The Mockingbirds

Quick Plot: Alex, a Junior, is date raped at a coed boarding school. She opts not to tell anyone, (because of course the teachers wouldn't actually handle the problem, and no one wants police involvement) but instead allows her problem to be handled by: 1. her merry band of close friends, and 2. the schools unofficial honor society, The Mockingbirds.

I'm going to say right off the bat that I have issues with this book. The subject matter is so incredibly serious, sensitive, and frankly-- I think-- inappropriately handled. I understand that the author was date raped in college, I get that this kind of stuff is not at all limited to college campuses... I know that it is a topic that should be discussed, openly and honestly with young men and women so that they understand their rights, and the recourses of action open to them. I think Ms. Whitney was attempting to write a warning for young women to ease awareness and create a champion of justice for these types of situations-- I just don't think it was done particularly well for a few reasons. 1. The setting she chose was a high school, not a college. Why would this matter? Well it does, because in high school there are laws regarding minors that would come into play here. 2. It also matters because there is no high school teacher that thinks their students dukie smells of roses-- it's unrealistic to paint that portrait. (and kind of insulting to those teachers who have to deal with our powder-keg teenage youth) 3. It would also be illegal for a teacher to keep the knowledge that one student raped another to herself. Suggesting to teenagers that might find themselves in a situation wherein they should talk to the police, or at the very least an adult, that they should turn to an internal body to deal with something as serious as date rape-- or mutilation-- or bigotry, and that justice for that action could be quitting the water polo team, or some other extra curricular embarrassment is irresponsible. Date rape may be embarrassing, but it is not an embarrassment. It's an illegal action, and a kid who does that to another kid should be arrested, at the very least.

I only hope that teenagers who read this, read it for the fantasy that it is and don't try to emulate it in some way. Honor codes are great, but this concept is for the birds. My understanding is that there is a sequel coming soon. I hope this time Ms Whitey decided to do something where there is actually questionable recourse of action-- such as cyber-bullying.

R.