Description:

**Who's to blame when bullying leads to suicide? A gripping exploration of crucial importance seeks answers in and out of the courtroom.** After years of abuse from her classmates, Leslie Gatlin decided she had no other options and took her own life. Now her abusers are dealing with the fallout.  When Leslie's parents file a wrongful death lawsuit against their daughter's tormenters, the proceedings uncover the systematic cyber bullying and harassment that occurred. The ringleader of the accused girls, Macie, maintains they are innocent. In her mind, Leslie chose be the coward they always knew she was. Jillian, Katherine, and Beth try to keep their stories straight and shift the blame, as Jake, Leslie's only true friend, tries to make sense of what happened. As the events leading up to her death unfold, it becomes clear that Leslie may have taken her own life, but her bullies took everything else. Told in alternating perspectives and through well-paced flashbacks, this timely novel sheds light on both the victims of bullying and the consequences bullies face. ** ### From School Library Journal Gr 7 Up-This engrossing and timely story begins as Leslie Gatlin makes the decision to end her own life. The rest of the novel is told in alternating points of view by the students who played a part in her decision to commit suicide. This intense snapshot of cyberbullying includes the stereotypical queen bee and her minions, who continually send Leslie messages telling her to kill herself and perpetuate vicious rumors insinuating that she is a slut, has had plastic surgery, and a variety of other hurtful comments. Davis does a passable job of presenting the different voices as the teens' part in Leslie's bullying is unveiled, although she does occasionally include expressions not heard in the halls of a typical high school. He makes up for these small inconsistencies in his characterization of Jake, her one friend, and the fast-paced storytelling that keeps unraveling layers to the mystery surrounding why each person chose to harass Leslie. Without becoming too didactic or unrealistic, the conclusion clearly spells out the message that teenagers should think before they speak or post something. While this offering is not as emotionally powerful as Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why (Penguin, 2007), it certainly deserves its place on library shelves.-Tammy Turner, Centennial High School, Frisco, TXα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. ### Review "This searing page-turner explores the psyches and actions of a group of high school students whose merciless cruelty—and the group is shockingly vicious—drives fellow classmate Leslie Gatlin to commit suicide. A riveting read on an important topic." (Kirkus) "This engrossing and timely story begins as Leslie Gatlin makes the decision to end her own life. Without becoming too didactic or unrealistic, the conclusion clearly spells out the message that teenagers should think before they speak or post something... it certainly deserves its place on library shelves." (SLJ) "The substance of the girls’ narrative contributions and the stories behind each of the undeniably well-developed yet still stereotypical characters make this a compulsively readable melodrama with a timely theme." (BCCB) "This title deals with serious young adult issues, there is no pat ending. This book will appeal to high school students who face similar issues and holds the reader’s attention to the very last page. This title should place the author on the must-read list for all YA readers." **Highly Recommended** (Library Media Connection)