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Tagged
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Astonished when her high school building is ""tagged"" by a life-size graffiti mural, student Kate wonders if one of her friends is responsible and places her reputation on the line to investigate, a situation that is complicated by her torn feelings about the graffiti's artistic qualities and her growing love for a co-worker.
208 pages, Library Binding
First published March 1, 2010
6 people are currently reading
695 people want to read
About the author
Mara Purnhagen
8 books275 followersMara Purnhagen has lived in Aurora, Illinois; Kalamazoo, Michigan; Dayton, Ohio and Duncan, South Carolina. She presently lives outside Cleveland, Ohio with her family and a very good cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
April 5, 2011
Right off the bat, I have to comment on that cover. It is horrible. It looks so cheap. It looks like two white kids desperately trying to be black and failing severely. I mean, look at those clothes and those shoes…. I’m sure actual graffiti artists would look at that and laugh… it’s just horrible. This might sound mean, but it looks like a suburban, white-picket fence mother’s notion of what an urban area looks like. It’s so bad, it’s almost offensive. The cover is an epic fail for me.
Ahh, that felt good. I have been holding that in since I picked up the book!
Thankfully the story was much better. I wasn’t expecting much, but there was a decent story in there.
In Kate’s hometown, something is going on. These Gorilla paint jobs are popping up in various places, the school, abandoned buildings and even her work. It’s got the whole town talking. Eventually these Gorillas appear in other states. In class, the discussions get interesting. Is graffiti art? What is art? Who defines art? Was that defacing property? Should the artist be punished?
Of course there is a slight romance story going on, but nothing to make you swoon. All in all, it was pretty good, but predictable. I can honestly say I have never read a book about graffiti, so bonus points for a new idea!
3.5 stars.
“Art Lies”… that was pretty clever for you guys who have read the book
Ahh, that felt good. I have been holding that in since I picked up the book!
Thankfully the story was much better. I wasn’t expecting much, but there was a decent story in there.
In Kate’s hometown, something is going on. These Gorilla paint jobs are popping up in various places, the school, abandoned buildings and even her work. It’s got the whole town talking. Eventually these Gorillas appear in other states. In class, the discussions get interesting. Is graffiti art? What is art? Who defines art? Was that defacing property? Should the artist be punished?
Of course there is a slight romance story going on, but nothing to make you swoon. All in all, it was pretty good, but predictable. I can honestly say I have never read a book about graffiti, so bonus points for a new idea!
3.5 stars.
“Art Lies”… that was pretty clever for you guys who have read the book
April 30, 2016
Mara Purnhagen's "Tagged" is a cute, light read. The book is well-written and easy to follow along with, as the story flows quite well. Though maybe not as original as I would have liked, I did find the characters to be more relatable than in many other books. Kate and Lan are both likable characters and most readers can probably identify with either of them in one way or another. I could relate to Kate's status among her classmates in many ways.
I definitely look forward to reading more from Mara Purnhagen. This book has been sitting in my 'to read' pile since 2010 and I'm glad I finally read it, as I would personally rate it a 4.5.
I definitely look forward to reading more from Mara Purnhagen. This book has been sitting in my 'to read' pile since 2010 and I'm glad I finally read it, as I would personally rate it a 4.5.
March 11, 2010
Tagged is fun, sweet, and a tad bit mysterious.
Nothing ever seems to happen in Clearly, until the graffiti art of a gorilla appears, everything changes. Debates break out in classes about whether or not the graffiti is really art, and I found these discussions to be a great interest point.
Kate was a fun, likable, and realistic character. She is just your typical high school girl, looking for her own passion in life. Kate's a good student, and she gets along with her family. I was a bit worried she'd be boring considering how much of a vanilla character she is, but she kept my attention easily. The pacing of the story is quick, making this one an easy book to just sit and read straight through.
I enjoyed the relationships in the novel, whether it was between Kate and Lan, Kate and Eli, et cetera. The story felt very realistic, which is always a plus. It felt like I'd seen a few plot bits before, but I still found myself enjoying the novel immensely.
Highlights: Lan, Kate's best friend, and her struggle being the only Vietnamese student on campus. Lan's got attitude and sass, it really made me enjoy her character more. I also loved the question that is posed throughout the story. As I also stated above, I felt the relationships were really what made this story awesome because it gave it a realistic touch.
Purnhagen created a fun story that's a lighter, enjoyable read, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
Lowlights: I disliked the inclusion of the whole MTV's Sweet Sixteen or whatever (just a personal bias). At times I also disliked how the mystery culprit was not really a mystery. A few chapters in and it's easy to make your own guess, and be right. And then, you never really find out why the gorillas.
Nothing ever seems to happen in Clearly, until the graffiti art of a gorilla appears, everything changes. Debates break out in classes about whether or not the graffiti is really art, and I found these discussions to be a great interest point.
Kate was a fun, likable, and realistic character. She is just your typical high school girl, looking for her own passion in life. Kate's a good student, and she gets along with her family. I was a bit worried she'd be boring considering how much of a vanilla character she is, but she kept my attention easily. The pacing of the story is quick, making this one an easy book to just sit and read straight through.
I enjoyed the relationships in the novel, whether it was between Kate and Lan, Kate and Eli, et cetera. The story felt very realistic, which is always a plus. It felt like I'd seen a few plot bits before, but I still found myself enjoying the novel immensely.
Highlights: Lan, Kate's best friend, and her struggle being the only Vietnamese student on campus. Lan's got attitude and sass, it really made me enjoy her character more. I also loved the question that is posed throughout the story. As I also stated above, I felt the relationships were really what made this story awesome because it gave it a realistic touch.
Purnhagen created a fun story that's a lighter, enjoyable read, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
Lowlights: I disliked the inclusion of the whole MTV's Sweet Sixteen or whatever (just a personal bias). At times I also disliked how the mystery culprit was not really a mystery. A few chapters in and it's easy to make your own guess, and be right. And then, you never really find out why the gorillas.
