Keir doesn't understand why Gigi has accused him of raping her. That's not how he remembers it. He believes he's a good guy, and good guys don't rape girls. He leads the reader through a series of events leading up to the pivotal night, a night that seemed magical and surreal to Keir.

Although clues to Keir's unreliability as narrator emerged, he remained for me a sympathetic character, one who thought and acted like a modern day Holden Caulfield. This book would be a great companion to Lauire Halsen Anderson's Speak as well. ( )

Reviewed by Cana Rensberger for TeensReadToo.com

Keir is a good guy. He's about to graduate from high school and follow his older sisters to college. The reader will admire the closeness of his family: the father, a widower who has raised his three children alone; the son who adores his older sisters. Yes, Keir is a good guy.

When an opposing football player is gravely injured as a result of Keir's perfect tackle, we believe Keir. It's not his fault. He's a good guy. Right?

The reader will wonder, along with Keir, if it was really possible that he's been a part of the vandalism of a local monument. And surely Keir, a spring soccer player himself, would never have contributed to the football teams' severe hazing of his teammates after the soccer banquet.

When his sister's aren't able to attend his graduation, the reader empathizes with his feelings of betrayal. We understand his need to let loose on the night of his graduation and feel concern as he faces troubling choices. We feel hopeful when Gigi, the girl of his dreams, leans on him when her boyfriend stands her up. Just like Keir's sisters.

The evening becomes a kaleidoscope of emotions, which result in risky behavior, a three-hour limo ride across the state line, a visit to his college, and a night with Gigi. Keir's a good boy. He would never commit the inexcusable...would he?

I read this book all the way through in one sitting. It was riveting. INEXCUSABLE by Chris Lynch is a glimpse into a boy walking a blurred line into manhood. This is a must read for any young man who has ever been, or ever expects to be, in love. ( )

Keir is a guy who claims to have two heartbeats, as if there are competing beings within him. At the beginning of the book, Keir show us a side of himself that seems as if maybe he has been falsely accused of rape or there has been some sort of misunderstanding. As more and more things about him are revealed, like his use of alcohol and drugs, participation in vandalism, and hazing of other students within the school, it becomes apparent that Keir is not necessarily the good guy he claims to be. Keir is quick to label the actions of others as inexcusable, but he is not willing to put that mirror up to his own behavior.
The story is told in alternating chapters, giving snipets of the aftermath of the rape with Gigi and giving more exposition about Keir. ( )

This book centers around highschool football kicker and third string cornerback Keir Saifan. He is a senior without a mother and his sisters off at college. The whole book centers around him saying that everybody he knows knows he's a good person. Every few pages it flashes to him trying to calm a girl down and denying his wrongdoing. I felt the beginning and middle of the book was easy and somewhat interesting, while the very end was the same but just about the biggest cliffhanger I've ever read and it seemed like Lynch was just tired of writing.

I would recommend you read this book only if you want a semi-decent one and can't find any great ones. ( )

alcoholism, date rape, consequences, drugs ( )

This novel attempts to address several very serious issues including parental and teen alcoholism and the atrocity of date rape at its worst. Unfortunately, while it presents these topics for discussion, it does not present the complexity or true pain of these issues well. The plot is very thin and characters, even the antihero, is not well developed. The whole story seems contrived, not that any of it could be untrue, but because binding elements seem to be missing.

I would recommend this book to teens who have already crossed lines and are hanging on the edge of making criminal-type life-altering decisions. This book is harsh enough, and disconnected enough that it may reach this group of readers and readers who have already crossed those lines. I would not recommend this book to the majority of readers because they may not grasp the intensity of the situation. Due to the repeated claims of the anti-heroes conscience, the unreliable narrator of much of the book, readers may believe that he is the "good guy" he believes he is. ( )

in a sentence: Keir is a good guy...right?

The novel opens with the haunting first line "The way it looks is not the way it is" - whoa! Keir is a graduating high school senior with a best-friend/dad, and two sisters. He drinks way too much, is liked by everyone, and is a self proclaimed good guy. Between Keir narrating his final year of school and giving a brief bio on his life for our sake, he fills the reader in with his current situation - which is shady at best. Without revealing too much of the plot, he is alone, with the girl he loves, defending his good guy status. Again, WHOA!

