You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
First off, this story deals with something incredibly important, real, and horrible and it's one that many people, especially women and girls, unfortunately have dealt with or will deal with. I applaud these authors for trying to touch on this subject and trying to empower people to speak up...emphasis on the trying. Overall, it's an incredibly lackluster attempt at shedding light on standing up against things as appalling as sexism in school, abuse of power, sexual abuse, and bullying.
My major complaint is that the way the authors write the characters' reactions in certain situations is incredibly frustrating and makes one wonder if this book is really meant to empower women to rise above the ugly, the horrible, and the unfairness we face and to have a voice.
FOR EXAMPLE!
This book comes from the P.O.V. of the main character, Marin. In her thoughts she is eloquent, thoughtful, and an incredible passionate feminist! But when it comes to actually talking to real people she just goes numb. This is actually VERY REAL and I appreciated the realness behind this...until it got to the point that all she ever said was: "um" "um" "what" "um" what".... right...until... the very.. end, even after so much back and forth with herself (or with others...although that rarely happened.) SHE NEVER ONCE PROPERLY STOOD UP FOR HERSELF!
The whole point of this story is to show how a teenage girl grows and challenges authority and pushes people to speak their truth, but she never fully does herself. I kept expecting her to have an AHA! moment, as one would have in a story such as this, but her eureka moment ends up being violent, as in, she beats up her ignorant, asshole ex-boyfriend. Her complex emotions are still kept in the dark to those who have wronged this character and it's frustrating that the authors opted to take the easy way out in expressing the pent up anger that Marin had dealt with throughout the entire book! To me, it did not give the readers a chance to feel the victory of a positive, empowering solution to stick up for yourself and take a stand against sexism.
The one thing that makes me not hate this book entirely is that someone reacting to constant abuse, sexism, and bullying can take on many different forms, and there isn't necessarily a right and wrong when it comes to that, especially when one is a young teenager trying to find oneself in the process. But if you're going to write a book on these subjects, in what I would assume be a way to help young women speak up and find their voice, you should give it a more satisfying, empowering, justifiable end.
My major complaint is that the way the authors write the characters' reactions in certain situations is incredibly frustrating and makes one wonder if this book is really meant to empower women to rise above the ugly, the horrible, and the unfairness we face and to have a voice.
FOR EXAMPLE!
This book comes from the P.O.V. of the main character, Marin. In her thoughts she is eloquent, thoughtful, and an incredible passionate feminist! But when it comes to actually talking to real people she just goes numb. This is actually VERY REAL and I appreciated the realness behind this...until it got to the point that all she ever said was: "um" "um" "what" "um" what".... right...until... the very.. end, even after so much back and forth with herself (or with others...although that rarely happened.) SHE NEVER ONCE PROPERLY STOOD UP FOR HERSELF!
The whole point of this story is to show how a teenage girl grows and challenges authority and pushes people to speak their truth, but she never fully does herself. I kept expecting her to have an AHA! moment, as one would have in a story such as this, but her eureka moment ends up being violent, as in, she beats up her ignorant, asshole ex-boyfriend. Her complex emotions are still kept in the dark to those who have wronged this character and it's frustrating that the authors opted to take the easy way out in expressing the pent up anger that Marin had dealt with throughout the entire book! To me, it did not give the readers a chance to feel the victory of a positive, empowering solution to stick up for yourself and take a stand against sexism.
The one thing that makes me not hate this book entirely is that someone reacting to constant abuse, sexism, and bullying can take on many different forms, and there isn't necessarily a right and wrong when it comes to that, especially when one is a young teenager trying to find oneself in the process. But if you're going to write a book on these subjects, in what I would assume be a way to help young women speak up and find their voice, you should give it a more satisfying, empowering, justifiable end.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Why did the assaulter have to be the English teacher /newspaper adviser with the Bernie sticker??!? I have to go down a star just for that! I thought the book did a nice job of covering an important issue. I loved how Marin used her voice in the school paper and how this experience ignited a passion. Starting her book club also opened up many doors and helped her to learn and grow. I would love to see a similar book about peer on peer assault which I think is much more common. Like Marin’s situation those assaulted by a high school peer have to continue to go to school with the perpetrators and are also often not believed. I think many of my students will appreciate this book and I’m excited to add it to my classroom library.
3.5/5 full review on thegraduatedbookworm.com
First, I would like to thank HCC Frenzy for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. Boy did I want to love this one with all the hype around it... but I just couldn't.
I had such high hopes for this book, and I'll admit that I was pretty let down. I feel like this book COULD have been extremely powerful in so many ways, but I felt like there was just way too much going on that it just didn't shine to me. I also felt like the actual incident was kind of thrown there and Marin's reaction was not what I expected.
