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Twisted
High school senior Tyler Miller used to be the kind of guy who faded into the background—average student, average looks, average dysfunctional family. But since he got busted for doing graffiti on the school, and spent the summer doing outdoor work to pay for it, he stands out like you wouldn’t believe. His new physique attracts the attention of queen bee Bethany Milbury, who just so happens to be his father’s boss’s daughter, the sister of his biggest enemy—and Tyler’s secret crush. And that sets off a string of events and changes that have Tyler questioning his place in the school, in his family, and in the world.
In Twisted, the acclaimed Laurie Halse Anderson tackles a very controversial subject: what it means to be a man today. Fans and new readers alike will be captured by Tyler’s pitch perfect, funny voice, the surprising narrative arc, and the thoughtful moral dilemmas that are at the heart of all of the author’s award-winning, widely read work.
In Twisted, the acclaimed Laurie Halse Anderson tackles a very controversial subject: what it means to be a man today. Fans and new readers alike will be captured by Tyler’s pitch perfect, funny voice, the surprising narrative arc, and the thoughtful moral dilemmas that are at the heart of all of the author’s award-winning, widely read work.
250 pages, Hardcover
First published March 20, 2007
About the author
Laurie Halse Anderson
87 books17.1k followersUPDATE! SHOUT, my memoir in verse, is out, has received 9 starred reviews, and was longlisted for the National Book Award!
For bio stuff: Laurie Halse Anderson is a New York Times bestselling author whose writing spans young readers, teens, and adults. Combined, her books have sold more than 8 million copies. Her new book, SHOUT, a memoir-in-verse about surviving sexual assault at the age of thirteen and a manifesta for the #MeToo era, has received widespread critical acclaim and appeared on the New York Times bestseller list for seven consecutive weeks.
Laurie has been nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award four times. Two of her books, Speak and Chains, were National Book Award finalists, and Chains was short-listed for the prestigious Carnegie medal. Two more books, Shout and The Impossible Knife of Memory, were long-listed for the National Book Award. Laurie was selected by the American Library Association for the 2009 Margaret A. Edwards Award and has been honored for her battles for intellectual freedom by the National Coalition Against Censorship and the National Council of Teachers of English.
In addition to combating censorship, Laurie regularly speaks about the need for diversity in publishing and is a member of RAINN’s National Leadership Council. She lives in Philadelphia, where she enjoys cheesesteaks while she writes. Find out more about Laurie by following her on Twitter at @halseanderson, Instagram at halseanderson, and Facebook at lauriehalseanderson, or by visiting her website, madwomanintheforest.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,327 reviews
October 26, 2009
I don't know exactly what it was about this particular book that touched me so much. I've read other books written by Laurie Halse Anderson, they were all great, but "Twisted" just totally blew my mind.
This is a story about Tyler, a teenage boy who, trying to disengage himself from years of social invisibility, commits an act for which he is given 6-months probation and forced to a summer filled of character building labor. When the summer is over, Tyler is a new person - he is now a muscular hunk and has a reputation of being a dangerous badass. He is suddenly courted by his dream girl and hated by her jock brother, (the two are accidentally his father's boss' kids). On probation for his stunt, Tyler struggles to balance his consuming crush with pressure that comes from schoolwork and his explosive father, and after Tyler is implicated in a serious crime, his balancing act falls apart. He reaches a point of such pressure, that he is not sure he can take it.
I am always skeptical of female authors who try to write from male POV. Very often we end up with unrealistic dream-boat type males. But Anderson doesn't disappoint. Her Tyler is so real, so flawed, so lost and confused and twisted! His story consumed me and I couldn't help myself from praying for Tyler to succeed in his quest for his own identity. At one point I was fearful he wouldn't make it, but thankfully Anderson's books always end with triumph.
A very moving read that I will not soon forget.
Reading challenge: #1 - T
This is a story about Tyler, a teenage boy who, trying to disengage himself from years of social invisibility, commits an act for which he is given 6-months probation and forced to a summer filled of character building labor. When the summer is over, Tyler is a new person - he is now a muscular hunk and has a reputation of being a dangerous badass. He is suddenly courted by his dream girl and hated by her jock brother, (the two are accidentally his father's boss' kids). On probation for his stunt, Tyler struggles to balance his consuming crush with pressure that comes from schoolwork and his explosive father, and after Tyler is implicated in a serious crime, his balancing act falls apart. He reaches a point of such pressure, that he is not sure he can take it.
I am always skeptical of female authors who try to write from male POV. Very often we end up with unrealistic dream-boat type males. But Anderson doesn't disappoint. Her Tyler is so real, so flawed, so lost and confused and twisted! His story consumed me and I couldn't help myself from praying for Tyler to succeed in his quest for his own identity. At one point I was fearful he wouldn't make it, but thankfully Anderson's books always end with triumph.
A very moving read that I will not soon forget.
Reading challenge: #1 - T
May 31, 2011
This is the second book I've read by Laurie Halse Anderson and I was impressed yet again. Her writing is very personal and gets right inside the protagonist's mind in a way that pulls the reader into the centre of her stories.
Twisted is about a teenage boy called Tyler who finds himself in the high school limelight after pulling a stunt that lands him with 6 months probation and hard labour - which then results in him gaining a super hot body and a bad (in a good way) reputation. Suddenly, his impossible crush on Bethany doesn't seem quite so impossible and everything looks like it's going Tyler's way for once... that is until he is accused of a serious crime that he didn't commit. Then his whole world turns upside down and almost no one is on his side, including his father.
I think Anderson has done an amazing job with Twisted. I was never bored and I sympathised with all the protagonist's emotions and turmoil. I still didn't enjoy it quite as much as I did Speak and I think that's simply because I can never quite relate to male point of views as well as female. But I want it understood that Anderson did a great job as a female writer creating a male voice that was realistic and not romanticised. I am definitely going to read more from Laurie Halse Anderson.
September 6, 2021
I didn’t love this one as much the second time around. But that’s ok. Unhauling paperback copy
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
August 4, 2007
Laurie Halse Anderson’s Twisted is one hell of a hand grenade launched into the canon of teen lit! Tyler’s senior year is about to start and things are looking like this: community service for the Foul Deed is about over, classes are going to be hell, and the hottest girl at George Washington High has Tyler on her radar…as does her a**hole brother, Chip. Ty has changed a bit as well - the summer of landscaping has given him a new physique, and a new confidence, but like Aunt May says to a transformed Peter Parker, “with great power comes great responsibility.” And who exactly is going to teach Tyler how to be responsible? This is where Twisted really gets going. Talking to the overworked, distant father is a certain heat getter for Tyler, so that option is out. Ty’s best friend, codename: Yoda, has learned everything there is to know about life from Star Wars - not a bad place to learn a thing or two, but it’s not Tyler’s holy grail of worldly wisdom. Then, there is “The Party.” Not to give anything away about that, but I’ll just hint that this also is a story about how one’s past screw-ups can make others point the finger at you when some really scary stuff hits the fan.
