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Going Underground

by Susan Vaught (Goodreads Author)

3.73 of 5 stars 3.73 · rating details · 341 ratings · 83 reviews

Del's not a bad guy. He's just a misunderstood criminal.

Seventeen-year-old Del is a good kid, but one mimro mistake three years ago was all it took to turn him into a social outcast. Now, with a criminal record, the only job he can get is digging graves-not exactly your typical after-school gig. But it's in the graveyard that Del meets the beautiful yet sad Livia, who does...more

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published September 13th 2011 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens

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Sep 17, 2012 Isamlq rated it 4 of 5 stars

Who am I?
Why am I here?
What’s the point?

My name is Del Hartwick and I have a felony conviction. In the eyes of the law, I am a criminal. I can’t tell you it was right, but I’m not sure I was wrong. .. The law says it was wrong, so I have to accept that, but I would like you to know the rest of the truth. I am not what those charges say about me. I’m not anything like that.

My name is Cain Delano Hartwick, and I want a future.

Judge me on what I can do, and give me a chance.

Please.

Gaah! I...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Caitlin rated it 3 of 5 stars

I thought that going underground was a good book.
When i picked it up i probably should have read the blurb a bit more thurough as i was quite surprised when i started reading it. i picked it up because the cover of the book looked interesting. it has a african grey parrot, two pairs of feet and a grave. so it did look a bit strange. but it was nice, effective and simple
i liked how it revealed what happened to del slowly through the book, and explained it.
my favourite character was the bird F...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Steph Bowe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Things I was expecting this book to be:

1. On the cover of my copy there is a quote that says "Few will be able to look their cellphone[s] in the screen without a shudder and a 'what if...?'" - BCCB. Which made me incredibly excited, thinking that this would be a book about mobile phones taking over people's brains! Like The X-Files episode Blood (everything is an X-Files episode, and if it's not it will have been a Simpsons episode). I do so love technology controlling us and turning us evil (in...more Things I was expecting this book to be:

1. On the cover of my copy there is a quote that says "Few will be able to look their cellphone[s] in the screen without a shudder and a 'what if...?'" - BCCB. Which made me incredibly excited, thinking that this would be a book about mobile phones taking over people's brains! Like The X-Files episode Blood (everything is an X-Files episode, and if it's not it will have been a Simpsons episode). I do so love technology controlling us and turning us evil (in fiction!). Unfortunately that is not what this book is about. I would love it if someone did write a book about evil mobile phones, though.

2. The title is 'Going Underground', and considering the amount of musical references in the book I am surprised the Jam song of the same name wasn't mentioned. (I loved the song references, despite the fact that they tended to be a little obscure and may date quickly, though the whole subject matter of the book will date quickly.) I was expecting something more death-centric. Again, mobile phones killing people. As it is, the protagonist just works as a grave digger.

3. The blurb on the back of the book begins: Del's not a bad guy. He's just a misunderstood criminal. (I dislike the word blurb. Blurb, blurb, blurb. It's like how an alien speaks.) The book is structured to jump between the present day and the event three years ago that derailed Del's life, where he became a criminal. It was suspenseful and well-placed, but what the crime actually turned out to be was quite anti-climactic. I was expecting this to be a book that made the reader empathise with a character that was genuinely bad or had done genuinely bad things. But no! The protagonist is likeable, and not a bad person at all. I was expecting something dark and twisted and it wasn't.

What this book actually was about (This is where I get a little bit spoiler-iffic, so look away now if you're planning on reading and want to be surprised. It's very easy to guess, however): sexting*.

I think this is suitable for the twelve and up YA readers, as the issue is well-handled. I think as an older reader, the story is less impactful. It would've been more surprising had I read it at twelve or thirteen, and I think the older you become the less you tolerate 'lessons' in books, as subtle as they are. I remember 'sexting' being a shocking thing that was reported on a lot five or six years ago, but I'm not sure whether that's just because that was when it first came to my attention (I was, and remain, really grossed out).

This book does tend towards just being an 'issues' novel, but it's still well-written and full of interesting characters and is genuinely enjoyable. It doesn't demonise any of the characters for their behaviour (except the attorney who prosecutes the kids, who doesn't feature in the book at all, but is mentioned as being fairly nasty), as many discussions regarding sexting do. It's not about how promiscuous/irresponsible/downright awful kids today are - the characters are largely realistic and endearing, and what happens to them occur due to naivety and general unfairness, rather than due to any big moral issue with The Youth of Today. So I liked how the issue was dealt with.

