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Young Adult Fiction. Young Adult Literature. HTML:From #1 New York Times bestselling author E.K. Johnston comes a brave and unforgettable story that will inspire readers to rethink how we treat survivors. Hermione Winters is captain of her cheerleading team, and in tiny Palermo Heights, this doesn�t mean what you think it means. At PHHS, the cheerleaders don't cheer for the sports teams; they are the sports team�the pride and joy of a small town. The team's summer training camp is Hermione's last and marks the beginning of the end of�she�s not sure what. She does know this season could make her a legend. But during a camp party, someone slips something in her drink. And it all goes black. In every class, there's a star cheerleader and a pariah pregnant girl. They're never supposed to be the same person. Hermione struggles to regain the control she's always had and faces a wrenching decision about how to move on. The rape wasn't the beginning of Hermione Winter's story and she's not going to let it be the end. She won�t be anyone�s cautionary tale. "E.K. Johnston has a seemingly limitless range.... This is realistic fiction at it's best."�The Globe & Mail ? "Johnston�s clever�but never precious�update of Shakespeare�s The Winter�s Tale is unflinching but not at all graphic in its treatment of sexual violence.... Middle and high school readers will pass this powerful, engaging story around and around."�Kirkus Reviews, starred review? "Fierce and gorgeously drawn, this is a rape story that doesn�t focus on victimhood."�Booklist, starred review ? �A beautifully written portrait of a young woman facing the unthinkable, this is a must-buy for high school collections.��SLJ, starred review "Exit, Pursued by a Bear is an important new novel comparable with Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.��VOYA. "This story of a cheerleader rising up after a traumatic event will give you Veronica Mars-level feels that will stay with you long after you finish."�Seventeen Magazine A NPR Best Book of 2016 A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2016 A Booklist Best Book of 2016 A New York Public Library 2016 Top Ten Book for TeensA Chicago Public Library Best Teen Fiction of 2016 A Globe & Mail Best Book of 2016 A CBC Best Book of 2016 A Quill & Quire Best Book of 2016 A Bustle Top 30 YA Book of 2016A Bookish Best Book of 2016 A Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year A finalist for Audible�s Best Young Adult Audiobook of 2016 A 2017 Ontario Library Association White Pine Honor Book.… (more)
User reviews
This is a great, thought-provoking read. The subject matter is difficult, but not presented in graphic detail. The writing and characterization are strong. Recommended.
That’s is not to say the writing here is superficial. Johnson has worked hard to create a scenario and a town where Hermione is able to make the choices she makes. We have the crime taking place away from home so there is an underlying certainty for Hermione that she does not know her attacker which perhaps makes it easier for her to proceed as she does back at home. Nonetheless the town is a small one and as the co-leader of a successful cheerleading squad and she still faces a level of judgement and victim-shaming although this is quickly closed down; perhaps more quickly than is realistic regardless of her place in the schools social hierarchy.
The real strength of this novel is however in the relationships Hermione has, with her parents, her coach and perhaps most of all her best friend Polly. Polly is consistently loyal and ultimately an out and out champion for Hermione which she desperately needs. Her parents are shown struggling but ultimately supportive. This really does work although I do note that none of the characters are very well fleshed out – other than the fact Polly is popular, a cheerleader, a great friend and just starting to find her way in a relationship with another girl we know very little about her
My one real criticism is that the story covers the full school year after Hermione’s attack and therefore has a slight implication of a timetable for healing – I would have like to have perhaps seen Hermione start university and deal with the reality of meeting new people moving away from her support network and growing on her strength beyond the simple time period shown here.
This is a book about rape -- and the slut-shaming and victim-blaming that unfortunately follow along. But it's also a surprisingly uplifting
Raw, wonderfully-written and a loose Shakespeare retelling... Honestly, I love everything about this book.
Summer before senior year is supposed to be a happy memory but for Hermione Winters it will be a shadow that follows her for the rest of her life. Finally elected cheer co-captain with her bestie Paulie, they were going to have the best cheer camp
I loved how the attack was the silent lurker in the background of the story. It's so easy to make a story one whole political statement about rape/rape culture/the immorality of victim blaming but this one treaded the waters carefully. In few words I would say this is the story of empowerment, a girl coming to terms with what happened to her and gaining back control of her life. Hermione didn't stand by watching the world leave her behind as she wallowed away into nothing. She made her choices and dealt with problems as they came and ultimately went.
