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danjvrobertson's review
4.0
(Originally posted on my blog, The Reader's Commute)
Originally I was hesitant about agreeing to read Tough Girl. Seeing "SciFi" in the genre category had me hesitant, because I've never really felt like I truly understood science fiction / would not be able to discuss it in an eloquent way. However, my love for young protagonists and interesting storylines won out, and I knew that I had to read this book.
It should be noted: Although Reggie, the main character, is eleven years old, this is not just a children's book. In fact, some of the subject matter (violence, child endangerment, sexual abuse) may not be the best for younger children or squeamish readers.
Reggie, as a protagonist, is interesting in a sad and unusual way. Her home circumstances are heartbreaking; her living conditions are dismal (I could practically feel the dirt underneath my fingernails) and her mother, Mona, is as good as absent. Despite being poor in circumstance, Reggie is rich in imagination. She concocts elaborate plots for her alter-ego, Tough Girl (nicknamed TG). TG, unlike Reggie, is strong and outspoken. She doesn't fear pain or death. TG's first real chapter (the chapters are split to allow equal time between Reggie's and TG's storylines) has the blue-haired army captain, covered head-to-toe in heat-protecting jelly, leading her team across lava pits. Geysers of molten lava threaten to spew at any moment. The tension is apparent; the danger is exciting.
As the story progressed, I found myself more interested in Reggie's storyline, however. This may be because, as a writer and a reader, I am more interested in contemporary fiction. Reggie begins to connect with DeShawn, a kind boy at school who feeds her tasty sandwiches (Reggie's own kitchen is bare). She also forms a relationship with her intriguing neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Ruiz. Mrs. Ruiz is a six-hundred pound woman who eats day and night, gaining weight for beauty pageants.
The juxtaposition of Mrs. Ruiz's large, doughy body and Reggie's emaciated frame, the overabundance of food in the Ruiz apartment and the bare cabinets in Reggie's apartment, the glamorization of something as simple as a piece of buttered toast: these were the details that kept me reading.
Speaking again about juxtaposition, I was very interested in examining and dissecting the parallels between Reggie's contemporary storyline and Tough Girl's futuristic, alternative storyline. Particular chapters that took place on Planet Girth, TG's home planet, mirrored the emotions and events of Reggie's own life in out-of-this-world ways. While I was not always interested in TG's storyline (confusion about the Bublaran and Octhmuslans occurred on more than one occasion for me), I enjoyed understanding Reggie's method of coping with her issues and her own situation. When TG's world becomes too big for Reggie to control, the consequences are startling.
This book kept me on my toes. I did not always know what to expect, which is nice after reading so many predictable titles. The twists towards the end of Tough Girl are exciting and surprising. I am so glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone to read Heily's debut novel.
Originally I was hesitant about agreeing to read Tough Girl. Seeing "SciFi" in the genre category had me hesitant, because I've never really felt like I truly understood science fiction / would not be able to discuss it in an eloquent way. However, my love for young protagonists and interesting storylines won out, and I knew that I had to read this book.
It should be noted: Although Reggie, the main character, is eleven years old, this is not just a children's book. In fact, some of the subject matter (violence, child endangerment, sexual abuse) may not be the best for younger children or squeamish readers.
Reggie, as a protagonist, is interesting in a sad and unusual way. Her home circumstances are heartbreaking; her living conditions are dismal (I could practically feel the dirt underneath my fingernails) and her mother, Mona, is as good as absent. Despite being poor in circumstance, Reggie is rich in imagination. She concocts elaborate plots for her alter-ego, Tough Girl (nicknamed TG). TG, unlike Reggie, is strong and outspoken. She doesn't fear pain or death. TG's first real chapter (the chapters are split to allow equal time between Reggie's and TG's storylines) has the blue-haired army captain, covered head-to-toe in heat-protecting jelly, leading her team across lava pits. Geysers of molten lava threaten to spew at any moment. The tension is apparent; the danger is exciting.
As the story progressed, I found myself more interested in Reggie's storyline, however. This may be because, as a writer and a reader, I am more interested in contemporary fiction. Reggie begins to connect with DeShawn, a kind boy at school who feeds her tasty sandwiches (Reggie's own kitchen is bare). She also forms a relationship with her intriguing neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Ruiz. Mrs. Ruiz is a six-hundred pound woman who eats day and night, gaining weight for beauty pageants.
