"Kate's in the middle of the biggest meeting of her career when she gets the telephone call from Grace Hall, her daughter’s exclusive private school in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Amelia has been suspended, effective immediately, and Kate must come get her daughter—now. But Kate’s stress over leaving work quickly turns to panic when she arrives at the school and finds it surrounded by police officers, fire trucks, and an ambulance. By then it’s already too late for Amelia. And for Kate. An academic overachiever despondent over getting caught cheating has jumped to her death. At least that’s the story Grace Hall tells Kate. And clouded as she is by her guilt and grief, it is the one she forces herself to believe. Until she gets an anonymous text: She didn’t jump" - Amazon summary
There is alot about Reconstructing Amelia that I liked. but other aspects of this novel I found over the top, particularly the level of dysfunction going on among the students and the faculty at Grace Hall.
I do understand bullying and in grammar school it's harder to stand up for yourself because you often don't even know that what the bullies are doing is wrong. And so you never tell a parent or a teacher. I have first hand experience with this.
But Amelia is 15, smart, strong and has a mother, Kate, who would drop everything if Amelia would just open up about what is happening at her high school. But Anelia decides not to because if she tells the truth about The Maggies (a secret mean girl group who are right out of a horror movie) the Maggies will take it out on Amelia's best friend, who is not that great a friend it turns out. Where are the teachers and the principle? They are as mixed up as the students.
Reconstructing Amelia has been compared to Gone Girl but I think it's more Thirteen Reasons Why meets Gossip Girl. The writing is good and readers will like and have empathy for Kate and Amelia who are caught up in this nightmare. But as with many thrillers these days the writers need to tone it down. You don't have to throw everything but the kitchen sink into a novel. Too many twists begin to seem implausible.
That said in 2014 Reconstructing Amelia was nominated for an Edgar Award For Best First Novel. Did Amelia kill herself? It's a gripping read and I will be trying out another book by Kimberly McCreight in the not too distant future hopefully with a few less twists.
Too many twists can really kill a novel. And Amelia dying like that is just too sad for me right now. But I'll have to keep this author in mind. Has she written other books?
ReplyDeleteShe has. Three more novels and The Outliers Trilogy. I plan to read one of her later novels because despite the twists I did find Reconstructing Amelia interesting.
DeleteFrom the Amazon summary it seems like the situation has to lead to much unhappiness. Even in the best of times, I don't enjoy reading about those types of situations. Although probably the most disturbing thing is that it involves the death of a child.
ReplyDeleteIt's a depressing read for sure and though I know bullying goes on in schools the Maggies seem to be so over the top in their mean girl antics, particularly Zadie, that it seemed implausible in real life.
ReplyDeleteI love a gripping read. The kind that keeps me up reading and stays with me long after I finish. Thanks for this!
ReplyDeleteI hope you like it and it was nominated for an Edgar Award.
DeleteThe implausibility of the scenario would probably annoy me too, some authors feel they have to go completely over the top to get peoples' attention. I don't think this is for me but I enjoyed reading your review, Kathy!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cath. Less is often more in a novel. And I do want to read a subsequent novel by this author to see if she tells more plausible stories because the talent is there.
Deletei think I had this one on my shelf from 2014 but never started it. I'm glad you reviewed it -- though as you point out it does sound a bit over the top. Many of these kid / bully stories spook me out.
ReplyDeleteIt's a disturbing story and too over t ge top for me. I just don't buy in real life that the Maggies would be allowed to run as rampant as they do in this book.
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