Shanna Reilly BudnickiCritiques

As a former competitor from around the same time as this book is set and a current Speech and Debate coach, I had to request this.

Be aware, there are many regional differences in competition so if you know about speech and debate not everything will 100% match your own experiences. If you don't skip this paragraph of the review. For example, in it is mentioned early on that Policy was the only partner debate but in my experience, Public forum is also a partnered debate. I also have no idea how a tournament that starts at 9am can have 3 rounds and a final and have people home in time for a party- but I was able to suspend my disbelief for that. But the feel for tournaments, the uniqueness of competitors, and the events felt right.

As for the story itself, it feels accurate to the emotions and perceptions of a 9th grade girl. The story follows a young girl from a split family starting 9th grade at a fairly well-to-do high school. She kind of falls into joining the debate team as a way of making new friends. She deals with school, debate, and love life issues throughout the year. The book starts on the first day of school and ends when school ends.

There is drama and poor choices but nothing particularly scandalous. At least not until the last few lines of the book. If the sophomore year book goes in the direction this one is headed, I would be very uncomfortable. There is a possibility of a student/substitute teacher relationship. I know those things happen and can be addressed in a tactful way that shows the issues around it, but it isn't the story I would be wanting to read or expect from the blurb on this one or the direction it started in.

4 stars. Really a neat book overall. I'm deducting one star just for the odd ending scene which implies an inappropriate relationship. I think the book would be stronger without that.

I've never competed in forensics or debate but did compete for years in mock trial, which shares a number of similarities. The author has captured a lot of the stress of competition, but also the close relationships and strong feelings that can arise in the group.

If this book sounds even remotely interesting to you, you'll probably like it. I'd look forward to a sequel, or even a book set in a related subject such as a spelling bee, academic decathlon, or mock trial.