February 21, 2010
Tagged was yet another fabulously fun read from Harlequin's new teen line, which leaves me to suspect this line can do no wrong when it comes to choosing titles!
Kate was a interesting and likable character that's voice won me over from the start. I loved that while she did sometimes have her moments of insecurity, she always ended up doing the right thing that was for the most part a brave choice. Plus I enjoyed seeing how close she was to her parents because usually you don't see the parental units too much in YA, much less a good relationship between the protagonist and them. Her best friend Lan was also one of my favorite characters. I liked how Mara issued racial acceptance issues through her character because it gave me a better understand how awful it would feel to have someone judge just because you were a different race from them. Eli was also a great addition and someone who was definitely swoon-worthy even if he did sometimes make some bad choices.
The plot and writing made this is a breezy read with just the right amount of tension, romance, funniness, and reality thrown in. I really enjoyed seeing how the gorilla graffiti sub-plot tied into the plot and created a mysterious atmosphere for most of the book. Also I liked how it lead me to question whether graffiti should be categorized as vandalism or art.
In all, Tagged is certainly a debut book to pick up ASAP. I can't wait to read more by Ms. Purnhagen!
Grade: A
Kate was a interesting and likable character that's voice won me over from the start. I loved that while she did sometimes have her moments of insecurity, she always ended up doing the right thing that was for the most part a brave choice. Plus I enjoyed seeing how close she was to her parents because usually you don't see the parental units too much in YA, much less a good relationship between the protagonist and them. Her best friend Lan was also one of my favorite characters. I liked how Mara issued racial acceptance issues through her character because it gave me a better understand how awful it would feel to have someone judge just because you were a different race from them. Eli was also a great addition and someone who was definitely swoon-worthy even if he did sometimes make some bad choices.
The plot and writing made this is a breezy read with just the right amount of tension, romance, funniness, and reality thrown in. I really enjoyed seeing how the gorilla graffiti sub-plot tied into the plot and created a mysterious atmosphere for most of the book. Also I liked how it lead me to question whether graffiti should be categorized as vandalism or art.
In all, Tagged is certainly a debut book to pick up ASAP. I can't wait to read more by Ms. Purnhagen!
Grade: A
March 4, 2010
More of a 3.5 Rating - Tagged was an interesting, creative and mellow toned novel. Kate, the protagonist was a likable character with a good head on her shoulders. Her best friend Lan, was an individual I would of liked to see more of in the book. Being the only Asian girl in school was tough for her. I felt bad because sometimes she was excluded at parties. But, I'm glad Kate was there to keep her strong. Eli, Kate's crush, was down to earth and cute. I really liked his personality off the bat and was rooting for Kate to approach him with her feelings. Now, for the whole concept of tagging the same graffiti throughout the state was intriguing. I never read that in YA before, so it definitely questioned the idea if graffiti would be considered vandalism or art?
The only thing that irked me was it never explained why the artist picked gorillas for his graffiti. The gorilla issue was introduced in the beginning of the book and continued on. I thought it was a little overdone and got annoying at times. Overall, this read was light and had an interesting enough plot to hold my attention. I just thought it had potential to be powerful with the idea that vandalism could be an expression of art but, it lacked the substance to make that impact. However, I do recommend this book since the plot is new and refreshing and the cover is really pretty even though it could be misleading. I must say Mara is super cool and does have a bright future as a writer :)
The only thing that irked me was it never explained why the artist picked gorillas for his graffiti. The gorilla issue was introduced in the beginning of the book and continued on. I thought it was a little overdone and got annoying at times. Overall, this read was light and had an interesting enough plot to hold my attention. I just thought it had potential to be powerful with the idea that vandalism could be an expression of art but, it lacked the substance to make that impact. However, I do recommend this book since the plot is new and refreshing and the cover is really pretty even though it could be misleading. I must say Mara is super cool and does have a bright future as a writer :)
March 5, 2010
I'm trying to rate this book according for who it is marketed toward, and in that case I think a preppy young teen would enjoy it. Sweet story, characters, nice writing style.
As for me, I recently watched a series of short films on what it is to be a teenager, 13-18, and so I couldn't help but read the book in this context, as that's what my mind is on. Nothing about the book was relatable to what I experienced at the characters' age or in their environment (urban area, public school, middle class, ect.) and I've not met anyone who could say differently. This wouldn't be appropriate critisism for a book of this nature but the author does try to make this a coming-of-age story where defining self, art, and society is a constant theme. Purnhagen wrote a story about what teens on TV feel and live, it's not based on reality at all.
And, that's fine, if that's what you want to read.
As for me, I recently watched a series of short films on what it is to be a teenager, 13-18, and so I couldn't help but read the book in this context, as that's what my mind is on. Nothing about the book was relatable to what I experienced at the characters' age or in their environment (urban area, public school, middle class, ect.) and I've not met anyone who could say differently. This wouldn't be appropriate critisism for a book of this nature but the author does try to make this a coming-of-age story where defining self, art, and society is a constant theme. Purnhagen wrote a story about what teens on TV feel and live, it's not based on reality at all.
And, that's fine, if that's what you want to read.
February 23, 2010
Tagged by Mara Purnhagen isn't a book I've seen around the blogosphere too much, but I think it's just as deserving of attention as the plethora of contemporary high-school based novels I've seen. Tagged was a quick, and by quick I mean 3 hours non-stop, read. Kate Morgan is basically your average jane-high-school, except, well, her dad's the police chief, and she does what she can to blend in. Kate's boring life changes though when she shows up and someone has painted gorillas on the school wall. The gorillas create a buzz, and Kate is left to decide if they are art or vandalism.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
March 15, 2011
What I liked most about this book was the plot of finding yourself and finding one another. Kate is a likable character that anyone can relate to. She's not popular but not an outcast either. I adore that she stands up for what she believes in.
The love interest in the book was unique. Both characters took their time and not rush into anything. I like how they respected each others feelings and did not go into something when they are not ready.
The plot was good and easy to fall into. I like the buildup of the mysterious paintings and how it all tied up in the end.
