Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
St. Martin's Griffin (2010), Kindle Edition
Description
High school senior Parker Fadley has quit the cheerleading squad, broken up with her popular boyfriend, and is in danger of not graduating with her class, but she refuses to tell anyone what has precipitated this sudden change in her attitude and behavior, insisting that she only wants to be left alone.
User reviews
LibraryThing member foggidawn
Head Cheerleader. Prom Queen. Honor Roll student. That was Parker Fadley last year.
Loner. Problem student. Suicide risk. That's Parker Fadley this year. Parker has gone from being a perfect student, to being a perfect nightmare. Her parents are distressed. Her teachers are impatient. And her
This novel is gripping and painful, but ultimately hopeful. Readers will be pulled in to the story, despite the unlikeable protagonist they may find in Parker. Her almost inexplicable behavior, coupled with her tough, sarcastic attitude, holds the attention from the first page to the end of the story.
Loner. Problem student. Suicide risk. That's Parker Fadley this year. Parker has gone from being a perfect student, to being a perfect nightmare. Her parents are distressed. Her teachers are impatient. And her
Show More
friends don't even know who she is any more. Parker experienced something that changed her completely, and now she just wants to disappear. This novel is gripping and painful, but ultimately hopeful. Readers will be pulled in to the story, despite the unlikeable protagonist they may find in Parker. Her almost inexplicable behavior, coupled with her tough, sarcastic attitude, holds the attention from the first page to the end of the story.
Show Less
LibraryThing member notemily
In the tradition of Speak, Cracked Up to Be is one of those books where the reason for the main character's damaged-ness is slowly revealed over the course of the book. It keeps you reading, as do the characters, whose voices and traits ring true throughout.
I especially like the depiction of
I thought the ending was a little rushed. I wish the author had taken more time to show Parker's decision to stop self-destructing. I feel like too often these "problem novels" take too much time with the problem, and not enough time showing what the process of recovery is like. Speak succeeds in this regard because we see that Melinda, the main character, is slowly recovering throughout the book, even though she's still dealing with depression. By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead follows a similar arc. Parker, on the other hand, keeps going into self-destructive cycles, and the book doesn't show much of a healing process. She's suicidal and pushing people away for most of the book and then suddenly, she's not.
--SPOILER--
Also: Dammit, why do dogs in books always have to die? The dog in this book would have been a good way to show Parker opening up and trusting and learning that she is deserving of love, and it does for a while, but then it dies, which seems to reverse all the progress she made. I feel like a dog death is a really cheap way to tug peoples' heartstrings and I don't feel it added much to the story here. But maybe, as a dog lover, I'm just bitter because I never want dogs to die ever. (I think I would have liked it more if Bailey had died of natural causes. He was 10, after all. Having him die in a car crash is just... mean.)
--END SPOILER--
Despite all that, though, I did like this book quite a bit. It had humor and snark and a scathing portrait of high school, all things I like in a YA novel. And it made me cry, and not just because of the SPOILER above. I'm excited to read the author's next novel, Some Girls Are.
P.S. Does anyone else think the "Think outside the tree!" line in art class was a sly nod to Speak? It cracked me up.
I especially like the depiction of
Show More
Parker's anxiety disorder, and the way it was revealed in little things--her habit of snapping her fingers, for example. It was shown, rather than told. I did a booklist of YA books about characters with anxiety disorders awhile back, and this book would fit in perfectly. I thought the ending was a little rushed. I wish the author had taken more time to show Parker's decision to stop self-destructing. I feel like too often these "problem novels" take too much time with the problem, and not enough time showing what the process of recovery is like. Speak succeeds in this regard because we see that Melinda, the main character, is slowly recovering throughout the book, even though she's still dealing with depression. By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead follows a similar arc. Parker, on the other hand, keeps going into self-destructive cycles, and the book doesn't show much of a healing process. She's suicidal and pushing people away for most of the book and then suddenly, she's not.
