Previously we’ve held chats for our
monthly Buddy Reads over on twitter, but we know it’s hard for everyone to come
together at one time, with time differences all over OZ and NZ, so we’ve
decided to give a new format a try – a blog discussion post.
Our September buddy read was Risk by Fleur Ferris
Synopsis
Taylor and Sierra have been
best friends for their whole lives. But Taylor’s fed up. Why does Sierra always
get what – and who – she wants? From kissing Taylor’s crush to stealing the guy
they both met online for herself, Sierra doesn’t seem to notice when she hurts
her friends.
So when Sierra says Jacob Jones is the one and asks her friends to cover for her while she goes to meet him for the first time, Taylor rolls her eyes.
But Sierra doesn’t come back when she said she would.
One day. Two days. Three . . .
What if Taylor’s worrying for nothing? What if Sierra’s just being Sierra, forgetting about everyone else to spend time with her new guy?
When Taylor finally tells Sierra’s mum that her daughter is missing, Taylor and her friends are thrown into a dark world they never even knew existed.
Can Taylor find Sierra’s abductor in time? Or should she be looking for a killer?
So when Sierra says Jacob Jones is the one and asks her friends to cover for her while she goes to meet him for the first time, Taylor rolls her eyes.
But Sierra doesn’t come back when she said she would.
One day. Two days. Three . . .
What if Taylor’s worrying for nothing? What if Sierra’s just being Sierra, forgetting about everyone else to spend time with her new guy?
When Taylor finally tells Sierra’s mum that her daughter is missing, Taylor and her friends are thrown into a dark world they never even knew existed.
Can Taylor find Sierra’s abductor in time? Or should she be looking for a killer?
This month’s questions have been submitted by LittleMissStar
1) Have
you read Risk? If so, what did you think of it?
2) Have
you ever thought of yourself as being at risk online?
3) As
a teenager, did you ever participate in anonymous group chats like Taylor and
Sierra did?
4) Imagine
you are 15 years old. What do you think you would have done if you were Taylor
in this situation? Would you have told Sierra's mum that Sierra was missing
sooner, or not?
5) Have
you ever felt manipulated by a friend to do something you weren’t comfortable
with doing? What was the result?
6) Have
you ever met anyone from online? If so, what was the outcome?
7) After
reading this book, have you changed how you behave and interact with people
online?
8) What
do you think can realistically be done by parents, adults, and even younger
users of the internet to keep safe online?
9) Last
question. If you had to sum up your thoughts and feelings for Risk in one
paragraph, what would you say?
I'm so looking forward to chatting about this! (better late than never, right? ;) - I just grabbed a copy of this book off the shelf at work and have just loaned it as we speak! :D
ReplyDelete1. I finished Risk in the space of 24hrs, I honestly think it's one of the most real books I've ever read. The fact that it deals with such a tender and tragic (and real) issue is so significant!
ReplyDelete2. I don't think I've ever felt myself as being at Risk online. I'm actually pretty closed off and only open up to someone after I've really got to know them, and otherwise online generally is a place for me to discuss books and all things book related, for most part.
3. I've never participated in an anonymous group chat, no.
4. If I were Taylor tbh I would have definitely come clean with Sierra's Mum- warning bells instantly went off in my mind and I just would have been so panicked about my friend, and I'm rubbish at keeping things to myself anyway.
5. No, thankfully I've never felt manipulated by a friend to do something
6. I have met a few online bookstagram friends! It was really lovely actually - we met at the bookstore and just browsed and chatted about books and then had a bite to eat!
7. Well, it's definitely made me want to stay away from the opposite sex even more, tbh.
8. Realistically? I think parents and grandparents can't specifically do anything to keep the young ones safe, like, technology is everywhere and a norm in this day and age. I just hope that girls who may be seeking something online know that they're worth so much more than any false worship from sleazes. Women fall pray so often and it's just sad.
9. Taken as an excerpt from my review (which in full can be found here: https://brooklynthebookworm.wordpress.com/2019/10/03/book-review-risk-by-fleur-ferris-spoilers/
'As I was reading Risk, it struck me as to how vital I think this book actually is, and how I think everyone needs to read it! It haunted me to my utter core, the lead up to what happened to Sierra was so chilling and that tragic announcement which I felt was coming but hoped wasn’t…the aftermath, Taylor wanting to see the scumbag locked up, creating a website not only as an ode to Sierra but displaying warning signs about how girls can so easily get tricked into falling for these guys, I just admired her so much for this!
I feel like I haven’t read a book that was written and felt so vivid and real for a long time, actually. I polished it off in 2 days, having started it last night and staying up late, only to wake up a few hours later and be horrified at the events in the book that I’d read.'
Thank you for the amazing questions, Star ��
I'm in 100000% agreement with you, Brooklyn! Thank you for sharing your responses.
Delete💜
1. I have! I was absolutely captivated by it. It was such an incredible page turner with strong messages of actions and consequences, especially for teens online.
ReplyDelete2. Not really. I'm a very private person and although I consider myself to be pretty social online, I don't post anything publicly that could be considered a risk as such. I have trusted friends like yourself that I share with but I don't post anything personal publicly.
3. The internet was only being introduced into schools when I was in year 10 and I was never really interested. Even as an adult I wasn't until I rediscovered reading and found Goodreads and then Twitter. The only chats I've been involved with is other bookworms which I now consider friends.
4. In that situation, most definitely. I would have chosen my friends safety over that of our friendship or keeping her secret. I think in hindsight, she probably would have done the same had she known.
5. Sadly yes. I consider myself to be an emotional person so as a teen, I was easily manipulated and often taken advantage of. I think that reflects on what kind of world we live in though sadly, that often people will push aside others for their own gain.
6. I haven't but I'd like to. I feel as an adult that I'm a much better judge of character and have lots of friends I've met through reading and blogging that I would love to meet. Your good self included!
8. It made me more vigilant and careful not to post anything publicly that could identify myself. I like to remain private because once you post something about yourself, a photo of your house, yourself, talk about where you live, it's always out there and you can never rein it in.
8. Monitoring and friending your children on social media sites. Tell them about the risks of online predators and talk about how everyone isn't as they seem. I think it's important to also talk about how wonderful the internet can be, games, entertainment and eve connecting with readers on sites like Goodreads. Education is a must.
9. This is a must read for teens and parents, in each and every school library and dissected in schools. It's a cautionary story that's incredibly distressing but left me captivated until the final page.
Brilliant discussion Star, this has been one of my favourite reads as well.
Thank you for your answers, Kelly!
DeleteYou are 1000000000% correct - once you've put something out into the internet, it's never really gone. I don't think a lot of people, adults included, actually understand that. It's a bit scary to think about.
We could all do to be a little safer online, I think.
(But I'd love to meet you, too. Not just to pat your dog, too lol)
💜