Scan barcode
b0hemian_graham's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this novel, no bones about it. It's one of the best realistic YA novels I've read. The Manson Family seems to be the trend du jour for YA, given that Emma Cline's The Girls also focused on a Mansonesque cult, but I thought this one had more heart and was better written. It's deliciously snarky in parts, and you both love and hate the choices the characters make. Not just Anna and Delia, but minor characters like Anna's mom and her best friend Doon. They're real, complex people. Anna didnt't feel like a Mary Sue, or just a bland, uninteresting character. She seemed like a real teenage girl who was dealing with a lot of issues, and just felt completely lost. 15 is such a rough age.
There's a minor bit of romance, but it isn't the primary focus of the novel, which pleases me because a lot of realist YA, as in, not set in a fantasy world of some sorts, has a ridiculous amount of romance. Also, the whole LA setting didn't feel contrived and wasn't cliched. The parallels between Anna and the girls of the Manson family were an intriguing plot theme that I wasn't sure would work, or how Umminger was going to write such a novel, but it worked incredibly well. Not only that, we had a total tear down of Hollywood's ideas of female actors of all ages, and critiques of the "Disney machine." Everythin just fit perectly together. Also, I actually liked Roger despite his skeeviness. I could definitely draw some parallels between him and Polanski, whom he pretty much idolised. I really cannot articulate how much I really enjoyed this novel. It's
There's a minor bit of romance, but it isn't the primary focus of the novel, which pleases me because a lot of realist YA, as in, not set in a fantasy world of some sorts, has a ridiculous amount of romance. Also, the whole LA setting didn't feel contrived and wasn't cliched. The parallels between Anna and the girls of the Manson family were an intriguing plot theme that I wasn't sure would work, or how Umminger was going to write such a novel, but it worked incredibly well. Not only that, we had a total tear down of Hollywood's ideas of female actors of all ages, and critiques of the "Disney machine." Everythin just fit perectly together. Also, I actually liked Roger despite his skeeviness. I could definitely draw some parallels between him and Polanski, whom he pretty much idolised. I really cannot articulate how much I really enjoyed this novel. It's
marieintheraw's review against another edition
4.0
I honestly was not expecting to go on the journey I went on.
aliena_jackson's review against another edition
1.0
Anna is my least favorite kind of character. She’s selfish, she’s ungrateful, and she never learns from her mistakes. Usually these kinds of characters never change, and they remain the insufferable people they are until you close the book, unsatisfied.
Normally, with these characters, there is a very unlikeable evil best friend. In this book, that friend’s name is Doon. I’m not going to get into her character too much, but what I will say is that she sent a picture of an aborted fetus to a girl and told her that fetus should have been her. Oh, and Anna also participated in this cyberbullying.
Anna’s family members are all nutcases. Delia blackmailed Anna so she’d stay silent and wouldn’t tell her boyfriend that she was cheating on him. She also refused to buy Anna food. Cora, Anna’s mom, blamed Anna for her breast cancer. As you can imagine, I am not behind telling a fourteen year old girl that she caused her mother’s breast cancer. Her mom is clearly manipulative, and has major issues. Anna’s dad abandoned her for his girlfriend, Celia, and then withdrew child support. (I wasn’t aware you could do that.) Anna’s stepmom, Lynette, was by far the best thing to a parental figure Anna would have, if it weren’t for the fact that she tells Anna she’s glad she ran away to LA and then charges her interest when Anna tries to reimburse her. She also makes her pay for her own plane ticket home.
Jeremy wasn’t really that present, and his relationship with Anna was definitely insta-love.
Dex, Delia’s boyfriend, was an okay character, if you forget the fact that he kicked Anna out every night in order to sleep with her sister.
The story was weak. The Manson girls are barely mentioned, and most of this book is just us reading about Anna sitting around waiting for an Delia or Dex to take her home. I wouldn’t read this book again, and it was hard for me to finish. It was drivel, plain and simple.
To simplify: If you like awful characters and boring plots, then this book is for you. Otherwise, avoid at all costs.
