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A review by goldenbeebookshop
Vigilante by Kady Cross
4.0
Is this a perfect book? No.
Is it one that everyone, especially every girl should read? Abso-effing-lutely.
This book deals with the wide array of social and legal complications that are built into rape culture and the concept of vigilante justice, and it's mostly done in a way that gives voice to each side of the argument.
When Hadley is dubbed the Pink Vigilante it's pointed out that if a male in a blue mask had been doling out the same kind of beatings and defense that he wouldn't be called the Blue Vigilante, he be called Batman. Needing to point out the gender of the attacker is unfortunately important for the men who want to be the ones to put her in a her place as a female, and important for the females who, even if they shouldn't pursue vigilante justice, need to see that they can protect themselves if they need to.
Cross also made a point of including a few times that more than girls should be taught to not get raped, boys need to be taught not to rape, that rape is never an option.
And she made a point of demonstrating that there is nothing wrong with a female wanting consensual sex. Being eager for sex as a female is nothing to be shamed.
And she also made it perfectly clear that sexual assault is just as egregious and illegal as rape.
The writing does feel a little repetitive in Hadley returning again and again to her guilt over Magda and her grappling with what her version of justice really means, but I'd be more concerned if she didn't second guess these things, and she'd be less human if her doubts and fears didn't return again and again.
My only wish is that in the wake of the defense classes, and in this unity rising up in women who were so ready to band together was that they could do it without a mask, that when they saw someone verbally, physically, or sexually assaulting someone that they could stand up together and without hiding, stop the attack and draw attention to the attacker. This isn't a comment on the writing, but rather a wish for that level of safety in the world.
This review was made possible thanks to a galley provided through the publisher and Netgalley.
Is it one that everyone, especially every girl should read? Abso-effing-lutely.
This book deals with the wide array of social and legal complications that are built into rape culture and the concept of vigilante justice, and it's mostly done in a way that gives voice to each side of the argument.
When Hadley is dubbed the Pink Vigilante it's pointed out that if a male in a blue mask had been doling out the same kind of beatings and defense that he wouldn't be called the Blue Vigilante, he be called Batman. Needing to point out the gender of the attacker is unfortunately important for the men who want to be the ones to put her in a her place as a female, and important for the females who, even if they shouldn't pursue vigilante justice, need to see that they can protect themselves if they need to.
Cross also made a point of including a few times that more than girls should be taught to not get raped, boys need to be taught not to rape, that rape is never an option.
And she made a point of demonstrating that there is nothing wrong with a female wanting consensual sex. Being eager for sex as a female is nothing to be shamed.
And she also made it perfectly clear that sexual assault is just as egregious and illegal as rape.
The writing does feel a little repetitive in Hadley returning again and again to her guilt over Magda and her grappling with what her version of justice really means, but I'd be more concerned if she didn't second guess these things, and she'd be less human if her doubts and fears didn't return again and again.
My only wish is that in the wake of the defense classes, and in this unity rising up in women who were so ready to band together was that they could do it without a mask, that when they saw someone verbally, physically, or sexually assaulting someone that they could stand up together and without hiding, stop the attack and draw attention to the attacker. This isn't a comment on the writing, but rather a wish for that level of safety in the world.
This review was made possible thanks to a galley provided through the publisher and Netgalley.