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Dutton Books for Young Readers (2016), 254 pages
Description
At cheerleading camp, Hermione is drugged and raped, but she is not sure whether it was one of her teammates or a boy on another team--and in the aftermath she has to deal with the rumors in her small Ontario town, the often awkward reaction of her classmates, the rejection of her boyfriend, the discovery that her best friend, Polly, is gay, and above all the need to remember what happened so that the guilty boy can be brought to justice.
User reviews
LibraryThing member startwithgivens
The author took a far too common crime and presented it in such a way that says, "never give up, never back down." The main character has such a strong support system and I only wish there had been more development of how she came to realize support was right in front of her all along.
LibraryThing member karenvg3
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book when I started. It was a quick read and I really enjoyed it. Serious triggers in it, but they were addressed very well in my opinion. Everyone needs a Polly in their life. 4 ⭐️
LibraryThing member itchyfeetreader
ape is not an easy subject matter to cover or to read about despite the plethora of novels, tv shows and movies which treat it as a simple plot device. Where this story is a little different to many of those is that Hermione and her relationships are at the heart of the story and unlike many she
That’s is not to say the writing here is superficial. Johnson has worked hard to create a scenario and a town where Hermione is able to make the choices she makes. We have the crime taking place away from home so there is an underlying certainty for Hermione that she does not know her attacker which perhaps makes it easier for her to proceed as she does back at home. Nonetheless the town is a small one and as the co-leader of a successful cheerleading squad and she still faces a level of judgement and victim-shaming although this is quickly closed down; perhaps more quickly than is realistic regardless of her place in the schools social hierarchy.
The real strength of this novel is however in the relationships Hermione has, with her parents, her coach and perhaps most of all her best friend Polly. Polly is consistently loyal and ultimately an out and out champion for Hermione which she desperately needs. Her parents are shown struggling but ultimately supportive. This really does work although I do note that none of the characters are very well fleshed out – other than the fact Polly is popular, a cheerleader, a great friend and just starting to find her way in a relationship with another girl we know very little about her
My one real criticism is that the story covers the full school year after Hermione’s attack and therefore has a slight implication of a timetable for healing – I would have like to have perhaps seen Hermione start university and deal with the reality of meeting new people moving away from her support network and growing on her strength beyond the simple time period shown here.
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has a really strong support network which means that much of the story is about Hermione taking back control and choosing not to be defined by solely this experience. I recognise that this is not true of every rape survivor but it was refreshing to read about how this could work with the right support structure in place. That’s is not to say the writing here is superficial. Johnson has worked hard to create a scenario and a town where Hermione is able to make the choices she makes. We have the crime taking place away from home so there is an underlying certainty for Hermione that she does not know her attacker which perhaps makes it easier for her to proceed as she does back at home. Nonetheless the town is a small one and as the co-leader of a successful cheerleading squad and she still faces a level of judgement and victim-shaming although this is quickly closed down; perhaps more quickly than is realistic regardless of her place in the schools social hierarchy.
The real strength of this novel is however in the relationships Hermione has, with her parents, her coach and perhaps most of all her best friend Polly. Polly is consistently loyal and ultimately an out and out champion for Hermione which she desperately needs. Her parents are shown struggling but ultimately supportive. This really does work although I do note that none of the characters are very well fleshed out – other than the fact Polly is popular, a cheerleader, a great friend and just starting to find her way in a relationship with another girl we know very little about her
My one real criticism is that the story covers the full school year after Hermione’s attack and therefore has a slight implication of a timetable for healing – I would have like to have perhaps seen Hermione start university and deal with the reality of meeting new people moving away from her support network and growing on her strength beyond the simple time period shown here.
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LibraryThing member foggidawn
Hermione Winters is looking forward to her senior year, especially since she and her best friend are co-captains of the cheerleading squad. But then, just before the beginning of the school year, the unthinkable happens: Hermione is raped at cheer camp. Over the course of the year, Hermione must
This is a great, thought-provoking read. The subject matter is difficult, but not presented in graphic detail. The writing and characterization are strong. Recommended.
