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abby23's review against another edition
4.75
I loved this book because I don’t care about the plot. It captures the girlhood of girls’ school better than anything I’ve ever encountered, and it made me cry.
Moderate: Sexual assault and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Eating disorder, Racism, and Mental illness
emilylandry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Sexual assault and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Self harm and Eating disorder
siebensommer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
the venn diagram mia described had a third circle, overlapping the other two; a culture that takes and takes and takes from girls, all the while refusing to recognise them as whole people.
Graphic: Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, and Child abuse
jcrawford31's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Cursing, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
emileereadsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This debut novel walks through a school year at an all girl's boarding school that starts off with a reminder of a sexual abuse scandal that happened there 25 years before. Each of the 9 chapters are perspectives from 9 different students at the school, and after the first few it felt like a lot of storylines to hold and keep track of. Not to mention all the characters and how they puzzle together. I felt like this book kept skimming the surface of something powerful and interesting, but then we would move to the next girl's POV and I was left wanting more of certain storylines.
This book also does something that is a bookish pet peeve of mine, it plays with time in a way that takes away from the plot. It would say for instance: in 30 years she would reflect and then she would understand why this impacted her so deeply. I feel like that is a cop out and a disservice to exploring the feelings of the character in the moment.
This book has been spoken of some as a mystery, and I would say if that's what you are coming to this book looking for, you will be disappointed. I think this book is a mystery in the way every book is a mystery, because you are waiting to find out where the plot goes. This should only be classified as a YA coming of age story.
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, and Mental illness
katie_ponderingthepages's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I feel so utterly frustrated by this book, it could easily be amazing but due to too many characters with each chapter voicing another girls point of view the potentially powerful and empowering messages looses their hit. There are signs of the storyline exploring themes of sexual injustice, coming of age, sexual expectations of young women, racism, inequality and mental health difficulties, but due to such a disjointed narrative the book never gets the chance to fully invest in these themes.
I did however like Macy’s storyline. Her anxiety and obsessive behaviours to try and control her anxiety was actually brilliantly written. Just when I became invested in her the storyline flips to another character leaving me wanting more. I continued reading hoping to pick up again with Macy’s story but was left disappointed. I wish the author had focussed on two or three girls to narrate the year at Atwater School, I could have connected more.
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Mental illness, and Eating disorder