cover screenshot by K. Reyes 4/2021
Bibliographic Information:
- Title: Something Happened to Ali Greenleaf
- Author: Hayley Krishcher
- ISBN: 978-0593114117
- Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin Teen Publishing
- Copyright Date: 2020
Genre / Format of the Title: Realistic Fiction [book]
- Subject tag/trigger warning: rape
- 2021 RISE: A Feminist Book Project List Selection
- Reading age : 14 +; Lexile measure: HL490L; Grade level : 9 - 12 (Lexile.com., n.d.)
Plot Summary:
Ali Greenleaf is a naive junior with a huge crush on Sean Nestle, the school’s soccer team captain. Blythe is the most popular girl, part of the tight clique of popular girls called The Core Four who rule the school and she is Sean's best friend. But one night, during a party, a very drunk Ali is sexually assaulted by Sean. Blythe befriends Ali and finds out that they share something in common: an absent mother and a long-held adoration bordering on obsession with Sean. But everything unravels as Ali grapples with what happened to her and comes to term with the fact that she was raped. Now she has to decide how to move on with life and how to find the strength to face the perpetrator and the one whom she knows colluded to gloss over the truth.
Ali Greenleaf is a naive junior with a huge crush on Sean Nestle, the school’s soccer team captain. Blythe is the most popular girl, part of the tight clique of popular girls called The Core Four who rule the school and she is Sean's best friend. But one night, during a party, a very drunk Ali is sexually assaulted by Sean. Blythe befriends Ali and finds out that they share something in common: an absent mother and a long-held adoration bordering on obsession with Sean. But everything unravels as Ali grapples with what happened to her and comes to term with the fact that she was raped. Now she has to decide how to move on with life and how to find the strength to face the perpetrator and the one whom she knows colluded to gloss over the truth.
Author Background:
Hayley Krischer has been a journalist for more than twenty years. This book is her first novel for young adults and draws heavily from her own personal experience with sexual assault. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two children. She has another YA book called The Falling Girls coming out in October 2021. She regularly writes for NYTimes, Marie Claire, New York Times Magazine, and The Atlantic (Krischer, n.d.).
Hayley Krischer has been a journalist for more than twenty years. This book is her first novel for young adults and draws heavily from her own personal experience with sexual assault. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two children. She has another YA book called The Falling Girls coming out in October 2021. She regularly writes for NYTimes, Marie Claire, New York Times Magazine, and The Atlantic (Krischer, n.d.).
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Critical Evaluation
Something Happened to Ali Greenleaf is such a powerful story because it explores the complicated relationships and connections victims have with the ones who have violated them. The rape culture is still prevalent and education and open discussion is the best way to combat this problem. This book is told from the perspective of the victim as well as the person complicit in the crime. We can clearly read the personal conflict each character experiences and we are as entangled in their complicated loyalties and alliances that make it difficult to realize the depravity and atrociousness of Sean Nestle’s behavior. The book also tackles not only the short term but also the long term effect that sexual assault has on the lives of its victims, many of whom don’t realize that they themselves are suffering because of it. This book also explores the parent-child relationship and the importance of friendships in surviving trauma.
In the end, rape is about the abuse of power and its victims always face an uphill battle to be believed. The book explores the multi-layered and complicated feelings people have about themselves. It portrays victims as complicated and conflicted and perpetrators as manipulative and intentional. Characters like Blythe, who are complicit in the violence are also complicated and damaged. This in no way excuses their behavior but it does give the reader some sympathy for all the characters except for the perpetrator.
Something Happened to Ali Greenleaf is such a powerful story because it explores the complicated relationships and connections victims have with the ones who have violated them. The rape culture is still prevalent and education and open discussion is the best way to combat this problem. This book is told from the perspective of the victim as well as the person complicit in the crime. We can clearly read the personal conflict each character experiences and we are as entangled in their complicated loyalties and alliances that make it difficult to realize the depravity and atrociousness of Sean Nestle’s behavior. The book also tackles not only the short term but also the long term effect that sexual assault has on the lives of its victims, many of whom don’t realize that they themselves are suffering because of it. This book also explores the parent-child relationship and the importance of friendships in surviving trauma.
