The Mockingbirds

Aug 31, 2011 Amelia, the pragmatic idealist rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: disappointing, 2010, contemp, little-brown, annoying-protagonist, mc-girl

Added this book a few days ago.
Bought it yesterday.
Decided it was crap. Returned it.

I had a "review" on here, but I took it down because in reality, it was an open invitation for trolls to gripe me out. No thank you.
The end.
Most of the reviews I've posted haven't been getting a lot of attention, so I doubt this one will matter, either.

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Aug 31, 2011 Heather rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, ya

It's taken me a long while to get around to reviewing this book. I was dreading it as voicing my thoughts on this book make me feel like a horrible person, especially given that the author was a victim of date rape, but...this book was deplorable.

I appreciated the conflict endured by Alex (the heroine) as she struggles with the loss of her virginity, and anguishes over whether or not she has been a victim of a crime, or merely her own poor choices. Frankly, I'm a bit torn as well. She was incred...more

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Mar 08, 2012 Kaethe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: debut, age-ya, books-about-books, feminism, fiction, glbtq, p-o-c, ptsd, romance, realistic, social-issues, strong-smart-female-protagonist, friendship, contemporary

I recommend that anyone planning to read this start with To Kill a Mockingbird.

Alright, now, this is a book about a high school student who is date-raped, both how she personally overcomes this, and how activist students as the school help her. There is, perhaps, too much focus on the procedures to be a great novel, but as a resource it is invaluable.

What I like best is the fine example set for the reader of how friends can help.

Library copy

***

Having read another review, one on which all the com...more I recommend that anyone planning to read this start with To Kill a Mockingbird.

Alright, now, this is a book about a high school student who is date-raped, both how she personally overcomes this, and how activist students as the school help her. There is, perhaps, too much focus on the procedures to be a great novel, but as a resource it is invaluable.

What I like best is the fine example set for the reader of how friends can help.

Library copy

***

Having read another review, one on which all the comments were deleted, I felt compelled to come back and add a bit more to this. Whitney's subject here is the kind of acquaintance rape that doesn't go to court for two reasons: one, the victim is just as likely to internalize blame as society is to heap it on, and two, prosecutors have no interest in trying cases they can't win. Even if the victim is willing and able to go through hours of evidence collection, nothing is going to come of it. Even if there is physical evidence consistent with the victim's story, it won't be prosecuted unless there is significant corroboration of some other kind. Often, it won't be prosecuted even then. There is widespread popular belief that victims get themselves raped by wearing slutty clothes, or drinking, or appearing in public places after dark, or failing to say "no", or failing to fight hard enough, or having been a victim of sexual violence in the past, or whatever. Sexual assault is the opposite of a victimless crime: in the popular imagination it is a criminalless one, with the exception of violent strangers with weapons.

~~Daisy~~Alex, the victim in this book, has experienced the most common violent crime against girls aged 12-26, in the most common form. A significant portion of the book is devoted to her slow realization that it was rape. The secret justice workings of the story are appealing, but unlikely. The real strength here is in how ~~Daisy~~Alex's friends, and others she doesn't really know, support her. In the real world most victims of sexual assault never see anything like justice; in the US fewer than 80% of cases will ever result in any sort of criminal proceeding. For ~~Daisy~~Alex, things work out, and the ending is quite positive. Isn't it pretty to think so?

(Sept 1 2011)
edited 3/8/2012 to correct the character's name from Daisy to Alex. My apologies to the author for the mistake. My thanks to Kim for pointing it out. (less)

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Nov 05, 2010 Alex Bennett rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: wishlist

Wanna know what I did for a whole day after reading The Mockingbirds? Well, I did absolutely nothing besides sit there and think about it. My body was doing stuff, but my mind was always somewhere else. My mind was in The Mockingbirds. I absolutely can’t get this book out of my head. It will always be with me wherever I go. This is not a book I think I will ever be able to forget.

Alex was such a strong character. She was the victim of a horrible crime, date-rape. But she refused to go under, ref...more Wanna know what I did for a whole day after reading The Mockingbirds? Well, I did absolutely nothing besides sit there and think about it. My body was doing stuff, but my mind was always somewhere else. My mind was in The Mockingbirds. I absolutely can’t get this book out of my head. It will always be with me wherever I go. This is not a book I think I will ever be able to forget.

Alex was such a strong character. She was the victim of a horrible crime, date-rape. But she refused to go under, refused to leave her life behind. She did what it took and took care of the problem the only way she could, with the help of The Mockingbirds. Her friends helped her along the way and I loved them as much as Alex did. Some of the characters made me so infuriated that I actually yelled at them, loudly, at 3 o’clock in the morning. I was up that late because I could not put this book down, not once.

Being the victim of date-rape herself, Daisy Whitney knew exactly how to write this book. She could be in the head of Alex and knew what her mindset would be and knew how she could handle it because I am sure she was in the same place once. Daisy is obviously incredibly strong and it shows in her writing of this book. Every emotion Alex felt, I felt too. The good and the bad, I was along for the ride with her even when I couldn’t stand to be. This book was marvelously written and was unbelievably addicting, for such a deep book.

Themis Academy was the perfect setting for this book. Because Themis is supposed to be perfect, the students are supposed to be perfect, everything is supposed to be so perfect because it is Themis. But it was far from. The teachers refuse to handle anything negative because how could anything bad happen at Themis? And when they know something has happened, they turn a blind eye. Even though it is harming the students, because nothing wrong could happen at Themis. But that is why there are The Mockingbirds.

This review doesn’t even begin to cover my feelings and thoughts about this book, but I will give you one piece of advice, read this book. Because it was absolutely, one-hundred percent brilliant, amazing, incredible. This book will stick with me forever because of it’s strong, and believable characters, emotional and deep plot, and amazing writing. The Mockingbirds will make you laugh, cry, and scream. But it is all worth it because this is one of the most amazing books I have ever read. Thank you, Daisy Whitney, for writing this book. I am sure it will change many lives, as it has changed mine.(less)

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Nov 01, 2010 Courtney added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009, ya-fiction

So I was lucky enough to get an early read on The Mockingbirds way back, and I LOVED it. I still love it. It's a real testament to the novel's strength that every word has stayed with me from my first read to its publication and I am so thrilled that it's out on shelves for the world to read, appreciate and discuss. Because oh, there is much to discuss in this one.

