The Mockingbirds (The Mockingbirds, #1)

Aug 31, 2011

Amelia, the pragmatic idealist rated it

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

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

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. Sh...more

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Nov 05, 2010

Alex Bennett rated it

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 g...moreWanna 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

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 itsel...moreSo 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

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....moreWhat 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

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 d...moreI 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

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 st...moreI 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.
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Apr 07, 2011

Shannon Messenger added it

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, heartbrea...more

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Feb 20, 2011

Misha rated it

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 ha...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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Feb 08, 2012

Heidi (yabibliophile) added it

Shelves: young-adult-children-s-lit

Why did I wait so long to read this one? I remember reading rave reviews when it came out and seeing people mention it on Twitter. For some reason I bought it but never actually picked it up. Thank goodness for readathons! The Mockingbirds had me totally engrossed in the story and its outcome.

The book starts out "the morning after." Alex wakes up in a boy's bed and has no memory of the night before. It soon becomes clear that they had sex. Alex knows that if she had b...more

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Jan 26, 2012

Bridget Hall rated it

The Mockingbirds By: Daisy Whitney

Setting: In Themis Academy in Connecticut, Modern Day

Summary: At the very beginning of the novel, Alex Patrick has no idea why she is in a guy’s room at her exclusive boarding school. Soon after, she realizes that she was date-raped by a boy she barley knew, Carter Hutchinson, and because Themis Academy doesn’t penalize wrongdoers, she has nowhere to turn for help. Except the Mockingbirds. They are group of students who right the wrongs ...more

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Nov 29, 2011

Hollie rated it

The emotional , page turning book, The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney brings the reader through the highs and lows of Alex Patrick, the female rape victim of The Mockingbirds. After a night of drinking and impulsive decisions, Alex finds herself naked beside Carter Hutchinson, the cocky water polo player. Tangled under her bed sheets, she finds the evidence, two condom wrappers. She rummages through her memory though the book to find the truth to what happened last night while leaning on her fri...moreThe emotional , page turning book, The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney brings the reader through the highs and lows of Alex Patrick, the female rape victim of The Mockingbirds. After a night of drinking and impulsive decisions, Alex finds herself naked beside Carter Hutchinson, the cocky water polo player. Tangled under her bed sheets, she finds the evidence, two condom wrappers. She rummages through her memory though the book to find the truth to what happened last night while leaning on her friends for mental and physical support. Alex finally bursts into anger when Carter spreads lies across the school and decides to request help from The Mockingbirds, the underground, student ran police system.
The Mockingbirds had an addictive story line while preserving their loyalty to their overall theme of justice. Regardless of the serious theme they were trying to display, they kept the story fascinating, original and attractive to their audience. The theme blossomed from one point of misery to another point of happiness. I found it truly breathtaking to see a helpless individual clasp onto her friend’s helping hands and watching her gradually find the light to the tunnel. While having the idea of what goes around, comes around, the author incorporated cute, sweet details here and there. I particularly enjoyed the adorable love relationship between Alex and Martin that unravelled near the end of the book.
What made me enjoy the book as well was the fantastic, supportive characters Daisy Whitney illustrated with her descriptive writing. Alex, the unfortunate victim did not give up on life, did not give up on her dreams, did not give up on school and did not give up falling in love once again. When opportunity knocked on her door to start a new relation with the boy she truly felt for, the rape didn’t stop her. When opportunity knocked harder for a chance to audition for Julliard, the Harvard for all music student, she did not stammer. Yes, there was a moment of shock, a moment of disbelief when she said, “The more I repeat it, the more I’ll believe it. Nothing happened...” (9). Yes, there were moments when she would hide, skip meals and hide from Carter like a mouse from a cat but that’s all reasonable. She’s not perfect and nobody is. She tries her best to stand up, find support and heal her wound but she needed time to fully be able to attack the issue head on. What also made the book pleasurable was her bandage for her wound and her shelter from the possible harm from Carter and his acquaintances. T.S. , Maia, Amy, Ilana, Jones, Casey and Martin all pushed her to do what’s right and protected her throughout the process. They never let her alone, they were her rock.
A final concept they incorporated that I enjoyed was the writing style of Daisy Whitney for this particular book. It’s a book about date-rape, a serious issue that harms the victim both mentally and physically. The author used define adjectives that affects all senses of the reader and allows you to sink, submerge and step into Alex’s shoes. The way she used multiple sensory descriptions permit the reader to truly feel the grim, grave severity to the issue and be wise about our own life decisions. We live through the story of Alex, where she drank too much ,”dealing with slowed reaction times, emotional swings, impaired judgement.”(53). She did not know the consequences of over drinking but through this story, we, the readers know. The graphic images visualized in our heads from Daisy Whitney gave us, the readers the idea on how to control ourselves and preventing such events to happen in the future.
Daisy Whitney’s impactful diction carries the reader through a melange of issues in order for them to taste the sweet and bitter moments in life and how to quote with them. The reader is immersed deeply into the story, feeling what Alex felt, heard, tasted, smelled and saw, creating a powerful image for a powerful theme. This book gave me the idea of why it is important to make good decisions and to take a stand for what I believe in. Daisy Whitney has outdone herself with this novel and I can’t wait to read her following creation.
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Oct 05, 2011