--SPOILER--
Also: Dammit, why do dogs in books always have to die? The dog in this book would have been a good way to show Parker opening up and trusting and learning that she is deserving of love, and it does for a while, but then it dies, which seems to reverse all the progress she made. I feel like a dog death is a really cheap way to tug peoples' heartstrings and I don't feel it added much to the story here. But maybe, as a dog lover, I'm just bitter because I never want dogs to die ever. (I think I would have liked it more if Bailey had died of natural causes. He was 10, after all. Having him die in a car crash is just... mean.)
--END SPOILER--
Despite all that, though, I did like this book quite a bit. It had humor and snark and a scathing portrait of high school, all things I like in a YA novel. And it made me cry, and not just because of the SPOILER above. I'm excited to read the author's next novel, Some Girls Are.
P.S. Does anyone else think the "Think outside the tree!" line in art class was a sly nod to Speak? It cracked me up.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Lavinient
I received this book yesterday in the mail through the Early Reviewers program here on Librarything. I started it last night and could not put it down until I finished it.
This book takes the reader into the mind of Parker, a troubled teen. She used to strive for perfection in her life, in school,
I like how this book slowly reveals why she is acting the way she is. We are inside her head, and we see her struggle with her own feelings and the idea that she deserves punishment. It was a bit exhausting reading this story through Parker's point of view, but well worth it. It is one of those books I will have a hard time forgetting.
This book takes the reader into the mind of Parker, a troubled teen. She used to strive for perfection in her life, in school,
Show More
on the cheerleader squad, and in her personal relationships. We slowly learn what event led to her breakdown as she tries to pull herself together to graduate high school. I like how this book slowly reveals why she is acting the way she is. We are inside her head, and we see her struggle with her own feelings and the idea that she deserves punishment. It was a bit exhausting reading this story through Parker's point of view, but well worth it. It is one of those books I will have a hard time forgetting.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ruststar
The abrasive main character, Parker, turned me off at the beginning, but as her situtation unfolded I felt more and more for her. I thought I had it figured out in the first chapter or two, but it turned out I was wrong (in fact, one of the other characters asked her if it was ____, which I thought
I liked the way this unfolded and the complexity of the characters. All in all it was a very good read.
Show More
was a nice touch, acknowledging the cliche). I liked the way this unfolded and the complexity of the characters. All in all it was a very good read.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bigorangemichael
Parker Fadley used to have the perfect life--perfect grades, head cheerleader, perfect boyfriend.
But then something happened to change all of that.
Now Parker is a shadow of her former self--dark, bitter and in danger of being expelled from her prestigious private school.
What happened to chance
Summers earns the revelation at the end well, having it be both believable and relevant without being melodramatic or trite. And the story ends exactly where it should and does so in an effective manner.
A satisfying, compelling young adult novel that's worth reading.
But then something happened to change all of that.
Now Parker is a shadow of her former self--dark, bitter and in danger of being expelled from her prestigious private school.
What happened to chance
Show More
Parker and its impact on her now is what drives "Cracked Up To Be" and elevates it above your average troubled young adult novel. Courtney Summers keeps the narrative interesting by peppering in bits and pieces of what led to Parker's break and her current struggle with the impact of the event. The story is filled with interesting, realistic characters who at times you'll love and at times you'll dislike--especially our first-person narrator Parker.Summers earns the revelation at the end well, having it be both believable and relevant without being melodramatic or trite. And the story ends exactly where it should and does so in an effective manner.
A satisfying, compelling young adult novel that's worth reading.
Show Less
LibraryThing member roguelibrarian
Plot: Parker used to be popular. She was a straight A student, captain of the cheer leading team, dating the most popular guy in school. Perfect. But then something went wrong. So wrong that she couldn’t fix it and it changed her for ever. Now she’s barely graduating and is doing a good job of
Parker is not a likable character. She doesn’t want to be. But Summers does a good job of portraying her conflicted emotions, emotions that Parker herself doesn’t always understand. My main problem with the novel is that I don’t like stories that create suspense by withholding information that the first person narrator knows. Still, it was interesting and realistic and one scene in particular had me bawling my eyes out. It wasn’t my type of book but if it is, you’ll probably love it.