February 21, 2019
I started off liking this. I tend to prefer male protagonists and Tyler is funny. And then I start cringing. Anderson gets how shocking teenagers are because she's cool like that. You know, every girl's a little easy dressing like a tramp and just waiting to get laid and every guy's a pervert doing you know what on the internet and in the shower. And they have to throw around the f word and party like crazy. It would not be authentic at all to write about teenagers and not use that shock value, to the extreme, because that's what teenagers are like and it's what they want to read, right? I appreciate the stamp at the beginning of the page that says the book is not for children, but I'm not a fan of edgy YA just for the sake of being edgy and this felt more gratuitous than authentic.
But about the story. Did I relate to Tyler? Yes, Anderson's characterization is very well done. Tyler is one of the good guys. I wanted to root for him and I felt for him when things went wrong. She did a great job of switching from light-hearted to heavy. A story is only as strong as its characters and Anderson nails it in that department. Did the story wrap up to give you that good hope for the future feeling that defines young adults? Absolutely and I liked that it didn't do it with a bow.
So I liked the story, just not all the superfluous material there to make it edgy. For that I'm downgrading a solid 4 read to a 3, maybe even 3.5. It's one of those cases where if I like a book, if it's a good book, and if I would recommend it, don't match up.
But about the story. Did I relate to Tyler? Yes, Anderson's characterization is very well done. Tyler is one of the good guys. I wanted to root for him and I felt for him when things went wrong. She did a great job of switching from light-hearted to heavy. A story is only as strong as its characters and Anderson nails it in that department. Did the story wrap up to give you that good hope for the future feeling that defines young adults? Absolutely and I liked that it didn't do it with a bow.
So I liked the story, just not all the superfluous material there to make it edgy. For that I'm downgrading a solid 4 read to a 3, maybe even 3.5. It's one of those cases where if I like a book, if it's a good book, and if I would recommend it, don't match up.
June 5, 2011
A former geek Tyler Miller got himself in trouble because of a prank ("The Foul Deed") he pulled at the end of his junior year. He was sick and tired of being a nobody (a zit on the butt of the student body) so he decided to to something that will put him on the map. But things don't go exactly as planned and he gets caught. Judge ordered him to do community service all summer (helping janitors in his school). Plus he had to pay for the damages he caused, so he sold his car and worked for a landscaping company all summer.
Tyler doesn't mind hard work, it's something he's good at and it's a cleansing experience for his mind and body (especially his body).
I decapitated dandelions all morning, leaving carnage and death strewn in my path….I was good at digging holes. It was the rest of the life I sucked at.
In addition with dealing with his messed up family (dad is a first class asshole, mom is a pet photographer, cake baker, and a nice lady who smells faintly of gin, and sister Hannah is just staring high school), he has to deal with his new reputation, his AP classes, his parole officer and his alarmingly high testosterone levels.
He's on a short leash AND on thin ice AND he really needs to keep his nose clean. „That's that. Work hard at school. Keep your nose clean, and come back in a month.“
Again with the clean-nose thing. Authority figures had a pathological fear of boogers, that's how I saw it.
But things are not all that bad, there's a upside to all this. During the summer he goes trough a growth spurt (he's six-three and one ninety-five now) and because of his hard work for the landscaping company he's packing some nice looking muscles, so the most popular girl in school Bethany Milbury is finally noticing him. Tyler has a huge crush on her but he's not exactly confident enough to do something about that, and when he finally makes a move, some unexpected things happen and he must figure out how to deal with them.
Tyler is a great guy and one of my favorite YA characters. He's a great brother to his younger sister, he's a great son to his mom, and his trying to please his over controlling (and a little bit psycho) dad.
One of the reasons I loved this book so much is because it's written from a guys POV, and Laurie Halse Anderson does a great job with Tyler.
He's not emo, but he's sensitive enough, and his hormones are working overtime, but he's not acting like a dog in heat. And he's really funny in a sarcastic and intelligent way.
I picked up one of the books and flipped through it. Don't get me wrong, I like reading. But some books should come with warning labels: Caution: contains characters and plots guaranteed to induce sleepiness. Do not attempt to operate heavy machinery after ingesting more than one chapter. Has been known to cause blindness, seizures and a terminal loathing of literature. Should only be taken under the supervision of a highly trained English teacher. Preferably one who grades on the curve.
There are some things about Tyler that are disturbing, but probably not that unusual for a teenager who's going trough these kind of problems. He has violent thoughts about hurting his father, and hurting other kids in school, and about hurting himself.
This is a great book that deals with serious (and some less serious) problems that modern teenagers have to deal with. I wish there are more books like these.
Tyler doesn't mind hard work, it's something he's good at and it's a cleansing experience for his mind and body (especially his body).
I decapitated dandelions all morning, leaving carnage and death strewn in my path….I was good at digging holes. It was the rest of the life I sucked at.
In addition with dealing with his messed up family (dad is a first class asshole, mom is a pet photographer, cake baker, and a nice lady who smells faintly of gin, and sister Hannah is just staring high school), he has to deal with his new reputation, his AP classes, his parole officer and his alarmingly high testosterone levels.
He's on a short leash AND on thin ice AND he really needs to keep his nose clean. „That's that. Work hard at school. Keep your nose clean, and come back in a month.“
Again with the clean-nose thing. Authority figures had a pathological fear of boogers, that's how I saw it.
But things are not all that bad, there's a upside to all this. During the summer he goes trough a growth spurt (he's six-three and one ninety-five now) and because of his hard work for the landscaping company he's packing some nice looking muscles, so the most popular girl in school Bethany Milbury is finally noticing him. Tyler has a huge crush on her but he's not exactly confident enough to do something about that, and when he finally makes a move, some unexpected things happen and he must figure out how to deal with them.
Tyler is a great guy and one of my favorite YA characters. He's a great brother to his younger sister, he's a great son to his mom, and his trying to please his over controlling (and a little bit psycho) dad.
One of the reasons I loved this book so much is because it's written from a guys POV, and Laurie Halse Anderson does a great job with Tyler.
He's not emo, but he's sensitive enough, and his hormones are working overtime, but he's not acting like a dog in heat. And he's really funny in a sarcastic and intelligent way.