Going Underground balances humourous and serious moments well, is an easy read and I think very accessible for younger readers and both girls and boys.

*I am not aware of any actual teenager who uses the word sexting. I bet whoever came up with it felt really smart, though.(less)

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Sep 24, 2012 Jolene Haley rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this book in one day, in a matter of a few hours. I attribute most of this to the exquisite story telling of this author Susan Vaught.

I must say that originally, I was beyond drawn to this story, because the macabre side of me loves anything involving graves, cemeteries, and boys who live or dwell in them. But I wasn't prepared for how good this novel actually turned out to be!

Vaught does an amazing job portraying the voice of a teenage boy. I fell in love with Del, the protagonist, easil...more

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Feb 26, 2012 Cassie Gutman rated it 4 of 5 stars

To begin with, I absolutely loved the fresh idea that Vaught came up with as a story plot. It had me from the description, already making me wonder what happened to Del and what caused him to be a felon. Vaught also wove a wonderful tale together using flashback chapters sporadically throughout the book. They were placed in exactly the right places, sometimes making me angry that it would switch so suddenly back to the present because I desperately wanted to find out what happened when Del was f...more To begin with, I absolutely loved the fresh idea that Vaught came up with as a story plot. It had me from the description, already making me wonder what happened to Del and what caused him to be a felon. Vaught also wove a wonderful tale together using flashback chapters sporadically throughout the book. They were placed in exactly the right places, sometimes making me angry that it would switch so suddenly back to the present because I desperately wanted to find out what happened when Del was fourteen.
I also loved Del's personality. He was such a great character to watch grow as the story developed, and there were about 6 or 7 different elements in which he did that, making the story line much more complex than a simple felon story. In addition to Del, I also fell in love with Harper, the owner of the graveyard; Marvin, Del's best friend; and Fred, Del's female African parrot. I literally could not get enough of these characters. Marvin was outlandish and weird, and seemed a little bit like my friends at times. Harper was so lovable and an alcoholic, and from the moment Vaught brings him into the story, I wanted to help him and be his best friend. And don't even get me started on the parrot. At first, I was very confused. I mean, a parrot? But it was SO COOL! I ended up loving Fred way too much and the fact that she insulted people in Spanish.
The only character I didn't really like was Livia. She was the only thing I didn't like about this story, bringing my review down from a solid 5 to a 4 stars book. She just wasn't... anything. There wasn't much to her character, and since, from the beginning, she's the girl Del really likes, I just wanted something more from her. But there was no development, no anything to her character really, other than a quick explanation of why she comes to the cemetery. I was just so disappointed with her.

I also really liked how Del's personal story wove in with the legal story. It was so interesting to see his case develop and how he would handle and react to certain things. There were so many different elements to this story, and I really liked them all. Vaught did a wonderful job of weaving them all together without making it utterly chaotic and impossible to follow — everything was just right.
(less)

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Dec 13, 2011 Mary McCoy rated it 3 of 5 stars

When Del was 14, a consensual sexting incident and an overzealous DA got him juvie, alternative school, probation, and a permanent spot on the state sex offenders list. Now, he's about to graduate from high school, and despite his straight As and clean nose, college and a career seem almost impossible. The only job he's able to get is digging graves at the local cemetery with only his pet parrot Fred for company. But then he meets Livia, who like Del, has tragedy in her past, and unlike almost e...more

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Nov 27, 2011 ALPHAreader rated it 5 of 5 stars

Meet Del. He’s a seventeen-year-old gravedigger with a secret. He owes his parents a debt of gratitude for the way they stuck by him during the worst of a terrible time. All of his childhood friends had to leave the state and scatter across the country just to escape the stigma that attached to them all … Del has few university prospects, because who’d accept a student with a criminal record? And he has regular sessions with a psychiatrist who is constantly asking Del to explain his anger.

