Modern Monsters by Kelley York

Pages: 287

Intended Audience: Teens and up

Genre: Crime drama

Notes for Parents: Contains language, mature content, including a sexual assault, under-age drinking, and drinking and driving.

The Back Cover

Vic Howard never wanted to go to the party. He’s the Invisible Guy at school, a special kind of hell for quiet, nice guys. But since his best friend is as popular as Vic is ignored, he went anyway…

And wished he hadn’t.

Because something terrible—unimaginable—happened to Callie Wheeler that night, and now she’s told the police that Vic is responsible. Suddenly, Invisible Vic is painfully visible, on trial both with the police and the angry kids at school. As the whispers and violence against him escalate, he becomes determined to clear his name, even if it means an uneasy alliance with Callie’s best friend, the gorgeous but aloof Autumn Dixon.

But as Autumn and Vic slowly peel back the layers of what happened at the party, they realize that while the truth can set Vic free, some truths can destroy a life forever.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

From kelley-york.com: ”She [the author] finds the workings of the mind fascinating and--also being no stranger to mental illness in her own life--loves making that shine through in her characters to bring awareness and get people thinking.”

What’s good?

This is an intense read with a strong, emotional narrative. Although the story is centered around a girl who accuses Vic of raping her at a party, the plot is more of a character study that focuses on Vic and his relationships with the people around him – his mom, his best friend, his classmates, his boss, and even his absent father. Vic’s character is complex and his path to growth is credible. Secondary characters pale in comparison to the main character, but still manage to lend themselves well to the drama of the situation that Vic finds himself in. The ending was satisfying.

Best Part: Amjad, Vic’s boss at the convenience store.

What isn’t good?

I didn’t buy the romance. It felt awkward, and especially uncomfortable when they were cuddling and talking about nothing that pertained to the current problem. The story itself was fairly predictable. I guessed a few of the major plot mysteries almost at the start, though one thing I didn’t see coming. While characterization of Vic was superb, the secondary characters were lackluster and the overall story lacked action.

Worst part: The definitions were completely unnecessary.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☺☻ (4/5)

It was good. It wouldn’t be fair to give this 3 out of 5 but a 4 seems generous. While the story lacked action, the character of Vic was strong and his dilemma was significant and kept me engaged. It was a fairly quick read, and the plot was easy to follow. The content is mature, so I don’t recommend this for young or sensitive readers. For everyone else, it’s a story worth reading.

York, Kelley. Modern Monsters. Fort Collins, CO: Entangled Pub., 2015.