Honor Code

TW - rape.Still thinking about HONOR CODE. How fear and guilt can drive us. How friends protect each other, or fail to. How someone's voice can be stolen. And what we'll do to get justice. This would be such a great bookclub choice unpacking not only rape culture, and toxic masculinity, but also sexual predation. It is a "feminist revenge quest" as the author says, but it only has to be that because students at this prestigious school fail to actually honor and protect each other, and the teachers, administrators, and other adults trusted with the safety of of these students fail their duty. Instead they protect themselves, their sources of revenue, and the "boys" who prey on girls. With echoes of the real-life trial of Stanford rapist Brock Turner, we're forced to ask ourselves why we value some lives over others, and who it is that we should actually value and protect.This is such a great book.In a bookclub or classroom it would be a perfect book to pair with Brendan Kiely's TRADITION.

I really enjoyed "Honor code". Burkhart takes on a gruesome, relevant topic with grace, insight and poise. Sure to grab readers of both genders, this tale spins the story of what happens when the world comes crashing down - privelesge, silence, rape, and bullying. Topics and themes that are relevant and poignant.Burkhart brings the pain and isolation of victimization to the reader creating eye-opening impact and empathy.

With the "me too" movement waking us all up, Honor Code, is the perfect supplement for anyone craving a page-turning riveting story with relatable characters. Burkhart is able reach a variety of audiences in this novel always keeping one's interest. If it were required high school reading, the world would be a more equitable place.

Honor Code is an insightful trip into that adolescent desire to be accepted when juxtaposed against the desire to do what is right.

This book is a page turner that keeps you captive with the relatable internal dialogue of a girl who is unsure of how to navigate through society and the Hell of high school social structures. Delving into topics that are often shoved aside by society, this book is as fierce as it is important. The narrative is engaging and easy to read. I couldn't put it down! As implied by the book cover, this book covers some difficult content but that is precisely why it is so compelling.

What a great book! Deals with issues of self discovery, and sexual abuse. Perfect for mature middle school to high school readers.

I’ll be the first to admit, this normally wouldn’t be the type of book I would read. Topics like this make me feel uncomfortable but a book like “Honor Code” is the perfect medium to discuss this topic even in a classroom setting - it brings awareness and at the end of the book, contains discussion points. I picked this book up and about 2hrs later I was done. I couldn’t put it down. It’s written extremely well to where it just sucks you in - you want to find out what happens and you pray that it ends the way you want it to. I don’t want to give anything away but I will say there is a twist in this book that made me go “OMG HOLY SH1T!”.We know that things like this happen in real life and it’s hard to talk about. Kiersi did such a great job making you fall in love with Sam, wanting you to want more. Kiersi tackles sexual assault, and victim shaming without being graphic but also, without taking anything away from the seriousness of these topics. The #metoo movement should be proud, her parents, family and friends should be proud and I feel that sexual assault victims could be proud of this book too (it’s not my place to speak for them).I want to thank Kiersi for writing a book that is relatable and helps lead discussions on sexual assault - I hope many young women (and students) read this book and for those out there who have been victims, I hope this book brings you the courage to speak up and get justice you deserve.As a final note - if I was a high school teacher, I would make this book mandatory to read in my class to help build my students up, to know that “no means no” and to speak up.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. And honestly, I think every teen and parent/caregiver/educator should be required to read this book. I'm going to need to take some time to come up with an adequate review for this powerful, intense read but a few things first:-I think this should be required reading for all kids who straddle the line of MG and YA.-I think this should be required reading for all parents, caregivers, and academics, especially for kids in that age range.-While older teens still will get something powerful from this read, I think this is absolutely invaluable for those in-betweeners and fills that much-needed gap.It's got twists and turns, and a pretty superb plot twist at the end.The ending is extremely realistic, as well.In a way (and I mean this as a compliment), this is a book about mostly terrible people in this society of private education and honor systems. Learning the truth about some characters with perfect facades is educational.SPOILER TW/CW BELOW--Stop Reading if you don't want to see the TW/CW..............TW/CW R*pe

The things people will do to fit in. That is the initial basis of Honor Code by Kiersi Burkhart. When you are faced with the dilemma o being ostracised or being part of something bigger Sam knows the choice she has to make. She is new to Edwards Academy – a high school that pretty much guarantees your acceptance into any elite college. But Sam soon comes to realise that it is easy to lose yourself in the expectations of school life, how easy it is to befall victim to more sinister goings on.Honor Code is brilliantly dark and twisty. Burkhart looks at the tradition of honor codes in schools along with the current victim blaming culture that is seen in many college campuses in America. She uses alienation and broken friendships to look at the desperate nature that being lonely and alone as a teenager along with the problems that teens face.This book does not leave you feeling comfortable. You are pushed way out of your comfort zone but it is necessary to get the point across. It does make for uncomfortable reading but it is so damn good.Honor Code by Kiersi Burkhart is available now.