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Exposed
In the dim light of the darkroom, I'm alone, but not for long.
As white turns to gray, Kate is with me.
The background of the dance studio blurred, so the focus is all on her
legs extended in a perfect soaring split.
The straight line to my squiggle,
my forever-best friend.
Sixteen-year-old Liz is Photogirl—sharp, focused and confident in what she sees through her camera lens. Confident that she and Kate will be best friends forever.
But everything changes in one blurry night. Suddenly, Kate is avoiding her, and people are looking the other way when she passes in the halls. As the aftershocks from a startling accusation rip through Liz's world, everything she thought she knew about photography, family, friendship and herself shifts out of focus. What happens when the picture you see no longer makes sense? What do you do when you may lose everything you love most? Told in stunning, searingly raw free verse, Exposed is Kimberly Marcus's gut-wrenching, riveting debut and will appeal to fans of Ellen Hopkins, Laurie Halse Anderson and Virginia Euwer Wolff.
As white turns to gray, Kate is with me.
The background of the dance studio blurred, so the focus is all on her
legs extended in a perfect soaring split.
The straight line to my squiggle,
my forever-best friend.
Sixteen-year-old Liz is Photogirl—sharp, focused and confident in what she sees through her camera lens. Confident that she and Kate will be best friends forever.
But everything changes in one blurry night. Suddenly, Kate is avoiding her, and people are looking the other way when she passes in the halls. As the aftershocks from a startling accusation rip through Liz's world, everything she thought she knew about photography, family, friendship and herself shifts out of focus. What happens when the picture you see no longer makes sense? What do you do when you may lose everything you love most? Told in stunning, searingly raw free verse, Exposed is Kimberly Marcus's gut-wrenching, riveting debut and will appeal to fans of Ellen Hopkins, Laurie Halse Anderson and Virginia Euwer Wolff.
255 pages, Hardcover
First published February 22, 2011
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8024 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 413 reviews
June 11, 2011
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
Kimberly Marcus' debut, Exposed, focuses on Liz Grayson, a girl with a real talent for photography and an even more real and long-standing friendship with Kate Morgan.
Liz and Kate are the type of friends who spend copious amounts of time together - and any one can tell from the right angle that they are as close as sisters.
Until the one night that changes everything. Until a spat leads to Liz's biggest regret, Kate's life altering tragedy, and someone else equally close to Liz - possibly - committing the unthinkable.
Exposed is told in verse, and, although Marcus does a fine job of breathing life into the characters - whereas some authors fail with verse - it was still missing that certain something that makes a novel POP and stand out, makes the reader remember it after they've turned the final page.
Why do I bother with verse novels, then? Well, not only are they a quick read, but, if handled properly, they can pack a huge punch even with their small amount of writing. I'm not trying to say that Exposed doesn't hit hard; the subject matter, , will most likely hit hard for many readers. But for me personally, it was just one of those books that you can take or leave and you don't really get much from.
I think that the writing should've been edgier. The subject is plenty edgy, but the writing seemed a little too mild for the subject and I wish it would've been more full-bodied and in-your-face to match the novel's weighty topic.
It's akin to asking for a cup of coffee, black, and getting a latte. Too much cream softens the otherwise harsh flavor the consumer was craving.
FAVORITE QUOTE:
"I'm floating up
flying high
swirling around
soaring
out of my mind
with glee.
Until it hits me,
midair,
that the person
I most want to tell
has flown away."
And with all of this said, I still think that Marcus did a good job for a verse debut, and I hope that she'll endeavor to write something in regular format someday - something with a similarly edgy theme and more substance that this particular reader is looking for.
Kimberly Marcus' debut, Exposed, focuses on Liz Grayson, a girl with a real talent for photography and an even more real and long-standing friendship with Kate Morgan.
Liz and Kate are the type of friends who spend copious amounts of time together - and any one can tell from the right angle that they are as close as sisters.
Until the one night that changes everything. Until a spat leads to Liz's biggest regret, Kate's life altering tragedy, and someone else equally close to Liz - possibly - committing the unthinkable.
Exposed is told in verse, and, although Marcus does a fine job of breathing life into the characters - whereas some authors fail with verse - it was still missing that certain something that makes a novel POP and stand out, makes the reader remember it after they've turned the final page.
Why do I bother with verse novels, then? Well, not only are they a quick read, but, if handled properly, they can pack a huge punch even with their small amount of writing. I'm not trying to say that Exposed doesn't hit hard; the subject matter, , will most likely hit hard for many readers. But for me personally, it was just one of those books that you can take or leave and you don't really get much from.
I think that the writing should've been edgier. The subject is plenty edgy, but the writing seemed a little too mild for the subject and I wish it would've been more full-bodied and in-your-face to match the novel's weighty topic.
It's akin to asking for a cup of coffee, black, and getting a latte. Too much cream softens the otherwise harsh flavor the consumer was craving.
FAVORITE QUOTE:
"I'm floating up
flying high
swirling around
soaring
out of my mind
with glee.
Until it hits me,
midair,
that the person
I most want to tell
has flown away."
And with all of this said, I still think that Marcus did a good job for a verse debut, and I hope that she'll endeavor to write something in regular format someday - something with a similarly edgy theme and more substance that this particular reader is looking for.
June 20, 2012
My Thoughts: There are books you expect to love that disappoint. There are books you think will be okay, and they are just okay. Then there are books that you don't expect to like and they completely blow you away.
Exposed falls into that last category.
Before I even opened the book, I didn't think I was going to like it. Maybe because it's from a debut author that I haven't seen much buzz about. Maybe because it's written in free verse and I thought it would be an Ellen Hopkins knock-off. Maybe because the summary does not do the book justice. Whatever the reason, I didn't expect to love Exposed, but love it I did!
Characters: This book reminded me of one of Jodi Piccoult's novels because I sided with each of the characters at different times and didn't really know what I wanted the outcome of the story to be - who I wanted to be telling the truth.
The story is told from Liz, aka Photogirl's point of view. The descriptions of her photographs and the way she sees the world through the lens were just beautiful. But by far the best thing about Liz's character was her emotion. There were so many ups and downs for Liz throughout the book, and I felt each and every one. The joy, the frustration, the shock, and the guilt. Oh, the guilt! Liz is a wonderfully deep character and perfect narrator.
Liz's brother, Mike, and her best friend, Kate, were equally as real and deep. On one page, I'd think, "Mike is so sweet and caring, there's no way he could be wrong!" and "Kate is a back-stabbing liar." But then on the next page I'd think, "Kate's just coming off as a terrible person because she's hurting." and "Mike is a... (fill in your favorite guy-bashing word here)."
Liz's parents and her other friends, Amanda and Dee Dee, were also wonderful additions to the story. Even Kate's mom (who I think is only mentioned once or twice) sticks out in my mind as being a strong character. Oh, and the photography teacher! Mrs. Pratt! I want to be in her class!!
From the major characters to even the most minor ones, I enjoyed them all.
Setting: The cold, winter off-season in Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard added a constant touch of mist and gray to the story. The setting definitely helped enhance the mood.
Ending (Spoiler-Free!): When I got to the seventh-to-last poem, I thought the ending was going to be the only thing I didn't like about the book. I really didn't care for that poem or the way it made me think the book was going to end - too quickly, too easily, too wrapped up neatly in a bow.
But then I read the last six poems and realized that's not how the book ends, and I have nothing left to complain about! Like the rest of the book, the ending was beautiful.
Writing Style: Yes, this book is written in free verse. Amazingly well-done free verse. Every time I thought I'd read my favorite poem out of the book, I'd read a few more pages and find one I liked just as much, if not more. Here is a sample of one of my favorite poems, taken from p.185.
Juggling Act
As tempting as it seems
I can't run off with the circus.
Because the only one that comes around here,
to the Barnstable County Fairgrounds,
doesn't come until July
and outside my window
Dad's stringing his hopes
along with white lights of Christmas.
Other things I loved about Kimberly Marcus's writing style:
- The spacing and line breaks in the poems, which seem like such simple choices, but make a huge difference.
- The sympathy and empathy evoked for each one of the characters.
- The pacing of the book. It's a short, quick-read because of the format, but it never felt rushed. It moved along when it needed to and slowed down at just the right parts.
- The way the shortest three and four line poems impressed me as much as the three and four page poems.
- The beautiful imagery and description.
Stars: 5 out of 5. Go read this book!
Exposed falls into that last category.
