On Self-Reflection and SADIE

I grew up watching crime shows.

At my house, Thursday nights were reserved for another episode of Law & Order: SVU. Fridays, there was Dateline. Countless others played across my television screen over the years, but those two have always stuck out for me. The former, because I remember when I stopped watching it. I was just entering high school and every time I watched it, I started to feel uncomfortable. I began to realize how easily I could be one of the women in those stories. Dateline remains memorable because I still occasionally watch it, often relaying the shocking details in conversations later on, discussing all the terrible and horrific things that happened in the episode. Usually, these terrible and horrific things happen to women.

I've been wanting to read Sadie since before it had a title. I remember reading the rights announcement years ago and immediately texted my best friend about it. When I had the opportunity to read an early copy, thanks to a generous friend of mine, I jumped at the chance. I had waited all these years and I didn't want to wait a single moment longer.

Sadie isn't Dateline.

There are a number of reasons that Sadie doesn't fall into the same category as Dateline. But, one of the main difference, for me at least, was that in all my years of watching Dateline, it never once made me question my consumption of violence.

Sadie did that on page seven.

Sadie opens with West McCray on his podcast "The Girls" and we're introduced to Sadie's story, and that of her late sister Mattie's. As he is setting the scene of Mattie's death, West states that the "gruesome details...will not be a part of this show." I remember reaching that moment and pausing, thinking to myself "wait...they won't?" I had been bracing myself to read them, part of me anticipating just how horrible it was going to be. He continues, explaining that "its violence and brutality do not exist for your entertainment." It was like a slap in the face. Because wasn't that what I was just doing? Waiting for the violent death of a girl to be part of my entertainment. Anticipating its brutality in some sort of grim excitement?

It's hard to admit that you've been part of, and perpetuated, a system that uses violence against women as entertainment. 

I thought I knew better.

I didn't.

Sadie made me question my role in this commodification of violence in just one. single. line. That's the power of a novel like this. I don't know what it says about me that it took a fictional portrayal of violence for me to truly question my role in this commodification. Maybe it's because I've always been able to see myself, see the world, more clearly in books. Maybe it's because I looked externally at how others viewed violence as entertainment, and didn't turn the lens on myself. Maybe it's because I never really had to think about it. In the end, it doesn't matter. In the end, this book reminded me of how insidious our society's obsession with dead girls, with violence can be. Even though I have talked openly and repeatedly about this obsession, I can still be a part of the system that perpetuates it. It was a sobering reminder that my learning is never done.

After I read Sadie, it took me a full week to talk to anyone about it. It wasn't because of this internal revelation, but rather, because I felt my words were not enough. I still don't think they are. I feel lucky yo have been able to read Courtney Summers books for so many years. To grow with them as a reader and a person. To have had them there for me to learn from.

I want to say Sadie is one of the best books I've ever read (and it is) but it's more than that. Sadie is compelling. It is devastating. It is unforgettable. It is unforgettable.

Sade is in stores September 4th, and you can pre-order it at any of the fine retailers below. I hope you do.

I grew up watching crime shows. I still watch them. But, I'll look at them through a new lens now. And I have Sadie, and Courtney Summers, to thank for that.

- Ciara (at Midnight)

PRE-ORDER SADIE

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Book Depository

Chapters/Indigo

IndieBound

Don't forget to check out the podcast "The Girls: Find Sadie" wherever you listen to podcasts!

ALL THE RAGE APRIL: Why All the Rage Matters To Me

(Apologies in advance, this post is a bit all over the place.)

I've been thinking about this post all month. What was I going to say that hasn't already been said? How was I going to contribute to this conversation?

I've seen so many wonderful posts from brilliant women about rape culture and the importance of All the Rage and books like it, it's hard to know how to add my voice. I decided to tell a story, a personal one, that I always think about when it comes to rape culture. 

It happened a few years ago, but it has always stuck with me. I was leaving a party, and grabbing the friends I had come there with to head out. When I found one of my friends, a guy we both knew had his legs laid across her lap. I knew what kind of guy he was, and my warning bells went off right away. I turned to my friend though and told her we were heading out. 

She never got a chance to respond.

The guy jumped right in, telling me that she was going home with him tonight. I bristled. I didn't like him speaking for her or how trapped she looked. She was speaking for her, he was practically on top of her, and he wasn't letting her say anything. So, I told him simply that I wasn't talking to him. He kept pushing it, though. Kept telling me to go, they were fine. This wasn't my business. I told him no, it sure as hell is my business that if she told me she wanted to stay, that's fine, but I was hearing it from her. Not him. We went back and forth a bit, getting pretty heated until another guy, one I'd never met before, jumped in.

"Stop being a cockblock." He told me. 

He didn't stop there.

"You're just jealous you don't have a guy." He laughed. 

So did the guy on the couch.

So did other people at the party.

I don't remember everything he said, although those lines stuck in my head particularly well. But I remember how it felt and, I'm not going to lie, it hurt. I felt ashamed. Embarrassed. Like I was being attacked for speaking my opinion. That maybe I was just being making a big deal out of nothing.

