Poison Ivy by Amy Goldman Koss

Poison Ivy
Amy Goldman Koss

OVERVIEW
Ms. Gold is dying for her third period Government class to have a mock trial. Unfortunately, when she asks the students for trial-worthy suggestions, they come up blank. So, upon finding a “suicidal” note by “Poison” Ivy, a girl getting picked on in class, Ms. Gold jumps on and runs with the case. Given from eight different points of view, Poison Ivy takes the reader on the road to “Poison” Ivy’s freedom from the tormenting grip of the “Anns.”

PLOT
Everyone knows that Ivy is always getting picked on, and its due time she got a break, but apparently, that isn’t motive enough for the students of Ms. Gold’s third period to stand up to the Anns. These middle graders are still caught up in the popularity ring, therefore choosing not to cross those with power, hence Ann and her friends. Instead, they sit back, relax, and watch the trail as it unfolds, wrongfully, in favor of Ann.

CHARACTERS
The characters of Poison Ivy were all very realistic. I’m sure we all have one of each in school. Ann was just as superficial as she would have been in real life and Shannon was such a groupie. You’d think Daria would have gotten out of her box, but I think this case actually made her sink farther in. But with the help of Cameron things could be changing for her. [You go girl!] Ivy was just well, Ivy. I don’t think she really cared much about the trial. To her, it was just another form of torment. Owen, the Anns’ lawyer, was my favorite of all the characters. Although he was defending the bad guys, he did a very good job of it. If ever caught in a fix, I know who to turn to for help. Overall, I loved how Poison Ivy was written from a multiple-person POV. I don’t think it would have been enjoyable if it would have been just Ann’s or Ivy’s side of the story. The book then would have been totally bias.

OVERALL
Poison Ivy is purely an ironic tale of doing what is right and/or what is expected of you. I was definitely taken by surprise at how everything turned out, but I guess it just goes to show that life’s not fair. A total tale to reverse psychology, but a funny one at that.

2009 Challenges

I have never participated in a challenge before so this is going to be a challenge all in itself. But here are the ones I'm going to attempt. Wish me luck.





The A to Z Title Challenge
Read 26 books whereas each title begins with a different letter of the alphabet. More info here. The challenge runs throughout the entire year so I should have plenty of time to do this. The books can overlap with other challenges. (Yes!)


The 50 Book Challenge
This one is really self explanatory. Read 50books before the end of 2009. More info here.

The RLA Monthly Challenge
Each month, at the YA Books Central Forum, we read a different book according to a theme. So I guess it's like a 12book challenge in a way. More info here.

Book Of The Month
This One is through the YA Books Central Forum also. More info here.

And I'm hoping all these challenges overlap!!

I'll keep track of the last three listed challenges on the YA Book Central Forum and the first one on my blog.