Alex's role in the Mockingbirds, an underground student justice system at her elite boarding school, is challenged when she tries to stop a group o...
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reviews
Feb 21, 2012
Gillysegal
rated it: 
In the Rivals, we revisit Themis Academy. Alex is now in charge of The Mockingbirds and this novel chronicles her struggles with leading the group, following her own moral compass and surviving the aftermath of her date rape. I was so pleased Whitney did not gloss over that part of Alex’s journey, as it would have been all too easy to just put that behind Alex and move on to the new mystery. Speaking of which, the new Mockingbird case involves a drug ring at Themis and the case raises challengin
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Feb 10, 2012
Nancy
rated it:
3.5 STARS
The book picks up right where Mockingbirds leaves off. There is enough back story to jump into this book without reading the first one but I liked the first one because of the originality. This one lacked a clear conflict. There would be a beginning of a conflict and then it would fizzle. Eventually, I saw the pattern of the real conflict which was two-fold 1)Students are using ADHD medicine to improve academic performance and 2) Alex, the new leader, is imperfect, not knowing More...
The book picks up right where Mockingbirds leaves off. There is enough back story to jump into this book without reading the first one but I liked the first one because of the originality. This one lacked a clear conflict. There would be a beginning of a conflict and then it would fizzle. Eventually, I saw the pattern of the real conflict which was two-fold 1)Students are using ADHD medicine to improve academic performance and 2) Alex, the new leader, is imperfect, not knowing More...
Jan 28, 2012
Barbara
rated it: 
Picking up right where The Mockingbirds [one of my last year's favorites]left out off, this title follows Alex Patrick as she continues to heal from the sexual assault she suffered at the hands of fellow student Carter. She also has assumed the leadership of The Mockingbirds, the school's not so secret student group that administers justice when the school administration looks the other way. Now Alex must deal with allegations that some of her classmates, including her roommate are enhancing the
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Jan 21, 2012
Kristen
rated it:
In the interest of full disclosure, I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of The Rivals from the wonderful author.
I love these books for so many reasons, but I especially love that they take place in a world that feels very real, and that even the exaggeratedly blind eye the faculty cast upon their teenage turmoil feels believable given the way that a part of being a teenager is thinking (justifably or not) that adults just don't understand or appreciate just what teenagers are g More...
I love these books for so many reasons, but I especially love that they take place in a world that feels very real, and that even the exaggeratedly blind eye the faculty cast upon their teenage turmoil feels believable given the way that a part of being a teenager is thinking (justifably or not) that adults just don't understand or appreciate just what teenagers are g More...
Dec 31, 2011
Aliyah
rated it: 
The Rivals is the sequel to Daisy Whitney's debut novel The Mockingbirds, which was released last year. I received an ARC of The Rivals for review. The Rivals will be released on February 6, 2012.
The Rivals picks up at the beginning of the new school year after The Mockingbirds ended. This year, Alex is in charge of the Mockingbirds. Right as the school year begins, she is confronted with a case that is different from anything the Mockingbirds have handled before- an alleged d More...
Jul 29, 2011
Teri
rated it:
Daisy Whitney is a maverick in writing. Mockingbirds was the first book in this series and it really set the stage for it's debut. The cast if characters was so realistic and dramatic that as the story unfolded we cries and cheered on it's cast.
Now with the upcoming release of Rivals we are brought back into the sphere of influence of the Themis Academy where old enemies wait, and suspicious is rampant in the halls.
The new case up for the Mockingbirds will not only implicate friends b More...
Now with the upcoming release of Rivals we are brought back into the sphere of influence of the Themis Academy where old enemies wait, and suspicious is rampant in the halls.
The new case up for the Mockingbirds will not only implicate friends b More...
Jun 17, 2011
Kelly
rated it:
After the events of the first book, Alex is now heading up The Mockingbirds. Her first case is about a prescription drug ring that's enabling students to cheat (think Adderall, only more powerful). People she knows (and likes) are being implicated in this, and she has to figure out how to balance her new responsibility with being the person and friend she wants to be.
I connected so much with The Mockingbirds and this is a completely different book. The case isn't as clear-cut in t More...
I connected so much with The Mockingbirds and this is a completely different book. The case isn't as clear-cut in t More...
Jun 21, 2011
Andrea
rated it:
3.5 out of 5 rating
Just like the first book (The Mockingbirds), The Rivals deals with an important topic not only at boarding schools, but at all schools in general--a cheating ring. While I really enjoyed this book, it didn't quite have the power that the first book did.
While I'm still not sure that a system like this would work in a real school (and we kind of see that in the book) I'm the type of person that definitely sees right from wrong. I think I would be on More...
Just like the first book (The Mockingbirds), The Rivals deals with an important topic not only at boarding schools, but at all schools in general--a cheating ring. While I really enjoyed this book, it didn't quite have the power that the first book did.
While I'm still not sure that a system like this would work in a real school (and we kind of see that in the book) I'm the type of person that definitely sees right from wrong. I think I would be on More...
