Something Happened to Ali Greenleaf

Something Happened to Ali Greenleaf

YA fiction
Ali is a girl who has a crush on a guy most people would
consider way out of her league. Sean is an ultra popular varsity
soccer player. But somehow Ali has caught his eye. She has reason to
believe that he will seek her out at a party.
Sean does indeed seek Ali out, taking her out of the crowd to a
more private space in the party house. At first his attention feels
like a dream come true to Ali. But when he goes too far and she tries
to stop him he rapes her.
Blythe is also at the party. She's the girlfriend of Dev,
Sean's teammate and best friend. She functions as Sean's damage
control, soothing every girl he's messed over, keeping his reputation
intact.
"...Have I talked to girls for Sean, reassured them, coddled
them? Sure. What kind of monster would I be if I just left these
girls crying whenever he decided they weren't worth his time?..."
But when Blythe befriends Ali it turns out to be a lot more than
reputation damage control. They have a great deal in common. Both
have been abandoned by their mothers. Ali's ran away to a commune to
discover herself. Blythe's is bipolar and unable or unwilling to
manage her illness. Plus Blythe has had her own experience of
violation in a freshman ritual called the initiation.
Told in their alternating voices, Something Happened to Ali
Greenleaf combines an engaging and believable narrative with an
indictment of the sexual harassment that is still going on in 21st
century high schools.
On a purrrsonal note, we've just finished cleaning up after Clean
Sweep. The ice hockey arena is as clean as we found it. Every useful
thing that wasn't sold has been donated.
So I have today in addition to the three day weekend to chill. I do
not have what you'd call plans. Today I'm going to Orono Public
Library to return books and take out others. On the way home I'll
stop by a convenience store and get ice cream for lunch if I find a
flavor that looks appealing. The rest of the time I'll be writing,
blogging, reading, and slowly catching up with laundry and my
interrupted by kidney stone and infection spring cleaning. Now that I
have to be drinking (water, not booze) a lot more than usual and
peeing more than usual going on long trips feels risky and spending a
night at a camp with outdoor plumbing feels very risky. (Jules)
She also gets to spend time with her best little cat in the world.
Party on! (Tobago)
A great big shout out goes out to you, our readers, with best wishes
for a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend. Don't forget that we are
far from out of the woods where COVID is concerned. Also outside
dining comes with the risk of food born illness unless proper
precautions are observed. I know a number of you are going to be
hauling out those grills. Remember an ounce of prevention beats a
pound of cure, especially when cure involves going into the hospital
or feeling really crappy for a week or so.
Tobago and Jules Hathaway





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