The juxtaposition of Mrs. Ruiz's large, doughy body and Reggie's emaciated frame, the overabundance of food in the Ruiz apartment and the bare cabinets in Reggie's apartment, the glamorization of something as simple as a piece of buttered toast: these were the details that kept me reading.
Speaking again about juxtaposition, I was very interested in examining and dissecting the parallels between Reggie's contemporary storyline and Tough Girl's futuristic, alternative storyline. Particular chapters that took place on Planet Girth, TG's home planet, mirrored the emotions and events of Reggie's own life in out-of-this-world ways. While I was not always interested in TG's storyline (confusion about the Bublaran and Octhmuslans occurred on more than one occasion for me), I enjoyed understanding Reggie's method of coping with her issues and her own situation. When TG's world becomes too big for Reggie to control, the consequences are startling.
This book kept me on my toes. I did not always know what to expect, which is nice after reading so many predictable titles. The twists towards the end of Tough Girl are exciting and surprising. I am so glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone to read Heily's debut novel.
very_vero's review
4.0
Tough Girl was the dark tale of Reggie, a girl with a lot of everyday troubles which she decided to solve with the help of her imagination. Reggie's life is far from perfect, she gets bullied and her mother is lost inside her own world. So Reggie escapes in her fantasy world more and more and finally it gets really hard to understand what's real and what's not, even for the reader.
This book introduces us to the dangerous, sad and lonely world that Reggie has to live in. Definitely not a world for an eleven year old, and that's why while reading the story I would forget that she was so young. She had to grew faster in order to take care of herself. So, this is not a book for kids. Just like the blurb says there are adult themes(like attempting rape) and adult language.
The writing was great and even though the story had a fast and kind of forced ending it was a great book to get lost into. But I am still glad it was short, cause it made me feel sad and a bit depressed. Through out the whole book I just wanted to hug Reggie and never let go.
This book introduces us to the dangerous, sad and lonely world that Reggie has to live in. Definitely not a world for an eleven year old, and that's why while reading the story I would forget that she was so young. She had to grew faster in order to take care of herself. So, this is not a book for kids. Just like the blurb says there are adult themes(like attempting rape) and adult language.
The writing was great and even though the story had a fast and kind of forced ending it was a great book to get lost into. But I am still glad it was short, cause it made me feel sad and a bit depressed. Through out the whole book I just wanted to hug Reggie and never let go.
avoraciousreader68's review
4.0
Book source ~ ARC. My review is voluntary and honest.
Reggie is in the 6th grade and has problems with a school bully. But that’s only one of the things she has to deal with. She’s poor and her mom is constantly zoning out. This month’s food is almost gone and Reggie needs her mom to snap out of it, cash her check, and buy some groceries. Except when her mom goes out to shop, she never returns home. As the days pass, Reggie relies heavily on her imaginary friend, Tough Girl. But her situation is deteriorating quickly. Will she survive until her mom returns?
This is a weird read. Not bad weird though, but good weird. Reggie is a fighter, in the sense that she continues on despite adversity. But she’s only, what? 11 or 12. Her mom appears to have some kind of mental illness and is getting worse. Then she just disappears. Gah! Poor Reggie! Things are happening and Reggie doesn’t want to go to foster care, but holy shit. What the hell is going on in this book? The parts with Tough Girl are just as interesting. I can’t elaborate because I want you to read it and see for yourself. What a great read. I recommend this.
Reggie is in the 6th grade and has problems with a school bully. But that’s only one of the things she has to deal with. She’s poor and her mom is constantly zoning out. This month’s food is almost gone and Reggie needs her mom to snap out of it, cash her check, and buy some groceries. Except when her mom goes out to shop, she never returns home. As the days pass, Reggie relies heavily on her imaginary friend, Tough Girl. But her situation is deteriorating quickly. Will she survive until her mom returns?
This is a weird read. Not bad weird though, but good weird. Reggie is a fighter, in the sense that she continues on despite adversity. But she’s only, what? 11 or 12. Her mom appears to have some kind of mental illness and is getting worse. Then she just disappears. Gah! Poor Reggie! Things are happening and Reggie doesn’t want to go to foster care, but holy shit. What the hell is going on in this book? The parts with Tough Girl are just as interesting. I can’t elaborate because I want you to read it and see for yourself. What a great read. I recommend this.
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