This groundbreaking novel tells the story of Vera and her former best friend, Charlie. The two were inseparable as children, but when the two entered high school, things began to change. Charlie found a new group of friends that Vera called the "Detentionheads" because they got in so much trouble smoking and doing other things they spent most of their time in detention. Charlie falls in love with the ring leader, Jenny, who ends up destroying the friendship between Vera and Charlie. Vera is also dealing with the abandonment of her mother and rebuilding the relationship with her father who is a recovering alcoholic. Charlie ends up making even worse choices and ends being violently killed. Vera seems to know more about the fire and the possible murderer, but is struggling to come clean. She is haunted by Charlie's ghosts and words. Vera eventually shares the truth with the police and her and her father begin the path to recovery.
I love that this novel was intense and kept me engaged the entire time. There were some disgusting events included such as selling the used underwear to the town pervert, but these kinds of details led the reader to really understand what each character was trying to navigate through in each of their lives.
This book could definitely be used to show readers how important it is to share necessary information, stick by friends even when you feel they might have abandoned you, and to try your best to repair close relationships.
King, A.S. (2010). Please Ignore Vera Dietz. New York: Ember.
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