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This is another book by Ellen Hopkins. It may seem repetitive but her books are each very unique and different from anything else I've read.
The main character in this book is Pattyn Scarlet Von Stratten. She lives in a Mormon family of 9. She sees her mother as a baby-making machine, and her father as an abusive alcoholic. Her mother keeps having babies because after 7 girls her father is still hoping for a boy.
Pattyn is generally a good Mormon girl, but she has not good dreams about an attractive boy named Justin at her school. She knows she shouldn't think about boys, least of all Justin because he isn't a Mormon.
One day, when Pattyn is out on the desert doing some target practice Justin, and few of his friends happen to be 4 wheeling and notice her.
Justin is with his girlfriend but he takes interest in shooting targets, while his friend Derek begins to take interest in Pattyn. They eventually start dating, but her dad soon finds out and forbids her to see him.
Pattyn thinks that they can find a way to be together anyway, but Derek disagrees and breaks up with her. Derek was Pattyn's first boyfriend, and she overreacted when he broke up with her.
After that, her life only goes downhill until eventually she gets suspended from school for the last month before summer.
After a cruel outburst towards her mother Pattyn is sent off to live with her Aunt Jeanette in Nevada for the summer. Her father tells her the there's no way she can get into trouble out there, but she finds a way.
Soon after she moves in, she meets a college student named Ethan. They start to see more and more of each other and eventually fall in love.
Sounds like a classic love story ending doesn't it? Well that is not the case. After a tragic car accident Pattyn's life will never be the same. The ending of this book will leave you wanting more with the sequel Smoke.
I think these kinds of books negatively affect teenagers in today's society because they read it and think, "I can do that!" Otherwise, it's good that there are so many topics for authors to write about, and Ellen Hopkins chooses to explore this topic, so it gives the reader possible scenarios of what can happen/what could be going on somewhere in the world.
ReplyDeleteGood idea, but not for me. Like I said earlier, I like action and comedy!
I like the types of books that deal with society and teenagers today, but reading this, it seemed like the story line was all over the place; where when you said the desert, as part of the setting, my mind was like what? When did she get there, or why? There is the noticeable romance happening, but just a bit confusing overall, at least to me. I personally would not read it, but again, the topic like Jackie mentioned does expand in the interest for young readers.
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