I picked up one of the books and flipped through it. Don't get me wrong, I like reading. But some books should come with warning labels: Caution: contains characters and plots guaranteed to induce sleepiness. Do not attempt to operate heavy machinery after ingesting more than one chapter. Has been known to cause blindness, seizures and a terminal loathing of literature. Should only be taken under the supervision of a highly trained English teacher. Preferably one who grades on the curve.
There are some things about Tyler that are disturbing, but probably not that unusual for a teenager who's going trough these kind of problems. He has violent thoughts about hurting his father, and hurting other kids in school, and about hurting himself.
This is a great book that deals with serious (and some less serious) problems that modern teenagers have to deal with. I wish there are more books like these.
November 24, 2008
This book didn't really do it for me. The whole time I was reading it, I kept thinking that if I was a teenager I would have had my jaw gaping open at some of the plot twists, but since I'm now a jaded adult I felt like the events that occurred were a bit more emotionally manipulative.
Main things that bugged me: the "fantasy" of a dorky guy who works all summer and comes back to school buff and suddenly semi-popular. The gun. The inattentive father and the "resolution" that occurs with their relationship at the end of the novel. I just wasn't buying it.
But like I said, I'm not really the intended audience for this book, so I'll shut up now. On the flip side, many YA books can cross the line and engage both teens and adults - I just don't think this is one of them.
Main things that bugged me: the "fantasy" of a dorky guy who works all summer and comes back to school buff and suddenly semi-popular. The gun. The inattentive father and the "resolution" that occurs with their relationship at the end of the novel. I just wasn't buying it.
But like I said, I'm not really the intended audience for this book, so I'll shut up now. On the flip side, many YA books can cross the line and engage both teens and adults - I just don't think this is one of them.
July 23, 2022
this was my second time reading this… so freaking good!!!!! laurie halse anderson doesn’t disappoint
June 7, 2016
“Once you’ve thought long and hard enough about doing something that is colossally stupid, you feel like you’ve actually done it, and then you’re never quite sure what your limits are.”
If you've never read anything by Laurie Halse Anderson before, let me tell you that she writes some of the best hard-hitting realism. Speak took a close look at a rape victim; Wintergirls focused on an anorexic girl. Twisted is centered around suicide.
Anderson has a gift for being able to dive into the minds of teens. I think a lot of authors miss the mark when they try to write "teen voices" and their characters end up sounding like they tried way too hard.
With Anderson, it comes naturally. Her characters think like teens, have realistic relationships, and their behavior accurately represents teenagers.
Twisted shows the side of Tyler's life that he won't let his friends see - his depressed, abusive father who is tearing their family apart and how Tyler spends his time thinking up different ways to hurt people.
“I didn’t fit. I was a different size, a different shape. I kept trying to squeeze into a body, a skin suit, that was too small.”
Tyler's narrative was so sympathetic; no matter how hard he tried, he could never live up to his father's expectations. But the portrayal of a serious issue wasn't the only good thing - the plot also intrigued me and the writing was addicting.
I loved the ending; it sent a great message about suicide. No matter how bad things are, what people are saying about you, or how you feel about yourself, you can take control of the situation and change things for the better. When there is the possibility of a brighter future ahead, why give up now?
Shelved as 'wishlist'
June 26, 2021Here it is! The last Laurie Halse Anderson book I own as part of my reread experiment! I think I've read like five or six of her books at this point. I remember liking this one almost as much as SPEAK.
June 11, 2022
The characters wasn't compelling to read about nor was the plot very intruiging to read about but I might read something more by Laurie Halse Anderson in the future
May 4, 2016
While I didn't love this, I didn't hate it either. I feel like a lot of important issues were brought up and then barely touched upon. There were opportunities to explore many things that teens confront during the journey through puberty and high school and I felt quite let down when those subjects weren't explored further. I did really enjoy the aspect of the male POV as I find it's something that's all too rare in a lot of the young adult books I read. I'm also a big fan of Anderson's writing style and that was no different with this book. This book was just okay for me; it really had the potential to be so much more though.
March 9, 2021
Laurie Halse Anderson has long been one of my favorite authors, and each book of hers I read further cements that. I find myself caring deeply for her characters, even though I know I’ll have to say goodbye (for now) in less than 300 pages. As for Twisted specifically, I can definitely see myself revisiting Tyler’s world in the future. I loved his narrative and his journey.
September 15, 2008
i don't know why every book i've been picking up recently has to do with suicide - not directly, but indirectly. it's pretty impressive.
anyway, this is the first of Laurie Halse Anderson's books i've read with a male protagonist, and i have to say, i'm pretty impressed with how well she got into tyler's head.
(i also really liked yoda.)
this book is centrally about identity and pressure, and, in a little like Thirteen Reasons Why, the repercussions of actions that we don't even know. tyler starts out as the defined "nerd boy", but after getting caught with his hand in the paint can, he was forced into a summer of hard labor. as a result, he all of sudden becomes someone worth looking at in school. and his forever crush, bethany milbury, notices.
what's also fascinating about this book are the characters of the parents. there's the mom that is initially a doormat and then grows - and a dad like a tyrant that also grows. it's interesting to see how tyler's perceptions of their actions grow, and how he misreads them, and how they misread him.
the book goes to a very dark place, but while the circumstances of the book seem a little melodramatic, the characters don't, and somehow it all coalesces into this affirming ending that i was quite pleased with.
anyway, this is the first of Laurie Halse Anderson's books i've read with a male protagonist, and i have to say, i'm pretty impressed with how well she got into tyler's head.
(i also really liked yoda.)
this book is centrally about identity and pressure, and, in a little like Thirteen Reasons Why, the repercussions of actions that we don't even know. tyler starts out as the defined "nerd boy", but after getting caught with his hand in the paint can, he was forced into a summer of hard labor. as a result, he all of sudden becomes someone worth looking at in school. and his forever crush, bethany milbury, notices.
what's also fascinating about this book are the characters of the parents. there's the mom that is initially a doormat and then grows - and a dad like a tyrant that also grows. it's interesting to see how tyler's perceptions of their actions grow, and how he misreads them, and how they misread him.
the book goes to a very dark place, but while the circumstances of the book seem a little melodramatic, the characters don't, and somehow it all coalesces into this affirming ending that i was quite pleased with.
January 4, 2009
The more I think about _Twisted_, the more I think it is an effective--and unusual--contribution to any YA collection. Halse Anderson accomplishes two remarkable feats in this book. First, she gets the teenage male voice and preoccupations perfect; Tyler's hard-ons are just as much a part of his daily life as his social anxieties, crushes, and homework. And secondly, she manages to address the deep-level importance of family life, however dysfunctional, to adolescents.