Before I even opened the book, I didn't think I was going to like it. Maybe because it's from a debut author that I haven't seen much buzz about. Maybe because it's written in free verse and I thought it would be an Ellen Hopkins knock-off. Maybe because the summary does not do the book justice. Whatever the reason, I didn't expect to love Exposed, but love it I did!
Characters: This book reminded me of one of Jodi Piccoult's novels because I sided with each of the characters at different times and didn't really know what I wanted the outcome of the story to be - who I wanted to be telling the truth.
The story is told from Liz, aka Photogirl's point of view. The descriptions of her photographs and the way she sees the world through the lens were just beautiful. But by far the best thing about Liz's character was her emotion. There were so many ups and downs for Liz throughout the book, and I felt each and every one. The joy, the frustration, the shock, and the guilt. Oh, the guilt! Liz is a wonderfully deep character and perfect narrator.
Liz's brother, Mike, and her best friend, Kate, were equally as real and deep. On one page, I'd think, "Mike is so sweet and caring, there's no way he could be wrong!" and "Kate is a back-stabbing liar." But then on the next page I'd think, "Kate's just coming off as a terrible person because she's hurting." and "Mike is a... (fill in your favorite guy-bashing word here)."
Liz's parents and her other friends, Amanda and Dee Dee, were also wonderful additions to the story. Even Kate's mom (who I think is only mentioned once or twice) sticks out in my mind as being a strong character. Oh, and the photography teacher! Mrs. Pratt! I want to be in her class!!
From the major characters to even the most minor ones, I enjoyed them all.
Setting: The cold, winter off-season in Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard added a constant touch of mist and gray to the story. The setting definitely helped enhance the mood.
Ending (Spoiler-Free!): When I got to the seventh-to-last poem, I thought the ending was going to be the only thing I didn't like about the book. I really didn't care for that poem or the way it made me think the book was going to end - too quickly, too easily, too wrapped up neatly in a bow.
But then I read the last six poems and realized that's not how the book ends, and I have nothing left to complain about! Like the rest of the book, the ending was beautiful.
Writing Style: Yes, this book is written in free verse. Amazingly well-done free verse. Every time I thought I'd read my favorite poem out of the book, I'd read a few more pages and find one I liked just as much, if not more. Here is a sample of one of my favorite poems, taken from p.185.
Juggling Act
As tempting as it seems
I can't run off with the circus.
Because the only one that comes around here,
to the Barnstable County Fairgrounds,
doesn't come until July
and outside my window
Dad's stringing his hopes
along with white lights of Christmas.
Other things I loved about Kimberly Marcus's writing style:
- The spacing and line breaks in the poems, which seem like such simple choices, but make a huge difference.
- The sympathy and empathy evoked for each one of the characters.
- The pacing of the book. It's a short, quick-read because of the format, but it never felt rushed. It moved along when it needed to and slowed down at just the right parts.
- The way the shortest three and four line poems impressed me as much as the three and four page poems.
- The beautiful imagery and description.
Stars: 5 out of 5. Go read this book!
May 10, 2011
"Exposed" is Kimberly's debut book and I must say she did a good job for this being her first book. In "Exposed" her writing was a bit different from any other book I've read. Each page was like a different scene. It made it so so easy to read and so easy to get into. I never once felt like putting the book down. And I sincerely felt sooo bad for her main character Liz. She takes you through Liz's dilemmas. And you can't help to wish for the best outcome for her.
Have you ever had a BFF that you couldn't see your life without? I do, in fact I've been friends with my BFF for 21 years. And we've had our ups and downs. We've been through so many stages in our lives together. So to see my life without her would be tragic! So in "Exposed" Liz has a best friend named Kate. And like best friends do, they hang out together. They have their little traditions, such as Saturday night sleepovers. That was until one night, one tiny fight that changed both of their lives forever. Sounds dramatic but that's really how life works. One small action can define your whole future.
Basically one fight changed everything. Liz went upstairs to her bedroom and Kate stood downstairs. Both angry, they went to bed. But when Liz woke up, she didn't find Kate. Looking for Kate in school to try and work out their differences, she was given the cold shoulder. Things between them now has change. And Liz didn't know how to handle it, but if she thought that was hard to handle. Imagine her reaction when her brother was accused rape. Not only was he accused of rape, but the person accusing him of rape was her very own BFF (or ex-bff) Kate. That's when her life started spiraling out of focus. She started losing her eye for good pictures, her family was buckling under pressure and she didn't know who to believe. Her brother whom she adores and loves dearly or her BFF whom she knows has never lied to her. Life for her went from bad to worst. What else can go wrong?
I really enjoyed this book A LOT. It was written so different and it was such a fast paced read. Kimberly drew you into Liz's world of deception and pain. I know that I was crossing my fingers for her. She wasn't a bad kid. But she was losing grip quickly and that was a scary concept. I recommend this book, as long as you're okay with the whole rape accusation. I give this book a 5 stars and a definite Good Choice for Reading!
January 4, 2012
This is definitely on my list of top in-verse novels that I have read so far. It does contain some tough subject matter, especially for the younger audience. I don’t want to go into detail because that would spoil the twist. I really liked the authors writing style. The verses were short and sweet, just how I like them.
I felt like I was able to connect with the main character, Liz, very easily through her love for photography. I’m no photogirl but I do love taking pictures, and I’m actually taking darkroom photography this semester. I also felt like all her thoughts and emotions were spot on for someone going through her situation. It bugged me at some points because it seemed like no one else in Liz’s life could understand her point of view or where she was coming from a lot of the time, and I just felt like, considering the circumstances, they should have been more understanding.
This is the authors first YA novel, and all I can say is that I hope she writes more, preferably in verse =)
I felt like I was able to connect with the main character, Liz, very easily through her love for photography. I’m no photogirl but I do love taking pictures, and I’m actually taking darkroom photography this semester. I also felt like all her thoughts and emotions were spot on for someone going through her situation. It bugged me at some points because it seemed like no one else in Liz’s life could understand her point of view or where she was coming from a lot of the time, and I just felt like, considering the circumstances, they should have been more understanding.
This is the authors first YA novel, and all I can say is that I hope she writes more, preferably in verse =)
June 16, 2015
I really really enjoyed this.
I loved the portrayal of all of Liz's different relationships in this book, those with her brother, her parents, her boyfriend and particularly that of her friendship with Kate.
I was definitely emotionally connected to the story, despite how quick of a read it is, it brought me to tears.
I found Liz extremely relatable in how conflicted she was in what and who to believe.
I have seen a couple of reviews that talk about that they don't like how this story was resolved, in that they wanted the story to be more clearly 'resolved', however, i loved the way this story was wrapped up as i found it extremely true believable and true to life.
This was a really great read and i would definitely recommend that people pick it up.
I loved the portrayal of all of Liz's different relationships in this book, those with her brother, her parents, her boyfriend and particularly that of her friendship with Kate.
I was definitely emotionally connected to the story, despite how quick of a read it is, it brought me to tears.
I found Liz extremely relatable in how conflicted she was in what and who to believe.
I have seen a couple of reviews that talk about that they don't like how this story was resolved, in that they wanted the story to be more clearly 'resolved', however, i loved the way this story was wrapped up as i found it extremely true believable and true to life.
This was a really great read and i would definitely recommend that people pick it up.
August 5, 2017
Exposed was enjoyable. It wasn't the greatest book I've ever read, but it has its high points. Marcus' free verse was beautiful, and several times throughout the book, I noticed the utilization of slant rhymes, which made me happy!! Not just free verse for the hell of it.
Due to the free verse, though, Exposed is very quick to read through. I read it in perhaps a total of an hour. I'm glad I didn't purchase it simply for that reason (and for the fact that I'll probably not reread it). It does cover an interesting perspective of a (frighteningly) common incident, though - how the sister of a rapist copes with the fact that her brother raped her best friend. Would recommend but only to some of my friends whose interests lie in free verse, YA fiction, and psychology/sociology.
Due to the free verse, though, Exposed is very quick to read through. I read it in perhaps a total of an hour. I'm glad I didn't purchase it simply for that reason (and for the fact that I'll probably not reread it). It does cover an interesting perspective of a (frighteningly) common incident, though - how the sister of a rapist copes with the fact that her brother raped her best friend. Would recommend but only to some of my friends whose interests lie in free verse, YA fiction, and psychology/sociology.
December 28, 2020
A story told via poetry, Liz’s brother Mike is accused by her best friend of rape. Fell a it short for me. A quick read, but I felt like it missed the emotional punch it was trying to make. It was sad, but I felt a bit like it was apologetic on some level (albeit realistic).