But De...more

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Oct 10, 2011 Trisha W. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-books, favorites

For what ever reason this book started off slow for me. And I am amazed now to think that it did because I really liked this book. It was only slow through the first chapter and a little of the second but then I started to really get into it and read it in one sitting. I actually stayed up until 11:30 last night just so that I could finish it and see how it ended.
One thing that I absolutely loved about this book was all the music. I am a huge music lover. I always have music playing if i'm clean...more

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Sep 28, 2011 Reading Teen added it

READ THIS BOOK!! If you are a teenager, the parent of a teen, or have a teen in your life in any way, READ THIS BOOK! It will scare you to death, make you want to scream and cry and hurt your heart. I hesitate to put too much detail into this review because part of my emotions were drawn from wondering what exactly had happened. The main character is Cain Delano Hartwick, who goes by Del. He is a 17 year old high school senior who is a talented athlete and good student. Del has a part time job a...more READ THIS BOOK!! If you are a teenager, the parent of a teen, or have a teen in your life in any way, READ THIS BOOK! It will scare you to death, make you want to scream and cry and hurt your heart. I hesitate to put too much detail into this review because part of my emotions were drawn from wondering what exactly had happened. The main character is Cain Delano Hartwick, who goes by Del. He is a 17 year old high school senior who is a talented athlete and good student. Del has a part time job and is also the main provider for a parrot named Fred. These credentials sound great until you get to the part that says Del is a convicted sex offender who has no hope of going to college, getting a decent job or living any kind of normal life. Even more astounding is the fact that the events that led to his conviction took place when he was 14 years old in the summer before his freshman year of high school. What horrific and despicable act could this young man (child) have done to cause this judgement? For me, the answer to this question is amazing and horrifying and sad. I don't know how factual this story is but the author is a practicing psychiatrist whose professional and personal experiences inspired this story. My perspective is most assuredly different now as a grandmother than it would have been as a mother but hopefully there has been some wisdom gained in those years. It is inconceivable to me that the life of a very young person should be ruined forever because of an error in judgement. As Del himself says, "In the eyes of the law, I am a criminal. I can't tell you I didn't do it, because I did. I can't tell you it was right, but I'm not sure it was wrong." A few pages before I read this in the book, I had the exact same thought. This story should make us take a hard look at the laws on the books and how they might impact those people who are not twisted and perverted and should also serve as a strong warning to us and our children.

This book has some strong themes in it including teenage sexuality, death, loss and the legal system. It would best be served to spark open and frank conversations between parents and children. Life is very different for teens today than it was even for my own children. I didn't have to worry about monitoring cell phones, Facebook, Twitter, etc, etc. Being vigilant for our children's health and well being is a much more complicated task now and promises to become even more so in the future. The story holds your interest throughout as you get to know Del and his situation. I recommend it highly.

Janeth(less)

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Sep 23, 2011 Rachael rated it 5 of 5 stars

Del used to have a normal life. Back when he was still fourteen, he played sports, hung out with his friends and girlfriend, and listened to his parents. But now, at seventeen, everything’s different. He keeps his head down at school and there’s really only one person that he can truly call his friend. He knows he’ll never be able to get a job other than the one he has digging graves. He knows that no college will ever accept him as a student. The dreams that he used to have of doing things and...more Del used to have a normal life. Back when he was still fourteen, he played sports, hung out with his friends and girlfriend, and listened to his parents. But now, at seventeen, everything’s different. He keeps his head down at school and there’s really only one person that he can truly call his friend. He knows he’ll never be able to get a job other than the one he has digging graves. He knows that no college will ever accept him as a student. The dreams that he used to have of doing things and going places are long gone. And for what? All because of a stupid text and an innocently taken picture, Del is now considered a felon. Because of the cold eyes of the law, Del’s future has been taken away from him. But with the help of a new friend, a girl that Del thinks he could fall in love with, he’ll start to realize that no matter how hard his life gets to be, he still might be able to find a way to be happy.

Going Underground is a heartbreaking yet hopeful novel that draws upon real stories of juvenile sexting scandals. I’ll admit that when I realized that this was the reason Del was in such a bad place in life, I wasn’t sure if or why I should care. I’ve had no previous exposure to how the legal side of this issue can damage personal lives, and I thought this problem only applied to creepy old men. However, Vaught quickly showed me the other realities of this issue. Del is no creepy old man; instead, he’s a hardworking high school student and dedicated friend who’s paying for a mistake he made as a kid. I loved getting to know his character through his interactions with his best friend Marvin, his boss Harper, and even his parrot Fred. Vaught presents such a vivid and realistic portrait of someone who is just such a good guy that it’s truly heartwrenching to find out how his life has been utterly destroyed. I commend Vaught for writing about a lesser known side of a controversial legal and political issue and for this incredible and touching story.

