Whistleblower
By: Kate Marchant
When Laurel Cates uncovers a shocking story about Garland's football coach, it takes all of her courage to publish the story in the school's paper. And when it reverberates around the country, the ramifications are both personal and professional. But nowhere are the repercussions stronger than in Laurel's everyday life as she can't seem to avoid Bodie St. James, the star quarterback, whose own career now hangs on the brink as a result of her article. Whistleblower is fresh, contemporary, new adult fiction--with #metoo at its heart.
AI Overview
Book Overview: "Whistleblower" by Kate Marchant is a young adult contemporary novel that revolves around the story of a young journalist named Laurel Cates. The book explores themes of truth, integrity, and the complexities of relationships.
Plot Summary: Laurel Cates, a junior studying journalism at Garland University, is content with her life, focusing on well-written fluff pieces for the school paper and enjoying her social life. However, when she begins researching an article on the school's beloved football coach, she uncovers a pattern of misbehavior and lies. Convinced that she must expose the truth, Laurel risks her part-time job, reputation, and safety to reveal the coach's deceitful actions.
Laurel's investigation is complicated by her tentative alliance with Bodie St. James, the heart-of-gold quarterback who has been like a father figure to him. As they work together to prove each other wrong, their growing feelings and mounting evidence complicate their relationship. Ultimately, Laurel must choose between staying invisible or doing what is right, even if it costs her more than she ever imagined.
Key Themes:
- Truth and Integrity: The novel highlights the importance of uncovering and revealing the truth, even if it comes at a personal cost.
- Relationships: The complex dynamics between Laurel and Bodie, as well as the relationships within the university community, are central to the story.
- Personal Growth: Laurel's journey involves confronting her own desires for anonymity and the need to stand up for what is right.
- College Life: The book provides a realistic backdrop of college life, including themes like binge drinking and off-campus events like drag shows.
Critical Reception: While specific reviews are not extensively detailed in the sources provided, the book has been noted for its realistic portrayal of college life and its exploration of complex themes. The explicit content, including sexual references and binge drinking, is mentioned as providing a realistic backdrop to college life. The novel's ability to balance romance with investigative journalism has also been praised, with one review noting that the tentative alliance between Laurel and Bodie becomes complicated by growing feelings and mounting evidence.
Overall, "Whistleblower" by Kate Marchant is a compelling story about a young journalist's fight for truth and her personal growth amidst the complexities of college life and relationships.