But I also felt angry as hell.

If you've ever seen me angry, it isn't a pretty sight. And this guy knew really quickly that I wasn't going to take his words and back off. I let the guy have it. I try not to swear on this blog, but I'm sure you can imagine the curses I was hurling at him. I told him he wasn't involved in this. I told him he need to back off. He didn't, of course. But neither did I.

While we were in this heated exchanged, my friend ran out of the room. I followed a few minutes later and she told me simply that she wanted to go home. The guy followed me, and looked at me in disgust and anger when I told him she asked to go home. I'm sure he didn't believe me. I sure as hell didn't care. On the way home, my friend and I were crying. Because she hadn't known how to say no. And I had been attacked for trying to let her.

And I was alone. No one else was standing up and saying anything. They let me be degraded like that, and laughed along with them. All because I was trying to protect my friend. I didn't know the people at that party, so I can't tell you what they were thinking. But, I do know this: what happened was rape culture in action. One guy thinking his wants trumped consent. Another thinking a girl's voice should be silenced. And a whole group of people ignoring how wrong the situation was because it was acceptable to them. 

It's not acceptable.  

I'm a thinker. And writing this post had me looking back on all those experiences I've had that could've ended up worse. It dragged up memories of nights out dancing with strong hands on my arms, bodies against mine, a gentle 'no' turned into an invitation to convince me otherwise. One of those nights, after a particularly bad experience with a guy, I left the club alone, something I absolutely never do. I think back about how lucky I am that he didn't follow me.

Why do we think of it in those terms? That I'm "lucky" the guy that held me against the wall, and kept me there despite my protests, didn't take it further? That I'm "lucky" the guy that followed me off the bus didn't follow me all the way home? That I'm "lucky" I was okay all those times I came home late at night alone?

I shouldn't be lucky. I should be safe. Girls should be safe.

But we live in a society that doesn't protect us. That tells us we are less. That our bodies are up for public scrutiny and debate, and what we do with it isn't always our decision. It's hard to not feel defeated at times. Because if you ask a girl, they will give you stories like mine, too often unimaginably worse. Sometimes you just want to scream at the top of your lungs, because how is this still happening? Why haven't we changed?

But, then there's books like All the Rage. They bust open the door on the conversation about rape culture, and how girls are treated. About all the ways society can kill girls. These books are pivotal, vital, and so so needed. Books create empathy and understanding, and create a dialogue on subjects that are sometimes hard to discuss. We have to have this conversation, because we can't keep treating girls like this. It's needs to stop. 

It's why I try to champion books like All the Rage. Because if maybe, just maybe, everyone reads this book, things would start changing. It would foster understanding and anger and maybe people would finally get what women have been telling them for years. I truly think books like All the Rage are going to make a change. 

I really hope they do.

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)   

ALL THE RAGE APRIL: Guest Post by Jess from Read My Breath Away

Hello, all!

We're down to are last few days of ALL THE RAGE APRIL! I can't believe how fast this month has flown by! If you missed any of the wonderful posts this month, check them all out here.

Today on the blog, I have another one of my fellow Ottawa Bloggers (y'all are incredible, just sayin), Jess from Read My Breath Away, talking about how society fails girls. Check out her post below:

When Ciara asked me if I wanted to write a post for this wonderful celebration of Courtney Summers and All the Rage, my first thought was about all the ways in which we as a society tend to discredit and abandon young women when they need us most and how, while we most definitely do it with our actions, it's almost more dangerous the way we do it with our words.

Think about any news article you've ever read about a sexual assault/abuse case wherein the victim was a young woman. Now think about the kind of language that was used by anyone discussing that case. Look at the words used within the article, in the comments (because we all know the internet rule "DON'T READ THE COMMENTS" and yet somehow we all find ourselves drawn to that fiery rage pit anyway, don't we?), and in outside discussion on the news or talk shows or on social media. There may be a few things that stick out.

Things like: Questions about the girl's behaviour - what was she wearing, was she drinking, was she alone, did she say no?

Things like: are we sure this is true, did she make this up, is she lying?

Things like: she probably wanted it, I bet she liked it, she was asking for it. 

And if the girl is lucky enough to see some sort of justice served against her attacker, we see things like: that poor boy, he had such a bright future ahead of him, this is going to follow him around now, how unfair for him. 

What are we saying to young women if this is how we talk about sexual assault? What are we doing, teaching them that this is how you react when a girl tells you that she has had this wrong committed against her? Why are we turning young women against each other, teaching them to turn their backs on one another and leading by example? Why are we telling our girls to keep their mouths shut because if you speak, your options boil down to being branded a liar or being blamed for your own abuse?

