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A review by anbar
Mall Goth by Kate Leth
4.0
3.5 stars for this coming-of-age drama of new schools, first jobs, first loves, and friend-group troubles. Liv is a teen in the early 2000s struggling with plenty of teen problems: she's moved to a new town after trouble at her old school, so she's wary of making new friends who might drop her; her parents' marriage is in trouble; the guy she likes is already involved with someone else; and the special attention she's getting from a favourite teacher may be crossing the line to inappropriate. Just when she starts feeling progress, finding other gamer-kids, things start to get uncomfortable. Is there any way to untangle all of this? Will she ever find people who really get her?
I like how the adults in this story are characters, too - from Liv's mother to the friend's aunt - with significant roles to play, rather than just being background props, even though the story is about the teens. It felt more realistic that way, compared to lots of YA stories where there are no characters outside the age-range of, like, 13-25.
Recommended for teens and up who enjoy stories of realistic/real-life drama, friend-group dynamics, and coming of age. Serious issues are dealt with in a frank but suitably non-graphic way (there are no images that would traumatize a 9-year-old if the book fell open - but still, this is intended for teens and up; I don't care how 'advanced' your 9-yr-old is, this story is too 'old' for them).
Content/parental concerns: no drugs, alcohol, house-parties etc; no habitual swearing, just the rare occasion of a surprised exclamation; no sex scenes, but a few instances of heavy kissing or making out (not graphically shown - fade-to-black glimpses in silhouette)
Content warnings: infidelity, portrayal of an adult predatory groomer
I like how the adults in this story are characters, too - from Liv's mother to the friend's aunt - with significant roles to play, rather than just being background props, even though the story is about the teens. It felt more realistic that way, compared to lots of YA stories where there are no characters outside the age-range of, like, 13-25.
Recommended for teens and up who enjoy stories of realistic/real-life drama, friend-group dynamics, and coming of age. Serious issues are dealt with in a frank but suitably non-graphic way (there are no images that would traumatize a 9-year-old if the book fell open - but still, this is intended for teens and up; I don't care how 'advanced' your 9-yr-old is, this story is too 'old' for them).
Content/parental concerns: no drugs, alcohol, house-parties etc; no habitual swearing, just the rare occasion of a surprised exclamation; no sex scenes, but a few instances of heavy kissing or making out (not graphically shown - fade-to-black glimpses in silhouette)
Content warnings: infidelity, portrayal of an adult predatory groomer