This book is spooky, creepy, and intriguing all over the place. The best part about it is the reader hardly realizes how creepy and what a thriller the novel actually is until the ending. The author's choice of telling the story from Keir's first person perspective is amazing, and really shapes the book. All of the character development, insight, emotions, and appeal are completely based on the reader's interpretation of the events and the story. I wouldn't say it's a nail biter, it's much too subtle for that...but it is a page turner all the way.

According to the VOYA standards of review (Q=quality and P=popularity), I give this a Q=4.5 and a P=4.5 . I don't know if they do ".5" or not, but I do! There were some occasional lapses in the literary quality I felt like which were centered around dialogue, but very few. And while I feel this book can (and should) be read and enjoyed by all young adults, I am weary saying that any single book is appealing to every young adult reader...although in this instance I am very tempted. ( )

This is a harrowing account of a rape, from the rapist's point of view. As Keir tells us the story of his life leading up to his night with Gigi, we come to realise that he is a master of self-delusion.

This is a raw look at the little justifications and excuses a person can make for their behaviour, as small inconsiderate deeds build up to horrific actions.

(spoilers)
I am bothered by the ending - it seems that to the very last moment, Keir fails to take responsibility for his past actions. ( )

This book would be a nice counterpart to SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson. ( )

Once you read the summery, that's it, you have to read the whole book. Inexcusable was one of the best coming-of-age books I've ever read. Chris Lynch's unique writing style keeps you turning to the next page. ( )

Not quite what I thought it'd be based on the rumors. Keir is a "good guy", that's what he's always been told. He has a close relationship with his father and 2 older sisters, he's involved in both football and soccer at school, his grades aren't stellar, but he gets by. But Gigi claims that she raped him. Keir knows he's a good guy, so he can't possibly have done this horrible thing to Gigi, and he just needs to make her understand that. So the book traces back through glimpses of the past year of his life, showing the events, as seen through Keir's eyes, that led up to this night. Spoilers would show why this book did not turn out how I had thought, but it still left me anxious to read it. The conflicting viewpoints of events as seen through Keir's head are very interesting. ( )

Anthony Gonzales
EDCI 4120

Lynch, C. (2005). Inexcusable. New York: Simon Pulse.

Grade Levels: 10-12
Category: Realistic Fiction
Read-Alouds: pp. 1-10 (Introduction), 25-44 (Keir’s nickname), 95-120 (Quarterback Ken’s party), 142-165 (Conclusion)

Summary: Keir was having a difficult time getting through high school. His sisters took off to college and his mother had died when he was three years old. He was the starting kicker for his high school football team, but one game he was substituting as corner back. He was in the right place at the wrong time; he tackled the opponent and paralyzed him from the waist down. He gained the reputation of “Killer”, and people idolized him for the hit he gave. He was also in love with his best friend, Gigi, who he took hung out with at Quarterback Ken’s graduation party. Gigi had a fight with her boyfriend and Keir took her in his limo to visit his sisters who were still in college. Keir found out his sisters were lying to him about not making his graduation and told the driver to leave. Keir and Gigi spent the night at the guesthouse. That night, Gigi and Keir had sex, but Gigi accused Keir of Rape.

Themes: The big theme in this novel is rape. Keir ended up having sex with his friend Gigi, but she claims she said no to him. A teacher in a classroom could point out the seriousness of Keir’s actions as well as the consequence and dangers of a student choosing to make the same mistake. Another theme that was present was drug use and alcohol abuse in young teens. There was a party at Ken’s house and there was a lot of drinking and drug use, which I believe led to a lot of Keir’s actions. A teacher could also use this novel to point out how drugs and alcohol can impair logical thinking and get someone in such a mess.

Discussion Questions:
Why do you think Keir was so obsessed with Gigi?
Do you think Keir raped Gigi? Support your answer with evidence from the book.
Why did Keir and his sisters treat their father with such disrespect?

