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Tease
Tease
If you gulped through reading or streaming 13 Reasons Why, Tease is the book for you.Provocative, unforgettable, and inspired by real-life incidents, Amanda Maciel's highly acclaimed debut novel Tease...
If you gulped through reading or streaming 13 Reasons Why, Tease is the book for you.Provocative, unforgettable, and inspired by real-life incidents, Amanda Maciel's highly acclaimed debut novel Tease...
Reviews-
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March 10, 2014
Inspired by a real-life case of bullying and suicide, editor Maciel’s debut novel depicts a harsh environment of name-calling, both face-to-face and via social media, and girls policing other girls’ behavior. When new student Emma seems to have eyes for Sara’s boyfriend, Dylan, Sara and her best friend Brielle label Emma a slut. Maciel isn’t telling Emma’s story—she’s telling Sara’s, in sections that alternate between the escalating bullying and the aftermath, with Emma dead and Sara stuck in summer school and her lawyer’s and therapist’s offices. It’s hard to be with Sara as she insists that it’s Emma’s fault, that “No one hung the rope for her,” but as Maciel reveals Sara’s desperate efforts to hang onto a social viability that’s tied to Brielle and Dylan, the pressures of her world become clear. It’s to the author’s credit that she doesn’t make Sara immediately sympathetic, but the end, with Sara moving forward in a way that incorporates what happened rather than denying it, although welcome, feels rushed. Ages 14–up. Agent: Holly Root, Waxman Leavell Literary Agency. (May)■ -
April 1, 2014
Gr 9 Up-Who is responsible when a bullied teen commits suicide? Sara and her friends find themselves embroiled in a legal nightmare after new classmate Emma hangs herself following months of their ruthless harassment. In Sara's mind, Emma was at fault: she stole Sara's boyfriend, so retaliation was fair game, and suicide was an unwarranted overreaction. That the story is told from a bully's perspective adds complexity to this compelling, ripped-from-the-headlines novel. The characters are three-dimensional and nobody is completely right or wrong in this realistic exploration of how bullying-related suicide affects everyone involved. Sara is in denial about her reprehensible actions, and readers who love a flawed character will root for her as she comes to terms with her role in Emma's death. It's clear how easily Sara got caught up in the act of bullying through the influence of her mean-girl best friend, Brielle. The two carelessly indulge in cyberbullying as well as face-to-face taunting, effectively demonstrating how cruelty can seem so simple when there are no immediate consequences. Family bonds and a tentatively blossoming romance play a vital role in Sara's journey to self-awareness. This nuanced look at a controversial topic will keep readers hooked until its satisfying conclusion and makes great fodder for discussion among high school students.-Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA
Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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Ellen Hopkins, New York Times bestselling author
"Horrifying. Satisfying. Remarkable in so many ways. Tease is a brave debut." — Ellen Hopkins, New York Times bestselling author
"Tease masterfully shows that when it comes to bullying, nothing is black and white, no side of the story is the only side of the story, and there are no winners. A compulsive read, and an absolute must-add to all bullying discussions." — Jennifer Brown, author of The Hate List
"Amanda Maciel's timely exploration of bullying pulls no punches. Tease is a bold, hard-hitting and memorable debut that needs to be read and talked about." — Courtney Summers, author of This is Not a Test
"Tease is a book I wish I'd written—shocking, subtle, and emotionally raw." — Katie Cotugno, author of How to Love
"An emotional, deftly paced and heartbreaking first novel." — Kirkus Reviews
"That the story is told from a bully's perspective adds complexity to this compelling, ripped-from-the-headlines novel. This nuanced look at a controversial topic will keep readers hooked until its satisfying conclusion and makes great fodder for discussion among high school students." — School Library Journal
"This powerful and realistic Mean Girls story had us addicted from page one... A thought provoking must-read that haunted us after the last page." — Justine Magazine
"First-time novelist Maciel has done an exemplary job of giving readers a multidimensional portrait of a bully that is psychologically acute and emotionally resonant. Realistic and suffused with truth, Tease is an excellent choice for both independent reading and classroom use." — Booklist
"Riveting page-turner." — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
"The novel enters fearsome territory honestly and will give teenagers a great deal to think about." — Newsday