Read
April 21, 2017The book i read is called “Exposed” by Kimberly Marcus. It is about two best friends that got in a fight at a sleep over. They started ignoring each other and distancing themselves. Then one friend found out her and her brother did stuff that night. It caused rumors and chaos. Then it started effecting the family. They went to court and found him innocent and they tried to be friends again but it never happened. The two themes of the story are friendship and honesty. I like the book, i got glued to it i thought the main character would have spreaded the rumor but it was the brother. At the end of the book i still didnt find a final conclusion but i recomend this book to middle schoolers.
February 24, 2016
Personal Response:
I thought this book was pretty good. It wasn't a favorite of mine, and it took me longer than it should have to read. I thought this was because I wasn't necessarily glued to it. I had predicted a rumor would spread about the main character, but it was about her brother instead. The rumor affected her life as if it were about her, though. I was conflicted about the rumor, whether it was true or not. At times I thought it was made up, but at other times I believed it. At the end of the book, I still didn't come to a final conclusion; however, I thought the book did a good at being mysterious in that way.
Plot:
Two best friends were in a fight during a sleepover. Liz, the main character and point of view of this story, went upstairs for the night as her friend stayed downstairs. After that night Liz's friend, Kate, started ignoring her and brushing her off every time they saw each other, though Liz apologized like crazy. Finally Liz found out that something happened between Kate and Liz's brother that night. That caused for chaos when the rumor spread all around the school. The rumor was about Liz's brother, but it affected all of the family. The family had to go to court to fight what was being said about Liz's brother. In the end, the court found him innocent of his charge of rape. Liz attempted to be friends with Kate again, but that never happened.
Characterization:
The main character was Liz. She was in her senior year of high school. Photography and her best friend, Kate, were the most important things in her life. She was always so happy to have the two close to her. When her friend, Kate, left her, Liz became upset and that also affected her mood about photography. The two girls were like sisters before their fight. Liz tried her best to be close with Kate again, but Kate wouldn't do it. Kate's hobby was dance. She was lively and outgoing. After the night of the fight, though, she was very isolated and quiet. The girls were very close, so I thought they would become close again by the end of the book; however, Kate was dead set on not letting that happen, so it didn't.
Setting:
The setting included the halls of a high school. It was the time of senior year for the girls. That played major roles in the story, because in high school rumors spread fast. Also, I thought high school was a place of people who don't mind judging others, and that was the treatment Liz received. The setting also moved to Liz's house and to a court room. Those places were important, because the house was where the incident may have happened and the court room decided the most important decision about Liz's brother's fate.
Theme:
I found two themes in the the book. I thought there was friendship and also honesty. Friendship played into the story, because of the two girls in it. They were the best of friends, but something got between them. Though in the story they did not come back together, I thought there was a message about how important friends are and how people should fight for those relationships. Honesty was a pretty big theme, too. Throughout the book, one person must have been lying and it all could have been solved much easier if everyone told the honest truth. This showed how important it was to tell the truth in situations.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to girls in middle school and up. The book was from a girl's perspective and also dealt with a friendship between two girls. For this reason, girls will probably find it as a better read than boys would. Also, it was not a difficult book to read, so middle school aged girls can read it just fine.
I thought this book was pretty good. It wasn't a favorite of mine, and it took me longer than it should have to read. I thought this was because I wasn't necessarily glued to it. I had predicted a rumor would spread about the main character, but it was about her brother instead. The rumor affected her life as if it were about her, though. I was conflicted about the rumor, whether it was true or not. At times I thought it was made up, but at other times I believed it. At the end of the book, I still didn't come to a final conclusion; however, I thought the book did a good at being mysterious in that way.
Plot:
Two best friends were in a fight during a sleepover. Liz, the main character and point of view of this story, went upstairs for the night as her friend stayed downstairs. After that night Liz's friend, Kate, started ignoring her and brushing her off every time they saw each other, though Liz apologized like crazy. Finally Liz found out that something happened between Kate and Liz's brother that night. That caused for chaos when the rumor spread all around the school. The rumor was about Liz's brother, but it affected all of the family. The family had to go to court to fight what was being said about Liz's brother. In the end, the court found him innocent of his charge of rape. Liz attempted to be friends with Kate again, but that never happened.
Characterization:
The main character was Liz. She was in her senior year of high school. Photography and her best friend, Kate, were the most important things in her life. She was always so happy to have the two close to her. When her friend, Kate, left her, Liz became upset and that also affected her mood about photography. The two girls were like sisters before their fight. Liz tried her best to be close with Kate again, but Kate wouldn't do it. Kate's hobby was dance. She was lively and outgoing. After the night of the fight, though, she was very isolated and quiet. The girls were very close, so I thought they would become close again by the end of the book; however, Kate was dead set on not letting that happen, so it didn't.
Setting:
The setting included the halls of a high school. It was the time of senior year for the girls. That played major roles in the story, because in high school rumors spread fast. Also, I thought high school was a place of people who don't mind judging others, and that was the treatment Liz received. The setting also moved to Liz's house and to a court room. Those places were important, because the house was where the incident may have happened and the court room decided the most important decision about Liz's brother's fate.
Theme:
I found two themes in the the book. I thought there was friendship and also honesty. Friendship played into the story, because of the two girls in it. They were the best of friends, but something got between them. Though in the story they did not come back together, I thought there was a message about how important friends are and how people should fight for those relationships. Honesty was a pretty big theme, too. Throughout the book, one person must have been lying and it all could have been solved much easier if everyone told the honest truth. This showed how important it was to tell the truth in situations.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to girls in middle school and up. The book was from a girl's perspective and also dealt with a friendship between two girls. For this reason, girls will probably find it as a better read than boys would. Also, it was not a difficult book to read, so middle school aged girls can read it just fine.
May 6, 2012
This review originally appeared on
Clear Eyes, Full Shelves
FNL Character Rating: Becky Sproles, in Season 4’s heart-wrenching “I Can’t” episode.
It’s the fall of senior year.
Elizabeth Grayson is focused.
On her camera.
Her portfolio.
Her art school applications.
Her life.
Her photos.
Are clear.
She’s focused along with Kate, touchingly dubbed by Liz as,
The straight line to my squiggle,
my forever-best friend.
But everything changes after one night at their monthly sleepover, when the cloudiness of life and the people Liz thought she knew, is exposed.
At first assuming Kate’s ensuing distance to be the result of an argument about Kate’s future that occurred during their sleepover, Liz repeatedly attempts to apologize. However, as Kate’s distance from Liz continues, Liz begins to unravel the events of the evening, which results in a stunning accusation.
The fallout sharply veers Liz’s life out of focus in every way.
While it would be easy for an writer to concentrate the narrative on the perpetrator and victim of the alleged crime, author Kimberly Marcus instead provides a nuanced look at the ripple effect of the accusation by telling the story from Liz’s point of view. Liz’s turmoil as she goes from priding herself on being able to,
…sum someone up
in a snapshot
or just a few words.
To realizing that,
some things come in shades of gray,
hues that give pause and make me wonder…
is perfectly captured in moving verse.
The verse form is ideally exploited in Exposed as Liz experiences a multitude of intense bursts of emotion, ranging from guilt, disbelief, betrayal and sorrow to relief, acceptance, and brief moments of joy.
And as Liz not only must come to grips with the horrible situation in which she is squarely in the middle, yet also paradoxically pushed to the fringe, she also must continue with the rituals of her senior year.
Kimberly Marcus’s affecting verse as Liz prepares her portfolio, mails her college applications, and realizes that her relationships with her friends, boyfriend, and family would soon be changing, regardless of her current predicament, induced in me a keen nostalgia. I recalled the nerve-wracking music school auditions, the nail-biting anticipation of the letters that would determine (or not) my next year’s destination, and the giddy pride/relief of graduating from high school. Never is it more poignant than when Liz voices her simultaneous joy and loneliness in the verse “Like a Bird,”
I’m floating up
flying high
swirling around
soaring out of my mind
with glee.
Until it hits me,
midair,
that the person
I most want to tell
has flown away.
I must commend Kimberly Marcus on convincingly capturing so many angles of a difficult topic, as well as Liz’s realizations that sometimes the world and the people in it just aren’t what she thought they were or should be. Because, as Liz so eloquently states,
It’s amazing how you think
you know someone so well,
then one day you come to see
that you really don’t know
that person at all
And you wonder
what that says
about you.
FNL Character Rating: Becky Sproles, in Season 4’s heart-wrenching “I Can’t” episode.
It’s the fall of senior year.
