The S-Word

Jan 03, 2013 Emily May rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-na, arc, 2013, bloody-awful, annoying

Oh dear, my 2013 reading has not kicked off the way I hoped it would. That one star which you see there is for nothing more than good intentions. I think. Though that's a bit sketchy too. Okay, let's just say that the one star you see is for what I THINK the author's intentions were but, in the end, this book was one hot mess of strained dialogue, awkward similes and a style of writing that I simply couldn't enjoy no matter how hard I tried. It's really such a shame because the idea had so much...more

Oh dear, my 2013 reading has not kicked off the way I hoped it would. That one star which you see there is for nothing more than good intentions. I think. Though that's a bit sketchy too. Okay, let's just say that the one star you see is for what I THINK the author's intentions were but, in the end, this book was one hot mess of strained dialogue, awkward similes and a style of writing that I simply couldn't enjoy no matter how hard I tried. It's really such a shame because the idea had so much potential. If you've been kind enough to read a few of my reviews before, you may have noticed a rant pattern that centres around the issue of slut-shaming (or basically the shaming of female sexuality), it's something that really bothers me - particularly in books targeting young adults - and the possibility seemingly proposed by this book of taking a closer look at the damage done in high school (as well as other places) by words such as "slut" seemed like a great opportunity to tackle this issue. Or at least offer a different perspective to teens who may be growing up with negative attitudes to female sexuality being force-fed to them every day (or even sexuality in general, as many boys are also given abstinence-only education).

The S-Word is about two best friends - Angie and Lizzie - the latter of which has just committed suicide at the book's opening. We soon find out that she has been a victim of bullying because she was caught in bed with her best friend's boyfriend on prom night, scrawled words all over her locker saying the s-word that no high school girl wants to be branded with. But someone isn't willing to let Lizzie rest so easily, now the words "suicide slut" have appeared and this time they're in Lizzie's handwriting. Then comes the pages torn from the diary Lizzie kept, left around the school for different students to find and Angie, torn up by the part she had to play in making Lizzie's life a misery, decides she will find out two things: 1) who was responsible for driving her friend to suicide and 2) who is determined to make sure she continues to haunt the school.

The problem I had with this book is almost entirely about the style of writing and not the plot line itself. It's a very relevant topic and attempts to reverse the dehumanizing process that girls labelled a "slut" go through, they become defined by who they've been intimate with or who they are rumoured to have been intimate with and this makes them something less than a human being to their peers. All good stuff. But the style was a different matter, it felt disjointed and the sentences often didn't flow or were poorly constructed. Half of the time it read like one of those LIFE STORIES articles in teen magazines, the other half it read like a sociology essay on gender, race and sexuality. Much of the book didn't feel like a novel, it felt like the author's commentary on the target issues and it didn't run smoothly.

So so many tells instead of shows too. The narrator (Angie) explains to the reader why there is a double standard and rants about how it's unfair to women. What could easily have been a powerful and moving story that changed people's opinions or at least made them think about these issues a bit more, turned into something that sounded like a preachy interview. Every so often, Angie would pause in the story to explain why life was so unfair and to point out gender inequality - but this textbook style of addressing the problem actually weakened the story and it's message. Also, I found it very difficult to believe in Lizzie's diary entries because, though this book has many older teen/adult themes and Lizzie is seventeen, her diary reads more like a twelve-year-old's journal. Then there's the fact that diary-Lizzie is a I-can-see-your-halo shining beacon of sunshine and goodness, she practically feels bad every time she steps on an ant [exaggeration] - is this what it takes to make us feel bad for the "school slut"? Must she become a saint in every other way to make up for her sexuality?

But the diary wasn't the only thing that felt completely unrealistic. Some of the similes didn't sit quite right with me, one example is this "'Give it a rest,' I say casually, like I'm asking which celebrity they're most itching to bang." I found this particular comparison odd, shouldn't you say something along the lines of "like I'm talking about the weather" when you're being all casual, banging celebrities isn't exactly what pops into my head when I'm thinking of casual things but maybe I'm just more boring than I realised. Another thing that felt so unnatural I almost laughed was "It wasn't nice of her to sleep with my boyfriend", I mean, who actually says things like that? Who here could walk in on their partner and best friend getting it on and think oh my, that's not very nice, is it? But look, I have a broken nail.

Soooo... I know I said that it was more the style than the story but I guess it had quite a bit to do with both. For one thing, it's painfully easy to work out what the big secret is which drove Lizzie to her death. I imagine anyone who's read one or two "issue books" will see that one coming a mile off. Second - and this is something which annoys me so so much - people withhold information for no other reason than to prolong the story and mystery, there's actually no reason not to tell what they know and they also make it clear that they know something big straight away by saying something like "If only you knew... never mind" [not a direct quote] so that we're kept wondering what the secret is. I hate this method used for creating suspense, it's so false and unnatural.

Furthermore, I hated Angie. She was pretty much insufferable the whole way through and her decision to start her own investigation felt sudden and ridiculous. You know those childrens books where the little kid sets out on a mission to solve a mystery and starts playing detective and it's really cute and funny because they're, like, five years old? That is what Angie's behaviour felt like. Except that she's a high school senior, not a little kid, so it's not cute but forced and awkward instead. Also, her feelings about the situation with Lizzie don't feel natural, she criticises the other students for only caring about Lizzie once she's dead but she is exactly the same - she hated her as much as everyone else up until her death (but she actually had a reason to) and suddenly all is forgiven and she gets to judge everyone else? She even has the nerve to say of her classmates who criticised Lizzie: "who did these people think they were, the morality police? Talk about hypocritical." Yes, indeed, talk about hypocritical. Because Angie was one of them before Lizzie died.

