Parents' Guide to

The Mockingbirds

By Mary Cosola, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Fast-paced, riveting story of date rape and its aftermath.

Book Daisy Whitney Contemporary Fiction 2012
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What's the Story?

At Themis Academy, an elite East Coast boarding school, the teachers and administrators ignore anything that might cast the school in a bad light. Bullying, assaults, and other transgressions go unpunished, to the point that students don't even bother taking issues to the administration any more. This hands-off approach led students to create an underground justice group called the Mockingbirds. Alex Patrick seeks out their help when she's date-raped in a dorm room. The book opens with her in the boy's room, trying to figure out what happened. From there, we follow her as she realizes she was raped and watch her deal with the shame, doubt, and fear, eventually deciding to take on the difficult task of seeking justice. Her friends are supportive and helpful, in some cases pushing her along when all she wants to do is disappear, especially when the boy's friends harass her. While working on her case, she learns of other cases the Mockingbirds have tried and discovers that by speaking up, she is helping other kids on campus.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This gripping page-turner shows how easily date rape can happen, its effects, and why victims have trouble coming forward. When Alex is date-raped in a dorm room at her boarding school, she's plunged into feelings of shame, guilt, fear, and doubt. The details come back to her slowly, as the rape happened while she was drunk. Did she ask for it? Is everyone talking about her now? Will she ever be her old self again? THE MOCKINGBIRDS clearly shows the ripple effect rape has on the life of the victim. The story is built on the premise that Themis Academy doesn't discipline students because the school's reputation would be tarnished should anyone learn of rapes, bullying, or cheating. This is taken to an extreme that's hard to believe, but it sets up the need for the underground justice group, the Mockingbirds. When Alex decides to take her case to the group, she learns about their methods and their supposedly fair way of dealing with complaints. The Mockingbirds claim not to be a vigilante group, and yet they take some minor action against the accused before the case is heard. They do, however, hear both sides in a trial of peers, giving both sides the opportunity to make their cases and bring evidence.

The book is a fast, enthralling read. Alex's decision not to tell the school, the police, and her parents can be upsetting, but this is a realistic look at what many victims go through. She is a relatable character, and her point of view carries the book well. It's easy to feel everything she's going through. Aside from Alex and her two roommates, who are supportive and endearing, most of the characters are not as well fleshed out. As Alex's case with the Mockingbirds gets underway, her character grows and she finds her voice, stands up for herself, and learns that it's important to help those in her community as they helped her.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about consent. Not being able to say "no" is not the same thing as saying "yes." Why do you think this is important?

  • Do you ever feel it's pointless to take problems to school administrators or others in authority positions? Why? What other avenues do you feel you have available to you to deal with issues?

  • What's your favorite way of coping with problems? Do you like to listen to or play music? Go for a run? How does your coping mechanism help you?

Book Details

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