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face many difficult things as a result of the attack. Fortunately, her parents and best friend are supportive, but some other people in her life are not.This is a great, thought-provoking read. The subject matter is difficult, but not presented in graphic detail. The writing and characterization are strong. Recommended.
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LibraryThing member Herenya
This is a loose retelling of Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale. Hermione Winters, co-captain of her small-town high school cheerleading team, is convinced that this final year is going to be the best one ever. And then she's drugged and raped at summer cheer camp.
This sounded like the sort of story I'd
For a book about a traumatic event and its aftermath, Exit, Pursued by a Bear is realistically hopeful. Hermione's family, friends and teachers are (with a couple of exceptions) incredibly supportive, and she has access to the services she needs. As the author acknowledges at the end, this is not a common experience. But Hermione's support network is plausible, not some unbelievable perfect fantasy, and they cannot magically solve all her problems. Given that there are many darker books about coping with trauma without the kind of support Hermione has, it was refreshing to read something which suggests that lacking support isn't inevitable.
Exit, Pursued by a Bear explores the idea that there isn't one set way of being a victim. And it doesn't suggest this is a simply matter of choice. Hermione does choose to carry on as planned with her cheerleading, but she's aware that had her experience been a bit different, she'd probably be choosing to never leave her bedroom instead, and it is her support network which makes her cheerleading ambitions achievable.
My favourite part about this book is Hermione's long-standing friendship with her co-captain, Polly. I also really liked how the title ended up fitting the story.
“Girls,” I say, like I’m telling them the secrets of the universe, “this is going to be the best cheer year ever.”
“Go Bears!” shouts Polly, flinging her perfectly manicured hands in the air and shaking pom-poms she doesn’t have. The boys are stomping along in back. Even the bus driver is in her spell, and I catch him looking back and smiling in his mirror. I’m the only one who knows her well enough to know that she is being excruciatingly sarcastic. That is Polly’s superpower. She’s a cheerleader for want of another choice, and while she looks like the perfect model, underneath the plastic veneer is a capacity for scorn and contempt I’m glad is on my side. Whatever the odds, if Polly is cheering for you, you are a force to be reckoned with.
This sounded like the sort of story I'd
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prefer to avoid, but it showed up in my recommendations and I was curious, so I read a sample online... and then I had to keep reading.For a book about a traumatic event and its aftermath, Exit, Pursued by a Bear is realistically hopeful. Hermione's family, friends and teachers are (with a couple of exceptions) incredibly supportive, and she has access to the services she needs. As the author acknowledges at the end, this is not a common experience. But Hermione's support network is plausible, not some unbelievable perfect fantasy, and they cannot magically solve all her problems. Given that there are many darker books about coping with trauma without the kind of support Hermione has, it was refreshing to read something which suggests that lacking support isn't inevitable.
Exit, Pursued by a Bear explores the idea that there isn't one set way of being a victim. And it doesn't suggest this is a simply matter of choice. Hermione does choose to carry on as planned with her cheerleading, but she's aware that had her experience been a bit different, she'd probably be choosing to never leave her bedroom instead, and it is her support network which makes her cheerleading ambitions achievable.
My favourite part about this book is Hermione's long-standing friendship with her co-captain, Polly. I also really liked how the title ended up fitting the story.
“Girls,” I say, like I’m telling them the secrets of the universe, “this is going to be the best cheer year ever.”
“Go Bears!” shouts Polly, flinging her perfectly manicured hands in the air and shaking pom-poms she doesn’t have. The boys are stomping along in back. Even the bus driver is in her spell, and I catch him looking back and smiling in his mirror. I’m the only one who knows her well enough to know that she is being excruciatingly sarcastic. That is Polly’s superpower. She’s a cheerleader for want of another choice, and while she looks like the perfect model, underneath the plastic veneer is a capacity for scorn and contempt I’m glad is on my side. Whatever the odds, if Polly is cheering for you, you are a force to be reckoned with.
