Cassie’s life was a movie. She was the new kid, weak and venerable. She wanted a change, to forget who she was, and change everything about herself. From books and fake friends to drugs, sex and alcohol. Her life seemed so easy, she has a loyal best friend, the most popular kid in school is her boyfriend, she gets high, drunk, and now she’s classified beautiful. That’s all she’s wanted, a true best friend, popular boyfriend and to be beautiful. She makes one bad decision and the world turns on her, she has no one she can trust. No amount of pot, acid or alcohol can save her now. Continue reading Cassie’s story of a life time, and learn what happens when you go from being nothing to being something and how bad it can be. Amy Reed did a phenomenal job writing this novel. It was very easy to be sucked into it.
The thing I liked most about this book, was that it was very realistic. Many kids don’t realize what they are getting themselves into. They’re main goal is to be popular, to be noticed, to have everyone know their name. But what do you want to be known as? Do you want everyone to know you because of a bad name or be just plan invisible? This question is usually answered one way or another or people find a way around some of it. Let’s pretend you are in Cassie’s situation. Everyone knows the druggies, they basically own the school, and one of them comes up to you and says, “Hey, don’t look like you belong here. Why don’t you come hang out with us? ” You go and sit with them. Eventually you start hanging out with them more, you start doing the drugs they do, you drink what they drink, you do what they tell you to do. All you want to do is be popular. So you keep doing it because it’s getting you what you want. The question is how far would you go to make your popularity real? Would you do everything Cassie did? Would you go about things differently? Or do you just not care what everyone thinks? Do you care if people know who you are?
I felt like I could relate to this book a lot. I have not had sex, I have not smoked a joint, took prescription medication for someone else, or drank alcohol. But I know what the pressure of it all is like. The “Oh I wish I was popular” and the “What if I did that, would I be popular?” Yes, I’ve thought about how I could be more popular, but I soon realized that being popular wasn’t my thing. Everyone knows me, but no one wants to actually get to know me, you know? I think Cassie was to determined to get rid of the empty feeling she had. That’s probably why she became addicted to all the drugs and alcohol. Only because it gave her this floating feeling, the feeling that everything was going to be okay. The only reason I could relate to it was because it was a depressed girl who became addicted to something. I wasn’t addicted to something deadly, I became addicted to reading. Reading took my life off my mind and put the character’s life in my mind instead. Books were my drug, I couldn’t go a day without it, if I didn’t read I couldn’t focus or sleep. It was something I just had to do.
I also really liked the way Amy Reed ended the book, it was a really great ending. It was dramatic, and it was reminder that sometimes life gives you second chances. It also showed, that if you’re open minded about going into somethings good things and good people will walk into it. The author’s main idea, or the message hidden behind the book, was a few different things. One of them was, sometimes having everything you want is going to lead to something bad eventually. You can’t assume your life is going to be perfect, because it simply won’t. Life is full of up and downs, it’s like Canada one day it’s plus 20 one week, then a week later it is almost negative 30. Eventually, it goes back up to plus 20. Another lesson that was written in between the lines was that a lot of people will pretend to be your friend, when they don’t actually care for you at all. I think we all learn that one way or another. Some people will stick around no matter what, others will turn their backs and act like they don’t know you or they make fun of you. That’s what happens in life, and we can’t stop it even if we try.
I was reading other reviews on the book, and a lot of people didn’t like it, because she was 13. You can be thirteen and get involved in these things. I was walking on the sidewalk and a bunch of guys offered me weed. I could have easily said yes, but I didn’t because I’m allergic to the smoke. I have also have had guys ask to have sex with me, I said no and kind of ran because I don’t think it’s right. So I found her doing drugs, and having sex fairly believable because there are lots of girls who do have sex younger than 13. Another thing people didn’t find believable was that her parents were so involved in her life. There are parents out there like that. Yes, how do you get away with smoking pot in your apartment, without your parents noticing? I don’t really know, maybe the hallway smells like pot, or maybe the parents just didn’t notice. You’ll never know. I think I know why most of those critics have a stereotypical idea of what a 13 years life is like. They think we have is really easy, but we don’t. We have the temptations, crave attention, and some parents really don’t care what we do. I’m just seeing things from my point of view. To the critics sorry, but middle school is full of drug addicts. It’s time to face the truth about society.
Rate: 8/10
Comment: “Amy Reed sucks you in with the complicated life of a thirteen year old girl. It’s breath taking, shocking and unique.”
Favourite character: Sarah
Amount of pages: 332
Favourite quote: “I have a new face and a new body and new clothes. I have a new friend and nothing will ever be the same again.” pg. 19
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