mairalynn416's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
alexabookish's review against another edition
5.0
honestly don’t even know what to say about this book. but wow
mnm1015's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
ffilippa's review against another edition
4.0
4.25 out of 5 stars.
That's such a good quote!
This book surprised me so very much. It was really, really great. I loved most things with this story and I definitely think that everyone should read this novel.
The Female of the Species is one of the best contemporaries I've read, to be honest. It has a fantastic cast of complex characters, the plot it fast-paced, it handles some really important questions, and it is very emotionally gripping.
“But boys will be boys, our favorite phrase that excuses so many things, while the only thing we have for the opposite gender is women, said with disdain and punctuated with an eye roll.”
That's such a good quote!
This book surprised me so very much. It was really, really great. I loved most things with this story and I definitely think that everyone should read this novel.
The Female of the Species is one of the best contemporaries I've read, to be honest. It has a fantastic cast of complex characters, the plot it fast-paced, it handles some really important questions, and it is very emotionally gripping.
gracie98buena's review against another edition
3.0
I didn’t care much for Alex but I loved PK and Jack
taylorreadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
“But boys will be boys, our favorite phrase that excuses so many things, while the only thing we have for the opposite gender is 'women', said with disdain and punctuated with an eye roll.”
Wow.
This book was so dark and so powerful. I'm still reeling from it..
It touched on so many important topics that need to be addressed in our culture today, such as rape and the emotional affects it leaves in it's wake, animal cruelty, slut shaming and more. I think this is an important read for young people, any people really, but teens most of all.
This is not a happy book. This is an important book. And I believe it should somehow be worked into the education curriculum.
Wow.
This book was so dark and so powerful. I'm still reeling from it..
It touched on so many important topics that need to be addressed in our culture today, such as rape and the emotional affects it leaves in it's wake, animal cruelty, slut shaming and more. I think this is an important read for young people, any people really, but teens most of all.
This is not a happy book. This is an important book. And I believe it should somehow be worked into the education curriculum.
ryliebaldwin's review against another edition
4.0
This is the most FEMINIST young-adult book. Loved this book and is so amazing. Very well written and the amazing storytelling. I will definitely be looking for more by this author <3
#gaslightgatekeepgirlboss
#gaslightgatekeepgirlboss
anotherhel's review against another edition
4.0
This book is about rape, violence and a weird girl getting back into society.
This is going to crush your feelings. It's so good. I really liked all the view points of this. I fell in love with each character. Even Brandley!! Thank god the "bitchy" character is well explained and not slut shammed.
Seriously though this book is brutally honest and I really recommend it to everyone.
This is going to crush your feelings. It's so good. I really liked all the view points of this. I fell in love with each character. Even Brandley!! Thank god the "bitchy" character is well explained and not slut shammed.
But boys will be boys, our favorite phrase that excuses so many things, while the only thing we have for the opposite gender is women, said with disdain and punctuated with an eye roll.
Seriously though this book is brutally honest and I really recommend it to everyone.
jazzyjan94's review against another edition
4.0
The Female of the Species follows Alex Craft who is familiar with violence, as well as what it is like to kill someone. Her older sister, Amanda was found raped and murdered three years ago, and her killer was allowed to walk free. However, Alex decided to do something about it, and no one knows that she is responsible for his death. As a result she believes that she can't be trusted around other people, because she never knows when her violent streak will make an appearance. But, the star athlete of her school, Jack is entranced by her and wants to get close to her, even though she keeps trying to find reasons and put up walls to keep him out. Jack also feels guilty for his actions on the night that Anna's body is discovered and wants to find some way to atone for it. And then we are introduced to Peekay, the pastor's kid who is trying to distance herself from that label, who gets to know Alex at the local animal shelter that they volunteer at. This is a dark novel that deals with timely topic of rape culture.
This novel deals with several topics such as anger and guilt. One quote that was told from Jack's perspective was, "Anger makes you tired, but guilt keeps you from falling asleep" (38). In reference to how he feels guilt from his actions the night that Anna's body was discovered. Readers also learn that Alex's mom is neglectful, almost to a fault.