This review does little justice for how much this book moved me. Going Underground should be read by those who also enjoyed This Gorgeous Game by Donna Freitas, Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King, and Candor by Pam Bachorz.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com (less)

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Jul 24, 2011 Gabriela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Provocative. Thought-provoking. Relevant.

Spoilers as I summarize and review.

Del and Cory are 14 and 13 respectively and think they're a bit too young for "real sex." Instead, they limit themselves to one naked picture each and touch each other three times. What happens next is any parent's nightmare. Del, at the 14 year old male is convicted of rape and child pornography. He goes to juvie, gts a probation officer, sees a court-ordered therapist, and registers as a sex offender. Now he can't get...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Danielle B! rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-contemporary, books-the-library-has

This was a very quick and amazing read for me. This book starts out with a boy name Del, who is digging a grave at a cemetery. He is a 17 year old boy, and because of certant events that are explained throughout the book in flashbacks from the present to the past, he can't get a job anywhere else.

Del is a bit of a loner, because of the felony crime he was charged with as a 14 year boy. A crime with consequences that leaves the reader dumbstruck and very simpathetic with Del. One of his friends...more

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Oct 22, 2011 Louisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 99-problems, boys-on-the-side, i-love-awkward-teenagers-in-fiction, social-justice, teenagers-in-peril, ya, doing-time

It just goes to show you that expectations ruin everything. Lately, I've read a bunch of books that although I was super-psyched to read them when checking them out the library, turned out to be wholly disappointing upon actually reading them. Weird, right? So, in truth, I had no expectations regarding Susan Vaught's Going Underground. I liked the cover a lot. I'd heard some good stuff. But that was about it.

But man, it was really good. Not kick me in the ass stupendous but easily the best YA th...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

I picked up this book with no prior knowledge of it, based only on the description given. I'm happy I did. Del's story is serious: a boy whose whole life has been thrown by the wayside by most of society for a "crime" he committed before he even knew it could be considered criminal. He is not happy, he has not found a new meaning for his life because of the events that occurred, and he's also trying to deal with being a seventeen year-old boy. The adults in his life don't know how to fix his pro...more

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Aug 26, 2011 Melissa (i swim for oceans) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, own-arcs

Del never meant for any of it to happen. Neither did Cory. They were children, but they liked each other, and they decided that before they went too far too soon, they'd test the waters with photos of themselves. That one simple act sent Del's world spiraling into a dark abyss of beign a convicted felon and registered sex-offender. Years later, he's desperate to put the pieces back together, go to college and find a good job, but his past is still haunting him. Can he find peace with his past, m...more Del never meant for any of it to happen. Neither did Cory. They were children, but they liked each other, and they decided that before they went too far too soon, they'd test the waters with photos of themselves. That one simple act sent Del's world spiraling into a dark abyss of beign a convicted felon and registered sex-offender. Years later, he's desperate to put the pieces back together, go to college and find a good job, but his past is still haunting him. Can he find peace with his past, make a future for himself and enjoy happiness again, or will his past haunt him forever?

You know, I've never really considered an "issue" book like this. I love me some twisty nonsense, but Going Underground was a whole new realm for me because it's something that I don't know too much about. Frankly, the only time I hear about someone releasing naked pictures of themselves, it's when I'm perusing Perez because I'm bored. Susan Vaught has cleverly crafted a story that tackles an extremely sensitive, controversial and delicate issue with ease with Going Underground. Creating heartfelt characters that display two sides to the controversy surrounding cell phones, their potential for misuse and the crimes that can be committed when using them. Rather than painting the story in black and white, the author has given us shades of gray in Going Underground, allowing the reader to see a victim in the perpetrator of a crime.

