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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
I didn't expect much of this book when I first picked it up, and as I didn't read the book blurb at first, I was a bit surprised at the turn of events - but that only made me enjoy the book more!
Usually, I can't focus on audiobooks, but somehow I could with this one. Maybe that's because of how important the subject is? Definitely a book I'll recommend, it's worth reading!
Usually, I can't focus on audiobooks, but somehow I could with this one. Maybe that's because of how important the subject is? Definitely a book I'll recommend, it's worth reading!
I would rate this a 2.5 rounded to 3
I don't know how I feel. I think the best word I would use to describe myself after finishing this book would be unsatisfied. I feel this book had so much potential and could have gone in many different ways but I didn't hit the mark for me. I liked the peice on 'Rules for being a girl' but I hated the direction in which resulted to the ending. I just feel like we didn't get the most successful ending, and I understand it has to be realistic but there could have been a better happy ending. I felt like there was some character development but nothing that could be shown up for. I think Chloe was a bitchy friend and even though they explain why I feel like if I were Marin I wouldn't have tried to talk to her so badly, I would be offended at the way I was being treated for confiding in her. I think the love story was dry and that the build up to a relationship could have been better. I think the whole Brown situation was bullshit and after the truth came out there should have been some reconsiliation with Marin attending there. Nothing changed about the dress code which pissed me off. I just feel so unsatisfied, I want to create my own ending to this book at this point.
I don't know how I feel. I think the best word I would use to describe myself after finishing this book would be unsatisfied. I feel this book had so much potential and could have gone in many different ways but I didn't hit the mark for me. I liked the peice on 'Rules for being a girl' but I hated the direction in which resulted to the ending. I just feel like we didn't get the most successful ending, and I understand it has to be realistic but there could have been a better happy ending. I felt like there was some character development but nothing that could be shown up for. I think Chloe was a bitchy friend and even though they explain why I feel like if I were Marin I wouldn't have tried to talk to her so badly, I would be offended at the way I was being treated for confiding in her. I think the love story was dry and that the build up to a relationship could have been better. I think the whole Brown situation was bullshit and after the truth came out there should have been some reconsiliation with Marin attending there. Nothing changed about the dress code which pissed me off. I just feel so unsatisfied, I want to create my own ending to this book at this point.
I loved this book. It addressed an issue that is still happening today. However this time the victim didn’t back down. This was a powerful story of a girl finding her voice and breaking the “rules” that have been forever implied by society. The dress code was horrific and if any admin had ever done what this principal did, the backlash would have been explosive.
shit like this happens too. Also this isn’t ruining the book because it’s part of the summary but if a teacher is being inappropriate with a student that’s on the fucking teacher not the student!! And the victim blaming is so real and it happens all the time in real life and it pisses me off. Thankfully I’ve never been sexually assaulted by a teacher but I have been sexually assaulted before. I remember when I was at coastal and I was in one of my English classes, the conversation came up and like 98 percent of the class was saying how it was the victim’s fault and I remember trying not to scream. It wasn’t my fault, I said no several times and even if I didn’t, it still wouldn’t have been. So to anyone else who’s been sexually assaulted (girl, guy or however you identify), it wasn’t your fault and if you did try to report it and you weren’t believed, I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve it. Also there’s a good documentary series on Hulu called This Stays Between Us about women who were sexually assaulted by their teacher and i recommend checking it out because it gives a lot of perspective. Even though this book was fictional, it’s a very good example of how this shit actually happens in real life
A fiery novel about feminism that shows the little ways misogyny appears where people don't see it. Marin is a highschool senior who was always good at following the rules for being a girl, until her popular English teacher "Bex" comes on to Marin. The school administration and others turn against her after she summons the confidence to tell her tale, leaving her to fight back through the school newspaper and a feminist book club.
Wow. I read this in one day, I could hardly put it down. The writing rapidly increased from this typical contemporary lightness to a creeping dread that overtook me within pages. My entire heart was aching for the character, Marim as she struggled through this. It was written in such a way, it felt like a punch to the gut. A wake-up call. These things happen.
It's hard to talk about the book without giving away the story or over-explaining the beautiful writing and characterization so it's simply better if you would read it. I was on the verge of tears. I was full of rage. I was full of relief. I went through the whole cycle of emotions. Fans of Moxie would definitely love this one! There is discussion of how people view feminist, casual misogyny, common misogyny in the education setting, etc. I need a movie of this ASAP. Or another book.
Wow. I read this in one day, I could hardly put it down. The writing rapidly increased from this typical contemporary lightness to a creeping dread that overtook me within pages. My entire heart was aching for the character, Marim as she struggled through this. It was written in such a way, it felt like a punch to the gut. A wake-up call. These things happen.
It's hard to talk about the book without giving away the story or over-explaining the beautiful writing and characterization so it's simply better if you would read it. I was on the verge of tears. I was full of rage. I was full of relief. I went through the whole cycle of emotions. Fans of Moxie would definitely love this one! There is discussion of how people view feminist, casual misogyny, common misogyny in the education setting, etc. I need a movie of this ASAP. Or another book.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
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
I’ve put off this review for at least two weeks because I don’t know how to put my love for this book into words. I’m going to try but I still feel like I’m not going to do it justice.
