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A review by mummyisreading
The Universe Is Expanding and So Am I by Carolyn Mackler
4.0
My Review:
Wow! I was so intrigued by the cover, and the title of this book, but I absolutely was NOT expecting to fall in love with Virgina Shreves.
I hadn’t heard of, or read Carolyn Mackler’s previous release, The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things, and I was a little hesitant that I might feel I was missing something. On the contrary, I adored this book. It was easy to read it as a stand alone, and Mackler’s writing through Virginia’s narrative was compelling. You see – I was 16 year old Virginia (and at heart, I think I still am!).
With skill, Mackler tackles big issues such as rape, body image and sexuality in this novel; she does so with subtlety and positivity, trying to offer some way to solutions or ways to deal with these issues. But it is Virginia’s character that is spell binding…
Virginia is honest and true to herself. She struggles with self confidence and with loving her body, but she knows her own mind and what she likes or dislikes. Her voice has a sensitivity to it, you can imagine being her friend and spending hours texting or fangirling about things – she’s likable and feels lived in – very authentic.
The story was interesting and I found myself reading through it quickly, without being ‘desperate to see what happens’. Mackler writes about Virginia’s feelings towards Sebastian in a way that any teenage girl – or ‘has been’ teenage girl can relate to, and her references to desire and attraction are nicely done.
I was genuinely surprised by this, and as a Teacher of 11-16 year old students, I will definitely be recommending it to them and our school library! A wonderful read.
4🌟🌟🌟🌟
Wow! I was so intrigued by the cover, and the title of this book, but I absolutely was NOT expecting to fall in love with Virgina Shreves.
I hadn’t heard of, or read Carolyn Mackler’s previous release, The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things, and I was a little hesitant that I might feel I was missing something. On the contrary, I adored this book. It was easy to read it as a stand alone, and Mackler’s writing through Virginia’s narrative was compelling. You see – I was 16 year old Virginia (and at heart, I think I still am!).
With skill, Mackler tackles big issues such as rape, body image and sexuality in this novel; she does so with subtlety and positivity, trying to offer some way to solutions or ways to deal with these issues. But it is Virginia’s character that is spell binding…
Virginia is honest and true to herself. She struggles with self confidence and with loving her body, but she knows her own mind and what she likes or dislikes. Her voice has a sensitivity to it, you can imagine being her friend and spending hours texting or fangirling about things – she’s likable and feels lived in – very authentic.
The story was interesting and I found myself reading through it quickly, without being ‘desperate to see what happens’. Mackler writes about Virginia’s feelings towards Sebastian in a way that any teenage girl – or ‘has been’ teenage girl can relate to, and her references to desire and attraction are nicely done.
I was genuinely surprised by this, and as a Teacher of 11-16 year old students, I will definitely be recommending it to them and our school library! A wonderful read.
4🌟🌟🌟🌟