It was a good, fast read with great characters you can relate to.
The love interest in the book was unique. Both characters took their time and not rush into anything. I like how they respected each others feelings and did not go into something when they are not ready.
The plot was good and easy to fall into. I like the buildup of the mysterious paintings and how it all tied up in the end.
It was a good, fast read with great characters you can relate to.
September 17, 2010
A pretty good book, When spray painted Gorillas start appearing on abandoned buildings and even the local high school Kate and her friends don,t know what to think. Then as if that isn,t enough for their small town the richest girl Tiffany, is going to have her sweet 16 filmed for mtv. Kate is determined to figure out the mystery of who is painting the Gorillas everywhere. Even if it means giving up being invisable to everyone.
November 28, 2025
This was a fantastic book Kate Morgan is a normal teen but her dad is police chief and when the graffiti mural is painted on the wall of the school she attempts to stay out of it.
I loved Kate as a main character and this book was so engrossing from the bullying tactics of the "queen bee" to the tagging around the state to Kate and her friend Lan's boy troubles.
This book was so well written and the story line kept me turning the pages. A really good read.
I loved Kate as a main character and this book was so engrossing from the bullying tactics of the "queen bee" to the tagging around the state to Kate and her friend Lan's boy troubles.
This book was so well written and the story line kept me turning the pages. A really good read.
February 8, 2017
I present to you another book that grapples with graffiti. Unlike in Graffiti Girl by Kelly Parra, The Colour of Trouble by Gerry Bobsien and getting Up by SD Thorpe, here the main character is not the one involved in graffiti. She is an innocent bystander who comes to be embroiled in the whole issue when a piece featuring gorillas goes up on one of the school walls. This book then gave an outsider's perspective on the issue.
Kate is the daughter of a cop, so she tries all the more to keep out of trouble. She and her dad have this understanding that neither of them will exchange information linking to any of the police investigations. This means that when her school becomes a target, she is not obliged to tell him anything she knows. Not that she knows much. She is in the dark just as much as everyone else.
Speculations run high as everyone wants to share their opinion. There is so much uproar that Kate's history teacher allows for a 10-minute debate before each class. I thought that Mara Purnhagen did a good job of presenting the ambiguity between graffiti and art, and also of vandalism without coming across as favouring any stance.
In the course of the book, there were a lot of plot twists which kept the mystery alive almost to the last moment before the culprit is revealed. Of course I formed my own suspicions. They came pretty close for the most part until I realised that there was yet another twist. Given that Tagged is a pretty short book, I must say that it's quite impressive that the plot wasn't all that straightforward.
Lan, Kate's best friend, also added some amusement although I couldn't quite avoid picturing Lane from Gilmore Girls, even though Lan is Vietnamese while Lane is Korean. Clearly not the same. Maybe it's just the names. Anyhow, pop culture references aside, for those who need a minimum dose of romance, no matter what book they read, Tagged serves it too. A love triangle that doesn't even know it's one until it's too late, involving jealousy, drama and regret. I kind of wish Eli's girlfriend wouldn't have been part of the story to begin with but I suppose some drama on the side was needed to lengthen the already short book.
Quick read, solid writing, twisting plot. And graffiti! Good stuff but really, if it wasn't for the graffiti and art aspects, I doubt I would have picked this up. It's been a couple of weeks since I finished reading it, and I think Eli was the most memorable character because he had a lot more layers than Kate did. Kate seems rather plain, now that I try to recall who she was.
This review is also available on dudettereads.com.
Kate is the daughter of a cop, so she tries all the more to keep out of trouble. She and her dad have this understanding that neither of them will exchange information linking to any of the police investigations. This means that when her school becomes a target, she is not obliged to tell him anything she knows. Not that she knows much. She is in the dark just as much as everyone else.
Speculations run high as everyone wants to share their opinion. There is so much uproar that Kate's history teacher allows for a 10-minute debate before each class. I thought that Mara Purnhagen did a good job of presenting the ambiguity between graffiti and art, and also of vandalism without coming across as favouring any stance.
In the course of the book, there were a lot of plot twists which kept the mystery alive almost to the last moment before the culprit is revealed. Of course I formed my own suspicions. They came pretty close for the most part until I realised that there was yet another twist. Given that Tagged is a pretty short book, I must say that it's quite impressive that the plot wasn't all that straightforward.
Lan, Kate's best friend, also added some amusement although I couldn't quite avoid picturing Lane from Gilmore Girls, even though Lan is Vietnamese while Lane is Korean. Clearly not the same. Maybe it's just the names. Anyhow, pop culture references aside, for those who need a minimum dose of romance, no matter what book they read, Tagged serves it too. A love triangle that doesn't even know it's one until it's too late, involving jealousy, drama and regret. I kind of wish Eli's girlfriend wouldn't have been part of the story to begin with but I suppose some drama on the side was needed to lengthen the already short book.
Quick read, solid writing, twisting plot. And graffiti! Good stuff but really, if it wasn't for the graffiti and art aspects, I doubt I would have picked this up. It's been a couple of weeks since I finished reading it, and I think Eli was the most memorable character because he had a lot more layers than Kate did. Kate seems rather plain, now that I try to recall who she was.
This review is also available on dudettereads.com.
April 4, 2010
Tagged is a novel I might not have picked up otherwise, but I’m so glad Mara contacted me to review it! I loved it! To begin with, Mara has a writing style that is honest, funny, and believable. She pulled me into this story and kept me hooked right until the end. Kate is a character anyone can relate to. She is just a normal girl dealing with everyday high school problems. She’s an only child with two loving parents, who played very large roles in this novel, which made me very happy. Too many YA novels of late give the parents a very minor role, if a role at all. Kate and her mother and father had a good relationship and both parents had roles in the novel outside of the home. Readers got to experience their occupations- Mr. Morgan as a police officer and Mrs. Morgan is a cake decorator, and both of these jobs were important to the story.
