Exposed Paperback – February 28, 2012

I'm not entirely sure how to feel about this book. I saw that it was as editor's pick and, therefore, assumed that such a recommendation coupled with the nearly five star rating (at the time of this post) given, on average, by other readers would mean that exposed would be a great read. I wouldn't go that far to say the least.Firstly, I have to say that there were a lot of good parts of the book that I should note which made this book a three star title and not a two or one star. The prose was very good. The author did a good job with the writing. There are definitely a few hauntingly powerful verses. The grammar was also correct for the most part, minus a few errors that don't detract from the meaning in any major way. It is also noteworthy that although the narrator is a high school student, her story and her manner of telling her story makes it so that even those who are not in high school can connect with her. Perhaps most importantly of all, author draws the reader into the story from the very beginning, which is especially impressive considering how few words she needed to fully capture my interest. I started with a sample and couldn't get enough. I purchased the book and finished it within 24 hours.The reason it only gets three stars is that I didn't feel a strong connection to the storyline. I don't think the author really captured the reality of rape and the effect it can have. She tried, but she did not quite do it justice. Furthermore, I found the ending to be a little stale. It could have been done better.All things considered, it is a good book, a quick read, and the story brings to light a very important subject.Not worth the price though! (This sentiment had no bearing on why I gave it three stars).

I just finished Exposed; I read it on my Kindle in one sitting because it is such a powerful and true book I simply couldn't put it down! Liz (Photogirl) and Kate (Mistress of Modern Dance) are best friends their entire lives, until the night Liz's gorgeous brother Mike comes home late and finds Kate sleeping alone downstairs. Soon Kate is accusing Mike of rape and he is denying it; the fallout is devastating for everyone involved. Told in free verse from Liz's point of view, Exposed honestly explores the complicated tangle of emotions Liz experiences in the months between Kate's shocking revelation and the verdict in Mike's trial. The book is beautifully written and a quick read, a cautionary tale that doesn't feel preachy or contrived. The style and substance of the book will remind readers of Ellen Hopkins's extremely popular free verse novels, but Exposed is far less graphic in nature. I highly recommend it for both teen and preteen audiences. Girls will love it; boys should read it.Dawn Butcher, 7-12 Library Media Specialist Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl TechnologyIdenticalBurned

Liz's best friend Kate is acting strange after an argument during a slumber party, avoiding Liz with a barrier of silence and distance. When Liz persists in finding out what the real problem is, she gets the shock of her life.Kate accuses Liz's brother Mike of rape. Even though she's been Liz's best friend for many years, the sight of Liz reminds her of that dreadful night, when after the argument Kate was raped by Mike while Liz was upstairs. Life becomes imbalanced: how can Liz support her brother, family, and best friend's point of views? And who is she supposed to believe? The guilt also runs deep, because she left her best friend alone for her brother to prey on.This is a fast-paced free verse novel that hammered me with emotion. Liz and her dilemmas lingered with me after I finished the book.

Short, strong, suspenseful.The story is about two high school Seniors who are forever-best friends. They have an argument one night at their usual sleepover -- Liz tells Kate she should not major in history. Liz storms out of the room, lives are changed .... best you read for yourself.This is only the second verse YA book I have finished! Kudos to debut author Kimberly Marcus for the way she mastered verse, characterization, metaphors, plot. She kept me flipping the pages to the end to find out what happens. She made me want to re-read Exposed immediately, this time more slowly to savor her poetry.

I was most interested in reading Exposed by Kimberly Marcus, because I enjoy reading this particular genre (narrative poetry). And, while the story was engaging, I found the craft lacking. I saw all of the missed opportunities to make the writing more powerful. I am comparing the craft to other works in the genre, like May B by Caroline Starr Rose, and of course there are many others. May B is beautifully executed and more carefully crafted--as is my own work Learning From Lady Chatterley--both of which are also in narrative verse. I do think that the topic that the author "exposed" is very important. I can see the book being used in a classroom to discuss date rape.

Not typically a fan of verse, I found this book engrossing and emotionally packed. Hard to put down! Loved the author's artful choice of language - real, raw and read-again. A wonderful example of how to create emotion and drama without leading the reader. The power of this book is found between the lines - in the emotion created by sparse yet potent text. I love it when I can't put a book down. I especially love it when a book won't leave my thoughts. Even when it's done. Can't wait for the next! Thank you for a great read!

Since I saw the first page I thought about quitting teh book. It is all wrote in verses. But I fought against my first impressions and I found out a dramatic story wrote in a very graceful manner. The story is harmful but it is touching either. And the author doesn't relieve all the involved feelings. The Photogirl seems to float around the path, she is a very sensitive and sensible person. There is no rest at all, only the pungent necessity to get through. At the end life just goes on, simple like that. There is no eraser for the bad feelings that remain behind.

Good

I really enjoyed this novel. The verse was well done and it was very readable. I finished it in a single sitting and cried a little during too. I liked the connections between Liz's life and photography. The relationship between Kate and Liz was believable, and so were Liz's thoughts and doubts.The only downside is that I think it could have been longer.Overall, definitely worth the read!