A short novel that really emphasizes the fall out when teenagers make one bad decision and they feel that will haunt them for the rest of their lives. At the age of 17 though Beckett and Chloe think since their actions on one drunk night at a party were irreversible that their world has come to an end. Girl Over The Edge puts emphasis on very real issues with adolescents in the 21st century: peer pressure and bullying (namely cyber bullying). At the very beginning and within the plot synopsis of the book the readers realize that Chloe and Beckett were subjected to having nude pictures of themselves disseminated throughout the school. This puts them at risk for expulsion and has set forth a chain reaction of negative events for both girls as they enter their senior year. The reason or motivation behind that grave error was never revealed but that isn't the focus of this story. It is unsettling how much one girl becomes fragile and declines before the other's eyes as they both try to cope with being ostracized. It is a lesson in coping mechanisms and how a young person needs to take responsibility for their actions and decisions.A very fast and short read. Amy Kinzer is very plain and literal about a lot of details especially since the story is from Beckett's point of view. The narration isn't anything to shout about. I think it would have been a bit more balanced if she could have done it third person and split the chapters between both Chloe and Beckett. I suppose like any girl of her social standing perhaps she was appropriately superficial. Her priorities get shuffled around as she struggles to keep her best friend through the ordeal.Thoughts of suicide is a real risk in many adolescents who are bullied on popular social networks. The support of just one friend can be the world of difference in the troubled individual. Despite my 3 star rating I really liked this book for the message it conveys but not necessarily how it was written. Both teenaged boys and girls should have a read. I bought this novel back in 2012, so when I finally got the chance to read it, I was more than thrilled, but then I was let down immensely. The novel begins with two girls, Beckett Smith and Chloe Baker, at the Aurora Bridge, talking about an event that has taken place before the novel started. Honestly, I think I would've enjoyed this novel a lot more if it was told from both Beckett and Chloe's point-of-view, but it wasn't. It was only told from Beckett's point-of-view. Also, I didn't really connect with any of the characters. I'm not sure if this was because of the characters or the way the story was told. Overall, I wasn't really a fan of this novel, however, I do think that this novel could help a lot of young people who is struggling with being accepted and is considering suicide...this novel teaches you that there is never a reason to go to that extreme, and I absolutely loved that aspect about this novel.
What do You think about Girl Over The Edge (2000)?
I finished this book yesterday. it wasn't too shabby.
—Alice10fttall
wow! its very sad very serious and heart wrenching.
—Alyssa
