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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
TW for this book - alcohol, bullying, sexual assault
So don't be like me and dive right in without reading the description and the TWs, especially if you're a person that has SA related trauma. At the same time, if you were just diving in you wouldn't be seeing this review... I digress.
This book follows a HS senior (Marin) whose AP english/newspaper teacher takes the relationship beyond the professional student/teacher relationship by effectively grooming her (and several others, I have to imagine) and then kissing her. Thankfully the student immediately realizes that what's happening is NOT ok. Good for her -- it's not an easy realization to have.
Overall, annoyed with the whole book but happy that my ptsd didn't completely kick my ass.
So don't be like me and dive right in without reading the description and the TWs, especially if you're a person that has SA related trauma. At the same time, if you were just diving in you wouldn't be seeing this review... I digress.
This book follows a HS senior (Marin) whose AP english/newspaper teacher takes the relationship beyond the professional student/teacher relationship by effectively grooming her (and several others, I have to imagine) and then kissing her. Thankfully the student immediately realizes that what's happening is NOT ok. Good for her -- it's not an easy realization to have.
Spoiler
After that encounter, she immediately tells her bestie who implies that she's either making it up or misread the whole sitution. What a GREAT friend.... I wanted to punch Chloe personally. I was suspicious even then that she was also having a below bar relationship with Bex. Marin then takes a dive into the gender politics of her school, even going so far as to write an editorial and start a feminist book club. The way that her so-called-bestie immediately others her and refers to feminists as women that don't shave their legs is reminiscent of stuff that definitely would've and did happen at my own small high school. Then when our girl finally goes to the principal and has it investigated, whaddaya know? They find the teacher not guilty and also imply that our girl is either confused or lying. Immediately she becomes even more of a social pariah than she already was by embracing feminism. The school's response to it is reminiscent of my own college experience (thankfully he was found guilty lol) and my ptsd definitely popped up for the first time in a minute. I think its a testament to literal YEARRRRS of therapy work that I was able to just get past it without it messing up my entire day or week. Super grateful that regardless of how shite her bestie was and the rest of the school for that matter, I'm glad Marin had Gray, her amazing parents, the book club, and Ms. Klein. Going through something like that is hard even with a support system, so I'm happy homegirl had it. And thennnnn, she doesn't get into Brown?? What the actual f**k. After striking back at Bex and her ex mans, she nearly gets expelled. It comes to light that Chloe x Bex was a thing and they pen the editorial calling this gross excuse of a man out for his BS.Overall, annoyed with the whole book but happy that my ptsd didn't completely kick my ass.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
On the other hand I found the feminist topics a little thrown in there and on the nose and rushed and not as fitting. The relating characters fell a little flat like the teacher who encouraged the book club: we learn nothing about her above that. Also the grandmother only talks to tell about feminism from her days but there is no depth in her protesting story at all. The protagonists mother also appears only on rare occasions to support but doesn’t have any other features… I could go on.
Overall it was a great fun, fast read and I would like to read other works of the authors. In the middle I had quite big hopes for this book but in the end it just fell a little short on what could have been made with this great idea for a teenager story. Would recommend it anyway to younger readers or adults who haven’t yet experienced a similar situation.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Dementia
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
pretty good, quite informative, but nothing to write home about.
fast-paced
A must-read for parents and young girls. This story is difficult to read at times, with all the injustices and unfair treatment a teenage girl experiences for coming forward and exposing her male teacher’s inappropriate actions. But hopefully it will also spark meaningful discussions and raise awareness on the importance of believing the girls and women who come forward.
3.5/5
This was exactly how it was described, although I thought it would do something different than other books. However, this was a general run of the mill contemporary.
I do think these types of books need to be out there and I still recommend this novel. It was an interesting read and enjoyable. I was expecting an out of the box sort of solution.
The characters in here are typical teenagers, though they at least use their heads in certain scenarios. This made the book extremely realistic as I could picture the characters and their personalities.
This is a hard-hitting contemporary based on the subject matter, however, I found it to be lacking in some places that it could've really touched on the topic more in depth.
This was exactly how it was described, although I thought it would do something different than other books. However, this was a general run of the mill contemporary.
I do think these types of books need to be out there and I still recommend this novel. It was an interesting read and enjoyable. I was expecting an out of the box sort of solution.
The characters in here are typical teenagers, though they at least use their heads in certain scenarios. This made the book extremely realistic as I could picture the characters and their personalities.
This is a hard-hitting contemporary based on the subject matter, however, I found it to be lacking in some places that it could've really touched on the topic more in depth.
This is the YA version of The Morning Show. So good and too real. Her manifesto perfectly captures the rules for being a girl.
challenging
dark
medium-paced
A quick and easy read that tackles an important issue. While the first 60 pages are far from the best or most interesting writing I’ve ever read, Rules for Being a Girl is a fantastic story. I wanted to scream at the characters or cry with them many times. Very happy to have been recommended this book.