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LibraryThing member Susan.Macura
This is an interesting look at cheerleading as an athletic endeavor, teenage friendships and what happened when a popular girl, Hermione, is drugged, then raped while at their yearly cheerleading camp. Fortunately for Hermione, her family, friends, teachers and coach stand behind her throughout her
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senior year in school where she also competed in her last national cheerleading championships. Everyone also stood beside her as she made the difficult decision to have an abortion when it was determined that the rape resulted in a pregnancy. While everything turned out almost perfectly for her, even to the point where she recognized her rapist at the national championships, it is not always like that in real life. While it was well written, it was almost too good to be true. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jessika.C
Trigger warning: rape, victim blaming, slut shaming.
Summer before senior year is supposed to be a happy memory but for Hermione Winters it will be a shadow that follows her for the rest of her life. Finally elected cheer co-captain with her bestie Paulie, they were going to have the best cheer camp
I loved how the attack was the silent lurker in the background of the story. It's so easy to make a story one whole political statement about rape/rape culture/the immorality of victim blaming but this one treaded the waters carefully. In few words I would say this is the story of empowerment, a girl coming to terms with what happened to her and gaining back control of her life. Hermione didn't stand by watching the world leave her behind as she wallowed away into nothing. She made her choices and dealt with problems as they came and ultimately went.
I'm so used to reading books where the MC doesn't get any resolution until she 'proves her innocence' and finds her rapist. What makes this book so great is that this MC doesn't get a fairy tale ending but she discovers that it's still a possibility for her. It should be highly recommended.
Summer before senior year is supposed to be a happy memory but for Hermione Winters it will be a shadow that follows her for the rest of her life. Finally elected cheer co-captain with her bestie Paulie, they were going to have the best cheer camp
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experience ever. It was fun until the camp farewell dance where she took a drink from the wrong person and found herself in the hospital when she woke up. Hermoine lives a small town, the people talk, no one keeps a secret for too long. How she deals with the aftermath of her attack is a powerful message for anyone, victim or not. Now this should be required reading.I loved how the attack was the silent lurker in the background of the story. It's so easy to make a story one whole political statement about rape/rape culture/the immorality of victim blaming but this one treaded the waters carefully. In few words I would say this is the story of empowerment, a girl coming to terms with what happened to her and gaining back control of her life. Hermione didn't stand by watching the world leave her behind as she wallowed away into nothing. She made her choices and dealt with problems as they came and ultimately went.
I'm so used to reading books where the MC doesn't get any resolution until she 'proves her innocence' and finds her rapist. What makes this book so great is that this MC doesn't get a fairy tale ending but she discovers that it's still a possibility for her. It should be highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member EdGoldberg
There are books about rape that detail the deep emotional impact on the victim, most notably Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. It is a serious book detailing how the victim turns inward, feels ashamed even though it isn’t her fault, feels like she has no one to turn to and becomes unsure of friends
EXIT, Pursued by a Bear by E. K.Johnston is no less serious but takes a totally different stance. Hermione Winters is raped during a dance at cheerleader camp. She was given a drug, pretty much knocked out, dragged into the woods, left half submerged in the lake and remembers nothing about the event. When she is found in the lake, she is immediately whisked to the hospital where she is examined. However, the samples that were obtained were compromised because of the time she spent in the water. Thus, there was nothing to warrant taking DNA samples from the boys attending the camp.
Unlike Melinda in Speak, Hermione is a strong individual, has a strong support system in family, friends (especially her friend Polly), therapist and teammates and is determined to break the curse of Palermo Heights School (read the book to see what it is). She will not let this incident ruin her life, her plans or her friendships.
Johnston doesn’t ignore the trauma of rape. Hermione definitely feels the impact of this crime, but she’s determined. At first she’s afraid of the boys on the team. Could one of them possibly be the rapist? Is she going to get pregnant? Is it important to ‘get revenge’ on the perpetrator? A slew of thoughts go through her head. She’s emotional, getting unpredictable panic attacks.