Here is where I say thank god for Courtney Summers. For Courtney Summers and for the other incredible people who write about and speak out for our girls. Thank god for books like All the Rage because it asks all these questions I'm asking. When you read that book, it gives you a glimpse into the life that girls are now suffering through because of the way our society treats them. And it makes you mad. It makes you care. It makes you want to stand up and demand that these things change. It makes you never want to let another stupid comment about a girl in this heartbreaking position fly ever again.  And if more people read books like All the Rage, more people would think twice before blaming a victim or defending an abuser. With every person who refuses to engage in that kind of behaviour, we are one step closer to saving our girls.

On what I thought was a very appropriate note, here is basically a visual representation of my internal reaction to the kind of things people say when girls dare to speak out about a wrong done against them (and what I wished I could actually do more than once while reading how people responded to Romy in All the Rage):

http://sweetdreams-mylove.tumblr.com/post/108472667266/minimalistfish-hawkgirl-in-the-impala

I'd just like to end on this: we MUST stop blaming the girls. We really need to shut up and listen to them, support them however we can, and lift them up when they need it most instead of making things even harder for them. We have a long way to go, but remember that even just being aware of how you're responding when talk about these issues comes up can make a difference. Read All the Rage and books like it. Gain that perspective. And let's stand with the girls, instead of against them. 

Thanks for the amazing post, Jess! (And for that gif set which will forever pop into my head now when I'm angry).

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight) 

ALL THE RAGE APRIL: My Review of All the Rage

Hey all!

Welcome back to ALL THE RAGE APRIL! *tosses confetti* 

We had a bit of an unexpected break yesterday because I got caught up in my take-home exam and couldn't finish writing my review. I got up extra early today to work on it though, and it is done! SO! Here is me, attempting to put how I feel about All the Rage into words (no doubt rather unsuccessfully).

Title: All the Rage

Author: Courtney Summers

Publisher: Griffin Teen

Release Date: April 14th 2015

Source: Borrowed ARC

My Rating: 5/5

The sheriff’s son, Kellan Turner, is not the golden boy everyone thinks he is, and Romy Grey knows that for a fact. Because no one wants to believe a girl from the wrong side of town, the truth about him has cost her everything—friends, family, and her community. Branded a liar and bullied relentlessly by a group of kids she used to hang out with, Romy’s only refuge is the diner where she works outside of town. No one knows her name or her past there; she can finally be anonymous. But when a girl with ties to both Romy and Kellan goes missing after a party, and news of him assaulting another girl in a town close by gets out, Romy must decide whether she wants to fight or carry the burden of knowing more girls could get hurt if she doesn’t speak up. Nobody believed her the first time—and they certainly won’t now — but the cost of her silence might be more than she can bear.　

With a shocking conclusion and writing that will absolutely knock you out, All the Rage examines the shame and silence inflicted upon young women after an act of sexual violence, forcing us to ask ourselves: In a culture that refuses to protect its young girls, how can they survive? (Summary from Goodreads)

Oh man, how am I supposed to review this book? I'm not going to lie, I've kind of been avoiding it. Writing reviews about books that I love with a burning passion and that I think are so incredibly important is really hard sometimes. And I'll never be able to put into words how amazing this book is.

I've been a Courtney Summers fan for five years now. And after having her books pushed on me (thanks bestie!) I try to push them on everyone I can. When my friend Emilie told me she was getting an ARC of All the Rage, I flipped out. And then, when she brought it for me, I flipped out some more. But, I didn't read it right away. In fact, I had the book for four months before I read it. Some of that was school related, but a lot of it was nerves. I never doubted how brilliant it was going to be (even though Courtney, once again, passed my already ridiculously high expectations) but because I could already tell how important it was going to be. There's something special about all of Courtney Summers' books, but there was something extra about this one. Reading All the Rage felt like tapping straight into the mind of Romy Grey, but also into the larger conversation happening about rape culture. I've probably said it a million times already, but I'm saying it again: All the Rage is a book that needs to be read.

I've talked about it time and again but Courtney Summers' writing is phenomenal. She uses sparse prose that packs a punch in every line. It's lyrical and poignant and never fails to make me cry and ache and hope. Her writing grabs you instantly and demands to be read. You have to feel these stories in your bones and sometimes, well, it hurts. I read All the Rage in almost one-sitting (I went to bed in between) because I simply couldn't let it go. Once you're in this story, Courtney's writing makes sure you are in it to stay. The story itself is impacting, but Courtney's writing brings it to an entirely other level of power.

As for the story itself, it is a heart-breaker and absolutely anger-inducing. Bullying has been something featured in Courtney's books before, and it is always just so gut-wrenching. Because it's realistic. And that's what's frightening about her books, All the Rage in particular. This horrific account happens to girls. All the time. This bullying, this victim-blaming, shaming, and humiliating happens all across the world. It's so hard when reading this book not to toss it in frustration at all the horrible people doing such horrible things. Just like it's hard when you see real-life stories similar to Romy's on the news that make you want to quit this world. All the Rage is a hard read. But, it's also an incredibly important one. All the Rage can change lives. We desperately need more books like this and more writers as incredible as Courtney Summers.

