Buy The Rivals by Daisy Whitney
Special: $14.49 (Regular price: $17.99)
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover
Reviewer: Melissa on March 8, 2012
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Alex Patrick was sexually assaulted by another student last year, but her elite boarding school turned their back on her, as they had many times in the past. In The Rivals, Alex is the head of The Mockingbirds, a secret society of students created to police the types of infractions Alex faced. She desperately wants to uphold the legacy of this group, but when she finds herself investigating a case unlike any the school has ever seen, it becomes difficult to know exactly how to do so. A prescription drug ring has sprung up students are using the drugs to cheat. How can the Mockingbirds try a case with no obvious victims, when the facts don’t add up, and especially when every additional clue drives a wedge between Alex and the people she cares about most? This time around, the struggles with vigilante justice may help Alex understand more about herself than she’s ever known or ever expected.

Last year, I read and enjoyed The Mockingbirds, which is a novel with real characters and demonstrates that the author, Daisy Whitney, is unafraid of exploring the true fallout of date rape for survivors in both her fictional world and the real one in which her readers live. However, I have to admit that The Rivals is an even better novel. Whitney could have easily picked a similar crime with an obvious victim for The Mockingbirds to solve. The truth could have been black and white. Instead, the author explores the many grey areas of “white collar” crimes, draws out Alex’s continued feelings of victimhood, and brings into question the vigilante justice at Themis Academy int he first place.

By exploring a case of white collar crime, readers and the characters are forced to ask tough questions again and again. First, if there are no victims per say, can a case be tried? If evidence presents itself, does each and every lead need to be explored to the fullest extent, even if it drives conflict between those on The Mockingbirds’ board and their best friends? How can the board members trust the word of their informants, and is there reason to question them at all? Can lies ever lead to real information? And if and when it gets too hard, can Alex count on the Dean and her “open door policy” to get her out of an uncomfortable situation? These and many other questions are brought up and answered in a way that is always believable and satisfying to readers, which is one of the most important requirements of any novel.

Beyond these questions, readers will appreciate the way Whitney expands upon Alex’s character. Despite being the leader of The Mockingbirds, the hits to her self esteem don’t always make her feel confident in her role. Similarly, the doubts flying around the student body and faculty regarding her possible culpability in the assault as well as her unresolved trauma further complicates her emotional state. Whitney could’ve healed Alex, but instead, she explores this character in a way that will help readers who’ve been in her shoes recognize that they aren’t alone when they find themselves unable to move on or realize that their assault will always affect them. Anything else would’ve rung false.

Finally, Whitney explores the imperfections of Alex’s boyfriend, Martin, which complicates the plot in an important way. Adding a little tension between lovers is an essential part of a novel – no one wants to see perfect love because, other than in romance novels, it doesn’t exist. However, beyond improving the realism of their relationship, this complication helps Alex grow from someone who sees herself as permanently branded with a scarlet “R” to someone who can be seen as her flawless, superhero of a boyfriend’s equal. Who doesn’t want that?

Pick up The Rivals and get ready to explore the murky depths of vigilante justice and even find yourself ready to pick up some of the classic YA novels that serve as intertexts for this one. You may just find yourself adding Daisy Whitney to your must-read list from now on!

Buy The Rivals today and benefit from free shipping and 19% off the regular price!