Show More
alienating anyone who ever liked her. The more people try to help, the more she pushes them away. But the new kid, Jake, isn’t so easily discouraged. He likes her and he’s willing to take a lot of abuse in his quest to get close to her and to understand her.Parker is not a likable character. She doesn’t want to be. But Summers does a good job of portraying her conflicted emotions, emotions that Parker herself doesn’t always understand. My main problem with the novel is that I don’t like stories that create suspense by withholding information that the first person narrator knows. Still, it was interesting and realistic and one scene in particular had me bawling my eyes out. It wasn’t my type of book but if it is, you’ll probably love it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ylin.0621
Definitely enjoyed the pace throughout the book; very concise, clean and well-organized.
I’m sure this has been said many times but really the mystery aspect of this book was so well done. A small bit here and a small bit there and at the end you’re like “OMG!”
I loved almost all the
I greatly appreciated the small backgrounds Courtney gave. Sometimes authors never include these things and I’m always dying to know how and why these characters came to be.
The dialogue was fun as well. You can feel the snarky attitude and the tension/awkwardness it created. It was straight forward and to the point when it wanted to be.
This book is definitely not something that eases you into. Right from the start you’re enclosed in a whirlwind of emotions. Jump right in; just remember that it’s hard to escape once you’ve started. Trust me, I had a hard time getting started but once I got the feel of the book I couldn’t stop.
Overall:
A great read for the fall or winter season. Much deeper than your typically YA book. Something to pick on your way from the bookstore or the library!
I’m sure this has been said many times but really the mystery aspect of this book was so well done. A small bit here and a small bit there and at the end you’re like “OMG!”
I loved almost all the
Show More
characters. Seriously. Parker was so three-dimensional; she had her ups and her downs. You get a definite feel as to why she's like the way she is. The rest of the side characters were as equally impressive. They each held their ground against and with Parker. Their personalities and traits are very realistic and not too over the top. I almost forgot Bailey! The adorable dog that I want as my own. I greatly appreciated the small backgrounds Courtney gave. Sometimes authors never include these things and I’m always dying to know how and why these characters came to be.
The dialogue was fun as well. You can feel the snarky attitude and the tension/awkwardness it created. It was straight forward and to the point when it wanted to be.
This book is definitely not something that eases you into. Right from the start you’re enclosed in a whirlwind of emotions. Jump right in; just remember that it’s hard to escape once you’ve started. Trust me, I had a hard time getting started but once I got the feel of the book I couldn’t stop.
Overall:
A great read for the fall or winter season. Much deeper than your typically YA book. Something to pick on your way from the bookstore or the library!
Show Less
LibraryThing member SunnySD
Perfectionist Parker Fadley has a plan. Step one, alienate her friends. Step two, make her teachers wish she doesn't exist. Step three, find her ex-boyfriend a replacement girlfriend. Step four, get her parents to adopt a dog, providing them with a surrogate child they can fuss over. Step five,
Emotionally traumatized by an event that only gradually comes to light, Parker's response is to reject everything she's done and been and re-invent herself as the girl no one should want to be or be like. Lying to her therapist, her parents, her friends, and even herself almost works. But bold, brash, and obnoxious as she is, Parker has enough redeeming qualities that her friends - and even her enemies - don't give up on her.
I'm sick to death of "realistic" young adult books that deal with topics like abortion, alcoholism, suicide and abuse, and which inevitably culminate in misery, gloom and defeat - this was a refreshing change. Although the language is rough, and the situations are raw - drinking, sex, alcohol and attempted suicide all figure prominently in the storyline - Parker is very real, and her story is griping. If the storyline is a bit predictable, the fact that the ending is hopeful is a huge plus. Aside from a few minor typos and a missing word or two that will hopefully be caught before publication, I enjoyed it.
Show More
disappear - permanently. Emotionally traumatized by an event that only gradually comes to light, Parker's response is to reject everything she's done and been and re-invent herself as the girl no one should want to be or be like. Lying to her therapist, her parents, her friends, and even herself almost works. But bold, brash, and obnoxious as she is, Parker has enough redeeming qualities that her friends - and even her enemies - don't give up on her.