Elizabeth Grayson is focused.
On her camera.
Her portfolio.
Her art school applications.
Her life.
Her photos.
Are clear.
She’s focused along with Kate, touchingly dubbed by Liz as,
The straight line to my squiggle,
my forever-best friend.
But everything changes after one night at their monthly sleepover, when the cloudiness of life and the people Liz thought she knew, is exposed.
At first assuming Kate’s ensuing distance to be the result of an argument about Kate’s future that occurred during their sleepover, Liz repeatedly attempts to apologize. However, as Kate’s distance from Liz continues, Liz begins to unravel the events of the evening, which results in a stunning accusation.
The fallout sharply veers Liz’s life out of focus in every way.
While it would be easy for an writer to concentrate the narrative on the perpetrator and victim of the alleged crime, author Kimberly Marcus instead provides a nuanced look at the ripple effect of the accusation by telling the story from Liz’s point of view. Liz’s turmoil as she goes from priding herself on being able to,
…sum someone up
in a snapshot
or just a few words.
To realizing that,
some things come in shades of gray,
hues that give pause and make me wonder…
is perfectly captured in moving verse.
The verse form is ideally exploited in Exposed as Liz experiences a multitude of intense bursts of emotion, ranging from guilt, disbelief, betrayal and sorrow to relief, acceptance, and brief moments of joy.
And as Liz not only must come to grips with the horrible situation in which she is squarely in the middle, yet also paradoxically pushed to the fringe, she also must continue with the rituals of her senior year.
Kimberly Marcus’s affecting verse as Liz prepares her portfolio, mails her college applications, and realizes that her relationships with her friends, boyfriend, and family would soon be changing, regardless of her current predicament, induced in me a keen nostalgia. I recalled the nerve-wracking music school auditions, the nail-biting anticipation of the letters that would determine (or not) my next year’s destination, and the giddy pride/relief of graduating from high school. Never is it more poignant than when Liz voices her simultaneous joy and loneliness in the verse “Like a Bird,”
I’m floating up
flying high
swirling around
soaring out of my mind
with glee.
Until it hits me,
midair,
that the person
I most want to tell
has flown away.
I must commend Kimberly Marcus on convincingly capturing so many angles of a difficult topic, as well as Liz’s realizations that sometimes the world and the people in it just aren’t what she thought they were or should be. Because, as Liz so eloquently states,
It’s amazing how you think
you know someone so well,
then one day you come to see
that you really don’t know
that person at all
And you wonder
what that says
about you.
February 23, 2011
I'm not a 5 star giving kind of girl. That kind of a rating is reserved for books that "knock me off my feet," so to speak. Well, this one did just that, so I didn't hesitate when I posted my completion on EXPOSED's Goodreads page.
This is the first book I've read that was written in free verse, but I'm ready to read more. More free verse and more about Liz...what happens to her? She goes through a lot in just one book, that I'd like to read more of her story. The use of free verse makes this a quick read, but it doesn't take away from the depth of the story.
I'm so impressed with Kimberly Marcus as an author. This is her debut YA, and it is going to be a hit! There haven't been many YA novels written in free verse. I think it is a great way to write and maybe there will be more like it in the future. Marcus scores big with this one.
The characters in the story are well written, strong, deep characters. Liz comes to find out things about her brother and her best friend that she may not have wanted to know, but they also help her to learn more about herself as a person. What does she want to do with her life? Is she willing to hang on to her dreams, take the risks that she tries to get others to take, listen to those around her who are trying to help her? She comes to find out that dreams are what keep you going, and risks are meant to be taken. Things may not turn out the way you think they should, but they turn out, none the less.
This novel delves into a very heavy subject, but it doesn't tiptoe around it. Marcus meets the challenge head on and makes her characters face the truth, no matter how painful it is or will be, no matter what it may do to their relationships. The content dealt with in this novel is not an easy subject to broach, but Marcus does it so well!
I will be recommending this one to teens and adults as it will be enjoyed by both.
You might also like:
This is the first book I've read that was written in free verse, but I'm ready to read more. More free verse and more about Liz...what happens to her? She goes through a lot in just one book, that I'd like to read more of her story. The use of free verse makes this a quick read, but it doesn't take away from the depth of the story.
I'm so impressed with Kimberly Marcus as an author. This is her debut YA, and it is going to be a hit! There haven't been many YA novels written in free verse. I think it is a great way to write and maybe there will be more like it in the future. Marcus scores big with this one.
The characters in the story are well written, strong, deep characters. Liz comes to find out things about her brother and her best friend that she may not have wanted to know, but they also help her to learn more about herself as a person. What does she want to do with her life? Is she willing to hang on to her dreams, take the risks that she tries to get others to take, listen to those around her who are trying to help her? She comes to find out that dreams are what keep you going, and risks are meant to be taken. Things may not turn out the way you think they should, but they turn out, none the less.
This novel delves into a very heavy subject, but it doesn't tiptoe around it. Marcus meets the challenge head on and makes her characters face the truth, no matter how painful it is or will be, no matter what it may do to their relationships. The content dealt with in this novel is not an easy subject to broach, but Marcus does it so well!
I will be recommending this one to teens and adults as it will be enjoyed by both.
You might also like:
March 18, 2011
I’m a huge fan of novels written in verse and Kimberly Marcus’s debut novel Exposed did not disappoint. Marcus makes her writing look effortless; it reads and flows with ease. One of the best aspects of stories written in verse is that the author has to be so picky about word choice. There isn’t as much room to explain and develop the story as there is in prose, so it forces the author to put even more thought into the words she uses to convey her meaning and tell her story. (At least I’m assuming this.)
Although early on I correctly predicted why Kate started avoiding Liz, that didn’t keep me from wanting to continue reading the story. I was so hooked that I read this book in about two hours. Of course the verse makes reading faster, but the story was that engaging. There were parts that made me anxious, that made me cringe, that made me cry. I’m positive that my Ellen Hopkins fans will love this novel. Exposed also made me think of Patricia McCormick’s Sold, written in verse as well, because it was just as engaging.
Quite a few YA novels are written about teens that love photography, but Marcus took this character’s love of photography to another level. Liz captures her subjects at their most vulnerable and intimate moments. Liz also captures their insecurities and makes them beautiful. She’s a talented artist. The photography is taken to another level because not only are these things exposed by Liz, but like film, secrets and lies between family and friends are exposed and brought to light. It’s about impossible to further explain this without spoiling major elements of the plot, so I’ll leave it to you to discover and enjoy on your own :)
Kimberly Marcus doesn’t leave anything hidden in this stunning debut. I strongly encourage you to pick this novel up–it’s an addicting and powerful read.
Although early on I correctly predicted why Kate started avoiding Liz, that didn’t keep me from wanting to continue reading the story. I was so hooked that I read this book in about two hours. Of course the verse makes reading faster, but the story was that engaging. There were parts that made me anxious, that made me cringe, that made me cry. I’m positive that my Ellen Hopkins fans will love this novel. Exposed also made me think of Patricia McCormick’s Sold, written in verse as well, because it was just as engaging.
Quite a few YA novels are written about teens that love photography, but Marcus took this character’s love of photography to another level. Liz captures her subjects at their most vulnerable and intimate moments. Liz also captures their insecurities and makes them beautiful. She’s a talented artist. The photography is taken to another level because not only are these things exposed by Liz, but like film, secrets and lies between family and friends are exposed and brought to light. It’s about impossible to further explain this without spoiling major elements of the plot, so I’ll leave it to you to discover and enjoy on your own :)
Kimberly Marcus doesn’t leave anything hidden in this stunning debut. I strongly encourage you to pick this novel up–it’s an addicting and powerful read.
July 28, 2011
Summary:
Sixteen-year-old Liz Grayson is photogirl—sharp, focused and ready to take the world by storm with her camera. But Liz's entire life is called into question when her brother is accused of a crime—and the accuser is Liz's own best friend. As the aftershocks from that accusation rip through Liz's world, everything she thought she knew about photography, family, friendship and herself, shifts out of focus. And for the first time in her life, Liz finds herself unable to trust her own point of view. Told in stunning, searingly raw free verse, Exposed is Kimberly Marcus's gut-wrenching, riveting debut and will appeal to fans of Ellen Hopkins, Laurie Halse Anderson and Virginia Euwer Wolff
****************
I'm not usually one for novels written in verse but this was absolutely beautiful.
The story captured from the view of Liz "PhotoGirl" poetically immerses the reader in her emotions. I cried a couple of times. I judge books by 'cry-factor' most of the time and I felt how lost she became throughout the story.