In the end, rape is about the abuse of power and its victims always face an uphill battle to be believed. The book explores the multi-layered and complicated feelings people have about themselves. It portrays victims as complicated and conflicted and perpetrators as manipulative and intentional. Characters like Blythe, who are complicit in the violence are also complicated and damaged. This in no way excuses their behavior but it does give the reader some sympathy for all the characters except for the perpetrator.
Creative Use for a Library Program:
Consider purchasing multiple copies of this book and have it available for reading groups as well as have it as part of an educational display in April for Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention month using resources available in the RAINN website (RAINN.com, 2021).
Consider purchasing multiple copies of this book and have it available for reading groups as well as have it as part of an educational display in April for Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention month using resources available in the RAINN website (RAINN.com, 2021).
Speed-Round Book Talk or Short Book Trailer:
Ali is so in love with the most popular, good-looking soccer team captain, Sean Nestle that she’ll do anything for him. Blythe is the most popular girl who, as the senior, is now in charge of the initiation that’s supposed to give freshmen girls power over boys who only see them as objects. But one night will change everything and everyone.
Ali is so in love with the most popular, good-looking soccer team captain, Sean Nestle that she’ll do anything for him. Blythe is the most popular girl who, as the senior, is now in charge of the initiation that’s supposed to give freshmen girls power over boys who only see them as objects. But one night will change everything and everyone.
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation:
If books like Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson consistently make the banned book list, this one will easily make it to the top. This book involves drug use, strong language, rape, and a graphic description of sexual assault early in the story. There is no question to this reader that Ali was raped but the story revolves around how the characters react and respond to this violent act. Censorship will not remove the issue of sexual assault but talking, reading about it, and bringing this topic to light is educational and necessary. The ALA Library Bill of rights states that we librarians must provide resources that are informative and enlightening for the entire community of library users (American Library Association, 2020).
Reason for Inclusion:
We need more awareness and education on sexual assault and the rights of victims. This book is one more voice in the #MeToo movement and we need all the voices heard.
If books like Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson consistently make the banned book list, this one will easily make it to the top. This book involves drug use, strong language, rape, and a graphic description of sexual assault early in the story. There is no question to this reader that Ali was raped but the story revolves around how the characters react and respond to this violent act. Censorship will not remove the issue of sexual assault but talking, reading about it, and bringing this topic to light is educational and necessary. The ALA Library Bill of rights states that we librarians must provide resources that are informative and enlightening for the entire community of library users (American Library Association, 2020).
Reason for Inclusion:
We need more awareness and education on sexual assault and the rights of victims. This book is one more voice in the #MeToo movement and we need all the voices heard.
Click on this image to connect to RAINN's website w/ state specific resources.
REFERENCES
American Library Association. (2020, September 25). Library Bill of Rights. Advocacy, Legislation & Issues. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill.
Krischer, H. (n.d.). Writer. Hayley Krischer. https://www.hayleykrischer.net/.
Lexile.com. (n.d.). Find books at the right level. Lexile Framework for Reading. https://hub.lexile.com/find-a-book/book-details/9780593114117
Penguin Teen. (2020, October 6). New fall books: Something happened to Ali Greenleaf. We are YA [Audio Podcast]. https://anchor.fm/we-are-ya/episodes/New-Fall-Books-Something-Happened-to-Ali-Greenleaf-eklfg0
RAINN.org. (2021). Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. RAINN. https://www.rainn.org/saapm.
Krischer, H. (n.d.). Writer. Hayley Krischer. https://www.hayleykrischer.net/.
Lexile.com. (n.d.). Find books at the right level. Lexile Framework for Reading. https://hub.lexile.com/find-a-book/book-details/9780593114117
Penguin Teen. (2020, October 6). New fall books: Something happened to Ali Greenleaf. We are YA [Audio Podcast]. https://anchor.fm/we-are-ya/episodes/New-Fall-Books-Something-Happened-to-Ali-Greenleaf-eklfg0
RAINN.org. (2021). Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. RAINN. https://www.rainn.org/saapm.
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