The Mockingbirds is about Alex, a junior at the elite Themis Academy, a prestigious boarding school which prides itself so much on it...more So I was lucky enough to get an early read on The Mockingbirds way back, and I LOVED it. I still love it. It's a real testament to the novel's strength that every word has stayed with me from my first read to its publication and I am so thrilled that it's out on shelves for the world to read, appreciate and discuss. Because oh, there is much to discuss in this one.

The Mockingbirds is about Alex, a junior at the elite Themis Academy, a prestigious boarding school which prides itself so much on it's progressive way of teaching and its trust in the student body, it purposefully turns a blind eye to the disturbing going-ons below the surface. When Alex is date-raped by a popular jock, she turns to The Mockingbirds, a secrety society determined to bring justice to wronged Themis students whenever those students call on them.

The book follows Alex as she deals with the aftermath of her rape, the question of what exactly happened to her that night, and her introduction to The Mockingbirds. The Mockingbirds themselves raise A LOT of fantastic discussions about vigilantism, how they operate, whether they're doing the right thing, the way they can improve the system etc. (I hope these topics are explored in the sequel!)

Whitney's prose is fabulous. Beautiful and sharp. Alex's first person narration is so intimate and intense I think it would be nearly impossible for a reader not to feel they were right beside her as she pieces together what has happened to her and puts the pieces of her life together after it has happened to her. I thought the voice was excellent and I really enjoyed Alex's thought process and how fluid and realistic and intelligent it was.

One thing I love about The Mockingbirds--perhaps what I loved MOST about it--is how boldly and frankly it addresses the issue of CONSENT through Alex, her friends and The Mockingbirds. This is what YA shelves need. This is an important book. And I think people will find Alex's path to healing very empowering. Alex's unjudgmental and supportive relationship with her friends is refreshing and I absolutely loved the romance with Martin. It was thoughtfully handled.

I also felt Themis was a richly developed setting. I can believe teachers turning the other way, and to this extent. Which makes me sad to type, but there you have it. I think their neglect, their willful ignorance is also a very clever way to address the issue of powerlessness; how to take a stand when you have very few people to turn to. I think Alex's courage will inspire courage in the people reading her story. I really do.

This is such an honest and stunning debut.(less)

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Jan 04, 2011 rachel rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, 2011, ladythings

What happens when, being a hater of Issues Books, you're confronted with an Issues Book concerning an issue you actually feel strongly about?

Every element of plot in The Mockingbirds -- every character -- has some function in the task of showing that sex without explicit consent or ability to consent is rape; that though rape may be a difficult crime to prosecute and so humiliating to the victim going through the process, those victims who speak out are validating victims everywhere. I agree wi...more What happens when, being a hater of Issues Books, you're confronted with an Issues Book concerning an issue you actually feel strongly about?

Every element of plot in The Mockingbirds -- every character -- has some function in the task of showing that sex without explicit consent or ability to consent is rape; that though rape may be a difficult crime to prosecute and so humiliating to the victim going through the process, those victims who speak out are validating victims everywhere. I agree with all of that, passionately.

But there is no character who feels like a whole, complex, spontaneous and individual person, which made it tough for me to enjoy as a piece of literature. Every character is an avatar for a stance or a stage in our main character's coping process. All of Alex's friends understand what she's feeling immediately in the aftermath of her being raped twice by a water polo player she met at a show while drunk, and they hop in line to help seek justice for her. There's a boy who has a crush on her and is respectful of her, who helps her build back up her comfort level with sexuality. Her unmarried female teacher explains that having a physical response to the sex doesn't mean consent. The date rapist is a complete villain who taunts his victim and lies to evade conviction.

Are there rapists who make the lives of their victims hell? Sure. There are also many date rapists who are not mustache twirling, dastardly liars. They're men who, for lack of self restraint or poor decision making or selfishness, proceed with what they were doing without regard for their partner. That doesn't make their actions any less wrong or any less a case of rape. But it does mean that rape happens with nuance, too, and that's something that young women especially have to be aware of. With all of the focus that Whitney gives to consent and to the thoughts and actions that blur the line of what we call "rape," I think that nuance is important to her too, that nuance in rape is something she wishes to convey to her teenage readers for the purpose of empowerment. That's great. But I only wish it had come through in her characters.

It's hard to write a book for teenagers about date rape, I'm sure. It wasn't until college that I started exploring feminist thought and truly comprehending how deeply entrenched sexism and victim blaming is in popular culture. Given how thoroughly exposure to feminism shakes up your worldview as a young woman (and gives you a feeling of worth, which is why it's important), maybe a plot like The Mockingbirds needs to be written in an obvious way for this age group. But I also think...maybe it doesn't? I don't know. (less)

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Sep 29, 2010 Pam Vlieg rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved mostly everything about The Mockingbirds. The writing was superior. The subject matter was one that needs to be talked about and the characters were drawn very well. Even the smallest character in the book had a fantastic voice. The rape scenes were believable and scary. The black outs from the drinking caused the character to remember her rape in bits and I loved that aspect of the book.

I think this book in time will be looked to and taught in classes around the country. I do believe th...more I loved mostly everything about The Mockingbirds. The writing was superior. The subject matter was one that needs to be talked about and the characters were drawn very well. Even the smallest character in the book had a fantastic voice. The rape scenes were believable and scary. The black outs from the drinking caused the character to remember her rape in bits and I loved that aspect of the book.

I think this book in time will be looked to and taught in classes around the country. I do believe the subject matter makes it important immediately and I think that there are a lot of things to learn from Whitney’s story.

Daisy Whitney is courageous. She wrote this story from her own experiences in college when the idea of what date rape is was still forming and being fought over in committees at our nation’s finest collegiate establishments. Daisy gives young girls courage and hope in this book but I did have one major problem with the story. The next part of this review may contain spoilers. Beware.

At first I thought The Mockingbirds were a great addition to the story. A secret group set up by the main character’s older sister in hopes of fending off and discouraging bullying of any kind by dispensing with a court like mandate and justice under the noses of the school administration. The administration believed that no child in their academy could do anything wrong so there was no need to have a zero tolerance policy in place.

I thought this element brought action and a feeling of empowerment to the story. That feeling lasted a few pages until The Mockingbirds decided to take on the case of rape. There was an initial meeting where Alex explains the circumstances of her date rape. They Mockingbirds then decide to take on her case.

Before the case is even tried, The Mockingbirds begin to exact justice on the rapist. He was not innocent until proven guilty. They docked his points to leave campus and even went as far as to take away his birthday cake. All on the word of the girl who had been raped. They wrote his name in a book which I saw as bullying and said if he is found not guilty he gets his points back and his name erased.

