Helpful Score: 2
CRACKED UP TO BE is pretty much perfect. It's a short but dense read that will keep you impatiently engrossed in Parker's convoluted world, unable to tear yourself away until you find out what happened to make Parker deteriorate so much.
Of course, it is Parker who carries the novel, Parker who makes me love this book. One of the most difficult things for a writer to do is to create characters who are not necessarily likable but still make readers empathize with them. Parker and all her friends are such characters. They are the most popular people at their high school--something I, along with most of us, have never experienced--but even so they are bitchy, emotional, hurt, in love, in lust, manipulative--in short, relatable, complex, and one hundred percent real.
The novel is set up in a way that we don't find out about what's been eating at Parker until the very end, and the setup is wonderfully appropriate, for it allows us to focus on the character development while being intrigued by the backstory. I said that this book is pretty much perfect, and not just in the foundations, like the characters and the plot. Courtney Summers is also a writing master: she writes in an unassuming, straightforward prose that doesn't beat around the bush. That's the way Parker talks also; she gets straight to the point in wonderfully sarcastic lines.
All in all...does this review even need a conclusion? Are you confused about how I feel about this novel? Run out and buy it right now!
Of course, it is Parker who carries the novel, Parker who makes me love this book. One of the most difficult things for a writer to do is to create characters who are not necessarily likable but still make readers empathize with them. Parker and all her friends are such characters. They are the most popular people at their high school--something I, along with most of us, have never experienced--but even so they are bitchy, emotional, hurt, in love, in lust, manipulative--in short, relatable, complex, and one hundred percent real.
The novel is set up in a way that we don't find out about what's been eating at Parker until the very end, and the setup is wonderfully appropriate, for it allows us to focus on the character development while being intrigued by the backstory. I said that this book is pretty much perfect, and not just in the foundations, like the characters and the plot. Courtney Summers is also a writing master: she writes in an unassuming, straightforward prose that doesn't beat around the bush. That's the way Parker talks also; she gets straight to the point in wonderfully sarcastic lines.
All in all...does this review even need a conclusion? Are you confused about how I feel about this novel? Run out and buy it right now!
Helpful Score: 1
Cracked Up to Be, by Courtney Summers, is a book about a girl named Parker, who has dropped from the popular ranks among high school students to become a self-made outcast. Or at least, she wants to be. She works hard to keep people from liking her by pushing them away, drinking too much, and failing her classes. But why the change? Although it looks like a lightweight teen romance, Cracked Up to Be is anything but, dealing with serious subjects such as rape, kidnapping, drinking, and suicide. I found it to be an easy read, despite the heavy subjects, and one I was unable to put down until I finished. Summers deals with these difficult subjects well; the writing isn't stiff, stupid or preachy. The characters are developed well enough (for this type of book) and the dialog is realistic. The ending is realistic and satisfying, even though things are left up in the air a bit. I recommend this book only to older teens (or young adults) due to the heavy subject matter and strong language.
Helpful Score: 1
When I picked this book up I was expecting something easy & fun. It was anything but. Although the main character is witty & humorous at times, the more serious issues in the book made it hard for me to laugh. Don't get me wrong it was a great story with some unexpected shockers, just not what I was expecting.
I got an ARC for the book, and it was utterly hilarious. Parker is a main character that you will love due to her sense of humor. Although she tries to cover it up, she does have some serious issues. She was once the most popular girl in school, and captain of the cheerleading squad. She was a perfectionist. Then one day, something happened. She no longer had her popularity. This is when you meet Parker... when she is no longer popular. And readers will cling to the book until her secret is revealed, and why everything lost control.
The ending was a little disappointment, but if a sequel comes out of the book, that might make up for it. Very good book. 5/5 for me, despite the ending, since the book hooked me from the beginning.
The ending was a little disappointment, but if a sequel comes out of the book, that might make up for it. Very good book. 5/5 for me, despite the ending, since the book hooked me from the beginning.