I think, in Speak and Exit, Pursued by a Bear, you have the two extremes. In Speak, Melinda is traumatized. In Exit, Pursued by a Bear, Hermione is determined to live her life, despite this unspeakable event. Every victim reacts differently to every crime. However, reading about a rape victim who successfully conquesrs the trauma may not be a bad thing. You can’t reverse the act. You can’t forget the situation. But maybe you can bulldoze your way through it and be the person you want to be.
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as well as strangers.EXIT, Pursued by a Bear by E. K.Johnston is no less serious but takes a totally different stance. Hermione Winters is raped during a dance at cheerleader camp. She was given a drug, pretty much knocked out, dragged into the woods, left half submerged in the lake and remembers nothing about the event. When she is found in the lake, she is immediately whisked to the hospital where she is examined. However, the samples that were obtained were compromised because of the time she spent in the water. Thus, there was nothing to warrant taking DNA samples from the boys attending the camp.
Unlike Melinda in Speak, Hermione is a strong individual, has a strong support system in family, friends (especially her friend Polly), therapist and teammates and is determined to break the curse of Palermo Heights School (read the book to see what it is). She will not let this incident ruin her life, her plans or her friendships.
Johnston doesn’t ignore the trauma of rape. Hermione definitely feels the impact of this crime, but she’s determined. At first she’s afraid of the boys on the team. Could one of them possibly be the rapist? Is she going to get pregnant? Is it important to ‘get revenge’ on the perpetrator? A slew of thoughts go through her head. She’s emotional, getting unpredictable panic attacks.
I think, in Speak and Exit, Pursued by a Bear, you have the two extremes. In Speak, Melinda is traumatized. In Exit, Pursued by a Bear, Hermione is determined to live her life, despite this unspeakable event. Every victim reacts differently to every crime. However, reading about a rape victim who successfully conquesrs the trauma may not be a bad thing. You can’t reverse the act. You can’t forget the situation. But maybe you can bulldoze your way through it and be the person you want to be.
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LibraryThing member cbrwn92
This is one of those books I started at one in the morning and didn't put down until I was finished. I've been trying to think of how to review this book today, but I'm at a loss. It's such a well-written, descriptive, and emotional book. At times the story was shocking, especially with the
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dis-connect the main character feels throughout the novel. But for the first time, I read a book that was written about a sexual assault and there were supportive characters everywhere. The Reverend at her church, the police officer, Polly!, they all blew me away. I think that one day I'll be able to fully comprehend and internalize this book and write a proper review, but until then, this will suffice. Show Less
LibraryThing member olegalCA
I'm probably going to be in the minority here, but I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. I found Hermione too "together" for lack of a better word - the author tells us that she can't sleep/stares at the ceiling but doesn't show us anything other than Hermione conquering challenge
And what was up with the interaction with the church pastor? Again, Johnston tells us previously that Hermione attends church with her father but we never see her at a service or explore what role spirituality has in her life. The one conversation between Hermione and Pastor Rob seemed phony. All Hermione's interactions with adults (the interview with a reporter was the lone exception) showed how awesome adults were. Maybe we need a book that shows teenagers and young adults that reporting an assault can be a positive step in healing... but how realistic is it?
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after challenge. It was so unbelievable that not only would Hermione find a psychiatrist right away in small town Ontario (when most of us have to wait six months or more) but she finds one that will come to her house!?! Insane.And what was up with the interaction with the church pastor? Again, Johnston tells us previously that Hermione attends church with her father but we never see her at a service or explore what role spirituality has in her life. The one conversation between Hermione and Pastor Rob seemed phony. All Hermione's interactions with adults (the interview with a reporter was the lone exception) showed how awesome adults were. Maybe we need a book that shows teenagers and young adults that reporting an assault can be a positive step in healing... but how realistic is it?
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LibraryThing member norabelle414
Hermione Winters knows that her life is going to change. It's the summer before her last year of high school, and the beginning of her last ever cheerleading camp. Cheerleading is everything to her and her best friend Polly - spirit, friendship, trust, adrenaline - but this will be the last year.