Books to the Sky rated it

Check out more books at Books to the Sky.

I really really liked this book. I couldn't get enough of it. The Mockingbirds was one of those books that I couldn't stop thinking about it. While I was at work I couldn't help but think about what Alex was going to do next and if things were going to develop with her and a certain geeky boy.

There was a point one night where I was racing trying to finish a chapter (at midnight, way past my bed time) because I want to know what was ...more

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Sep 29, 2011

Joni Thomas rated it

Shelves: contemporary, reviewed

I had heard so much buzz over this novel and I was anxiously waiting to get my hands on it from my library. I definitely loved this book. Alex is a good girl, not one to drink and definitely not one to go home with a random guy after a party. But at the beginning of this novel that's exactly the situation Alex is in. She has woken up in a strange bed, aware that something happened, but unsure what exactly. When she sees the strange guy with her she knows something terrible happened. After piecin...moreI had heard so much buzz over this novel and I was anxiously waiting to get my hands on it from my library. I definitely loved this book. Alex is a good girl, not one to drink and definitely not one to go home with a random guy after a party. But at the beginning of this novel that's exactly the situation Alex is in. She has woken up in a strange bed, aware that something happened, but unsure what exactly. When she sees the strange guy with her she knows something terrible happened. After piecing together the events that took place she is left with options. Forget about what took place, go to the school who will look away from it seeing as the boy in question is a star athlete, or go to The Mockingbirds, the secret society the students at her school created to act as a disciplinary board since the school cannot be relied on.

This book handles a sensitive subject perfectly. I could feel the emotions Alex was feeling right along with her as she dealt with what happened to her and then struggled to decide ultimately what to do about it. Secret societies are often played up by Hollywood to be evil and cult-like so it was interesting and fun to read about one that was for the side of justice. Sadly, schools are known to look away from things like assault and bullying if the person accused is a star athlete, even if the school claims to have a zero tolerance policy. I loved that this society was formed to protect students when the school wouldn't. Can you imagine how many lives may have been saved if there was a society like this for teens today to utilize at their schools. In an age where bullying has become an issue heard about daily and most suicides are linked to bullying then a society like this to help bullied, assaulted, and used students would be wonderful. Who knows, maybe somewhere there are teens who read this book who have created something like the society in this book. If so, kudos to them.

The Rivals, the sequel to The Mockingbirds, comes out in 2012 and I know I will be waiting anxiously for it. I can't wait to read more about this society.(less)

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Sep 17, 2011

Traci rated it

Alex Patrick is a model student at Themis Academy. She has the rare gift of music in her blood, and she absolutely adores Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. She’s respectful, considerate, a model student, daughter and sister. She has two amazing best friends who also happen to be her roommates; and she dreams of, one day, going to Juillard to study music. She had a semi-serious boyfriend last year, but when he went to college things cooled off. In other words, Alex is just a regular old student at...moreAlex Patrick is a model student at Themis Academy. She has the rare gift of music in her blood, and she absolutely adores Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. She’s respectful, considerate, a model student, daughter and sister. She has two amazing best friends who also happen to be her roommates; and she dreams of, one day, going to Juillard to study music. She had a semi-serious boyfriend last year, but when he went to college things cooled off. In other words, Alex is just a regular old student at an extraordinary boarding school just going about her life. But, then, one morning she wakes up in a boy’s room and she doesn’t remember how she got there. Starting at that moment, Alex’s whole life turns upside down.