I have a firm belief in innocent until proven guilty and the vigilante bullying in the name of justice ruined a huge chunk of Whitney’s book for me. Yes we as the reader know he was a rapist, yes he got what he deserved but the characters were unsure or couldn’t be sure until the case was heard so by rendering punishment without giving him the opportunity to say his piece or defend himself the book took on a bitter taste. It seemed childish and vindictive when it was meant to be empowering.

I urge you to read The Mockingbirds and make your own decisions. If you like Speak you will enjoy reading Whitney’s The Mockingbirds.(less)

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May 22, 2011 Jami rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

I really hate when I wait so long to review a book after I read it. I don't even have a copy of it here to refer to, so I'm really just giving my impression of what I could remember from this book.

If I remember correctly, this was Daisy Whitney's first novel, and frankly, I felt like it showed. I found the story idea really interesting, but the execution of the plot and the writing itself was a bit so-so. The basic premise is that at an elite boarding school, a small group of students called th...more I really hate when I wait so long to review a book after I read it. I don't even have a copy of it here to refer to, so I'm really just giving my impression of what I could remember from this book.

If I remember correctly, this was Daisy Whitney's first novel, and frankly, I felt like it showed. I found the story idea really interesting, but the execution of the plot and the writing itself was a bit so-so. The basic premise is that at an elite boarding school, a small group of students called the Mockingbirds have taken it upon themselves to administer justice to those who were wronged and punish those students who otherwise went unpunished for their crimes. Sounds pretty exciting, huh? Like a small group of Batmans or something.

And yet, the author managed to make it boring. The main character, Alex, wakes up one morning to discover she has been date raped while she was too drunk to even remember what happened. So she goes to the Mockingbirds for help. The rest of the story is the long, drawn-out process of the court-like proceedings the Mockingbirds enact to hear the case and determine the guilt (if any) of the accused. It felt a bit like watching a court case on TV or something where you're expecting it to be exciting, like in the movies, but it's actually very tedious and dull.

Maybe my problem was that I didn't like the main character very much. I can't even remember what it was that bugged me about her, but I kept wanting to thump her for the dumb things she said/did/thought. And many parts of the story felt too unrealistic . . . like I could just feel the author making them up instead of becoming immersed in the story itself and forgetting there IS an author behind it, you know? One thing that particularly bothered me was how the students hated ALL the teachers, and every last one of these teachers was a complete idiot. It felt like the author did this to justify the existence of a group like the Mockingbirds. The students clearly couldn't get any help from the moron teachers (at this elite school for only the most brilliant and gifted), so their only choice was to do it themselves.

Final verdict: cool idea, boring writing, annoying characters. Blah.
(less)

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Oct 24, 2012 Renae M. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, boarding-school, contemporary-or-realistic-fiction, books-i-own

This review is going to be difficult to write, in much the same way that The Mockingbirds was a difficult book to read and, I’m sure, to write. In young adult fiction, not enough attention is given to rape; what rape is, how it affects the victim, how it is handled by authorities. Daisy Whitney’s treatment and approach to such a sticky subject thrilled me massively. This author did virtually everything right in this book. I was impressed.

A lot of the time, date-rape can fall into a sort of gray...more

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Apr 07, 2011 Shannon Messenger added it · review of another edition

I'll admit--while I was intensely curious about this book because of all the buzz, I was also more than a little apprehensive. Not just because of the subject matter, but also because so often books that deal with issues turn into 300+ page soapbox lectures about THE ISSUES and you start to feel like, wait--is this a Lifetime special of the week? So I was relieved and amazed when THE MOCKINGBIRDS was nothing like that.

Yes, it deals with the subject of date rape in an honest, heartbreaking way. A...more

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Feb 20, 2011 Misha rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

*Please note the rating is 2.5 stars*

I had expected a LOT from the book. Unfortunately, the book turned out to be a mixed bag. I know a lot of people would disagree with me; there have been so many positive reviews of the book. This is just my opinion of the book. It should not deter you, if you want to give it a try.
I did not hate the book. There were good parts; but the bad parts outweighed the good.

I will start with the positive aspects.
The Mockingbirds has a very powerful concept. It tackle...more *Please note the rating is 2.5 stars*

I had expected a LOT from the book. Unfortunately, the book turned out to be a mixed bag. I know a lot of people would disagree with me; there have been so many positive reviews of the book. This is just my opinion of the book. It should not deter you, if you want to give it a try.
I did not hate the book. There were good parts; but the bad parts outweighed the good.

I will start with the positive aspects.
The Mockingbirds has a very powerful concept. It tackles an issue which we all need to be aware of. I loved that Alex stood up and fought. This required courage and determination. She is unafraid to take a stand. Despite what she goes through, she is still able to love and connect with people again. More importantly, she's able to talk about her trauma. Alex does go through stages of self-blame and guilt, but eventually she realizes that there's no way she could have been responsible for what happened. She is able to seek out the help of her friends, which is very important when it comes to rape victims. The incorporation of "To Kill a Mockingbird" into the book and the various references to it is well done and fits into the story.

The Mockingbirds has a great premise but there were many flaws that I could not overlook. I did not like Alex at all. I felt bad for her, like I would for any person who went through what she did. However, she felt like a stranger to me throughout despite the fact that it's her voice narrating the story. At times, I even felt exasperated at her.I felt distant from every character. Flat and one-dimensional characters spoiled the book for me. I've repeated this a lot of times already in my other reviews- characterization is the most important part of a book, for me. In The Mockingbirds, I could not connect to any of the characters. None of them stood out. After a point of time, I just didn't care about what happened to them.

The Mockingbirds are supposed to be a powerful group. But I just did not feel their "power". I hate to say this but it almost seemed childish and silly to me. The Mockingbirds, as a group that has the power to bring justice to students who are victims of wrongdoings - it's just unbelievable and unconvincing. Moreover, the lack of involvement of real authority figures disturbs me a lot. Can teachers really be so blatantly cruel and blind that they ignore a student's cry for help, especially in case of date rape? Even if they are - what about the parents? Why was the police not involved? Imagining a school where the authorities are blissfully unaware, ignorant and uncaring about horrific crimes like rape is not only disturbing but also unrealistic. This gives out a very wrong message!

I commend the author's efforts and applaud her for tackling a very important and serious issue. Unfortunately, this book did not live up to my expectations. The emotional involvement that this sort of a book requires was completely absent for me.

