Tease by Amanda Macial

by:  Amanda Macial
published by:  Balzer + Bray
publish date:  April 29, 2014

Emma Putnam is dead, and it's all Sara Wharton's fault. At least, that's what everyone seems to think. Sara, along with her best friend and three other classmates, has been criminally charged for the bullying and harassment that led to Emma's shocking suicide. Now Sara is the one who's ostracized, already guilty according to her peers, the community, and the media. In the summer before her senior year, in between meetings with lawyers and a court-recommended therapist, Sara is forced to reflect on the events that brought her to this moment—and ultimately consider her own role in an undeniable tragedy. And she'll have to find a way to move forward, even when it feels like her own life is over.

Sara is living a pretty charmed high school life.  She's best friends with the most popular girl in school, Brielle.  Her boyfriend is one of the hottest guys in school.  Then, Emma Putnam transfers to her school.  Word is, Emma is trouble.  Emma will sleep with every guy in sight.  When Sara thinks Emma is moving in on her man, Sara and Brielle do what girls in high school have done since there have been girls in high school.  They start calling her names behind her back and start waging a psychological campaign to tear her down.  The problem is, Emma kills herself.

Throughout the book Tease, Sara doesn't understand what she has done wrong.  In her mind, Emma was the one that started the whole thing and Emma was the one that killed herself and Brielle was the one that committed the most heinous offenses against Emma.  I found her attitude fairly typical of kids and it was rather frustrating to read, but it was good to read her growth from the beginning of the book to the end of the book.  

I thought this was going to be one of those books that I wouldn't like because the characters were so unlikable, but that really wasn't the case.  It was a very well told story with an important message.