The plot seems at first to offer only a predictable scenario: over the summer, ugly-duckling dweeb transforms into possibly-cool and sexy swan. But as Tyler's promising proto-relationship with super-popular Bethany gets twisted by one late-night party and a heap of false accusations, it becomes impossible to ignore the pressure from Tyler's asshole dad... and equally impossible for Tyler to ignore doing something about him.
Some elements--the reconciliation between Tyler and his father, for example--are a bit predictable, but all in all, this is a thought-provoking, worthwhile read that guys and gals alike will enjoy.
The plot seems at first to offer only a predictable scenario: over the summer, ugly-duckling dweeb transforms into possibly-cool and sexy swan. But as Tyler's promising proto-relationship with super-popular Bethany gets twisted by one late-night party and a heap of false accusations, it becomes impossible to ignore the pressure from Tyler's asshole dad... and equally impossible for Tyler to ignore doing something about him.
Some elements--the reconciliation between Tyler and his father, for example--are a bit predictable, but all in all, this is a thought-provoking, worthwhile read that guys and gals alike will enjoy.
September 9, 2018
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After being caught graffiting the school during summer vacation, Tyler Miller is given 6 months probation of hard work and heavy labour. This slowly transforms him from invisible Nerd Boy to suddenly hunky semi-bad boy which catches the attention of his long time crush, Bethany Milbury. Unfortunately for Tyler, Bethany is the daughter of his father's boss as well as the twin sister of his arch nemesis, Chip. As the school year progresses, Tyler's life drastically changes as he tries to balance his overbearing father, his school work and his crush on Bethany.
I absolutely love Laurie Halse Anderson and her writing, she is so talented! She has a way of sucking you into the story from the very first page. The book flies by so quickly but its message is so effective. Tyler is an amazing character. Through out Tyler's story you sympathize with him and just want things to get better. Anderson does a great job balancing between the serious parts of the story with more light-hearted jokes and feel good moments.
After being caught graffiting the school during summer vacation, Tyler Miller is given 6 months probation of hard work and heavy labour. This slowly transforms him from invisible Nerd Boy to suddenly hunky semi-bad boy which catches the attention of his long time crush, Bethany Milbury. Unfortunately for Tyler, Bethany is the daughter of his father's boss as well as the twin sister of his arch nemesis, Chip. As the school year progresses, Tyler's life drastically changes as he tries to balance his overbearing father, his school work and his crush on Bethany.
I absolutely love Laurie Halse Anderson and her writing, she is so talented! She has a way of sucking you into the story from the very first page. The book flies by so quickly but its message is so effective. Tyler is an amazing character. Through out Tyler's story you sympathize with him and just want things to get better. Anderson does a great job balancing between the serious parts of the story with more light-hearted jokes and feel good moments.
August 6, 2019
4.5 Stars
When Tyler commits a foul deed he is served with a summer of probation and community service. With all the hard labor of his community service his body starts bulking up which catches the eye of a popular girl named Bethany. Bethany invites Tyler to a party. When Tyler shows up Bethany is drunk and takes Tyler up to a room. Tyler realizes Bethany is drunk and tells her he doesnt want to do anything which makes Bethany mad. When naked pictures of Bethany start to show up on the internet the blame is automatically pointed at Tyler.
I enjoy anything Laurie Halse Anderson writes. I think she did a great job of writing from a Male's point of view. I loved how she writes about real life issues. There are trigger warnings of Suicide, depression, bullying, and alcohol.
When Tyler commits a foul deed he is served with a summer of probation and community service. With all the hard labor of his community service his body starts bulking up which catches the eye of a popular girl named Bethany. Bethany invites Tyler to a party. When Tyler shows up Bethany is drunk and takes Tyler up to a room. Tyler realizes Bethany is drunk and tells her he doesnt want to do anything which makes Bethany mad. When naked pictures of Bethany start to show up on the internet the blame is automatically pointed at Tyler.
I enjoy anything Laurie Halse Anderson writes. I think she did a great job of writing from a Male's point of view. I loved how she writes about real life issues. There are trigger warnings of Suicide, depression, bullying, and alcohol.
February 9, 2009
Excellent guy book. The main character, Tyler, has to learn to balance his preferences along with meeting the expectations or his parents, peers, and impressing the girl of his dreams, and making amends for past wrongs. Tyler has to face a father whose pressures at work spill over at home making him a tyrant willing to use force and intimidation to gain compliance. Peers and authorities at school and the community have not forgiven Tyler for a mistake/youthful prank/crime from the past. Tyler feels placed under a microscope and often feels there are no options that will be morally correct, obedient to his parents, and regain the trust of his teachers and community. It brings to light the messy process of maturation, setting boundaries, and gaining a sense of independence after everything goes wrong. Will he win the heart of his dream girl? Do the rich and powerful always win? In the face of a moral imperative can you stand up for yourself when everyone is demanding submission to prove rehabilitation? When do you trust? It is a powerful story that explores these questions without preaching or losing balance and the themes will resonate with teens even after the last chapter.
June 7, 2010
Everyone raves about LH Anderson, and now I see why. She is amazingly insightful when it comes to the teen psyche with a tight, spot-on writing style.
Tyler Miller is the nerdy computer boy who returns to school his senior year with a rep as a semi-bad-boy after being put on probation for spray painting the high school. He's also finally hit puberty, put on some muscle, and the popular girl at school is noticing him. Of course, complications ensue, not the least of which is that his uptight father is employed by said popular girl's father, and popular girl's twin brother is a stereotypical jerky rich kid jock. Add it all together with an out-of-control party and some ugly Internet posts, and Tyler's world, which finally seemed to be coming together, begins to fall apart.
Great story about a good, but mixed-up, kid who has to make some very difficult choices.
Sexual references and themes; language.
Tyler Miller is the nerdy computer boy who returns to school his senior year with a rep as a semi-bad-boy after being put on probation for spray painting the high school. He's also finally hit puberty, put on some muscle, and the popular girl at school is noticing him. Of course, complications ensue, not the least of which is that his uptight father is employed by said popular girl's father, and popular girl's twin brother is a stereotypical jerky rich kid jock. Add it all together with an out-of-control party and some ugly Internet posts, and Tyler's world, which finally seemed to be coming together, begins to fall apart.
Great story about a good, but mixed-up, kid who has to make some very difficult choices.
Sexual references and themes; language.
