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Teen Fiction - Mysteries & Thrillers, Teen Fiction - Romance & Friendship
The Trouble with Liberty by Kristin Butcher — book cover

The Trouble with Liberty

by Kristin Butcher
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Overview

Liberty Hayes has just moved to Sutter's Crossing and is the talk of the town. She has plenty of money and everyone wants to be her friend. When Liberty accuses a male teacher of sexually assaulting her, the rumors start. Val, her new best friend, is torn between believing Liberty and trusting her old friend Ryan when it comes to the truth. What is the trouble with Liberty?

"If he's guilty, he'll probably go to jail, " Mom pointed out. "At the very least, he'll lose his job, and maybe even his license." "That's if he's guilty, " Dad said with emphasis. "What do you mean 'if'?" Cody exploded. "There's no if about it! Liberty said he tried to rape her. Don't you think she would know?" Liberty Hayes has just moved to Sutter's Crossing and is the talk of the town. She has plenty of money and everyone wants to be her friend. When Liberty accuses a male teacher of sexually assaultin her, the rumors start. Val, her new best friend, is torn between believing Liberty and trusting her old friend Ryan when it comes to the truth. What is the trouble with Liberty?

Synopsis

"If he's guilty, he'll probably go to jail," Mom pointed out. "At the very least he'll lose his job, and maybe even his license to teach." "That if he's guilty," Dad said with emphasis. "What do you mean 'if'?" Cody exploded. "There's no if about it! Liberty said he tried to rape her. Don't you think she would know?" Liberty Hayes has just moved to Sutter's Crossing and is the talk of the town. She has plenty of money and everyone wants to be her friend. When Liberty accuses a male teacher of sexually assaulting her, the rumors start. Val, her new best friend, is torn between believing Liberty and trusting her old friend Ryan when it comes to the truth. What is the trouble with Liberty? Kristin Butcher is a former teacher turned writer and reviewer. The Trouble With Liberty is her second Orca Soundings title. Her first, The Hemingway Tradition, garnered rave reviews.

Rebecca Watson - Children's Literature

Val has lived her entire life in Sutter's Crossing, population 2,633 (not counting the baby Mrs. Hooper is expecting next month.) So when the beautiful Liberty Hayes moves into town, Val is thrilled to have a new friend. In fact, almost everyone is happy to be around Liberty, and she soon becomes one of the most popular girls in school. But when Liberty claims that the high school band teacher attempted to rape her, Val is forced to take a closer look at her new best friend, and at what friendship really is. After talking with a friend who witnessed the incident but is hesitant to say anything to the police, Val is able to show that the band teacher is innocent. Unfortunately, his reputation is not so easily repaired. This short book only eighty-eight pages takes a clean-cut look at a serious subject. Despite the topic of sexual assault, there are no suggestive scenes or explicit language. It offers a starting point for home or classroom discussions about honesty, popularity and friendship. This book is part of the "Orca Soundings" teen fiction series. 2003, Orca Book Publishers,

Reviews

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Editorials

CM Magazine

"Everyone who has gone to high school has met a manipulator like Liberty...This book was an absolute page-turner...Highly Recommended."

Resource Links

"A well-written novel with believable characters and colourful expressions."

Canadian Book Review Annual

"Butcher accurately captures the gossipy social milieu of a school and a small community...Recommended."

Children's Literature

Val has lived her entire life in Sutter's Crossing, population 2,633 (not counting the baby Mrs. Hooper is expecting next month.) So when the beautiful Liberty Hayes moves into town, Val is thrilled to have a new friend. In fact, almost everyone is happy to be around Liberty, and she soon becomes one of the most popular girls in school. But when Liberty claims that the high school band teacher attempted to rape her, Val is forced to take a closer look at her new best friend, and at what friendship really is. After talking with a friend who witnessed the incident but is hesitant to say anything to the police, Val is able to show that the band teacher is innocent. Unfortunately, his reputation is not so easily repaired. This short book—only eighty-eight pages—takes a clean-cut look at a serious subject. Despite the topic of sexual assault, there are no suggestive scenes or explicit language. It offers a starting point for home or classroom discussions about honesty, popularity and friendship. This book is part of the "Orca Soundings" teen fiction series. 2003, Orca Book Publishers,
— Rebecca Watson

School Library Journal

Gr 7-10-While watching her brother in a calf-roping event, 15-year-old Val meets a wealthy and beautiful teen who is new in town. Liberty is every girl's nightmare and every boy's dream. However, when she accuses a popular teacher of attempted rape, she exposes herself to be a liar and a masterful manipulator. Val narrates this well-written, fast-paced novella that will hook readers. Even though it is geared toward reluctant readers, many teens will be able to relate to the situations.-Susan Geye, Crowley Ninth Grade Campus, TX Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Book Details

Published
January 1, 2003
Publisher
Orca Book Publishers
Pages
128
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9781551432748

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