So, uh, you've probably worked out this was a major disappointment for me. But surely this means that 2013 can only get better from here? Fingers crossed.
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May 18, 2013 Keertana rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-galley-and-first-reads, why-the-hype

As you can probably guess from the fact that I started The S-Word a little over an hour ago, I skimmed through this novel. Even I can't read a three-hundred page novel so quickly. Now, having finished this debut, all I can think is that it would have been far more suited to the hands of a more experienced writer. For a debut novel, The S-Word lacks finesse. I cannot pinpoint exactly what it is, but something about the writing style in this didn't work for me. Although it is evident that the visi...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Nenia Campbell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, x-2013s, arc-stands-for-a-readers-xmas, beautiful-words-lets-swim-in-them, everyone-hates-it-but-nenia

You can read more reviews at my blog, The Armchair Librarian!

Wow. Just ... wow. My heart hurts. I want to cry, but I can't.

Reading Slut was painful--not just because of the content, which deals with a number of icky and all-too-real problems, but also because of the writing style. In a sea of self-righteous and angsty YA, Slut stands out because of the validated and heartbreaking anger of the narrator.

Angie and Lizzie had been best friends since they were young. All of that came to an abrupt sta...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Lisbeth Avery {Assorted Insanity} rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: disgusting-main-character, could-have-been-better, creepy-0_0, disappointed, high-expectations, i-think-i-fell-asleep-while-reading, made-me-smile, netgalley, own-kindle, reviewed, serious, that-wonderful-title, i-cried, depressing

Even though my rating doesn't really show it, THE S-WORD is a book that I really enjoyed. It's not perfect, as my rating shows, but it's very enjoyable. I would love to give THE S-WORD a full 4 star rating or even a nice shiny five star rating but I can't because it's my job as a reviewer to look deeper into a book. I've given plenty of books an initial 5 star rating and then dropped it to 4 or 3 (once I dropped a rating from 5 to 1 star) after I thought about it.

The beginning of the book was a...more

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May 07, 2013 Tt rated it 4 of 5 stars

"They are speaking for me.

SLUT.

"Couldn't they, at least pick a word that means something?

Ask a hundred people the meaning of that word and you'll hear a hundred answers. It means absolutely nothing. But the moment it is unleashed, it changes me. They look at me differently, all of them. As if I am no longer human. As if I am somehow a monster to be destroyed.

These things I have feared about myself now they are telling me.

And still, I sit up in the night, willing the word to rearrange so th...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Katrina Welsh rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, disappointed

Find more reviews at I Have Lived a Thousand Lives

When I heard of The S Word, I thought, "Oh my God. This is going to be one of the great ones." The synopsis and the file and the cover looked so promising. But upon closer inspection, you realize it's just fool's gold and you're pissed because you got played. But, hey, at least have you this pretty shiny thing. You have no use for it, but nothing you can do.

I'm not always so keen on reading issue-y books. The writing can so easily turn preachy....more Find more reviews at I Have Lived a Thousand Lives

When I heard of The S Word, I thought, "Oh my God. This is going to be one of the great ones." The synopsis and the file and the cover looked so promising. But upon closer inspection, you realize it's just fool's gold and you're pissed because you got played. But, hey, at least have you this pretty shiny thing. You have no use for it, but nothing you can do.

I'm not always so keen on reading issue-y books. The writing can so easily turn preachy. With this type of genre, the writing style is one of the most important things to get right, just like how in fantasy books, the world building better be freaking fantastic or else you might as well just not have tried. There is a line that most authors cross when writing these types of books. And the thing is, the line is so thin that you don't even realize that you've walked across the other side. You only know that the ground feels different or the air smells staler and there is just something different. You don't know when it happened or how, only that you don't like it. That was one of the major problems I had with The S-Word. Pitcher told me how the characters were feeling, how hard their circumstances were instead of making me feel it. No matter how good the moral of your story is, no one is going to listen if you don't deliver it well, especially with the kinds of issues this book tried to tackle. I just felt like I was getting preached at.

It had the contemporary elements but it also read like a mystery novel. Angie is trying to unearth who the vandal is, the one who wrote 'Suicide Slut' on Lizzie's locker. Angie finds pages from Lizzie's diary, each one incriminating a different character as the guilty one. Angie interrogated these 'suspects', trying to see if they had the means and the motive to pass Angie's entry pages around school. She never really mourned for the death of her best friend- no sadness or grief. She was more focused on finding playing detective than really feeling the loss of her best friend. I don't know if Pitcher did that on purpose, to show Angie's denial and real trauma or just lack of character development. Besides the dialogue was so unrealistic, especially when it came to the conversations between Angie and fellow classmates/ her 'suspects'. I can't imagine anyone speaking like that, especially someone from high school.

Lizzie is already dead by the time the novel starts. We never get to meet her. We only know her from her diary entries. Lizzie's 'voice' is so stiff and unnatural, even more so since this is supposed to be her diary, her unfiltered thoughts. But the writing isn't all bad. There were actually some really great passages but the awkwardness and stiffness of the whole thing just outshone the good parts.

