Kate can't believe that Amelia, an ambitious, levelheaded girl who's never been in trouble would do something like that. But by the time she arrives at Grace Hall, Kate's faced with far more devastating news. Amelia is dead.
Seemingly unable to cope with what she'd done, a despondent Amelia has jumped from the school's roof in an act of "spontaneous" suicide. At least that's the story Grace Hall and the police tell Kate. And overwhelmed as she is by her own guilt and shattered by grief, it is the story that Kate believes until she gets the anonymous text:
"She didn't jump."
Sifting through Amelia's emails, text messages, social media postings, and cell phone logs, Kate is determined to learn the heartbreaking truth about why Amelia was on Grace Hall's roof that day-and why she died.
I have seen this book all over the place and have read some of the reviews and thought sure why the heck not, lets give it a go. This story plays on a constant theme through, out one that I think most parents can identify with; quality time vs quantity time and even within the best of relationships how well do we really know our children.
Kate Baron is a single mother, works in a reputable law firm as a junior partner she works long hours, her daughter Amelia is alone a lot and she suffers a great amount of guilt over it. Though Kate spends a lot of time at work the two spend a lot of quality time together, dinner nights, movie night etc.
Amelia is a 15 year old over achiever, honor student, well liked by her peers, not popular but not a social outcast. Until she gets tapped by one of the schools exclusive sorority like clubs the Magpies, what starts out as innocent pranks quickly turns into malicious hazing to cold calculated bullying.
This book goes back and forth in POV from Amelia to Kate and the various emails and text messages, that Kate is going through to help reconstruct the last few months of Amelia's life, to uncover if Amelia really did commit suicide, was it an accident,was she murdered. Whatever the cause Kate is determined to seek out the truth of her daughters last moments.I enjoyed this book, as the mom of two teenage daughters It was easy to relate to Kate and the guilt she felt about working late, and leaving Amelia alone so often, not being able to give the attention at times that Amelia may have needed. It is clear through out the book how much the two care for each other; You as a reader are constantly reminded of it through out by either Kate or Amelia. There are a lot of secrets in this book, secrets Kate keep from her daughter, secrets Amelia kept from her mom, secrets Amelia eventually shares with her bff.
The author hits on a very hot topic button with the subject of bullying and how far teenagers with social media and cellphones etc are willing to take it. School administrative responsibility, and where their role is in prevention and cessation. It brings up another hot topic of knowing what your kids are posting on social media sites. Its a fine line between stalking your kids, and knowing what your kids are posting or there is the opposite and not caring what your kids presence online is. It is also a coming of age story and learning about your sexuality, and being comfortable with it.
I had a few minor plot issues here and there one being the Ben thing but I can't really elaborate what bugged me without adding spoilers and I hate doing that, all I can say is read the book and all will be revealed. This book is an emotional roller coaster ride and you will run the gamut love, hate, jealousy, betrayal, confusion, and heartbreak.
I gave this book a 3.5 out of 5 star rating