Oct 18, 2011
Courtney
rated it:
As usual, I'll say more closer to the release! I got to read an early incarnation of The Rivals a while back and it was exciting. What it has become since that early read is even more exciting. It takes a bold, daring writer to establish all the ground rules in Book One (which was The Mockingbirds, which I also loved) and then proceed to DECONSTRUCT EVERY SINGLE LAST ONE OF THEM in the second book. Daisy Whitney is a bold, daring writing. This book is an unraveling of everything you thought
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Sep 11, 2011
Sandi
rated it:
I didn't read The Mockingbirds, and The Rivals is its sequel. However, most new readers to the series will glean enough from the opening of The Rivals to know what happened and will be able to follow the characters. That said, I felt that there was too much backstory in the first 50 pages. I wanted to put it down several times. There simply wasn't much conflict or suspense to keep me reading until about page 65. That's when a rival for the mc's affection arrived and so did the first real inkling
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Jan 15, 2012
Genevieve
rated it:
I received an ARC copy of The Rivals by Daisy Whitney to review. It will come out in February 2012.
The Rivals by Daisy Whitney is the follow up to the debut novel, The Mockingbirds. Picking up right at the start of the new school year for Alex, it doesn’t take long for Alex and the rest of the Mockingbird board to get involved in a new case. Only this time, the case isn’t so simple. It’s about an alleged cheating ring that supposedly has a large group of students drawn in. As the new More...
The Rivals by Daisy Whitney is the follow up to the debut novel, The Mockingbirds. Picking up right at the start of the new school year for Alex, it doesn’t take long for Alex and the rest of the Mockingbird board to get involved in a new case. Only this time, the case isn’t so simple. It’s about an alleged cheating ring that supposedly has a large group of students drawn in. As the new More...
Dec 27, 2011
Amy
rated it:
I loved The Mockingbirds. I loved that it addresses the topic of date rape with class and respect without making the crime any less horrific. I wasn't sure what I would think of the sequel- how could the author top the emotional journey that takes place in The Mockingbirds? I was very pleasantly surprised that the next installment of Alex's journey was just as heartfelt and moving. Alex is still struggling with what happened to her last year plus she is dealing with the pressures of senior year
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May 29, 2011
Kelly
rated it:
This is one you definitely need to read the first book to before really appreciating what Whitney does in this one. Alex is amazzzzing in this book. What her weaknesses were for me in book one are so changed in this book, and the change makes perfect sense, too. It makes me realize in some what I, too, misjudged her as a character, as a person, as a victim, when I read The Mockingbirds. THAT is true skill.
There are times it veers a tiny bit didactic in story, BUT, it fits in context More...
There are times it veers a tiny bit didactic in story, BUT, it fits in context More...
Jan 02, 2012
Edna Lyn
rated it:
Daisy Whitney’s debut novel The Mockingbirds was one of the more unique books I read last year. It established the ground rules for the Mockingbirds, an underground student-run judicial system set on helping students when the administration fails. Now with the sequel The Rivals, Alex, who had sought help from the Mockingbirds in the previous year, is head of the secret society. Alex’s first case is unlike any other before it; a prescription drug ring aimed at helping students cheat has been set
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Dec 04, 2011
Michelle
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Dec 29, 2011
Laura
rated it:
One of the main issues I had with The Mockingbirds is addressed here: how any one supposedly underground group have that much influence on the rest of the students? Think about it. There's a whole lot of buy-in that needs to happen, and if one of the accused chooses to ignore the Mockingbirds, the system falls apart. So I was glad that the author tackles that in the sequel.
It was also good to see that Alex, in her role as leader of the Mockinbirds, is not perfect. She makes mista More...
It was also good to see that Alex, in her role as leader of the Mockinbirds, is not perfect. She makes mista More...
Oct 11, 2011
Kellee
rated it:
After reading The Mockingbirds, I was lucky enough to have The Rivals laying around the house (THANKS Little, Brown!) and I went directly to it and picked it up. The Mockingbirds is a phenomenal book and I was so excited to see where Daisy Whitney was going to go next.
*May have some spoilers for The Mockingbirds*
Now that Alex is the head of the Mockingbirds, the focus has changed from her survival from her rape, to her helping others become survivors. The problem is, A More...
*May have some spoilers for The Mockingbirds*
Now that Alex is the head of the Mockingbirds, the focus has changed from her survival from her rape, to her helping others become survivors. The problem is, A More...
Dec 01, 2011
Princess Bookie
rated it:
My Thoughts: I was way excited to read this one when I received it. I loved The Mockingbirds so I was excited when I got the chance to read The Rivals.
We are back with Alex Patrick. Remember her? The girl who was date raped in The Mockingbirds. She is now the leader of The Mockingbirds. We are also back with all of her friends and her boyfriend Martin. This book tackles the issue of prescription meds and students supplying them on campus. We don't know who is really doing it or who i More...
We are back with Alex Patrick. Remember her? The girl who was date raped in The Mockingbirds. She is now the leader of The Mockingbirds. We are also back with all of her friends and her boyfriend Martin. This book tackles the issue of prescription meds and students supplying them on campus. We don't know who is really doing it or who i More...