Overall:
Powerful premise but unlikeable characters

Recommended?
Not really. I think it's better to borrow it from somewhere if you really want to read it.(less)

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Dec 26, 2010 Lucy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

Tackling the difficult subject matter of date rape, The Mockingbirds is a thoughtful and powerful read. I think the story is so compelling because it’s so easy to relate to the protagonist, Alex. This story about date rape and standing up for yourself felt very raw and honest and and like this situation could happen to anyone. I was immediately hooked on the story with the opening sentences.

The book presents the circumstances regarding the rape and the aftermath. Alex deals with a lot of guilt a...more

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Jul 20, 2012 StefanieEmmy added it · review of another edition

Es gibt sie doch: Jugendbücher, die offen, ehrlich, realistisch (wenn auch in diesem Fall eine nicht gar so schöne Realität) und - ganz einfach - ohne Maulklappe mit Sex umgehen. Und dann habe ich das Buch auch noch zufällig in der Buchhandlung entdeckt. Es lies sich nicht vermeiden, das Buch mitzunehmen.

"The Mockingbirds" spielt auf einem Internat - der Themis Academy - das besonders intelligente und engagierte Schüler ausbildet. Jeder Schüler hat so sein kleines Spezialgebiet, die Protagonisti...more Es gibt sie doch: Jugendbücher, die offen, ehrlich, realistisch (wenn auch in diesem Fall eine nicht gar so schöne Realität) und - ganz einfach - ohne Maulklappe mit Sex umgehen. Und dann habe ich das Buch auch noch zufällig in der Buchhandlung entdeckt. Es lies sich nicht vermeiden, das Buch mitzunehmen.

"The Mockingbirds" spielt auf einem Internat - der Themis Academy - das besonders intelligente und engagierte Schüler ausbildet. Jeder Schüler hat so sein kleines Spezialgebiet, die Protagonistin Alex zum Beispiel ist eine talentierte Pianistin. Normalerweise bin ich bei Internatsgeschichten immer skeptisch und auch bei "The Mockingbirds" hat mich das eher abgeschreckt - aber das Wort "date-rape" hat mich geködert.
Über dieses Wort muss ich mich auch gleich ein wenig auslassen. Einfach weil ich es nicht mag. "Date-rape" wird erstens in den USA ein wenig anders verstanden als in Australien oder UK, in deutschen Sprachraum in der Begriff ohnehin sehr schwammig. Darüber hinaus hat das Wort "date-rape" für mich etwas ... Verniedlichendes an sich, was ich einfach nicht okay finde - Vergewaltigung bleibt Vergewaltigung. Aber gut, die für mich beste Erklärung hat schließlich das gute alte Wikipedia geliefert (ich mag diese Erklärung deswegen weil auch in "The Mockingbirds" immer wieder der Umstand von "das Fehlens eines Neins ist kein Ja" betont wird):

Date Rape ist nicht einvernehmlicher Geschlechtsverkehr, bei dem weder eine ausdrückliche Verweigerung noch eine Gewaltanwendung stattfindet. Der Tatbestand ist dabei lediglich in der nicht eindeutigen Einvernahme beider Geschlechtspartner zu finden („Ich habe nicht ja gesagt, ich habe aber auch nicht nein gesagt“). Dabei kann auch Alkoholeinfluss oder Übermüdung der Auslöser sein.
Quelle: http://www.wikipedia.de/

Jetzt da das geklärt ist, doch mal ein paar spezifischere Worte zum Buch. ;)
Herausheben möchte ich an dieser Stelle vor allem die Situation und, ja, den Konflikt in
der/dem sich die Protagonistin befindet. Das Buch beginnt mit einer erwachenden Alex, die feststellen muss, dass sie nackt in einem fremden Bett liegt. Neben ihr ein Typ, den sie in den ersten Minuten nicht einmal zuordnen kann. Sie weiß, es war Alkohol im Spiel, aber an Sex denkt sie erst als sie die beiden offenen Kondompackungen sieht.
Einerseits habe ich mich auf den ersten 100 Seiten wirklich schwer getan mit Alexs Charakter, andererseits war ihr Zweifeln und Hadern - Habe ich wirklich mit ihm geschlafen? Wollte ich das? Habe ich ja gesagt? - und vor allem ihre Verzweiflung, das langsame Realisieren, dass da etwas nicht gelaufen ist, wie es sollte, so nachvollziehbar beschrieben, dass ich gar nicht anders konnte als von Anfang an an den Seiten zu kleben.

Angetan haben es mir aber mehr die Nebencharaktere. Maia und T.S., achja, und Martin natürlich!
Diese Charaktere sind es auch, die das Thema "Mockingbirds" ins Spiel bringen. Am Anfang mutet diese Gruppierung wie eine Art Geheimbund an, aber die Autorin gibt sich genug Mühe diesen Eindruck unter den Tisch zu kehren. Kein Geheimbund, dafür eine Hilforganisation von Schülern für Schüler. An und für sich mochte ich dieses Konzept sehr, bloß die Begründung dafür (also: Warum braucht es die Mockingbirds) war etwas an den Haaren herbeigezogen *räusper*: Die Schulleitung ist so dermaßen davon überzeugt, dass die Schüler der Themis Academy keine Fehler haben, dass jede Beschwerde und jedes Problem heruntergespielt wird - das geht sogar so weit, dass öfter die Lehrer als die Schüler bestraft haben ... Richtig gelesen.

Abgesehen davon hab ich aber gar nicht viel zu maulen. "The Mockingbirds" ist spannend und beleuchtet ein Problem, das viel zu selten angesprochen wird. An Alex kann der Leser wunderbar beobachten, wie viel Kraft es kostet, für sich selbst das Wort zu ergreifen und Recht einzufordern - aber auch, dass es sich schlussendlich lohnt. Nicht nur für einen selbst sondern für all die anderen "stillen" Opfer denen niemand zuhört.
Zudem vermittelt Alex' Geschichte, dass niemand alleine ist. Sie braucht eine ganze Zeit lang bis sie akzeptiert hat, was passiert ist. Aber nach und nach realisiert sie, dass sie deswegen keine Ausgestoßene sein muss. Ihre Freunde unterstützen sie auf jede erdenkliche Weise und das zu lesen und mitzuerleben war großartig. Besonders als sich Alex für Liebe öffnet hat mich das sehr gefreut.
Damit noch nicht genug zeigt "The Mockingbirds" wie Beziehungen (auch solche in Büchern) sein sollten/könnten bzw. wie sie nicht sein sollten. Dass es um Vertrauen geht und nicht bloß um eine zufällige Blickverschränkung nach der man unsterblich verliebt ist. Das Buch ist hier viel realistischer als der stumpfe Großteil der YA-Fantasy und YA-Fiction die tagtäglich erscheint. Dafür ein großes "Bravo!" an Frau Whitney. Und ein Dankeschön.