August 12, 2013
knockin this down .5 stars because now that i think about it, it wasnt AMAZING
March 13, 2024
This book is just boring and not a good read whatsoever. It’s filled with cliche after cliche, not original at all. Summed up, bad boy goes to party with popular girl, popular girl ends up having nude pictures spread around and school blames bad boy, bad boy didn’t do it but his reputation precedes him. Add in a drunk douche dad, some jocks who bully him, and high school cliches and bam that’s the book.
There is some trigger warnings, suicide and rape and sexual assault are brought up throughout. There is one scene the jocks have a kid duct taped to a bench with his pants down. Which it doesn’t go into any more detail then that, but still. So just a heads up.
This book is boring, it’s slow and nothing interesting happens at all. It’s just mundane. Like it’s blah, I don’t know if this makes sense but the whole book just feels grey like it’s just not interesting at all.
There’s no suspense throughout the book and the ending is just an even bigger let down. Like the book is boring to begin with and the ending somehow brings it even further past rock bottom.
I wouldn’t recommend giving this a try at all. Not worth it.
There is some trigger warnings, suicide and rape and sexual assault are brought up throughout. There is one scene the jocks have a kid duct taped to a bench with his pants down. Which it doesn’t go into any more detail then that, but still. So just a heads up.
This book is boring, it’s slow and nothing interesting happens at all. It’s just mundane. Like it’s blah, I don’t know if this makes sense but the whole book just feels grey like it’s just not interesting at all.
There’s no suspense throughout the book and the ending is just an even bigger let down. Like the book is boring to begin with and the ending somehow brings it even further past rock bottom.
I wouldn’t recommend giving this a try at all. Not worth it.
February 7, 2017
I really liked this book. It's not very long, an easy read and very entertaining.
It was fun for me as a woman to read this told from a male perspective. I remember high school like it was yesterday (ok, 30 years ago) and it made me giggle in places that reminded me of my own high school shenanigans.
Tyler, the narrator, is really going through some serious bullcrap his senior year. And yes, he brought most of it upon himself as teens do, but having to take heaped on bullcrap from other people is over the top. I remember how tough it is to be a teen, high school, growing up...in that limbo between child and adult. Bad choices are a given, but we live and learn. His dad is a royal douchebag, and you will see that from page one, so no spoiler there... It complicates everything.
I am glad I read it and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA fiction. I didn't realize how much I liked it, even though my age reflects that it is way past my prime. My son, while in high school was an avid reader and he would bring me books he finished, excited..."MOM! You've got to read this book!!!" So I did. I wanted to encourage him to keep the love of reading alive throughout his life like my dad passed on to me. That's when I realized YA books aren't just for kids and teens. There are many lessons to be learned for us older folks too. We should never forget what it was like to be young and stupid and confused and scared and brave and, and, and.... It will make us better mentors to the younger generation that REALLY needs to do some growing up.
Happy reading!
It was fun for me as a woman to read this told from a male perspective. I remember high school like it was yesterday (ok, 30 years ago) and it made me giggle in places that reminded me of my own high school shenanigans.
Tyler, the narrator, is really going through some serious bullcrap his senior year. And yes, he brought most of it upon himself as teens do, but having to take heaped on bullcrap from other people is over the top. I remember how tough it is to be a teen, high school, growing up...in that limbo between child and adult. Bad choices are a given, but we live and learn. His dad is a royal douchebag, and you will see that from page one, so no spoiler there... It complicates everything.
I am glad I read it and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA fiction. I didn't realize how much I liked it, even though my age reflects that it is way past my prime. My son, while in high school was an avid reader and he would bring me books he finished, excited..."MOM! You've got to read this book!!!" So I did. I wanted to encourage him to keep the love of reading alive throughout his life like my dad passed on to me. That's when I realized YA books aren't just for kids and teens. There are many lessons to be learned for us older folks too. We should never forget what it was like to be young and stupid and confused and scared and brave and, and, and.... It will make us better mentors to the younger generation that REALLY needs to do some growing up.
Happy reading!
January 3, 2009
It is difficult to find a great protagonist who is a teen-aged male. Tyler Miller is an interesting and (from my observations) typical - ish high school senior. What's different about him is that as a nerd-boy junior, he tagged his high school, was caught, arrested and sentenced to community service. The summer prior to his senior year, Tyler works hard and ends up becoming a muscle-bound hottie. At least hot enough to attract the object of his desire, Bethany, who also happens to Tyler's father's boss' daughter. Can a young man suddenly thrust into the world of the popular kids come away unscathed? Added to his social life drama is a family that is falling apart. The workaholic father, the mother who dulls her pain by drinking and his cute and sassy freshman sister also have a big affect on Tyler's senior year. I love the authors wonderful descriptions: Tyler notes the girls at school seem to have "clothing optional days" -- not that they come to school naked, but that the clothing they wear is so scimpy they may as well be naked; and the comparison of the father to an evil dragon breaking out of his skin are fabulous. Interesting - I think even teen guys will read this one.
February 1, 2012
"Everbody told me to be a man - Nobody told me how"
Twisted is the story of a young man who's been a loser and a nobody until a poorly conceived prank at the end of his junior year lands him in legal trouble. That includes probation, a required job with a landscaping firm and a summer-time afterwork stint in the school's janatorial crew for restitution. However the hard work pays off in unanticipated ways. His new work-hardened physique and his newly minted bad boy reputation make him a personality at school and attractive to the girl of his fantasies.
But as he's processing these changes our protagonist has to deal with troubles at home. His dad's growing distance from the family, his mom's drinking and his little sister's too-wise take on boys, high-school and popularity.
What I expected to be another sweet teen romance turned into something much more. This is a book about growing up, being misunderstood, the relationship between fathers and sons and many other issues that are all too common in today's world.
This is a good intelligent read but it's also witty and fun and wise. I highly recommend this book.
Twisted is the story of a young man who's been a loser and a nobody until a poorly conceived prank at the end of his junior year lands him in legal trouble. That includes probation, a required job with a landscaping firm and a summer-time afterwork stint in the school's janatorial crew for restitution. However the hard work pays off in unanticipated ways. His new work-hardened physique and his newly minted bad boy reputation make him a personality at school and attractive to the girl of his fantasies.
But as he's processing these changes our protagonist has to deal with troubles at home. His dad's growing distance from the family, his mom's drinking and his little sister's too-wise take on boys, high-school and popularity.
What I expected to be another sweet teen romance turned into something much more. This is a book about growing up, being misunderstood, the relationship between fathers and sons and many other issues that are all too common in today's world.
This is a good intelligent read but it's also witty and fun and wise. I highly recommend this book.
