THE TRUTH ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL
By Penny Taub  | |
Seniors text messaging each other in their high school English class in Calhan, Colorado. By |
Some things never change about High School.
Girls and petty jealousies.
Jocks and sexual desires.
And RUMORS.
So what happens when a gossipy text message goes
viral? IN THE TRUTH ABOUT ALICE by Jennifer Mathieu, that is exactly what
happens, and it has nothing to do with the truth, but retaliation by the
stereotypical jock.
This small town is
filled with small-minded people.
Teachers. Who hear
no evil?
Parents. Who see
no evil?
Friends. Who speak
no evil?
And Alice. Who
burrows into a hoodie, hoping it will provide a shield from all the hatred or
at least make her invisible. Deserted by her best friend, Alice walks the long
hallways alone, in self-imposed isolation. This is a big fall from being one of
the most popular girls in school.
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Roaring Brook Press (June 3, 2014) |
SEX 2015 STYLE
Despite the
cliché, this is a powerful gripping novel. The story poignantly reveals two new
factors occurring in USA High Schools in the 21 century. Texts messages spread
rumors instantly to everyone.
Plus, the “slut” factor has dramatically changed.
In the 1970’s any girl who let a boy cop a feel was a slut, intercourse was
pretty much a super big no-no. But, 2015 teens think sex, a hand job or
blowjob, or intercourse, are not a big deal. In order to ruin Alice’s
reputation, she is deemed a slut by a new standard. It’s okay to have sex with
a boy, BUT sex with TWO boys, in one night, that’s a big no-no. That lie
destroys Alice shallow popularity and makes everyone cringe in horror.
Alice is bullied
and tormented, and none of the adults, teachers or parents, try to find out the
truth. No one worries, if it’s true, maybe Alice was raped? One held her down,
while the other one raped her and then it was his turn. Everyone turns a blind
eye to what really happened to Alice. That night. At the party. Up in the
bedroom.
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| https://rinj.org/ |
RAPE CULTURE USA
This book touches
on another important reality making headlines across college campus and high
schools: the importance of sports, especially football and basketball. The
administrators overlook the follies of these young athletes. These students
receive preferential treatment on and off the fields. The unspoken rules:
everything’s legal, just don’t get caught. But if you do, we’ll cover it up.
Athletes rape woman with immunity, without any fear of reprisal or prosecution.
Today’s society continues a long history of sexually exploitation against
females. The dismal reality of rape
culture: 1 in 5 girls are raped; by someone they know, at the end of a date.
Add alcohol to the equation and the number increases. And only 5% come forward
to report the attack. It’s time for
woman to SPEAK UP and end rape culture.
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Tulane University: New students check their ID cards; June 29, 2011BY Flickr Commons |
This book is a
must read for High School and College teachers and administrators, as well as
parents, to understand the stark and painful reality of girls and boys walking
the hallways of education. What are high school and college students really
learning?
