The Fool Reversed

by Susan Whitcher

"[A] probing, acutely observed novel about a girl's dangerous first liaison. Anna is only 15 when she falls in love with Thorn, a poet nearly twice her age, and begins a sexual affair . . . Readers will see that Thorn is a predator, pushing Anna into unsavory situations . . . Memorable scenes and insights." -Publishers Weekly

Genres: Young Adult

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Jacklyn Hinojosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book back when I was 15 or 16. It was a great read. Mature in the erotica and passion it contains but yet I loved the story plot. Really surprised to see it only had an average of 3 stars. I remember seeing my younger brother with the book later and thinking that book is to mature for you! ( he always found interest in my books but never told me..only to find years later that’s where it had gone)
It was a story of girl coming to know herself through the discovery of a relationship with an older man and the world that came with it. It remind me a lot of my own life which could be why I hold it so dear to my heart. But again it’s just one of those books I found myself lost in that made and ever lasting impression on me .

[Gretchen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh and meh. Did not like this book at all. It felt contrived and puffed-up. So difficult to read. And the metaphors!: "...her breasts bloated like dough." And, "...her hands felt like cold raw chickens." And, "The hand slid off her arm, like hot fresh spit sliding down a wall." And, "Anna woke up feeling like moldy death." And, "She curled up on her bed. Like a grub in an apple..." Ad nauseam. Maybe one clever metaphor per chapter would have been ok, but one in every. single. paragraph? I started to look for them just for grins. Very distracting. Ok, I get that the book is one big metaphor (the pedophile in the novel is named Thorn). I get that it's all very poetic, etc. etc. But ugh, so contrived, so yucky. I HATED this book. Yuk. Ick, Bleck.