Now I wonder about what the other reviewers were reading since I didn't have any high hopes for this book.
I'm happy with Kimberly Marcus being a childhood and adolescent trauma specialist. It completely brought everything together.
Sixteen-year-old Liz Grayson is photogirl—sharp, focused and ready to take the world by storm with her camera. But Liz's entire life is called into question when her brother is accused of a crime—and the accuser is Liz's own best friend. As the aftershocks from that accusation rip through Liz's world, everything she thought she knew about photography, family, friendship and herself, shifts out of focus. And for the first time in her life, Liz finds herself unable to trust her own point of view. Told in stunning, searingly raw free verse, Exposed is Kimberly Marcus's gut-wrenching, riveting debut and will appeal to fans of Ellen Hopkins, Laurie Halse Anderson and Virginia Euwer Wolff
****************
I'm not usually one for novels written in verse but this was absolutely beautiful.
The story captured from the view of Liz "PhotoGirl" poetically immerses the reader in her emotions. I cried a couple of times. I judge books by 'cry-factor' most of the time and I felt how lost she became throughout the story.
Now I wonder about what the other reviewers were reading since I didn't have any high hopes for this book.
I'm happy with Kimberly Marcus being a childhood and adolescent trauma specialist. It completely brought everything together.
February 10, 2016
Grade: B
Teen photographer Liz sees life from her camera's lens and the view is picturesque, a best friend Kate, boyfriend, likely acceptance to her dream college, a great family. Until an argument at a sleepover with her BFF. Now Kate is claiming Liz's brother Mike raped her that night and Liz doesn't know what to believe.
EXPOSED is a short, first person lyrical account of Liz's reactions. I enjoyed Kimberly Marcus's crisp writing style. Liz was caught in a no win situation and she was easy to embrace as a secondary victim to her brother's alleged actions. I understood her first instinct to doubt what happened, not because Mike was a good guy, but because I wouldn't want to believe my brother could rape my friend while I was sleeping. I had a harder time empathizing with her continued silence.
Because EXPOSED is written in verse, 274 pages barely told the story. I didn't feel like I knew any of the secondary characters, though most were sympathetic. Even Liz wasn't fully fleshed out. While the lyrical format worked to emphasize emotion, I found myself wanting more and wondering how the story would read in prose. I look forward to reading more of Marcus's novels.
THEMES: friendship, family, siblings, rape, sexual assault, drinking
EXPOSED left me wanting more.
Teen photographer Liz sees life from her camera's lens and the view is picturesque, a best friend Kate, boyfriend, likely acceptance to her dream college, a great family. Until an argument at a sleepover with her BFF. Now Kate is claiming Liz's brother Mike raped her that night and Liz doesn't know what to believe.
EXPOSED is a short, first person lyrical account of Liz's reactions. I enjoyed Kimberly Marcus's crisp writing style. Liz was caught in a no win situation and she was easy to embrace as a secondary victim to her brother's alleged actions. I understood her first instinct to doubt what happened, not because Mike was a good guy, but because I wouldn't want to believe my brother could rape my friend while I was sleeping. I had a harder time empathizing with her continued silence.
Because EXPOSED is written in verse, 274 pages barely told the story. I didn't feel like I knew any of the secondary characters, though most were sympathetic. Even Liz wasn't fully fleshed out. While the lyrical format worked to emphasize emotion, I found myself wanting more and wondering how the story would read in prose. I look forward to reading more of Marcus's novels.
THEMES: friendship, family, siblings, rape, sexual assault, drinking
EXPOSED left me wanting more.
October 23, 2018
I'm not really sure how to rate this book. On the one hand, it discusses something incredibly important, and it's a novel that is necessary, and sadly, continually relevant, no matter how many years go by. On the other hand, it just didn't move me that much.
Perhaps it's because I'm spoiled when it comes to "issue books" (I call them issue books, because the central plot revolves around a legitimate hardcore issue, like rape, eating disorders, abuse, etc...). I have had the pleasure of reading books like Speak, Some Boys, anything of Ellen Hopkins in general, List of Cages, Hate List, I could go on forever (in fact, if you're interested, check out my teen-angst-and-tough-issues shelf). The problem is that because I've read so many of these books, I've seen when heavy issues are tackled well, where they're explored from all angles, the characters are raw and real, and the writing is done well enough that you honestly feel for the characters, that you hurt when they hurt, that you understand their struggle, that you relate to them, and the book lingers with you well after you close the cover, because it made you think and feel and consider your own life and your own values, morals, everything. When issue books are done well, they not only provide a compelling read, but touch you in ways that are hard to explain, and most importantly, make you think. These books are important because they make people think about their own lives, they foster discussion and help us talk about these things in the real world. But when they aren't done well, they just kind of fall flat.
And I think that's the real issue here. It's not that Exposed wasn't a well-written book, it's not that it was bad per se. It's just that I have come to expect so much more. I have come to expect deep, complex characters beyond just the main character. I've come to expect side characters and secondary characters, even villains to be fully realized and nuanced enough that they feel real. I've come to expect real emotion, the kind that's palpable, where you can truly connect with the character that's struggling, you can feel their frustration, confusion, hurt and anger, because it's written so well that their feelings are tangible and real. I've just come to expect so much, that books like this fall a little flat.
Exposed was a good book, but I feel like it only scratched the surface. I wanted Liz to actually have it out with her parents, I wanted that scene where she told her parents what she thought and where they either heard her or disagreed with her or whatever, but that never came to pass, not really, except for the 2 seconds with her dad at the beach. but even then, she just says this thing to him and that's the end of the scene, there's no reaction, we don't get to see what they say after that. And that's pretty much how I felt about everyone in the book. I wanted Liz to interact with everyone more, her other friends, get their take on the situation, I wanted to see more of Liz's interactions with her brother. I wanted to know more about what went on in his head, what he was thinking, what his denial of events meant to him (is he just lying and saying he didn't do it, knowing full well that he's guilty? And if he is lying, does he care that he raped her, does he feel remorseful? Or is he confused because he doesn't truly understand consent, because that's a powerful storyline too. MANY guys don't fully understand what consent really is, and don't understand why it's such a big deal to have sex with a girl if she says no, cuz after all, she was kissing you and she did take her clothes off, so everything is ok, right? I really wanted to see some of his point of view and I felt like that could have made this book much more powerful.)
I really wanted to see more of Kate too. I wanted to know what she was thinking, what she was feeling, how she was coping with this trauma, and especially how she was handling everything throughout the trial, and how she found the strength to go through with that. I would have loved to see more of EVERYONE really, like Kate's parents, because i haven't really gotten to see how a parent would react in this situation, or Kate's other friends. Where they trying to be supportive and rally around Kate, and unfortunately that meant Liz kind of fell by the wayside, or did they view Liz as the enemy after the rape, because she was related to her brother? I just plain wanted more.
Part of the issue might have been the format of this novel. That's not to say that it wasn't well done, because it was, but sadly, writing in verse limits the amount of words you can use to explore things, so if you don't focus on just the right aspects and perfectly craft the right scenes, sometimes, things can get left out, and it can make the book feel less fleshed out than it needs.
I've read books written in verse that work incredibly well. My go-to is Ellen Hopkins, because she somehow manages to balance the poetry aspect with the emotion incredibly well, and her books still feel like the delve below the surface. However, sadly, most books in verse that I read don't end up working that well. Whether it's simply a constraint of the format that limits the amount of emotional exploration that can be done, or whether it's the verse itself is really on the writer. But sadly I felt both of these aspects hindered this book from reaching it's full potential. Again, that's not to say that it was bad, just that it could have been better.
The other issue I have with novels in verse is that I often find that "in verse" means that they aren't necessarily made up of what I consider to be poems, that rather they're made up of sparse prose with a shitload of line breaks thrown in.
So novels in prose
in all actuality,
rather than reading like beautiful poetry
read somewhat like this.
They read like regular writing
would read if
you ignored all the line breaks
and just read it quickly
from top to bottom.
Perhaps it's just me, but that style of poetry just isn't all that compelling for me. I like it when novels in verse throw around the occasional rhyme, or actually play with meter and repetition or get funky with the syntax, anything that makes it feel more like free verse poetry and less like someone got really happy with the Enter key. (I do think that's more of a "it's not you, it's me" thing, and perhaps I can't hold all novels written in verse to the same standard that I hold regular poetry to...)
