REVIEW for Girl on the Other Side

A huge thank you goes out to author Deborah Kerbel for sending me a copy of her wonderful book!

TITLE: Girl on the Other Side

AUTHOR: Deborah Kerbel

GENRE: YA

RATING: 4 Stars

I have said it before and will continue to be amazed at the quality of writing in the YA genre. I just finished reading Girl on the Other Side and was blown away by the sensitive, realistic and engaging writing of this book.

Author Deborah Kerbel wrote an extremely poignant and, at times, extremely difficult to read story about bullying, being the “it” girl and how, in an instant, everything can change your life forever.

I believe that this book could not come out at a better time – where bullying in school has become an epidemic and those doing the bullying are either clueless or just plain mean and cruel and immature teens with too much time on their hands and not enough brain power!!! I was actually feeling sick as I read the horrors that were being done to Lora – who seemed to shrink into herself with each beating and unkind word.


This novel features two main characters Tabby and Lora. Lora has been picked up for most of her school life and has chosen to retreat deeper into herself – until one day – its all too much and she ends up crying in the bathroom stall at school.

Tabby is the polar opposite (or so it seems) of Lora. Tabby is popular and rich and although she is not cruel, she certainly does not stand up for Lora and, in fact, can’t understand why Lora just does not stand up for herself. Yet, all is really not what it seems as Tabby’s rich lifestyle is about to fall apart – and one day-its all too much and she ends up crying in the bathroom stall at school.

This novels truly and honestly explores the lives of two different girls who, although, appear to be extremely different are not so different in the end. Both have secrets that they bring to school each day and both are miserable and lonely – and life will somehow bring these two together.

I loved, loved this book – full of realistic dialogue and scary moments which are made all the more scary because they are happening to YA all around the world.