Review: "Modern Monsters" by Kelley York

Vic Howard never wanted to go to the party. He’s the Invisible Guy at school, a special kind of hell for quiet, nice guys. But because his best friend is as popular as Vic is ignored, he went… And wished he hadn’t. Because something happened to a girl that night. Something terrible, unimaginable, and Callie Wheeler’s life will never be the same. Plus, now Callie has told the police that Vic is responsible. Suddenly, Invisible Vic is painfully visible, on trial both literally, with the police, and figuratively, with the angry kids at school. As the whispers and violence escalate, he becomes determined to clear his name, even if it means an uneasy alliance with Callie's best friend, the beautiful but aloof Autumn Dixon. But as Autumn and Vic slowly peel back the layers of what happened at the party, they realize that while the truth can set Vic free, it can also shatter everything he thought he knew about his life…

Thanks to Entangled Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Did I like this book?

There were quite a few aspects of this book that make it unique, things that I absolutely loved!  For example, writing the book from a suspect's point of view? Genius!  Having that suspect be a shy, mouse of a guy with hardly anybody to protect him or take his side? Brilliant!  York did a tremendous job of getting me right inside Vic's head, making me sympathize with him, and further, fully investing me in the mystery of finding the true rapist.

There is one thing that, after finishing this book and mulling it over for a while, still does not sit well with me.  Unfortunately, I can't say too much about it without major spoilers, so I'll just say this:  after confirming the identity of the rapist, who I had suspected quite early on, I did not believe his motivations.  There, 'nuff said.  Ultimately, though, that one aspect of the book did factor highly in my overall rating.

Will you like this book?

Yes, I think most people looking for something a bit more serious and thought provoking from their YA contemporary reads will appreciate this book, simply because of the premise.  I've read other books focusing on rape and its aftermath from a victim's point of view, but never through the eyes of a suspect.  That aspect alone makes "Modern Monsters" worth the read.  Add to that great writing and memorable characters and you've got the recipe for a new favourite addition to your YA library.

Will I read more books by this author?

This was my first read by Kelley York, and I was thoroughly impressed with her writing style. I'm sure to be keeping an eye out for more of her books in the future!

My rating:  3.5 stars