Revenge of the Sluts by Natalie Walton - HIGH

Revenge of the Sluts by Natalie Walton, 328 pages. Wattpad Books, 2021. $11.

Language: R (72 swears, 56 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

As executive editor for the school paper on top of all her classes and college applications, Eden expected to stay busy, but nothing could have prepared her for Nudegate. When a student sends nude photos of seven students to everyone at St. Joe’s, no one knows what to do. Eden knows it’s important to uncover what’s happening and why, but how can she report the truth when obstacles continue to pop up?

Walton has written a book about the real issues of cyberbullying, specifically with sharing nude photographs originally sent in confidence, and slut shaming in a tasteful way that explores several points of view, from liberal to conservative. While I was appalled by the actions -- and, in some cases, the lack thereof -- taken by characters in the story, I was made uncomfortable by their poor responses to the situation and not by the situation itself because I was forced to figure out what side of the issue I would take in a similar situation. Eden’s story is well-written as it highlights when to stand up for the truth and how bad things are often glazed over because no one is willing to say they were wrong. Walton, through Eden and her classmates, encourages readers to not stand idly by; you can make a change for the better. The mature content rating is for underage drinking; drugs; and mentions of nudity, sex, pornography, sex tapes, and genitalia.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen