In Ecstasy [Hardcover]

Kate McCaffrey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2009

A best friend sinks into a quicksand of teenage addictions.

Sophie and Mia have been best friends for most of their 15 years. Sophie is popular, so when she suggests they try ecstasy Mia figures it can't hurt her own chances with the in crowd. Mia is elated when the drug lives up to its name and amazed when Lewis, the hottest guy in school, kisses her goodnight.

Soon Lewis is Mia's boyfriend, and she and Soph are running with his fast, rich friends, until Sophie is sexually assaulted by Lewis's drug-dealing buddy. Reluctant to say what happened, Sophie grows distant, leaving Mia to conclude she's jealous of her popular boyfriend. But to keep Lewis's attention, Mia grows increasingly dependent on the confidence that only E seems to give her. When things worsen, it is the girls' strained but solid friendship that finally helps bring Mia back from the brink.

Powerfully told from the alternating points of view of each girl, In Ecstasy is a brutally frank and utterly convincing portrait of the challenges facing contemporary teens. (200911)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up—Two girls, BFF, discover, at 15, that the "forever" part may be F for "finished" instead. Lovely Sophie and shy Mia take ecstasy at a party, both thinking the experience will provide something different—and it does, but not the way they anticipate. Told in alternating voices and chapters, the girls' divergent paths unfold, each filled with poignant hope, illusion, and ultimately pain and peril, as one momentous decision takes them down separate, life-changing roles. Mia gathers her own friends and thinks she's finally made it with the in crowd, and cuts off her relationships with her family and with her best friend since kindergarten. Sophie, who knows that a pretty face is only part of who she is, finds herself fending off the perceptions of others, at great cost. The quicksand of gossip and popularity, spite and jealousy, the ever-growing shadow of drugs and the kids that indulge and abuse them, sweep Sophie and Mia into a maelstrom of brutal tragedy and painful awareness. Mia sinks deeper into the trap that she has stumbled into, existing in a drug-induced haze. McCaffrey's characterizations, dialogue, setting, and plot build steadily and believably. It is easy to be frustrated with and empathetic to the girls' dilemma, and teens should find the circumstances compellingly realistic. This is a cautionary wake-up call to the dangerous snowball effect of recreational drug use, cloaked in a well-written character novel.—Roxanne Myers Spencer, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green
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From Booklist

Sophie is the experienced girl always dating the cutest boys; Mia is her shy tagalong. But what a difference a couple of tabs of Ecstasy make. Mia finds the drug a wondrous way to let loose, her new boldness landing her one of the hottest boys in school. Sophie’s foray into the local drug scene, however, leads to a roofie and an attempted date rape. Scared off from partying, Sophie retracts from Mia, whose continued attempts at “inner peace” through E conceals the social destruction her behavior is causing. Somewhat reminiscent of the “one puff and you’re doomed” cautionary tales of yore, the story’s lack of multidimensional characters (particularly among drug users) and Mia’s accelerated slide smack of scare tactics. McCaffrey’s interest in the more salacious elements of the tale are evidenced by the increasing brevity of the chapters told from Sophie’s point of view. But McCaffrey is gifted with a winning and eminently readable style, and her dual leads are distinct and vibrant. Not always nuanced, but sure to be popular. Grades 9-12. --Daniel Kraus

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Annick Press (February 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1554511755
• ISBN-13: 978-1554511754
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,826,459 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book, November 25, 2010

By 

Chloe - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Ecstasy (Paperback)

I love this book! I love anything by Kate Mccaffrey, it's a deep touching book about drugs and best friends, and big teen issues.

I have read it about 8 times now, it's one of my very favorites.

It touches my heart everytime.

2.0 out of 5 stars just say maybe.., November 15, 2009

By 

Aerialgirl "Arielgrrl" (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Ecstasy (Paperback)

Awful, clunky YA that tries to do something with characters but becomes a big ol' after school special about how drugs are BAD, ya know. Disappointng.

5.0 out of 5 stars A poignant novel., September 1, 2009

By 

Tower of Books "Krista" (Georgia, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: In Ecstasy (Paperback)

Sophie and Mia have been best friends since they were young. However, they could not be more different. Sophie is popular and gorgeous, while Mia is quiet and average-looking. In order to help Mia become more popular, Sophie suggests that she try ecstasy at a party. This causes a whirlwind of events. By the end of the night, Mia has kissed the hottest guy in school, and all because of the ecstasy. Mia quickly becomes dependent on the drug. Soon, Sophie becomes distant with Mia. Mia believes Sophie is jealous of Lewis, but she is completely wrong...

I really enjoyed In Ecstasy. From Mia's first dose of ecstasy, I was enthralled by the book. The novel is told in alternating views of Sophie and Mia which really helped the novel. Readers are able to read about the same events from different point-of-views. Sophie and Mia were written with distinct voices. McCaffrey honestly portrayed teenagers and the effects of addiction in the novel. The Mia at the beginning of the novel is completely different from the Mia at the end of the novel. However, Sophie let herself be out of Mia's life when Mia needed her the most. Before I started this novel, I was afraid I would just think Mia was just foolish to try ecstasy in the first place. However, throughout the novel, I pitied her and most of all, wanted her to get help.

In Ecstasy is about friendship as much as it is about addiction. From the beginning, readers learn that there are secrets between Sophie and Mia's relationship. These secrets end up having repercussions in the novel, which will help keep readers wanting more. In a lot of ways, the friendship aspect remind be of Twenty Boy Summer. Another thing about In Ecstasy is that it is an Australian novel (Go Australia!). The novel is available in the US. :)

In Ecstasy is a poignant novel about addiction and friendship. I definitely recommend it.