September 9, 2009
Tyler is a high school boy. Not one of those fake, perfect jock high school boys or half-vampire, half-god characters. A real high school boy. Who can't control himself amidst the sea of sexy girls walking down the hall or convince his dad that there is no way in hell he should be taking all AP classes and calculus, or pull off dousing the school in graffiti without misspelling a word and getting caught. On probation. For life.
And still, he has to survive senior year. If he can.
AWESOME. Super fast and hypnotizing.
And still, he has to survive senior year. If he can.
AWESOME. Super fast and hypnotizing.
October 25, 2014
A story of a young boy searching for a way out of his troubles, what could sound more interesting? I actually began reading the book as a quick read before the mid started, but within the first several pages was entranced with the authors descriptive details and how he could capture everyday emotion in just a few words.
Tyler is an unpopular kid who tried to make a name of himself and ended up getting arrested. Now, after a month of community service, he returns to school and seems on the way to becoming a little more popular. Then things go wrong. The school shuns Tyler and he spirals into a deep depression, struggling with thoughts of suicide. In spite of the sometimes depressing tone of the book, Laurie Halse Anderson's dry wit and the positive end to the book makes Twisted an excellent read. The story of a high-school outcast feels genuine and kept me engaged. I was invested in Tyler and relieved when the book ended on a hopeful note.
I'd recommend this book for the older young adult readers.
Tyler is an unpopular kid who tried to make a name of himself and ended up getting arrested. Now, after a month of community service, he returns to school and seems on the way to becoming a little more popular. Then things go wrong. The school shuns Tyler and he spirals into a deep depression, struggling with thoughts of suicide. In spite of the sometimes depressing tone of the book, Laurie Halse Anderson's dry wit and the positive end to the book makes Twisted an excellent read. The story of a high-school outcast feels genuine and kept me engaged. I was invested in Tyler and relieved when the book ended on a hopeful note.
I'd recommend this book for the older young adult readers.
December 7, 2020
1.5 stars
Perhaps it's because I'm a girl reading about a male POV, perhaps it was because it was the same high school stereotypes again that made me wince, or perhaps I just have bad taste (seeing how many high star reviews there are)... but Twisted just wasn't for me. Don't get me wrong, I love LAH's books - Speak, Wintergirls and The Impossible Knife of Memory all punched me in the gut... but Twisted lacked that power. This book was realistic, and the POV of Tyler was incredibly entertaining to read thanks to his dry humour. However, it felt a little unrealistic. Family, school and even dealing with the deeper issues felt a little cliche, which is something I don't expect in LAH's books... so I'm truly sorry... :(
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Perhaps it's because I'm a girl reading about a male POV, perhaps it was because it was the same high school stereotypes again that made me wince, or perhaps I just have bad taste (seeing how many high star reviews there are)... but Twisted just wasn't for me. Don't get me wrong, I love LAH's books - Speak, Wintergirls and The Impossible Knife of Memory all punched me in the gut... but Twisted lacked that power. This book was realistic, and the POV of Tyler was incredibly entertaining to read thanks to his dry humour. However, it felt a little unrealistic. Family, school and even dealing with the deeper issues felt a little cliche, which is something I don't expect in LAH's books... so I'm truly sorry... :(
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April 20, 2015
i love how Laurie Halse Anderson doesn't force romance into her stories. It is there or it isn't.
Not many female writers are able to write in such a realistic way a male point of view. I think she was capable of seeing the struggles of a guy are as important as girl's. We've read too much about girls and we don't realise guys have as much as problms as we have.
It's enjoable and not long. I couldn't get enough of it. However, the ending wasn't quite what i expected or wanted but Laurie Halse Anderson's never are.
Not many female writers are able to write in such a realistic way a male point of view. I think she was capable of seeing the struggles of a guy are as important as girl's. We've read too much about girls and we don't realise guys have as much as problms as we have.
It's enjoable and not long. I couldn't get enough of it. However, the ending wasn't quite what i expected or wanted but Laurie Halse Anderson's never are.
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April 7, 2018Titolo e copertina dell'edizione italiana sono fuorvianti, come capita fin troppo spesso. E' un romanzo particolare, non è una storia d'amore, è il racconto di una presa di coscienza, di un momento critico di crescita. Fa riflettere, molto più di quanto faccia un altro romanzo a tratti simile (Senza nuvole) ma che non ho apprezzato allo stesso modo.
I personaggi non hanno una connotazione positiva o negativa... ma bensì umana, con tutte le piccolezze e gli errori della natura umana, chi più chi meno.
Lascia un po' un retrogusto amaro in bocca ma vince comunque la speranza.
I personaggi non hanno una connotazione positiva o negativa... ma bensì umana, con tutte le piccolezze e gli errori della natura umana, chi più chi meno.
Lascia un po' un retrogusto amaro in bocca ma vince comunque la speranza.
November 28, 2018
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Ever smell the milk jug when you open it and you don't think you smell anything funky, so ou pour a big glass and you take a giant gulp and as soon as it hits your mouth you know it has gone bad and you spit it in the sink and race upstairs to gargle? And when you finally stop needing to heave, you realize that you did smell something funny at first, but you didn't know what to call it? - Tyler (p. 98)
Tyler galt sein ganzes Leben lang als langweiliger nerdiger Außenseiter. Irgendwann beschließt er das zu ändern, indem er Graffiti an die Wände des Schulgebäudes sprayt und zu Sozialstunden verdonnert wird. Mit diesem neuen Ruf als Gangster und ein paar neuen Muskeln werden seine Mitschüler auf ihn aufmerksam - auch sein Schwarm Bethany, einer der beliebtesten Mädchen der Schule. Tyler kann sein Glück kaum fassen und kann die Ablenkung von seinem problematischen Elternhaus gut gebrauchen. Doch dann wird er einer sexuellen Straftat beschuldigt und gerät in ernsthafte Schwierigkeiten.
Laurie Halse Andersen ist das Gesicht der etwas anderen Contemporary-Geschichten in der Nische für Leser, die an ernsteren Themen und einem spezielleren Schreibstil interessiert sind. Mit Sprich und Wintermädchen hat sie ihre besten Romane über zwei Mädchen in schwierigen Lagen und psychischen Problemen geschrieben, und mit Twisted versucht sie etwas Ähnliches - diesmal jedoch mit einem männlichen Protagonisten. Nicht selten ist das Schreiben aus der Sicht des gegensätzlichen Geschlechts ein schwieriges Unterfangen, und auch Andersen ist dem in diesem Jugendroman nicht unbedingt immer gewachsen.