I always have trouble talking about the protagonist in a Courtney Summers' book. Not because I don't fiercely love them (cause I do) but because they're always hard to describe. And I love that. I love how they show all their strengths and weakness, their flaws and their powers everything that makes them who they are. I think Romy is just incredible. There's no other way to describe it. She shows that bravery can be holding your head up when everyone is trying to push it down. And she shows how deeply rooted trauma can go and how hard it can be just to keep moving forward. But she does. I am so proud to have been able to meet her on the pages of this book. Because she is, truly, incredible. 

Basically, just go read the book cause I'm still having trouble putting into words how much I loved her.

If you've read a Courtney Summers book before, you'll know parents aren't really a feature in them. All the Rage was different. I asked Courtney about it during our Q&A because it was something I loved about the book. Because Romy had absolutely incredible, real, parents. They offered her unwavering support, even when they didn't know exactly how to handle the situation. Because parents aren't perfect. They don't always know exactly what to do or how to handle everything. They're just as human as their kids. But it's the parents, like Romy's, that provide unshakeable support and encouragement that are so damn incredible. I loved reading about Alice and Todd because you could just feel the love they had for Romy pulsing from the pages. They believed her, they loved her, and they made sure she knew. It was one of the things I loved so so much about this book.

When I finished All the Rage I was numb. I actually sat in my room for like an hour, not moving, only texting my bestie and holding the book. I wanted to read it again. I didn't want to let go of the story. I also just flipped to page one and start it again (although my heart was like UH CIARA TOO MUCH PAIN ALREADY NO MORE). I wanted to grab hundreds of copies of this book and just hand it out on street corners (I still do, actually). Because this is a book that should be read by everyone. And, really, there are so many things to love about this book. I'll never be able to describe everything that's amazing about it, or how important I believe it is. Even now, as I'm telling myself to stop writing, there's so many other things I want to say. I'll never be able to say it all.

I hope this month has convinced even one more person to read this book. I hope that if you're reading this you have picked up/will pick up this book. Because it's that good. And it's that important.

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight) 

Find This Book: Amazon | Chapters | Goodreads | The Book Depository | IndieBound

ALL THE APRIL: Guest Post by Indigo from Adventures in YA Fiction

Hello, lovely readers!

Welcome to another day of ALL THE RAGE APRIL! Today on the blog, I have the wonderful Indigo from Adventures in YA Fiction talking about reading Courtney Summers for the first time. Check it out!

All the Rage was my first Courtney Summers book. Now, when I admitted this to a bookish friend, I swear to god I thought she was going to either slap me, or pass out in front of me. For so many, Courtney is such a staple in their YA library, but for some reason I just hadn’t gotten around to reading any of her books. But for some reason, there was just something about All the Rage that I knew it would be special. And even though Romy’s story is hard hitting and raw, and so very real, I think that it’s Courtney and her fantastic story telling that made it so special.

While I knew All the Rage was going to be special, I was still nervous that maybe the subject matter wouldn’t be conveyed properly. It was a real fear of mine, and I had no idea what to expect going into it. But I was so happy when I read that first chapter. From those first few pages, I could tell that Courtney was not in the business of telling a cliched story, or writing something that could be tossed aside. No, she was going all in. I got the impression that no matter what, if Courtney was going to tell this story, she was going to tell it right.

One thing that really stuck out to me, was Courtney’s use of minimalistic, simple sentences. These were the ones that packed such a punch, I had to put the book down for a minute. Her lines and her words had nails as sharp as Romy’s and were unforgiving and raw and just so, so captivating. I am so used to being torn apart by poetic and detailed books, and I just wasn’t expecting to be hit so hard with these simple lines.

I think that’s what really hit me hard - the fact that I had no idea that it was coming. I had no idea how hard this book would hit me, or that I would still be thinking of Romy and her story almost a month later. I will only ever read a Courtney Summers book for the first time once, and I’m so glad that I got to read All the Rage. This woman slayed me with her words, and I just loved every minute of it. And now I'm just waiting till summer so that I can read the rest of her books! - Indigo

Thanks so much for your awesome post, Indigo! I think All the Rage is such a great one to start with. And you have so many amazing books in your future!

Stop by tomorrow when I try to put into words why I loved All the Rage!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

ALL THE RAGE APRIL: Guest Review by Meaghan from Feeling A Little Bookish

Hello, everyone!

Welcome back to ALL THE RAGE APRIL! If you missed any of the posts from this month, check out the master list here! There have been so many incredible posts this month, and I'm truly grateful for everyone that has participated.

Today, my friend and fellow Ottawa Blogger Meaghan from Feeling A Little Bookish is here with a very personal guest review of All the Rage! I hope you'll check it out!