(Was ich allerdings nicht verstehe ist, warum es eine Fortsetzung braucht ...-> )The Rivals (less)

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Apr 23, 2013 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-fiction-read, my-library, romance, series, young-adult-read

My Summary: Alex - known around school as 'piano girl' - is like every other student at Themis Academy: gifted and driven. But when a night at a concert turns her life around, Alex has no choice but to seek out the Mockingbirds - a disciplinary group dedicated to righting wrongs that the administration blinds themselves to.

Now with her friends behind her, Alex is speaking out for all the girls whose voices weren't heard - and figuring out who she is in the process.

My Thoughts: Although I didn't...more

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Apr 19, 2013 Uknowcarrie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If I have to rate this book, I’ll give a rate 3.5 out of 5. The overall plot is good. A girl who was date raped can get compassion and a strong girl can get respect. A strong girl who has a miserable experience can get both. Her reaction was natural. She pretended to be calm but we can tell the panic through her behavior. “I pull the door open and do the one thing I should have done last night. Leave” (Whitney, 7). She ran away from Carter’s room and hid when she saw some “gossip girls” coming...more

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Apr 08, 2013 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Alex is a junior at Themis Academy, an elite private school which specializes in "developing the talents of young people." Part of Themis' culture is that there is no need for a discipline system since the students are all focused on doing as well as they can. As anyone who has ever had any interactions with teenagers can attest, this is a serious miscalculation.

As the book opens, Alex wakes up in a boy's bedroom with no memory of what happened. When she sees two used condom wrappers she realize...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Erica Kao rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was brilliant! “The Mockingbirds“ involves the subject that is rarely seen on the YA shelf- date rape. Alex, the protagonist had gotten herself drunk in a party, later on realized that she was date raped by a guy at school that she barely knew. With the support of her friends, Alex went to seek help from the Mockingbirds, a student justice system that rights the wrong. Alex had stood up for herself against the crime that was done by Carter, the rapist. She wanted to claim her old self...more This book was brilliant! “The Mockingbirds“ involves the subject that is rarely seen on the YA shelf- date rape. Alex, the protagonist had gotten herself drunk in a party, later on realized that she was date raped by a guy at school that she barely knew. With the support of her friends, Alex went to seek help from the Mockingbirds, a student justice system that rights the wrong. Alex had stood up for herself against the crime that was done by Carter, the rapist. She wanted to claim her old self back. She refused to accept what’s wrong. By the end of the story, she had transformed to a brave, thoughtful young woman. “The Mockingbirds” is an inspiring novel based on the real-life experience of a courageous woman.

It is really sad, yet engaging to read this book. Because of the superb writing, Daisy Whiney had bonded me with the protagonist! It was as if I was Alex. When she’s haunted, I would get emotional. At the end when everything was solved, I would feel accomplished for her. Although I’ve never had this type of experience, the author tells us everything about a date rape. Since she was once a victim, she knew exactly what it feels like. The descriptions were vivid and heart breaking. I was wretched to know what she’d gone through. I really appreciated her courage of pouring her darkest memories out to make a difference. She had become a hero in many people’s life.

The best part of the novel was nearly at the end, where the narration was “From victim to ruler, powerless to powerful, that’s how the Mockingbirds work”. This novel was all about moving on. If you don’t try to make a difference in your life, there isn’t anyone that would do it for you. Daisy Whitney was a great example. She had overcome the memories and became a mockingbird! Of course there wasn’t an actual mockingbirds system in the real world. Nevertheless, we all have one in our hearts. That is our realization of justice. Knowing what is right and which is wrong. When things are wrong, being able to stand up for ourselves allows us to become a stronger person. We are the mockingbirds. If we want to be powerful, we will be.

Inspiring novel. I’ve learned so much from it.

