Scan barcode
A review by leithbookstagram
All Girls by Emily Layden
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book - the writing style, the message and the exploration of each individual character.
I really loved how modern and real this book is. There were lesbian relationships and hints of same-sex attraction, modern-day technology and social media, and strong women who are determined to get where they want in life. Emily also incorporated eating disorders, sexual abuse and harassment, the importance of sexual education in schools, consent and anxiety.
The chapters were organised into sections like ‘orientation’ and clearly follows the big events in the school year for these girls. The text was also peppered with official school emails, newspaper reports and text messages - these addictions really help break up the text and make the book more enjoyable and intriguing.
We follow the perspectives of different girls in alternating chapters, who are from different grades and who have different backgrounds and are in different social groups. Emily successfully gave each girl her own personality, which, considering the amount of characters, I really admire her for. This was a great way to learn about the girls objectively and helped create a connection.
The past pupil’s (Karen’s) sexual misconduct case is the linking factor between each girl and continues in the background of each chapter. Sometimes it is a very clear contemporary re-enactment of what Karen experienced, but sometimes it is a faint connection, like not being believed by adults. I really liked this subtle link throughout the whole book.
The biggest issue in this book was that, even though the school advertises that it empowers girls to become strong, confident women, they really don’t care about these girls and would do anything to make sure their own reputation is not ruined. It is actually quite a toxic environment underneath the facade the school tries to create. I think this really reflected society today where women are only listened to and policies are only enacted if it benefits and improves the image of something else.
Thank you @netgalley and @emilylayden for this opportunity.
I really loved how modern and real this book is. There were lesbian relationships and hints of same-sex attraction, modern-day technology and social media, and strong women who are determined to get where they want in life. Emily also incorporated eating disorders, sexual abuse and harassment, the importance of sexual education in schools, consent and anxiety.
The chapters were organised into sections like ‘orientation’ and clearly follows the big events in the school year for these girls. The text was also peppered with official school emails, newspaper reports and text messages - these addictions really help break up the text and make the book more enjoyable and intriguing.
We follow the perspectives of different girls in alternating chapters, who are from different grades and who have different backgrounds and are in different social groups. Emily successfully gave each girl her own personality, which, considering the amount of characters, I really admire her for. This was a great way to learn about the girls objectively and helped create a connection.
The past pupil’s (Karen’s) sexual misconduct case is the linking factor between each girl and continues in the background of each chapter. Sometimes it is a very clear contemporary re-enactment of what Karen experienced, but sometimes it is a faint connection, like not being believed by adults. I really liked this subtle link throughout the whole book.
The biggest issue in this book was that, even though the school advertises that it empowers girls to become strong, confident women, they really don’t care about these girls and would do anything to make sure their own reputation is not ruined. It is actually quite a toxic environment underneath the facade the school tries to create. I think this really reflected society today where women are only listened to and policies are only enacted if it benefits and improves the image of something else.
Thank you @netgalley and @emilylayden for this opportunity.