For a book about such serious problems, it's actually pretty positive. It's much more focused on friendship than romance. Hermione has a good relationship with her family and supportive friends, so this isn't the most realistic story. But this isn't really a cautionary tale or melodrama, it's a story about the process of recovery and friendship. It's very emotional but quite cathartic and I liked the characters and enjoyed reading it. The book is specifically Canadian and I spent a lot of time Googling locations, but I enjoy that kind of thing so I didn't mind at all. Highly recommended if you're looking for a positive book about rape recovery, or if you like YA friendship.
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She expects that. What she doesn't expect is drugs in her drink at the end-of-camp dance, and a boy leading her outside, and waking up the next day in the hospital. Now she'll spend her last year of high school waiting - waiting to see if she's pregnant, waiting for DNA tests to come back, waiting for people to treat her normally again, waiting to feel normal again.For a book about such serious problems, it's actually pretty positive. It's much more focused on friendship than romance. Hermione has a good relationship with her family and supportive friends, so this isn't the most realistic story. But this isn't really a cautionary tale or melodrama, it's a story about the process of recovery and friendship. It's very emotional but quite cathartic and I liked the characters and enjoyed reading it. The book is specifically Canadian and I spent a lot of time Googling locations, but I enjoy that kind of thing so I didn't mind at all. Highly recommended if you're looking for a positive book about rape recovery, or if you like YA friendship.
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LibraryThing member indygo88
Hermione, captain of her school's cheerleading team, is excited about the beginning of her upcoming senior year. Prior to the beginning of school, she, along with her team, attends cheerleading camp (as she does every year) but while there, the unthinkable occurs. Someone slips something into her
On the surface, this sounds like a run-of-the-mill YA story with a side plot of sexual assault thrown in. While teen rape should not of course be taken lightly, it's a story that's been done before. However. This book had been on my radar after reading some really good reviews and I had it added to my wishlist without even really paying much attention to the book description. It recently made it to the top of my reading queue and then I wasn't sure if it was actually going to hold my attention. But it did.
It may seem odd to describe a book with such disturbing subject matter refreshing, but that's what comes to mind after having finished this. I enjoyed it a lot. Hermione is portrayed not as your typical rape victim who becomes consumed by her situation, but one who has grit and is determined to move beyond and not be defined by what happened to her. While some readers may be put off by this, as I said above, I found it refreshing to read about a character who takes it the other way and becomes a role model, determined to get her life back in order.
Despite a plot description and title that may not grab a reader right off, I thought this was a very well written story, appealing not to just younger readers but older adults as well, and I'm sure my review has not done it justice. If possible, read this one on audio. The reader (Jorjeana Marie) is fantastic. This is probably one of my favorites so far this year. Recommend!
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drink and she awakens to find that she has been the victim of sexual assault. But because of the drug, she has virtually no memory of anything that happened.On the surface, this sounds like a run-of-the-mill YA story with a side plot of sexual assault thrown in. While teen rape should not of course be taken lightly, it's a story that's been done before. However. This book had been on my radar after reading some really good reviews and I had it added to my wishlist without even really paying much attention to the book description. It recently made it to the top of my reading queue and then I wasn't sure if it was actually going to hold my attention. But it did.
It may seem odd to describe a book with such disturbing subject matter refreshing, but that's what comes to mind after having finished this. I enjoyed it a lot. Hermione is portrayed not as your typical rape victim who becomes consumed by her situation, but one who has grit and is determined to move beyond and not be defined by what happened to her. While some readers may be put off by this, as I said above, I found it refreshing to read about a character who takes it the other way and becomes a role model, determined to get her life back in order.
Despite a plot description and title that may not grab a reader right off, I thought this was a very well written story, appealing not to just younger readers but older adults as well, and I'm sure my review has not done it justice. If possible, read this one on audio. The reader (Jorjeana Marie) is fantastic. This is probably one of my favorites so far this year. Recommend!
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LibraryThing member Jonez
3.75
I absolutely love the way they tackled the delicate subject matter. I also adored the friendship between Hermoine and Polly.
I absolutely love the way they tackled the delicate subject matter. I also adored the friendship between Hermoine and Polly.