Either way, the point is, I think this book had a great idea going for it, and had I read it some years ago, it might have even had an impact, but today, I just think there are so many great issue books out there, that I'm a bit harder on issue books than I used to be. And this is by no means a bad book, in fact, I think it's relevant, and quite important. I guess I just wish it reached further and lived up to the potential it had. Because of the nature of this book, it could have been something that tore people's hearts apart and flipped theirs worlds inside out. As it stands now, it was decent, but it made me want to find a book that takes the "girl finds out her sibling raped her friend" issue and delves much deeper into it. So I guess as a starting point for people who don't read issue books like I do, great, or as a book for a younger reader, since it's really tame on the graphic detail parts, it would also be good, but for someone like me, it wasn't enough. Still good, but I want more.
Perhaps it's because I'm spoiled when it comes to "issue books" (I call them issue books, because the central plot revolves around a legitimate hardcore issue, like rape, eating disorders, abuse, etc...). I have had the pleasure of reading books like Speak, Some Boys, anything of Ellen Hopkins in general, List of Cages, Hate List, I could go on forever (in fact, if you're interested, check out my teen-angst-and-tough-issues shelf). The problem is that because I've read so many of these books, I've seen when heavy issues are tackled well, where they're explored from all angles, the characters are raw and real, and the writing is done well enough that you honestly feel for the characters, that you hurt when they hurt, that you understand their struggle, that you relate to them, and the book lingers with you well after you close the cover, because it made you think and feel and consider your own life and your own values, morals, everything. When issue books are done well, they not only provide a compelling read, but touch you in ways that are hard to explain, and most importantly, make you think. These books are important because they make people think about their own lives, they foster discussion and help us talk about these things in the real world. But when they aren't done well, they just kind of fall flat.
And I think that's the real issue here. It's not that Exposed wasn't a well-written book, it's not that it was bad per se. It's just that I have come to expect so much more. I have come to expect deep, complex characters beyond just the main character. I've come to expect side characters and secondary characters, even villains to be fully realized and nuanced enough that they feel real. I've come to expect real emotion, the kind that's palpable, where you can truly connect with the character that's struggling, you can feel their frustration, confusion, hurt and anger, because it's written so well that their feelings are tangible and real. I've just come to expect so much, that books like this fall a little flat.
Exposed was a good book, but I feel like it only scratched the surface. I wanted Liz to actually have it out with her parents, I wanted that scene where she told her parents what she thought and where they either heard her or disagreed with her or whatever, but that never came to pass, not really, except for the 2 seconds with her dad at the beach. but even then, she just says this thing to him and that's the end of the scene, there's no reaction, we don't get to see what they say after that. And that's pretty much how I felt about everyone in the book. I wanted Liz to interact with everyone more, her other friends, get their take on the situation, I wanted to see more of Liz's interactions with her brother. I wanted to know more about what went on in his head, what he was thinking, what his denial of events meant to him (is he just lying and saying he didn't do it, knowing full well that he's guilty? And if he is lying, does he care that he raped her, does he feel remorseful? Or is he confused because he doesn't truly understand consent, because that's a powerful storyline too. MANY guys don't fully understand what consent really is, and don't understand why it's such a big deal to have sex with a girl if she says no, cuz after all, she was kissing you and she did take her clothes off, so everything is ok, right? I really wanted to see some of his point of view and I felt like that could have made this book much more powerful.)
I really wanted to see more of Kate too. I wanted to know what she was thinking, what she was feeling, how she was coping with this trauma, and especially how she was handling everything throughout the trial, and how she found the strength to go through with that. I would have loved to see more of EVERYONE really, like Kate's parents, because i haven't really gotten to see how a parent would react in this situation, or Kate's other friends. Where they trying to be supportive and rally around Kate, and unfortunately that meant Liz kind of fell by the wayside, or did they view Liz as the enemy after the rape, because she was related to her brother? I just plain wanted more.
Part of the issue might have been the format of this novel. That's not to say that it wasn't well done, because it was, but sadly, writing in verse limits the amount of words you can use to explore things, so if you don't focus on just the right aspects and perfectly craft the right scenes, sometimes, things can get left out, and it can make the book feel less fleshed out than it needs.
I've read books written in verse that work incredibly well. My go-to is Ellen Hopkins, because she somehow manages to balance the poetry aspect with the emotion incredibly well, and her books still feel like the delve below the surface. However, sadly, most books in verse that I read don't end up working that well. Whether it's simply a constraint of the format that limits the amount of emotional exploration that can be done, or whether it's the verse itself is really on the writer. But sadly I felt both of these aspects hindered this book from reaching it's full potential. Again, that's not to say that it was bad, just that it could have been better.
The other issue I have with novels in verse is that I often find that "in verse" means that they aren't necessarily made up of what I consider to be poems, that rather they're made up of sparse prose with a shitload of line breaks thrown in.
So novels in prose
in all actuality,
rather than reading like beautiful poetry
read somewhat like this.
They read like regular writing
would read if
you ignored all the line breaks
and just read it quickly
from top to bottom.
Perhaps it's just me, but that style of poetry just isn't all that compelling for me. I like it when novels in verse throw around the occasional rhyme, or actually play with meter and repetition or get funky with the syntax, anything that makes it feel more like free verse poetry and less like someone got really happy with the Enter key. (I do think that's more of a "it's not you, it's me" thing, and perhaps I can't hold all novels written in verse to the same standard that I hold regular poetry to...)
Either way, the point is, I think this book had a great idea going for it, and had I read it some years ago, it might have even had an impact, but today, I just think there are so many great issue books out there, that I'm a bit harder on issue books than I used to be. And this is by no means a bad book, in fact, I think it's relevant, and quite important. I guess I just wish it reached further and lived up to the potential it had. Because of the nature of this book, it could have been something that tore people's hearts apart and flipped theirs worlds inside out. As it stands now, it was decent, but it made me want to find a book that takes the "girl finds out her sibling raped her friend" issue and delves much deeper into it. So I guess as a starting point for people who don't read issue books like I do, great, or as a book for a younger reader, since it's really tame on the graphic detail parts, it would also be good, but for someone like me, it wasn't enough. Still good, but I want more.
July 3, 2011
This book was really good. It was utterly heartbreaking and filled with emotion. This one is Kimberly Marcus' Debut novel, written in verse. The way she writes this, captures your attention from page one. I found that she was extremely clever with the titles of each new verse, and this book really, truly pushed me to read, read, read. I finished this one in a day.
In the book, 16-year-old Liz is obsessed with photography, and her and her best friend Kate are inseperable. But after one unexplained night, Liz finds herself being ignored and shunned by Kate, and her friends and peers around her. She soon finds out as to why, and the journey spins out of control from there.
This book is the perfect novel for showing what it's like to experience something so terrible... that it can change the way you think of somebody forever.
This book definitely takes you through a hard subject, and prepare yourself for heartbreak for not only Liz, but for the people around her.
DEFINITELY worth the read, and very interesting, and throught-provoking.
In the book, 16-year-old Liz is obsessed with photography, and her and her best friend Kate are inseperable. But after one unexplained night, Liz finds herself being ignored and shunned by Kate, and her friends and peers around her. She soon finds out as to why, and the journey spins out of control from there.
This book is the perfect novel for showing what it's like to experience something so terrible... that it can change the way you think of somebody forever.
This book definitely takes you through a hard subject, and prepare yourself for heartbreak for not only Liz, but for the people around her.
DEFINITELY worth the read, and very interesting, and throught-provoking.
March 1, 2013
i felt that this book was okay, there was nothing the particularly set it apart from any other book about rape except that is was written in free verse. i felt like this book could have been so much better if it was longer and had different point of views, it could have been intense and angsty and really made you wonder if her really did it. i felt angered that mike just took it like it wasn't a big deal when it actually was there's no doubt about that. I felt that Kate was also acting like it wasn't as big of a deal as people where making it. i felt the only people in the whole book that actually felt real and honest was Liz and her mom, everybody else was taking everything in stride like the whole situation was just a little bump in the road. I finished this book thinking that Liz deserves a happy ending, and i want that for her. Through this whole situation she lost so much, her brother, her best friend, her family, and herself. And while we don't get a blatant happy ending its a start and it shows that eventually she will be okay.
