Modern Monstersby Kelley York
Published by Entangled: Teen on June 2nd, 2015
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery
Format: eARC (352 pages)
Source: Publisher via YA Bound Book Tours
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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 did it. Suddenly, Invisible Vic is painfully visible, on trial both literally, with the police, and figuratively, with the angry and judgmental 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 that night, they realize that while the truth can set him free, it can also shatter everything he thought he knew about his life…
Modern Monsters isn't the usual type of novel I'm accustomed to. It's controversial, and somewhat sickening, but hey, it happens every day in real life. Thus, I was intrigued by the topic promoted by the synopsis and I would have to say, this book did leave me in a bit of a shock.
Vic Howard is the quiet guy at his high school, and also has a terrible speech problem. The only thing that prevents him from being bullied is because his best friend, Brett, is one of the popular kids, which makes him kind of untouchable. But when things take a different turn and Vic is accused of raping a fellow schoolmate at the party, nobody believes him. Vic is innocent, and while the real rapist is still on the loose, walking the halls in school.
It's very interesting to hear the story from the perspective of the accused. Usually, the story is told in the victim's perspective, and it either reaches a point wherein she is pitied, victimized, and shunned, while the perpetrator is protected for the sake of a clean reputation.
However, reading about Vic Howard in Modern Monsters ignited the feeling of frustration and anger, because, obviously, he was innocent, but nobody wants to believe him, due to the fact that he was the less important kid. It's heartbreaking for the people who take the blame for something they did not do, especially in a grave situation such as a hateful crime. Vic is a caring teenager, loyal and extremely shy, and a character I could somehow relate to. He was the fly on the wall kid, who blended in the background and didn't crave attention, and it was just terrible reading about him going through the stigma of being a "rapist" despite the false accusation. But in the end, Vic, of course, triumphs. He does undergo extreme character development as he goes through terrible circumstances.
Modern Monsters is a total page turner. Every twist and turn in this novel feeds your curiosity as to who the real criminal is. Let's not foget the satisfaction in finally getting to prove Vic's innocence. Not only that, this novel goes through a number of touchy subjects that almost everyone can relate to: bullying, parental issues, abuse, and so on. It's a somewhat emotional read that will keep you on the edge of your seat, every turn of a page.
*I received a review copy courtesy of the author/publisher. This does not affect my opinion or views regarding the book whatsoever.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
KELLEY YORK"I like unicorns and cats and games...and stuff..." - quality author quote by KelleyKelley York was born in central California, where she still resides with her lovely wife, step-daughter, and way too many cats, while fantasizing about moving to England or Ireland. (Or, really, anyplace secluded.) She has a fascination with bells and animals and Disney. Her life goal is to find a real unicorn. Or to at least write about them. She occupies her spare time with video games,designing covers, playing on Tumblr, and watching anime.Kelley is a sucker for dark fiction. She loves writing twisted characters, tragic happenings, and bittersweet endings that leave you wondering and crying. She strives to make character development take center stage in her books because the bounds of a person's character and the workings of their mind are limitless.
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