Tyler an sich ist eine sehr schwierige Person, für den Andersen sich über die Hälfte des Buches Zeit nimmt, um ihn dem Leser näherzubringen. Leider gelingt ihr das nur mäßig gut, denn Tyler hat zwar durchaus starke und emotionale Momente, in denen man merkt, dass er depressive und suizidale Züge hat, zum Großteil aber recht oberflächlich davon erzählt und auch mehr Aspekte seiner Persönlichkeit eher unerforscht bleiben. Er spielt gerne Computerspiele, er fühlt sich unter Druck gesetzt, und er steht auf Bethany - wesentlich tiefer geht seine Charakterisierung nicht, was für die Autorin erschreckend flach bei einer so langen Zeit der Einführung ist. An manchen Stellen fühlt sich seine männliche Perspektive glaubwürdig pubertär und testosterongesteuert an, an anderen wiederum übertreibt es die Autorin so, dass es einem negativ auffällt. Alleine Tylers Fixierung auf den weiblichen Körper und sein unterschwelliges Slut-Shaming bringen einen dazu, dem Jungen eher skeptisch entgegenzutreten, ebenso bei seinen Gewaltfantasien gegenüber denjenigen, die ihn früher gemobbt haben. Was ebenfalls sehr verstörend ist, ist dass es ihm vollkommen egal zu sein scheint, dass sein bester Freund, ebenfalls 17, beginnt sich mit seiner dreizehnjährigen Schwester zu treffen. Seiner kleinen Schwester, die alles andere als geistig reif ist und seinen besten Freund nur datet, um Anerkennung bei ihren Freundinnen zu bekommen. So weltoffen man ist, wenn die beiden von ihrem geistigen Stand her nicht auf einer Ebene sind und es einer Person nur um die Anerkennung geht - sollte man da als bester Freund und Bruder nicht mal Protest äußern? Das wirkt sehr unverantwortlich, nicht nur von Tyler aus gesehen, sondern auch von der Autorin.
Abgesehen davon ist Tyler jedoch nicht unbedingt ein schlechter Kerl. Ähnlich wie andere Hauptpersonen der Autorin, hat er einen zynischen und trockenen Humor, der das Leben an der High School wie Satire darstellt und sich über sämtliche Klischees lustigmacht. Auch in Situationen mit Bethany sieht man, dass hinter ihm ein anständiger junger Mann steckt, der lediglich von seinem Weg abgekommen ist und nicht weiß, wer er selbst eigentlich ist. Ab dem Wendepunkt der Geschichte - dem Skandal - wird er und sein Innenleben auch deutlich interessanter und sein psychischer Zustand schlimmer. Auch die Problematik im Elternhaus rückt dadurch mehr in den Vordergrund und verleiht so seinem Charakter mehr Tiefe. Das ist auch das, was Laurie Halse Anderson nach wie vor kann: Familienprobleme subtil in so wenigen Szenen darstellen, dass es reicht, um sie in ihrem Kopf zu vervollständigen und mit den Charakteren mitzufühlen, besonders wenn sich mal andere Seiten von ihnen zeigen und klar wird, dass alle ihren Anteil an der prekären Lage haben. Insbesondere die Szenen zwischen Tyler und seinem Vater waren wirklich klasse herausgearbeitet und einem ein Verständnis dafür gegeben, warum Tyler so ist, wie er ist. Seine Gewalt- und Machtfantasien, seine rebellischen Akte, all dies zielt darauf, ein Gefühl der Männlichkeit zu erzeugen, das sein Vater propagiert ihm jedoch niemals erklärt. Ist Männlichkeit wirklich die Abwesenheit jeder Angst, das Prahlen mit seiner Körperkraft, das Überlegensein gegenüber seinem Kontrahenten? Alleine, dass Bethany ihn durch ihr plötzliches Interesse darin bestätigt, manövriert Tyler in diesen Irrglauben, der ihn fast zerbricht.
Allerdings ist das Thema eines Skandals um eine sexuelle Straftat leider nicht zur Genüge ausgearbeitet worden. Tylers widersprüchliche Isolierung und dass er behandelt wird wie der Täter, obwohl er nur ein Verdächtiger ist, wird dargestellt, die Perspektive des Opfers jedoch fast komplett außer Acht gelassen. Am Rande bekommt man zwar mit, wie die Gerüchteküche brodelt, aber besonders Tylers anfängliche Ansichten bezüglich Freizügigkeit wurden gar nicht mehr angesprochen. Allgemein ist zwischen Bethany und ihm viel unausgesprochen geblieben, was angesichts der Schwere dieser Anschuldigung und wegen des langsamen Aufbaus ihres Verhältnisses wirklich enttäuschend ist. Tylers Arc wird zwar auf schöne und zugleich unbeschönigte Weise zuende geführt, so subtil und minimalistisch wie es bei der Autorin immer der Fall ist, aber rund ist das Ganze einfach nicht geworden.
Leider leidet Twisted unter derselben Krankheit wie Catalyst der Autorin: Es ist zwar, ähnlich wie in ihren besten Büchern Speak und Wintergirls, sehr real, rau und minimalistisch beschrieben, allerdings scheinen gewisse Schlüsselszenen zu fehlen sowie wichtige Details kaum ausgearbeitet zu sein. Das ist allgemein eine Schwierigkeit bei einer solchen Art des Erzählens: manchmal minimiert man sich auf genau die richtigen Szenen, und dann wieder verpasst man den Absprung und drückt mit dem Erzählten nicht das aus, was man möchte. Zusätzlich mit einem komplizierten und nicht gänzlich charakterisierten Protagonisten und dieser eigenartigen Sache zwischen seiner Schwester und seinem Kumpel ein eher mittelmäßiges Buch, das mit etwas mehr Seiten wesentlich stärker geworden wäre.
Ever smell the milk jug when you open it and you don't think you smell anything funky, so ou pour a big glass and you take a giant gulp and as soon as it hits your mouth you know it has gone bad and you spit it in the sink and race upstairs to gargle? And when you finally stop needing to heave, you realize that you did smell something funny at first, but you didn't know what to call it? - Tyler (p. 98)
Tyler galt sein ganzes Leben lang als langweiliger nerdiger Außenseiter. Irgendwann beschließt er das zu ändern, indem er Graffiti an die Wände des Schulgebäudes sprayt und zu Sozialstunden verdonnert wird. Mit diesem neuen Ruf als Gangster und ein paar neuen Muskeln werden seine Mitschüler auf ihn aufmerksam - auch sein Schwarm Bethany, einer der beliebtesten Mädchen der Schule. Tyler kann sein Glück kaum fassen und kann die Ablenkung von seinem problematischen Elternhaus gut gebrauchen. Doch dann wird er einer sexuellen Straftat beschuldigt und gerät in ernsthafte Schwierigkeiten.