I'm so used to reading books where the MC doesn't get any resolution until she 'proves her innocence' and finds her rapist. What makes this book so great is that this MC doesn't get a fairy tale ending but she discovers that it's still a possibility for her. It should be highly recommended.
EXIT, Pursued by a Bear by E. K.Johnston is no less serious but takes a totally different stance. Hermione Winters is raped during a dance at cheerleader camp. She was given a drug, pretty much knocked out, dragged into the woods, left half submerged in the lake and remembers nothing about the event. When she is found in the lake, she is immediately whisked to the hospital where she is examined. However, the samples that were obtained were compromised because of the time she spent in the water. Thus, there was nothing to warrant taking DNA samples from the boys attending the camp.
Unlike Melinda in Speak, Hermione is a strong individual, has a strong support system in family, friends (especially her friend Polly), therapist and teammates and is determined to break the curse of Palermo Heights School (read the book to see what it is). She will not let this incident ruin her life, her plans or her friendships.
Johnston doesn’t ignore the trauma of rape. Hermione definitely feels the impact of this crime, but she’s determined. At first she’s afraid of the boys on the team. Could one of them possibly be the rapist? Is she going to get pregnant? Is it important to ‘get revenge’ on the perpetrator? A slew of thoughts go through her head. She’s emotional, getting unpredictable panic attacks.
I think, in Speak and Exit, Pursued by a Bear, you have the two extremes. In Speak, Melinda is traumatized. In Exit, Pursued by a Bear, Hermione is determined to live her life, despite this unspeakable event. Every victim reacts differently to every crime. However, reading about a rape victim who successfully conquesrs the trauma may not be a bad thing. You can’t reverse the act. You can’t forget the situation. But maybe you can bulldoze your way through it and be the person you want to be.
And what was up with the interaction with the church pastor? Again, Johnston tells us previously that Hermione attends church with her father but we never see her at a service or explore what role spirituality has in her life. The one conversation between Hermione and Pastor Rob seemed phony. All Hermione's interactions with adults (the interview with a reporter was the lone exception) showed how awesome adults were. Maybe we need a book that shows teenagers and young adults that reporting an assault can be a positive step in healing... but how realistic is it?
For a book about such serious problems, it's actually pretty positive. It's much more focused on friendship than romance. Hermione has a good relationship with her family and supportive friends, so this isn't the most realistic story. But this isn't really a cautionary tale or melodrama, it's a story about the process of recovery and friendship. It's very emotional but quite cathartic and I liked the characters and enjoyed reading it. The book is specifically Canadian and I spent a lot of time Googling locations, but I enjoy that kind of thing so I didn't mind at all. Highly recommended if you're looking for a positive book about rape recovery, or if you like YA friendship.
On the surface, this sounds like a run-of-the-mill YA story with a side plot of sexual assault thrown in. While teen rape should not of course be taken lightly, it's a story that's been done before. However. This book had been on my radar after reading some really good reviews and I had it added to my wishlist without even really paying much attention to the book description. It recently made it to the top of my reading queue and then I wasn't sure if it was actually going to hold my attention. But it did.
It may seem odd to describe a book with such disturbing subject matter refreshing, but that's what comes to mind after having finished this. I enjoyed it a lot. Hermione is portrayed not as your typical rape victim who becomes consumed by her situation, but one who has grit and is determined to move beyond and not be defined by what happened to her. While some readers may be put off by this, as I said above, I found it refreshing to read about a character who takes it the other way and becomes a role model, determined to get her life back in order.
Despite a plot description and title that may not grab a reader right off, I thought this was a very well written story, appealing not to just younger readers but older adults as well, and I'm sure my review has not done it justice. If possible, read this one on audio. The reader (Jorjeana Marie) is fantastic. This is probably one of my favorites so far this year. Recommend!
