Thursday, February 16, 2012

Book Review: In Too Deep by Amanda Grace



In Too Deep by Amanda Grace
Publisher: Flux
Publish Date: February 8, 2012
Paperback, 228 pages 
Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary
 ISBN: 978-0738726007




buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery
My Review:
Wow, what an emotional read.  I never could figure out how I felt about Sam.  I actually read this book a few months ago, but it sticks with you.  Sam makes a play for Carter, is rejected and in that moment makes a bad decision that begins to affect everything in her senior year and it not only affects her, but others as well, especially Carter and even her best friend Nick.

I wanted to like Sam, I really did, but felt she could have stopped things from getting that far.  But then again, I could understand her situation as well.  I was that girl, not in that situation, but I could see myself being passive like her.  I'm not a kickbutt girl and not all main characters can be or should be the strong type.  I think Sam while not likeable through the whole book is actually relate-able, and that may be contradictory, but I feel it's true.  I felt it. And the truth was, she wanted to stop things, but then they steamrolled and she could not. 

Read the book, you won't be able to put it down. It's a fast, engrossing read.  I guarantee Sam won't be your favorite character, but I think you will like Nick and you will like the book overall.  There is a good message in it and the storyline is very interesting and keeps you hooked.  Ms. Grace does a wonderful job crafting this story and keeping it real and interesting.

So grab this one, curl up and read for a couple of hours.  Then you will be thinking on this one for months afterwards.  It's a good solid book with interesting characters, a different premise and a good lesson to be learned.  Give it a try.

My Rating: 4.0/5.0

Parental guidance: Since this book deals with the sex/rape issue it's best for the older teens or your more mature younger teens.  This is where I say it's up to the parents.  There is lots of talk in the book, but that is what you expect of a book that deals with this subject and I never felt it was out-of-line or over-the-top.  I felt the subject was handled well.  It's a topic that affects all teens and should be discussed.

About the Book:
At an end-of-senior-year party, invisible Samantha Reeves decides to make a play for Carter, the jock she's crushed on for years. When Carter rejects her cruelly, she leaves the party in tears, leaving others who didn't see the rejection to speculate why Sam was crying. Back at school, Sam hears a rumor that Carter raped her and, for once, her classmates seem to care about her. When she decides not to tell the truth, the school divides between those who believe Sam and those who don't. Soon, the little white lie escalates and Sam finds that the resulting war at school could cost her the boy she's only just started to love.

About the Author (from Goodreads.com): 
Amanda Grace is a pen name for Young Adult author Mandy Hubbard (PRADA AND PREJUDICE, YOU WISH). She lives near Seattle, Washington, with her husband and young daughter.

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FTC Information: I received this book through Teen Book Scene for an honest review.  I do make money from purchases made at The Book Depository and B&N.com, but all money is used to fund giveaways and shipping for giveaways from the blog.




1 comments:

brandileigh2003 said...

I know what you mean about not likable but relatable.
Thanks for review.
Brandi from Blkosiner’s Book Blog

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