readingwithhippos's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my heart.
I think I'm going to need some time to recover from this book. It was honest and sweet and real and hard and sad. It made me feel things.
Quincy and Biddy are Speddies—girls in the Special Ed program at their high school. After graduation, they're paired up by their teacher and move into an apartment together above an elderly lady's garage. They'll both be working—Quincy will prep food at a grocery store bakery, and Biddy will help their landlord Elizabeth around the house.
They're excited to be out on their own, but living together is a challenge. Quincy spends a lot of time angry, lashing out at Biddy and Elizabeth whether they deserve it or not. Biddy is afraid of the world, only able to venture out if she's wearing a huge coat (even though where they live, in Texas, it's hardly ever coat weather). And the girls learn that even though Elizabeth isn't a Speddie, she makes plenty of her own mistakes.
My favorite books are the ones that show what it's like to be someone else. If you met Quincy or Biddy in real life, you might not understand them. You might make assumptions about what they're like and what they're capable of. But the story alternates between their two perspectives, and by letting us into their minds, Giles shines a light on the two girls. They've been through some terrible things in the past, and their lives are far from perfect now, but slowly they are finding ways to help and teach each other.
Life for Quincy and Biddy is better when they're together, when they trust each other. Their story wrung me out completely. I feel like I've been emotionally bludgeoned. But in a totally good way.
Find more of my book recommendations for grades 6-12 at www.read-or-die.com.
I think I'm going to need some time to recover from this book. It was honest and sweet and real and hard and sad. It made me feel things.
Quincy and Biddy are Speddies—girls in the Special Ed program at their high school. After graduation, they're paired up by their teacher and move into an apartment together above an elderly lady's garage. They'll both be working—Quincy will prep food at a grocery store bakery, and Biddy will help their landlord Elizabeth around the house.
They're excited to be out on their own, but living together is a challenge. Quincy spends a lot of time angry, lashing out at Biddy and Elizabeth whether they deserve it or not. Biddy is afraid of the world, only able to venture out if she's wearing a huge coat (even though where they live, in Texas, it's hardly ever coat weather). And the girls learn that even though Elizabeth isn't a Speddie, she makes plenty of her own mistakes.
My favorite books are the ones that show what it's like to be someone else. If you met Quincy or Biddy in real life, you might not understand them. You might make assumptions about what they're like and what they're capable of. But the story alternates between their two perspectives, and by letting us into their minds, Giles shines a light on the two girls. They've been through some terrible things in the past, and their lives are far from perfect now, but slowly they are finding ways to help and teach each other.
Life for Quincy and Biddy is better when they're together, when they trust each other. Their story wrung me out completely. I feel like I've been emotionally bludgeoned. But in a totally good way.
Find more of my book recommendations for grades 6-12 at www.read-or-die.com.
tay123's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the book but it was a little hard to understand the speech at first but once you start reading it you get used to the speech and it is easier to understand.
everthereader's review against another edition
4.0
This book taught me so much about respecting people. Particularly those who we think are lower than us, but in reality are just like us. People are so judgmental that they don't even get to know a person and they automatically says something negative. I learned that even though people can have problems they are still human.
internationalkris's review against another edition
4.0
I really appreciated this book about two disabled companions making the transition to life after high school when they have left foster care for a semi-independent living situation. This is an insightful book that focuses on the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our world. Both Biddy and Quincy were wonderful characters with very individual circumstances, talents and ways of keeping themselves safe and in an often unfair and dangerous world.
sarahbrarian's review against another edition
1.0
Like a really bad after school special. Laborious, culturally appropriative reading.
susannaopal's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book and it's the first book I've read in a day in ages. I feel like this is the sort of a book everyone should read in a lesson on being human. Highly recommended!
sc104906's review against another edition
5.0
Biddy and Quincy are self-described speddies, or students in the special education program. Both are graduating from their local high school, but neither has the family or friends to support them in their life after school. A social worker puts the two together as roommates in the late mayor's widow's manor. Biddy cleans for the widow and Quincy works in food prep at a local restaurant.
Something traumatic happened to Biddy in her past and her emotions resurface after Quincy is forced to deal with a similar experience. Maybe these two unfamiliar women will be able to find a connection and balance, which will ultimately help them heal.
I loved this novel. It was intriguing and insightful. There was a graphic part, so if I recommend this novel in the future I will ensure that I give this to an older teen. However, I feel that even 20 somethings could connect with this novel. I didn’t know what to expect before reading this novel, but I was pleasantly surprised. This novel was written phonetically, in that the words and sentences were written and spelled as the narrator would speak. This could be difficult for someone readers. After I became familiar with it, the writing style simply became an un-intrusive part of the novel.
Something traumatic happened to Biddy in her past and her emotions resurface after Quincy is forced to deal with a similar experience. Maybe these two unfamiliar women will be able to find a connection and balance, which will ultimately help them heal.
I loved this novel. It was intriguing and insightful. There was a graphic part, so if I recommend this novel in the future I will ensure that I give this to an older teen. However, I feel that even 20 somethings could connect with this novel. I didn’t know what to expect before reading this novel, but I was pleasantly surprised. This novel was written phonetically, in that the words and sentences were written and spelled as the narrator would speak. This could be difficult for someone readers. After I became familiar with it, the writing style simply became an un-intrusive part of the novel.
caustic_wonder's review against another edition
3.0
Meh. This was my shortest audiobook in my massive backlog. Not great. Not terrible.
melissapalmer404's review against another edition
4.0
Book #13 Read in 2015
Girls Like Us by Gail Giles (YA)
Giles is one of my favorite young adult authors and this book does not disappoint. Quincy and Biddy are special education students who are graduating high school and having a work/apartment program set up for them to be roommates. The two are very different but fundamentally the same...hurt and abandoned girls. This story shows that people with special needs can be successful--at life, at being friends and at being good people. A short, quick read, this book has power to it. I recommend it.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
Girls Like Us by Gail Giles (YA)
Giles is one of my favorite young adult authors and this book does not disappoint. Quincy and Biddy are special education students who are graduating high school and having a work/apartment program set up for them to be roommates. The two are very different but fundamentally the same...hurt and abandoned girls. This story shows that people with special needs can be successful--at life, at being friends and at being good people. A short, quick read, this book has power to it. I recommend it.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com