There were plenty of characters to focus on. The side characters all had their own issues, but to me, that's all they ever seemed like- issues. The only way I could distinguish each character was by remembering what was wrong with them- the pervy nerd, the competitive drama queen, cheerleader bitch... Everyone was just screwed up. I know everyone has their own stuff to deal with, but we're not all fucking crazy. I'm sick and tired of authors thinking the only way characters can be 'interesting' is to make their lives horrible.

This is such a screwed up book. With screwed up characters. Can't somebody just be freaking normal?

There were some parts that were good. There's a lot about discrimination, being judgmental, seeing past appearances, vengeance, hypocrisy, hate and of course, slut shaming. But Pitcher was just all over the place. I didn't feel like she conveyed any hard hitting messages, just touched on a couple very then quickly moved on to the even more messed up character. The S-Word had very good intentions but Pitcher just didn't know how to execute her ideas well.

An ARC was received from the publishers, through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.(less)

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Apr 29, 2013 Kayla (aka La-la) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, mature-ya

ALMOST 4 stars

I'm not sure I'll do a good job of explaining my feelings about this book (mixed as they are) but I'll give it a go.

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

It took a few chapters for me to get a hold on the mood the author was trying to convey. This may be because she took a while to get into a writing groove or because the main character's own mood/thoughts were meant to seem confused at the time. I cant say for sure which it was.

The...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Mersini rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, young-adult, favourites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. *courtesy of Gallery books via Netgalley

Holy crap, I think I found the book that means to me what John Green's books mean to everybody else. In a legit, I-have-to-pause-in-my-reading-to-hold-onto-this-moment type of way. And I don't think I've ever experienced emotions the way I did while reading this. Not ever.

I was hesitant at first, concerned about the style and the idea and having no idea where the plot would be going. After all, this is a book about a girl whose best friend killed herself...more *courtesy of Gallery books via Netgalley

Holy crap, I think I found the book that means to me what John Green's books mean to everybody else. In a legit, I-have-to-pause-in-my-reading-to-hold-onto-this-moment type of way. And I don't think I've ever experienced emotions the way I did while reading this. Not ever.

I was hesitant at first, concerned about the style and the idea and having no idea where the plot would be going. After all, this is a book about a girl whose best friend killed herself because she was branded a slut. At first, I can't say that I really liked it, or was even particularly interested. In fact, I started to read it, then stopped for a few days, not fussed about whether I continued or not. And then I did. And I'm glad for it.

From the title to the last page, everything about this novel is cleverly crafted to draw you in and keep you there until you're almost drowning, but somehow happy to be doing it - even if there are a few big flaws.

The title immediately begs the question "What is the S word?", and it's never really cleared up for the reader, but instead left to interpretation. The first thing that comes to mind is "slut". The second is "suicide". And once you start reading, a myriad of other words seem to fit the bill. In my opinion, it's "silence", because in silence, everything unravels. But that's just me.

The next thing, and perhaps the thing I love the most about this book is the layer effect Pitcher has built up. Everything has a significance, and not once in the course of this novel is it what you assume. Things don't work out the way you expect them to, and this goes for everything, from people, to events, to emotions - yours and the characters'. There's a depth and significance to everything; that thing you thought wasn't important? It comes back and is representative of something more than you imagined. Things like that, and yes, I'm being deliberately vague in an attempt to not spoil anything.

As far as characters go, there was about as much depth as you'd expect from a John Green novel - that is, the characters are vivid and unique enough that you feel as though you know them, while at the same time, you've maintained a distance from them because there's something vaguely two dimensional about them. Except our main protagonist, Angie, who is really not the person you expect her to be (a plot twist which almost ruined the novel for me, I'll admit), and Lizzie, her late best friend. What I love is that Angie is a cheerleader, the gorgeous, popular type, and yet isn't represented the way cheerleaders seem to always, without fail, be represented - that is, as vapid, shallow, bitchy, mechanical beings. Granted, a couple of the other cheerleaders are guilty of falling into that trope, but only barely and not nearly with as much of an archetypal punch as almost all other young adult novels or films. Amazing that they're all represented as human beings. What a radical idea.

The boys get the short straw in this novel, though not in a bad way. The story line with Drake, Angie's boyfriend, and the boy Lizzie is branded a slut for, is believable, even if shocking. But it's the story with Jesse that's the problem; a cross dressing male who lets everyone assume he's gay when he's not? As far as believability goes, this doesn't cut it. Unfortunately, he is more plot device and romantic interest than a three dimensional character. But on the bright side, he serves as a great example of the human spectrum - straight, but able to wear things like skirts and dresses and painting his nails, and allows the moral points of the novel to be made. it would have been great to see his character filled out a little more, his story drawn out, rather than lumped together all in the one go. But as he is not the central character of the story, this is easily forgiven.

Overall, it was an emotional ride, even if only because I related to it on a somewhat personal level. Circumstances might be different, but the emotions are the same, and Pitcher did a great job of capturing the voice of a teenager whose spirit is going through the grinder. This is a novel that blurs the lines between categories of people; those who are "good" are not so good, and while people are selfish and seemingly inconsiderate, they too have their redeeming qualities. And of course, there's the idea that you cannot trust anyone to be who they seem at first glance.
Best of all, this is a novel that shows the battered edges of teens and humanity, while still holding on to a place within young adult fiction among the ranks of The Fault in Our Stars and the Perks of Being a Wallflower. And what makes it such a great novel, in my eyes, is that it's less concerned with an obsessive romance, and more with an exploration of different kinds of love in different situations, without it being overwhelming and sappy.