Title: All the Rage

Author: Courtney Summers

Publisher: Griffin Teen

Release Date: April 14th, 2015
Source: Borrowed ARC

Meaghan's Rating: 5/5

The sheriff’s son, Kellan Turner, is not the golden boy everyone thinks he is, and Romy Grey knows that for a fact. Because no one wants to believe a girl from the wrong side of town, the truth about him has cost her everything—friends, family, and her community. Branded a liar and bullied relentlessly by a group of kids she used to hang out with, Romy’s only refuge is the diner where she works outside of town. No one knows her name or her past there; she can finally be anonymous. But when a girl with ties to both Romy and Kellan goes missing after a party, and news of him assaulting another girl in a town close by gets out, Romy must decide whether she wants to fight or carry the burden of knowing more girls could get hurt if she doesn’t speak up. Nobody believed her the first time—and they certainly won’t now — but the cost of her silence might be more than she can bear.　

With a shocking conclusion and writing that will absolutely knock you out, All the Rage examines the shame and silence inflicted upon young women after an act of sexual violence, forcing us to ask ourselves: In a culture that refuses to protect its young girls, how can they survive? (Summary from Goodreads)

**Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault**

First of all, thank you Ciara for hosting me today on your blog. Where do I start with this book? I think I should mention that before this book I was a Courtney Summers book virgin. That's right, I had never read one of her books despite Ciara raving about all things Summers. This book had all the makings of a first time. It was uncomfortable at times but it was so worth it. It was such a good read with such a good theme.

The narrative of this story is one that will make you uneasy reading about. It is about a girl who is raped and about the fallout of this rape. It is also about a missing girl and how these two events collide dramatically. The book is ripe with bullying and slut shaming. I had a very difficult time reading this book because most of the characters you encounter in this novel are so horrible. Romy is bullied because she confides in someone that she was raped. The person who raped her is far more popular than Romy and as a result she becomes a social pariah. People treat her horribly and she is ostracized. Romy feels shame, anxiety, and loneliness all because someone decided to take what wasn't his. He decided that his need to overpower someone was more valuable than their self worth and sense of security.

I can relate to this book is some ways more than others but it was very touching. When I was in university I was date raped. It was not the violent, pin you down kind of date rape that is commonly depicted. At the time, I thought that this made a difference. Despite being violated and despite feeling paralyzed and numb I thought that it was my fault. That I could have somehow stopped it. That I should have fought back more, been louder. I thought that because I was stupid enough to go back to his house after one date and fool around with him that I sent mixed signals. That my 'no' somehow looked like a 'yes'. I am a smart, educated woman who heard all the time that rape is not the victim's fault yet I still blamed myself. Did I report the incident? I sure didn't. I felt ashamed and didn't tell many people at the time. I didn't allow myself to cry after that night and even now I speak about it rarely. So, why take a paragraph to write about this in a book review?

I think that women cannot hear it enough that it is not the victim's fault. So many women and girls who find themselves in this predicament blame themselves and worry about the fallout. This book highlights how difficult it is to be honest and open about sexual assault. It showcases that there are still major changes that need to take place in our society. Why do we pick apart women for what they wear, for how they may have acted? Why do the perpetrators of these crimes seem more believable? Changes need to happen because they are not happening soon enough.

I think this a book that both boys and girls should read. It's heartbreaking to see Romy go through her healing process. This book doesn't try to gift wrap everything up with a nice bow. It's gritty, raw and poignant and needs to be in the hands of all teens. Let's be serious, I think most adults should read this book too. I will be reading more of Courtney Summers this much I know for sure. This is a definite 5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you, Meaghan for your brave post. I think it's really important to keep this conversation open, and I appreciate that you were willing to tell your story.

Stop by tomorrow for a guest post from another first-time Courtney Summers readers!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight) 

ALL THE RAGE APRIL: Q&A with Author Courtney Summers

Hello, all!

We've had a bit of a break here for ALL THE RAGE APRIL but we're back with an extra special post! Today, I have a Q&A with Courtney Summers, author of All the Rage!! I am so dang excited!

Wanna hear a funny story about this? I actually asked Courtney to do a Q&A TWICE before this, but I got too nervous and never sent questions. Being the gracious and amazing person she is, Courtney, once again, agreed to do a Q&A for ALL THE RAGE APRIL and I actually sent questions this time. It was terrifying and nerve-wrecking (not gonna lie) but I did it. And now here they are! And without further ado:

Q&A with Author Courtney Summers

Lost at Midnight Reviews: It’s your fifth book release (well, six if you include What Goes Around)! What has been the most exciting part of the build-up this time around?

 

Courtney Summers: It's hard to believe I'm five books in! Wow. All the Rage was so difficult for me to write, more difficult than any of my other books--which is not to say my other books were easy to write, because they were difficult in their own ways--so just knowing it's going to be out there, that it's going to be read, has been the most exciting part of the build-up. I spent such a long time with it, and I'm so proud of it, that it's a really nice feeling to let it go and give it to readers.

LM: One of the things I’ve always admired about your novels is how realistic and honest the stories and characters are. Why do you think it’s so important to write novels that don’t sugar-coat realities girls face?

