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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
Graded By: Sarah
Cover Story: Tuff Stuff
BFF Charm: Make It Rain
Swoonworthy Scale: 3
Talky Talk: S. E. Hinton, Savvy?
Bonus Factors: 1960s Houston, Ms. Norbury Award for Rad Teachers
Relationship Status: Stay Gold
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Tuff Stuff
BFF Charm: Make It Rain
Swoonworthy Scale: 3
Talky Talk: S. E. Hinton, Savvy?
Bonus Factors: 1960s Houston, Ms. Norbury Award for Rad Teachers
Relationship Status: Stay Gold
Read the full book report here.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
If you're looking for a book about bad girls, feminism and strong friendships, you have to pick this up! This story is heartbreaking but empowering at the same time.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was quite good, however it felt like it lacked something. I really enjoyed hearing about most of the characters, however the storyline got a bit repetitive and cringe, especially towards the end. The whole thing also felt rather cliche and predictable, but overall it explored some really interesting topics, and sends a positive message to young women.
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a gender flipped reimagining of S.E. Hinton’s classic The Outsiders. Set in Houston in the mid 1960s, we have a group of “bad girls” instead of the “greasers”. The girls are from the poor side of town. They’re not particularly interested in school. They’re tough, loud, and trying to rebel against society’s expectations of what a proper young woman should be. The “socs” in this novel are called the “tea sippers”. They are the rich kids who seem to have everything handed to them on a plate. The girls wear fashionable twin sets, discreet makeup and are raised to be demure young ladies.
One night at the drive-in, Evie, the youngest of her bad girl clique, gets caught in a dangerous situation only to be saved by tea sipper Diane. An unlikely friendship is forged when the grateful Evie learns that Diane now lives on the wrong side of the tracks. Evie introduces Diane to her group and she is grudging accepted by Connie, the leader of the pack.
Evie and Diane become close friends and Diane reveals she was thrown out of her house after her parents discovered her romance with bad boy Johnny, Connie’s brother. I don’t want to give away all the major plot points, so I’ll say the girls accept Diane for who she is and choose to help and support her. They all realize they have more in common than they realized, that girls should support and lift each other up, and that toughness and courage can be disguised by a smart sweater set. Evie learns she deserves the space and the time to figure out who she is and what she wants instead of society and grownups telling what she should be.
Author Jennifer Mathieu excels at stories about girls taking on the patriarchy. Her novel Moxie is one of my favorites. This novel covers a lot of heavy territory including racism, abuse, poverty, misogyny, and how there was a time when girls had no voice or choices.
I loved Evie and her girl gang. Teen readers will connect with these fierce girls who are tired of being looked down upon for being different and wanting more out of life.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s for the digital review copy.
One night at the drive-in, Evie, the youngest of her bad girl clique, gets caught in a dangerous situation only to be saved by tea sipper Diane. An unlikely friendship is forged when the grateful Evie learns that Diane now lives on the wrong side of the tracks. Evie introduces Diane to her group and she is grudging accepted by Connie, the leader of the pack.
Evie and Diane become close friends and Diane reveals she was thrown out of her house after her parents discovered her romance with bad boy Johnny, Connie’s brother. I don’t want to give away all the major plot points, so I’ll say the girls accept Diane for who she is and choose to help and support her. They all realize they have more in common than they realized, that girls should support and lift each other up, and that toughness and courage can be disguised by a smart sweater set. Evie learns she deserves the space and the time to figure out who she is and what she wants instead of society and grownups telling what she should be.
Author Jennifer Mathieu excels at stories about girls taking on the patriarchy. Her novel Moxie is one of my favorites. This novel covers a lot of heavy territory including racism, abuse, poverty, misogyny, and how there was a time when girls had no voice or choices.
I loved Evie and her girl gang. Teen readers will connect with these fierce girls who are tired of being looked down upon for being different and wanting more out of life.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s for the digital review copy.
So pleased to read this courtesy of NetGalley.
Bad Girls Never Say Die was billed as a female retelling of the Outsiders. I don't know if I agree with that statement. The story gave us strong female characters and compelling back stories - but I don't feel it matched up to the classic of the original.
That being said, Evie is a girl a large population can relate to, even in 2021. The problems of sexual assault have not lessoned since the 50s and 60s, but girls have become braver in taking out their assailants. Diane is the good girl, and while adults who have read this story in other forms before can guess what will happen, I think it is a good wake up call for the younger generation.
As an adult I'd give it 2 stars, but for the teens I'll give it a 3 to 3.5. Recommended for grades 8 and up.
Bad Girls Never Say Die was billed as a female retelling of the Outsiders. I don't know if I agree with that statement. The story gave us strong female characters and compelling back stories - but I don't feel it matched up to the classic of the original.
That being said, Evie is a girl a large population can relate to, even in 2021. The problems of sexual assault have not lessoned since the 50s and 60s, but girls have become braver in taking out their assailants. Diane is the good girl, and while adults who have read this story in other forms before can guess what will happen, I think it is a good wake up call for the younger generation.
As an adult I'd give it 2 stars, but for the teens I'll give it a 3 to 3.5. Recommended for grades 8 and up.
REIMAGINING THE OUTSIDERS FROM A FEMALE PERSPECTIVE????? I need this immediately omg