Exit, Pursued By a Bear

Bibliography
Johnston, E.K. Exit, Pursued by a Bear. Dutton Books, 2016.
image from: amazon.com

Summary (from Amazon.com)
Hermione Winters is captain of her cheerleading team, and in tiny Palermo Heights, this doesn’t mean what you think it means. At PHHS, the cheerleaders don't cheer for the sports teams; they are the sports team—the pride and joy of a small town. The team's summer training camp is Hermione's last and marks the beginning of the end of…she’s not sure what. She does know this season could make her a legend. But during a camp party, someone slips something in her drink. And it all goes black.

In every class, there's a star cheerleader and a pariah pregnant girl. They're never supposed to be the same person. Hermione struggles to regain the control she's always had and faces a wrenching decision about how to move on. The rape wasn't the beginning of Hermione Winter's story and she's not going to let it be the end. She won’t be anyone’s cautionary tale.

My Thuoghts
Ok, I didn't get the Shakespeare reference. As I was looking for the image, I kept running across Shakespeare's Winter Tale (Hermione's last name is even Winters!). 

I enjoyed this book because it is real.  The subject of rape is something society can't ignore. It happens. I like how the author stood up to rape and rumors and accusations and slut shamming.  I like that Hermione had Polly (what a fierce friend!). I like that when asked by a reporter, Hermione speaks out and questions the reporter, "If I was a boy, would you be asking me that?" (Johnston 194). 

This is a book I can recommend.