but how we dress doesn't call for anything -- harm or trouble or any bad shit. We should blame how people think of what we wear.

2. She reaches out to Stacey even though Stacey pushes her away.

I can't blame Stacey for being angry and hurt and broken but it was so kind of Kate to reach out to her to know what really happened. They were friends before and sure enough Kate still cares for her. And you know what's funny about friendship? Even though you're not friends anymore, there's still a part of you that will always care. Because once upon a time, you and that person shared memories.

3. She knows that no matter how much you love a person, it's not enough to accept the fact that he can lie straight to your face about an important thing.

It breaks my heart to know that Ben lied to Kate. He was so close to being perfect --smart, athletic, good looking, kind-- but it was so dumb of him to lie about what really happened. I know he was worried about being cut off his team and his college scholarship but still, he should've at least tried to speak up. Or be man enough for Kate to tell her the truth. And the fact that he begged Kate not to go to the police, total asshole and turn off! 

And of course it was also hard for Kate because she loved Ben but it wasn't enough. The truth must be told even if it caused her her relationship with that one person she thought she really knew. Ugh!

4. She's strong enough to speak up about what she saw.

Do I need to explain more? Nah, just read the book.

"Sometimes, when change happens, you can't stop it or control it or direct it. You can only hang for the ride."

October Reading List #2

Tonight The Streets Are Ours by Leila Sales

 Recklessly loyal.
That’s how seventeen-year-old Arden Huntley has always thought of herself. Caring for her loved ones is what gives Arden purpose in her life and makes her feel like she matters. But lately she’s grown resentful of everyone—including her needy best friend and her absent mom—taking her loyalty for granted.

Then Arden stumbles upon a website called Tonight the Streets Are Ours, the musings of a young New York City writer named Peter, who gives voice to feelings that Arden has never known how to express. He seems to get her in a way that no one else does, and he hasn’t even met her.

Until Arden sets out on a road trip to find him.

During one crazy night out in New York City filled with parties, dancing, and music—the type of night when anything can happen, and nearly everything does—Arden discovers that Peter isn’t exactly who she thought he was. And maybe she isn’t exactly who she thought she was, either.

(Goodreads)

The Same Sky by Amanda Eyre Ward

In this heartrending and poignant novel, award-winning author Amanda Eyre Ward tells the story of Alice Conroe, a forty year old Texas barbecue owner who has the perfect life, except she and her husband long for a child. Unable to conceive, she’s trying desperately to adopt but her destiny is quickly altered by a young woman she’s never met.

Fearless thirteen-year-old Carla Trujilio is being raised by her grandmother in Honduras along with her four year old twin brothers. Her mother is sending money home from Texas where she’s trying to make a better life for her family, but she only has enough to bring one son to her. When Carla’s grandmother dies, Carla decides to take her fate into her own hands and embarks on a dangerous journey across the border with Junior, the twin left behind.

Two powerful journeys intersecting at a pivotal moment in time: Alice and Carla’s lives will be forever and profoundly changed. Heartbreaking, emotional, and arresting, this novel is about finding the courage to trail blaze your own path in life with faith, hope and love, no matter the struggle or the tragedy.

(Goodreads)

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

(Goodreads)

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy

Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked…until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.

Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.

With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine—Dumplin’ is guaranteed to steal your heart.

(Goodreads)

What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler 

 Kate Weston can piece together most of the bash at John Doone’s house: shots with Stacey Stallard, Ben Cody taking her keys and getting her home early—the feeling that maybe he’s becoming more than just the guy she’s known since they were kids.

But when a picture of Stacey passed out over Deacon Mills’s shoulder appears online the next morning, Kate suspects she doesn’t have all the details. When Stacey levels charges against four of Kate’s classmates, the whole town erupts into controversy. Facts that can’t be ignored begin to surface, and every answer Kate finds leads back to the same question: Where was Ben when a terrible crime was committed?

(Goodreads)