Reader Response: This novel was very confusing to follow. There was so much flashbacking in the novel that made it hard to understand what was going on. As soon as Gigi said that Keir hurt her and she said no, I know what the issue was, but then the next chapter, they are hanging out and having a good time with each other. I cannot relate to this novel on a personal level, especially with the way that Keir and his sisters treat their father. The almost never call him by “dad”, they call him by his first name, Ray, showing little respect to him. I was raised to show respect to all my elders, no matter how old I am. To this day I still respect my elders with a “yes sir, no sir, yes mam, no mam” attitude. Never in my wildest dreams could I get away with calling my father by his first name. ( )

Interesting read. The guy makes himself out to be a great guy and makes you believe his family is the most wonderful family ever, but as the story goes on you realize how wrong he is on all fronts. I enjoyed it quite a bit. ( )

Reagan Kaufman
EDCI 5120—Dr. Rush
Summer 2008

Lynch, C. (2005). Inexcusable. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Grade Level: 9-12
Category: realistic fiction
Read-Alouds: pp. 1-3 (Why is Gigi screaming?) pp. 46-48 (Breaking up party); pp. 95-101 (What happened?)

Summary: When an all-American “good guy” is accused of a crime he can’t comprehend or remember, it forces him to backtrack through the year to discover truths he’s forgotten about his family, football, and himself.

Themes: This haunting novel focuses on life problems including dysfunctional families, sexuality, and substance abuse. But below the surface lurks an invitation to look at the lies we tell and why. In a similar manner of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak, Chris Lynch has crafted a novel about the hypocrisy of life and the facades we create for self-preservation. I’d recommend this book be contrasted with Speak to round out perceptions of sexual abuse, substance abuse, bullying, and the lies we believe.

Discussion questions:
 What is truth? How do we know it is true?
 How is self-deception harmful? Can it ever be beneficial?
 In what ways does Keir allow others to define him and is this dangerous?

Reader Response: I instantly found it easy to connect to Keir Sarafian. He seems like such a nice, genuine boy. But Lynch does a great job of making that which isn’t true, appear as though it is. I was challenged by this book to discover what was true and what wasn’t. By the end of the book, I was pretty angry. I’d been lied to. I felt like Keir was actually Andy Evans and I’d just read his version of what happened in Speak. And for as much as I love Melinda, I hate Keir.
And yet, I related to the story, and Keir, in that it is easy to gloss over bad events, to not take ownership of them, to laugh them off and lie about how they aren’t a big deal when in all actuality, they are. I remember as a teenager it was necessary for survival to be defined by those around you, to blow off events and push forward like nothing ever happened. This reminds me how imperative it is for teachers to know the “whole” student—and not the facade. ( )

This is not an easy novel to read, but it's very interesting to read the other side of a story. Keir is revealed as a character slowly. The other characters, like his father Ray and his older sisters and Gigi, his childhood friend are well drawn and are also revealed slowly. The writing is poetic in quality, with Keir describing the atmosphere at various points in time beautifully. Besides the difficult subject matter, the only downside is the flipping between time points can be confusing. As soon as I finished the book, I went back and re-read the future segments and it all made a lot more sense.

An excellent companion book for Laurie Anderson's Speak. ( )

"The way it looks is not the way it is," begins this bone-chilling novel. It looks like a date rape, and in the novel's first scene, set just after the alleged crime, teen Gigi accuses narrator Keir, whose terrifying denial ("I am a good guy, and so I could not have done this") sets the book's tone.

