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Rumble

Ellen Hopkins

Start date: August 30, 2014

Finish date: October 4, 2014

Discussion: RUMBLE by ELLEN HOPKINS

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RUMBLE by ELLEN HOPKINS

#ReadyToRumble | Finish!
By Jesse (JesseT… · 54 posts · 593 views

last updated Oct 13, 2014 01:40PM

#ReadyToRumble | Up to Page 389
By Jesse (JesseT… · 18 posts · 249 views

last updated Oct 04, 2014 02:20PM

What Members Thought

Sep 29, 2013 Nadine rated it it was amazing

Absolutely amazing.

Ellen Hopkins continues her streak of amazing work. Rumble embodies whole heartedly what it means to be a teenager in high school dealing with the impossible (unfaithful parents, suicide, and questioning who you are and what you're going to do with your life). This book follows Matt, a devote atheist, as he navigates the aftermath of his little bother committing suicide. He appears to have a stable and loving relationship with his girlfriend Hayden until she finds her path to Absolutely amazing.

Ellen Hopkins continues her streak of amazing work. Rumble embodies whole heartedly what it means to be a teenager in high school dealing with the impossible (unfaithful parents, suicide, and questioning who you are and what you're going to do with your life). This book follows Matt, a devote atheist, as he navigates the aftermath of his little bother committing suicide. He appears to have a stable and loving relationship with his girlfriend Hayden until she finds her path to God, which makes her question her relationship with Matt. Matt uses Hayden as crutch as he tries to come to terms with his little brother's decision and those who played a part in bullying him.

What I loved most about this book is Hayden and Matt's relationship. I hated them together. They're ideologies and values were too incompatible for them to have a lasting relationship. As a reader having had experience with relationships I could clearly see that their relationship was not working and I got frustrated with them constantly trying to make it work. They would forgive each other to only do something else that would create another conflict. And that's the beauty of Hopkins' writing and understanding of teenage relationships. They don't have the experience to know when to let things go and that is evident in everything the characters do and say.

I also loved Matt as a character. He's witty, sarcastic, and wickedly smart. There are times when you want to strangle Matt for the decisions he makes and the decisions he doesn't make. Overall, he is probably my favourite Ellen Hopkins' character.

The plot of this book really shows the struggle that religion can be, especially when someone you care about deeply does not feel the same about it as you do (as demonstrated by Matt and Hayden's relationship). This book also shows the power of religion, maybe not in the best way but it does show that religion can be used for good just as much as bad (bad in this context is subjective depending on which side of debate you believe in).

Overall, Rumble is a fantastic novel about the stress of high school relationships and friendships, how words and actions can effect someone deeply enough to make a life changing (and ending) decision, the power of religion for good and bad, and finding it in yourself to forgive yourself as well as others when you may not believe they deserve it.
A hallmark of this book is watching Matt battle with him wanting forgive those around him while not letting go of the resentment his feels towards their actions. I would choose forgiveness as this books ultimate goal. Life is too short to hold on to grudges and resentment when you could more easily forgive and replace those negative emotions with some that will fill you with joy and happiness. ...more

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Sep 22, 2014 Robyn Gail rated it really liked it

4.5 stars

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Aug 30, 2014 Lauren rated it did not like it

DNF I read about 50 pages of this book. I don't often DNF books but I really hated this. This is my first Ellen Hopkins and most likely my last. I don't know the character was just too depressing for me as was the situation. Which I knew going into it Ellen Hopkins is quite a dark author but the style wasn't for me. I also didn't like reading in verse. I guess that wasn't for me either. Oh well. ...more

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