Hayley Krischer’s debut YA novel, Something Happened to Ali Greenleaf follows the story of two girls as they navigate tumultuous relationships, the effects of trauma, and what empowerment means to them.
Synopsis
Ali Greenleaf and Blythe Jensen couldn't be more different. Ali is sweet, bitingly funny, and just a little naive. Blythe is beautiful, terrifying, and the most popular girl in school. They've never even talked to each other, until a party when Ali decides she'll finally make her move on Sean Nessel, her long-time crush, and the soccer team's superstar. But Sean pushes Ali farther than she wants to go. When she resists - he rapes her. Blythe sees Ali when she runs from the party, everyone sees her. And Blythe knows something happened with Sean, she knows how he treats girls. Even so, she's his best friend, his confidant. When he begs her to help him, she can't resist. So Blythe befriends Ali in her attempt to make things right with Sean, bringing Ali into a circle of ruthless popular girls, and sharing her own dark secrets. Despite the betrayal at the heart of their relationship, they see each other, in a way no one ever has before. In her searing, empowering debut novel, Hayley Krischer tells the story of what happened that night, and how it shaped Ali and Blythe forever. Both girls are survivors in their own ways, and while their experiences are different, and their friendship might not be built to last, it's one that helps each of them find a way forward on their own terms.
My Rating: ***
Content Warning: Intense scenes depicting sexual assault and drug abuse, Reference to an eating disorder, Mental illness, Trauma, PTSD, Bullying, Victim blaming
Review
Something Happened to Ali Greenleaf is an intense and empowering book to read. Despite the difficult themes (sexual assault, toxic masculinity, victim-blaming & bullying) the author successfully managed to write in a highly accessible style. Krischer’s use of short chapters and frequent character changes between the Ali and Blythe’s perspectives made this book a very easy read.
Both Ali and Blythe’s perspectives throughout the story were extremely insightful whilst also showing the importance of female friendships/relationships during high school. Arguably, each perspective adds complexity and emotional depth to the storyline, instead of the narrative being told from just Ali’s viewpoint.
Ali and Blythe’s friendship may seem strange as both characters seem to be very different from one another in terms of popularity and interests, the parallels between the girls are really what makes the book so thoughtful and engaging. I found it easy to empathise with Ali and support her throughout the book. But for me, Blythe was the complete opposite because her character went on such an emotional journey. When I read her side of the story it made me feel very uncomfortable. Rarely do you hear about the motivations behind sexual assault or the reasons why someone may make excuses for the rapist. At the beginning of the book I thought Blythe was just superficial and jealous of Ali for having a relationship with Sean, who is Blythe’s best friend and Ali’s rapist. At times I hated her for not realising Sean’s true nature and at other moments I felt sorry for her after finding out about her own trauma (even though she was obviously in denial about it). However, by the end of the book I truly understood her actions and why she befriended Ali. But she still did some pretty inexcusable things to Ali in order to defend her own reputation. However, it was fascinating to read in the perspective of such a complex character and to see the lengths she would go to defend herself and a rapist.
Despite their differences Ali manages to look past Blythe’s façade, as the popular girl, to see her vulnerabilities and anger towards the world, in the end she is just a teenager crying out for help. The fact that these characters connect on a much deeper level is important because they both help each other with their own traumatic pasts. From their strained relationships with their mother’s (Blythe’s mother has bipolar disorder and Ali’s is a recovering alcoholic) to being sexually assaulted. The reader realises that these characters are much more alike than imagined and that their friendship simultaneously helps each of them to heal and overcome their experiences.
Even though these characters felt real and compelling, I felt like, at times, the storyline was very exaggerated and unrealistic particularly, with Blythe’s traumatic past. Nonetheless I think that all of the themes – sexual assault, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, mental illness, manipulation, bullying, toxic friendships, and victim-blaming, reflected reality in a genuine and honest way. Particularly, the way Krischer depicted how toxic high school environments can make it even harder for girls to feel safe and supported enough to report sexual abuse. I personally enjoyed the feminist undertones throughout the book especially towards the end where Ali finally decides to use her voice, to stand up against Sean as she writes a viral article for an underground newspaper naming her rapist and describing the events that nights at the party.
The fact that Ali has enough courage to battle her own demons and gain justice and autonomy in an environment that tends to normalise sexual violence is very empowering. Oftentimes, victims of sexual assault blame themselves, as they feel guilty and shameful. Despite the prominence of the #metoo movement, it is clear that Ali also feels this way – because she drank too much at the party and the fact that it was her choice to go upstairs with Sean because he was her lifelong crush. However, Ali realises that the victim is often shamed into silence before they even have a chance to speak. Therefore, by voicing her own opinion and sharing her experience she is able to help others through their own stories of sexual abuse.
I think that the quote below is significant because it gives the reader a glimpse into Ali’s inner thoughts while her best friend pushes her to report her rapist:
“But I’ve seen to many news stories, too many articles, to know that in real-life situations, girls don’t get the chance to defend themselves. Especially not when it comes to the captain of the soccer team.” “My whole life is on the line here, that she can’t tell anyone because if she tells even one person, my whole life is going to explode. That Sean Nessel will ruin my life.”
The trigger warnings and helpful resources that Krischer includes show just how thoughtful she is when tackling sensitive issues such as sexual violence in her book. Her note at the end of the book is especially powerful as she tells the readers exactly why a story like this one is needed and why sexual abuse is such a relevant issue today.
Reviews by YA Authors:
“A powerful, nuanced, and stunning debut about rape culture and survival that will haunt you long after you close the book. Ali Greenleaf’s story is complex and beautifully told; full of fury, heartbreak, and hope.” - Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces and How to Make Friends With the Dark “Necessary and timely, Something Happened to Ali Greenleaf takes us on a journey that is at once heart-breaking and heart-healing, as Hayley Krischer’s unique, refreshing voice skillfully navigates the realities of sexual assault with care, insight, and authenticity. Full of truth, hope, and empowerment, this story is one you’ll be thinking about long after you’ve finished.” - Amber Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Way I Used to Be
About the Author
Hayley Krischer has been an award-winning journalist for over 20+ years. She received her MFA in creative writing from Lesley University. Her first newspaper job was as an editorial assistant at the Boston Globe. She is a contributing writer for the New York Times, where she has covered feminist roller skaters, Instagram obsessed moms, profiled Gabrielle Union, Tatum O'Neal, and S.E. Hinton. She has also written for many publications about women and teenage girls including Marie Claire, The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, Lenny Letter, and the Hairpin. Something Happened To Ali Greenleaf is Krischer’s debut Young Adult novel, released in October 2020 from Razorbill.
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