The main plot line was dealing with a vandalism that was haunting the town of Cleary. Someone was painting gorillas on buildings throughout Kate’s town as well as in various other states. I liked the mystery angle of trying to figure out who the “tagger” was, and also how it fit in with the other sub-plots. There were quite a few sub-plots. One of which was Kate’s job at Something’s Brewing, the cute coffee shop in Cleary. I loved her boss Bonnie in her few appearances and her coworker Eli was terrific and likable- his and Kate’s relationship was so sweet.
There were a wide variety of characters, but Mara managed to keep the plot moving at a fairly quick pace, but also let all the characters develop. Lan, Kate’s best friend, was awesome. She added a lot to the book. She helped Kate through tough times and was a truly great best friend. She dealt with some racial discrimination which made me hate the antagonist even more. Tiffany, the spoiled, bratty, rich girl who was planning a HUGE party was easy to dislike. She was mean to Lan, and pretty much thought of herself as queen. I loved that she got her comeuppance in the end.
Now as I mentioned before the main plot was the vandalism. Although it didn’t play as huge a role as I expected, it still was a creative and intriguing concept. I was always wondering where the graffiti would pop up next and the ending- I was in shock! I felt horrible for Kate and understood what she said about public humiliation! In addition, I liked how Purnhagen tied in the gorillas with all the sub-plots. Everything tied together well at the end, making the reader satisfied. I would love to read more books involving Kate, but I think her story is done.
Tagged was an overall quick and enjoyable read, that will have readers laughing and wondering. This was definitely a fantastic, yet overlooked, debut. This was my first Harlequin Teen read, but I know I’m definitely going to have to read more if they’re all this good! Definitely go pick up a copy today as Tagged is filled with wonderful characters, mystery, romance, and great writing!
Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
The main plot line was dealing with a vandalism that was haunting the town of Cleary. Someone was painting gorillas on buildings throughout Kate’s town as well as in various other states. I liked the mystery angle of trying to figure out who the “tagger” was, and also how it fit in with the other sub-plots. There were quite a few sub-plots. One of which was Kate’s job at Something’s Brewing, the cute coffee shop in Cleary. I loved her boss Bonnie in her few appearances and her coworker Eli was terrific and likable- his and Kate’s relationship was so sweet.
There were a wide variety of characters, but Mara managed to keep the plot moving at a fairly quick pace, but also let all the characters develop. Lan, Kate’s best friend, was awesome. She added a lot to the book. She helped Kate through tough times and was a truly great best friend. She dealt with some racial discrimination which made me hate the antagonist even more. Tiffany, the spoiled, bratty, rich girl who was planning a HUGE party was easy to dislike. She was mean to Lan, and pretty much thought of herself as queen. I loved that she got her comeuppance in the end.
Now as I mentioned before the main plot was the vandalism. Although it didn’t play as huge a role as I expected, it still was a creative and intriguing concept. I was always wondering where the graffiti would pop up next and the ending- I was in shock! I felt horrible for Kate and understood what she said about public humiliation! In addition, I liked how Purnhagen tied in the gorillas with all the sub-plots. Everything tied together well at the end, making the reader satisfied. I would love to read more books involving Kate, but I think her story is done.
Tagged was an overall quick and enjoyable read, that will have readers laughing and wondering. This was definitely a fantastic, yet overlooked, debut. This was my first Harlequin Teen read, but I know I’m definitely going to have to read more if they’re all this good! Definitely go pick up a copy today as Tagged is filled with wonderful characters, mystery, romance, and great writing!
Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
March 5, 2010
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Judging a book by the cover:
I’m torn on this cover. While “tagged” (see definition in review) and the graffiti go well together, the graffiti in this book is not what’s thought of as “typical tagging”, it’s more a piece of art than a “vandalized surface” (which is one of the main debates in the book). It’s definitely eye-catching. So maybe it works? For me, not so much.
My Thoughts:
For those of you that don’t know the meaning of “tagged” here is what dictionary.com has to say: ”To mark or vandalize (a surface) with graffiti: tagged the subway walls.”
Tagged was a quick read that I wasn’t too sure about, judging by the cover, but I’m glad I gave it a chance. While the main issue in the book is this giant mural of spray-painted gorillas, it’s really about right and wrong and, as the characters debate frequently, the difference between art and vandalism.
Kate was a plain-Jane, relatable character. All she’s worried about is getting good grades, blending in, and trying not to seem like a snitch as the police chief’s daughter. When the gorillas show up on the wall of the school, Kate tries not to have an opinion. Opinions mean standing out, something Kate has tried hard not to do. However, her coworker at the local coffee shop, Eli, wants to know what she thinks of the newly decorated school. If Kate had stayed the plain-Jane, I would have quickly gotten annoyed. However, with Eli’s help, Kate grows and learns that having an opinion, or standing out for that matter, might not be so bad.
The other characters, like Kate’s best friend Lan, coworker Eli, and popular, stuck up Tiffany, are all well developed and play meaningful roles. They’re not just page-fillers. Lan, though she was a good friend to Kate, got on my nerves a bit. I can’t exactly pinpoint why, she was just a bit annoying to me. Eli is a mysterious, sort of bad boy, which is cool to see in a contemporary YA versus a paranormal where the bad boys grow on trees. Tiffany, ugh. That being said, Tiffany was the antagonist, so I guess “ugh” is probably the correct reaction to her character.
The romances were slightly unpredictable in Tagged, though it was nice to see that Kate had a life outside boys. That’s right, this contemporary YA wasn’t all about the romances, there was a slight aura of mystery hanging in the air the whole time. Who was the tagger? How were they doing this? Clues were dropped at the perfect intervals and all questions were answered in a timely manner, which is big for me. If situations aren’t resolved in a reasonable amount of time, I have been known to stop reading. Thank you, Mara, for keeping me reading.
The Verdict:
Tagged stands apart with it’s focus on the battle between right and wrong, art and vandalism. Quick, concise, and completely relatable, I recommend Tagged to any lover of YA lit.