It's definitely a book I'm going to try add to my ever growing collection and I'd recommend it to anyone who's less romantically inclined and likes to see the darker, secret sides of humanity appear. (less)

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Apr 16, 2013 Patty rated it 5 of 5 stars

The S-Word
by
Chelsea Pitcher

My "in a nutshell" summary...

Mean girls...bullies...suicide...mysterious notes...a quest for the truth...the loss of a friend.

My thoughts after reading this book...

Angie and Lizzie are friends...best friends...until Angie finds Lizzie hooking up with Lizzie's boyfriend, Drake, at prom. Angie can not forgive. Then...Lizzie is tormented and bullied at school. Angie doesn't help her...and Lizzie takes her own life. Angie is now on a quest to find out what caused Lizzie to...more

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Apr 18, 2013 Reading Teen rated it 4 of 5 stars

This story is one that grabs your attention from the very first page and doesn't let go until the last page. It revolves around the recent suicide of a high school senior girl and a search for the reasons behind her decision. It is told from the point of view of Lizzie Hart's best friend, Angie Lake. An event that occurred on Prom Night seems to be what pushed Lizzie over the edge and Angie puts all of her energy into finding out who was behind it. Along the way, the reader is introduced to peop...more

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May 10, 2013 Kristy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-books, netgalley

I enjoyed this book, and there are a few reasons why I think almost every teen should read it and maybe you should too:

1. Angie lost her best friend Lizzie to suicide and she thinks she knows what drove her there...herself.

2. She lost her boyfriend because he was found in bed with Lizzie which in turn branded her the "S" word. But why is it that the girls gets branded while the boy gets away without any shame?

3. Everyone has something to hide in high school, their fears, their dreams that seem s...more

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May 08, 2013 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, realistic-fiction, mystery, contemporary

In one of the biggest scandals Verity High has ever seen, the preacher’s daughter is found in bed with her best friend’s boyfriend. On prom night. And instantly good girl and “untouchable saint” Lizzie Hart is branded the S-word. People have covered her locker, her notebooks, her book bag – and even her car – with a single word. The S-word. Slut.

A week after Lizzie takes her own life the words “Suicide Slut” start appearing all over the school – in Lizzie’s own distinctive handwriting. Lizzie’s...more In one of the biggest scandals Verity High has ever seen, the preacher’s daughter is found in bed with her best friend’s boyfriend. On prom night. And instantly good girl and “untouchable saint” Lizzie Hart is branded the S-word. People have covered her locker, her notebooks, her book bag – and even her car – with a single word. The S-word. Slut.

A week after Lizzie takes her own life the words “Suicide Slut” start appearing all over the school – in Lizzie’s own distinctive handwriting. Lizzie’s former best friend, Angie, sets out to find out the truth. The truth behind prom night, the graffiti on Lizzie’s possessions and Lizzie’s death.

This is a book about the power of labels. As Angie investigates the circumstances Lizzie we get to meet a cast of colour characters. There’s a boy who wears women’s fashion with a certain flair, borderline alcoholic cheerleaders, the straight A students who would do anything for a glowing reference and slightly creepy computer nerds. But they are all so much more than who they first appear at a glance. They have layers and yet most people never get to see beyond the superficial front.

I liked reading about the characters – Angie is a fantastic lead. She’s trying to repent for the apologies she can never make. Like a dog with a bone she won’t give up the search to find out who’s responsible. The mystery angle was an interesting take to a novel that’s about some rather serious issues. Lizzie – who we never get to see in person – makes an impression from her diary entries and memories Angie shares throughout the novel. I found her harder to relate to – in many ways she felt unrealistic. Her diary entries were awkward in their style and took me out of the story slightly. That said – there were lines and passages in this novel that were beautifully written and really got to me. The ones that make you think about how applicable the message in this book is to real life and situations.

Overall I enjoyed reading the S-Word. I found the characters engaging and dynamic. The plot contained so many of those issues that people don’t talk about for whatever reasons – abuse, neglect, racism, bullying and teen suicide – and I felt like most of these were dealt with in an appropriate way.

The S-Word is a novel that deals with the darker side of high school. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a YA contemporary novel that’s a bit edgier than the usual and doesn’t mind touching on serious issues.(less)

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May 07, 2013 Marsha rated it 3 of 5 stars

**I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley for an honest review**

Chelsea Pitcher does a fine job in a debut novel of approaching some extremely difficult subjects in today's teen world: rape, bullying, and suicide. What makes this story so difficult is the fact that it could happen anywhere, anytime.

Lizzie’s reputation is destroyed when she's caught in bed with her best friend’s boyfriend on prom night. With the whole school turned against her, and Angie not speaking to her, Lizzie takes he...more

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May 06, 2013 Once Upon rated it 3 of 5 stars

*3.5 star review on site: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2013...

First of all I'd like to congratulate Chelsea Pitcher on her debut! This is her first published book.

The S-Word is a full blown mystery case where Angie, the main character, plays detective. Her best friend, Lizzie, had been labeled as the harlot of Verity High School and Angie did nothing to stop it. Of course the only reason she was being called "the s-word" was because she was caught in bed with Angie's boyfriend on prom night...more *3.5 star review on site: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2013...

First of all I'd like to congratulate Chelsea Pitcher on her debut! This is her first published book.

