Review by Booklist Review
Nora Melchionda, 15 and white, attends the Faber Frat Fair on the town green as she does every year. The next thing she knows, her best friend, Cam (who is biracial), is shaking her awake at the ninth hole of the Faber College golf course in the middle of the night. Fortunately, their classmate Adam Xu heard a commotion and chased three college boys away from Nora's unconscious body before they had time to do more than hang her underwear from the flagstick. Nora refuses to tell anyone, so Cam investigates against her wishes. This disregard, combined with Cam's new, secret relationship with Nora's older brother, Asher, threatens their friendship. Nora is popular at school, an excellent student, a kind friend, and an accomplished athlete. But when rumors start flying, her classmates turn on her. Nora's father, Mr. M, is the beloved Faber College athletic director and Nora's favorite person--her hero. After Nora finally tells her parents about the incident, her father's inadequate response, his complicity in helping athletes avoid consequences in similar situations, and a surprising link to a fraternity pledge game split their family apart. This novel is a standout thanks to realistic, lively dialogue and chemistry between its characters (especially parents and siblings), carefully calibrated elements of humor and romance, and a thoughtful portrayal of changing friendships.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--Nora and Camille are 15-year-old best friends, but lately they seem to want different things. The night of the town Frat Fair, the two have an argument and go their separate ways, only for Camille to receive a text that she needs to help Nora. Adam, a boy from school, chases off three guys to find Nora unconscious on a golf course. As if the ordeal weren't bad enough, Nora's friendship with Camille and relationships with everyone else in her life will be put to the test as she comes to grips with that awful night. Friend weaves a compelling tale through the eyes of multiple characters. With alternating chapters, readers get Nora's perspective as well as the well-meaning thoughts and actions of her friends. Photos of Nora end up posted on social media; further, her father works for the sports department for which her assailants play. While complex, the text never becomes too convoluted and reflects real-life scenarios of assault and athletics, making the story relevant and an important discussion on the culture of gender roles and victim-shaming. There are diverse characters: Camille is biracial, Haitian and white, and Adam is Chinese American, offering a subtle commentary on the treatment of minorities in small towns. VERDICT With gripping writing and topical social issues, this is a solid addition to any collection for young adults.--Kaitlin Malixi
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Review by Horn Book Review
The morning after attending a fair run by (fictional) Faber College's fraternities, fifteen-year-old Nora wakes up on the golf course without any memory of how she got there. Her best friend, Camille, is by her side and explains that the night before, three guys removed Nora's underwear and hung it from a flagstick at the course before their classmate, Adam, chased them away. As Nora grapples with the implications of what happened -- and what could have happened if Adam hadn't intervened -- Cam and Adam decide to find out who the guys were. Their investigation leads to unsavory revelations about one of Faber's fraternities and about the college's charismatic, beloved athletic director -- who is also Nora's dad. The victim-shaming that follows is depressing but familiar; the novel unflinchingly exposes the sexism inherent in excusing men's assaultive behavior while blaming women because of how they're dressed or how much they drank. More subtle but equally devastating is the fall from grace of Nora's father, "her favorite person in the world"; his refusal to accept responsibility adds a layer of trauma and makes it more difficult for Nora to speak out. Her eventual decision to formally accuse her attackers is a powerful one as she courageously reclaims her voice and her story: it's a small, satisfying step toward justice. Rachel L. Kerns May/June 2022 p.144(c) Copyright 2022. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Fifteen-year-old Nora Melchionda remembers sipping root beer at a fraternity fundraiser, then nothing more until Camille Dodd woke her on the Faber College golf course. Adam Xu interrupted a sexual assault on Nora, chased the three assailants away, and texted Cam, Nora's best friend, for help. In the aftermath, Nora wonders if it's her fault: She'd worn a miniskirt, earning her conservative mom's disapproval, and her older brother, Asher, had already warned her about how some boys interpret girls' short, tight clothes. Cam feels guilty because she'd been at a different party kissing Asher at the time. So when Nora refuses to report the matter to the police, well-intentioned Cam forges ahead, persuading Adam (who has long nursed a crush on Nora) to help her investigate, although his parents work at the college and he fears repercussions for their employment if he gets publicly involved. Meanwhile, Nora makes painful discoveries of her own that have a devastating impact on her relationships. This small New York town is proud of the college's sports prowess, its privileged male athletes nurtured by an entrenched Greek system and overseen by Nora's beloved college athletic director dad. The fast-paced plot and well-developed characters bring a crime with broad, deep roots nourished by local tradition into compelling focus. Like most of the town, Nora's family is White. Biracial Cam is Haitian and implied White; Adam is Chinese American. Gripping and resonant; a good pick for intergenerational book clubs. (Fiction. 14-adult) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
