As the days pass, Liz tries over and over to apologize to Kate, but nothing seems to work. Their friends report back that Kate isn't mad at Liz, but then why is she avoiding Liz's calls? Ignoring her in the halls? Not making plans with her? And then Liz hears why at a party - last weekend, while Liz was sleeping upstairs in her room, Kate and Liz's brother Mike kissed.
Furious, Liz confronts Kate. Liz has always told Kate that Mike's off limits - plus, Kate has a boyfriend. But when Kate starts to cry, Liz forgives her, even though Kate won't talk to her about it. To make up for it, Liz shoots down all the rumors at school, defending her forever best. But when Kate is still avoiding her days later, Liz tracks Kate down again - and Kate finally tells her that what really happened. It wasn't just a kiss - and Kate tried to stop it. Liz can't believe it - there's no way her brother, obnoxious and a party boy, but still her brother, would force a girl, especially not his sister's best friend. Would he?
Written in raw, emotional free verse, Liz's struggle to understand and support both her brother and her best friend is heartbreaking and very real. Her world collapses, her parents focused entirely on proving their son's innocence instead of helping Liz prep her portfolio for art school applications. Liz's boyfriend Brian tries to be supportive, but Liz doesn't have any idea how to talk to him about how she feels. All Liz has left to cling to is her beloved camera, but the world behind the lens feels drab and out of focus. Wrenching and honest, readers of Laurie Halse Anderson, Lauren Myracle and Jo Knowles should add Exposed to their list.
Megan
(next up is This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel, a tale of the apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein - perfect for almost-Halloween!)