The S-Word is a full blown mystery case where Angie, the main character, plays detective. Her best friend, Lizzie, had been labeled as the harlot of Verity High School and Angie did nothing to stop it. Of course the only reason she was being called "the s-word" was because she was caught in bed with Angie's boyfriend on prom night. That's when it started- the "s-word" written all over her locker and all over her car. And then Lizzie died by her own hand. And before anyone could move on "suicide s***" started appearing all over the school in HER handwriting. Along with that, pages from her diary were also spreading. Angie was determined to get to the bottom of things. She felt horrible for standing by and letting her best friend slip away, she felt guilty. And then there is a twist...

The S-Word took me on a ride that I'll never forget. This book is so raw. Pitcher did not hold back, she told it how it was and I loved it. It was also very dark. I felt what Angie felt, and she was not in a happy place. Her best friend had committed suicide and she was blaming herself.

I'll be honest with you the first half of the book I was not invested with the characters. But as soon as the second half hit I was completely and totally Angie. I felt for her, and I desperately wanted to know the things she wanted to know. This is unlike any mystery I've ever read. It had twists and turns that surprised me every single time. And the biggest twist of all was a HUGE shocker! And just when I though things were going to slow down, they didn't.

Pitcher took what high school and bullying is about and gave it to us, like I mentioned earlier, raw and real. And the message is loud and clear: bullying is a very serious problem with very serious consequences.

I commend Pitcher on her well done debut! She is definitely an author I will be looking out for!(less)

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May 06, 2013 CeCe rated it 1 of 5 stars

I am supposed to be reviewing The S-Word today as it is set to release tomorrow and I was fortunate enough to have received an ARC from Gallery Books. The problem is… I could not finish this book. I am at about 40% and I have tried to convince myself many times in the past week to pick this book back up and give it another shot but life is short and I don’t want to.
The S-Word had a lot of potential. Lizzie kills herself after being bullied and called a slut and her former best friend, Angie star...more I am supposed to be reviewing The S-Word today as it is set to release tomorrow and I was fortunate enough to have received an ARC from Gallery Books. The problem is… I could not finish this book. I am at about 40% and I have tried to convince myself many times in the past week to pick this book back up and give it another shot but life is short and I don’t want to.
The S-Word had a lot of potential. Lizzie kills herself after being bullied and called a slut and her former best friend, Angie starts receiving old diary pages and begins investigating the death. As I have mentioned before - I do not like murder mysteries However, I thought this would be an interesting twist on a murder mystery that I might be able to actually enjoy. I was wrong.
I can see what Chelsea was trying to do with this book and for that, I give her credit, unfortunately the execution fell flat for me. I found myself confused right off the bat as Angie’s decision process to start investigating this murder felt rash and unsupported. She then starts grilling suspects throughout the school and while I thought it was a cool concept, the dialogue felt choppy and awkward. I found after 40%, I was still not connecting with any of the characters and didn’t really care to find out what the resolution would be (not a good sign for a mystery type book).
Another thing that drove me crazy, which at first I thought was maybe just because I was reading an ARC ebook, was the capitalization (or rather the lack thereof). Grammatically correct capitalization was inconsistent and frequently missing. I am not sure what the point of that was but it made the book harder to read. Adding to that, I found the dialogue confusing and I couldn’t always tell who was speaking. With so many subplots, not knowing who was saying what made me struggle to keep up.
So overall: good concept – poor execution. If you are into these sorts of mysteries, you may enjoy it more than I.

http://steamingmugofbooks.blogspot.com (less)

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May 03, 2013 Tom rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, ya-general, review-copy

(nb: I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley)

Bullying is a big topic these days, with special t-shirts and ribbons, awareness programs, and plenty of good-hearted people trying to prevent it.

The sad fact is that bullying has always been a part of adolescence, going back to Cain and Abel. Two teenagers on earth, and one beat the other one to death.

In the world of Verity High School, life is hardly easy for the less-popular crowd. They do their best to fade quietly into the background....more

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May 02, 2013 Leeanna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, for-review, arcs

This review originally appeared on my blog, Leeanna.me

I almost passed over THE S-WORD. As a rule, I don’t read a lot of contemporary fiction. It’s just not my favorite genre. But so far in 2013, I’ve read a couple of great contemporary books, so after reading the summary for THE S-WORD, I decided to give it a try.

I am happy I did. I like when YA books go deep into issues, and THE S-WORD explores quite a few, like bullying. I also like when YA books are realistic, and THE S-WORD is. There’s sex,...more

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Apr 24, 2013 Nha rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

ARC received from NetGalley.

I picked up this book because I thought it would do well to raise awareness on sexual assaults and bullying, especially with the recent slew of rape cases (Steubenville, Nova Scotia). Sadly, this book fell short of expectations. I really wished the author hadn't gone with the whole "Nancy Drew whodunit" approach, because really, there was no shocking mystery at all. You could've guessed the mystery just a few chapters in. The whole story was weighed down with useless...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Amy_Read to My Heart's Content rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog, kindle-version, netgalley, young-adult, received-from-publisher

http://readtomyhearts.blogspot.com/20...

My Thoughts:

I was nervous about reading The S-Word at first because it didn't have any werewolves, vampires, or demon battling slayer in it and that is usually my go to books. My comfort zone if you will. But I was definitely intrigued reading the synopsis and I have to say I am so happy that I decided to take a chance.