Alex’s roommates and sister call what happened to Alex “date-rape”, but Alex isn’t so sure. How does she know for sure that she said “no”, if she can’t remember anything that happened that night? Yet, moments keep coming back to her in odd moments, and as she remembers more and more, she grows truly frightened of what happened that night in Carter’s room. As Carter starts spreading more and more rumors about Alex around school, and she keeps remembering pieces of that night’s puzzle, Alex decides to enlist the help of The Mockingbirds, a secret society of students who act as the school’s judicial system since Themis Academy refuses to admit that their students aren’t all perfect. With the help of The Mockingbirds, Alex, brings a suit against Carter to be tried by a true jury of their peers – fellow students.

When author Daisy Whitney was a freshman at Brown University, she was date-raped. Unfortunately, her school had nothing set in place to bring charges against students for crimes committed. Thus, she wrote this book to tell the story of a group of students, in lieu of action by their school, who choose to take matters into their own hands to ensure the safety of the entire student body.

Alex’s story is an important story for teenagers to read. Alex wants to start living her life again, but she realizes that she must come to terms with what happened to her, and that means more than just seeing that Carter is found guilty. Alex’s journey is heartfelt and touching; she experiences many different emotions as she moves along the path to recovery. And, with the help of The Mockingbirds, she ultimately learns that saying nothing isn’t the same thing as saying yes.
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Sep 08, 2011

Lesley rated it

Shelves: rape

This book is about an Important Issue but I’m not sure how helpful it will be for girls who’ve experienced date rape. The most powerful and believable parts of the book are those focused on Alex’s feelings and it’s clear from the author’s note where she describes her own experience that there’s a good reason why she knows just how Alex felt. But then it was an odd choice to leave her own true story, in which she went to the school authorities and ended up leading a crusade, which sounds like a t...moreThis book is about an Important Issue but I’m not sure how helpful it will be for girls who’ve experienced date rape. The most powerful and believable parts of the book are those focused on Alex’s feelings and it’s clear from the author’s note where she describes her own experience that there’s a good reason why she knows just how Alex felt. But then it was an odd choice to leave her own true story, in which she went to the school authorities and ended up leading a crusade, which sounds like a tale a lot of young women would find interesting and empowering. I’m sure she had her reasons for creating a different storyline, but why this one? Alex completely dismisses the idea of going to the police, which seems like a troubling message to send. And then the school situation in which everything plays out is one in which very few (possibly zero) girls will ever find themselves.

I’ve read other books in which I can’t relate to the context, but can still relate to the core message of the story. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is a good example, especially since it also takes place at an exclusive boarding school. I’ve never done any of the things Frankie does, but I can totally relate to her dilemma.

Semi-spoilers ahead…

We’re told the school won’t help but not shown. I just really don’t understand why the administration wouldn’t care about date rape. Unless the rapist’s parents were big donors. But that doesn’t seem to be the issue. We’re told how awful the teachers are but also not really shown. One makes the students write a poem in French! What a monster! The students have to perform in front of the teachers! Call CPS! OK, making Alex act out a (Shakespeare) rape scene in front of the whole class is awful but also so unbelievable it was almost surreal.