This sounded like the sort of story I'd
For a book about a traumatic event and its aftermath, Exit, Pursued by a Bear is realistically hopeful. Hermione's family, friends and teachers are (with a couple of exceptions) incredibly supportive, and she has access to the services she needs. As the author acknowledges at the end, this is not a common experience. But Hermione's support network is plausible, not some unbelievable perfect fantasy, and they cannot magically solve all her problems. Given that there are many darker books about coping with trauma without the kind of support Hermione has, it was refreshing to read something which suggests that lacking support isn't inevitable.
Exit, Pursued by a Bear explores the idea that there isn't one set way of being a victim. And it doesn't suggest this is a simply matter of choice. Hermione does choose to carry on as planned with her cheerleading, but she's aware that had her experience been a bit different, she'd probably be choosing to never leave her bedroom instead, and it is her support network which makes her cheerleading ambitions achievable.
My favourite part about this book is Hermione's long-standing friendship with her co-captain, Polly. I also really liked how the title ended up fitting the story.
“Girls,” I say, like I’m telling them the secrets of the universe, “this is going to be the best cheer year ever.”
“Go Bears!” shouts Polly, flinging her perfectly manicured hands in the air and shaking pom-poms she doesn’t have. The boys are stomping along in back. Even the bus driver is in her spell, and I catch him looking back and smiling in his mirror. I’m the only one who knows her well enough to know that she is being excruciatingly sarcastic. That is Polly’s superpower. She’s a cheerleader for want of another choice, and while she looks like the perfect model, underneath the plastic veneer is a capacity for scorn and contempt I’m glad is on my side. Whatever the odds, if Polly is cheering for you, you are a force to be reckoned with.
Part forensic mystery, part social commentary, Exit, Pursued by a Bear follows the aftermath of the tragedy that befalls Hermione. It tackles not only what she goes through, but what her friends, family, and those who are trying to help her go through as well. Take all the stress of senior year: picking out colleges, final cheer competitions, boyfriends, best friends...and add trauma. Yikes!
I recommend this book to readers in grades 9-12. It does have some heavy content, including the topic of abortion. Laurie Halse Anderson and Thirteen Reasons Why fans will enjoy. -EC
I absolutely love the way they tackled the delicate subject matter. I also adored the friendship between Hermoine and Polly.
This novel is brief, devastating, yet so strong. I think I spent nearly fifty percent of this book crying, which I swear is a positive endorsement! Exit, Pursued by a Bear hurts. But Johnston's narrative is so gorgeous while, most notably, offering a true celebration of genuine female friendship. Exit, Pursued by a Bear tells a unique story with an approach to sexual assault and its aftermath that is so tender and honest and, ultimately, about strength. This is an important addition to the young adult canon and one I won't soon forget.
Hermione is the star of Palermo Heights. The captain of the cheerleading squad and beginning her senior year of high school, everything seems to be going right. Until, suddenly, it's not. Hermione is drugged and raped at a cheerleading camp party and, shortly after, found to be pregnant. Following the assault, Hermione is further traumatized to find herself a pariah in school and the subject of every conversation in her small town. But her story is far from over. Brave and memorable.
This is one of those transformative books. The ones that don't bullshit you or weasel their way into weak language. If you fail to get the message that rape is not the victim's fault and that recovery will always be on a person's own terms, then you haven't read this book yet. You should.
Also, if I'd realized this was the same author as the Owen series, I would have picked it up even faster. National treasure you've got there, Canada.
The bulk of the story is how she and her support system - her family, friends and people in authority handle the situation. She understands the whispers, side looks and avoidance but it is hard for her to deal with. Her relationship with her boyfriend disintegrates as he partly blames her for the rape. She does have a great family and her friends are stellar and stay right by her side. The author has used Shakespeare’s “A Winter’s Tale” as the base of her story with the characters pulled from the play and modernized.
Exit Pursued by a Bear is a YA novel and this fact actually explains many of the quibbles I had with the story. At times it read like an instruction manual, a how-to conduct yourself after rape. Hermione was a little too composed, a little to mature to be totally believable. The end of the book is wrapped up very quickly but didn’t strike me as realistic. That said, the writing was well done and the subject matter treated in a tasteful manner.