This story was nothing like I thought it was going to be. I like to challenge myself, every now and then, by reading something I would not normally choose. The first couple of chapters didn't do much for me, as it was all talk about fashion and procrastination of wedding plans, but as I dove deeper into the pages, I found myself engrossed by Ani's story.
TifAni, (who now goes by Ani), is leading a life most can only dream of; living in New York, writing for a magazine, an engaged to a well-to-do handsome man. They are in the process of their wedding, which is not as exciting to Ani as the upcoming documentary, called Friends of the Five, that she is going to be a part of. Lucas, Ani's fiancé, is not happy about her taking part in the film, but Ani knows she need to tell her story. Everyone should know what happened at The Bradley School in 2001.
Luckiest Girl Alive switches back and forth between Ani's current life, and her teenage life as TifAni, or Finny, the name given to her by the group of friends she so desperately wanted to fit in with.
I was completely caught off guard by what the documentary was about. We are lead to believe one thing, but it turns out to be something different. That's good story=telling.
The topics that are discussed, although fictional, are very real threats that need to be talked about more often. Preventative measures need to be taken, and over the years, the school systems have tried to implement programs to help. One part of this story clearly brought back a memory of an article I had read in one of the teen beauty magazines, when I was younger. It was the frighteningly true, and sad story of a girl who found herself in a similar situation as TifAni and her friends later on in the book. I still remember how I felt while reading that article. I can't imagine being in the situation.
Ani struggled with what happened, practically on her own. Her mother and Father were not supportive. Her mother even made her feel as if some of it was her fault. I think everyone should read this book, even to just get a clue on how NOT to treat a teen who has been through a tragedy.
It's truly upsetting to see just how much kids are willing to take in order to fit in. This story should compel us to really teach our kids to be their own person, don't worry about being popular, and to find real friends . Greatly recommended!
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