Unfortunately, my main problem is with the core of the story: the student tribunal. We’re told students agree to their punishments but never really shown why. The Mockingbirds seem to wield some power which would be a more likely way for them to enforce a punishment. But they don’t. And, somehow, this power is never abused…

The villain is villain-y, the friends are almost unbelievably awesome, and although Alex fears repercussions, we’re told that the villain “tried to start rumors about her” but failed, so the social repercussions are pretty much limited to the villain’s douchiness. One “friend” threatens to spread rumors that someone is gay to help Alex. How super nice of him! And totally not something that would get him in trouble with any student tribunal.
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Sep 01, 2011

Allison rated it

I had a copy of The Mockingbirds sitting on my shelf for months. I really wanted to read it and needed to read it, but rape is a hard subject to tackle and you really have to be in the right frame of mind and mood to read something this heavy.

The opening scene is Alex waking up in the dorm room of a stranger--or more accurately, a strange boy. She's disoriented, groggy, lying in bed with a boy she doesn't know, and can't remember how she got there. Her confusion and realizations are h...moreI had a copy of The Mockingbirds sitting on my shelf for months. I really wanted to read it and needed to read it, but rape is a hard subject to tackle and you really have to be in the right frame of mind and mood to read something this heavy.

The opening scene is Alex waking up in the dorm room of a stranger--or more accurately, a strange boy. She's disoriented, groggy, lying in bed with a boy she doesn't know, and can't remember how she got there. Her confusion and realizations are horrifying and absolutely gripping. I was hooked by the end of the first page. It's startling because author, Daisy Whitney captures the after-effects of Alex's date rape with pinpoint accuracy and cringe-worthy details. She makes the reader slowly relive the moment over and over as Alex's memory comes back a little at a time.

Despite the burden she carries, Alex is encouraged to seek justice thru the Mockingbirds since she knows the school officials will not and going to the police is out of the question for her. They are a secret society that investigates, hears, and tries the cases that the school officials sweep under the rug. The dirty little secrets that couldn't possible happen at "their" fine institution of learning. Based on the principles from Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, the society takes a fair and just approach--students seeking justice for their peers.

Whitney expertly handles her subject matter, giving Alex a strong support system. Even though Alex is learning to cope and deal with the aftermath (& flashbacks), she never comes off as weak. She finds strength in her friends, the Mockingbirds, and most importantly--her own voice. It will stay with you long after you leave the pages behind.

Reading Rating:
A gripping read! Despite its heavy subject matter, it is so compelling and well-written that you will fly thru the pages. The author's note at the end helps give you more insight into the background behind the development of this story. Highly recommend--especially for a book club or discussion group. (less)

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Aug 24, 2011

Gwyn Ryan added it

Shelves: drama, feminist, young-adult

This book should be required reading in high school. Seriously. Alex attends Themis Academy - a super-elite private boarding school. The Themis faculty and administration pride themselves on the stellar quality of their students, and as such are willfully ignorant of anything that might tarnish the school's reputation - surely perfect Themis students would never do anything wrong.

So when Alex is date raped by another student, the only ones she can turn to for help are the Mockingbirds,...more

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Jul 30, 2011

Sarah rated it

I just didn't buy this book. Apart from the protagonist, these characters were all incredibly bland. And stupid. And annoying. Why weren't her friends angrier on her behalf? Why wasn't her sister angrier? Why didn't they question what was going on that night if they could so easily dissect where it all went wrong the next day? 'oh, you were pretty hammered and I knew you hadn't eaten all day and I knew that it was out of character for you but I just continued to supply you with vodka.' Huh?
...more

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Jul 06, 2011

Kari rated it

This book falls into the OK category. Perhaps as it has a touchy subject (date rape), perhaps because it is written rather simplistically, with the ending you expect and the growth you would expect in a character that had dealt with such an event. It was a quick read, and you did want to see what happened in the end (although you really knew all the way through). What was more interesting was the justice system that the students put in place as the administration too frequently turned a blind...more

