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2.76 AVERAGE
2.76 AVERAGE
"I know it’s bad of me, but I hate it when Jiyoon reminds me that I’m white and she’s not. I get that she has an experience I can’t understand. I just wish she wouldn’t rub it in."
LMAO.....................
the sudden onset of rage I experienced reading that... honestly this is THE quote for every white "feminist" who resents what PoC people have to say, because god forbid we mention the elephant called privilege in the room. (RUB it in?? really???) The only reason I rated it two stars instead of one is because there is some kind of moral lesson here that's applicable to ALL girls, and not just the straight/rich/cis/white ones. it's that internalized misogyny is a dick, and that it takes both constant effort and a long time to unlearn it all. I can appreciate a flawed heroine, and Jemimia is self-aware about her own shortcomings (though she takes a long time to learn and has to be constantly TOLD by her friendly PoC best friend jfc) and she's also a senior in high school, so I'm not expecting major self-actualization or growth. The growth she does experience is perfectly acceptable for a girl her age.
other reviews have touched on this point though, and it's that there is a surplus of books with white main characters who believe that they're feminists and find out that oopsie-daisy they're not and this particular book does nothing to stand out from the rest. i mean, it's funny? and the plot doesn't drag? and there's a PoC who exists in it? i wonder what this says more about my standards that I find The Feminist Agenda of Jemimia Kincaid acceptable even with these breadcrumbs. maybe it's my internalized 'not all white people' idiocy that's messing with me. (on that note, someone write a book about a Korean-American having to unlearn her gut instinct to defend the Whites, because that's absolutely a book I would read).
This was definitely a good book. It had a lot of humor and a lot of heart. I did wish it were longer, but only because it was so good! Jemima was a little annoying, but she did have her moments. And that was the point-to show how she could be a toxic feminist. Throughout the course of the book, she got her eyes opened. I love Jiyoon and how she became the first female chairperson I knew she was running long before Jemima did . I also loved Crispin and how supportive he was. However, I was not a fan of Andy. His and Jemima's relationship was kind of toxic and I wished it had more of a resolution. Still, I enjoyed this book.
This was a bit of a letdown for me because I lovedddd Vigilante Poets by Hattemer. I am curious whether teens would have the patience for this story because it kind of feels like not that much happens? It's mostly about how the main character has internalized misogyny which happens to the best of us but like, it mostly reminds me of that episode of 30 Rock where Liz Lemon thinks everyone hated her in high school but it's because she was so mean to everyone they thought she hated them. That is Jemima Kincaid here.
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i did not like jemima at all and i wish jiyoon was the main character
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-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
This one sparks joy:
Crispin, Paul, Jiyoon.
Blue underarm hair
This one does not spark joy:
Jemima, Andy, Mack
Feminism that isn't intersectional
Slut shaming
Literally almost everything about this book
Crispin, Paul, Jiyoon.
Blue underarm hair
This one does not spark joy:
Jemima, Andy, Mack
Feminism that isn't intersectional
Slut shaming
Literally almost everything about this book
the main pro of this book is that it is a quick and easy read. it flows nicely and is easy to follow. the main fault is that the main character is an incorrigible white feminist, and is genuinely so frustrating. Jiyoon or even Gennifer were FAR more interesting characters, and they really deserved more focus. It is ironic to me that the author says she has done a lot of growth on her own white feminism when her own protagonist is a shining example of it. if that's the point of the book, it's not done well and comes off poorly.
2/5 stars, i wouldn't recommend.
2/5 stars, i wouldn't recommend.
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Messy thesis, unclear presentation of feminism, and weird sex scenes VS. my inexplicable enjoyment of this book: FIGHT.