Reviews with content warning for Bullying - Michigan vs. the Boys

Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Michigan vs. the Boys by Carrie S. Allen

7 reviews

ninebookishlives's review

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challenging emotional inspiring sad tense

3.5

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frogggirl2's review

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dark funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This book was written four years ago. You could have written this same book in the seventies, eighties, nineties... does this truly represent the utter lack of progress the Me Too Movement and feminism have made?

I don't want to be too hard on this young girl, but why in 2019 would you take all of this abuse and not say anything? Why would you take a drink from a guy who has literally sent you to the ER when you don't know what's in it? Why would you go to his party at all?

One of the things this book says is that girls who look up to Michigan will be able to see from her example not to go to such parties, not to take that sort of drink. We know this already! This is not a new story! Nothing about this book is original, new, insightful, and hasn't been written about before in fiction and nonfiction. It's not great that this girl taking all of this abuse is set up to be heroic. It's not great that the adults who failed her are set up to be redeemed with no real punishment.

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heapofashes's review

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dark emotional inspiring sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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gretchenplz's review

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emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

TW: non-consensual drugging, hazing (why are there not tags for these?)

I've just come to accept these days that any hockey book I read will cut me deep down into my core.

There are a few things that Allen gets absolutely correct in this book:

The sport of hockey
The sport of swimming
What it's like to be a 16-year-old girl
What it's like to be a victim of a date rape drug and sexual assault

Her writing style is perfect for Michigan, for the young girl she is, for her thoughts, for her feelings, for her wants, needs, desires, everything.

As a victim of a date rape drug, Allen perfectly captures what it's like to experience this, and does so with empathy and deep, deep care. I wish I couldn't relate to everything Michigan went through. I really do. But I know, intimately, what it is like, and I hope those who aren't victims read this with that in mind. Of how confusing, embarrassing, and isolating a thing it is. That telling the truth feels worse than keeping it to yourself. How bad it hurts the day after, physically and mentally.

I cried for a lot of this book, but not just because of my own trauma. I also cried because of the beautiful community Allen gifted Michigan. Her girls, her teammates, her family. Trent gives me hope for the future. Jordan gives me hope for the future.

Hockey is a toxic place, but I really hope that it's not beyond repair. That things like this that happen in real life are also backed by people like Officer Graves and Mr. Hastings and Jack and Trent.

That those who love the game and the people who play it will be the ones who end up saving it.

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ashmmm's review

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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stevielynne's review

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challenging emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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jessreads137's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring fast-paced

5.0

“They want to scare me off this team? Never. I will die first.”

Michigan’s women’s hockey team is cut when her high school is trying to determine who is worthy of receiving funding which causes her team mates to make tough decisions. Some change schools, some decide to no longer play hockey but Michigan is determined to continue playing so she tries out for the boys team. With the skills and ability to make the cut she is forced to endure the actions of her teammates who will do anything to convince her that she doesn't deserve a spot among them.

This is not an easy read. I had to take breaks and read every page with tears in my eyes. The passion in these words is powerful and the main character's determination is infectious. Go into this book knowing you will be changed once you read the last page.

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