Laurie Halse Andersen ist das Gesicht der etwas anderen Contemporary-Geschichten in der Nische für Leser, die an ernsteren Themen und einem spezielleren Schreibstil interessiert sind. Mit Sprich und Wintermädchen hat sie ihre besten Romane über zwei Mädchen in schwierigen Lagen und psychischen Problemen geschrieben, und mit Twisted versucht sie etwas Ähnliches - diesmal jedoch mit einem männlichen Protagonisten. Nicht selten ist das Schreiben aus der Sicht des gegensätzlichen Geschlechts ein schwieriges Unterfangen, und auch Andersen ist dem in diesem Jugendroman nicht unbedingt immer gewachsen.
Tyler an sich ist eine sehr schwierige Person, für den Andersen sich über die Hälfte des Buches Zeit nimmt, um ihn dem Leser näherzubringen. Leider gelingt ihr das nur mäßig gut, denn Tyler hat zwar durchaus starke und emotionale Momente, in denen man merkt, dass er depressive und suizidale Züge hat, zum Großteil aber recht oberflächlich davon erzählt und auch mehr Aspekte seiner Persönlichkeit eher unerforscht bleiben. Er spielt gerne Computerspiele, er fühlt sich unter Druck gesetzt, und er steht auf Bethany - wesentlich tiefer geht seine Charakterisierung nicht, was für die Autorin erschreckend flach bei einer so langen Zeit der Einführung ist. An manchen Stellen fühlt sich seine männliche Perspektive glaubwürdig pubertär und testosterongesteuert an, an anderen wiederum übertreibt es die Autorin so, dass es einem negativ auffällt. Alleine Tylers Fixierung auf den weiblichen Körper und sein unterschwelliges Slut-Shaming bringen einen dazu, dem Jungen eher skeptisch entgegenzutreten, ebenso bei seinen Gewaltfantasien gegenüber denjenigen, die ihn früher gemobbt haben. Was ebenfalls sehr verstörend ist, ist dass es ihm vollkommen egal zu sein scheint, dass sein bester Freund, ebenfalls 17, beginnt sich mit seiner dreizehnjährigen Schwester zu treffen. Seiner kleinen Schwester, die alles andere als geistig reif ist und seinen besten Freund nur datet, um Anerkennung bei ihren Freundinnen zu bekommen. So weltoffen man ist, wenn die beiden von ihrem geistigen Stand her nicht auf einer Ebene sind und es einer Person nur um die Anerkennung geht - sollte man da als bester Freund und Bruder nicht mal Protest äußern? Das wirkt sehr unverantwortlich, nicht nur von Tyler aus gesehen, sondern auch von der Autorin.
Abgesehen davon ist Tyler jedoch nicht unbedingt ein schlechter Kerl. Ähnlich wie andere Hauptpersonen der Autorin, hat er einen zynischen und trockenen Humor, der das Leben an der High School wie Satire darstellt und sich über sämtliche Klischees lustigmacht. Auch in Situationen mit Bethany sieht man, dass hinter ihm ein anständiger junger Mann steckt, der lediglich von seinem Weg abgekommen ist und nicht weiß, wer er selbst eigentlich ist. Ab dem Wendepunkt der Geschichte - dem Skandal - wird er und sein Innenleben auch deutlich interessanter und sein psychischer Zustand schlimmer. Auch die Problematik im Elternhaus rückt dadurch mehr in den Vordergrund und verleiht so seinem Charakter mehr Tiefe. Das ist auch das, was Laurie Halse Anderson nach wie vor kann: Familienprobleme subtil in so wenigen Szenen darstellen, dass es reicht, um sie in ihrem Kopf zu vervollständigen und mit den Charakteren mitzufühlen, besonders wenn sich mal andere Seiten von ihnen zeigen und klar wird, dass alle ihren Anteil an der prekären Lage haben. Insbesondere die Szenen zwischen Tyler und seinem Vater waren wirklich klasse herausgearbeitet und einem ein Verständnis dafür gegeben, warum Tyler so ist, wie er ist. Seine Gewalt- und Machtfantasien, seine rebellischen Akte, all dies zielt darauf, ein Gefühl der Männlichkeit zu erzeugen, das sein Vater propagiert ihm jedoch niemals erklärt. Ist Männlichkeit wirklich die Abwesenheit jeder Angst, das Prahlen mit seiner Körperkraft, das Überlegensein gegenüber seinem Kontrahenten? Alleine, dass Bethany ihn durch ihr plötzliches Interesse darin bestätigt, manövriert Tyler in diesen Irrglauben, der ihn fast zerbricht.
Allerdings ist das Thema eines Skandals um eine sexuelle Straftat leider nicht zur Genüge ausgearbeitet worden. Tylers widersprüchliche Isolierung und dass er behandelt wird wie der Täter, obwohl er nur ein Verdächtiger ist, wird dargestellt, die Perspektive des Opfers jedoch fast komplett außer Acht gelassen. Am Rande bekommt man zwar mit, wie die Gerüchteküche brodelt, aber besonders Tylers anfängliche Ansichten bezüglich Freizügigkeit wurden gar nicht mehr angesprochen. Allgemein ist zwischen Bethany und ihm viel unausgesprochen geblieben, was angesichts der Schwere dieser Anschuldigung und wegen des langsamen Aufbaus ihres Verhältnisses wirklich enttäuschend ist. Tylers Arc wird zwar auf schöne und zugleich unbeschönigte Weise zuende geführt, so subtil und minimalistisch wie es bei der Autorin immer der Fall ist, aber rund ist das Ganze einfach nicht geworden.
Leider leidet Twisted unter derselben Krankheit wie Catalyst der Autorin: Es ist zwar, ähnlich wie in ihren besten Büchern Speak und Wintergirls, sehr real, rau und minimalistisch beschrieben, allerdings scheinen gewisse Schlüsselszenen zu fehlen sowie wichtige Details kaum ausgearbeitet zu sein. Das ist allgemein eine Schwierigkeit bei einer solchen Art des Erzählens: manchmal minimiert man sich auf genau die richtigen Szenen, und dann wieder verpasst man den Absprung und drückt mit dem Erzählten nicht das aus, was man möchte. Zusätzlich mit einem komplizierten und nicht gänzlich charakterisierten Protagonisten und dieser eigenartigen Sache zwischen seiner Schwester und seinem Kumpel ein eher mittelmäßiges Buch, das mit etwas mehr Seiten wesentlich stärker geworden wäre.
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