Modern Monsters by Kelley York

Vic Howard never wanted to go to the party. He’s the Invisible Guy at school, a special kind of hell for quiet, nice guys. But because his best friend is as popular as Vic is ignored, he went…

And wished he hadn’t.

Because something happened to a girl that night. Something terrible, unimaginable, and Callie Wheeler’s life will never be the same. Plus, now Callie has told the police that Vic is responsible. Suddenly, Invisible Vic is painfully visible, on trial both literally, with the police, and figuratively, with the angry kids at school. As the whispers and violence escalate, he becomes determined to clear his name, even if it means an uneasy alliance with Callie's best friend, the beautiful but aloof Autumn Dixon.

But as Autumn and Vic slowly peel back the layers of what happened at the party, they realize that while the truth can set Vic free, it can also shatter everything he thought he knew about his life.

My Thoughts:
I was really wary about this book. It's about rape. The book starts out at a party and shortly after that we learn that a girl was raped. So I was expecting some graphic details and disturbing imagery and lots of drinking and drugs and cursing. But there wasn't. Kelley York handled this subject so incredibly well. We hear this story from the perspective of the boy who is accused of raping the girl, but he's innocent. So we see what happens to him as a result of being wrongly accused and how this storyline plays out with police and reporters and kids at school and friends. It's heartbreaking. And enlightening. And beautiful. And, mostly, it's hopeful. Yes, horrible things happen. Yes, there are terrible people in the world. And there are good people who make awful mistakes. But we can gather ourselves up again and keep moving, keep going, find happiness. Especially for being such a serious subject, this book was actually really uplifting that way.

I loved Vic's voice. He was such a sweet, kind, just all-around good guy who gets put through so much crap for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I just wanted to reach into that book, wrap my arms around him and protect him. He felt like he needed protecting. Especially with the whole mother storyline which, btw, I totally guessed from the beginning and she just made me hate the world. Her and the father. Seriously, every scene she was in, I was kind of annoyed by the way she treated everything. Made me mad. And sad.

Then there was Autumn. I liked Autumn as a character, as a loyal friend, as the fiesty girl that she was. Which was why I didn't fully understand the connection she made with Vic. I just didn't see that happening naturally. It made the story, for sure, but I just didn't think it would have actually happened in a real-life situation. That's all.

The end of this book broke my heart. I saw it coming and it was still tragically sad. I really did just want to jump in there and protect Vic. That poor guy. But this book was lovely. Tragic and realistic and hopeful. I loved it. Thank you, Kelley York for handling such a delicate subject so carefully and tastefully. I will definitely read more by this author.

Sexual Content: Mild (amazing, considering the entire premise of the book!)
Language: Moderate
Drugs/Alcohol: Mild
Violence: Moderate

Why I Read Mostly YA, As an Adult

I get it, I totally do! I'm 29 and I'm still reading Young Adult fiction? That's kinda odd....right? I mean
shouldn't I be reading "adult" books, fit for my age, and maturity? Something with more depth that will build the mind, restore order to life, and feel like I accomplished something amazing so that I will be able to talk in certain circles about the meaning of life and what I have found in the heavy in depth study books for adults?

No.

Instead as a mother of 2 (and more to come....someday), wife of a police officer, church goer with responsibilities there, plus my own photography business. So when I want/need to relax I want to escape, go on an adventure and read something brainless, silly, enjoyable, fluffy. Pure cotton candy or as I like to call it, my "junk food" books.

I want, no, NEED fluff books. I need that time out. When kids are napping and I am in a "cleaning slump" I just want to relax, enjoy the peace and quiet and just read something light and fun.

Are all YA books you read considered, "fluff books?"

Actually, no.

There are YA books that do have depth, the can make me cry, or laugh, that draw on those emotions just as well as any "adult" book out there. There are YA books that can make me think and see a bigger better picture that can be uplifting and inspiring. Not all YA books are about sparkling vampires and over hormonal teens who can't see beyond high school and their drama.

But I choose to read these books because I want something easy, something that doesn't require my mind to focus on the intellectual ramblings of someone, or the depressing eras of the past and the struggle to live.

NO! Send me to a place where I am a demi-god, where I can go to a world within my own and wave a wand to defeat evil, send me to a space ship destined for lands unknown, make me laugh while inside the mind of an 11 year old boy, just let me GO!

But you can GO to all these places in classics by Tolkien, Stevenson, Sabatini, and all those great writers! Yeah, so what?! I know their stories and they are great! but sometimes they are wordy and currently I don't want to have to wade through all the extra words to get back to the main story.

Do I ONLY read YA? No, I LOVE real life survival stories where I am fascinated with how one survived in war, abuse, torture etc. I do! I love those type of books and I do read them! They are just not my "go-to" genre right now in my life. I love a good religious doctrinal book...on Sunday :) when I want to focus on the spiritual aspects of things. But these are when I'm in the mood for something heavier.

And THAT is why I read YA. At this point I just want fluff. Give me my cotton candy book and I am content. Who knows maybe I will grow out of it! But for now I am content.

Peace out...