Another one of the main themes discussed is sexual assault and rape culture, as well as the societal sin of telling a victim that "she was asking for it" because of how she was dressed. The first time this shows up is when all the students are in an assembly and someone in the audience suggests that one of the popular girls, Branley, would be the one in five girls to hypothetically get raped. Obviously Branley is described as being upset by this comment, and rightfully so.
There is also a lot of discussion about how sexual assault shouldn't happen and that perpetrators should not be allowed to walk free, especially if they are capable of doing it again. There are a couple of quotes from the book that stuck out that deal with this topic. The first one talking about the law and how it doesn't always work the way we think it should, "It shouldn't be this easy. There are laws in place that stop us from doing things. This is what we tell ourselves. In truth we stop ourselves; the law is a guideline for how to punish someone who is caught" (238). Another quote is in reference to the discovery that one of the character's uncle's s a child molester and how it is common crime that is committed, "I live in a world where not being molested as child is considered luck" (239).
Mindy McGinnis also makes good use of metaphors throughout the book, one in particular is when Jack finds out that Alex is a murderer and tries to distance himself from her, he goes and cuts down the tree where he told her he loved her.
There is also some exploration about the ethical implications of what Alex did. On the one hand she did rid the world of a rapist and murderer, but on the other hand she still committed murder. She is portrayed as a morally gray character because she has good intentions and motives, however her actions are wrong. And we even see her struggle with that. However, she tries to only go after those who are predators and she does it with the intention of making sure no one else in her small town ends up like her sister.
Another theme that is touched upon is that of identity, especially for Peekay, who is trying to distance herself from being the preacher's kid. It also touches on that topic with Branley - even though she is more of a minor character - as she has been led to believe that she is just a sex object, and that that is all she is good for and as a result she lives up to that expectation even though there is more to her than that.
The whole novel is a tragedy, especially the ending. This can be a hard book to get through because of the subject matter, however it is an important book to read. 4/5 Stars.
This novel deals with several topics such as anger and guilt. One quote that was told from Jack's perspective was, "Anger makes you tired, but guilt keeps you from falling asleep" (38). In reference to how he feels guilt from his actions the night that Anna's body was discovered. Readers also learn that Alex's mom is neglectful, almost to a fault.
Another one of the main themes discussed is sexual assault and rape culture, as well as the societal sin of telling a victim that "she was asking for it" because of how she was dressed. The first time this shows up is when all the students are in an assembly and someone in the audience suggests that one of the popular girls, Branley, would be the one in five girls to hypothetically get raped. Obviously Branley is described as being upset by this comment, and rightfully so.
There is also a lot of discussion about how sexual assault shouldn't happen and that perpetrators should not be allowed to walk free, especially if they are capable of doing it again. There are a couple of quotes from the book that stuck out that deal with this topic. The first one talking about the law and how it doesn't always work the way we think it should, "It shouldn't be this easy. There are laws in place that stop us from doing things. This is what we tell ourselves. In truth we stop ourselves; the law is a guideline for how to punish someone who is caught" (238). Another quote is in reference to the discovery that one of the character's uncle's s a child molester and how it is common crime that is committed, "I live in a world where not being molested as child is considered luck" (239).
Mindy McGinnis also makes good use of metaphors throughout the book, one in particular is when Jack finds out that Alex is a murderer and tries to distance himself from her, he goes and cuts down the tree where he told her he loved her.
There is also some exploration about the ethical implications of what Alex did. On the one hand she did rid the world of a rapist and murderer, but on the other hand she still committed murder. She is portrayed as a morally gray character because she has good intentions and motives, however her actions are wrong. And we even see her struggle with that. However, she tries to only go after those who are predators and she does it with the intention of making sure no one else in her small town ends up like her sister.
Another theme that is touched upon is that of identity, especially for Peekay, who is trying to distance herself from being the preacher's kid. It also touches on that topic with Branley - even though she is more of a minor character - as she has been led to believe that she is just a sex object, and that that is all she is good for and as a result she lives up to that expectation even though there is more to her than that.
The whole novel is a tragedy, especially the ending. This can be a hard book to get through because of the subject matter, however it is an important book to read. 4/5 Stars.