I'm sick to death of "realistic" young adult books that deal with topics like abortion, alcoholism, suicide and abuse, and which inevitably culminate in misery, gloom and defeat - this was a refreshing change. Although the language is rough, and the situations are raw - drinking, sex, alcohol and attempted suicide all figure prominently in the storyline - Parker is very real, and her story is griping. If the storyline is a bit predictable, the fact that the ending is hopeful is a huge plus. Aside from a few minor typos and a missing word or two that will hopefully be caught before publication, I enjoyed it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member sharonluvscats
I was hooked on this book from the start. I had a late night because could not go to bed until I finished reading the entire book. I had to know what was going to happen next. I found it very easy to like Parker even though she was not very likely much of the time. I am always impressed with
As for the plot, it was intense and fast paced. Hints are dropped throughout the book as to what exactly happened to change Parker so drastically. The plot reminded me very much of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. I enjoyed Speak but I think that cracked up to be is even better.
I actually feel somewhat stupid for not seeing the ending coming. I expected something completely different and was totally shocked at the ending.
Some other stuff I liked: The side characters were interesting. I really loved Jake and the witty and sarcastic conversations that he had with Parker.
Parker's relationship with her dog Bailey. That got big awh... points with me.
Parker's descriptions of her guidance counselor...so funny!
Show More
authors who can take unlikable characters and make them emotionally raw and vunerable.Courtney Summers did a great job of this making Parker both unlikeable yet loveable at the same time. As for the plot, it was intense and fast paced. Hints are dropped throughout the book as to what exactly happened to change Parker so drastically. The plot reminded me very much of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. I enjoyed Speak but I think that cracked up to be is even better.
I actually feel somewhat stupid for not seeing the ending coming. I expected something completely different and was totally shocked at the ending.
Some other stuff I liked: The side characters were interesting. I really loved Jake and the witty and sarcastic conversations that he had with Parker.
Parker's relationship with her dog Bailey. That got big awh... points with me.
Parker's descriptions of her guidance counselor...so funny!
Show Less
LibraryThing member bwoodreader
Cracked up to be is one of those YA novels you can read in one sitting because it just sucks you right in. Although the style is complex, with flashbacks bringing the reader back and forth in time, teenagers will want to know the story and stick with it. Parker is a well-drawn main character and
Show More
her experiences will speak to high school girls. Show Less
LibraryThing member sshartelg
I'm a high school librarian, so I read a lot of YA novels, good ones and sometimes some not-so-good ones.
Courtney Summers' "Cracked Up To Be" falls into the category of a good YA novel.
High school senior Parker Fadley, the book's no-longer-perfect main character, is wrestling with some major
I will definitely be reading Summers' next book.
Courtney Summers' "Cracked Up To Be" falls into the category of a good YA novel.
High school senior Parker Fadley, the book's no-longer-perfect main character, is wrestling with some major
Show More
demons and she'd be the first to admit that she's a total bitch much of the time, but I couldn't help A) rooting for her and B) devouring the book in just a couple sittings to find out what dark secret has made her set out to systematically destroy her life.I will definitely be reading Summers' next book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member cindysku
Parker Fadley was perfect, she was on the honor roll and head cheerleader and then she changed drastically. She became the girl who showed up drunk at school, skipped class, and lost almost all her friends. Now, she is scaring her parents and trying to trick the school therapist to get what she
Show More
wants. She and her parents adopt a dog to try to help Parker with her problems but she uses the dog as an excuse to leave the house. Parker has a secret that she can never forgive herself for. When a new kid moves into her neighborhood, he tries to solve the mystery of what happened to the perfect girl. This is the debut novel of Courtney Summers and it a very jarring tale that will hold the readers’ interest. The novel drags in the middle but then quickly speeds up toward the end. The twist will surprise teens and make them want more books from this new write Show Less
LibraryThing member 4sarad
I really enjoyed this book. The subject was serious, but the main character was hilarious and really kept you reading. Someone else said the book reminded them of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, and I agree to a point. Somewhat similar plot, but this book is more of a fun read. Parker took a bad
Show More
situation and turned it outward, sassing everyone in sight while Melinda from Speak turned it inward, making it a much darker novel. Anyways, both great books! Show Less
LibraryThing member lenoreva
Parker has always had to be perfect in everything. Perfect grades, perfect boyfriend, perfect hair and make-up everyday, perfect cheer routines. So when something happens that makes her realize she's not perfect after all, Parker loses it and pushes away everyone and everything she once cared so
What veers close to being an overly melodramatic saga of a downward spiral into drugs, alcohol and hopelessness after a tramatic event is saved by Parker's undeniable sass and ultimate will to live and to succeed. It seems perfectionist Parker, though "popular", was just as difficult to like as self-destructive Parker, but that doesn't stop boys, or the reader for that matter, from finding her incredibly interesting.
