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saidtheraina's review
5.0
I have a couple of cousins who are still teens. One 18, one 16. And it terrifies me to death that this gives a taste of what their life is like, how their brains work. On the other hand, the girls in this are definitely in a very specific place and a very specific time that is very different from my family's. So I can still pretend that my girls aren't smoking pot every day, partying every weekend, etc. etc. etc. I can pretend.
One summary said that these girls go to the top public school in NYC. Which may or may not be completely accurate. But it is true that it's a fairly elitist school which students have to test into. Not to mention, the school is four blocks from ground zero, and the girls started this in March, 2002. Unique unique unique. They're able to articulate themselves much much more clearly than most teens I've met, their handwriting is much more legible than most teens I've met, they're aware of the world in a way that I think most teens aren't. It's really cool to watch them throw around feminism, sexism, discrimination, social justice issues, etc. among all their fart and penis jokes.
Which reminds me, these girls (intelligent and educated though they may be) are obsessed with sex. Obsessed. Which makes me wonder how much is conditioning (sex is how you get attention from boys) and how much is empowered sex drive from being post-feminist-movement. Teenage boys have a reputation of being sex maniacs, but would girls be any different if they were allowed to voice/embrace their true desires?
Also refreshing to see how comfortable they were with GLBTIQA issues. Honestly, the way they talk to each other kinda drove me crazy at times. Constantly making raunchy jokes at the expense of each other, etc. But there's so much love in the midst of the harshness. And you really truly watch them grow up over the two years the book covers. Each one goes through something really serious and makes very adult choices in a positive way. Makes me hopeful.
My favorite piece is written on 9/23/03 by Sophie, where she writes about 9/11 two years later. Just beautiful writing about a very unique time and space. Brought to mind amazing visual images and made me think about how I've reacted in the crises I've experienced.
It's just amazing that it got made.
One summary said that these girls go to the top public school in NYC. Which may or may not be completely accurate. But it is true that it's a fairly elitist school which students have to test into. Not to mention, the school is four blocks from ground zero, and the girls started this in March, 2002. Unique unique unique. They're able to articulate themselves much much more clearly than most teens I've met, their handwriting is much more legible than most teens I've met, they're aware of the world in a way that I think most teens aren't. It's really cool to watch them throw around feminism, sexism, discrimination, social justice issues, etc. among all their fart and penis jokes.
Which reminds me, these girls (intelligent and educated though they may be) are obsessed with sex. Obsessed. Which makes me wonder how much is conditioning (sex is how you get attention from boys) and how much is empowered sex drive from being post-feminist-movement. Teenage boys have a reputation of being sex maniacs, but would girls be any different if they were allowed to voice/embrace their true desires?
Also refreshing to see how comfortable they were with GLBTIQA issues. Honestly, the way they talk to each other kinda drove me crazy at times. Constantly making raunchy jokes at the expense of each other, etc. But there's so much love in the midst of the harshness. And you really truly watch them grow up over the two years the book covers. Each one goes through something really serious and makes very adult choices in a positive way. Makes me hopeful.
My favorite piece is written on 9/23/03 by Sophie, where she writes about 9/11 two years later. Just beautiful writing about a very unique time and space. Brought to mind amazing visual images and made me think about how I've reacted in the crises I've experienced.
It's just amazing that it got made.
debz57a52's review against another edition
I began this book, read the intro stuff and a few of the first entries, and then decided this was not a book I wanted to read. It's basically a vanity project - a real notebook passed around by real people, and what appears to be only slightly edited for length and content. Within the first few entries, I figured out it would be more difficult than I want to work to keep the four main girls and their minor characters straight in my head, and there were already too many inside jokes or whatever for me to glaze over. Neat idea, but not worth reading for me.
eveahe's review
2.0
I remember this book coming out while I was at Stuy and feeling vaguely interested in reading it but never getting around to it. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but this wasn't exactly it. The upside? This is a true look at the inside lives of teenage girls, in a total cringe-worthy way. Yet the fact that it is real means that the book sort of drags at points. Worth reading if you went to Stuy/grew up in NYC, just because of people/places mentioned. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else.
abbyyy113's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
5.0
Oob #1: I found this book randomly at the goodwill bins and had no idea what kind of gem I had just run into. It is clear that I was meant to stumble upon this book that may have changed my life
Oob #2: this is a real notebook that 4 teenage girls living in NYC started passing around right after 9/11 happened. I loved learning about the culture of high school in New York, and hearing about how profoundly 9/11 impacted these girls and their lives.
