Smashed

Smashed
Heart
Personal Library
Teen Angst
343 Pages

A teenagers life may seem easy. Wake up, go to school, hang out with friends, play sports, and so on. That’s only half of every teens life, the good half. On the other half, every teen is faced with decisions and problems that could change their lives forever. Teens face problems with parents, friends, drugs, and alcohol. This story is about a girl named Koren Zailckas who has a major problem with alcohol. Koren grew up in a small suburban area where everyone knows each other. She was known as someone who was shy and standoffish. Her first drink came when she was fourteen at a party. Alcohol was just a way for her to let loose and escape her shyness. From her first drink, her problem with alcohol escalated rapidly. She had no incentive to quit drinking. Her friends were doing it, and they pressured her into doing the same. Koren continued to drink throughout high school, but when college came around she was a bit skeptical. However, once she got to college her drinking began again. This time it was worse. Koren realizes she has a problem once it is too late. She is at a party when everything goes terribly wrong. Koren wakes up from a coma that was induced by her drinking covered in bruises. She realizes that she has a problem and finally gets help
This book is geared towards high school students as well as parents of high school students. It shows what a teenager goes through and the pressure they are under with friends and alcohol. High school students should read this because it shows what could happen if you drink to much, or even start to drink. High school parents should read this as well to learn what their son or daughter goes through, and how they can help prevent their child from drinking.
I like this book a lot because it shows what life is truly like for a teenager. People say that your high school years are the easiest years of your life, but this book shows that that statement is completely wrong. Also, almost every teenager is able to relate to this. They may not drink, but almost every one knows a friend that drinks. It is an overall good book that teaches you about the dangers of alcohol. I would definitely recommend this book to any high school student or older.