“Rumble,” the new young adult novel by Ellen Hopkins, starts off with the question everyone always asks themselves.

Will it get better?

Main character, Matthew Turner, tells himself it will not. His brother, Luke, was mercilessly bullied after being outed and kills himself before the book begins.

Matthew blames himself and spirals into bitterness and isolation. His girlfriend, Hayden, tries to help him see it is not his fault and matters only worsen when her father tries to ban books about homosexuality in the school.

The novel, written in poems like all of Hopkins’ work, focuses on suicide as a result of bullying as well as forgiveness and coping with the death of a loved one.

There are amazing visuals in the style of writing, each poem bringing something new to the readers’ emotions.

It is certainly not her best work, not living up to her other works “Burned” or “Tricks,” but it does not leave her readers disappointed.

It is also refreshing that the story is from the male point of view, especially because he is a very emotional character.

Hopkins is known for writing emotional leads or even supporting characters and there does not seem to be enough of that in current young adult novels.

The story is definitely important to the young adult generation. Bullying and teen suicide are a huge problem in America and this book is a good example of how it can affect everyone involved.
It also shows how generations are still not accepting of LGBT individuals and how this can affect the younger generations.

Matthew Turner brings up a good point in the books final lines and it seems to connect all the points of the book: “If there is one thing I have learned through all of this, it is to have faith in love.”

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