Unfortunately, this is a question Alex repeatedly asks herself throughout the novel Bitter End. Since her mother's mysterious and tragic death, as a child, Alex has felt separated and unloved by everyone around her. Now, even as a teenager, Alex still faces the same loneliness from her family and feels as if she's a nobody. When she describes her friends, Bethany and Zack, she defines them as determined and sanguine. Do you want to know how Alex describes herself as? One word, invisible. Unlike Bethany and Zack, everyone around her seems not to notice her. However, when the new student, Cole, transfers to Alex's high school, she becomes the center of his attention. He tells Alex that he loves her, something that nobody else had ever told her...
When Alex meets, she immediately crushes on him, but because he is handsome, popular, and on the basketball team, she believes he, like everyone in her family seems to act, will act as if she's invisible. However, Cole instantly shows interest in Alex by visiting her at work or by admiring her poems. His friendliness touches Alex because she had never felt appreciated from anyone except from her two best friends, Bethany and Zack. When Cole becomes her boyfriend, all is blissful and perfect until Cole becomes jealous of Alex's relationship with Zack. At first, it seems cute that Cole gets a little envious, but as the days go by, Cole becomes more possessively hostile of Alex. It soon becomes out of hand when Cole hits Alex. Instead of breaking up with Cole, Alex blames herself for his anger and becomes a victim of an abusive relationship. This abusive relationship takes a toll on Alex's life in the way that she forgets and fails her best friends multiple times, her work performance falls, and her family relationships become more strained than usual. It comes to a point that Alex has to choose over the "love" of her abusive boyfriend or truly living and accepting a life without Cole. What will she choose?
2012 Best Fiction for Young Adults pick, Bitter End, by Jennifer Brown, is a must read for middle and high school students because it shows that no one should be subjected to harmful treatment, whether from a boyfriend/girlfriend, a family member, or a friend. Through Alex's high school character, students will be able to relate to her "invisible" character that only wanted to be loved. Readers will see that they have always been cared for, even when it seemed like the people around them didn't notice them, they have always been loved and cared for no matter what, like Alex. Even if students cannot relate to the "loneliness" Alex felt, they will still be able to comprehend that when another classmate or a family member feels or acts like Alex acted, they should show their love and support because feeling cared for will help the abused person get through their situation. Likewise, students will also be able to witness the physical and emotional violence that Cole controlled Alex with and understand the stages that an abused person goes through. As saddening as this novel is, it is also eye opening. Through its horrific details of the treatment Alex endured, students can understand that love is blind during times of abuse, but that they must never blame themselves and let him or her go. They will also comprehend that the world does not end if they do not stay in those abusive relationships (if they ever encounter one). The insights that Alex thinks throughout the novel teaches students not to believe that they will be embarrassed, laughed at, or turned away from when they ask for help because your family, friends, and even co-workers are there to always lend a hand.
Bitter End is a novel that should be allowed to teach at, preferably, high school level, even though students in middle school do start dating, but because of such an early age, I don't consider middle school too potent of an age for that type of abuse. Students in high school are more likely to understand Alex because high school is the age where students find themselves seeking belonging, even in relationships that can produce abusive consequences. Likewise, this book explores, not only the effect on the victim, but the effect it has on the people around the abused person. The relatable feelings of belonging, struggles, effects, as well as the complexity of Alex's character, are circumstances that high school students endure in some way, and that is why this novel by Jennifer Brown is perfect fit for young adults.
7 comments:
This book highlights several critical aspects of life in general. Feelings of belonging in which we experience as early as 5 yrs old are a natural part of life.I think it's suitable for any teenager in high school to read. I also believe these sort of books that deal with forms of abuse are great for students who are not ready to to talk to someone. I honestly think that young literature focuses much attention on prominent issues such as abuse for the simple fact, that some students need help admitting to themselves it happens and it's okay to speak up and tell someone.I wouldn't mind letting my younger nephews and nieces read something like this as they enter into high school soon!
Safa
I really enjoy the serious and eloquent tone that you take with this review. The hyperlinks you use perfectly suit the subject matter. I can imagine an abused lover reading this review and having the ability to instantly find help (if they're willing to acknowledge it).
I can agree that middle school might be a little bit young for a novel like this, but high school seems like a perfect fit. I think the statistics for domestic abuse seem to be pretty high. If they don't experience it first-hand, students are likely to encounter friends or family members that are in abusive relationships. That empathy that this novel provides is a huge help, I would think. It opens a great discussion about pride, community, and loyalty, all of which make for great critical thought in the classroom. Nice work!
Thanks David, I really feel that high school students can take a lot from this book. I loved reading it for several reasons. Thankfully, I have never been in an abusive relationship, however, even though that is the primary subject of the novel, there are several other issues that the main character faced as well. And Safa, I totally agree. I feel that young adult novels tackle this sort of isolation or abuse. These books try to reach out to young adults and let them know that they can look for help because what they are going through, whether verbal/physical abuse or neglect, its not right.
Ditto, Janet, nice job here! I think your beginning is especially strong. Maybe just do some editing for spelling and phrasing (hostile is misspelled above), and maybe condense your ending into 1 or 2 paragraphs instead of 3? But overall, nice job--sounds like a great book, maybe for 8th graders too (I'm thinking with all the emphasis on bullying in middle schools, this might be a great text to use with 8th graders who are a step away from the fuller challenges of adolescence).
Thanks for the comment Professor Philion, however, I can't edit the blog :( For some reason, when I go back to the edit section, it doesn't give me access to this novel. So if you Professor, or anyone that can help me, please do :)
Never mind, finally got through to editing it. Thanks for the suggestions again Professor :)
I agree that this is a book with content that will be especially helpful for high school students. So many teens start relationships and do not know how to handle jealousy and abuse. It is sad to think that the person that you love the most is abusive and controlling. Adults often do not think clearly when it comes to love, so a novel like this can hopefully help teens to think more clearly and learn to love themselves.
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