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Dec 20, 2012 Sean Hughsam rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitby was surely a book with interesting ideas and points of view, yet it was extremely boring. The duration of time I spent reading the book from page one, to page three hundred and thirty-two was a never ending journey of boringness and repetitiveness. I could already tell the outcome of the ending by the second chapter... No wait... The sypnosis... And not to mention the ending was extremely cliché. The story begins with a girl, Sarah waking up next to a person she...more The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitby was surely a book with interesting ideas and points of view, yet it was extremely boring. The duration of time I spent reading the book from page one, to page three hundred and thirty-two was a never ending journey of boringness and repetitiveness. I could already tell the outcome of the ending by the second chapter... No wait... The sypnosis... And not to mention the ending was extremely cliché. The story begins with a girl, Sarah waking up next to a person she doesn’t known and realises she has been date-raped. She then enlists the help of a campus organization made of students that seeks justice for these situations “The Mockingbirds” who find the male who raped her and punishes him. I mean like really? Any reader could have seen that one coming a mile away.
The only thing I found interesting about this book was the ideas it brought out. They really raised some questions and awareness. What really is rape? “My face grows hotter and my fear grows higher and all I want is out, out, out. I always thought if I were raped I would feel that way.” (Page 103) “It was date rape okay. I was drink, passed out. It’s not like when someone rapes you in a dark alley with a knife at your throat” “It’s still a crime” (Page 194) I found this interesting because nowadays with so much going around with social media, television, and movies it seems like the concept of “rape” has been changed into a stereotypical situation where it happens in a dark alley, with a sketchy guy and a knife at your throat. The reality of it and how The Mockingbirds later come to convict the accused man is that “Sexual assault is where one of the parties has not given or cannot give active verbal consent, i.e., uttered a clear “yes” to the action. If a person does not say “no” that does not mean he or she said “yes.” Silence does not equal consent. Silence could mean fear, confusion, inebriation. The only thing that means yes is yes. A lack of yes is a no. (Page 130)
The Mockingbirds also explored freedom of speech. It talked about not being intimidated by anybody to report a problem. ““Alex Nicole Patrick.” he says again. Now I know your whole name. Your whole entire name.” “Leave me alone,” I rasp. But I don’t hang up. My legs won’t move, my arms won’t move, my brain is frozen. “I thought you were just a freak. Now I know you’re fucking delusional.” “Shut up!” I say because I’m starting to thaw and the words are coming. “that’s a lie.”” (page 214)This is where the man who raped Alex is trying to intimidate her from not going to the authorities, yet she still stands strong and reports it to The Mockingbirds.
Another thing I found extremely interesting is how it implored the fact that reporting a crime to the police would not help solve any problems but in fact, find your own means of justice e, in this case The Mockingbirds. ““Why didn’t you go to the cops?” “I didn’t want to. And you know as well as I do how these things turn out with the cops involved. It turns into a he said, she said, and they turn my life upside down.”” (Page 194)
In conclusion, I believe The Mockingbirds was not a great book. The plot was extremely repetitive and there was no doubt what was going to happen. But one thing I must say are the ideas explored in this book were amazing. The idea that no consent is rape. The idea that speaking up for yourself will solve your problems. And lastly, the idea that the system is corrupt and you must find your own way to fix your problems.
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Dec 14, 2012 Emily Sau rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The pleasurable element of the novel is how Alex can get through the horrifying moment by getting support from her friends. Her roommates, T.S. and Maia, encouraged her to step up and trust herself. They are also the one telling her to go find help from the mockingbirds. The mockingbirds is a very interesting organization which I have never heard of it before. It is an organization run by students that helps students in need. They give back justice to them with their unpredictable power. I am in...more The pleasurable element of the novel is how Alex can get through the horrifying moment by getting support from her friends. Her roommates, T.S. and Maia, encouraged her to step up and trust herself. They are also the one telling her to go find help from the mockingbirds. The mockingbirds is a very interesting organization which I have never heard of it before. It is an organization run by students that helps students in need. They give back justice to them with their unpredictable power. I am interested to know if they have similar organizations in reality. As you know bullying always happen nowadays. One month ago, there was a girl competed suicide in Canada since she was being bullied. It is a sad news which we should definitely focus on. If there’s the mockingbird in reality, students who are being bullied will no longer go under, they can move forward, they will have a hope!
Another interesting element in the novel is knowing the writer, Daisy Whitney, is also being date raped in her life before. She is actually writing the Mockingbirds from her own experience. Therefore, she knows how to handle the feeling of being raped easily. Through the writing in the book, it shows how strong she is. She isn’t afraid to speak out as a victim. The author gives the reader a message of having courage and hope.
The thing I don’t like about in this book is how the author keeps repeating the scene of how Alex went from the concert, to the club, got drink, and ended up in carter, the rapist’s bedroom. Every time when Alex explained what had happened that night, the scene is shown. Therefore, readers keep reading the same sentence again and again. That is really ignoring, as we have probably got bored from hearing it over and over again!
The time of Alex from feeling shame all the time to start going under and stand up for herself is what I found particularly intriguing. Being the reader of this book is like being Alex’s parents. You watch the whole process of Alex growing up. From a week personality, to refuse hiding from the truth, and being strong and standing up for herself. She reclaims her life. “Justice doesn’t work like that, it doesn’t erase what happened. It doesn’t make you who you were before. I’m becoming someone else- someone else I’m figuring out how to be.” (pg. 317; line 16-19) This is also the purpose of the story. The author, Daisy Whitney reminds readers that standing up for someone, especially yourself, is worth the fight.
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Oct 13, 2012 Catie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-fiction

If you liked To Kill a Mockingbird you may want to consider The Mockingbirds. Alex goes to a boarding school, and Friday nights the juniors and seniors are allowed an evening out. Her favorite band is playing at a nearby club, so she and her friends go, and at some point she has too much to drink, for the first time in her life. The next morning she wakes up in a strange room, in a strange bed, next to a guy she barely knows—and the worst part is, she has no idea how she got there. Or what happe...more

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Oct 12, 2012 Alexa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-2013-advisory

One night, Alex drinks too much during a concert and ends up getting raped. At first she is totally confused and doesn't believe she got date-raped, but after talking to her best friend and roommate, T.S., she starts to believe it. Alex doesn't want to report this to the police because she doesn't want people to know, including her parents. So with the help of T.S., Alex turns to a group called The Mockingbirds. The Mockingbirds are a group of students that help other students in need of help. T...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Lindsay rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One of my favorite authors recommended this book, so I was excited to begin reading Daisy Whitney's debut novel. The opening chapter was strong, inviting the reader in; Alex's voice was both humorous and completely honest. But the chapters just got worse after that, and I found that I had stopped enjoying it after about fifty pages.

This was definitely a strong message, and one that should be taken seriously by all readers. I admire what Whitney was trying to do, and for the most part I think she...more One of my favorite authors recommended this book, so I was excited to begin reading Daisy Whitney's debut novel. The opening chapter was strong, inviting the reader in; Alex's voice was both humorous and completely honest. But the chapters just got worse after that, and I found that I had stopped enjoying it after about fifty pages.

This was definitely a strong message, and one that should be taken seriously by all readers. I admire what Whitney was trying to do, and for the most part I think she did a good job of having Alex take a stand. This book reminded me of Speak, but there was one main difference: Alex stood up right away, immediately after she found out what happened. In Speak, the main character spent almost a year getting the courage to do so. I admired Alex, but I didn't get to know her at all throughout the story...despite the fact that she was narrating it.

Whitney is a first-time author, and it showed. All of the characters had only one purpose: keep the story moving. They were words on a page, their actions designed specifically to help the plot of the book. The only character I didn't mind was Maia, but she too was written to keep the book going. There were also MANY characters introduced, then dropped, then brought back up again at the end of the novel. I found the surplus of names quite confusing. Maia, T.S, Sandeep, Carter, Kevin, Dana, Martin, Henry, Mel. Those are just the names that come to mind; I'm sure there were many others scattered around the story.

The thing that bothered me the most was the lack of authority in the novel. Themis Academy is supposedly a top-notch boarding school, one of the best in the United States. If this is true, the teachers would be EXTREMELY involved in the students. The students would not have to start their own secret society called The Mockingbirds (which was also pretty unrealistic). If students behaved in such a way, they would be expelled. Stabbing a student, date-rape, hate crimes...those are serious offenses, ones that should be taken to a court, not a laundry room.

Now to The Mockingbirds. The Mockingbirds was supposed to be a "secret" society of students, who dealt with "cases" of unjust throughout the student body of Themis. They were supposed to seem powerful, but the whole idea sounded silly to me. I can't see something like that actually working in a normal high school.

I'm not trying to steer you away from this book, because the message was strong and informative. However, there were many flaws, so be prepared to read through that if you're interested in starting "The Mockingbirds" by Daisy Whitney. (less)

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Aug 15, 2012 Amortentia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, unmemorable, young-adult, rape

This review is also found on Ink & Tea Reviews.