As it turns out, the novel, like Parker herself, is not perfect - for example there is a wierd subplot involving an adopted dog that didn't work for me - but hey, even though life is messy, it is still worth living and a book that reflects that truth as honestly and expertly as this one does, certainly deserves to be read.
Show More
much about. Will Parker face her demons and forgive herself before its too late?What veers close to being an overly melodramatic saga of a downward spiral into drugs, alcohol and hopelessness after a tramatic event is saved by Parker's undeniable sass and ultimate will to live and to succeed. It seems perfectionist Parker, though "popular", was just as difficult to like as self-destructive Parker, but that doesn't stop boys, or the reader for that matter, from finding her incredibly interesting.
As it turns out, the novel, like Parker herself, is not perfect - for example there is a wierd subplot involving an adopted dog that didn't work for me - but hey, even though life is messy, it is still worth living and a book that reflects that truth as honestly and expertly as this one does, certainly deserves to be read.
Show Less
LibraryThing member calexis
You know that feeling when you read rave reviews about a movie or book... and you enter it with such high expectations, that really... the movie or book can never reach and you come out disappointed? Well, that's how I kind of feel with this book. Not that it wasn't good, don't misunderstand me.
Besides the let down from my own expectations, this book was actually really good. It was honest and confusing and just.. a good depiction of life. Because Parker is made out to sound like this real girl, all truths with nothing held back. Even when she freaks out and pushes everyone away, you can't help but want to know more (like Jake). You want to reach out because her own need for perfection has made her susceptible to the flaws of the world. Even when she was alienating everyone though... you see that she's still human and still want to live because she forgets to work hard on not caring and it's just good.
But that's all I'm saying, because if you haven't read it yet... I hate to ruin it for you.
Show More
It's just... I must have read twenty reviews for this book already.. and each of them have been saying just how amazing it was.. and since I was expecting an amazing, life-changing, no-regrets-if-the-world-exploded kind of book... it obviously never reached that standard. So I blame myself for doing that to myself.Besides the let down from my own expectations, this book was actually really good. It was honest and confusing and just.. a good depiction of life. Because Parker is made out to sound like this real girl, all truths with nothing held back. Even when she freaks out and pushes everyone away, you can't help but want to know more (like Jake). You want to reach out because her own need for perfection has made her susceptible to the flaws of the world. Even when she was alienating everyone though... you see that she's still human and still want to live because she forgets to work hard on not caring and it's just good.
But that's all I'm saying, because if you haven't read it yet... I hate to ruin it for you.
Show Less
LibraryThing member sammyjones57
When taking on how to write a story there are authors that show you the characters and those that tell you about them. This book definitely shows you, which made it all more real in a sense. I could picture this book like a movie playing in my head. See the characters for who they were, hear their
The fact is that no matter how much Parker tries to shove everyone away, they're still there. Even though Parker is...ahem sometimes....they all still care, which made me care. Immediately I had to know why and what happened to make her like this.
The mystery behind this story is fantastic. There are little hints here and there, but not enough for me to really guess what it was. You will be hooked from the first chapter and unable to put it down. Unless you realize you have to be at work in four hours and have no clue what you just read in the last five pages because you're so tired. Then after you get off of work, you go straight home, hyped up on caffeine, and pick this book back up to finish it. Only to get to the end and realize how much it was worth it.
