I just don't even know where to begin with this book, other than to say it needs to win an award for debut novel. It is explosive. Powerful. Masterfully written. Heartbreakingly accurate.

Please don't let the fact that this is a YA novel deter you from reading it. I ran through every emotion reading this book -- and I mean EVERY emotion.

Looking Beyond the Ordinary deals with SO many issues.

There's bullying from kids who are bullied by their parents or bullied by other kids and we see the mental, physical, and emotional toll it takes on those within its grip.

There's an array of self-image issues: if you look trendy and "in" you *might* be safe from being targeted by the jerks on D-Block; but if you look disheveled, that will be your social demise.

There's the issue of teenage sex and when to have it and the reasons behind having it and how an innocent situation can go terribly wrong in the blink of an eye.

There's a clique -- a big one called the D-Block -- who everyone is afraid of because its makeup are the star athletes and cheerleaders who seem to be running everything. No one is safe from their cruelty, not even teachers or the administrative staff.

There's abuse: parental and domestic, physical and emotional, and even hints of sexual.

And underlying it all is pressure. Pressure to fit in. Pressure to uphold a certain image. Pressure to provide. Pressure to not fight back in hopes that it will spare you physically and emotionally.

But things under too much pressure will eventually explode. And explode they did in Looking Beyond the Ordinary.

You will feel every emotion: annoyance, anger, shock, elation, empathy, sadness, pity, and even some moments of triumph....and when you think you've experienced all the emotions, they will start all over again. THEN...the ending will take you to the edge of that cliff called suspense, push you over, and say THE END.

Yup. If I hadn't read the e-book version, I surely would have thrown the book! I couldn't believe what happened. I STILL can't believe what happened and it has been DAYS since I finished the book. I couldn't even immediately write this review because I needed some time to process everything.

All I can say is read it. It is well worth your time. I will go even further and say that this should be required reading in junior high and high school. It may be just what kids today need to understand that bullying and tearing other people down to fit in is a dangerous game. They will learn that cliques have no loyalty. They will learn that bullying is emotionally, and oftentimes physically, traumatizing. And maybe, just maybe, they will learn that loving yourself is more important than trying to fit in.