dreawesome's review against another edition
3.0
The plot twist was predictable. Idk. But it was a fast read. Thumbs up!
emilyanne3000's review against another edition
5.0
Cracked Up to Be was my first experience of reading a book by Courtney Summer’s. I have to say, I will definitely be coming back for more.
Let’s start with Parker. Holy Guacamole, is she a character! I have never, EVER read about a character like this girl, which is a good thing. I am tired of Bella Swan and Katniss Everdeen copycats.
The first thing you should know about Parker is that she treats people like dirt on the bottom of her boot. She just wants the whole world to leave her alone. In other words, she is extremely unlikable, bitter, and mean.
However, you can see how much she is suffering inside. I felt so attached to Parker, and was rooting for her throughout the whole book. There must be so many real people like her out there, and yet we barely ever read about them.
The story is also told in a series of flashbacks. I thought this was an amazing way to get across the feelings of pre-suicudal Parker. Also, the flashbacks added some oomph to the novel.
The ending of the novel was so amazing. While the ending is not quite a happy ending, it leaves the reader in hope of one. It was also a fulfilling ending, and when I read the last sentence, and put the book down, I felt as if I had just finished a race.
Overall, I cannot recommend Cracked Up to Be highly enough. The writing is realistic and gritty. The characters do not feel fictional. Why not pick this book up?
Let’s start with Parker. Holy Guacamole, is she a character! I have never, EVER read about a character like this girl, which is a good thing. I am tired of Bella Swan and Katniss Everdeen copycats.
The first thing you should know about Parker is that she treats people like dirt on the bottom of her boot. She just wants the whole world to leave her alone. In other words, she is extremely unlikable, bitter, and mean.
However, you can see how much she is suffering inside. I felt so attached to Parker, and was rooting for her throughout the whole book. There must be so many real people like her out there, and yet we barely ever read about them.
The story is also told in a series of flashbacks. I thought this was an amazing way to get across the feelings of pre-suicudal Parker. Also, the flashbacks added some oomph to the novel.
The ending of the novel was so amazing. While the ending is not quite a happy ending, it leaves the reader in hope of one. It was also a fulfilling ending, and when I read the last sentence, and put the book down, I felt as if I had just finished a race.
Overall, I cannot recommend Cracked Up to Be highly enough. The writing is realistic and gritty. The characters do not feel fictional. Why not pick this book up?
veronicahoffman's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
segza's review against another edition
4.0
Courtney Summers has an incredible talent to convincingly and I think authentically portray the motivations and thought processes of her characters. I look forward to reading her other books.
milscour's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bexreid's review against another edition
3.75
Parker was the overachieving perfect, popular girl until she cracked after a traumatic event pushed her over the edge. And when she cracks, she does it so spectacularly putting the same amount of effort in as she previously put into being perfect. Knowing this was Summers’ debut, I didn't expect it to be as well plotted and written as her most recent books, and it wasn't, but it's still solid. Overall this is a convincing and compelling story of the pressures of living up to your own expectations even more so than those of others.
booktrunks's review against another edition
5.0
I have so much to say about this book, and I desperately want to say all of it, but I will try to pair it down! This is maybe my favorite book I have ever read. To me, this was a book about a girl with trauma and a school system that was blatantly failing her. Parker is a girl who resorted to whatever it takes to be left alone. Working with behavior and discipline in education, I can say how accurate the school's poor reaction was, and I can also say that I have seen Parker's behaviors in so many of my students who are hurt and untrusting. This book had a lot to say about how us adults try whatever techniques on students to "help" them when we are obviously trying to find a quick solution to "fix" them in reality, and how much students can tell when this is happening. I was so angered to see how the adults had Chris and Becky playing a part in Parker's success in education, and just how many times her confidence and privacy was violated. This was a series of people feeling like they had the right to Parker and her thoughts, and how much that was affecting Parker's ability to live her day to day life.
In all seriousness, this book hit me on a very deep level. I work with "bad kids" and students who get in trouble everyday, and it is so easy to see how our actions can make kids/teens feel broken and pointless, it's heartbreaking. What made this book go all the way for me was how intentional my favorite aspects of the book felt. Summers put a voice to such an important topic and I'm getting emotional now just thinking about it! I'm so happy to have read this book, and I truly believe that if all educators were to read this, it would cause a lot of self reflection and growth. I, of course, highly recommend to literally everyone, and will be thinking about this book for many years to come.
In all seriousness, this book hit me on a very deep level. I work with "bad kids" and students who get in trouble everyday, and it is so easy to see how our actions can make kids/teens feel broken and pointless, it's heartbreaking. What made this book go all the way for me was how intentional my favorite aspects of the book felt. Summers put a voice to such an important topic and I'm getting emotional now just thinking about it! I'm so happy to have read this book, and I truly believe that if all educators were to read this, it would cause a lot of self reflection and growth. I, of course, highly recommend to literally everyone, and will be thinking about this book for many years to come.
carlylwbug's review against another edition
4.0
It is really hard to rate this book. It had great character development but I hate the whole "popular" people as main characters. I probably sound pretty emo saying that but I wish there had been more diversity. I think what happened to Jessie was anticlimactic just because of the way this story was going with the flashbacks, there was only a limited amount of things that could of happened to her and this author just happened to pick the most predictable closing. I could relate to Parker with the anxiety attacks and those sort of things she had but I hope I will never lose it like she did because that would be a disaster.