Judging a book by the cover:
I’m torn on this cover. While “tagged” (see definition in review) and the graffiti go well together, the graffiti in this book is not what’s thought of as “typical tagging”, it’s more a piece of art than a “vandalized surface” (which is one of the main debates in the book). It’s definitely eye-catching. So maybe it works? For me, not so much.
My Thoughts:
For those of you that don’t know the meaning of “tagged” here is what dictionary.com has to say: ”To mark or vandalize (a surface) with graffiti: tagged the subway walls.”
Tagged was a quick read that I wasn’t too sure about, judging by the cover, but I’m glad I gave it a chance. While the main issue in the book is this giant mural of spray-painted gorillas, it’s really about right and wrong and, as the characters debate frequently, the difference between art and vandalism.
Kate was a plain-Jane, relatable character. All she’s worried about is getting good grades, blending in, and trying not to seem like a snitch as the police chief’s daughter. When the gorillas show up on the wall of the school, Kate tries not to have an opinion. Opinions mean standing out, something Kate has tried hard not to do. However, her coworker at the local coffee shop, Eli, wants to know what she thinks of the newly decorated school. If Kate had stayed the plain-Jane, I would have quickly gotten annoyed. However, with Eli’s help, Kate grows and learns that having an opinion, or standing out for that matter, might not be so bad.
The other characters, like Kate’s best friend Lan, coworker Eli, and popular, stuck up Tiffany, are all well developed and play meaningful roles. They’re not just page-fillers. Lan, though she was a good friend to Kate, got on my nerves a bit. I can’t exactly pinpoint why, she was just a bit annoying to me. Eli is a mysterious, sort of bad boy, which is cool to see in a contemporary YA versus a paranormal where the bad boys grow on trees. Tiffany, ugh. That being said, Tiffany was the antagonist, so I guess “ugh” is probably the correct reaction to her character.
The romances were slightly unpredictable in Tagged, though it was nice to see that Kate had a life outside boys. That’s right, this contemporary YA wasn’t all about the romances, there was a slight aura of mystery hanging in the air the whole time. Who was the tagger? How were they doing this? Clues were dropped at the perfect intervals and all questions were answered in a timely manner, which is big for me. If situations aren’t resolved in a reasonable amount of time, I have been known to stop reading. Thank you, Mara, for keeping me reading.
The Verdict:
Tagged stands apart with it’s focus on the battle between right and wrong, art and vandalism. Quick, concise, and completely relatable, I recommend Tagged to any lover of YA lit.
June 5, 2010
Nothing really exciting ever happens in Cleary, South Carolina until the gorillas. First, they appear on the side of a building at school, then on other buildings throughout town and even out of state. These graffitied works of art really are quite amazing; they’re incredibly lifelike and all identical. Everyone wants to know who’s behind the gorillas, but for different reasons. Some people are just in awe of this creative tagging, but others, particularly the police, want to catch the culprit for vandalism. Kate would rather just stay out of the mess so she won’t be labeled as a snitch for being the police chief’s daughter, but as more gorillas pop up, her curiosity gets the better of her. But what happens when all the clues and her instincts point to someone she knows?
Tagged is a cute mystery accompanied by a slight romance and the deeper question of what art really is. The mystery of the gorilla graffiti is a good and interesting one, if rather safe. There really isn’t any danger involved in figuring out the person responsible for the gorillas, which makes the story more innocent and refreshing. The romance isn’t as good as the mystery, mostly because complications leave it mostly up in the air, but it is still sweet. The most important part of Tagged is the questions that the story raises. Protagonist Kate struggles to figure out the difference between vandalism and art and what that means for her own life. The one thing about this book that needs work is the actual writing. Some of the dialogue in particular felt scripted, awkward, and unrealistic. Overall, though, Tagged is a fun and enjoyable read.
Tagged may be enjoyed by fans of She’s So Money by Cherry Cheva and Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty by Jody Gehrman.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
Tagged is a cute mystery accompanied by a slight romance and the deeper question of what art really is. The mystery of the gorilla graffiti is a good and interesting one, if rather safe. There really isn’t any danger involved in figuring out the person responsible for the gorillas, which makes the story more innocent and refreshing. The romance isn’t as good as the mystery, mostly because complications leave it mostly up in the air, but it is still sweet. The most important part of Tagged is the questions that the story raises. Protagonist Kate struggles to figure out the difference between vandalism and art and what that means for her own life. The one thing about this book that needs work is the actual writing. Some of the dialogue in particular felt scripted, awkward, and unrealistic. Overall, though, Tagged is a fun and enjoyable read.
Tagged may be enjoyed by fans of She’s So Money by Cherry Cheva and Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty by Jody Gehrman.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
September 5, 2010
Tagged is narrated by Kate Morgan, who is the daughter of a police chief and the best friend of a Vietnamese-American girl named Lan. When she discovers a mural of six life-size gorillas on her school wall, she is intrigued. When these gorillas kept appearing at different places, she wants to help solving the mystery. I admired Kate's way of dealing with things. I also liked the close relationship between her and her parents.
Tagged mainly discusses about the line separating 'art' and 'vandalism' in graffiti. Well, I looked through the opinions of some people online, and I found this statement which suited the situation well:
"Graffiti is art if it is placed on a surface that is owned by someone who wants it there otherwise it is vandalism."
Racial issues are also discussed when Kate's best friend, Lan is humiliated by Tiffany, a snobbish rich girl. Tiffany is throwing a mega birthday bash to celebrate her 16th birthday, and she's going to have it aired on national TV. I disapproved with Tiffany's way of hosting her birthday party as if she were the queen where everyone was required to gather at a place to hear her announce who's on her invite-list.
Tagged has a good character set, a solid opening and an interesting plot. My only complaint is that the gorillas kept appearing and I lost my initial excitement and felt like it has become a clique. My intuition tells me the artist/vandal's identity right from the beginning. So it wasn't much a surprise to find out that I'm right. However, I don't understand the artist/vandal 's real intention of creating the graffitis. Why can't he think of a better way of doing what he's wanting to do? And why gorillas? It was unexplained.