 

CS: Thank you so much. When you write, I think you have to be as honest as possible and you also have to be aware of what your work is adding to the larger conversation. I write about uncomfortable and difficult topics--from girl-bullying, suicide, depression, rape culture--and if I sugar-coated them to make it a more comfortable reading experience, I would undermine my work and much, much worse than that, I would be undermining the experiences of real girls. I want girls who are going through the things I write about to feel less alone--not lonelier. I think sugar-coating those kinds of topics would be at the expense of the reader. I never want to do that.

LM: All the Rage appears to have gone through some major changes since the rights announcement. What would you say was the hardest part of this story to capture?

 

CS: It really has changed! It's hard to think about earlier drafts because they were so different. I think really getting in Romy's head, into her hurt and her anger, was the hardest part. The earliest drafts really focused on plot more than the emotion, and I always do better when I'm focusing on a more emotions-based narrative. It was hard to get Romy to open up to me. Once I was able to capture who Romy was and what she was really feeling, things started falling into place.

 

LM: Another thing I loved about All the Rage was that Romy had a solid, imperfect support system in her mother and Todd. Why did you think it was important to include that in this novel?

 

CS: Thank you! I have to admit, I'm used to writing about girls who are determined to deal with just about everything they're going through on their own. Romy isn't different in that regard, but she is so incredibly isolated, far more than all my other protagaonists, that I knew I need to balance that out with some parental figures who were supportive and made that known to her as much as she needed to hear it. I also wanted to further drive home the social structure of Grebe. Alice and Todd  believe Romy whole-heartedly, and are there to help her, but even though they're adults, they're at the mercy of the same town politics and unfair power balance that Romy is.

 

LM: I have a lot of thoughts about the significance of the red nail polish (the English major in me went pretty overboard with the analysis)! What would you say is so important about the nail polish and lipstick for Romy?

 

CS: I'm glad to hear that! The nail polish and the lipstick are armour for Romy, but they're also one of the few ways she can control her own narrative. When she puts on the lipstick and nail polish, she is directing the way people look at her--if only for a moment. They see the red, before they see past it to her trauma. And if they are unaware of what happened, they don't see it at all. 

 

LM: I thought about wanting to hand this book out on street corners after I’d finished it! Is there any place you would like the hand All the Rage out to people?

 

CS: That is so kind of you to say! :) I don't have any specific places in mind--I just hope the book finds its readers, especially those who might need it. 

 

Thank you so much for stopping by the blog, Courtney!

 

You can find Courtney Summers on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and Instagram and visit her author website!

 

Readers! If you haven't picked up All the Rage yet you NEED TO! You're going to love it (and have your heart ripped to shreds by it). 

 

Also, if you missed the incredible, worldwide trending (!!!) #ToTheGirls campaign yesterday, check out the tag on Twitter. It's moving and inspiring and just incredible!

 

Find This Book: Amazon | Chapters | Goodreads | The Book Depository | IndieBound

 

Stop by tomorrow for another fabulous guest post!

 

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

ALL THE RAGE APRIL: Guest Post by Siobhan from Conversations of a Reading Addict

Hey, readers!

Welcome back to ALL THE RAGE APRIL! Today on the blog, I have a lovely and moving post from Siobhan from Conversations of a Reading Addict about bullying and the power of books. As someone who was bullied as a kid, I really related to this post. I hope you guys will read it!

Courtney Summers is one of those authors that transcends genre. Although they are classified as contemporary, they reach more than just that audience. In this post today I wanted to share my personal experience with Courtney’s books and how they affected me.

Bullying is something that the characters in Courtney’s books and I have in common, I have always been overweight, I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t. When I was small I never really noticed the difference between me and other kids, until one day someone pointed it out. I remember his name to this day. Kastrel. I took the school bus with him, I was in middle school at the time, and he would call me all kinds of names. One of his favourites was Titanic. His taunts were daily, and in front of everyone, including my friends. Some might say, why didn’t they help you? Well it’s more complicated than that, I never let it get to me. At least I tried. No one really knew how much those words affected me. Until one day it went too far. I was on the playground, minding my own business when Kastrel came up behind me, pushed me to the ground and sat on me, telling me that the Titanic needs to give him a ride. It is by far one of the most embarrassing experiences of my life, which is probably why I still remember it to this day, almost 20 years later. It was at that point that I cracked and told my mother, she tried to get the school involved but they never did. So she told me to do something that I think all children should learn to do. Defend yourself, however you feel the most comfortable. So the next day when he came at me again, I did what my mother told me to do. I defended myself by punching him in the face. The school ultimately tried to suspend me, but my mother went all HELL NO on them and instead Kastrel got expelled.

Although I stood up for myself, and that in essence made me feel good, it left an everlasting scar on me. One that no one can see, even to this day. Every time I would look in the mirror, especially in high school, I would see the Titanic. This haunted me for years. It made me question everyone around me. I was jealous of friends hanging out without me, thinking they were talking about me behind my back.

