I hated this book. I have no good thing to say about it.
Oh, I don’t know why I kept on reading.
I had a pen pal in high school. However, we knew what each other looked like. The part I liked about the book was Ryen showing Misha the parts of her she wanted him to see, and who she wanted to be because I sometimes did that too. I liked that part He knew the good parts and the messy parts were sometimes hidden but it was easier to talk to him most times.
Trigger & Content Warnings:
Slut shaming, Rape Mentioned, Homomisia & homophobic slurs, Cheating mentioned, Depression, Drug abuse, Death of a sibling, Bullying, Explicit sexual language, Toxic Friendships
Blurb
“We were perfect together. Until we met.”
Misha
I can’t help but smile at the words in her letter. She misses me.
In fifth grade, my teacher set us up with pen pals from a different school. Thinking I was a girl, with a name like Misha, the other teacher paired me up with her student, Ryen. My teacher, believing Ryen was a boy like me, agreed.
It didn’t take long for us to figure out the mistake. And in no time at all, we were arguing about everything. The best take-out pizza. Android vs. iPhone. Whether or not Eminem is the greatest rapper ever…
And that was the start. For the next seven years, it was us.
Her letters are always on black paper with silver writing. Sometimes there’s one a week or three in a day, but I need them. She’s the only one who keeps me on track, talks me down, and accepts everything I am.
We only had three rules. No social media, no phone numbers, no pictures. We had a good thing going. Why ruin it?
Until I run across a photo of a girl online. Name’s Ryen, loves Gallo’s pizza, and worships her iPhone. What are the chances?
F*ck it. I need to meet her.
I just don’t expect to hate what I find.
Ryen
He hasn’t written in three months. Something’s wrong. Did he die? Get arrested? Knowing Misha, neither would be a stretch.
Without him around, I’m going crazy. I need to know someone is listening. It’s my own fault. I should’ve gotten his number or picture or something.
He could be gone forever.
Or right under my nose, and I wouldn’t even know it.
Review
Punked 57 is a book I wish I didn’t have to spend my precious time on. What I didn’t get was Misha being so mean to Ryen and her being attracted to the whole thing. I kept on reading hoping it would get better but it didn’t.
I understood why he stopped writing but I didn’t understand him being mean to her or her quick forgiveness of his actions. I don’t know why Punked 57 has come around and everyone is raving about it. Booktok once again damn you.
I particularly didn’t like this book because why was Misha so mean to Ryen? I didn’t understand why. I had so many guys be mean to me in high school and the only explanation was oh he likes you, and to be honest, some of them actually did, but why should a guy being mean to be interpreted as he likes you. We need to let go of some bad habits.
Misha said mean things to Ryen and wasn’t even nice at all, like what the hell.
Now girls are out there not knowing to demand better treatment accepting trash behaviour as he likes you. I really see a lot of people say they like the book and I really want to know why.
I definitely will not be recommending this book. Also, make sure to read all the trigger warnings before you do if you intend to do.
I had so many issues with the PUNKED 57. Now these might be considered spoilers if you haven’t read the book you might want to stop here and come back later.
The first is that it’s sexist AF. There’s slut-shaming and name-calling among girls and also from guys. The girls in the book are not treated well at all, not even the beloved Misha treated the girls well not Ryen and not any of the other ladies. I know this is a steep slope but he even ignored his sister for a girl.
Secondly, two wrongs don’t make a right, Misha hates Ryen because she’s a bully, so he bullies her right back. Misha thinks he is better than everyone else. Because he hates “bullies” so he himself became a “bully” in order to “bully” the “bullies”. Now how does that make sense? He calls Ryen names and manhandles her various times in the book. Talking about how she wants it and she’s a slut for wanting it. And so many uncomfortable scenes between them.
Ryen is attracted to Misha despite this and they have several sex scenes which were not entirely consensual. This book takes the whole progressive movement a few steps backwards and I’m honestly shocked at the number of people that like Punked 57. It definitely wasn’t what I was expecting going it and I mean it in a bad way because I was disappointed. Once again definitely would not be recommending Punked 57.
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