His Favorites by Kate Walbert

 

Jo was in the 'in crowd', living the country club life and tons of friends.  That all ended the night she and two of her friends stole a golf club which they wrecked, killing one of the girls.  Jo was driving and she and her family became the town's pariahs.  People they had known for years would pretend not to see them and they were ignored everywhere they went.

Jo's mother decides that it would be best if Jo went to a boarding school far away.  Instead of Maryland, her new school was in Maine, cool and distant.  Jo fit in well enough until she became one of the English teacher's favorites.  Mr. M was considered cool and handsome and he always had a favorite.  When he started making physical advances to her, Jo tried to struggle.  He talked about how he could make sure she got into a good college and when she wasn't impressed, talked about how he could make her life at the school miserable.  She finally succumbed and he had sex with her multiple times.  When she reported him, the headmaster wanted only to keep things quiet and told her that she had her side but the teacher would have his and the school would decide who was telling the truth.

This short novel talks about an issue that is far too common.  Those in power over young people sometimes use that power for their own twisted desires.  When the victims finally manage to get enough courage to report the crime and are not believed, it warps their sense of justice and belief that the world will protect them, often for life.  Those who are vulnerable, as Jo was after her accident, are usually the ones victimized further.  Walbert captures the feelings of the victim all too honestly and the reader will live the shame and outrage along with Jo.  This book is recommended for readers of literary fiction.