ENTIRE BOOK

I agree Tali that the book is quite confronting to us as parents. I have a sensitive child (DS1) and a second child who I worry will be in his brother's shadow (as DS1 is very bright). So for me the book gave me a lot to think about.

I think you are quite right too when you talk about people not being themselves. That is true of so many of the characters - Lacy, Alex, Josie, Peter, I suspect Joey too, and all the "cool" kids. Nothing was as it seemed. People were hiding their true selves, and relationships were not as they seemed. Josie and Alex did not have a good relationship. Neither did Josie and Matt. Nor Lacy and Peter. It was all smoke and mirrors. Lacy thinks Alex has it all, Alex thinks Lacy has it all. Little did they know just how much they had in common.

The thing to remember though, is that some of the characters (eg Lacy) did the wrong thing but with the right intentions. Others (eg Matt) did the wrong thing without good intentions. I don't think you can blame someone for doing what they think is right at the time, even if later it proves to be otherwise. You can only do your best at the time with the knowledge that you have then. Hindsight is 20-20.

I think the most telling thing however, is the twist that is revealed at the end - DON'T READ ON IF YOU HAVEN"T FINISHED THE BOOK!! That Josie put her old friend before her boyfriend at the end is a telling sign. And that both Peter and Josie resorted to violence against those who had wronged them. Is it a coincidence that they both reacted that way? Or did Josie's action only occur because of Peter's?