ALL the Rage
Courtney Summers
TW: Rape, Bullying
I am a little conflicted with this one. I want to give my honest opinion and feelings, but I also don’t want to be insensitive. This book deals with a very tough subject matter, something I have not personally experienced. I am going to tread lightly, while getting my feelings out about this book.
Goodreads Blurb
The sheriff’s son, Kellan Turner, is not the golden boy everyone thinks he is, and Romy Grey knows that for a fact. Because no one wants to believe a girl from the wrong side of town, the truth about him has cost her everything—friends, family, and her community. Branded a liar and bullied relentlessly by a group of kids she used to hang out with, Romy’s only refuge is the diner where she works outside of town. No one knows her name or her past there; she can finally be anonymous. But when a girl with ties to both Romy and Kellan goes missing after a party, and news of him assaulting another girl in a town close by gets out, Romy must decide whether she wants to fight or carry the burden of knowing more girls could get hurt if she doesn’t speak up. Nobody believed her the first time—and they certainly won’t now — but the cost of her silence might be more than she can bear.
With a shocking conclusion and writing that will absolutely knock you out, All the Rage examines the shame and silence inflicted upon young women after an act of sexual violence, forcing us to ask ourselves: In a culture that refuses to protect its young girls, how can they survive?
Review
I guess the first thing I should mention is the synopsis is not 100 percent accurate. In fact, the first character mentioned in the synopsis above, is just a mere mention in the book, and not a main focus at all. Yes, you could argue that Kellan Turner’s actions and behavior prior to the opening of the book dictates and shapes the mood of this novel and that of our main character Romy. We just never get to actually meet him.
Second, I did not care for our main character, Romy. Understandable, she is not going to be this big bubble of energy and positiveness, but I did not care for the rudeness and selfishness either. I think it was uncalled for, especially when it was aimed toward her mother and her mother’s boyfriend and towards a boy who was just trying to get to know her as a person, not an object. No one was telling her that what she was feeling was wrong, or how she was acting was unacceptable. They just wanted her to talk, tell them what was going on in her head. She would rather suffer internally, than let anyone in. And I am not a believer in that. I think in order to heal, to grow, to move on, you have to speak. Let it out. Romy never did. I believe this is why we don’t see her grow throughout the book. She is the exact same person in the end as she was in the beginning.
I think my overall feelings on this book is that nothing was completely developed. There is a mystery aspect to it, that is second hand, but takes up majority of the book. I know this is not meant to be in the mystery genre, but it could have been developed more. Everything seemed one note, and there were glimpses of character growth but they were just briefly touched on and completely forgotten about.
Books where the main plot involves such hard hitting issues are always hard to review. Unless you yourself have been in that situation, you have no idea how you would react. No clue on what behaviors are right or wrong. And everyone’e response to such events would be different. What I can say with this one is, it was not my most liked of books involving this subject matter. Something was lacking, but I just don’t know what exactly.
2.5 Stars
Thoughts to Pages 