Twisted - Laurie Halse Anderson

I cannot believe how quickly I got through this book! It really was good! Like I mentioned in my twitter posts, I love how Laurie Halse Anderson gives such realistic commentary throughout the narration and really represents the thoughts in a way that is different and edgy because it's truthful. This book was written from a male perspective, which I haven't read by Anderson yet. Though I think the female perspective books might have been a little more outstanding to me, this one was also a really great read. So far her three books have left me shocked (Speak), an emotional wreck (Wintergirls), and finally satisfied (Twisted). The book had a solid, fix everything kind of ending, which is pretty formulaic with Anderson's books that I have experienced. The other thing I noticed the three books have in common is the obvious significant event that is constantly referred to, and is revealed not necessarily all at once, but rather in details here and there within the beginning of the book. I enjoy that small element of suspense when I first get into a book, I think it really helps me stay with the reading until the next big event comes around that I get hooked into.
I think overall, Tyler was a cool character and an honest character in Twisted. He was developed in a way that I felt was intriguing and easy to relate to, even as a female reader. He had persistent thoughts of suicide and lack of self-worth throughout the book, which I also found to be mostly solidly honest about all else. It definitely sends the message that things like that can creep up on people, gives you a reason to be slightly more aware around adolescents. I am not sure if that is a message I should necessarily take from a young adult fiction novel, but it seems it developed anyways.
I think this book is completely teachable. I was waiting for some huge inappropriate happening because of the list of books I have read, and the predictions I was making; but overall that just didn't happen. Some language is a little rated R, but it was nothing explicit and frequent. The issues are basic teen issues and the focus of the text is the male emotion and the way that the character gets through the problem in a healthy confrontation of his underlying issue and an overall happy ending. It didn't promote drinking, drugs, sex, or self-destructive behavior, which I get worried about. I always want those behaviors to have a consequence in the novels so that the students won't pick up on it being some sort of great idea (I'll admit I'm slightly paranoid) but this book did that, it gave the consequences and the emotions that came with them.
So, yes, I loved another Laurie Halse Anderson book, I guess I'll keep reading!