This story takes place in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, which I didn’t know, but fucking loved. I grew up in Massachusetts so the second I found this out I was so here for the story. I listened to the audiobook and my only complaint about it was that there weren’t any Boston accents in the adults. I have friends that grew up in Bridgewater and the surrounding areas and they and their parents definitely have Boston accents. But that was a small thing that didn’t really affect my enjoyment of the story.
The story follows Marin who is in her last year of high school and she’s getting ready to go off to college. She’s interviewing with Brown University and is expecting nothing other than being accepted. But then her favorite teacher kisses her and her life starts to change. She starts to really see and want to speak out about how girls are treated at her school. She goes to a private school. So, everyone wears uniforms. But only the girls are ever singled out for uniform violations. This really hit home for me because this was an issue at my school too, but we didn’t wear uniforms. It was only ever girls getting in trouble when the boys were also in violation. This is just one small example, but Marin starts to open her eyes and actually react to these things rather than just accepting them as the status quo. I really loved this change in Marin. She’s standing up against things that are wrong, but things that most people just let happen. Marin takes her thoughts to the school newspaper once she’s gone to the school officials and they (surprise) did nothing. I thought Marin’s writing was wonderful and inspiring and her pieces in the paper were some of my favorite parts of this book. Marin really finds her voice and I really loved her. I also really loved the family dynamics. Her parents were great and so supportive. Marin also has a grandmother that is declining that she visits often. The things Marin’s grandmother imparts on her were also some of my favorite parts.
There is a romance still in this story. I didn’t feel like that romance took away from the story at all. Marin was going through some shit and Gray was there for her in ways that she needed. He has all of these things that people think about him, but he shows Marin who he really is. I really liked their friendship and eventual relationship.
Overall, this book was easily a new all-time favorite. I loved literally everything about it. Though Marin’s best friend was a trash bag most of the book, and I knew exactly why the whole time. But I was very happy when they reconciled and started working together. I also loved that there wasn’t a happy, everything was fixed, ending. The ending was good and solid. But all of the problems weren’t magically fixed. I definitely think this is an important story. It talks about all of these ‘rules’ that girls grow up learning. But it also talks about race and other important topics.
Quotes:
“Remember, girl: It’s the best time in the history of the world to be you. You can do anything! You can do everything! You can be whatever you want to be!
Just as long as you follow the rules.”
This story takes place in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, which I didn’t know, but fucking loved. I grew up in Massachusetts so the second I found this out I was so here for the story. I listened to the audiobook and my only complaint about it was that there weren’t any Boston accents in the adults. I have friends that grew up in Bridgewater and the surrounding areas and they and their parents definitely have Boston accents. But that was a small thing that didn’t really affect my enjoyment of the story.
The story follows Marin who is in her last year of high school and she’s getting ready to go off to college. She’s interviewing with Brown University and is expecting nothing other than being accepted. But then her favorite teacher kisses her and her life starts to change. She starts to really see and want to speak out about how girls are treated at her school. She goes to a private school. So, everyone wears uniforms. But only the girls are ever singled out for uniform violations. This really hit home for me because this was an issue at my school too, but we didn’t wear uniforms. It was only ever girls getting in trouble when the boys were also in violation. This is just one small example, but Marin starts to open her eyes and actually react to these things rather than just accepting them as the status quo. I really loved this change in Marin. She’s standing up against things that are wrong, but things that most people just let happen. Marin takes her thoughts to the school newspaper once she’s gone to the school officials and they (surprise) did nothing. I thought Marin’s writing was wonderful and inspiring and her pieces in the paper were some of my favorite parts of this book. Marin really finds her voice and I really loved her. I also really loved the family dynamics. Her parents were great and so supportive. Marin also has a grandmother that is declining that she visits often. The things Marin’s grandmother imparts on her were also some of my favorite parts.
There is a romance still in this story. I didn’t feel like that romance took away from the story at all. Marin was going through some shit and Gray was there for her in ways that she needed. He has all of these things that people think about him, but he shows Marin who he really is. I really liked their friendship and eventual relationship.
Overall, this book was easily a new all-time favorite. I loved literally everything about it. Though Marin’s best friend was a trash bag most of the book, and I knew exactly why the whole time. But I was very happy when they reconciled and started working together. I also loved that there wasn’t a happy, everything was fixed, ending. The ending was good and solid. But all of the problems weren’t magically fixed. I definitely think this is an important story. It talks about all of these ‘rules’ that girls grow up learning. But it also talks about race and other important topics.
Quotes:
“Remember, girl: It’s the best time in the history of the world to be you. You can do anything! You can do everything! You can be whatever you want to be!
Just as long as you follow the rules.”
A little simple in the writing style, but the message behind it was good
challenging
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No