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Jun 13, 2011

Kc rated it

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

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May 12, 2011

Gpksiu rated it

The Mockingbirds (by Daisy Whitney) gave me a very unique insight into one of society’s most prevalent yet less discussed problems – rape. How Daisy Whitney described the main character Alex’s feelings after the rape felt extremely real. This was, in part, due to Daisy Whitney’s experiences; having been raped during her freshman year at university, she was able to accurately describe, via Alex, the true horrors and feelings of the aftermath of the rape. She had described going into the cafet...moreThe Mockingbirds (by Daisy Whitney) gave me a very unique insight into one of society’s most prevalent yet less discussed problems – rape. How Daisy Whitney described the main character Alex’s feelings after the rape felt extremely real. This was, in part, due to Daisy Whitney’s experiences; having been raped during her freshman year at university, she was able to accurately describe, via Alex, the true horrors and feelings of the aftermath of the rape. She had described going into the cafeteria during lunchtimes (in which Carter and his friends would be there and would try to defame her in front of her face) as “entering a lion’s den”, and described meeting the rapist, Carter, as totally sickening, in which she got headaches she had never gotten before (pg. 158). The processes that her friends took to try to help Alex recollect her memories and how her friends pieced together the fact the Alex was raped felt pretty real too. In the novel, her friends were questioning Alex in a comfortable (not forceful) tone to try to wheedle out the little facts that she had from her, and they were very slow and thoughtful in determining that Alex was raped. Overall, Alex’s whole process in trying to take a stand in her rape case felt pretty real, and the brevity, depth, and thoughtfulness that were put into depicting the feelings can only come from someone who actually has experienced rape before.

One of the things that intrigued me most was the fact that the students at Themis Academy took the Mockingbirds group so seriously and regarded the group as a high level of authority. As Themis practically does not intervene and punish any wrongdoing in the school, the readers would expect that the students act with such impunity. The students had a high disregard for the teachers (a fine example of this is how lowly Alex thought of Ms. Peck, the Texan English teacher), yet they had great respect for a bunch of “serious”, good students? Even when the Mockingbirds hand out the punishments, the accused follow them without any enforcement. If the students did not even respect the real law, why did they respect the rulings of the Mockingbirds? Probably Daisy Whitney chose to use the seemingly perfection and “good nature” of Themis students to try to justify all this.

The setting of The Mockingbirds is also very interesting and provides many parallels to our current society. The apparent perfection that resonates around Themis forces readers to take a unique approach and view into the story. In our world, even though, in theory, there are heavy repercussions for rape, in reality there are rarely any as victims of rape do not speak up, giving rapists a free reign. Likewise, in Themis, the teachers and the administration (our law and our authorities) do not seem to think that its students (us) would perform such horrible acts of violence and they ignore the matter (likewise, we view lowly on the victims of rape, therefore victims do not dare speak out). It is only through the efforts of ethically-conscious people (that is, our lawmakers and community activists) that justice can be served.
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May 11, 2011

Goldie_zz_huen rated it

There is no doubt that The Mockingbirds is a good book, I like it because it reveals some of the modern day problems associated with teenagers: like sex, alcohol and date-raped; As well, it teaches me speaking up and getting help are good ways to overcome problems. The book offers many real life situations and meaningful lessons; I am sure many of us will appreciate these qualities and feel interested to read it.
This book talks about the horrific experience of a girl named Alex, she w...more There is no doubt that The Mockingbirds is a good book, I like it because it reveals some of the modern day problems associated with teenagers: like sex, alcohol and date-raped; As well, it teaches me speaking up and getting help are good ways to overcome problems. The book offers many real life situations and meaningful lessons; I am sure many of us will appreciate these qualities and feel interested to read it.
This book talks about the horrific experience of a girl named Alex, she was date-raped after intoxicated in a party. She was in shock, unable to withstand the humiliate allegation from others finally drove her to seek help from The Mockingbirds, a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of their fellow peers, to investigated into her case. It is because she chose to stand up to speak out; she eventually found justice and peace of mind. The book is very interesting and pleasure to read; it successfully keeps me hooked as there are many things I can relate to in my daily life. For example, how our tongue can become sword and hurt others. “Carter has seen me at my worst, my most vulnerable, and now he’s telling his friends.” (The Mockingbirds P.72) Here shows that gossip and spread rumours is an instinct of human and it can easily destroy a person’s reputation. Even though the characters are frictional, because the story is based on the author’s real life experience, so she is particularly capable to develop the plot and characters, as well as express the protagonist’s different angles of feelings. As the author quote, “I feel close to Alex. Like her, I was date-raped when I was a teenager.” (The Mockingbirds P.333)
In short, I find that The Mockingbirds is worth to read, the story is especially sensitive and educational for teenagers like me. It makes us mindful about the things to prevent ourselves becoming a victim of alcohol or unknown substances whenever we are going to parties. There is a lot we can learn from this book.