Oob#3: I felt the entire time reading this book as though I was reading about my younger self or my little sister. Hearing these girls talk about their feelings becoming young women, their first experiences with love, sex, and heartbreak was so raw and felt like they were peeling back layers of my heart and I got to relive all of those feelings again
Oob #4: can we talk about how these girls are the smartest 16 year olds I’ve ever seen? Countless discussions about religion, politics, race, gender issues, LGBTQ+ rights, etc. I was so impressed by how articulate these girls are and how informed and comfortable they were with their opinions and sharing them. Also, some of the most mature disagreements I’ve ever seen. Calmly correcting and calling each other out, genuinely listening and hearing each other out, and apologizing when necessary.
Oob #5: these girls and their personalities just shine! One page I am crying, the next I am laughing my ass off! So witty and honest and raw. I love towards the end of the book how they all reflect on their friendship and their experience keeping the notebook over the past few years, and it is just such a beautiful and genuine display of love for one another and appreciation for how much they’ve grown and learned and helped each other along the way.
Oob #2: this is a real notebook that 4 teenage girls living in NYC started passing around right after 9/11 happened. I loved learning about the culture of high school in New York, and hearing about how profoundly 9/11 impacted these girls and their lives.
Oob#3: I felt the entire time reading this book as though I was reading about my younger self or my little sister. Hearing these girls talk about their feelings becoming young women, their first experiences with love, sex, and heartbreak was so raw and felt like they were peeling back layers of my heart and I got to relive all of those feelings again
Oob #4: can we talk about how these girls are the smartest 16 year olds I’ve ever seen? Countless discussions about religion, politics, race, gender issues, LGBTQ+ rights, etc. I was so impressed by how articulate these girls are and how informed and comfortable they were with their opinions and sharing them. Also, some of the most mature disagreements I’ve ever seen. Calmly correcting and calling each other out, genuinely listening and hearing each other out, and apologizing when necessary.
Oob #5: these girls and their personalities just shine! One page I am crying, the next I am laughing my ass off! So witty and honest and raw. I love towards the end of the book how they all reflect on their friendship and their experience keeping the notebook over the past few years, and it is just such a beautiful and genuine display of love for one another and appreciation for how much they’ve grown and learned and helped each other along the way.
thegratefulpoet's review
2.0
i thought i was going to like this book so much more. everyone has a story to tell, some more boring than others. this isnt talent, this is friends passing notes. all of my friends and i have passed notes. why didnt we get our published?
these girls seem like the people i hated in highschool. they were rude to eachother, and just all around not fun lol. i didnt even get this far but apparently it goes on to detail their smoking and drinking habits. thats fine. but i heard enough of those stories in homeroom.
next time i want to read a diary i'll re-read "Go Ask Alice"
these girls seem like the people i hated in highschool. they were rude to eachother, and just all around not fun lol. i didnt even get this far but apparently it goes on to detail their smoking and drinking habits. thats fine. but i heard enough of those stories in homeroom.
next time i want to read a diary i'll re-read "Go Ask Alice"
line_so_fine's review
4.0
After 9/11, four best friends in New York City shared one notebook that contained notes to each other and journal entries. The book maintains each of the girls' handwriting, sketches and even photos or other stuff that the girls' left in the notebook. The girls are smart, funny, silly. This voyeuristic view into these girls' lives is engrossing. Some sex, language, drugs.
mmkkll's review
2.0
It's not hard to see why these particular girls got a book deal, seeing as one has a set of famous parents. Still, it wasn't a total exercise in pointless nepotism -- the collection of journal entries is entertaining and shines a light on what life is like for teens today.
rox716's review
4.0
I really liked this book - it reminded me a lot of high school even though my experiences were way different than that of these four girls. I wish there had been more of a distinction between the girls at the beginning because it caused some confusion. There didn't seem to be a major general plot line, but overall, I really enjoyed this book!
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