LibraryThing member WhitneyYPL
E.K. Johnston tackles a tough topic in this book and does it beautifully. Cheerleading is a big deal at Hermione Winters' high school. She is co-captain of the cheer squad alongside her best friend Polly. At cheer camp, Hermione has a lot on her mind. She needs to keep her squad united, on the
Part forensic mystery, part social commentary, Exit, Pursued by a Bear follows the aftermath of the tragedy that befalls Hermione. It tackles not only what she goes through, but what her friends, family, and those who are trying to help her go through as well. Take all the stress of senior year: picking out colleges, final cheer competitions, boyfriends, best friends...and add trauma. Yikes!
I recommend this book to readers in grades 9-12. It does have some heavy content, including the topic of abortion. Laurie Halse Anderson and Thirteen Reasons Why fans will enjoy. -EC
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ball, and ready to compete. The farthest thought from her mind is the fact that one of the people she's been swimming and dining with at camp will assault her.Part forensic mystery, part social commentary, Exit, Pursued by a Bear follows the aftermath of the tragedy that befalls Hermione. It tackles not only what she goes through, but what her friends, family, and those who are trying to help her go through as well. Take all the stress of senior year: picking out colleges, final cheer competitions, boyfriends, best friends...and add trauma. Yikes!
I recommend this book to readers in grades 9-12. It does have some heavy content, including the topic of abortion. Laurie Halse Anderson and Thirteen Reasons Why fans will enjoy. -EC
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LibraryThing member bucketofrhymes
Here is one of many things I love about E K Johnston: she writes about the strength of young women and their friendships, and she writes about it so well.
This is a book about rape -- and the slut-shaming and victim-blaming that unfortunately follow along. But it's also a surprisingly uplifting
Raw, wonderfully-written and a loose Shakespeare retelling... Honestly, I love everything about this book.
This is a book about rape -- and the slut-shaming and victim-blaming that unfortunately follow along. But it's also a surprisingly uplifting
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story about strength and the power of good people in a person's life. (It also manages to do this without getting sappy, which is quite something because I feel like I can't even describe this book without getting sappy.)Raw, wonderfully-written and a loose Shakespeare retelling... Honestly, I love everything about this book.
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LibraryThing member amandanan
Read in one go. What a beautiful story about a terrible thing. The strength Hermione shows through the entire book is inspiring.
LibraryThing member DrFuriosa
A unique, powerful, empowering book about survival and self-discovery after surviving a moment when one's right to choose has been stripped away. Highly recommended.
LibraryThing member GennaC
“I've never met any of these women before, and I will never see any of them after today. I don't know their names and they don't know mine. I've been on teams and in clubs my whole life, surrounded by people who are united by a common purpose, and I have never felt anything like this. Maybe it's
This novel is brief, devastating, yet so strong. I think I spent nearly fifty percent of this book crying, which I swear is a positive endorsement! Exit, Pursued by a Bear hurts. But Johnston's narrative is so gorgeous while, most notably, offering a true celebration of genuine female friendship. Exit, Pursued by a Bear tells a unique story with an approach to sexual assault and its aftermath that is so tender and honest and, ultimately, about strength. This is an important addition to the young adult canon and one I won't soon forget.
Hermione is the star of Palermo Heights. The captain of the cheerleading squad and beginning her senior year of high school, everything seems to be going right. Until, suddenly, it's not. Hermione is drugged and raped at a cheerleading camp party and, shortly after, found to be pregnant. Following the assault, Hermione is further traumatized to find herself a pariah in school and the subject of every conversation in her small town. But her story is far from over. Brave and memorable.
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the gas, but until this moment, I have never felt such a kinship with a person who was not actually family. I love every person in this room, and I'm pretty sure that if they asked, I'd do anything for them."This novel is brief, devastating, yet so strong. I think I spent nearly fifty percent of this book crying, which I swear is a positive endorsement! Exit, Pursued by a Bear hurts. But Johnston's narrative is so gorgeous while, most notably, offering a true celebration of genuine female friendship. Exit, Pursued by a Bear tells a unique story with an approach to sexual assault and its aftermath that is so tender and honest and, ultimately, about strength. This is an important addition to the young adult canon and one I won't soon forget.
