Drowning Anna

This is story centered around female/female bullying in school. Anna starts off being friends with Hayley, but Hayley, for reasons known only to herself, turns against Anna and carries out a protracted and vindictive series of verbal, and then even physical , attacks against the girl.

Melanie tries to be friends with both girls, but finds that isn't such an easy task in itself.

The story is also told in a somewhat unusual manner. First off, there's a lot of flashback as seen both in Anna's diary, and in regular flashback form. The story starts off with Anna trying to kill herself, so there's also the ongoing attempt of the hospital to keep her alive.

There's a tremendous amount of insight her into the terrible pressure that Anna feels and how no one seems to really understand what is going on with her. It's a strong examination of what goes on in the lives of many girls who find themselves ostracized at school for reasons they cannot even begin to figure out.

This is a really good, although upsetting, book and one that is a must-read.

Main Index

Young adult Index