I love reading debut novels and Courtney Summers has swept me away. I cannot wait to read more from her! Oh and my only complaint is that the story ended. So to answer my own question in the first part of this review: Yes, it's THAT good!
Show More
voices, and all those other great things we as readers love. Out of the all the characters in the book I warm up to Parker easily...who really isn't exactly a warming character at first. Might be the sarcastic wit she holds that sucked me in. But she's got a secret and a major problem - only if everyone would just leave her the hell alone, she might finally be okay...or so she thinks.The fact is that no matter how much Parker tries to shove everyone away, they're still there. Even though Parker is...ahem sometimes....they all still care, which made me care. Immediately I had to know why and what happened to make her like this.
The mystery behind this story is fantastic. There are little hints here and there, but not enough for me to really guess what it was. You will be hooked from the first chapter and unable to put it down. Unless you realize you have to be at work in four hours and have no clue what you just read in the last five pages because you're so tired. Then after you get off of work, you go straight home, hyped up on caffeine, and pick this book back up to finish it. Only to get to the end and realize how much it was worth it.
I love reading debut novels and Courtney Summers has swept me away. I cannot wait to read more from her! Oh and my only complaint is that the story ended. So to answer my own question in the first part of this review: Yes, it's THAT good!
Show Less
LibraryThing member kperry
CRACKED UP TO BE is the story of Parker Fadley. She once held the position of queen bee of the school. She was the Captain of the cheerleaders, always landed on the honor roll list, and had the same basketball-star boyfriend since freshman year.After a particularly wild party at her boyfriend’s
Show More
house, something happened that left Parker with major feelings of guilt. She no longer feels like she deserved to live the life of perfection and slowly starts alienating herself from everyone and everything she once thought was so important. The problem is, the people around her don’t want to let her slip into the background.If you are in the mood for a light pick-me-up then CRACKED UP TO BE isn’t the book for you. It is filled with page after page of pain. Parker has to deal with feelings of loss and helplessness and discuss all of her painful experiences and poor decisions in therapy once a week. You’ll read obsessively until you learn what happened to change Parker’s life so drastically. The author eludes to the event throughout the story, but only reveals the whole picture when Parker is forced to come to terms with her decisions. While the entire book is filled with painful, awkward, and difficult situations, the story still ends on a hopeful note. It is definitely a book you don’t want to miss. Show Less
LibraryThing member theepicrat
This is definitely not a light-hearted read, and perhaps that is why I did not fall too hard in love with it. After reading so many fun and fuzzy YA books, I was probably unprepared for the different change of pace in cracked up to be.
The main character Parker is brutal, and quite frankly I don't
Courtney Summers does an amazing job with teasing us with bits and pieces of why Parker is trying to remove herself from everybody's lives. With each new piece of information - both useful yet still vague - I found myself with a new theory each time and a whole lot of second-guessing. When all the puzzle pieces fell into place, I cannot say that I had a OMG moment, but it definitely explains Parker's path to self-destruction a whole lot better.
The main character Parker is brutal, and quite frankly I don't
Show More
think I could be friends with her. She scares me - to be fair, she scares the other characters as well! However, as the story progresses, I saw that her hard exterior masked a very broken interior. I could appreciate her obsession with perfection (being a haphazard perfectionist that I am) and how hard she is on herself.Courtney Summers does an amazing job with teasing us with bits and pieces of why Parker is trying to remove herself from everybody's lives. With each new piece of information - both useful yet still vague - I found myself with a new theory each time and a whole lot of second-guessing. When all the puzzle pieces fell into place, I cannot say that I had a OMG moment, but it definitely explains Parker's path to self-destruction a whole lot better.
Show Less
LibraryThing member BookSpot
What's the worst thing you've ever done? Not the time you stole a pack of gum from the grocery store or the time you ot mad and told your sister she looked fat. Not even the time you lusted after your best friend's guy. I mean, the worst thing you've ever done?