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May 10, 2011

Sam1001uel added it

The Mockingbirds, is a book written by Daisy Whitney. It’s one of the greatest books I’ve ever seen. It’s a story about Alex, a college student who got date raped. I like this book because the story is realistic. The writer has done a great job on describing Alex’s feeling. “My heart hammers and my head hurts and there’s this taste in my mouth, this dry, parched taste, this heavy taste of a night I don’t remember with…” (The Mockingbirds p.2) I can actually feel what Alex is feeling when she fi...more The Mockingbirds, is a book written by Daisy Whitney. It’s one of the greatest books I’ve ever seen. It’s a story about Alex, a college student who got date raped. I like this book because the story is realistic. The writer has done a great job on describing Alex’s feeling. “My heart hammers and my head hurts and there’s this taste in my mouth, this dry, parched taste, this heavy taste of a night I don’t remember with…” (The Mockingbirds p.2) I can actually feel what Alex is feeling when she finds herself naked on a guy’s bed and she has no idea of what happened.
The Mockingbird is an interesting idea in the book. It is a secret justice system formed by a group of students. “The Mockingbirds are the law.” (The Mockingbirds p.14)It will punish the student who does something against the school rules. I think this idea is the only unrealistic thing in the whole book, however, I still think it’s a cool idea. When the teacher can’t help the students to solve their problems, it is student’s turn to stand up and use their power to think of a solution to solve the problems. This is telling us that when students cooperate, we can do things that the teachers can’t do.
I will be glad if my school also has a system like the Mockingbird because there are quite a few sinful things happening in my school every day. I have heard that students’ wallets were being stolen and some student’s were being bullied. Although the teachers have tried so hard to avoid these things, they are not superman and they can’t make these things disappear. I always feel sorry for those poor students because the bad students are not being punished as teachers have no idea about what they have done. We can’t blame the teachers because we have a lot more students than teachers, but it’ll be different if students can stand up and do the work for the teachers. Yet, I think this will never happen because we are selfish. We don’t think it’s a big problem unless our things have been stolen or we have been bullied.
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May 11, 2011

Jan rated it

Shelves: teenbooks, contemporary

This is quite a powerful story about date rape that is taken from the author's own experience.

Alex, a budding pianist at a free-spirited private school called Thetis Academy, wakes up in the bed of a male classmate, unable to remember how she got there. She discovers, to her horror, that her bedmate, Carter, claims that they had sex twice. Alex was a virgin and is repulsed by Carter's claim that they did it and that she enjoyed it. She reveals what happened to her sister and some ...more

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Apr 24, 2011

Jess - The Tales Compendium rated it

Shelves: debut, contemporary

The Mockingbirds is the story of Alex, a high school junior at an exclusive boarding school, who wakes one morning to find she has been dated raped after having a few too many drinks. Not wanting to go to the police, and knowing full well that her school won't do anything, she is faced with the decision of what to do next. Concluding that she will just get on with her life, another option presents itself in the form of The Mockingbirds, an underground student-run justice system, born due to the ...moreThe Mockingbirds is the story of Alex, a high school junior at an exclusive boarding school, who wakes one morning to find she has been dated raped after having a few too many drinks. Not wanting to go to the police, and knowing full well that her school won't do anything, she is faced with the decision of what to do next. Concluding that she will just get on with her life, another option presents itself in the form of The Mockingbirds, an underground student-run justice system, born due to the absurdity of a school that sees everything through rose coloured glasses.

Once Alex enlists the help of The Mockingbirds, not only is she dealing with her own issues and the fact that she is going to have to tell more people about what happened and relive the event each time she tells it, but she also has to wait to find out if The Mockingbirds will even take her case, as sexual assault isn't something that has been brought to them before. Alex will be setting a precedent and with that comes more pressure, especially as more girls with similar stories, come out of the woodwork.

