nextbestcoast's review against another edition
4.0
This was incredible. I love Del, I love Fred, I love Marvin, I love Livia. All of them. It was amazing.
readingundertheradar's review against another edition
4.0
To begin with, I absolutely loved the fresh idea that Vaught came up with as a story plot. It had me from the description, already making me wonder what happened to Del and what caused him to be a felon. Vaught also wove a wonderful tale together using flashback chapters sporadically throughout the book. They were placed in exactly the right places, sometimes making me angry that it would switch so suddenly back to the present because I desperately wanted to find out what happened when Del was fourteen.
I also loved Del's personality. He was such a great character to watch grow as the story developed, and there were about 6 or 7 different elements in which he did that, making the story line much more complex than a simple felon story. In addition to Del, I also fell in love with Harper, the owner of the graveyard; Marvin, Del's best friend; and Fred, Del's female African parrot. I literally could not get enough of these characters. Marvin was outlandish and weird, and seemed a little bit like my friends at times. Harper was so lovable and an alcoholic, and from the moment Vaught brings him into the story, I wanted to help him and be his best friend. And don't even get me started on the parrot. At first, I was very confused. I mean, a parrot? But it was SO COOL! I ended up loving Fred way too much and the fact that she insulted people in Spanish.
The only character I didn't really like was Livia. She was the only thing I didn't like about this story, bringing my review down from a solid 5 to a 4 stars book. She just wasn't... anything. There wasn't much to her character, and since, from the beginning, she's the girl Del really likes, I just wanted something more from her. But there was no development, no anything to her character really, other than a quick explanation of why she comes to the cemetery. I was just so disappointed with her.
I also really liked how Del's personal story wove in with the legal story. It was so interesting to see his case develop and how he would handle and react to certain things. There were so many different elements to this story, and I really liked them all. Vaught did a wonderful job of weaving them all together without making it utterly chaotic and impossible to follow — everything was just right.
I also loved Del's personality. He was such a great character to watch grow as the story developed, and there were about 6 or 7 different elements in which he did that, making the story line much more complex than a simple felon story. In addition to Del, I also fell in love with Harper, the owner of the graveyard; Marvin, Del's best friend; and Fred, Del's female African parrot. I literally could not get enough of these characters. Marvin was outlandish and weird, and seemed a little bit like my friends at times. Harper was so lovable and an alcoholic, and from the moment Vaught brings him into the story, I wanted to help him and be his best friend. And don't even get me started on the parrot. At first, I was very confused. I mean, a parrot? But it was SO COOL! I ended up loving Fred way too much and the fact that she insulted people in Spanish.
The only character I didn't really like was Livia. She was the only thing I didn't like about this story, bringing my review down from a solid 5 to a 4 stars book. She just wasn't... anything. There wasn't much to her character, and since, from the beginning, she's the girl Del really likes, I just wanted something more from her. But there was no development, no anything to her character really, other than a quick explanation of why she comes to the cemetery. I was just so disappointed with her.
I also really liked how Del's personal story wove in with the legal story. It was so interesting to see his case develop and how he would handle and react to certain things. There were so many different elements to this story, and I really liked them all. Vaught did a wonderful job of weaving them all together without making it utterly chaotic and impossible to follow — everything was just right.
valeriefm's review
4.0
What an intense issue to cover. Really loved Del and the way he processed his trauma. Plus who doesn’t love a parrot named Fred?
wildflowerz76's review
5.0
I have a lot of super cheap or free books for my Kindle. Anything that sounds vaguely interesting, I get. Mostly, this turns out how you would expect: mostly they're fluff and they almost totally are crap. For that reason, I usually read most of these at the gym where it doesn't require a whole lot of concentration or extra thought.
I can say that this one worked for the gym in that it didn't require super brain power (though honestly, that's not an insult by ANY means), but I was very pleasantly surprised at how good this book was! I even found myself tearing up near the end, which was a tad embarrassing as I was running on the treadmill!
I can say that this one worked for the gym in that it didn't require super brain power (though honestly, that's not an insult by ANY means), but I was very pleasantly surprised at how good this book was! I even found myself tearing up near the end, which was a tad embarrassing as I was running on the treadmill!
shelleyrae's review
4.0
Going Underground is a provocative, topical and thought provoking novel exploring the issue of sexting and it's repercussions for one young man. Fourteen year old Del was popular, athletic and planning a career in medicine or law, until the exchange of risque texts with his girlfriend, Cory, blew his world apart. Now a few months shy of his eighteenth birthday, his dreams in tatters, Del is waiting for a chance to reclaim his life.
While media cases have focused on instances where an explicit image went viral, Going Underground approaches the issue from a slightly different angle. Del was 14, Cory a few months younger at 13, when the single explicit photo they took shared only with each other, was discovered after their mobile phones were confiscated during a school camp. However Del was targeted by a self righteous DA whose claims of moral outrage resulted in felony convictions for the dissemination of child pornography and child rape, despite the pair never actually indulging in sexual intercourse.
Going Underground explores how the circumstances have affected Del's life. After being arrested, charged, convicted and serving time in juvenile detention, he was eventually allowed to return to ordinary life but required to attend therapy and remain on probation with strict regulations, until his eighteenth birthday. More damaging however is his lifetime registration as a sex offender, something Del is required to disclose when applying for employment or college and which severely curtails his future plans. With great sensitivity, Vaught explores the simmering emotions beneath Del's facade of resigned acceptance of his fate. While Del has scrupulously adhered to everything asked of him as the end of his schooling approaches, he silently despairs of ever having a future. It is Livia, a girl he meets in the graveyard in which he works, that prompts him to finally acknowledge the anger and fear which has kept him as bound as the terms of his probation.