I feel absolutely changed from reading The S-Word. For me, this was a very powerful piece of literature that really makes the reader take...more http://readtomyhearts.blogspot.com/20...

My Thoughts:

I was nervous about reading The S-Word at first because it didn't have any werewolves, vampires, or demon battling slayer in it and that is usually my go to books. My comfort zone if you will. But I was definitely intrigued reading the synopsis and I have to say I am so happy that I decided to take a chance.

I feel absolutely changed from reading The S-Word. For me, this was a very powerful piece of literature that really makes the reader take a deep dark look into the effects of bullying, labeling and rumors. I really feel like this a story that every person could benefit from by reading it.

I was just blown away by the dark and gritty nature of the book. It isn't this light hearted fun romantic read. No. The S-Word is a heavy, get lost in the narrator's sadness, kind of book. It is hard not to feel the pain that Angie is feeling from Lizzie's suicide. From the writing style, we can see the emotions playing upon Angie as she tries to get through Lizzie's death. I think the fact that the writing is all over the place shows us physically how Angie is at her rock bottom right now.
Because this high school that these young people have to deal with now? It's nothing like I had to deal with growing up. Sure I had bullies; I think bullies exist everywhere (though I wish they didn't) but nothing this harsh. And yet I still found myself relating to Lizzie, Angie, and Jessie as their raw emotions poured from these pages. I am going to tell you right now: I literally did not have a dry eye left by the end of this book, which I finished in about two days.
I had to take a step back from the book and take a deep breath to get my bearings. The ending completely took my breath away and I knew right then that The S-Word would stay with me forever.

Now, there were some unknowns that I did figure out right away. Where Lizzie was coming from in her diary pages, as well as prom too. But there were other plot threads that totally eluded me and I never would have guessed it in a hundred years. I feel like in a lot of ways, the author wanted us to understand some of the mysteries before the characters. This way it caused what we, the reader, didn't get right away to be even more of a shocker.

Sorry guys, I know I am being so cryptic right now but I don't want to give anything away that might influence your initial reaction to this superb piece of writing. Just trust me on this please.

The S-Word is full of deep dark secrets everywhere we turn. Nothing is as it seems and yet some things never change too. It has this dark crime noir feel to it but for young adults. There are some real heartbreaking issues that are dealt with in this novel. These secrets could shatter the lives of everyone in this novel about lies, truths, and a case of revenge....and forgiveness. (less)

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Mar 03, 2013 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: abuse-rape, bullying, dysfunctional-families, guy-reads, high-school, relationships, ya

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me this ARC in exchange for a review.

The S-Word is a powerful story looking at labels, bullying and identity in high school. Our narrator, Angie, starts the story off telling us about her best friend Lizzie, who has killed herself because of severe bullying at school. Lizzie slept with Angie's boyfriend at the prom, and when everyone found out, made her into a social outcast, writing "slut" on her locker at every available opportunity. She eve...more

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Feb 28, 2013 Martina Koleva rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-a-z-reading-challenge, contemporary, e-arc, netgalley, read-in-2013, young-adult, quarterly-challenge-8-december-1

You know that things like this are happening. To your friends, to someone at your school, to your kids even, or to complete strangers but you know that someone somewhere is bullied. This is the problem Chelsea Pitcher has based her book one and I don't know what inspired her to write it but I have only good things to say about her work and her book.

Actually, no, I don't have words to describe the feeling this books has left me with. It was so easy to read it. It was so funny and heartbreaking a...more

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Feb 10, 2013 Seanean rated it 2 of 5 stars

http://librarytalker.blogspot.com/201...

Before her death, Lizzie had been invisible most of her life, until she got caught by her best friend in bed with her best friend's boyfriend. Suddenly she became the most well-known face on campus and she had a new nickname: Slut.

After her death, she became Suicide Slut.

Now, someone is defacing her locker and passing around pages of her diary, sharing secrets no one knew before she jumped to her death at school.

Angie, her best friend and the person who sh...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Rachel Sharpe rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, ya, drama, romance

Angie's best friend killed herself two weeks ago after being tormented and shamed by the entire school. You see, Angie walked in on her boyfriend (Drake) and Lizzie sleeping together at prom. And the whole school found out. And decided to write "slut" all over Lizzie's locker and car and generally make life miserable for. Now, Angie is out for revenge, trying to figure out who is responsible for Lizzie's death.

(view spoiler)...more Angie's best friend killed herself two weeks ago after being tormented and shamed by the entire school. You see, Angie walked in on her boyfriend (Drake) and Lizzie sleeping together at prom. And the whole school found out. And decided to write "slut" all over Lizzie's locker and car and generally make life miserable for. Now, Angie is out for revenge, trying to figure out who is responsible for Lizzie's death.

(view spoiler)

Honestly, that's the most coherent summary I can write because this book is seriously convoluted. I usually don't think of 300-odd-paged books as long, but this one seemed to last forever. It reminded me a lot of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. You cut a lot of material of the book and still have a semi-decent book and plot. The pace did pick up toward the end of the book, but I only made it that far because I hate not finishing books.

