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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
Given that this book has been marketed as a “gender-flipped reimagining of the Outsiders”, I guess I should have seen what happened coming. Despite the sadness, it was an absolute tremendous read.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content warnings: sexual assault, murder, teen pregnancy, forced adoption, forced institutionalisation, violence, death, wrongful imprisonment
A female-led retelling of The Outsiders with less of an actual gang and more of a girls-who-don't-fit-the-1960s-stereotype. I struggled with this at times. Like, I didn't hate it. Not by a long shot. But I think a lot of the issues it deals with - particularly teenage girls getting pregnant and being sent away to institutions to have their babies and give them up for adoption - were kind of...skirted around rather than dealt with in any kind of meaningful way?? IDK.
A female-led retelling of The Outsiders with less of an actual gang and more of a girls-who-don't-fit-the-1960s-stereotype. I struggled with this at times. Like, I didn't hate it. Not by a long shot. But I think a lot of the issues it deals with - particularly teenage girls getting pregnant and being sent away to institutions to have their babies and give them up for adoption - were kind of...skirted around rather than dealt with in any kind of meaningful way?? IDK.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Moxie is and still remains as one of my Top 10 recommendations to friends/family so I was excited to read the synopsis for Ms. Mathieu's newest book that seems to fall back into the women overcoming biases in school, work, community, etc and forming their own views of their roles in the world. Many reviewers including myself will comment on the strong similarities to S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders plot - good side/bad side of the tracks, gangs, murder, teenager angst and so forth and I applaud Ms. Mathieu's writing of this feminist bad girl story set in the mid 60s using the themes we remember so well in Hinton's book.
As I read this book I found myself more interested in this 1960s timeframe on how society's view on women and their social standing and particularly of how assault was viewed in everyone's mind - the rich, the poor, friends and family and less on all of the actions that led to sheltering in place until things died down.
I finished this book in early May long before all of the news in the headlines today and I feel there could be more historical stories told down the road of this time in history as it is relevant to what is happening today, Thank you to MacMillan/Roaring Book Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
As I read this book I found myself more interested in this 1960s timeframe on how society's view on women and their social standing and particularly of how assault was viewed in everyone's mind - the rich, the poor, friends and family and less on all of the actions that led to sheltering in place until things died down.
I finished this book in early May long before all of the news in the headlines today and I feel there could be more historical stories told down the road of this time in history as it is relevant to what is happening today, Thank you to MacMillan/Roaring Book Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Really enjoyed it! It reminded me of a female-led version of The Outsiders.
I reserved this book through the library and as a fan of Mathieu- especially Moxie, I was looking forward to this book set in 1964. Thinking about how my mother was just about the age of the characters in Bad Girls Never Say die - how much times changed from the 1960's to when I grew up in the 80s and 90s. The Beatles are the most popular band in 1964, even in Texas where Evie Barnes lives on the wrong side of the tracks. Evie has a group of girlfriends and cuts classes sometimes. She is characterized as a bad girl because she wears eye makeup and doesn't go to class regularly but she doesn't *really* do anything bad by today's standards, she may be a bit of a pickpocket and drink with her friends but she's still a fairly naive 15 year old.
She's out with friends at the drive in theater when she sees a girl getting picked on in line at the concessions. She and their friends call the rich kids tea sippers. Anyway Evie goes off to the bathroom and when she comes out she's accosted by a boy Preston who her girlfriend Connie made look foolish. He attacks her and the girl from the concessions stand stops the attack and kills him. They panic and run off before his body is discovered. Diane and Evie become friends. Evie introduces Diane to her friends, and they form a plan which goes south when Connie's twin Johnny is picked up by the police. There is a Romeo & Juliet romance and secrets Diane has kept. It reminded me a lot of the movie Grease also.
Meanwhile Evie feels pressure to eventually settle down and get married to get out of the life her mother has working as a maid. She doesn't see many life choices for herself. Despite her mom working hard she has food and clothing and a nice but small house. Evie's mom and grandma come around at the end though.
I enjoyed this book although the ending was sad. TW for sexual assault and physical assault.
3.8/5 ☆
She's out with friends at the drive in theater when she sees a girl getting picked on in line at the concessions. She and their friends call the rich kids tea sippers. Anyway Evie goes off to the bathroom and when she comes out she's accosted by a boy Preston who her girlfriend Connie made look foolish. He attacks her and the girl from the concessions stand stops the attack and kills him. They panic and run off before his body is discovered. Diane and Evie become friends. Evie introduces Diane to her friends, and they form a plan which goes south when Connie's twin Johnny is picked up by the police. There is a Romeo & Juliet romance and secrets Diane has kept. It reminded me a lot of the movie Grease also.
Meanwhile Evie feels pressure to eventually settle down and get married to get out of the life her mother has working as a maid. She doesn't see many life choices for herself. Despite her mom working hard she has food and clothing and a nice but small house. Evie's mom and grandma come around at the end though.
I enjoyed this book although the ending was sad. TW for sexual assault and physical assault.
3.8/5 ☆
Bad Girls Never Say Die is a novel set in the 1960's about self-proclaimed "bad girl" Evie and her "bad girl" group of friends. It's been toted as a gender swapped, feminist version of The Outsiders with a splash of Grease and The Goonies thrown in and while reading, I could definitely see those aspects portrayed. Everything changes for Evie when she meets Diane, a "good girl" who saves her life in a "bad girl" way. This novel examines what it means to live on both the "right" and "wrong" side of the tracks and understand what it means to be a friend. Jennifer Mathieu wrote a brilliant story that is easily recommendable to young teens, especially those reading The Outsiders. The story had good pacing and a nice flow, but at times felt a little easy to predict the outcomes of some situations, which is why I didn't give it a fifth star, but would have given it 4.5 had that been an option. I really like Jennifer Mathieu's writing style and look forward to reading more from her.
**ARC received for Honest review**
**ARC received for Honest review**
This is the third book I’ve read by this author and by far it is my favourite.
The writing style is definitely more descriptive than I usually like but I felt it worked with the story. I found myself relating to Evie who is the main character so much and I definitely think that made me enjoy the story more.
There are some triggers in here for myself and for lots of girls but I felt they were handled well and were integral to the story rather than just for shock value.
I will definitely be reading more from this author in future.
The writing style is definitely more descriptive than I usually like but I felt it worked with the story. I found myself relating to Evie who is the main character so much and I definitely think that made me enjoy the story more.
There are some triggers in here for myself and for lots of girls but I felt they were handled well and were integral to the story rather than just for shock value.
I will definitely be reading more from this author in future.