Going Underground wasn't the easiest read for me, but I'm by no means saying it was poorly done. The story was powerful and profound, and Del was an extremely likable MC. He was honest, respectful, hardworking and decent despite what happened three years ago. I felt for him and his situation, truly, I did. I think the main problem I had was that it's not an issue I know too much about, and I've always seen that one side of it. Sending inappropriate images via cell phones is wrong - that's what I believe, but Going Underground made me think because Del and Cory had no sort of malice in mind when they did so. It was curiosity - pure and simple. It was hard for me to reconcile the two. I will note that the book does jump from the present to three years in the past where we see what brought Del to his position today, and it was done well. The transitions weren't jarring, and it flowed smoothly. I also enjoyed the touches of lightness in an otherwise somber book...like the talking parrot, Fred. Trust me, she fits into the story of Going Underground seamlessly. The only other qualm I really had was that I felt the ending was a bit too convenient and too easy. Do I love ribbons and bows? Sure, but are they always realistic? Heck no.

All in all, Going Underground was a very good read, and I'm sure many a reader will get a powerful message out of it. I think my main problem was, perhaps, my lack of knowledge on the subject, but that's not to say the author didn't create a remarkable story. I give it a very strong 3.5 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to all fans of YA and adult reads, as well those who enjoy contemporary and issue books.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.(less)

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Nov 10, 2011 Ellen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Del's life took a major turn when he innocently responded to his girlfriend's sext with one of his own. Unfortunately for him, she was technically underage, and he, a few months older, was not. A zealous prosecutor charged him with child porn charges and the rest is history. It's now 3 years later, and 17 yr old Del works as a grave digger, despairs of ever going to college, and tries not to dream of the mysterious girl hanging around the graveyard. The writer is a practicing psychologist, and i...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Julia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Del isnt your typical 17 year old. hes actually quite different. he has a job digging graves, his best friends a parrot, he can't use a phone or computer unsupervised, and he cant work up the courage to speak to a girl.the weird thing is that Del's life was perfectly normal. One might even call it pretty good. He had good grades, a wide group of friends, a beautiful girlfriend, and he was a baseball star. Until one day his life was snatched right out from under him. Going Underground by Susan V...more

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Apr 15, 2012 Jeni rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, young-adult

Using a current hot button issue and putting a realistic face to it, is not a new way to come up with a plot, but Vaught makes her characters believable and likable. After an unfortunate incident 3 years ago, 17 year old Del suffers from the results of a ridiculous and over-zealous felony conviction. Frozen by lack of choices, as well as fear of making bad ones, Del struggles to figure out if he even has a future.
While this book does deal with (as already stated) a hot button issue, I didn't fee...more

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Feb 28, 2012 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Going Underground wasn’t an easy book for me to read, mostly because I knew during the flashbacks what the end result was going to be for Del (since it’s revealed at the beginning of the book that he got into huge trouble for something and it’s basically destroyed his life). But it is also very tough subject matter, because it’s an issue that should be black and white – punishment of a sex offender – but this book shows you that there is a very, very large gray area. There were no criminals in t...more Going Underground wasn’t an easy book for me to read, mostly because I knew during the flashbacks what the end result was going to be for Del (since it’s revealed at the beginning of the book that he got into huge trouble for something and it’s basically destroyed his life). But it is also very tough subject matter, because it’s an issue that should be black and white – punishment of a sex offender – but this book shows you that there is a very, very large gray area. There were no criminals in this book, regardless of their legal histories. There were just kids who made a mistake and did something without realizing what the consequences of their actions would be and how the rest of their lives would be affected. Del may be a criminal on paper but in reality he’s something very different. He’s a victim of an overzealous legal system and political maneuvering. And without getting overly political, he’s an example of someone trying to take a moral stand and inflict their beliefs on someone else, to the detriment of that person and with a lack of common sense.

You feel awful, awful, awful for Del, who comes out as a thoughtful and intelligent young man who continues to be repeatedly kicked while he’s down further than most people could possibly stand to be. At the age of 17, his life is for all intents and purposes over. He’ll never be able to pursue his dreams or even hold down an average job because of his criminal record. He’s afraid to approach the girl he has a crush on from afar because he’ll have to tell his story and let her decide if she feels comfortable around him. I want to stay spoiler free so I won’t give much away about Del’s struggles and how everything eventually shakes out. It becomes clear throughout the course of the book, though, that Del needs to take a stand and start doing for himself instead of being terrified that every move he makes is the wrong one, and whether or not he’s able to do that is pivotal to how the story ends.