Nov 10, 2011
G. Donald
rated it:
I have just finished reading the ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of THE RIVALS and was so completely blown away, I can hardly scrape myself up off the ground to offer a well-deserved, well-earned 5-star review to Daisy Whitney for her fast paced sequel to THE MOCKINGBIRDS. Rarely does a second book surpass the writing and talent clearly seen in the first; however, Daisy has pulled off the hat-trick and presented readers with another year of the students we fell in love with in Book 1 as well as intro
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Feb 13, 2012
Mrs.Heise
rated it:
Review originally posted at Heise Reads & Recommends
THE MOCKINGBIRDS was one of my absolute favorite books of last year, and I absolutely recommend it to everyone if you haven't read it yet (which, if you haven't, you need to go do immediately!!!)! And, Daisy is really fabulous - she even did a skype visit with my students after I was raving about her book on twitter. So, I was really excited to get an advanced copy of this sequel to read the continuation of Alex's story after the ev More...
THE MOCKINGBIRDS was one of my absolute favorite books of last year, and I absolutely recommend it to everyone if you haven't read it yet (which, if you haven't, you need to go do immediately!!!)! And, Daisy is really fabulous - she even did a skype visit with my students after I was raving about her book on twitter. So, I was really excited to get an advanced copy of this sequel to read the continuation of Alex's story after the ev More...
Feb 10, 2012
laaaaames
rated it:
I was never fully drawn into the world of The Mockingbirds; I just honestly don't believe such a society would be formed, would act as they did, and, most importantly, would be followed by the rest of campus.
HOWEVER. In that book, I was so drawn into Alex's story, and really applaud Whitney's unabashed stance on Alex's rape and lack of blame in the situation. I thought it was so admirable and important to be addressed this way.
I didn't feel this way at all about The Rival More...
HOWEVER. In that book, I was so drawn into Alex's story, and really applaud Whitney's unabashed stance on Alex's rape and lack of blame in the situation. I thought it was so admirable and important to be addressed this way.
I didn't feel this way at all about The Rival More...
Oct 04, 2011
Erinn
rated it:
I wrote a longer review but I'll sum it up here. I really loved the first Mockingbirds book, and while this one veered in a completely different direction I may have liked parts of it even better. The lawlessness of the school and the investigations the students undertake make it more of a noir mystery, which was totally unexpected. The ending was a little too "And this what I learned..." for me, which is why I only gave it four stars. Whitney is willing to explore very dark topics and
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May 11, 2011
Carrie
rated it:
I MAY have gotten a copy of this to pass on to a charity, and I MAY have peeked inside just to see if it's as awesome as THE MOCKINGBIRDS. I MAY have finished the whole thing in about an hour and a half despite having lots of other things to do and despite the fact that it doesn't belong to me.
Officially, I did not read this book. But if I had, I would be telling you how AWESOME it is. YOU NEED TO READ IT.
I need to read it too. Because I didn't. Really. I swear.
Officially, I did not read this book. But if I had, I would be telling you how AWESOME it is. YOU NEED TO READ IT.
I need to read it too. Because I didn't. Really. I swear.
May 31, 2011
Zoe
rated it:
I have a personal rule that I can't call an author "one of my favorites" until I've read two of their books. Now I can wholeheartedly say that Daisy Whitney has solidified her spot as one of my all time favorite authors. I applaud her for writing this sequel with as much grace and poise as the first book.
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
Nov 13, 2011
Janssen
rated it:
It took me a little while to warm to this story (like. . . 120 pages while), because Alex was so incredibly annoying to me, but it really found its stride after that and I ended up quite enjoying it. Much stronger than Mockingbirds.
Nov 29, 2011
Kimberly
rated it:
I finally got my greedy little hands on THE RIVALS (through an ARC Tour) and then proceeded to have sweaty hands all the way up until the end. The tension just kept mounting. Every time I thought I had a bead on who the culprit was--I was wrong. In addition to the suspense, THE RIVALS raised important questions--just like the MOCKINGBIRDS did. Whitney never preaches, instead she lets you into the minds of characters that have honest flaws. I also love that the stakes in the book were real.
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Jul 28, 2011
Angela
rated it:
This is the sequel to The Mockingbirds. It was good but not as good as the first. It is okay for broader audiences - middle & high school students.
I like the way Alex evolved through this novel, but it was a bit confused and contrived.
I like the way Alex evolved through this novel, but it was a bit confused and contrived.
Feb 09, 2012
I liked The Mockingbirds when I read it last year, but you know what - The Rivals is better. Daisy Whitney has developed a world in which the stakes are higher, the truth is no longer black and white, and most importantly, reflects the type of world that today's teens find themselves in now and will find themselves in as they grow up and enter the "adult" world. At the same time, she does a great job of showing how Alex grows as a survivor.
I, for one, will keep her books on More...
I, for one, will keep her books on More...
Feb 14, 2012
Amanda
rated it:
A decent read, but not as good as the first book "Mockingbirds" in the series. However, I still have high expectations for the next book, and I look forward to Martin and Alex's romance and whether or not she will get into Julliard.