Normally, with these characters, there is a very unlikeable evil best friend. In this book, that friend’s name is Doon. I’m not going to get into her character too much, but what I will say is that she sent a picture of an aborted fetus to a girl and told her that fetus should have been her. Oh, and Anna also participated in this cyberbullying.
Anna’s family members are all nutcases. Delia blackmailed Anna so she’d stay silent and wouldn’t tell her boyfriend that she was cheating on him. She also refused to buy Anna food. Cora, Anna’s mom, blamed Anna for her breast cancer. As you can imagine, I am not behind telling a fourteen year old girl that she caused her mother’s breast cancer. Her mom is clearly manipulative, and has major issues. Anna’s dad abandoned her for his girlfriend, Celia, and then withdrew child support. (I wasn’t aware you could do that.) Anna’s stepmom, Lynette, was by far the best thing to a parental figure Anna would have, if it weren’t for the fact that she tells Anna she’s glad she ran away to LA and then charges her interest when Anna tries to reimburse her. She also makes her pay for her own plane ticket home.
Jeremy wasn’t really that present, and his relationship with Anna was definitely insta-love.
Dex, Delia’s boyfriend, was an okay character, if you forget the fact that he kicked Anna out every night in order to sleep with her sister.
The story was weak. The Manson girls are barely mentioned, and most of this book is just us reading about Anna sitting around waiting for an Delia or Dex to take her home. I wouldn’t read this book again, and it was hard for me to finish. It was drivel, plain and simple.
To simplify: If you like awful characters and boring plots, then this book is for you. Otherwise, avoid at all costs.
lamom77's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book better than I thought I would and definitely more than what my brief scan of reviews led me to believe. It is about a 15 year-old girl who runaways to LA to stay with her sister and begins researching the Manson girls and finds parallels (real and imagined) with her life. This was good - funny, sad, a bit creepy with a little romance.
ameliaclark's review against another edition
4.0
This book was absolutely amazing! It was a laugh out loud book and had such a creative twist on the whole novel. I really enjoyed this book with the main character not having the greatest childhood and seeing her overcome that!
rleibrock's review against another edition
3.0
Really, this should be at least 3 1/2 stars. I loved this book on many levels, even if there particular plot points that were too absurd (for the overall story), or plot resolutions that were too neat. The writing felt fresh, and the point of view smart and believable with, ultimately, a tough emotional impact. Plus, lots of stuff about the Manson girls, and a secondary character who had to be based on Britney Spears or Demi Lovato or the like, so there's that.
lilcoop71's review against another edition
4.0
Great YA fiction (older teen, though). Is this book getting enough attention? Really well-written and engaging.
cojack's review against another edition
4.0
A smart, funny, and intriguing look at the teen-to-adult transition that takes on important themes: family issues, bullying, the desire to be loved, and the value of women in a looks-obsessed world. The only drawback is that Umminger tries to work in too many ideas, and some of the connections she weaves are a little tenuous and tangled, even though the themes are solid. Read my full review at Common Sense Media: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/american-girls
ngreader's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
Surprisingly, although the main character was (intentionally) unlikeable, I really enjoyed this book. It made me think, especially about true crime content and how we frame perpetrators and victims, but also about growing up as a girl in general. It's complicated and messy and Umminger did a great job of highlighting that as well as discussing dysfunctional families and the impact even mild disfunction has on a developing person.
Not sure how much I would recommend this book....but I will be keeping it on my bookshelf if you ever want to take a look? I guess?
Surprisingly, although the main character was (intentionally) unlikeable, I really enjoyed this book. It made me think, especially about true crime content and how we frame perpetrators and victims, but also about growing up as a girl in general. It's complicated and messy and Umminger did a great job of highlighting that as well as discussing dysfunctional families and the impact even mild disfunction has on a developing person.
Not sure how much I would recommend this book....but I will be keeping it on my bookshelf if you ever want to take a look? I guess?
rachelwrites007's review against another edition
5.0
Holy cats, AMERICAN GIRLS was rich with voice, funny, real, and 1000% captivated me. Umminger is an author to watch - one who so easily breezes from YA to adult crossover. I can't wait for the world to read this book. This has a subtle Heathers vibe to it in terms of dark humor, but otherwise I don't even freakin' know comparative titles. Anna's story will stay with me for a while.