Poison Ivy

When three popular girls go on trial in Government class for their ruthless bullying of a girl named Ivy, it seems like the misfit will finally get her revenge. Eight first-person narrators give different versions of the event: Ivy'”this victim doesn't want revenge, she just wants to be left alone; Ann'”she's the beautiful, but infamously cruel, leader of the bullies; Marco'”he may be the only person involved who has any morals, but he's also the target of Ann's persuasive affections; Daria'”Ivy's painfully shy lawyer doesn't stand a chance; Bryce'”the goofy court reporter knows all the real dirt, even if he doesn't care; Cameron'”he sleeps through the proceedings but might wake up just in time to make a difference; Wayne'”a true devotee of the legal process, too bad he's on the sidelines; and Faith'”as the only witness for the prosecution, it all comes down to her. But where do her loyalties lie?

Amy Goldman Koss is the author of several highly praised teen novels including The Girls, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, an ALA Quick Picks Top Ten selection, and an IRA Young Adult Choice; and The Cheat, an IRA-CBC Children’s Choice. Poison Ivy was praised by The Horn Book for its “honesty and unforgettable voice” and by Publishers Weekly as “fascinating and intriguing.” She lives in Glendale, CA, with her family.

“The message is clear: beauty, popularity, and fear are the trinity by which girls rule, and although most teenagers aren’t cruel, many are indifferent to the suffering of their peers and are thankful they aren’t the ones in the spotlight. . . . compelling reading for teenagers in the trenches.”—Booklist
“[Koss] uses the authentic voices of eight diverse teens to create a “mock trial” in an American Government class. . . . The interactions among the students in and out of the “courtroom” offer readers intriguing and often disturbing perspectives on popularity, peer pressure, bullying and fairness. In the end, Marco best articulates the outcome: ‘Beauty wins and truth is irrelevant. Grim, isn’t it?’ Yes. And, in these pages, it’s all too convincing.”—Publishers Weekly
“Realistic dialogue and fast-paced action will hold interest, and the final verdict is unsettling, but not unexpected.”—School Library Journal