A review by bookbrig
The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I read this much faster than I expected to when I picked it up. The writing sucked me in from the very beginning, and I found myself invested in the world and story really quickly. I also found the ending extremely satisfying, and I think the many of the comparisons between this book and others like The Lord of the Flies, The Handmaid's Tale, Hatchet, and fairy tales are fairly apt. That said, I feel like the story dragged a fair bit in the middle, and I definitely found myself skimming at times. I think teen readers might be more invested in the survival-ish parts of the story than I was, so that's probably not a big problem while recommending.

I don't think I'll bring this on middle school visits because it deals with themes, from
abuse to bullying to sexual assault to pregnancy
, that are fairly mature. For me, I don't think I could say I really enjoyed this book, but I did find it a compelling read, and I would definitely recommend it for readers who want something that blends a fiercely independent and opinionated protagonist with a survival story, a mystery thriller, and a story about girls thrown together in a society that wants them punished just for existing. It actually reminded me of reading Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake, because it's a story that my mind keeps going over and over, but I also don't really like the story, if that makes sense. Well, aside from some snippets at the very ending which I REALLY liked. Fine, okay. My feelings are complicated. 

This is a mixed bag of a review, so to sum up I'll pull something from the book. There's a quote near the end (not spoilery!) that I felt encompasses so much of what teen girls can go through and that spoke to me on a visceral level. I'll put it behind a spoiler cut, but it doesn't reference anything specific from the story:
"We hurt each other because it's the only way we're permitted to show our anger. When our choices are taken from us, the fire builds within. Sometimes I feel like we might burn down the world to cindery bits, with our love, our rage, and everything in between."
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