Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard

Publisher: Delacorte Press
Age Group: YA
Rating: 3.5/5
Source: Publisher


At the beginning of his junior year at a boys' boarding school, 16-year-old Alex is devastated when he fails to save a drowning friend. When questioned, Alex and his friend Glenn, who was also at the river, begin weaving their web of lies. Plagued by guilt, Alex takes refuge in the library, telling his tale in a journal he hides behind Moby-Dick. Caught in the web with Alex and Glenn is their English teacher, Miss Dovecott, fresh out of Princeton, who suspects there's more to what happened at the river when she perceives guilt in Alex's writing for class. She also sees poetic talent in Alex, which she encourages. As Alex responds to her attention, he discovers his true voice, one that goes against the boarding school bravado that Glenn embraces. When Glenn becomes convinced that Miss Dovecott is out to get them, Alex must choose between them.

My interest from this book came from a movie I saw once which was about an all boys' school and a murder that happened there. I forgot the name of the movie, but I enjoyed it a lot and I was excited reading this book. PAPER COVERS ROCK is a very small book, yet it took me a while to finish it. I couldn't just breeze through the pages because every detail counted in whatwas happening in the book.

Alex loves Miss Davecott and she's a young female teacher there and obviously she's going to get attention from all the boys and some will try to get close to her. Also, Thomas has died. Miss Davecott knows something more happened when Thomas died which is why she gets close to Alex. The ending was something I knew that was coming, nothing of a shocker.

This book is very enjoyable to read if you're looking for a mystery or are bored one day and want a book to read. It's small and I enjoyed reading it.