The serious issues at the heart of this novel are balanced by flashes of humour and light-hearted moments. And while some circumstances may be simplified, the characters, especially Del, are realistically portrayed. I really liked Marvin's character, whose own conflicts are subtly explored and Fred, Del's African Grey parrot has a real presence in the book.
A story suitable for both teens and their parents, Going Underground is well written novel, sensitively exploring a controversial issue. I think it is both entertaining and thoughtful, and a srong contemporary young adult novel.
While media cases have focused on instances where an explicit image went viral, Going Underground approaches the issue from a slightly different angle. Del was 14, Cory a few months younger at 13, when the single explicit photo they took shared only with each other, was discovered after their mobile phones were confiscated during a school camp. However Del was targeted by a self righteous DA whose claims of moral outrage resulted in felony convictions for the dissemination of child pornography and child rape, despite the pair never actually indulging in sexual intercourse.
Going Underground explores how the circumstances have affected Del's life. After being arrested, charged, convicted and serving time in juvenile detention, he was eventually allowed to return to ordinary life but required to attend therapy and remain on probation with strict regulations, until his eighteenth birthday. More damaging however is his lifetime registration as a sex offender, something Del is required to disclose when applying for employment or college and which severely curtails his future plans. With great sensitivity, Vaught explores the simmering emotions beneath Del's facade of resigned acceptance of his fate. While Del has scrupulously adhered to everything asked of him as the end of his schooling approaches, he silently despairs of ever having a future. It is Livia, a girl he meets in the graveyard in which he works, that prompts him to finally acknowledge the anger and fear which has kept him as bound as the terms of his probation.
The serious issues at the heart of this novel are balanced by flashes of humour and light-hearted moments. And while some circumstances may be simplified, the characters, especially Del, are realistically portrayed. I really liked Marvin's character, whose own conflicts are subtly explored and Fred, Del's African Grey parrot has a real presence in the book.
A story suitable for both teens and their parents, Going Underground is well written novel, sensitively exploring a controversial issue. I think it is both entertaining and thoughtful, and a srong contemporary young adult novel.
heykellyjensen's review against another edition
4.0
One of the best books I've read this year, and it's one that would make such a good pairing with WANT TO GO PRIVATE? Del is a fantastic character and the story is heartbreaking. Oh how much I wanted him to succeed. It's rare I love a good character so much and want nothing more for them to succeed, but Vaught was so successful in eliciting these feelings from me as a reader. Does that make me sound crazy? Sometimes you want the good ones to have a rough road, right? This time, I didn't. Because, well, he DESERVED to do well. The world was against him.
Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2011/11/going-underground-by-susan-vaught.html
Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2011/11/going-underground-by-susan-vaught.html
lindzee's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent take on a young man and his future after making a seemingly small mistake. At times, hard to read because of the social issues and the empathy that the main character makes one feel.
jenilyn's review against another edition
4.0
Using a current hot button issue and putting a realistic face to it, is not a new way to come up with a plot, but Vaught makes her characters believable and likable. After an unfortunate incident 3 years ago, 17 year old Del suffers from the results of a ridiculous and over-zealous felony conviction. Frozen by lack of choices, as well as fear of making bad ones, Del struggles to figure out if he even has a future.
While this book does deal with (as already stated) a hot button issue, I didn't feel as if Vaught was writing the book thinking, "ahhh, this can be used in classrooms and children and adults can learn from it and the world will be a better place." This is refreshing and earns the book 4 stars. That being said, the book actually will provoke good discussions and may actually help kids make better choices (just don't sext, kids!)
While this book does deal with (as already stated) a hot button issue, I didn't feel as if Vaught was writing the book thinking, "ahhh, this can be used in classrooms and children and adults can learn from it and the world will be a better place." This is refreshing and earns the book 4 stars. That being said, the book actually will provoke good discussions and may actually help kids make better choices (just don't sext, kids!)
sarahbowman101's review against another edition
4.0
Del is just your regular 17 year old with a felony conviction who works in a graveyard digging graves by hand. Well with a shovel, really. The story line basics are thus: Del was persecuted by an overzealous DA over a mutual and consenting sexting incident several years earlier. This was almost enough to make me not want to read the book, thinking it was going to be Picoultesque.
Del meets a new girl (in the graveyard, duh) who is from out of town and doesn't remember him as the boy from the news. The way the story is revealed makes for fast paced page turning, but also allows the details to emerge as you get to know and care about Del. I thought that this deliberate revelation was done really well. Del is damaged but likeable, and I don't often see such a developed character in a book with a lot of plot. The setting is rural Pennsylvania (I think), and isn't super important.
I thought that this book handled the sexting and conversations about sex in a thoughtful way, but does make up a big part of the book. My one gripe really is with the lack of development of Livia (so wispy! so perfectly broken! so fairy like!) and the ending.
Del meets a new girl (in the graveyard, duh) who is from out of town and doesn't remember him as the boy from the news. The way the story is revealed makes for fast paced page turning, but also allows the details to emerge as you get to know and care about Del. I thought that this deliberate revelation was done really well. Del is damaged but likeable, and I don't often see such a developed character in a book with a lot of plot. The setting is rural Pennsylvania (I think), and isn't super important.
I thought that this book handled the sexting and conversations about sex in a thoughtful way, but does make up a big part of the book. My one gripe really is with the lack of development of Livia (so wispy! so perfectly broken! so fairy like!) and the ending.