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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Girls Like Us is an eye-opening, heart-wrenching story about two self-proclaimed "speddie" (special education) young women who graduate from high school and start their lives in the world. The book tackles tough topics and addresses some very serious issued faced by this often-invisible population. Girls Like Us has the potential to be a truly excellent and important book, but the narration and dialogue are overdone and distracting, while the all-too-simple wrap up to the girls' not-at-all-simple problems leaves Giles' effort makes for a disappointing ending. An important issues book for anyone looking to gain a peek into the struggles of special education students as they move into adulthood - and a valuable addition to a growing body of YA literature that tackles the issues of rape and sexual assault head-on - Girls Like Us has a definite place on the shelf, but is unlikely to find a place in your heart.
This book should have contained hella trigger warnings, but it was beautiful and I loved it.
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The book focuses on two girls who have been in special ed, their friendship, and their struggles. It's told from both girls' points of view, although they sounded very similar to me. It's an easy read and shows how people with challenges can be taken advantage of. I felt like the characters were all extreme, hence the lower rating.
Promising premise, nice cover. nice story. Not a nice story, really, but a story written nicely. That's about it.
Biddy and Quincy have almost the /exact same voice/, including accent. Even later in the book, I sometimes got confused about who was talking.
Still, I'd be lying if I said that there were no scenes that I felt emotion for. There definitely were. But they were often hidden in obscure narration and strange pacing. Also, a warning for more intense scenes of sexual assault.
I enjoyed it, especially three or four scenes, but it was definitely not comfortable, and the quality varied throughout. 3.3 stars.
Biddy and Quincy have almost the /exact same voice/, including accent. Even later in the book, I sometimes got confused about who was talking.
Still, I'd be lying if I said that there were no scenes that I felt emotion for. There definitely were. But they were often hidden in obscure narration and strange pacing. Also, a warning for more intense scenes of sexual assault.
I enjoyed it, especially three or four scenes, but it was definitely not comfortable, and the quality varied throughout. 3.3 stars.
Touching and sad. I hated that both girls had to endure such abuse and sexual assault and get absolutely no support from the adults in their lives.
Book from AudioSync this summer.
Summary: Graduating from their school's special education program, Quincy and Biddy are placed together in their first independent apartment and discover unexpected things they have in common.
Book from AudioSync this summer.
Summary: Graduating from their school's special education program, Quincy and Biddy are placed together in their first independent apartment and discover unexpected things they have in common.
I really enjoyed this book; it takes multiple human experiences and gives a demonstration of working to overcome hardships, stereotypes and abuse.
This title was gleaned from the following list: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-library-books-banned-schools-rcna12986
This title was gleaned from the following list: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-library-books-banned-schools-rcna12986
This was a hard read. The atrocities these girls faced and the mistreatment they endured was difficult to process. It was honest and hopeful, though. The friendship they developed and the growth they displayed, in trusting others, was heartwarming. I would recommend this to upper middle grade and high school students due to the mature content described.
Great character studies with lots of development and growth. Realistic and gritty without being too depressing. Made me tear up towards the end. There were a few questions I would've liked answered, plotwise, though: what was it that caused Miss Lizzy's ailments at such a relatively young age? Was Robert ever brought to justice? I also would have enjoyed seeing more positive interactions between Biddy and Stephen, or Biddy and the feed store man.