What a twist! Keir, the narrator of this short tragedy leads the reader to believe that he is the "good guy"... Until he commits the inexcusable crime. He is the popular guy in school who has earned a reputation as a "killer" on the football field. His peers like him and his dad aka "best friend" loves him but enables his predatory behavior.The crime 17 year old Keir commits is just inexcuseable. Who would have ever thought he’d do something so horrid. He loves school and looks forward to college yet his bad deeds lead him into denial and ultimately a crime for which he must face punishment. ( )

Keir knows he could not have done something so inexcusable as rape. As Keir recounts the events, there is a darker side that casts doubt on his innocence. The voice of the narrator does a great job illustrating Keir's bewilderment. Lynch has made Keir seem confused. The reader wants to like Keir. This book would be a great one to pair with Speak by Anderson. ( )

I know what the author named this boy, but I could have put other names in because I've met too many people who were never held accountable for their actions! This book is a great story and a vivid portrayal of what can happen when kids are given too many excuses and free passes. ( )

Keir is rock solid—the kind of guy you would want as a friend. Keir Sarafian was raised properly. Gigi Boudakian just doesn’t see it the way it is. Keir Sarafian is a good, loyal kid. He is her childhood friend forever. Keir has loved Gigi his whole life. The way it looks is just not the way it is. However, as readers gradually learn more about Keir we see that he always has a ready excuse for his violence on the football field, his drinking, and his behavior with his friends. On another level, he and his dad are engaged in an endless game of Risk that serves as a perfectly chilling metaphor for what transpires in reality. This books raises important question for teen discussion groups: What happens when we excuse star athletes from personal responsibility? What happens when we disregard our obligations to ourselves and our families? What are our responsibilities to those we date? These are only some of the questions that Inexcusable may spawn. Chris Lynch, 2002 Printz Honor-Award winner for Free Will, has written an uncompromising book about date-rape that is absolutely essential reading for teens.

Keir knows he could not have raped Gigi. He believes that once Gigi understands that he is a good guy, she will see that it is impossible for him to have done something so inexcusable. Thus begins Keir's account of events that occurred during his senior year. As he tells his side of things, Keir appears to be less than honest, even to himself. Although he swears that every bad involvement was not his fault, a pattern emerges to create doubt that Keir understands reality. As the crucial evening spirals out of control, Keir crosses the line because he feels that the people he loves have let him down. When he sees himself as Gigi sees him, Keir accepts that he has raped her and must face the consequences. This is a powerful story of teen self-absorption leading to criminal behavior. As Keir recounts the events, which should prove he is a good person, there is a darker side that casts doubt on Keir's innocence. The writing is brilliant. Although the subject matter is distasteful, Chris Lynch has made Keir a likable character. The reader, for as long as possible, wants to give Keir the benefit of the doubt. This is an important book that should be read and discussed by all teens. Highly Recommended. 2005, Atheneum (Simon & Schuster), 165pp., $16.95 hc. Ages 15 up.
(Charlotte Decker, Library Media Connection, August/September 2006)

Won ALA's Best Books for Young Adults, 2006; SLJ's Best Books, 2005; and Kirkus Best Children's Books, 2005.

Debbie West (Children's Literature)
Keir Sarafian thinks he is a great guy, that he could never rape a girl, but that is exactly what happens when he abuses alcohol and drugs. At first he is only accused of hurting a football player in a game, thinking he has only done what he is supposed to do. When he tries to comfort a female friend on graduation night because her boyfriend did not come to graduation, things turn ugly. They go to college at night to visit his sisters, who are not at home. Then he lies to her about sending their limousine driver home without them, then takes her to a college dormitory room. By then he is so high on drugs that he does not hear her crying and screaming to make him stop. This is not a book for young children, as it contains violence, drug abuse, sexual content, and descriptive language. The entire book shows Keir actively leading himself up to this one point where he loses his nice guy image. Then it ends with him lying on the bed after almost raping the same girl a second time. She has confronted him after the rape and he wants to show her he is not a bad person. So when he realizes what he has done, he curls up on the bed and waits. No one says what happens to him afterward. It is a book with no happy ending, not really any ending at all. It just leaves the reader wondering what happens to both Keir and his victim. (Debbie West (Children's Literature) 2005).Ages 16 up. ( )

Very hard to read. And after rape she like still talked to him, like it was no big deal. Gives victims of rape a bad name. Really didn't like it. ( )

If you've ever been disgusted with people who have an almost pathological inability to take responsibility for their actions, read this book. Written from the perspective of a teenaged rapist, the story is masterfully crafted so you're so far inside Keir's head you can believe he believes himself. ( )

http://booksareking.blogspot.com/2006... ( )