And that lead to me losing my best friend for over a year. And it was when I read Some Girls Are while I was in university, that I understood that maybe I wasn’t alone. And maybe what happened to me was something to give me strength. Some Girls Are changed my life. What I felt for Regina, was what I was feeling for myself. I hated the way I looked, I hated what others saw in me, and I hated that I did nothing to stop it. Bullying is a silent killer, something that hides in the shadows and gets to you when you least expect it. Like when all your friends have boyfriends in high school and you are the odd one out, and you know why. It was very hard for me. I wore baggy clothes, hid behind concert t-shirt and jeans. I wore black eyeliner and died my hair black, green, blue etc. I listened to heavy metal and screamo music. It was almost as if I was drowning out the girl inside. And that didn’t change until I reached university, and I was introduced to Courtney’s writing.

In university I found…well…me. I shed caution to the wind and decided fuck this shit, I am a big girl and I am going to own it. So I took away the makeup and the weird hair colors (I kept the music for a bit) and decided to try and find the real me. And wouldn’t you know it, it changed my life. I met new people, I was happier in general because I stopped caring. I was happy and that was enough. To this day I still struggle with my image, but I no longer see the Titanic in the mirror, I see Siobhan and I want to thank Courtney for showing me that I am not alone in this world. That we need to talk about these things because bullying and topics such as rape and abuse need to be taken as seriously as ever. Because the victims deserve to be treated with as much respect as anyone else. My story is not as severe as most. I do not claim to know their struggles, but I have had my own and they have shaped me into the woman I am now, and I am proud of her. She is strong, independent and sure of herself. Something I never thought I would be in my life. - Siobhan from Conversations of a Reading Addict

Thank you, Siobhan, for your heartfelt post. I appreciate it so so much. 

ALL THE RAGE APRIL will be off for a few days! In the meantime, make sure to sign up for the #ToTheGirls Thunderclap! 

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight) 

ALL THE RAGE APRIL: Why Early Readers Loved All the Rage!

Hello, once again!

I hope everyone had wonderful Easter Weekend! ALL THE RAGE APRIL is back and today I have some lovely early readers talking about why they loved All the Rage. There are so many reasons to love and appreciate this book. It's one of the best books I've ever read. But don't just take my word for it! Here are some lovely peeps on why they loved All the Rage!

By the time I read ALL THE RAGE, I had already read all of Courtney Summers books. I binge read most of them one weekend which, if you’ve read Courtney’s works, you would know how emotionally draining such a task can be from the witty, humourous lines to the heartbreaking moments. These books dig inside you not because of the great prose or admirably complex characters but because of the topic they all share. Women are silenced every single day. We’re silenced physically by being asked to occupy as little space as possible in public - cross your legs. keep them closed - or through the threat of sexual violence (you were asking for it). We’re told to not make out presences known (don't be so loud and boisterous. you're a LADY) or opinions heard (shut up u dumb BITCH!). This culture has even caused women to help tear each other down (ugh you slut). What’s terrifying about this culture is the little ways we’re silenced or policed (don't go out at night. don't go anywhere by yourself. don't get raped) and how much we internalize it as the norm. While Courtney Summers’ other books have dealt with these issues, they haven’t called out society in the visceral way that ALL THE RAGE does. They don’t pull apart the systematic, institutional and social binds that make being a woman a disadvantage, a crutch in life.

There’s a moment in the book where Romy hopes that the baby that’s being born isn’t a girl because of the difficulties that will could bring that child based on their sex/gender identity. The most powerful stories are the ones that need to be told and are told well. This book is both. I hope you pick this up, feel all the rage before putting that rage into your everyday life to make sure that tomorrow is better than today. 

 - Ardo Omer, @ardoomer

There's more ways than one to kill someone's spirit and I love that in All the Rage we get to see the battlefield Romy fights on to keep hers alive. All the Rage is a realistic, painful story about rape and rape culture and grief and growth, loss and gain, and so many things and it's all so wonderfully executed. All the Rage is honest and unsettling and embodies everything that makes this one of the most powerful, possibly the most powerful book I will read all year. Thank you, Courtney. 

- Melody Simpson, @melodysimpson

It is a heartbreaking and honest story. Showing the truth of victim blaming.  

- Emily Britton, @MagnifiedPlaid

 

One of my biggest fears, in addition to internal parasites, falling off of an impossibly tall building, and having to wear corduroy pants, is being silenced.  Being forced to do something without any regard for my thoughts or feelings.  This, along with Courtney Summers' amazing writing and frightening realistic characterization, is what made All the Rage grab my heart and give it a good twist.  Last year, the son of the local sheriff raped Romy at a party.  Far from being helped to heal, Romy is branded everything from a liar to a slut.  She's forced to internalize the shock and horror and complete inhumanity of what happened to her.  To keep the myriad ways her classmates torture her to herself because God knows no adult will believe her.  She was, after all, asking for it.  

