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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
cw: rape, sexual assault, homophobic slurs, misogyny, slut shaming, abortion, revenge porn
"we are the granddaughters of the witches you burned.
and we're not putting up with it anymore."
this was such a hard book to read. it made me so angry and upset. i can't even imagine how many girls and women have to go through this and how victims are blamed and shamed whilst the abusers get away with it. the fact that women, myself included, have said: "well, it wasn't that bad was it?" when we're victimised.
this book was so important and i honestly think it should be taught in schools because of the issues it discusses. i especially like how the message about social media wasn't that it was bad but instead how bad social media sites are with taking down hurtful and harmful posts?
i really liked how there was an almost fabulist element to this with maggie's story intertwining with anna's. i found it really interesting to learn in laura bates acknowledgements that maggie was actually a real person. the fact that women have gone through such trauma since our existence for simply EXISTING is so upsetting. there was an underlying message of hope in this book though. that women are reclaiming power and have a voice. i love that bates included a number of resources for people going through any of these issues as well as a list of conversation starters for a classroom situation.
if you can handle the dark subject matter i can't recommend this enough.
and we're not putting up with it anymore."
this was such a hard book to read. it made me so angry and upset. i can't even imagine how many girls and women have to go through this and how victims are blamed and shamed whilst the abusers get away with it. the fact that women, myself included, have said: "well, it wasn't that bad was it?" when we're victimised.
this book was so important and i honestly think it should be taught in schools because of the issues it discusses. i especially like how the message about social media wasn't that it was bad but instead how bad social media sites are with taking down hurtful and harmful posts?
i really liked how there was an almost fabulist element to this with maggie's story intertwining with anna's. i found it really interesting to learn in laura bates acknowledgements that maggie was actually a real person. the fact that women have gone through such trauma since our existence for simply EXISTING is so upsetting. there was an underlying message of hope in this book though. that women are reclaiming power and have a voice. i love that bates included a number of resources for people going through any of these issues as well as a list of conversation starters for a classroom situation.
if you can handle the dark subject matter i can't recommend this enough.
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual harassment
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In this YA novel, a young woman who has had her nude photos shared throughout a student body relocates with her mother to a small. Town, hoping to start fresh. But of course her past catches up with her, and she has to deal with new harassment. This takes up the bulk of the book, which is too bad, because if the act of resistance the protagonist does at the very end of the book had come earlier, the author could have focused on strategies for pushing back against such bullying. The protagonist and her mother—who is an incredibly naive and inattentive parent—need a lot of therapy, and while the author provides links to anti bullying resources at the end of the novel, none of those actually appear in the book, which is a terrible missed opportunity. A structure and approach that focused more on combating the problem, instead of reveling in the kinds of messages harassers send and what they do, would have resulted in stronger characters and a stronger book overall. A side plot about a historical figure in the protagonist’s new town is okay but not really compelling.
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There seems to be a lot of variability in ratings for this book, but I really liked it and thought it had a clear message. I liked the comparison between how women were controlled in the past by being accused of witchcraft and currently through shaming and bullying. I think a lot of young teens will be able to relate to the girls in this book.
Anna and her mom are forced to leave their home and move to Scotland because of the bullying Anna faced at her old school. Unfortunately, just as she is beginning to settle in and make new friends, she discovers that secrets do not always stay hidden.
One of Anna's school projects is to research a local character and she discovers that one of the towns occupants was accused of witchcraft in the late 1600s. Anna feels a kinship with Maggie and searches for more information. Maggie's story is juxtaposed with Anna's to show how women have been mistreated and misunderstood throughout history.
My only complaint is that the male characters are very one dimensional. we see a glimpse into Simons story but it would have helped to make them a little more realistic. Not as an excuse for their behavior, in any sense, but to give them a chance to grow and learn as well. As it is, they are mainly props and comic book villains.
Anna and her mom are forced to leave their home and move to Scotland because of the bullying Anna faced at her old school. Unfortunately, just as she is beginning to settle in and make new friends, she discovers that secrets do not always stay hidden.
One of Anna's school projects is to research a local character and she discovers that one of the towns occupants was accused of witchcraft in the late 1600s. Anna feels a kinship with Maggie and searches for more information. Maggie's story is juxtaposed with Anna's to show how women have been mistreated and misunderstood throughout history.
My only complaint is that the male characters are very one dimensional. we see a glimpse into Simons story but it would have helped to make them a little more realistic. Not as an excuse for their behavior, in any sense, but to give them a chance to grow and learn as well. As it is, they are mainly props and comic book villains.
adventurous
Essential reading for anyone that wants an insight into what it’s like to be a teenage girl today. Powerfully told and skillfully interspersed with a story from the past that shows that women have always be treated disdainfully in society- only the methods have changed. A great book!
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced