This book chronicles the story of a high school football player who went from star to almost-prisoner and how the people around him reacted to that. I thought the author did a good job of capturing the voice of a high school girl in the narrative. I liked that Katy didn't mind being unconventional and that she was loyal to those she considered her friends. It might be a bit unrealistic for a 17 year old though--Most conform to peer pressure. I did guess the plot twist early on and felt that the story took too long to get to it.

Spoiler:

Though there are no explicit scenes in this book, sexual abuse is part of the plot. ( )

I just finished All The Glory and absolutely loved it. I don't even know where to start because all of the things I really want to talk about I can't because I don't want to give anything away. It's an amazing story with an incredible message. There's the ever present Elle Casey humor and wit right alongside tough topics and yet once again Elle Casey shows that she's up to the challenge of tackling those topics and that she can do so with grace and humor. Plus she throws in so many other moral dilemma's such as friendship, loyalty, empathy and love. The book does have a dark side to it but that only makes the positive messages all the more powerful.

Jason Bradely is your average or should I say above average all American high school kid. He's got it all. He's the star quarterback, he's got the looks, a Barbie cheerleading girlfriend, talent, and a nice car. Basically he's the kinda guy that all the other kids want to be. He's Banner High's golden boy at least until he's found standing over the body of his dead coach and then everything changes.

All of his once so called best friends hate him now, his girlfriend is more concerned about her own image than what her boyfriend is going through. Everyone assumes he's guilty even though it's supposed to be guilty until proven innocent and the media have camped out on his doorstep. Everyone hates him and wants to see him pay except for one person: Katy. Katy has lived down the road from Jason all her life and even though they exist in totally different worlds. He's popular and she's not. She still remembers the kind kid who always stood up for everyone. A boy who protected others and thinks there's more to his story that what he's telling and sets out to find the truth.

I think Katy's biggest gift is her empathy. As everyone turns their backs on Jason she's the one person who decides to stand beside him. She is able to put herself in his shoes and realize how lonely and scared it must be facing possible murder charges and prison for the rest of his life and that's if he's lucky and doesn't get death row. She does have her doubts, fears and misgivings like any rational person would but she is determined to stand by him no matter what happens. She's forced to really think about life, about loyalty, friendship, what's right and what's wrong. She along with Jason are forced to grow up and are faced with challenges that would haunt even the sturdiest of adults. Empathy is what drives her to Jason, that and the fact that I think she's always had a bit of a crush on him. Loyalty keeps her by his side and justice is what drives her to never give up. There are just so many good and of course a few bad themes running through this book and the ending is powerfully haunting.

I absolutely loved Katy and Jason. Reading All The Glory tugged at my heartstrings and called to my sense of morals. It reaffirmed my feelings on justice and friendship. It put a smile on my face, made me laugh and then made me want to scream and cry. It did everything it was supposed to to do and more. And really what more can you ask than that? Another great book by Elle Casey to join my ever growing Elle Casey library and just one more reason why I love her writing so much. ( )