Consent

by Nancy Ohlin

In this “layered and thoughtful contemporary novel,” (School Library Journal) an intense—and passionate—bond between a high school senior and her music teacher becomes a public scandal that threatens the reputation of both.

Bea has a secret.

Actually, she has more than one. There’s her dream for the future that she can’t tell anyone—not her father and not even her best friend, Plum.

And now there’s Dane Rossi. Dane is hot, he shares Bea’s love of piano, and he believes in her.

He’s also Bea’s teacher.

When their passion for music crosses into passion for each other, Bea finds herself falling completely for Dane. She’s never felt so wanted, so understood, so known to her core. But the risk of discovery carries unexpected surprises that could shake Bea entirely. Bea must piece together what is and isn’t true about Dane, herself, and the most intense relationship she’s ever experienced in this absorbing novel from Nancy Ohlin, the author of Beauty.

• ISBN10: 1442464925
• ISBN13: 9781442464926
• Publish Date: 10 November 2015
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Imprint: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 288
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

I cannot pass up on a student-teacher affair story, so of course I had to read Consent. Beatrice is a musical prodigy, but no one knows it. At least until her new Music History teacher overhears her playing in the practice room. Not only is Mr. Rossi hot (he looks like Kit Harrington), but he's the first person to encourage Bea's talent. Even her best friend has no clue what Bea wants to do after high school and has basically written out her future for her. It's no wonder that she starts to fall for him, but she isn't sure if he returns her feelings or if she's just imaging things.

Consent was a good, quick read. It certainly wasn't the passionate, dramatic tale that I was hoping for, but I enjoyed it. Bea is basically just floating through life. She hides her piano talent and goes along with whatever plans her best friend, Plum, comes up with. But when people ask her about it, she lies. But she does tell the truth to Mr. Rossi and that's what starts them spending extra time together outside of the classroom. Soon they become much more than just student and teacher and have to deal with the fall out of being caught.

The one thing that kept me from fully getting into Consent was that no one had any personality. It was the possibility of Bea and Mr. Rossi getting caught and finding out what would happen next which kept me furiously flipping pages. I never truly believed that Bea was in love with Mr. Rossi, because he came across as very flat and awkward. There was nothing to him other than being a music teacher. Likewise, Plum was just there to push Bea into going to a college not of her choosing and then dealing with the backlash of being lied to. And as for Bea, I thought she was going to be a pathological liar with the way she keeps mentioning how she can't stop lying. But she really doesn't lie that much, except for about things she wants to keep to herself.

Other than the disappointing characterization, I really liked Consent. I really cannot not read this type of story. I love the taboo! I liked how Bea and Mr. Rossi's relationship developed, even if I wished he had more personality so I could see why she liked him aside from his looks. I also liked how things were resolved. It felt realistic. I do want to know what happened afterward though, since it does have an open ending.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

Consent is a sensitive issue and if you're going to write about it for a young adult audience it needs to be done with tact. Teenagers are impressionable. They're vulnerable. And books like this - books that romanticize teacher student relationships send the wrong message. I think student teacher relationships need to be set in university where the issue becomes about the authority a teacher has rather than just the age of the individuals.

Look this book was reasonable well written, had a fast moving plot and somewhat flat but easy enough to read characters. But the issue of consent hits all the wrong notes. If it was just a romance between a student and a teacher, it was well written and examined how people can fall in love but discusses the necessity of keeping a boundary between the role of student and teacher sure. I can get behind that. Even if it's not so preachy and more just romance. But it's not a simple romance and neither is the relationship condemned or the ramifications of it explored properly. She's not the first underage student he's ever slept with. He spouts love and roses but they have a name for people like him. Pedophile. And it made me deeply uncomfortable that Bea doesn't seem to feel the same gravity of the situation I was feeling. I get it - most teenagers don't - if they did they wouldn't be in this situation. But it's a young adult book and she seems more concerned that he slept with another girl than because he slept with another underage girl.

I don't think keeping teenagers ignorant is a good idea - but I also think books that confront such issues should be a lot more realistic - and not gloss over the consequences. And Consent doesn't explore the ramifications of their relationship to my satisfaction.