To sum up, Tagged was fun, amusing and entertaining, but I sensed that there's something missing in this book. Nevertheless, teens will enjoy reading it.
Tagged mainly discusses about the line separating 'art' and 'vandalism' in graffiti. Well, I looked through the opinions of some people online, and I found this statement which suited the situation well:
"Graffiti is art if it is placed on a surface that is owned by someone who wants it there otherwise it is vandalism."
Racial issues are also discussed when Kate's best friend, Lan is humiliated by Tiffany, a snobbish rich girl. Tiffany is throwing a mega birthday bash to celebrate her 16th birthday, and she's going to have it aired on national TV. I disapproved with Tiffany's way of hosting her birthday party as if she were the queen where everyone was required to gather at a place to hear her announce who's on her invite-list.
Tagged has a good character set, a solid opening and an interesting plot. My only complaint is that the gorillas kept appearing and I lost my initial excitement and felt like it has become a clique. My intuition tells me the artist/vandal's identity right from the beginning. So it wasn't much a surprise to find out that I'm right. However, I don't understand the artist/vandal 's real intention of creating the graffitis. Why can't he think of a better way of doing what he's wanting to do? And why gorillas? It was unexplained.
To sum up, Tagged was fun, amusing and entertaining, but I sensed that there's something missing in this book. Nevertheless, teens will enjoy reading it.
October 5, 2010
With romance and mystery, Tagged is a semi-tensful novel with well-written characters, a fast-paced plot, and a refreshing premise. The relationships and friendships that happened in the novel were very interesting, but yet at the same time, realistic and connectable.
This book was almost not close to fluctuating, it was full of action the whole time. Sometimes, novels tend to have those really exciting parts, and then, the boring parts. This one is all excitement, you won't get bored at all, because there's so much going on. Purnhagen makes sure you can follow along with everything happening at the same time.
As the book progresses, the action starts to build up, things start to get even more and more intense. There was a lot of drama happening in the school along with the relationships with each character. And even cooler, you only get to know what REALLY is happening in the end because besides from it, it's all action and more added on mystery, where as, in the end, you actually get to find out the mystery.
Extremely simple and a typical high schooler, Kate is a truthful and real character. She got along really well with her parents, which was a part that I absolutely loved about this novel. She had those moments of feeling unsure of what to do, but in the long run, she'd end up making the right choices, even if it were a hard one. Eli, was another well-developed character by Purnhagen. I definitely enjoyed him too.
A quick and a light read, Tagged is a novel you'd want to pick up, full of relatable characters, an exciting plot, an original premise, read it... Now!
This book was almost not close to fluctuating, it was full of action the whole time. Sometimes, novels tend to have those really exciting parts, and then, the boring parts. This one is all excitement, you won't get bored at all, because there's so much going on. Purnhagen makes sure you can follow along with everything happening at the same time.
As the book progresses, the action starts to build up, things start to get even more and more intense. There was a lot of drama happening in the school along with the relationships with each character. And even cooler, you only get to know what REALLY is happening in the end because besides from it, it's all action and more added on mystery, where as, in the end, you actually get to find out the mystery.
Extremely simple and a typical high schooler, Kate is a truthful and real character. She got along really well with her parents, which was a part that I absolutely loved about this novel. She had those moments of feeling unsure of what to do, but in the long run, she'd end up making the right choices, even if it were a hard one. Eli, was another well-developed character by Purnhagen. I definitely enjoyed him too.
A quick and a light read, Tagged is a novel you'd want to pick up, full of relatable characters, an exciting plot, an original premise, read it... Now!
November 28, 2010
What is the difference between Graffiti and Art? Mara Purnhagen takes us to Cleary, South Carolina to a town which didn't see much action until they had to answer that one question. Were the Gorillas that were found on several local businesses, including the local high school, graffiti or art? Who was the mastermind behind the Gorillas? Was it more then one person? What was the purpose behind the Gorillas?
Our main character, a very likable, Kate Morgan is who we followed throughout this adventure of finding the vandal(s)... or is it artist(s) Most every character we were introduced to, with the exception of those created meant to irk us, had a personality which set them apart and was very likable. There was somewhere there who almost anyone could relate to.
Not only a mystery, Tagged has a little bit of romance giving this book a second side and another aspect in which offered a solid foundation for an adorable and fun read. Don't let that lead to you believe that it's all a fun loving romance, Kate isn't exactly the most above average of girls who seem to have easy access to whoever and whatever she wants.
On top of the great Gorilla mystery, Kate, and the rest of the town, has to deal with the side effects the school's mean girl, Tiffany, who is having her sweet sixteen filmed for MTV. Did I forget to mention Kate's mom has to provide the cake for the near-royal event and Kate shows up to the party not only in a pair of sweats but ends up framed?
Well written and unique, Mara Purnhagen definitely stands out with this refreshing read.
Cover: 5
Characters: 5
Plot: 4
Overall: 4
Our main character, a very likable, Kate Morgan is who we followed throughout this adventure of finding the vandal(s)... or is it artist(s) Most every character we were introduced to, with the exception of those created meant to irk us, had a personality which set them apart and was very likable. There was somewhere there who almost anyone could relate to.
Not only a mystery, Tagged has a little bit of romance giving this book a second side and another aspect in which offered a solid foundation for an adorable and fun read. Don't let that lead to you believe that it's all a fun loving romance, Kate isn't exactly the most above average of girls who seem to have easy access to whoever and whatever she wants.
On top of the great Gorilla mystery, Kate, and the rest of the town, has to deal with the side effects the school's mean girl, Tiffany, who is having her sweet sixteen filmed for MTV. Did I forget to mention Kate's mom has to provide the cake for the near-royal event and Kate shows up to the party not only in a pair of sweats but ends up framed?
Well written and unique, Mara Purnhagen definitely stands out with this refreshing read.
Cover: 5
Characters: 5
Plot: 4
Overall: 4
January 31, 2010
I preface by saying that I wish Goodreads allowed half ratings. I would give this book 2.5 stars.
