Review: Sometimes Never, Sometimes Always

Sometimes Never, Sometimes Always by Elissa Janine Hoole

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Cassandra fears she cannot be herself. Although she no longer believes in her parent’s religion, she is too afraid to say anything to them. When her English teacher assigns a poem that should reveal her true self, she is stuck. She can’t say who her real self is, because she doesn’t really know. In order to begin expressing herself, she anonymously begins to write an advice blog with a tarot card feel. She wants the blog to be uplifting and supportive, but when one of her posts appears to become a case of cyberbullying according to her school and sorcery according to her church Cass doesn’t know what to do. She wants to protect the victims since she has seen what people have said and done to her gay brother. Does this make her a bully? Should she admit that the site is hers?

Sometimes Never, Sometimes Always takes teen identity issues and creates a thought provoking read. Cassandra knows she doesn’t agree with what is happening around her, but is unsure if she should express herself. Hoole takes the timely issue of cyberbullying and puts it in a situation that will cause readers to understand how it may get out of hand. Although Cass never intends to hurt those around her, she is unable to control the actions of her fellow students and the adults in her life. Readers will enjoy this standalone novel and will become more enlightened about cyberbullying and the ways it can get out of control.




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