A review by mo_elcius
Fly on the Wall: How One Girl Saw Everything by E. Lockhart

4.0

I read this book as part of a challenge I wanted to do. This book was added to a list of books in my state that are considered controversial and are pending investigation to be banned. Without looking up anything about this book, I wanted to figure out why it would be part of this list and the age group it was meant for.

I believe I have definitely figured out why this book was added to the list, only if the book was being handed to children below the age of 15/16. There was some profanity and a lot of talk, and a lot of thoughts, about the male anatomy. I found it funny and true. Now, I'm not on the school board(s) where this book appeared to be reviewed, but I don't believe that the content in this book was promoting one way of loving, or liking, over the other.

It took me a little minute to really get into the book, but I'm glad I finished it. I was rooting for Gretchen to stop her whining and cynical loathing of the world and the people in it. I kept trying to figure out, "What is the lesson she is supposed to learn by going through what she does?" I think that she needed to learn to look beyond her perceptions/assumptions of others and really see that not all people are the same just because of who they hang with, drive, or even smell like. Also, there are themes and content related to perceived American male masculinity, bullying, and teenage insecurities.

Gretchen came to realize that things are not perfect, she and her art won't always be understood, it's important to speak up for what you want, and you never know what others are going through.

I appreciated the read at the end.