I was excited to get a spot on the blog tour for this book and working with Chelsea on the guest post was delightful. She's really a stand up gal and I can't wait to actually get my hands on a copy of this book! It sounds like it's going to have such an impact and I love books like that. Plus, we both have a love for the musical called RENT and a dude named Angel!
Author: Chelsea Pitcher
Release Date: May 7th, 2013
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
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Summary:
First it was SLUT scribbled all over Lizzie Hart’s locker.
But one week after Lizzie kills herself, SUICIDE SLUT replaces it—in Lizzie's looping scrawl.
Lizzie’s
reputation is destroyed when she's caught in bed with her best friend’s
boyfriend on prom night. With the whole school turned against her, and
Angie not speaking to her, Lizzie takes her own life. But someone isn’t
letting her go quietly. As graffiti and photocopies of Lizzie’s diary
plaster the school, Angie begins a relentless investigation into who,
exactly, made Lizzie feel she didn’t deserve to keep living. And while
she claims she simply wants to punish Lizzie’s tormentors, Angie's own
anguish over abandoning her best friend will drive her deep into the
dark, twisted side of Verity High—and she might not be able to pull
herself back out.
Debut
author Chelsea Pitcher daringly depicts the harsh reality of modern
high schools, where one bad decision can ruin a reputation, and one
cruel word can ruin a life. Angie’s quest for the truth behind Lizzie’s
suicide is addictive and thrilling, and her razor-sharp wit and fierce
sleuthing skills makes her impossible not to root for—even when it
becomes clear that both avenging Lizzie and avoiding self-destruction
might not be possible.
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About The Author:
Chelsea
Pitcher is a native of Portland, OR where she received her BA in
English Literature. Fascinated by all things literary, she began
gobbling up stories as soon as she could read, and especially enjoys
delving into the darker places to see if she can draw out some light.
Author Links:
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GUEST POST: OUTCAST CHARACTERS:
When Christianna asked me to do a post about my favorite
outcast characters, I was thrilled. Outcasts are the best! Who among us can’t
relate to feeling ostracized and alienated? The hardest part was picking my
favorites out of so many wonderful choices. In the end, I tried to focus on the
ones that greatly affected my life. The ones that changed me, shaped me. Maybe
even saved me. So, without further ado, I present to you: Chelsea’s List of the
Greatest Outcast Characters Ever:
1. Darlene Conner from “Roseanne”:
I’ll be honest: Darlene was pretty much my idol in middle
school. She was dark, sarcastic, and genuinely didn’t care what anyone thought
about her. The really interesting thing about Darlene is that she was an
outcast by choice. Of course, once she crossed paths with another curly-haired
outcast (a.k.a. David), things really got AWESOME.
2. Rickie Vasquez from “My So-Called Life”:
Rickie is so sweet, it hurts to watch people be cruel to
him. But they do, simply because of his sexuality and his shaky family
situation. Lucky for him, he finds a couple of super cool girls to keep him
company. We’re never truly outcasts if we have friends.
3. Witch Baby from Francesca Lia Block’s “Dangerous
Angels”:
Witch Baby is the quintessential outcast: she doesn’t even
feel like she belongs in her own family. And after she falls in love with
someone who loves her back, she still struggles to feel like part of a
community. I think Witch Baby is so relatable because, even in a room filled
with people, it’s alarmingly easy to still feel alone.
4. Corny from Holly Black’s “Tithe”:
Corny is funny, quirky, and a little too attracted to the
dark side. His appeal lies in his rejection of normalcy. Who wants to be
ordinary, when you can be a weirdo chasing after faeries? (And
hanging out with them.) Corny’s a cool cat.
5. Veronica Mars:
Who wouldn’t love Veronica Mars? She’s sassy, feisty, cute
as a button and sharp as a tack. But none of that seems to matter to the kids
at Neptune High. They’re much too busy judging her for her parents’ decisions,
and making up rumors that aren’t true. Who couldn’t relate to
that?
6. Angel from RENT:
I’ll tell you a secret: when I started crafting Jesse’s
character in “The S-Word,” Angel was my inspiration. I wanted someone whose
indomitable sweetness could infuse my story with light. But much like Angel,
who tricks us into thinking he’s a supporting character before taking center
stage, Jesse revealed himself to be much more than I expected: a leading man
with a rich history and plenty of secrets. An outcast we can root for.
The wonderful thing about outcasts
is they make us feel connected in an otherwise alienating world.
We see why they’re wonderful, even if the people in
their lives don’t get it. We can
see their worth. They’re the best! And in this way, they allow us to see our
own worth, even if those around us are
judgmental. It gives us hope that we’ll find the community we deserve.
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Giveaway:
You can win your very own copy of The S-Word! Just sign up below and make sure that you have a US mailing address first!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