Vaught’s writing is compelling and I was extremely engrossed in the story. I liked it that the chapters toward the beginning have music that they’re supposed to be set to, since Del is so into music as a mechanism for coping with his life. It was a really unique and cool touch. Honestly, I’m probably one of the few people who keep music and books totally separate. I don’t read to music and and I don’t generally read a book and think, “hey, this song would fit this book perfectly!” Though I do have one minor quibble – Gary Jules does the best version of Mad World, not Tears for Fears or Adam Lambert.

This is a book about a tough subject that will really make you think. I really recommend it to readers of contemporary YA.

4.25/5 Stars.(less)

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Aug 24, 2012 Mari rated it 4 of 5 stars

Before anything else, I would like to thank this book and it's author for introducing me to Snowball, the dancing Cockatoo. Seriously, I'm forever grateful. (If you don't know who Snowball is, head on over to YouTube and search for the video. Like, NOW.)

Fun and games aside, Going Underground is a very thought-provoking book that deals with a controversial and relevant issue.

This book could've easily come off as too political or too preachy but what saves the story is a very strong protagonist i...more Before anything else, I would like to thank this book and it's author for introducing me to Snowball, the dancing Cockatoo. Seriously, I'm forever grateful. (If you don't know who Snowball is, head on over to YouTube and search for the video. Like, NOW.)

Fun and games aside, Going Underground is a very thought-provoking book that deals with a controversial and relevant issue.

This book could've easily come off as too political or too preachy but what saves the story is a very strong protagonist in Del. His story, thoughts and feelings ring true and you can't help but root for him. I loved reading about Del's relationship with his parents, his best friend Marvin, with brother and sister, Jonah and Cherie, Branson, Dr. Mote, Harper and most especially, with Fred. Unfortunately, I ended up not liking Livia. It felt like there was no development to her character during the course of the book and her romance with Del seemed like a mere plot point - a means to an end.

(view spoiler) END RANT. (less)

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Jun 21, 2012 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow. This could be my story. Del and I are so much alike. Ok, well, we're a little different, too. He's a guy, I'm a girl; he's 17, I'm 53; he has a felony, I have a misdemeanor; he's a son, I'm a mother. Okay, okay. I admit it. We're a LOT different. But the one way we're alike is that we made a choice; a mistake; and it cost us dearly. We want the same thing. We want our life back. And we're so much more than what those "charges" say about us. We are the sum of many things, and those charges a...more

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Mar 03, 2012 Sydney rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 03, 2012 Lisa (Badass Bookie) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Rating - 3.5

The Short Story? - I'm completely floored by this bittersweet YA contemporary. Vaught has created this highly controversial scenario that deals with a very authentic teenager and his problems with the law. Firstly, the male POV is a real highlight and treat, Del is such an aspiring character. Beautifully written, deeply moving and thoroughly enjoyable. Going Underground is a very unique YA contemporary!

The Long Story? - When I first started Going Underground I wasn't too keen becau...more Rating - 3.5

The Short Story? - I'm completely floored by this bittersweet YA contemporary. Vaught has created this highly controversial scenario that deals with a very authentic teenager and his problems with the law. Firstly, the male POV is a real highlight and treat, Del is such an aspiring character. Beautifully written, deeply moving and thoroughly enjoyable. Going Underground is a very unique YA contemporary!

The Long Story? - When I first started Going Underground I wasn't too keen because I was in the middle of exam preparation, I was in a reading slump and I just wasn't in the mood for a serius contemporary read. So I put the book down and read something else. When I picked up Going Underground, my whole perspective of the novel changed. I really enjoyed, it's not really in my comfort zone but I enjoyed it. Vaught explores some deep issues in Going Underground including trouble with the law, sexting, child pornography and rape (heavy - I know). The plot is incredibly bittersweet, Del really has coped the worst of life and Going Underground is kind of a moving-on story and teaching readers that there is always hope. We follow Del through his everyday life and it's a very aspiring story. I don't want to get too deep into the plot and spoil it but contemporary fans would definitely dig this one.