The Mockingbirds was intended to be a quick read while I was sitting in Starbucks one day with a craving for some high school drama. I had seen mixed reviews for the book, so I went into it not expecting a whole lot. Unfortunately, my expectations were met.

Our protagonist is Alex, a teenage girl at a boarding school that demands excellence. After a night partying and drinking, she is raped by another student – Carter. The first part of the book...more This review is also found on Ink & Tea Reviews.

The Mockingbirds was intended to be a quick read while I was sitting in Starbucks one day with a craving for some high school drama. I had seen mixed reviews for the book, so I went into it not expecting a whole lot. Unfortunately, my expectations were met.

Our protagonist is Alex, a teenage girl at a boarding school that demands excellence. After a night partying and drinking, she is raped by another student – Carter. The first part of the book primarily deals with the question of whether she was raped or not, as she cannot recall the details, and is, at first, unsure of if she just made a mistake or if Carter took advantage of her. Eventually she decides that, yes, it was rape, as she was in no state to consent, and so she calls on the Mockingbirds, a sort of secret society at Themis Academy that try and punish other students.

First, let’s get one thing clear – this isn’t a bad book, it just wasn’t for me for a few reasons I will expand on shortly. Second, a lot of the criticism of this book came from the fact that some people believed that Carter did not, in fact, rape Alex. I am not one of those reviewers, and I believe that it was CLEARLY rape, and it is somewhat confusing that this is a contested fact.

I found much of the book cartoonish and over-the-top. This is especially noticeable in the beginning of the book, and although it decreases later on, it definitely impeded my getting absorbed into the story. Alex’s sarcasm is ridiculous – she doesn’t have that dry, witty sarcasm, but has that over-the-top sort of immature sarcasm of “yeah, okay, whatever.” Random scenes she imagines will be described to us when they really don’t need to be – for example, Alex hears the phrase “knock out” and so we get half a page of her imagining herself in a boxing ring. It just seems unrealistic and like a bit of a caricature of the way minds really work.

Themis Academy seemed to be suffering from a bit of Adults Are Useless. The faculty doesn’t believe that the students behave badly, so The Mockingbirds are the law. Maybe this wouldn’t bother me so much if they went to the police with their evidence, or forced the school to take notice, but that’s not the case. The punishment for every case is that the guilty party must relinquish what they love most. So if Carter is found guilty, his punishment is that he gives up water polo.

Giving up water polo. For raping a girl. I’d prefer him to be put in jail, get expelled, get put on a sex offender registry, SOMETHING. But giving up water polo? Really? That’s just offensive.

I wasn’t invested in any of the characters. Of course, I wanted Carter to be found guilty, but this was less for Alex’s sake and more for the principle of the thing. Alex’s friends seemed to each have one specific personality trait that was played up, so they didn’t seem like real people. Instead of any sort of character development or fleshing out personalities, more attention was given to describing their outfits. The teachers were useless. It’s unfair to call them characters, really, they were just there to show that Alex couldn’t get help from the school.

Oh, Alex entered into a relationship with one of the Mockingbirds, Martin. I didn’t buy the romance at all, primarily because the text claims they were in love. There was very little chemistry, and I thought it was more realistic when it seemed like Alex was using Martin to get over her trauma. Towards the beginning of the book, Martin was introduced as a guy Alex only really knows because he’s friends with her best friend’s boyfriend. Then, towards the middle, they begin to strengthen their friendship, and that was believable and totally fine. Then, suddenly, Alex remembers that she wanted to be with Martin at the party where she got drunk, and not long after, they’re admitting their love for each other. It was just kind of an abrupt change.

So, The Mockingbirds isn’t a keeper for me, unfortunately, and it wasn’t the most enjoyable read. I had to force myself to finish it over the course of three days, when I was whizzing through other books and dreading having to re-open this one. I might still read other works by the author if the synopsis catches my eye, but I’m not reading the sequel.
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Aug 09, 2012 Karen.s rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm of two minds on this book, that deals with a date rape on a boarding school campus. At first I thought the writing was brilliant: the pain and emotion the main character, Alex, felt due to the rape was real and raw. However the continuation of the story and the student body's vigilante court trial was unrealistic and bothered me on some levels. In the author's note at the end, she writes about having gone through a date rape so she knows what she is talking about in this. She also writes tha...more I'm of two minds on this book, that deals with a date rape on a boarding school campus. At first I thought the writing was brilliant: the pain and emotion the main character, Alex, felt due to the rape was real and raw. However the continuation of the story and the student body's vigilante court trial was unrealistic and bothered me on some levels. In the author's note at the end, she writes about having gone through a date rape so she knows what she is talking about in this. She also writes that her date rape case, which happened at Brown University, was one of the first the campus took seriously and prosecuted within its judicial system. I think she was trying to recreate a similar atmosphere of students refusing to be quiet about an important issue that the school wasn't taking seriously enough. However, in the fictional case, the school is so incompetent and turns a blind eye that the students must devise their own system for trying such cases, without any involvement from teachers, administration or parents. In fact, capable adults are pretty much entirely absent. I know many teenagers don't feel that any adult could ever help them with their problems, but the situation in this book is unbelievable. There is only one sympathetic teacher to whom the main character eventually turns pretty much after the students have tried the case.

My parental evaluation: this book has some similarities with Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak, but that book is in my opinion, far superior, though I think Alex's reaction to what happened was far more realistic. Alex blames herself, feels guilty, but doesn't cut herself off from everybody. However, the description of the rape in Mockingbirds is more graphic. There is some crude language. One implied lesson to be taught from both books is that getting drunk is really not smart and can lead to situations between men and women where no or yes are easily confused. The book also seems to say that adults are incompetent imbeciles who can't help a teen in trouble.(less)

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Aug 02, 2012 Lee Ann rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wish this book - and other teen novels that deal with issues that teens actually face - could be incorporated into high school lit curriculums. They would help so much more than the same old classics. Maybe they could add it as a "modern YA lit" course...I'm sure enrollment for that would be large if the kids had a choice.