What if it was something no one else
Parker Fadley has something like that. Something she's trying to remedy in a few...choice ways. She's on a basic suicide watch at school, has weekly meetings with the counselor, broke up with her perfect boyfriend, and left her Perfect Parker title far, far behind.
Cracked Up to Be is a book that keeps you out of the loop (as to what exactly Parker's secret is) for just about all of the book, but in a way that keeps you wanting to already be on that next page--not in a way hat gets you fed up. Lits bits are given throught the story as to what Parker did in ways that helped the story along, but never revealed too much too soon.
The characters were great (and there wasn't a punk rock best friend like in about 90% of the books I've read lately, so plus there!) and all worked amazingly together. The four main characters were ones that I could really see being friends...even when they kind of weren't and some of them couldn't stand each other ;-)
What if it was something no one else
Show More
knew about?Parker Fadley has something like that. Something she's trying to remedy in a few...choice ways. She's on a basic suicide watch at school, has weekly meetings with the counselor, broke up with her perfect boyfriend, and left her Perfect Parker title far, far behind.
Cracked Up to Be is a book that keeps you out of the loop (as to what exactly Parker's secret is) for just about all of the book, but in a way that keeps you wanting to already be on that next page--not in a way hat gets you fed up. Lits bits are given throught the story as to what Parker did in ways that helped the story along, but never revealed too much too soon.
The characters were great (and there wasn't a punk rock best friend like in about 90% of the books I've read lately, so plus there!) and all worked amazingly together. The four main characters were ones that I could really see being friends...even when they kind of weren't and some of them couldn't stand each other ;-)
Show Less
LibraryThing member stephxsu
Parker Fadley used to be perfect: cheerleading captain, honor roll, most popular boyfriend. Now, however, in her senior year of high school, she has none of those, and it’s all by her choice. She’s constantly getting in trouble, and has to meet with her guidance counselor once a week to discuss
What happened to make Parker act this way? As Parker pushes away her old friends and struggles with her feelings for the new boy, Jake, she also grapples with her guilt over a terrible event that happened the year before.
CRACKED UP TO BE is pretty much perfect. It’s a short but dense read that will keep you impatiently engrossed in Parker’s convoluted world, unable to tear yourself away until you find out what happened to make Parker deteriorate so much.
Of course, it is Parker who carries the novel, Parker who makes me love this book. One of the most difficult things for a writer to do is to create characters who are not necessarily likable but still make readers empathize with them. Parker and all her friends are such characters. They are the most popular people at their high school—something I, along with most of us, have never experienced—but even so they are bitchy, emotional, hurt, in love, in lust, manipulative—in short, relatable, complex, and one hundred percent real.
The novel is set up in a way that we don’t find out about what’s been eating at Parker until the very end, and the setup is wonderfully appropriate, for it allows us to focus on the character development while being intrigued by the backstory. I said that this book is pretty much perfect, and not just in the foundations, like the characters and the plot. Courtney Summers is also a writing master: she writes in an unassuming, straightforward prose that doesn’t beat around the bush. That’s the way Parker talks also; she gets straight to the point in wonderfully sarcastic lines.
All in all…does this review even need a conclusion? Are you confused about how I feel about this novel? Run out and buy it right now!
Show More
her “issues.”What happened to make Parker act this way? As Parker pushes away her old friends and struggles with her feelings for the new boy, Jake, she also grapples with her guilt over a terrible event that happened the year before.
CRACKED UP TO BE is pretty much perfect. It’s a short but dense read that will keep you impatiently engrossed in Parker’s convoluted world, unable to tear yourself away until you find out what happened to make Parker deteriorate so much.
Of course, it is Parker who carries the novel, Parker who makes me love this book. One of the most difficult things for a writer to do is to create characters who are not necessarily likable but still make readers empathize with them. Parker and all her friends are such characters. They are the most popular people at their high school—something I, along with most of us, have never experienced—but even so they are bitchy, emotional, hurt, in love, in lust, manipulative—in short, relatable, complex, and one hundred percent real.