Hermione is the star of Palermo Heights. The captain of the cheerleading squad and beginning her senior year of high school, everything seems to be going right. Until, suddenly, it's not. Hermione is drugged and raped at a cheerleading camp party and, shortly after, found to be pregnant. Following the assault, Hermione is further traumatized to find herself a pariah in school and the subject of every conversation in her small town. But her story is far from over. Brave and memorable.
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LibraryThing member kbranfield
4.5 stars. Compassionate & sensitive portrayal of a topic no one wants to discuss (even though they should). A powerful and beautifully written novel.
LibraryThing member Dairyqueen84
This is an important story but some details just did not ring true. Even though Hermione was drugged and can't remember the rape, her reaction seems too nonchalant. She continues to cheer and picks up where her life left off with minor hiccups of reminders of the assault. I just found her actions
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afterward and the psychiatrist implausible. Show Less
LibraryThing member jennybeast
Damn. I've been reading a lot of books lately where men do horrible things to women. It's upsetting, and I hate it. Reading this book was hard, because I pretty much immediately loved Hermione and her snarky, sarcastic wit, and her dedicated athleticism, and her superlative friends. And you know,
This is one of those transformative books. The ones that don't bullshit you or weasel their way into weak language. If you fail to get the message that rape is not the victim's fault and that recovery will always be on a person's own terms, then you haven't read this book yet. You should.
Also, if I'd realized this was the same author as the Owen series, I would have picked it up even faster. National treasure you've got there, Canada.
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if you've read anything ahead of time, that something horrible is going to happen to her. I almost couldn't get through it, because I so badly did not want anything horrible to happen. And yet. I would have missed the strength of the message, and the extraordinary strength of the girl had I not continued. It's beautiful. This is one of those transformative books. The ones that don't bullshit you or weasel their way into weak language. If you fail to get the message that rape is not the victim's fault and that recovery will always be on a person's own terms, then you haven't read this book yet. You should.
Also, if I'd realized this was the same author as the Owen series, I would have picked it up even faster. National treasure you've got there, Canada.
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LibraryThing member Brainannex
Although the prose is not super-robust, the story itself has a lot to discuss. Hermione is a co-captain of the cheerleading squad and, when something happens at cheer camp, she has to work on learning who her friends are and who she is as a person.
LibraryThing member Hccpsk
E.K. Johnson bravely confronts a lot of taboo topics in the Winter’s Tale inspired YA novel Exit, Pursued By a Bear. Cheerleader captain Hermione has been looking forward to her senior as co-captain of the team with her best friend, Polly, since they were in elementary school. When she is roofied
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and raped at the pre-season summer camp the team attends, she refuses to become the victim everyone expects. This is a very YA book with uneven writing, but Johnson’s unapologetic approach to some touchy subjects will speak to a lot of readers and stands as an important book to be out there. Show Less
Awards
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Young Adult — 2018)
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 2019)
Lincoln Award: Illinois Teen Readers' Choice Award (Nominee — 2018)
South Dakota Teen Choice Book Awards (Nominee — 2018)
White Pine Award (Nominee — 2017)
Milwaukee County Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2017)
Rhode Island Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2018)
Amy Mathers Teen Book Award (Shortlist — 2017)
NPR: Books We Love (2016)
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (Top Ten — Fiction — 2017)
Nerdy Book Award (Young Adult Literature — 2016)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Teens (Fiction — 2016)
Rise: A Feminist Book Project for Ages 0-18 (Selection — 2017)
New York Public Library Best Books: For Teens (Teen — 2016)
OYAN Book Rave (2017)
Language
Original publication date
2016
ISBN
9781101994610
Local notes
Hermione Winters is captain of her cheerleading team, and in tiny Palermo Heights, the cheerleaders don't cheer for the sports teams; they are the sports team—the pride and joy of a tiny town. But during a camp party, someone slips something in her drink. And then she falls pregnant.