One of the best things I like about this book was the protagonist - Del. Going Underground told from a males POV (perk) and Del was brilliant ( another perk). He's such an aspiring character, he's so so so strong. Life has really given him lemons yet he soldiers on. The turning point for Del was really his meeting with Livia, who is the love interest. This novel definitely doesn't focus of romance, in fact it plays a really minor part. The majority of the novel was about Del moving with his life, choosing what's best for him and fighting for it. I felt a real connection to Del as a character because he's a really sweet but completely misunderstood boy and his troubled past really does haunt him everyday. I really, REALLY though Del was a very well developed character :)

Overall, Going Underground wasn't my favourite contemporary read of the year ( that honour goes to The Fault in Our Stars by John Green) but it's definitely one of the better ones I've read. The male POV is refreshing and Del is a very authentic character. It's a very realistic scenario and covers some difficult topics that are usually unexplored in YA fiction. I'll definitely recommend Going Underground to YA readers who enjoys contemporary fiction about second chances and teen issues! (less)

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Sep 19, 2011 Avery rated it 4 of 5 stars

Del is not your ordinary 17 year old boy he works at a graveyard, has a probation officer, and enjoy's his job working at a graveyard. When Del was 14 years old he was caught in legal trouble involving him and his girlfriend Cory, which ended up sending him to Juvenile Detention. Now 3 years later you have to decided if Del has paid his dues to society and deserves to be happy again or if his crime makes him unable to be happy ever again. The book Going Underground is an amazing book dealing wit...more

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Oct 17, 2012 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-are, provided-by-publisher

Going Underground is a provocative, topical and thought provoking novel exploring the issue of sexting and it's repercussions for one young man. Fourteen year old Del was popular, athletic and planning a career in medicine or law, until the exchange of risque texts with his girlfriend, Cory, blew his world apart. Now a few months shy of his eighteenth birthday, his dreams in tatters, Del is waiting for a chance to reclaim his life.

While media cases have focused on instances where an explicit ima...more Going Underground is a provocative, topical and thought provoking novel exploring the issue of sexting and it's repercussions for one young man. Fourteen year old Del was popular, athletic and planning a career in medicine or law, until the exchange of risque texts with his girlfriend, Cory, blew his world apart. Now a few months shy of his eighteenth birthday, his dreams in tatters, Del is waiting for a chance to reclaim his life.

While media cases have focused on instances where an explicit image went viral, Going Underground approaches the issue from a slightly different angle. Del was 14, Cory a few months younger at 13, when the single explicit photo they took shared only with each other, was discovered after their mobile phones were confiscated during a school camp. However Del was targeted by a self righteous DA whose claims of moral outrage resulted in felony convictions for the dissemination of child pornography and child rape, despite the pair never actually indulging in sexual intercourse.

Going Underground explores how the circumstances have affected Del's life. After being arrested, charged, convicted and serving time in juvenile detention, he was eventually allowed to return to ordinary life but required to attend therapy and remain on probation with strict regulations, until his eighteenth birthday. More damaging however is his lifetime registration as a sex offender, something Del is required to disclose when applying for employment or college and which severely curtails his future plans. With great sensitivity, Vaught explores the simmering emotions beneath Del's facade of resigned acceptance of his fate. While Del has scrupulously adhered to everything asked of him as the end of his schooling approaches, he silently despairs of ever having a future. It is Livia, a girl he meets in the graveyard in which he works, that prompts him to finally acknowledge the anger and fear which has kept him as bound as the terms of his probation.

The serious issues at the heart of this novel are balanced by flashes of humour and light-hearted moments. And while some circumstances may be simplified, the characters, especially Del, are realistically portrayed. I really liked Marvin's character, whose own conflicts are subtly explored and Fred, Del's African Grey parrot has a real presence in the book.

A story suitable for both teens and their parents, Going Underground is well written novel, sensitively exploring a controversial issue. I think it is both entertaining and thoughtful, and a srong contemporary young adult novel.

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Sep 04, 2012 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: three-star-reviews

Read the full review at Short & Sweet Reviews.

