Gotcha by Shelly HrdlitschkaIt's ‘bead season' at Slippery Rock High. This year the bead-snatching grad game called ‘Gotcha' has been banned as an official school activity because the teachers have decided to put an end to a dangerous tradition. After paying an entry fee the players are given a bead and someone’s name. The object of the game is snatch the bead of your victim and take their name. The winner ends up with all the beads—and all the money. After the game is banned it becomes even more appealing. The game goes underground and more grads than ever are participating. Katie is reluctant to join in, but as a member of grad council she feels she has to go along. The game quickly spins out of control. Katie finds herself losing friends and falling victim to her classmates’ obsession with the game. She considers dropping out of the game but then devises a better way of getting even with her classmates. Katie finds herself sliding further and further down the chute that leads to disaster. Can she bring a safe end to this deadly game?
Discussion questions:
For me, part of the appeal of this book is the bright blue colour on the book cover, as well as the the beads that are the focus of the theme of this book. Did you know it takes the average reader 8 seconds to decide to buy a book, based on the cover? Did this book appeal to you for the same reasons?
Can you relate to Katie's predicament? How would you have done things differently if the bead game was at your school?
This author is from British Columbia. About twelve years ago there was a fourteen year old girl, Reena Virk, murdered because she was swarmed by a group of girls and one boy. Eventually one of the girls finally told the others to stop. However, two followed Reena and she was dragged underwater and drowned. Do you think the author got the idea for Gotcha from this actual happening?
Do you think you would be immune to a mob mentality?
Posts
I loved this book!
ReplyDeleteThis book was soo funny haha, I didn't like Warren though. Paige was a jerk but Katie was awesome. Not the best I've read but I definitly would read it again.
ReplyDeletePatricia
I deffinently would have bought this book. So far out of the three I read this has to be my favourite. About Katie's prediciment I can really relate, even though our problems aren't relatable by the game. Its just high school in general is what I can relate to with her. If the game was at my school, I probably would have erally gotten into it, but got tagged early in. ;)
ReplyDelete- Megan Kuehn
good point about the cover thing. actually, if i think about it, even though i read the back of a book before buying it, the books that i decide to read the back of tend to have drawn my attention because of a cool or unique looking cover. The cover of gotcha is appealing because of the bright cover, and the interesting looking rope of beads.
ReplyDeleteAs for the actual book, it was actally really interesting. The premise was really unique and original, and the characters were really realistic (except maybe Joel who was a bit too perfect), and the plot was actually really believable despite its unique premise, because of how realistic the characters were.
That is an interesting fact. i chose the book because i read the back and found it interesting and maybe a little because of the cover. i can relate high school with katie and if that game was at my school i probably would be as engrossed in it as the people in gotcha.
ReplyDeleteNayrah
That is an interesting fact. i chose the book because i read the back and found it interesting and maybe a little because of the cover. i can relate high school with katie and if that game was at my school i probably would be as engrossed in it as the people in gotcha.
ReplyDeleteNayrah
this book was great. it kinda warns you about pack mentally and to stay away from it. it also showed that when one person abandones you, another ffriend, a real one is always waiting. although katie is indecisive most of the time, sometimes she ends up making a choice at the right time. (warrens pond incident, he deserved it)
ReplyDeleteI'd have to agree with Steve, the plot was really interesting to me because of the realism in it. It allowed me to picture myself in Katie's position and see if I would have done the same things.
ReplyDeleteAbout being immune to a mob, I don't think most people would of been able to stay out of the game with that much peer pressure.
I really liked this book. It gives you a lot to think about. I personally hope that I would have done the right thing in Katie's position, but I've never been in her position, so I can't say for sure that that's how it would turn out. Anyway, the whole idea of a game where you're supposed to stalk people is a little creepy. I mean, why would you want to teach high school kids how to stalk people effectively?
ReplyDeleteKatie was really put into a tough situation. On one hand, Warren was betraying people in order to win the game, but nobody should have to endure being nearly drowned and then embarassed in front of everyone in your grade. I think part of her wanted to think that he deserved it, but part of her felt sorry for him for having to go through all of that.
I read Gotcha last weekend and really enjoyed it. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. I thought Shelley did a great job developing the various characters.
ReplyDelete