  | Tonight we rule the world Author: Smedley, Zack | |
| Price: $22.58 | ||
Summary:
Owen Turner is a boy of too many words. For years, they all stayed inside his head and he barely spoke--until he met Lily. Lily, the girl who gave him his voice, helped him come out as bi, and settle into his ASD diagnosis. But everything unravels when someone reports Owen's biggest secret to the school: that he was sexually assaulted at a class event.
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 09/01/2021 Gr 9 Up—A sexual assault, the secrets surrounding it, and the resulting trauma reshape everything high school senior Owen understands to be true. Switching between earlier diaries and the current time line, Owen, who is on the autism spectrum, details his relationship with his girlfriend, do-gooder perfectionist Lily. Neither Lily nor their friends blink when Owen comes out as bisexual, but the night he reveals this information on social media he is sexually assaulted while on a class trip. He tries to keep the report of his rape and the ensuing investigation secret from Lily, as things between them are already strained and stressful. Though Owen knows who raped him, he refuses to tell the school, his parents, or the authorities. He grapples with what happened to him while trying to figure out if he can do the relationship reset that Lily desperately wants. Owen works through the hurdles that trauma brings, eventually confronting his abuser and revealing their identity to his parents. The intricate layers, stunning revelations, and powerful emotions in this story will captivate readers as well as help them overlook some of the flaws—mainly uneven writing. The structure of the novel, partially told through diary entries, successfully adds suspense and shows how difficult it can be to move forward and just exist in the aftermath of a horrific incident. VERDICT A painful and important look at toxic relationships, rape, power, and control from a vantage point not often seen in YA.—Amanda MacGregor, Parkview Elem. Sch., Rosemount, MN - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 10/01/2021 The same day 17-year-old Owen comes out as bisexual, he’s sexually assaulted, an act he keeps secret until an anonymous someone reports it to the school administration, and even then he stubbornly refuses to name the assailant. Why Owen’s adamant silence? Because his assailant is someone close to him, making the assault even harder for him to process. Owen’s experience also impacts his on-again, off-again relationship with his girlfriend, Lily, who won’t accept his many attempts to break up with her. The mystery surrounding Owen’s attack runs through the narrative, with an unexpected twist awaiting readers when the attacker is finally revealed. Promoted by the publisher as “Speak for boys,” Smedley’s second novel is troubling but deeply felt and extremely well written; especially beautifully realized is Owen’s loving relationship with his group of friends. The book is not flawless, however; it tends toward maudlin, and the ever-changing nature of Owen’s relationship with Lily goes on too long. Nevertheless, the thoughtful presentation of such a rare topic in YA fiction is welcome. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.