I thought that Tagged was a quick and easy read. The premise of the book was interesting and I liked that different characters where introduced. The story is told from Kate's point of view so you don't know what the other characters are feeling unless they have direct interaction with Kate. The book kept me interested with the vandalism plot line even though I'd pretty much figured out who was the guilty party half way through the book. The author didn't make it too difficult to connect the dots. Maybe that was done on purpose. I did think that the reasoning behind the vandalism was a little idiotic. When I read the explanation behind why the person did what they did, my first thought was, "Are you kidding me? You couldn't have thought of a better way?" That could be my adult mind working overtime. Maybe teens will find the thought process behind the actions logical. I didn't.
Tagged was a decent book. The characters seemed to be the kind of typical teens you encountered in high school, relatable. I wish Kate was a stronger character. I did like Lan, Kate's best friend, because she seemed to be confident and sure of herself. It seems the trend for teencentric books is to make the heroine either extremely insecure with little or no self-esteem or a stark raving b*tch. I'd like to start seeing some balance.
I thought that Tagged was a quick and easy read. The premise of the book was interesting and I liked that different characters where introduced. The story is told from Kate's point of view so you don't know what the other characters are feeling unless they have direct interaction with Kate. The book kept me interested with the vandalism plot line even though I'd pretty much figured out who was the guilty party half way through the book. The author didn't make it too difficult to connect the dots. Maybe that was done on purpose. I did think that the reasoning behind the vandalism was a little idiotic. When I read the explanation behind why the person did what they did, my first thought was, "Are you kidding me? You couldn't have thought of a better way?" That could be my adult mind working overtime. Maybe teens will find the thought process behind the actions logical. I didn't.
Tagged was a decent book. The characters seemed to be the kind of typical teens you encountered in high school, relatable. I wish Kate was a stronger character. I did like Lan, Kate's best friend, because she seemed to be confident and sure of herself. It seems the trend for teencentric books is to make the heroine either extremely insecure with little or no self-esteem or a stark raving b*tch. I'd like to start seeing some balance.
February 19, 2010
Kate Morgan arrives to her small town high school one January morning to commotion over a giant graffiti gorilla that has been spray painted on the side of the building. When more gorilla grafitti shows up around town, it sparks a debate in class over art versus vandalism. The students of Cleary High spend the next few weeks debating and trying to figure out who did it- the tension culminating at an MTV televised birthday party for rich social snob Tiffany Werner. And the whole time, Kate finds clues linking the culprit to someone she is starting to like romantically.
TAGGED is a great book that will get teen readers to think about what defines art. The main character Kate can sometimes be annoying, but Kate's best friend Lan is a strong secondary character, as well as both of Kate's parents, who play their own central roles in the community. Eli is especially dreamy. The story is very realistic, with real-life consequences and real-time reactions to events. This could have happened to anyone's high school, anywhere in the US.
Debut author Mara Purnhagen writes smoothly in the teenage girl voice, especially when it came to Kate's thoughts and concerns over Eli. TAGGED is a short book with a colorful cover that is sure to get teen girls to pick it up.
For a sequel, I found myself craving more of mean girl Tiffany. It would be neat to have a book from her point-of-view!
TAGGED is a great book that will get teen readers to think about what defines art. The main character Kate can sometimes be annoying, but Kate's best friend Lan is a strong secondary character, as well as both of Kate's parents, who play their own central roles in the community. Eli is especially dreamy. The story is very realistic, with real-life consequences and real-time reactions to events. This could have happened to anyone's high school, anywhere in the US.
Debut author Mara Purnhagen writes smoothly in the teenage girl voice, especially when it came to Kate's thoughts and concerns over Eli. TAGGED is a short book with a colorful cover that is sure to get teen girls to pick it up.
For a sequel, I found myself craving more of mean girl Tiffany. It would be neat to have a book from her point-of-view!
February 28, 2010
Reviewed by Ashley B for TeensReadToo.com
Kate Morgan arrives at Cleary High like any regular day, but this day turns out different. The school has been tagged; a mural of six gorillas resides on the side of the school building
Being the police chief's daughter, Kate tries to stay out of it. Many people are saying that the gorillas, which are also turning up on other buildings in town, and out of state, are vandalism. Are they? Or are they art?
This book was totally enjoyable from the very beginning. I was drawn in at the start. The plot was lifelike, and I liked the characters. When first meeting Eli, I couldn't even tell that Kate was interested in him romantically, but perhaps she was in denial, since he was in a relationship, and she even told her best friend and parents that "he is just a friend I work with."
I loved the relationship between Kate and Lan, her best friend. I could tell they were really close, and yet she wasn't even around all that much. That's a good kind of friendship to have; it's like the finish-each other's-sentences kind of friendship. I would have liked Kate's photography to be a larger part of the novel, because we don't learn how much she enjoys it until the last chapter.
But if you're up for a fast and fun read, find TAGGED when it comes out!
Kate Morgan arrives at Cleary High like any regular day, but this day turns out different. The school has been tagged; a mural of six gorillas resides on the side of the school building
Being the police chief's daughter, Kate tries to stay out of it. Many people are saying that the gorillas, which are also turning up on other buildings in town, and out of state, are vandalism. Are they? Or are they art?
This book was totally enjoyable from the very beginning. I was drawn in at the start. The plot was lifelike, and I liked the characters. When first meeting Eli, I couldn't even tell that Kate was interested in him romantically, but perhaps she was in denial, since he was in a relationship, and she even told her best friend and parents that "he is just a friend I work with."
I loved the relationship between Kate and Lan, her best friend. I could tell they were really close, and yet she wasn't even around all that much. That's a good kind of friendship to have; it's like the finish-each other's-sentences kind of friendship. I would have liked Kate's photography to be a larger part of the novel, because we don't learn how much she enjoys it until the last chapter.
But if you're up for a fast and fun read, find TAGGED when it comes out!