Can we talk about her family and Gray though? I felt like they were absolutely AMAZING and so extremely supportive, but I felt like Marin was just way too inside her own head to notice that there actually were people around her that wanted to help so much! I mean Gray alone, I would have loved to have a guy like this in my high school because he was just everything you wanted and more... #Swoon! Whereas her best friend... wasn't the best friend that you would expect until the end.
I felt like it was a pretty well paced book, and I definitely was interested to read more about what was going to happen, because damn there were just way too many things wrong in her world. I loved how things became more exposed within the school system, and that Marin was able to find a core group of people to help her realize that her school was pretty shitty including her administration.
Overall this was a good and important read. Personally I felt like it just fell where it could've shined. I do think this is a book that should be read for teens, because it will open their eyes to things happening in their own school, but also for adults because this topic is an extremely heavy one. I just didn't really enjoy it as much as I wanted it to, and felt like it could have been stronger in my opinion
First, I would like to thank HCC Frenzy for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. Boy did I want to love this one with all the hype around it... but I just couldn't.
I had such high hopes for this book, and I'll admit that I was pretty let down. I feel like this book COULD have been extremely powerful in so many ways, but I felt like there was just way too much going on that it just didn't shine to me. I also felt like the actual incident was kind of thrown there and Marin's reaction was not what I expected.
Can we talk about her family and Gray though? I felt like they were absolutely AMAZING and so extremely supportive, but I felt like Marin was just way too inside her own head to notice that there actually were people around her that wanted to help so much! I mean Gray alone, I would have loved to have a guy like this in my high school because he was just everything you wanted and more... #Swoon! Whereas her best friend... wasn't the best friend that you would expect until the end.
I felt like it was a pretty well paced book, and I definitely was interested to read more about what was going to happen, because damn there were just way too many things wrong in her world. I loved how things became more exposed within the school system, and that Marin was able to find a core group of people to help her realize that her school was pretty shitty including her administration.
Overall this was a good and important read. Personally I felt like it just fell where it could've shined. I do think this is a book that should be read for teens, because it will open their eyes to things happening in their own school, but also for adults because this topic is an extremely heavy one. I just didn't really enjoy it as much as I wanted it to, and felt like it could have been stronger in my opinion
Pleasantly surprised having low expectations. I actually wasn’t sure what to expect and I read it fast and couldn’t put it down.
I really enjoyed this book!
Even though I knew somethings already ahead of time I still liked the story and what it represents.
Even though I knew somethings already ahead of time I still liked the story and what it represents.
I have many thoughts and feels about this book, but it was very good. YA!
I feel like this book really did present issues that girls have, especially in school. This setting is much more suburban than urban but the idea is all the same. Girls have been put into this box and if they don’t conform to fit into it, then they don’t count for anything. But the realization made by our MC Marin is what all, if not most, girls have felt, whether it be at school, at home, at work, at the grocery store, etc. Girls are bred to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and not to say a word about it, but she didn’t let herself get bullied in the end.
With the support of her parents, her grandmother, her book club and her beau, she was strong, but it was herself who she needed to gather strength from, whether it be strength of passion or adrenaline.
Also, where are all the Grays at because holy moly, was he an angel.
Will be recommending to my students, it’s worth it.
I feel like this book really did present issues that girls have, especially in school. This setting is much more suburban than urban but the idea is all the same. Girls have been put into this box and if they don’t conform to fit into it, then they don’t count for anything. But the realization made by our MC Marin is what all, if not most, girls have felt, whether it be at school, at home, at work, at the grocery store, etc. Girls are bred to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and not to say a word about it, but she didn’t let herself get bullied in the end.
With the support of her parents, her grandmother, her book club and her beau, she was strong, but it was herself who she needed to gather strength from, whether it be strength of passion or adrenaline.
Also, where are all the Grays at because holy moly, was he an angel.
Will be recommending to my students, it’s worth it.
I wanted to read this before giving it to my 12 year old to read, and I’m glad I did.
This is a very light story about a very heavy subject matter.
I think it’s be a great introduction to realistic issues for a young reader.
It’s not fair for me to rate it to my own standards, if I rate it as a Young Adult novel I would give it 4 stars
This is a very light story about a very heavy subject matter.
I think it’s be a great introduction to realistic issues for a young reader.
It’s not fair for me to rate it to my own standards, if I rate it as a Young Adult novel I would give it 4 stars
Do I like this book yes but this book is not about feminism its about how a girl was in a messy relationship the back story is about believing the victim and sexual assault
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No