Maria Padian's Wrecked was an absolute gem I discovered when I was looking up her earlier books. It may be a little hard to locate since it's older, but well worth the effort, especially for college bound teens. It deals with an aspect of higher education those glossy brochures don't cover.
You see there's this party in a dorm. The music is loud, the space chaotic and crowded, the strong alcohol 🍸 flowing freely. After the event a visibly distraught Jenny is charging Jordan with rape. Jordan, fearing for his future, is denying the charge. As the case is investigated by the college, rumors run rampant through the student grapevine in person and on social media.
Padian made a genius move in choosing not the principals, but people they've confided in as narrators. This allows for more nuance, more complexity, and more uncertainty. That's one of the things I like best about the book.
The other is its total authenticity. Remember I'm getting a graduate degree in higher education. It's the realm in which I live, move, and have my being. I just completed an internship in the student conduct office. And condensed to two or three pages, Wrecked could be a case study for my capstone class.
On a purrrsonal note, I continue to recover from the stroke. My strength and stamina are increasing. I now exercise bike 30 minutes a day. And I can do sit ups.
A great big shout out goes out to my capstone professor and classmates. This is going to be a most excellent grand finale to my graduate education.
Jules Hathaway
Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone
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