YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING STUPID, DID YOU?

I felt that throughout All the Rage, author Courtney Summers used technology effectively and in a very natural way. Characters used their cellphones, sent text messages, and took photos, just as we do in our everyday lives. It felt natural and in no way interfered with the plot or storytelling. Sometimes, Romy misused technology, for instance in laying out her heart's desire for Kellan in an email, but overall technology was used naturally and appropriately.

The adults in the story are a mixed bag: Romy's parents do not seem very technologically savvy, and generally her hometown of Grebe seems to rely more on gossip and word-of-mouth for information. "Word travels. It gets slurred in bars, murmured over fences between neighbors, muttered in the produce section of the grocery store and again at the checkout, because the cashier always has something to add," (297). But Sheriff Turner, for instance, calls upon teens to check social media for clues about Penny's whereabouts when she goes missing.

Following are some examples of the use of technology in All the Rage.

Emails:
Emails are exchanged every day in our world; we email our deepest thoughts and insecurities to one another electronically, and sometimes our words can haunt us. This happened to Romy, as Sheriff Turner used an email she'd sent to Penny as evidence that she's "that kind of girl" who would be provocative in order to seduce his son (97).

Texts:
Romy's relationship with Leon was enhanced by the use of technology; they exchanged texts and calls as average teens do in our contemporary society. Throughout the novel, the couple uses calls and texts to set up dates and connect with one another.

Cell Phones:
Cell phones are used for more than conversation; for instance, Romy uses hers for searching the drug, Georgia Home Boy (GHB) that was used to drug her at the lake party. This is an integral part of most of teens' days--using cell phones for Internet searching and other applications.

Computers/Laptops:
Romy has a laptop, and uses it for Internet searching as well; it is crucial to remembering the night of her rape. She logs into Twitter and searches hashtags--the best way to filter information on the site.

Other Technology:
Leon owns his own website design company, and works Swan's to supplement his income until his business is more successful.

Overall, Summers integrates technology into the dynamic of her novel and creates an authentic and natural use of devices in teens' lives.