This books was not at all what I expected. Looking at the cute cover, one would assume it to be a laid back, quick, fun, young adult read. Not so much. It is full of suspense, tension, and all kinds of teen angst. From the very beginning you wonder, why is this character so awful? She is horrible to everyone she's around, and it just makes you wonder, why? Well you get little snippets here and there through out the book and when its all put together, you know. And its nothing that I would have guessed. Great book.
This book was not all that it is "cracked up to be". Sure I read it quickly, and I did like the fact that you were slowly learning about her past rather than knowing as you start reading it. Little clues were being pieced and I liked that. There was too much language in this and sexual talk like it was no big deal to anyone, and honestly, it wasn't too realistic to me at all. At least the ending wasn't too bad.
Reviewed by Cana Rensberger for TeensReadToo.com
Parker Fadley was captain of the varsity cheerleading squad. She'd been on the honor roll for the first three years of high school, and Chris, the most popular guy at school, was in love with her, the most popular girl in school. Now, no matter how awful she is to him, she knows he still loves her, but she's not worth it.
Not since the party. Not since her life took a radical one-hundred-and-eighty degree turn.
Her parents have her on a tight leash. Early curfews. Weekly meetings with the guidance counselor. Dinners with sad, yet hopeful eyes turned her way, yearning for a glimpse of the Parker they used to know. Everyone has her on a suicide watch, but nobody knows why. What could have caused Parker Fadley to turn away from everything and everyone?
It's Jake who begins to get under her skin with his unnerving presence and constant questions. How can she possibly be that interesting to him? When Evan comes back to school, she can no longer keep the memories of the events of that night at bay. Whether she wants to or not, she's going to have to find the real Parker Fadley, or risk losing her forever.
The restful cover of CRACKED UP TO BE belies the unrest and turmoil that is Parker. The voice is incredible, similar to that of SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson. Courtney Summers doles out the secrets in small portions, teasing the reader, and when the events of the party are finally revealed with nothing held back, the tension is palpable.
And no matter how many hints Ms. Summers drops, you'll never be able to guess Parker's terrible secret. This debut author is just that good.
Parker Fadley was captain of the varsity cheerleading squad. She'd been on the honor roll for the first three years of high school, and Chris, the most popular guy at school, was in love with her, the most popular girl in school. Now, no matter how awful she is to him, she knows he still loves her, but she's not worth it.
Not since the party. Not since her life took a radical one-hundred-and-eighty degree turn.
Her parents have her on a tight leash. Early curfews. Weekly meetings with the guidance counselor. Dinners with sad, yet hopeful eyes turned her way, yearning for a glimpse of the Parker they used to know. Everyone has her on a suicide watch, but nobody knows why. What could have caused Parker Fadley to turn away from everything and everyone?
It's Jake who begins to get under her skin with his unnerving presence and constant questions. How can she possibly be that interesting to him? When Evan comes back to school, she can no longer keep the memories of the events of that night at bay. Whether she wants to or not, she's going to have to find the real Parker Fadley, or risk losing her forever.
The restful cover of CRACKED UP TO BE belies the unrest and turmoil that is Parker. The voice is incredible, similar to that of SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson. Courtney Summers doles out the secrets in small portions, teasing the reader, and when the events of the party are finally revealed with nothing held back, the tension is palpable.
And no matter how many hints Ms. Summers drops, you'll never be able to guess Parker's terrible secret. This debut author is just that good.
My Thoughts: This was a pretty quick easy read for me. I liked the character of Parker and the whole time I was wondering what exactly her secret was. Why was she acting like such a jerk to everyone even when people tried to be nice and help her out? Why did she go from being popular to this socially outcast person? It wasn't exactly what I was expecting which is good because it threw me for a loop and I don't like to know what is going to happen. I especially felt myself drawn to the character of Jake (does it help that my boyfriend's name is Jake, lol). He seemed like a really nice sweet caring guy and at first Parker was shutting his attempts at going on a date with her down, and I just wanted to them get together already. Overall, this was a good book, and worth reading. Courtney has another book coming out which is called Some Girls Are, so I will be reading that too! (reviewed by Princess Bookie)