Instead, we're left with a multitude of stereotypical characters in a high school setting ripped from the movies. The cheerleaders run the school and wear their uniforms all the time (Glee much?). They date a lot, are popular, get drunk frequently, and hold raging parties with copious amounts of sex and alcohol. Football star Drake is the typical man's man; he's buff and more into the physical nature of his relationship with Angie. Also, he doesn't think he did anything wrong. Theater geek Shelby is odd and always in character. Pervy geeky Marvin is obsessed with a trading card game, knows a lot about technology, and watches child pornography. Theater geek Jesse is the token effeminate high school male (view spoiler) Although, I admit, he was the bright point in the book. I actually liked him.

The main problem is Angie herself. She's not likeable, and even when Pitcher tries to make Angie redeem herself at the end of the book, I didn't buy it. Angie has so much darkness in her that her redemption comes too quickly. Pitcher spends 280 pages or so detailing Angie's spiral into darkness and, in 30 pages or so, tries to fix her. If someone is as broken as Angie says she is then that person cannot be redeemed for fixed in an afternoon. In other words, the end is way too neat and pretty. Somehow, Angie, in all her darkness and brokenness, has managed to bring justice to at least four people, stop herself from losing it completely, and get the guy. It's too big of a leap.

Pitcher picks a topic that will resonate with teenagers, from the high school setting, to romance, to parental interactions, to revenge. Ultimately, the book is too convoluted with too many stereotypical, flat characters and tries to tackle a redemption story that's just too big.

Thanks to Netgalley for the preview copy.(less)

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Jan 23, 2013 Hannah rated it 4 of 5 stars

I try a shot at reviewing something a bit different to everything else I’ve done so far. More mature on some levels.

There are hundreds of books about high school, growing up, fitting in, fighting the cliques, most turn into soppy love tales. This was something a bit different.

The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher takes a closer look at the harshness beneath the sweetness of the teen years, the bitter battles between friends, cliques and partners.

Angie is in the last few months of high school when her be...more I try a shot at reviewing something a bit different to everything else I’ve done so far. More mature on some levels.

There are hundreds of books about high school, growing up, fitting in, fighting the cliques, most turn into soppy love tales. This was something a bit different.

The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher takes a closer look at the harshness beneath the sweetness of the teen years, the bitter battles between friends, cliques and partners.

Angie is in the last few months of high school when her best friend Lizzie takes her life. Tragic right? She hadn’t talked to her in over a month seeing as she found Lizzie in bed with her boyfriend on the night of prom. Not even when The S-Word turned up all over Lizzies possessions.

Of course the death of someone you love is tragic enough but when someone continues the horrible slurs that drove her to suicide even after her death it’s time to investigate, even more so when they start impersonating her writing and spreading her diary all over the school.

So the at first glance heroine of Angie takes it upon herself to find out who it was: the should have been prom queen who missed out due for sympathy to Angie, the drama queen who lost out to Lizzie for the role that was hers, the pervert neighbour of Lizzie or Angies boyfriend, the whole cause of this rift.

This story follows her through Angies lowest moments, the struggle to stop the spread of these vicious moments, the fright of a new friendship forming round these strange incidents as well as unseen twist.

I think I’m normally pretty good at guessing roughly the plot of a book without going into it completely. This however had me surprised at every turn, the ending never crossed my mind. An exciting book that simply gripped me at every moment. Well written although I imagine it will be hard for a few people to start and get into but well worth it. I wouldn’t list it as a modern classic or anything but it is a damn good read.

I’d rate this a good 8/10, really recommend it, especially if it sounds your sort of read. It covers the harsh reality of bullying perfectly. Catches all the angles(less)

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Jan 18, 2013 Stephanie's Bookmark rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, young-adult, contemporary, netgalley

THIS REVIEW CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG, STEPHANIE'S BOOKMARK.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for presenting me with the opportunity to receive an ARC of this book - it is very much appreciated. Thank you again :D

So, The S-Word was a major let down. The blurb sounded promising and the idea was good - it really had the potential to be a great story. It was full of awkward wording, forced dialogue and it was just something I couldn't enjoy and I struggled to get through the book - and I'm a...more THIS REVIEW CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG, STEPHANIE'S BOOKMARK.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for presenting me with the opportunity to receive an ARC of this book - it is very much appreciated. Thank you again :D

So, The S-Word was a major let down. The blurb sounded promising and the idea was good - it really had the potential to be a great story. It was full of awkward wording, forced dialogue and it was just something I couldn't enjoy and I struggled to get through the book - and I'm a fast reader. The idea had such great potential and it was one of the books I was most looking forward to receiving when I requested it on NetGalley but alas, it was a severe disappointment.

I didn't like this book at all because of how it was written. Nothing to do with the plot at all, I thought it was really interesting but it was ruined with the sloppy writing. The sentences felt awkward, forced and poorly constructed - it didn't quite have that flow. The narrator's voice (Angie) didn't feel right - her best friend snatched her man in front of her, and she actually seemed rather nonchalant about it when explaining to the audience about what happened. I don't know about you but if I found out that my boyfriend had been doing the dirty with my best friend, I would be pretty damn pissed. Angie seemed far too detached and it just seemed rather fake and not right for the situation. Lizzie's diary entries didn't match the voice of an older teenager either - it sounded like a pre-teen trying to sound older and far more sophisticated than they truly are.

I got what Pitcher was trying to say about the double standards for boys and girls but it didn't quite have an impact - she told us, rather than showed us and overall, didn't quite touch on it enough for the message to sink in. But yeah, good message. Well received blah blah. Angie's investigation into the factors that caused Lizzie to drive herself to suicide was frankly, quite ridiculous, for a lack of a better word - it just seemed all rather amateurish/childlike. She came across like a five year old reading a spy book for the very first time and decided it'll be super fun to just go out there and solve a mystery. BAM. Yeah, that's what it felt like.