In Mockingbirds (yes, it is a reference to To Kill A Mockingbird), you can't really call Alex a typical high school student, because that doesn't fit any of the kids at Themi...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Najela rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Let me be clear, this book had some major flaws, basically the whole thing with Martin. And I know that from a narrative standpoint, he was there to show the contrast between the rapist and a regular guy. It's really hard for me to believe that the adults at the school believe that it's some kind of utopia there. But from a narrative standpoint, if the adults weren't so stupid, there would be no need for The Mockingbirds, right? The flaws just stand out to me as a writer, I can't turn that part...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The teachers and administrators at Themis, an elite boarding school, are clueless. When an incident arises about bullying, cheating, stealing, or other student crimes, it's brushed under the rug. After all, the students at Themis are some of the brightest, most talented students in the country! They can't do any wrong. That's where The Mockingbirds come in. Equal parts Boo Radley and Atticus Finch, The Mockingbirds are the vigilante justice system in place for the students, by the students. They...more The teachers and administrators at Themis, an elite boarding school, are clueless. When an incident arises about bullying, cheating, stealing, or other student crimes, it's brushed under the rug. After all, the students at Themis are some of the brightest, most talented students in the country! They can't do any wrong. That's where The Mockingbirds come in. Equal parts Boo Radley and Atticus Finch, The Mockingbirds are the vigilante justice system in place for the students, by the students. They hear cases and--through a system of checks and balances--make rulings.

When Alex wakes up naked in another student's bed without any recollection of the night before, she gradually comes to terms with the truth: she's been date raped. With everything in her life turned upside down, she goes to The Mockingbirds for help.

The Mockingbirds is everything a YA novel should be and rarely is. Whitney creates a flesh-and-blood heroine, with fully developed interests that reach beyond the span of cute boys. She has her share of flaws that come out over the course of the book, but they make her relatable as a character. Whitney also tackles complex and mature subject to tackle, never condescending to her readers. The scenes where Alex flashes back to her rape are painful to read, as they should be, and the trial that takes place toward the end rings true, full of victim-blaming we see every day on the news.

Sadly, the victim blaming doesn't stop there. When I read reviews for this book, I was disgusted by the amount of readers who disparaged the book because they didn't see Alex as a real victim because she'd been drinking and therefore she was asking for it. To those reviewers I say shame on you. Alcohol doesn't facilitate rape. If you were to randomly look at three rape cases, you would be hard-pressed to find even one similarity between the victims (not what they were wearing, not their level of intoxication, not their number of sexual partners). The only thing they would have in common? The fact that there was a rapist involved.

I liked that Whitney didn't have Alex assaulted in some dark alley or physically forced. Date rape is so often seen as a grey area, but she shows that there is nothing grey about it.(less)

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Jun 17, 2012 Jade rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wanted to like this book. I feel pretty strongly about the issue in question - and have read several novels based on the topic. In that area I think the book was pretty good - it dealt with Alex's uncertainty and doubt about what really happened, and her coming to the realisation that it wasn't her fault.

The character development and backstory was the real problem. The whole mockingbirds concept seemed implausible. I find it hard to believe that the perpetrators really willingly took their pun...more

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May 29, 2012 Ashley (The Bibliophile's Corner) rated it 5 of 5 stars

I normally do not read contemporary YA fiction. But if it is also catagorized as “tough stuff,” like Ellen Hopkins and Laurie Halse Anderson, I will definitely read it.

When I saw the cover of this book, I was interested. It looks so different from other covers. I flipped to the back and the second that I realized it was about date-rape, I bought it. I firmly believe that schools and society need to do more about date-rape. Society also needs to tell boys and men to stop raping instead of telling...more I normally do not read contemporary YA fiction. But if it is also catagorized as “tough stuff,” like Ellen Hopkins and Laurie Halse Anderson, I will definitely read it.

When I saw the cover of this book, I was interested. It looks so different from other covers. I flipped to the back and the second that I realized it was about date-rape, I bought it. I firmly believe that schools and society need to do more about date-rape. Society also needs to tell boys and men to stop raping instead of telling girls and women how not to get raped. But that is a rant for another day. Back to The Mockingbirds.

“Three things I know this second: I have morning breath, I’m naked, and I’m waking up next to a boy I don’t know.” That is the first sentence that kept me hooked on this book for two days. When I wasn’t visiting family, I was reading, hoping and praying that Alex would get her justice she so desperately needs.

Alex Patrick is a junior at Themis Academy and the piano is her life. We are immediately thrust into this confusion and panic and go on the journey with Alex as she remembers that night. I cannot tell you how many times my heart broke for her. I cried out of sadness, anger, and happiness and am so grateful no one was around to see me do so. Though Alex is going through this terrible ordeal, she is a lot stronger than she thinks. Not everyone would turn to help after being date-raped, particularly if not being able to recall the details. But Alex fights through it all.

One of my favorite aspects of this book is Alex’s relationship with music. As she overcomes different aspects of the rape and piecing her life together, her realtionship with her piano is incredibly similar. I loved it.

*MINOR SPOILER*
When she is able to recall parts of her rape, she is horrified to find out that Carter, her rapist, played her favorite Beethoven song, Ode to Joy, while he was raping her. I was appalled and genuinely disgusted at this because Alex was so hurt. She couldn’t even play the song without getting flashbacks to her rape.

My favorite scene by far is when she goes to the music hall alone and furiously is slamming out Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. When she gets to Ode to Joy, she loses control and every emotion she feels is slammed into these keys. I won’t lie. It made me cry.

My other favorite scene is at the end when she is playing Rhapsody in Blue with her fellow musician and instead of the normal composition, they go hip-hip instead. This made me smile because Alex finally took her life back.

*END SPOILER*

So far my review is heavily focused on Alex, which makes sense since this story is about her standing up for herself. But her friends and the Mockingbirds are some truly wonderful characters and I wish every person could have them in their daily lives.

Martin, T.S., and Maia are Alex’s friends who stay by her through this entire ordeal. They all play their parts in helping Alex and it was truly touching to see friends who care so deeply. The Mockingbirds are also a great core group of characters who I would want on my side any day. Also, Ms. Damata is a teacher that I would LOVE to be.

The Mockingbirds is beyond incredible. I could not put it down. I read for two and a half hours straight to finish this book today so I could bring you all my review. Daisy Whitney’s debut is not to be missed. Even if you are not a YA contemporary/tough stuff fan, please, please read this book. You will not regret it.(less)

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May 27, 2012 Paula Phillips rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Mockingbirds is a book that I had been excited to read and I was glad as I really enjoyed it. The story crosses the themes of How to Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and reminded me alot of the author Laurie Halse Anderson's work. In the Mockingbirds , the school body are the judgement callers, the policing school system . When Alex is date-raped , she doesn't know who to turn too , so she turns to her big sister Casey with the help of a friend T.S . Casey, years ago set up a group based on...more

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