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Torn Souls (2000)

by Crystal Cattabriga(Favorite Author)

3.61 of 5 Votes: 3

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English

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review 1: This book was a great idea to get the word out about bullying. I knew bullying was an issue, I experienced it when I was a young teen, but I didn't realize how much it has snowballed until by son started school. I couldn't believe that at the age of 5, my son would have to deal with bullies. I also didn't realize how easily the matter is swept under the rug. Big thumbs up to the author for giving hope. Julia's parents have decided to move away from the only home she has ever known. After moving from the country to the big city, Julia begins to adapt to the new surroundings and has even made a friend at school. After she gets to know Alex, she learns that they have lots in common and they soon became best friends. She couldn't wait to get to school and see Alex each day. Th... moreat is until someone started bullying her. Now Julia fears just to walk down the halls. She now has to decide to hide and deal with it alone, or take a stand and put a stop to it, if not just for herself, but to keep it from happening to others. I think the book is a great way to get the word out about bullying. It does give hope. The book does have areas that drag on. I would have liked for there to of been a more background to the characters and a little more emotion. I still recommend this book to all. The more we become aware, the better we can take a stand. Originally posted on The Mystical World of Book Reviews
review 2: The subject matter was a good one, and like others have stated, the intentions for the book were great, but I agree that even though the story was written well, it missed the mark in areas too. First, most kids would be saddened to leave where they have grown up especially if they had friends, a social life, etc., but in her case, she really didn't have much of a life. She went to school and home. She had no friends, and didn't even socialize with neighbors until too late. Moving to New York should have been exciting for her...a chance to start fresh. For someone like her, I could imagine it was also a little scary, but she just didn't come across as a typical teenager. For example, she liked the pizza delivery boy in Ohio, but then she doesn't like any other boy she meets including Alex. She is 15. What 15 year old girl isn't thinking about boys. And I agree with what someone else said, I also began to think that Alex was gay until nearly the end of the book. I thought that he was so amused by her and only wanted to be her friend because he wasn't interested in the fairer sex. Talk about misleading. No teenager is not hormonal...Second, although bullying is extremely serious, it didn't read as desperate as I would have expected. Yes, it was mentioned that there was name calling, and there was the scene where she was in the bathroom then the beating. Those were definitely serious issues, but it just didn't come across as bullying until that beating. The bathroom scene was bad, but I also thought she could have stood up for herself and it was more a case of jealousy. Even the friends didn't get involved in the actual harrassment. Julia was extremely meek. Which is why it is surprising that she would take a stand against bullying in so public a way to to try to pass a law. And yes, it is hard to believe that she managed to get a new law passed. Things just are not that easy. Was it a bad story, no. But, it also wasn't 100% believable either. A girl who is from a well to do family may accomplish getting in front of a congressman, but you also would not expect bullying for someone in the upper middle class unless the person was extremely introverted, geeky, etc. less

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