August 10, 2011
At first I was taken back by the lower than normally required word count...I mean hey, publishing houses have rules about these things...where did this Author get the idea she could just put a paragraph on each page?...but after a few pages it started to click, just like the picture labels they represented...it made sense...it worked...the story tells of a teenagers life and how everything changes without her say...one simple conversation between two friends...best friends forever become strangers in a second...do you trust family over a friend?...do you stand for one you believe or one you want to believe...every photograph can be interpreted many ways, depending on the mood of the viewer...a simple story told simply...took two hours to read...it was light and satisfying...four stars because while I shall recommend it, I will not re-read it
May 18, 2012
Couldn't put this one down. Liz, whose passion is photography, has been friends with Kate forever. All that ends when, after a sleepover at Liz's, Kate claims Liz's brother Mike raped her. You never really know by the end whether he really did or not, but the effects of the accusation devastate the lives of Liz and her family, as well as Kate and hers. Marcus tells the story in verse, which is a great medium for conveying emotion, and emotions in this story are deep. I felt sorry for Liz because so much ended for her by the end of the story--her "forever friend," and her trust in her brother, even her enjoyment of photography. Highly recommended! Reluctant teen readers will like this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2016
This novel in verse very quickly establishes a mood – tense, painful, uncertain. There’s a powerful dynamic of trust and family and unforgivable accusations. 16-year-old Liz is caught in the middle, and is an emphatically realistic narrator. The poetic form suits her sharp emotions, and effectively heightens the energy.
On the other hand, this is not the kind of story that benefits from poetic play on words. Marcus falls back upon a few too many obvious double-meanings, trite phrasings, and fill-in-the-blank stanza revelations. “Then I leave him / brewing” “no finer boy / than my Diner Boy” “and my want hangs / heavy on the line” for a verse titled “Left Out to Dry on a Sunday Night.” Great story, great characters, but not enough great poetry.
On the other hand, this is not the kind of story that benefits from poetic play on words. Marcus falls back upon a few too many obvious double-meanings, trite phrasings, and fill-in-the-blank stanza revelations. “Then I leave him / brewing” “no finer boy / than my Diner Boy” “and my want hangs / heavy on the line” for a verse titled “Left Out to Dry on a Sunday Night.” Great story, great characters, but not enough great poetry.
October 3, 2015
This is a heartbreaking story told from the perspective of a sixteen year old girl about the struggles she faces after a few words are spoken by her best friend.
This novel, told in verse, shows how fragile life is, and how quickly it change in heartbeat. It also shows how sometimes its hard knowing what's true and not, especially in this case .
This novel, told in verse, shows how fragile life is, and how quickly it change in heartbeat. It also shows how sometimes its hard knowing what's true and not, especially in this case .
October 9, 2014
I thought this work by Kimberly Marcus was intense but a slow read. It is not particularly the type of book I would normally read. But, I do recommend it for people that are interested in drama and high school type books. I also liked how the book was set up as if each page was a different poem.
Read
March 5, 2011Great book! If you're a fan of verse novels, you'll want to pick this one up!
October 1, 2013
First time I've read a novel in verse. Very moving premise of the story and that it was in verse enhanced the read.
March 13, 2011
http://bit.ly/ph0t0g1rl
gripping, intense, and brilliantly written book on a painful topic.
gripping, intense, and brilliantly written book on a painful topic.
October 16, 2020
Gahhhh. First I will say that I’m going to spoil some of the plot points of this book. I don’t know how to talk about it without doing that, but I won’t spoil the end for you.
Second—This. Book. Words to describe it and how I felt reading it: Heartwrenching. Gutwrenching. Sad. Conflicted. Guilty. Resentful. Lonely. I finished reading this book about the time I’d normally go to bed, but I had to stay up a while longer and work on a puzzle just to let my emotions have time to twist and work and be in agony. This isn’t the kind of book you just finish and then go out on the town with your girls. Even now, as I look back through bits of it to see what to share, it calls up complicated emotions.
This book is about rape. It’s written in free verse that’s spare, punchy, and packed with nuance. In a nutshell, Liz and her best friend, Kate, have a fight during their monthly sleepover, Liz goes upstairs to sleep, and when she wakes up, Kate is gone. Kate later avoids her at school. Eventually, when Liz confronts Kate, Kate accuses Liz’s college freshman brother, Mike, of raping her during the sleepover. When Liz confronts Mike, Mike admits that they had sex but also says that he would never have hurt Kate, and he definitely didn’t rape her. Mike’s arrested after Kate presses charges, and a lot of the book leads up to the trial.
What a horrible position to be in. Liz loses both her brother and her best friend at the same time—both are crushed and angry that she doesn’t wholeheartedly believe them, and how can she know whom to believe? As Liz puts it, “Kate says rape and Mike says not.” Mike was Liz’s childhood protector and big brother extraordinaire, so she can’t stomach the idea of him rotting away in jail, but she also can’t stand seeing her best friend hurting while she’s unable to help. Liz and Kate have been best friends since they were kids, but now their friendship is shattered, done in a day, because Kate can’t look at Liz without being reminded of Mike, and Liz doesn’t know how to choose between her friend and her brother when it’s one person’s word against the other’s.
What kills me here is that whatever happened wasn’t Liz’s fault, but she’s collateral damage. She loses her best friend along with all her friends at school who side with Kate over Mike—which is pretty much everyone. Liz walks down the hall and no one will look at her. In her own words, “Good-bye, Photogirl. Hello, Sister of a Rapist.” Tension rises between her and her own boyfriend because of the pressure, grief, and guilt she feels. Photography, her dream and ticket to college, suffers. She doesn’t know how she’s supposed to see her family, her friends, or even herself anymore. Nothing is black and white. Everything feels gray and muddy.
This book is powerful because even though it doesn’t focus on the victim of the rape (or the so-called victim—it depends on whom you believe), it shows the devastation that an experience like that can have on so many people who weren’t directly involved. A long time ago, I had a friend who was accused of sexual molestation. I have no idea if he did it or not, but I know that he went to juvenile prison for a long time. If it was a false charge, that was a terrible thing to happen to him. If it wasn’t, the molestation was a terrible thing to happen to her. Whether or not the charge was true, I’m sure it was crazy hard on both families. And that’s the case in this book, with Liz—whether or not it was rape or, as Mike puts it, “just sex,” the event was hugely traumatizing and life-changing, not just for Kate and Mike, but for their parents, their siblings, their friends.
This is the kind of book you read because it hurts. Because sometimes you don’t get all the answers and it’s one person’s word against the other’s and no matter which way the jury votes, you won’t be happy. You’re conflicted and that doesn’t feel okay but you have to learn to deal with it. You’ve lost something through no fault of your own, but it’s still gone and you have to live past that, whether you’re Liz or Kate. Some of the most poignant lines of the book are at Liz and Kate’s high school graduation, where Liz watches her best friend get her diploma and thinks about who will be her best friend in the future, who will be there with her at her wedding and when she has kids and when she gets old. “Not me,” she thinks. “It won’t be me.” And it’s heartbreaking, because she’s probably right and it’s not her fault.
This book doesn’t heal you. It implies that healing is possible, but really, its main function is to lay out pain in the rawest way possible and let you deal with it as best you can. That’s not comfortable or happy, but life isn’t always comfortable or happy. Be prepared when you read this book, but you should definitely read it.
Second—This. Book. Words to describe it and how I felt reading it: Heartwrenching. Gutwrenching. Sad. Conflicted. Guilty. Resentful. Lonely. I finished reading this book about the time I’d normally go to bed, but I had to stay up a while longer and work on a puzzle just to let my emotions have time to twist and work and be in agony. This isn’t the kind of book you just finish and then go out on the town with your girls. Even now, as I look back through bits of it to see what to share, it calls up complicated emotions.
This book is about rape. It’s written in free verse that’s spare, punchy, and packed with nuance. In a nutshell, Liz and her best friend, Kate, have a fight during their monthly sleepover, Liz goes upstairs to sleep, and when she wakes up, Kate is gone. Kate later avoids her at school. Eventually, when Liz confronts Kate, Kate accuses Liz’s college freshman brother, Mike, of raping her during the sleepover. When Liz confronts Mike, Mike admits that they had sex but also says that he would never have hurt Kate, and he definitely didn’t rape her. Mike’s arrested after Kate presses charges, and a lot of the book leads up to the trial.
What a horrible position to be in. Liz loses both her brother and her best friend at the same time—both are crushed and angry that she doesn’t wholeheartedly believe them, and how can she know whom to believe? As Liz puts it, “Kate says rape and Mike says not.” Mike was Liz’s childhood protector and big brother extraordinaire, so she can’t stomach the idea of him rotting away in jail, but she also can’t stand seeing her best friend hurting while she’s unable to help. Liz and Kate have been best friends since they were kids, but now their friendship is shattered, done in a day, because Kate can’t look at Liz without being reminded of Mike, and Liz doesn’t know how to choose between her friend and her brother when it’s one person’s word against the other’s.
