Sharp Objects
By Gillian Flynn Broadway Paperbacks (2006) ISBN: 9780307341556
Flynn keeps a reader on his/her toes right from the beginning with this murder mystery thriller. It has been a long time since Camille Preaker, a journalist working for a Chicago newspaper, has been in contact with her hypochondriac mother and 13-year old half sister. But when she is asked to cover the mysterious murders of two young girls from her hometown of Wind Gap, Missouri, she is reminded of why she stayed away for so long. A cutter, Camille suffers from spouts of depression and self-loathing despite her beauty and her intellect. The more she investigates the murders, the more she realizes just how close to home these murders really hit. Flynn weaves a story that addresses a mother’s ability to give life and take it away.
Quantitative: Lexile Level--NA; ATOS--NA;
Flesch-Kincaid grade level--8.7; Flesch-Kincaid ease--54.9
Qualitative: Sharp Objects came to my attention when some students came into the library raving about the book. I looked it up, read the reviews, and thought I’d give it a try. This book is definitely geared towards a mature audience--11th and 12th graders and beyond. Parents may find Sharp Objects too replete with sexual content, but the issues and access points that it addresses speaks to many students, especially young women since it touches on body perception, self-mutilation, teenage partying, and mother-daughter relationships. The overall structure, narration, and language do not make this a particularly complex text; however, the foreshadowing adds to the interactive nature a reader experiences while reading Sharp Objects.
Content Area: English; Peer Resource; Journalism; Health.
Curriculum Suggestions: Due to the graphic nature of this novel, I would suggest Sharp Objects for pleasure reading only. It has the potential to be used in a peer resource class to elucidate the struggle associated with depression and self-injury, but it may not meet the needs of the students.
Common Core Standards: RL.11/12.2-3
Additional/Digital Content:
- The Female Gaze, an all women’s blog dedicated to reviewing books- http://www.femalegazereview.com/post/45358133000/sharp-objects-by-gillian-flynn-
Personal Thoughts: Personally, I really enjoyed this book. Although I could see the controversy that may arise by adding it to a school library collection, it does touch on very real, authentic experiences students can relate to. Flynn’s focus on women really spotlights how women are treated and how they treat one another.
*Meets the "Reading for Fun HS/MS" Requirement
*Meets the "Reading for Fun HS/MS" Requirement
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