This Is How It Happened

by Paula Stokes

Overview

The author of Girl Against the Universe and Liars, Inc. plunges readers into a world where the internet is always watching—and judging—in this compelling story about mistakes, repercussions, and online vigilante justice. Perfect for fans of Sarah Darer Littman’s Backlash or Robyn Schneider’s The Beginning of Everything.

After waking up from a coma, Genevieve Grace can’t remember the car crash that killed her boyfriend Dallas, a YouTuber turned teen music idol. Genevieve knows she was driving, but because of what's been reported in the media, everyone assumes the other driver, Brad Freeman, is guilty. As she slowly pieces together the night of the accident, Genevieve is hit with a sickening sense of dread—what if she's the one at fault?

While the internet and social media viciously condemn Brad, Genevieve escapes to her father’s house near Zion National Park to hide from curious classmates and intrusive reporters. But she quickly realizes that she can’t run away from the accident. And eventually, she will have to come to grips with what happened…and her role in it.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062379931
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/11/2017
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.50(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Paula Stokes is the author of Hidden Pieces; This Is How It Happened; Girl Against the Universe; Liars, Inc.; and The Art of Lainey. Paula lives in Portland, Oregon. You can find her online at www.authorpaulastokes.com or on Twitter and Instagram @pstokesbooks.

Editorial Reviews

“Smartly paced. A sobering exploration of absolution.” — Kirkus Reviews

“The supporting cast of characters is strong. Stokes builds realistic tension with the bombardment of social media, that faceless jury so quick to judge, sentence, and execute. This tragedy wrapped in a compelling mystery will entrance readers.” — Booklist

From the Publisher

The supporting cast of characters is strong. Stokes builds realistic tension with the bombardment of social media, that faceless jury so quick to judge, sentence, and execute. This tragedy wrapped in a compelling mystery will entrance readers.

Booklist

07/01/2017
Gr 7 Up—High school senior Genevieve Larsen describes herself via hashtags: #blondambition, #premed, and #neversayquit. Her whole world changes when she wakes up in a hospital bed with no memory of the car accident that killed her boyfriend, Dallas Kade. The death of rising YouTube star Dallas creates a storm of online grief and hate. At first, the Missouri teen cannot remember the events that led to the crash. Eventually, Gen regains her memory and realizes the wrong person is being held responsible. Stokes explores the power of social media and online shaming as well as the dangers of "drowsy driving." The book effectively demonstrates the effects of cyberbullying. The life and reputation of the man initially blamed for the accident are ruined, and Genevieve faces deepening guilt as she recovers her memory. However, Stokes's narrative stumbles in the "drowsy driving" plot. The circumstances of the accident don't ring true. The story takes a turn as Genevieve heads to Utah for the summer, which makes the novel needlessly long. The pacing is bogged down by a shift in tone and focus as the plot veers into the summer romance genre. VERDICT An additional choice for YA collections.—Meaghan Nichols, Archaeological Research Associates, Ont.

School Library Journal

2017-04-17
A terrible accident shatters a teen girl's life.Genevieve Grace's boyfriend, Dallas Kade, is a blossoming rock star, but their relationship is starting to wilt. The two white teens leave an album launch party late one night and disaster strikes. Another driver slams into them, killing Dallas and knocking Gen into a coma. Gen wakes to find the world mourning the loss of a rising star and hating the intoxicated man that killed him. She flees reporters and police by spending the summer with her estranged father, but her surfacing memories of what really happened that fateful night loom large over her conscience. The ensuing tale of grief and forgiveness is smartly paced. Stokes doesn't lean too hard on the mystery element, revealing the cold truth early enough to follow through with all the baggage that comes with it. Gen's relationship with her father and stepmother is sweetly characterized, providing solid thematic reinforcement to boot. A Greek chorus in the form of the internet provides Gen and readers with updates on the chaos ensuing back home, while a hot, brown-skinned co-worker gives Gen a reason to work her way through her grief. Elliott is the weakest aspect of the book, just another muscled pensive dream guy that always says the right thing at the right time. A sobering exploration of absolution. (Fiction. 12-16)

Kirkus Reviews

The supporting cast of characters is strong. Stokes builds realistic tension with the bombardment of social media, that faceless jury so quick to judge, sentence, and execute. This tragedy wrapped in a compelling mystery will entrance readers.

Booklist