What kills me here is that whatever happened wasn’t Liz’s fault, but she’s collateral damage. She loses her best friend along with all her friends at school who side with Kate over Mike—which is pretty much everyone. Liz walks down the hall and no one will look at her. In her own words, “Good-bye, Photogirl. Hello, Sister of a Rapist.” Tension rises between her and her own boyfriend because of the pressure, grief, and guilt she feels. Photography, her dream and ticket to college, suffers. She doesn’t know how she’s supposed to see her family, her friends, or even herself anymore. Nothing is black and white. Everything feels gray and muddy.
This book is powerful because even though it doesn’t focus on the victim of the rape (or the so-called victim—it depends on whom you believe), it shows the devastation that an experience like that can have on so many people who weren’t directly involved. A long time ago, I had a friend who was accused of sexual molestation. I have no idea if he did it or not, but I know that he went to juvenile prison for a long time. If it was a false charge, that was a terrible thing to happen to him. If it wasn’t, the molestation was a terrible thing to happen to her. Whether or not the charge was true, I’m sure it was crazy hard on both families. And that’s the case in this book, with Liz—whether or not it was rape or, as Mike puts it, “just sex,” the event was hugely traumatizing and life-changing, not just for Kate and Mike, but for their parents, their siblings, their friends.
This is the kind of book you read because it hurts. Because sometimes you don’t get all the answers and it’s one person’s word against the other’s and no matter which way the jury votes, you won’t be happy. You’re conflicted and that doesn’t feel okay but you have to learn to deal with it. You’ve lost something through no fault of your own, but it’s still gone and you have to live past that, whether you’re Liz or Kate. Some of the most poignant lines of the book are at Liz and Kate’s high school graduation, where Liz watches her best friend get her diploma and thinks about who will be her best friend in the future, who will be there with her at her wedding and when she has kids and when she gets old. “Not me,” she thinks. “It won’t be me.” And it’s heartbreaking, because she’s probably right and it’s not her fault.
This book doesn’t heal you. It implies that healing is possible, but really, its main function is to lay out pain in the rawest way possible and let you deal with it as best you can. That’s not comfortable or happy, but life isn’t always comfortable or happy. Be prepared when you read this book, but you should definitely read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2018
I will say that going into this book, I had an entirely wrong idea of what this book was actually about - it had been a while since I added this to the three-year graveyard that was my ebook library - however, I was still extremely interested in the topic once I began reading. My biggest issue with this book is that it was an extremely short book for the subject matter covered, made even shorter by the fact that it was in verse. I felt like the introduction to the characters was very flat and throughout the entirety of the book there was no real depth given to any character. The main character, Liz, is the one we get the most information on, but I really could not connect with her and often found her to be extremely childish/annoying or self-absorbed - mainly because I felt like her character development inauthentic. Furthermore, we get it, she's a photographer, however, it was ridiculous how much the author tried to not so subtly allude to photography on EVERY page. Also, all of the relationships - both friendly and romantic - seemed rather odd. The family dynamic was really peculiar and there were a lot of half-had conversations that seemed unfinished and really scripted. Also, the relationship between Liz and her best-friend Kate, and their other supposed best-friends seemed totally ridiculous - there was really no development of these threads at all. I think the author should have focused more on the foundation of characters and relationships and built a bit more up to the main plot point. Also, I found myself often forgetting why the book was continuing after a certain point because the timeline was really weird and I felt like the plot-line was just really oddly laid out and a lot of parts felt like poorly placed filler. Overall, while I didn't have high expectations, I certainly didn't expect such a "bare-bones"-esque novel and I think there are much better books dealing with the same themes covered here.
August 3, 2017
(Thank you Netgalley for an early reader copy in exchange for an unbiased review)
In Exposed, Lisa Scottoline's latest book, it's Mary DiNunzio's turn to shine. Mary's dear friend Simon is fired from his job as a salesman, and it seems he's fired because his terminally ill daughter is costing the company too much money for her insurance and care. Simon comes to Mary (he's family, after all!) because he wants to sue to get his job back, or to at least get a settlement that would cover his daughter's medical expenses. It seems to be an open and shut case, but Simon's employer is a subsidiary of Bennie Rosato's, Mary's partner. Neither is involved in the other's cases, but it seems that it could be a conflict of interest, an ethical problem. As Mary and Bennie try to work out the ethics of the situation, what should be a simple open and shut case goes majorly awry when an ethics complaint is made against Mary, Simon is counter-sued for defamation, and Simon's boss Todd shows up stabbed to death in his car. What should they do to resolve the ethical question? Can Mary represent Simon? Should Mary and Bennie dissolve their partnership? Should Bennie marry Declan, the love of her life? How does family factor into these decisions? So many interesting questions rear their heads as Bennie and Mary race against time to solve the Todd's murder before the police charge Simon and lock him up. It's a real page turner, AND it makes you think about things at the same time. "Exposed" is the perfect thing to take on vacation or to the beach and enjoy.
In Exposed, Lisa Scottoline's latest book, it's Mary DiNunzio's turn to shine. Mary's dear friend Simon is fired from his job as a salesman, and it seems he's fired because his terminally ill daughter is costing the company too much money for her insurance and care. Simon comes to Mary (he's family, after all!) because he wants to sue to get his job back, or to at least get a settlement that would cover his daughter's medical expenses. It seems to be an open and shut case, but Simon's employer is a subsidiary of Bennie Rosato's, Mary's partner. Neither is involved in the other's cases, but it seems that it could be a conflict of interest, an ethical problem. As Mary and Bennie try to work out the ethics of the situation, what should be a simple open and shut case goes majorly awry when an ethics complaint is made against Mary, Simon is counter-sued for defamation, and Simon's boss Todd shows up stabbed to death in his car. What should they do to resolve the ethical question? Can Mary represent Simon? Should Mary and Bennie dissolve their partnership? Should Bennie marry Declan, the love of her life? How does family factor into these decisions? So many interesting questions rear their heads as Bennie and Mary race against time to solve the Todd's murder before the police charge Simon and lock him up. It's a real page turner, AND it makes you think about things at the same time. "Exposed" is the perfect thing to take on vacation or to the beach and enjoy.
April 21, 2022
The book was interesting and okay. I started this book about three times only making a few pages and I finally decided to push through and finish it. The free verse was odd to me as I have never read a free verse before. It was good and interesting, but my brain kept desiring more of a poem type writing or more rhyming even though I understand what free verse is. There was just something missing there. The story line itself was good and I feel like it’s a story that needs told and needs read, however it’s not something I would read again. It only took me around an hour to read, but the story itself didn’t feel short. The characters seemed underdeveloped a bit, but being free verse they ended up being more developed than I expected at the beginning. You find yourself wanting to side with different people at different points in time which is feel is very good especially considering the topic. It’s good to see how the subject affects the different people at different times. I was surprised this was a YA book though. Other books like 13 reasons why have addressed the topic of rape before and it has felt appropriate for YA, but there was something I can’t quite pin about this books that made it come across harsher and more mature. It’s probably not a bad thing, as people younger and younger are experiencing these things, I was just surprised and still am kinda evaluating all my thoughts. Overall not bad at all, just different and not quite my personal style!
December 15, 2017
In the book Exposed by KImberly Marcus, Liz is able to accept the circumstances she has gone through and become a better person from it. At their monthly sleepover Liz and her best friend Kate get in a fight. To prove a point Liz storms off and sleeps in her own bed, leaving Kate downstairs alone. When Liz wakes up in the morning Kate is no longer there. As the week proceeds Liz feels like Kate is ignoring her even though she has apologized. She has no idea what has happened between them until rumors start spiraling. Rumors about the things that happened while Kate was downstairs alone when Liz’s drunk older brother came home. Suddenly allegations are made and charges are tried to be pressed. As Liz prepares to attend the trail she feels her world collapsing around her, “She says this like it’s a marker in the road like: Once we get over the Bourne Bridge we can stop to pee. But instead of being sturdy, made of steel, this feels like something too rickety to cross.” (pg 218) The use of the word ‘bridge’ shows how these accusations are burning the bridge or bond that used to connect Liz and Kate as best friends. ‘Sturdy’ and ‘steel’ describe how Liz felt about her life prior to this month, everything was going exactly how she wanted. The word ‘rickety’ gives an imagery of the walls she builds around herself to try to cope, they are to weak and as they collapse she is even more vulnerable than before.
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