The novel is set up in a way that we don’t find out about what’s been eating at Parker until the very end, and the setup is wonderfully appropriate, for it allows us to focus on the character development while being intrigued by the backstory. I said that this book is pretty much perfect, and not just in the foundations, like the characters and the plot. Courtney Summers is also a writing master: she writes in an unassuming, straightforward prose that doesn’t beat around the bush. That’s the way Parker talks also; she gets straight to the point in wonderfully sarcastic lines.
All in all…does this review even need a conclusion? Are you confused about how I feel about this novel? Run out and buy it right now!
Show Less
LibraryThing member dasuzuki
I had been wanting to read this book for ages, ever since I saw the first advanced reviews. Now that I finished it it’s really hard to gauge how I feel about it. I can’t rave about it like most of the other reviews I’ve seen. I could not put it down but it was almost in a morbid sense like
Just as a warning Summers will leaving you guessing until almost the very end trying to figure out what drove Parker over the edge. I was a little confused at first because Summers would drop these tantalizing hints along the way until the final completion of events that lead Parker to her current state. This book did make me think about how hard parents and society in general pushes kids these days. First, it was you had to go to kindergarten and then pre-K and now it’s the “right” educational day cares. Then there are all the music, dance, swimming, etc. classes. You have to wonder how many of these kids will grow up to be like Parker and feel the constant pressure to be the perfect student.
Show More
not being able to watch a train wreck. In fact, watching Parker was like watching a train wreck. She was on a self destructive streak that while she was not the most like-able of characters you had to feel sorry for her. It was amazing to watch the support she was getting, especially from her ex-boyfriend and the new guy, Jake.Just as a warning Summers will leaving you guessing until almost the very end trying to figure out what drove Parker over the edge. I was a little confused at first because Summers would drop these tantalizing hints along the way until the final completion of events that lead Parker to her current state. This book did make me think about how hard parents and society in general pushes kids these days. First, it was you had to go to kindergarten and then pre-K and now it’s the “right” educational day cares. Then there are all the music, dance, swimming, etc. classes. You have to wonder how many of these kids will grow up to be like Parker and feel the constant pressure to be the perfect student.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Krylon77
Parker is the perfect cheerleader, daughter and student. Then something bad happens that makes her stray away from that. I really enjoyed reading this book. I had to finish it to see what made Parker change so much. I loved the way that she talked to people. I liked how she purposely went out of
Show More
her way to say whatever she was feeling. I was left guessing until the very end. The book did not end the way I expected and I liked that. Show Less
LibraryThing member ZareksMom
An awesome YA book! I couldn't put it down. Every time I thought I'd figured things out, something would happen to make me change my mind. The main character wasn't particularly likable, which is usually a great way to turn me off a book, but the deeper you delve into her motivations, the more you
Show More
want to know. Great read! Show Less
LibraryThing member mamasigs126
Part rebellious teen story, part crime novel, Cracked Up To Be is an interesting story. Something horrible has happened but the reader learn little details as Parker remembers what she doesn't want to remember. She goes from a slightly wild cheerleader to a brash, unhappy, sarcastic kid who is also
Show More
very funny. The writing is taut and clever. But I couldn't enjoy the story, possibly because I've seen too many kids like this! Show Less
LibraryThing member maribs
When I started this book I was reminded quite a bit of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Parker was a 4.0 student, head cheerleader and popular but an incident over the summer has her falling apart. She now must visit the school counselor every week, she is on academic probation and her friends have
I really like the way the story is told. It is in present time but Parker has small flashes of the party over the summer. Little snippets that grow and grow as the story progresses. An interesting way to tell the story and very effective in setting the tone.
I look forward to more by Courtney Summers.
Show More
been told to keep an eye on her and report any destructive behaviors. The protagonists are very different, though, as are their experiences. I really like the way the story is told. It is in present time but Parker has small flashes of the party over the summer. Little snippets that grow and grow as the story progresses. An interesting way to tell the story and very effective in setting the tone.
I look forward to more by Courtney Summers.
Show Less
Awards
White Pine Award (Nominee — 2010)
CYBILS Awards (Winner — Young Adult Fiction — 2009)
Original publication date
2008-12-23
Other editions
Similar in this library
Stay by Deb Caletti