There were also too many issues going on all at once, y'know? Okay, there's slut shaming going on. Yeah, that's bad. There's also a suicide. Yeah, that's bad too. There's bullying. Okay, that's bad as well. Toss that in with cross-dressing, homosexuality/bisexuality, sexual abuse, rape and it's just a huge WTF. They're all important issues on their own individually but the author just grabbed them all and tossed them in a soup pot all at once and it just becomes one confusing hot mess. There was just too much going in a super awkward, very confusing and disjointed plot to feel any actual feels, other than confusion.

I was looking forward to a thought-provoking book on bullying and reading a nice mystery novel that would keep me second-guessing and leaving me on tenterhooks long afterward I've finished it but nope, the conclusion was very obvious to me and so out of there, it was quite funny. If you want to be super confused and disappointed, this is the book for you.
(less)

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Jan 08, 2013 Lydia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: abuse, sexuality, mystery

Characters: The protagonist, Angie, is all over the place. It's understandable for her to be confused after everything that happened, but she doesn't really seem to know what she's doing. Lizzie was branded a slut for sleeping with one guy, so she is painted by Angie as a perfectly innocent angelic character who would never be capable of expressing sexuality, which was unbelievable. Jesse was interesting, but Angie's relationship with him was rather sudden and odd. There wasn't enough background...more

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May 10, 2013 Lucie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Conducted as an investigation into the deepest high school secrets, the story is captivating.

Lizzie sleeps with her best friend's boyfriend and the whole school ignites. An error, a simple mistake and a life dramatically changes.
It sounds stupid to commit suicide for trifles, which will not be remembered in adulthood, except that when you're a teenager, every little thing takes exaggerated impressive proportions. Especialy if sex is involved!

Angie is shaken by the death of her best friend and he...more

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May 06, 2013 Cheryl M-M rated it 5 of 5 stars

Yes, teen suicide has been done before and yes so has high school life, despite all that I think this was an incredibly good book.
It saddens me to think that our children, teens and young adults are forced to partcipate in what I can only call a daily theatrical appearance, which is known as school. Forced to scheme, adjust, lie to fit in and/or try to get by without becoming a target.
They are either in the group that taunts others, so they don't become the taunted or they are the ones being flo...more Yes, teen suicide has been done before and yes so has high school life, despite all that I think this was an incredibly good book.
It saddens me to think that our children, teens and young adults are forced to partcipate in what I can only call a daily theatrical appearance, which is known as school. Forced to scheme, adjust, lie to fit in and/or try to get by without becoming a target.
They are either in the group that taunts others, so they don't become the taunted or they are the ones being flogged emotionally, pyschologically and often physically. (flogged being a metaphor for the bullying).
This farce of social interaction whilst growing up is a breeding ground for crimes, which are deemed harmless, just pranks or the games of children. These crimes are a loophole in all legal systems because they are committed under the guise of children just teasing children. I wonder how many deaths it will take before someone realises that there has to be some kind of consequence for such cruel and vile acts of social and personal annihilation.
Anyway I digress.
The main character is consumed by anger, guilt and is seeking the truth about Lizzie. She knows why Lizzie committed suicide but she wants to understand how it got to that point. Working her way thrugh the intricate details of the last few weeks/months before the tragic event it suddenly becomes a search for someone to blame.
The reader gets a good look at the way the teenage mind works. How one slight of hand or single decision can make a person set events in motion that can never be unheard, unseen or forgotten.
The author shows us how a click of a social media button or the sending of one email can light the fire under the supposed heretics stake.
Each act is linked to another and each person has their own secrets and reasons for contributing to the suicide.
Leaving aside the issue of cruelty amongst young people there is also the subtle message that is asking each one of us to look closely before we judge. To think before we cast aspersions on a person's character and to remember that none of us know what goes on behind closed doors, nor do we know what is thought by those who we believe to know the most.
It is in essence asking us to think before we act, to hesitate before we cast the first stone.
That might seem a little complex for the content of this book and yet this is exactly why it was so good.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley.(less)

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Apr 27, 2013 Bieke {Istyria book blog} rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, arc, netgalley, best-books-ever, reread-worthy, emotional-or-heavy-reads

*I received an ARC-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

First, I must say that I won't be talking about the characters very much because I can't do that without spoilers and since this is an ARC copy, I won't spoil anything. So if you want to talk or rant or fangirl about this book and it's characters, please send me a message! I need someone to talk with about this book, lol.

The S-word is the brilliantly written debut of Chelsea Pitcher and I can'...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Mallory Anne-Marie Forbes rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Mallory Anne-Marie by: NetGalley

Shelves: 2013-authors-new-to-me-challenge, 2013-eclectic-reader-challenge, 2013-personal-reading-challenge, 2013_reads, armchair-southwest-unitedstates, february_2013_reads

This book was a sleeper: tremendously surpassed my expectations. I predict this will be a huge hit among the readers who, for example, like myself, loved "The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer."

Review of The S Word by Chelsea Pitcher
5 stars

I reviewed a complimentary e-book copy via NetGalley.

“The S Word” was truly a sleeper for me. I selected it to read for review because of the suicide of the central character (Lizzie is central, even though she is already deceased at the book’s commencement). I expecte...more

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