While the book does focus on the lead up to what outcome will prevail, the majority of the story talks about how Alex's ordeal has changed the person she is, and who she will become. It discusses how the assault has altered her everyday life, from having to sit in class with the boy, to taking the long way around campus just to make sure there is no chance she will run into him. She stops eating due to the fact she now avoids the school dining hall to avoid seeing him and his friends. Things that she once excelled at now take a back seat in her mind and favourite memories and pieces of music are tainted with the memory of what happened. If she dates again, how will the future boyfriend perceive her? Will they see her as easy? As damaged goods?

Guilt and blame are things that get tossed around quite a bit. Alex goes though her own confusions as she slowly remembers events from the night, what she did, what Carter did and her thoughts as to whether it was her own fault she was raped or if the blame lies with Carter, the smug water polo player prancing around campus. She also goes though various phases of guilt in regards to taking action against Carter. Her very loyal and sometimes persistent friends blame themselves for letting her drink too much, and of course they blame Carter most of all. Carter thinks he did nothing wrong. The question is, what do The Mockingbirds think?

I love that all the different angles are explored, with Alex experiencing all of them. We don't just have the view that it was all Carter's fault. I like that she second guesses herself, that she has doubts, because even if these doubts are unfounded, it's human nature.

Having such a fantastic support network amongst her friends, The Mockingbirds, and later a teacher, prove to be essential in Alex's courage to speak up and also move on with her life. While she judges and doubts herself, her friends never do. Having someone around to talk to about what she is going through who won't judge her, proves a major contribution to her independence, strength and ability to stand up for herself. As well as this, having friends who will let her carry on with life as normal, and not let it define her, are just as important.

While debut author Daisy Whitney has stated that the book is entirely fictional, the story itself was inspired by her own experience being date-raped in college.

As a side note, I love all the To Kill A Mockingbird and Harper Lee references used throughout the book. Hopefully they might inspire those who have not read the classic to pick it up.

This is an ultimately uplifting novel about standing up for yourself, triumphing over injustice, the issue of consent, the importance of friendship and finding your inner strength even when you don't think you have any.

For fans of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.(less)

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Apr 18, 2011

Rebekah ODell rated it

Alex is a junior at a prestigious, progressive New England boarding school when she wakes up, disoriented, in an unfamiliar dorm room next to a naked boy whose name she can’t remember. She remembers going to the concert. She remembers playing drinking games. After that — nothing. When Alex makes her way back to her room, her roommate suggests that if she can’t remember having sex, she was probably date raped. Though Alex initially hesitates to accept this diagnosis, bits and pieces of the evenin...moreAlex is a junior at a prestigious, progressive New England boarding school when she wakes up, disoriented, in an unfamiliar dorm room next to a naked boy whose name she can’t remember. She remembers going to the concert. She remembers playing drinking games. After that — nothing. When Alex makes her way back to her room, her roommate suggests that if she can’t remember having sex, she was probably date raped. Though Alex initially hesitates to accept this diagnosis, bits and pieces of the evening — of her fear and resistance to Carter’s sexual advances — come rushing back to her.

But what to do? If she calls the police, it will simply be a case of he-said-she-said that will quickly become very public and include involving her parents. The school disciplinary committee is notoriously hands-off. Instead, Alex appeals to The Mockingbirds — a group of student advocates who monitor and punish the student body for various offenses. They take their name from To Kill a Mockingbird, believing that doing the right thing for victimized students on campus is their raison d’etre. The Mockingbirds spring into action to defend Alex and all girls who have been date raped at Thamis Academy.

This book has won a number of Young Adult awards over the last year — and I find it hard to pass up anything inspired by Harper Lee. This book was really better than I expected. Sort of like a more gown-up Speak, the issue of rape has become a familiar tune in YA lit. Though this book is no exception, it’s slightly edgier than what I’ve read in the past. The writing — though not revolutionary — is pretty good.

