53 pages • 1 hour read
“If one of us goes down for this, it’ll be as bad as all of us going down for this. We can’t let that happen.”
The theme of the boys’ club mentality is introduced early on in the book with John Michael's words, which foreshadow his manipulative nature. The idea that it’s better to stick together and cover for one person, instead of facing justice that could potentially bring them all down, is integral to their group dynamic.
“Okay, this is our story…”
The book’s title is taken from John Michael's words, right after Grant is killed. They establish John Michael, still the anonymous narrator at this point, as the mastermind of the cover up. The phrasing also makes it clear that the boys are lying.
“They look happy and carefree, just as boys with bright futures and privileged backgrounds should look.”
Kate identifies the privileged background of the River Point Boys, something that sets them apart from her. While they all have money and means, she works a paid internship to help her single mother financially. These words pit her as the underdog opposite the boys.
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