Romy says that she's a dead girl.  Her murderers are legion: not just the boy who raped her, but the justice system that preferred prejudice over truth.  Classmates that want a victim, not a saint.  A parent who tried, but whose efforts weren't good enough.  I cried as I read of Romy's unceasing torture and pain--not just because I am afraid of being silenced, but because I know that there are millions and millions of girls out there in Romy's place.  Or worse.  And they might not ever have a chance to speak out.  Listen to them.  Listen to us, to the girls.

- Pamela Penza, @PamelaJean0 

Have you read All the Rage? What did you love about it? Let me know in the comments! ALL THE RAGE APRIL is off tomorrow but we're back on Thursday with a lovely guest post!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight) 

ALL THE RAGE APRIL is here! (+ GIVEAWAY)

HELLO LOVELY READERS!

Welcome to ALL THE RAGE APRIL! *tosses confetti* *happy dances* 

I'm so excited to finally launch the feature that has been bouncing around my head for a good long while. I truly believe that this book should be read and talked about by everyone, and I'm happy to get to spend a month telling you why.

So, how is this month going to work? ALL THE RAGE APRIL will feature a bunch of different guest posts (thank you in advance all you lovely peeps!) some spoiler-filled discussion post of All the Rage (all spoilers will be marked, I promise) a couple of reviews and maybe (possibly) a Q&A! And, I hope, lots of interesting comments by you lovely readers!

I also want to take this time to highlight the campaign Courtney has put together for the launch day of All the Rage. It is called #ToTheGirls and it's all about telling girls out there that they matter. You can tweet about girls that have inspired you or talk about why it's so important to hear girls stories or, really, whatever you want! I will be spending a lot of my time April 14th on Twitter talking about this important campaign, and I hope you will too.

Read more about the campaign here and join the Thunderclap! 

To celebrate the launch of ALL THE RAGE APRIL, I'm giving away one pre-order of All the Rage for a lucky reader! Enter through the Rafflecopter form below (and be sure to read the rules!)

Giveaway Rules:

- Must be 13 years or older (if under 18 must have parental consent).

- US/Canada ONLY (apologies, international peeps! I hate having to restrict it but Book Depository is being weird and I want to make sure it goes through!)

- Not responsible for lost or damaged prizes (sorry!)

- I reserve the right to disqualify as I see fit (aka don't fake entries pretty please!)

- Fill in the Rafflecopter form to be entered!

The giveaway will last from NOW until April 6th at 11:59pm!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget! If you pre-order All the Rage (or win this pre-order!) you can sign-up to get one of Courtney Summers' backlist titles FOR FREE.

If you miss any of the posts this month, I'm going to be using this page as a master list with links to all the different things going on.

Announcement

Day Two: Why Do People Want to Read All the Rage?

Day Three: Guest Post with A.C. Dillon
Day Four: Why Do Readers LOVE All the Rage?
Day Five: Guest Post by Kim from Pingwing's Bookshelf
Day Six: Guest Post by Siobhan from Conversations of a Reading Addict
  Day Seven: Q&A with Author Courtney Summers
Day Eight: Guest Post by Kathy from A Glass of Wine
Day Nine: Guest Post by Emilie from Emilie's Book World
Day Ten: Guest Post from Susanne 
Day Eleven: Guest Review from Meaghan at Feeling A Little Bookish
 Day Twelve: Guest Post from Indigo from Adventures in YA Fiction
Day Thirteen: My Review of All the Rage
Day Fourteen: Guest Post by Jess from Read My Breath Away 
Day Fifteen: Guest Post by Kelly
Day Sixteen: Why All the Rage Matters to Me 

Thanks for stopping by, all! Up tomorrow, why readers want to pick up All the Rage!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight

Announcing: ALL THE RAGE APRIL!

Hello, awesome people!

You guys probably all know how much I love Courtney Summers. Her books are some of the best out there, and I want to put them on everyone's radar. A little over a year ago, I hosted the Courtney Summers Read-Along and had always planned to host another one when All the Rage was released. But, I decided to do something a little different this time around. So! May I present....

Yep, that's right. For the entire month of April, Lost at Midnight Reviews will be hosting guest posts, discussion posts, even a Q&A (!!!) all about All the Rage by Courtney Summers. This is a book you need to read, guys. It explores so many important and relevant themes with gutting writing and powerful characters. This is a book not to be missed, and I hope you guys will stop by during April to see why!

The thing is, I NEED YOUR HELP! Are you excited to read All The Rage? (You should be). Why not drop a couple lines about why in the comments and be featured in an upcoming post! Have you read All The Rage? Feel like writing a guest post (doesn't have to be long) about why you loved it? Why you thought it was important? Send me an email at bookslostatmidnight@gmail.com and let me know!

Have any other ideas you feel would work for this month? Send me an email! I'm happy to listen to everyone's ideas!

I hope you guys are excited as I am! And make sure to pick up All the Rage when it releases April 14th! (OR pre-order your copy now and receive a copy of one of Courtney Summers' backlist titles!)

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)