September 4, 2016
This was a fun quick read about a girl who doesn’t feel like she really know herself and has to deal with the fact that she is the chief of police’s daughter. That and she is constantly being ignored for something she couldn’t control but then things change when her town starts to get the amazing pieces of art put up all around on abandoned buildings. Who could the mysterious artist be. I like this story because it’s about a girl who doesn’t know what to do with her life. This story is a coming of age story you see Kate looking at herself and the tags around her town wondering what should be down about them. Is it art or not? Should she just go along with everyone else or not> that is the big issue a lot of teenagers deal with. I think it’s a great read. I think if you have a chance to pick it up you should.
July 14, 2010
I read this book with my daughter who insisted that she write the review for this one.
Please enjoy this review my Neya;
The book Tagged was an interesting romance/ mystery, which is why it was a great read. The story was fun to read because you couldn’t figure out the mystery until the very end. Drama builds up in the school, between the friends, Eli’s girlfriend, and with the entire town, making the story truly unique. It’s hard to describe this story because so much is going on at one time, but the story is very interesting. Most stories that have a lot going on in them get confusing, but the author makes it so you can follow along with everything going on. Over all, this book is a 5 out of 5 stars. There was nothing that I didn’t like about the whole story.
Please enjoy this review my Neya;
The book Tagged was an interesting romance/ mystery, which is why it was a great read. The story was fun to read because you couldn’t figure out the mystery until the very end. Drama builds up in the school, between the friends, Eli’s girlfriend, and with the entire town, making the story truly unique. It’s hard to describe this story because so much is going on at one time, but the story is very interesting. Most stories that have a lot going on in them get confusing, but the author makes it so you can follow along with everything going on. Over all, this book is a 5 out of 5 stars. There was nothing that I didn’t like about the whole story.
Read
January 15, 2016 "Tagged" by Mara Purnhagen, has been one of the most enjoy able books I've read. My interest on the book started because of it's name, I've always enjoyed art. Specially the one on the streets, the one's that people dislike or tend to think ill of. I enjoy how Purnhagen unfolds the story. From confliction with herself, her dad, school, work, friends, and her new unknown feelings.
Kate Morgan, the main character, is in a situation where I think everyone eventually has to go threw. Mystery, excitement, romance, and conflict is all in this story. Not knowing what to do, what your feeling, if your suspicions are true, or just going crazy with the pressure from your parents. In the end i really enjoyed this book, I didn't want to let go of it.
Kate Morgan, the main character, is in a situation where I think everyone eventually has to go threw. Mystery, excitement, romance, and conflict is all in this story. Not knowing what to do, what your feeling, if your suspicions are true, or just going crazy with the pressure from your parents. In the end i really enjoyed this book, I didn't want to let go of it.
August 13, 2013
i will leave it at 3 stars and not raise it to 3 and a half because Kate's evolution is nowhere to be found in the book besides the epilogue and that's a pity. The book would have been much more interesting if we had the opportunity to see her evolve...
anyway, in the end the story is cute and sweet and a nice light read, but it felt a bit shallow. Perhaps that is because Kate was a naive goody two-shoes that had too angst-driven behaviour sometimes (especially when related to Eli). Eli seemed the cute type, but you get to see too little of him to form an opinion.
it was nice to read, but nothing remarkable, sadly.
anyway, in the end the story is cute and sweet and a nice light read, but it felt a bit shallow. Perhaps that is because Kate was a naive goody two-shoes that had too angst-driven behaviour sometimes (especially when related to Eli). Eli seemed the cute type, but you get to see too little of him to form an opinion.
it was nice to read, but nothing remarkable, sadly.
February 16, 2010
I just finished reading this book and really enjoyed it! I'm a librarian and know that the teens that use my branch will connect with the story - from the main character who just wants to fit in - to the snobby and self absorbed rich girl - and the whole cast of characters described so well in this book - and who you find in any high school.
The plot of the story - gorillas popping up on the walls in school and around town - was unique and fun! What a concept - really catches the imagination!
Looking forward to more from this author.
The plot of the story - gorillas popping up on the walls in school and around town - was unique and fun! What a concept - really catches the imagination!
Looking forward to more from this author.
March 23, 2010
I received an electronic galley of this book from Netgalley
When spray-painted gorillas start appearing on abandoned buildings and even the local high school, Kate and her friends don't know what to think. Is it art or is it vandalism? As if their small town wasn't in enough of an uproar, the town's richest girl, Tiffany, is going to have her sweet sixteen filmed for MTV. Kate is determined to figure out the mystery of the gorillas even if it means ruining her chance to stay invisible.
When spray-painted gorillas start appearing on abandoned buildings and even the local high school, Kate and her friends don't know what to think. Is it art or is it vandalism? As if their small town wasn't in enough of an uproar, the town's richest girl, Tiffany, is going to have her sweet sixteen filmed for MTV. Kate is determined to figure out the mystery of the gorillas even if it means ruining her chance to stay invisible.
April 12, 2010
A pretty good book. But not at all what I expected, even from reading the summary on the back. This is not necessarily bad; this book stands well enough on its own. I'll have to admit I was expecting a book about graffiti, not about tagging and art. I'm still learning the differences between these terms.
For the most part, this is a book about high school life, its romances and its friendships. It's a smart book too, which I enjoyed.
For the most part, this is a book about high school life, its romances and its friendships. It's a smart book too, which I enjoyed.
September 30, 2010
Being a teenager is difficult enough, more so when you are the chief of police's daughter. This is a great story about the choices one makes with what they are given. Kate needs to learn how to be herself without having to worry about all the people accusing her of "ratting" on them just because of who she is. She is able to know herself more thanks to the gorilla's being graffitied all over town and other places as well.
October 19, 2011
I had a difficult time focusing on this particular book. I liked the characters and that the "vandalism" caused so many of them to think about how they defined art. I loved that Kate really began to think about what she considered to be art and that she looked in so many places to find what art was to her.
April 16, 2012
Yet another enjoyable read by this author! This was a great story in that it felt so fresh. The story wasn't predictable, the characters felt real and the well developed POC best friend was actually important to the main character. The romance was secondary to the theme of the book, which I think is about finding yourself.
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