YA "contemporary issues" books don't always work very well for me, as they often feel forced, like someone just wanted to jump on the bandwagon of a popular, maybe controversial, issue. Going Underground didn't feel cheap or forced, however, and Del's narration and inner thoughts felt very real. He doesn't always sound like a 17-year old boy (or, at least, the 17 year old boys that I remember), but maybe that's because his circumstances have vast...more

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Jun 30, 2011 Brian rated it 2 of 5 stars

I really didn't care for this book. It is about a kid who commits a crime, unknowingly, a crime which isn't dramatically revealed until about halfway through the book. The book starts in the present and flashes back and forth three years in the past, which is when the crime was committed. The crime, sexting, was done without the character knowing what he really did wrong until after the fact. And while i do realize this is a social issue that many teens know nothing about, I got the feeling that...more

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Dec 13, 2012 Sheri rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kid-young-adult, male-female-power-sex-attractivenes

I liked the premise and this was very readable story. As a young adult book it was still thought provoking. I have had lots of conversations about the unfairness of statutory rape charges and that when two people are similar in age, they should both (not just the boy) be held accountable.

I wasn't quite sure that Del would be quite so guilty. I get that he'd be angry and that he would feel outcast, but I would have expected more righteous resentment (rather than guilt) over the issue. I understa...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Alicia Papp rated it 5 of 5 stars

This novel opens with the main character, 17 year old Del, digging a grave and pondering his life in the 'deadzone' a place 'without life, without feeling, without air'. He has no prospects, despite still being at school and a good student, is not permitted to apply to college and the only job he can get is working for an alcoholic cemetery caretaker.

What could this boy, who was bright, funny and friendly, a child that any parent would be proud to call their own, have done that was so dreadful a...more

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Oct 28, 2011 AmandaSOTP rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2011

Having read the back of the book blurb and based on the cover, I wasn't sure how I would like this book. I mean the idea behind it is clearly something young adults should think about and understand the consequences of their actions in the eyes of the current laws, but how would it work as a story plot? Would it come off preachy? Or would it just be a back drop to an otherwise generic young adult novel about two kids in love? Since I hadn't read Vaught's work before, I had no idea what to expect...more Having read the back of the book blurb and based on the cover, I wasn't sure how I would like this book. I mean the idea behind it is clearly something young adults should think about and understand the consequences of their actions in the eyes of the current laws, but how would it work as a story plot? Would it come off preachy? Or would it just be a back drop to an otherwise generic young adult novel about two kids in love? Since I hadn't read Vaught's work before, I had no idea what to expect.

Vaught provides an excellent novel which balances the life changing consequences with the heartbreaking challenges faced as one boy tries to put his life back together after what is thought to be an innocent act of two freshman in high school. Vaught's research and knowledge of current laws as well as how they are changing helps to expand a fictional story into a lesson (but not a preachy one) for young adults who do not always understand the consequences of their actions.

As I discussed with the girls of Explore Austin, the actions and things you say now in an ever increasing digital world, can have unknown responses down the road effecting both your personal life and potentially your professional life as well. As the world connects through various digital means, the laws may not always be current with the new situations that arise with these technologies. And as Vaught's tale of Del clearly shows, what is thought to be a very innocent exchange between two non-sexually active teenagers, results in a young man about to graduate high school who cannot find a college to accept him, and his job prospects are so limited, that he is working in a cemetary.

I wish I had copies of this book to give to my friend who teach the target audience of this book as I know they would not only devour the story, but they might also stop to think before they do something that could result in a similar situation for them. If you have a teen or even a tween, I would suggest you put this book in front of them. It's well worth a read.

An added bonus, this novel has the rare occurrence of being told from a boy's point of view; something that you don't often see in young adult novels and clearly a viewpoint that needs to be heard.(less)

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About Susan Vaught

Website: http://susanvaught.com

astrology sign: Libra

favorite book: Harry Potter (all of them) and His Dark Materials
(all of those, too)

favorite song:I Will Follow You Into The Dark by Death Cab for Cutie

current pet total:12 if you don't count the chickens, peafowl,
turkeys, ducks, geese, pigeons, or guineas.

names of my schools:
Vanderbilt University (MS, Ph.D.)
University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) (B...more

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“Her lips taste like mint from toothpaste or gum, or sometimes like cherries or grapes from her lip gloss. She's soft when I hold her, with curves where my hands rest, and when I touch her I think stupid caveman things like, mine and totally mine—oh yeah, and all mine.” — 8 people liked it

“Avoiding life, avoiding making any concrete plans for your life--that's just one way you're pretending you can keep bad things from happening to you again.” — 8 people liked it

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