Book Review: Social Suicide by Gemma Halliday

Title: Social Suicide

Author: Gemma Halliday

# Of Pages: 277

Publisher: Harper Teen

Publication Date: April 24, 2012

Source: Library

Level: Young Adult

Rating: 4 Hearts

Synopsis

(From back of book)

TWITTERCIDE: [twi-ter-sid]:

THE KILLING OF ONE HUMAN BEING BY ANOTHER WHILE THE VICTIM IS IN THE ACT OF TWEETING.

Call me crazy, but I figured writing for the Herbert Hoover High Homepage would be a pretty sweet gig. Pad the resume for college applications, get a first look at the gossip column, spend some time ogling the paper’s brooding bad-boy editor, Chase Erikson. But on my first big story, things went . . . a little south. What should have been a normal interview with Sydney Sanders turned into me discovering the homecoming queen- hopeful dead in her pool. Electrocuted while Tweeting. Now, in addition to developing a reputation as HHH’s resident body finder, I’m stuck trying to prove that Sydney’s death wasn’t suicide.

I’m starting to long for the days when my biggest worry was whether the cafeteria was serving pizza sticks or Tuesday Tacos. . . .

My Verdict

After finishing the first book in the series, Deadly Cool, I wasn’t sure if I was going to continue on with the series or not. I decided to give the second book a go and ended up enjoying it more than the first!

While technically, Social Suicide is the sequel to Deadly Cool, it could also stand on its own. The author does a quick recap of everything that happened in the first book  (which is annoying if you just finished it) but for those who haven’t, I’m sure it’s nice. However, the recap isn’t even necessary because this book deals with a new mystery all its own.

I had some of the same issues with this one as I did with the first, which is the overly stereotyped high school characters, and the portrayal of Hartley’s mother as “Smother.” While other things improved, this one wasn’t as sexual or demeaning towards a certain stereotyped group.

I loved getting to know main characters Hartley, Chase, Sam, and even Kyle a little deeper as they worked together yet again to solve another school murder. One of my favorite things about these books is Hartley and Chases relationship. They are simply two friends who want to be more than friends but neither of them are going to make the first move. Hartley’s sarcasm and Chase’s wit make for some pretty awesome banter between the two.

Another thing I love is the mystery! Hartley sort of reminds me of a modern day Nancy Drew, who despite all the red flags and warnings will walk into any situation in search of the truth. Most of the times it’s like, seriously your going to go meet someone at midnight in a dark deserted park?!? But if you can get past stupid decisions like that, it’s easily enjoyable.

My one big complaint is that the ending was eerily similar to the ending of the first book.  Like really similar, to the point of disbelief. I just hope the next book takes a more unique approach to a different ending. One thing’s for sure, I can’t wait to see where Hartley and Chase’s relationship goes!

Book Review: Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

Title: Deadly Cool

Author: Gemma Halliday

# Of Pages: 320           

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date: October 11, 2011

Source: Purchased

Level: Young Adult

Rating: 4 Hearts

Synopsis

(From Amazon.com)

First I find out that my boyfriend is cheating on me. Then he’s pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And now he’s depending on me to clear his name. Seriously?

As much as I wouldn’t mind watching him squirm, I know that he’s innocent. So I’m brushing off my previously untapped detective skills and getting down to business. But I keep tripping over dead bodies and I’m still no closer to figuring out who did it. And what’s worse: all signs seem to point to me as the killer’s next victim.

I really need to pick a better boyfriend next time.

My Verdict

I’m finding this review rather hard to write because as much as I enjoyed this book, I also had some major issues with it. It was a fun, page turning mystery that I devoured fairly quickly, yet I also felt like it was very disrespectful and almost mocking about certain subjects. 

What I did like:

• The main character, Huntley
• The lightheartedness, for a murder mystery
• You get sucked right into the mystery
• You feel as if you’re trying to solve the mystery right along with Huntley, Sam and Chase.
• It was unpredictable and kept you guessing the whole time as to who the killer was.

What I didn’t like:

• Extreme stereotyping
• Crude sexual references & humor
• Demeaning view of chastity
• Namedropping (watched American Idol, Castle, Biggest Loser; listened to Daughtry) This drives me crazy!

When it came to the characters, aside from main character, Huntley and her best friend, Sam everyone else was super stereotyped.

• Josh- gorgeous boyfriend who is really a cheating, lying, jerk
• Chase- dresses in all black with chains hanging from his pants, and has black hair which falls over his gray eyes.
• Kevin- tree hugger, life going nowhere older brother of her best friend.
• School Grief Counselor- has no life and is essentially a cat lady.
• Mother- portrayed as a smothering, overprotective, addicted to yoga, tofu eating “parental unit”
• Color Guard Girls- Members of Chastity club, super perky, blonde hair, life is all pink, purple and sparkles.

The whole Chastity club part of the book was a pretty big deal, which is actually where my biggest quarrel lies. There were times the author almost seemed to be making fun of those who have made the decision to stay chaste. She portrays these characters as unrealistic, hypocritical, and a little nuts. Now you may not agree with a decision but that doesn’t mean you have to write a whole book that makes fun of it.

I was torn whether or not I should read the next book for fear it might have the same demeaning quality about it, but at the same time I really want to see where Huntley’s life goes from here. I guess I’ll give it a try and see how things go…