I really only have a couple of complaints about this book. First, the language — a perennial concern in YA. Though there is not too many obscenities, there is enough to make me hesitate to send it home for something like summer reading. And in this book, it’s really unnecessary. Ditto on the sexual content. It’s not too graphic, but it’s just descriptive enough to make me uneasy.

My other concern was simply a round dislike of the little love story. It was trite and too trite for a book with a bite. Moreover, having a new love interest seemed to make Alex’s ordeal somewhat easier — she has a defender, a powerful defender at that. And it also seems to ignore some of the more nuanced issues about intimacy that often come out of sexual assault.

All in all, for a young adult book, I liked The Mockingbirds. I will definitely put it on my bookshelf at school and recommend it to my young readers. It has a great lesson for teenagers to absorb.

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Mar 21, 2011

Paula rated it

Shelves: 50-book-challenge

Overall I liked this book. Definitely a title for older teens as it deals with date-rape at a boarding school, and there's some fairly graphic descriptions of the rape. The author based the story on some of her own experiences, and the conceit of the story is that the adults have let the students down by ignoring any injustices like bullying, cheating, etc. that happen on campus. So the students have formed "The Mockingbirds" a student-run organization that dispenses justice. As th...more

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Mar 21, 2011

Paula Griffith rated it

Alex has been blessed with a gift of music, and she attends a preparatory high school and dreams of Julliard. Normally studious and focused on academics, Alex joins her friends for a night celebrating and finds herself in a strange bed next to a boy she does not know the next morning. She is appalled and ashamed as she tries to remember the events of the night before. Her roommate guesses what happened and sets up a meeting with the two of them and Alex's sister, who assembled the Mockingbirds, ...more

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Mar 20, 2011

Lynne Perednia rated it

Alex Patrick is a busy junior at an exclusive Providence, R.I., boarding school. But studies, her spring project, even her beloved music, take second place to the aftermath of her date rape by a fellow student. When she tells a roomate, the school's underground student justice system takes over.

The system is run by the Mockingbirds, a group founded by Alex's older sister when she was a student there. Although Casey told Alex about it, there weren't details. Because the school is an e...moreAlex Patrick is a busy junior at an exclusive Providence, R.I., boarding school. But studies, her spring project, even her beloved music, take second place to the aftermath of her date rape by a fellow student. When she tells a roomate, the school's underground student justice system takes over.

The system is run by the Mockingbirds, a group founded by Alex's older sister when she was a student there. Although Casey told Alex about it, there weren't details. Because the school is an exclusive one, administrators and teachers tend to believe the students all act honorably (there is one setpiece that shows brilliantly how easily the grownups can misinterpret what's going on). The times that does not happen, the students take care of matters themselves. They are named for the Mockingbird that it is a sin to kill in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, and there are references to characters in that masterpiece throughout the story.

The Mockingbirds begins with Alex waking up in a stranger's bed, unable to remember how she got there. It's intense and frankly written. Although parts of the night come back to her, these harrowing flashbacks are designed to be only a part of the story. The idea that teenagers realize adults don't pay attention to everything about them -- including some very important things -- and can take care of matters responsibly, is just as important to the narrative.

Carter, the boy who raped Alex, brags about his conquest and doesn't understand why she doesn't want to have sex with him again. When she files charges through the Mockingbirds against him, Carter lashes out. Also involved in the story are Alex's two roommates; Martin, the boy she was starting to like before the rape; other girls who come forward with their own stories; a sympathetic teacher; students who don't see taking the law into their own hands in the same way; and other leaders of the Mockingbirds. Their roles contribute to an understanding of what it's like for a rape victim trying to recover from the trauma and how others may react to a rape victim, from blaming her to unconditional support. The various stages of a victim's recovery and how different people cope with being raped is portrayed honestly. There is a great deal of important knowledge that is portrayed openly through these characters, including the trial scenes.

The novel is an accessible read even though it relies to a small extent on knowledge of the Lee novel. The main character's love of music is woven into the narrative but occasionally seems one layer too many. The concept of overachieving, self-reliant students is handled well; there is a calm, quiet tone to the novel that keeps the focus on doing something about the injustice rather than dwelling on it.

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