The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! š
amarrymeinbostonacademic's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
brandinh's review
Not giving a star-rating for reasons I hope will be clear after reading my review below.
So hereās the thing, I am a white, cisgender, straight woman. Although I am also fat, for the most part I do not experience the myriad ways intersectionality affects the lived experiences of other women. Other reviewers have mentioned unchecked racism, homophobia, and fat-phobia in this novel. I didnāt read it that way. Could Tabitha have experienced more profound character development and became a vocal ally for others? Yes. But, I read this novel as a sort of portrait of the ways intersectionality affects experiences in the way that books can serve as windows into the lives of those who may be different from us. To me, it felt like a realistic portrayal, and even a bit preachy at times. But maybe thatās just my privilege āreading.ā I donāt know. One thing I do know is that I am always a little bewildered by people complaining about books like this one being fat-shaming or fat-phobic. For me, it just feels real. I have had the same thoughts, doubts, and insecurities as Tabitha. Sometimes I still do. Itās clear that she knows itās not right for her to feel that way, but she does. Does the fact that I sometimes hate the way I look or feel insecure because Iām fat make me less of a feminist? I donāt think so. And IMO anyone who thinks it does needs to check their own privilege.
So hereās the thing, I am a white, cisgender, straight woman. Although I am also fat, for the most part I do not experience the myriad ways intersectionality affects the lived experiences of other women. Other reviewers have mentioned unchecked racism, homophobia, and fat-phobia in this novel. I didnāt read it that way. Could Tabitha have experienced more profound character development and became a vocal ally for others? Yes. But, I read this novel as a sort of portrait of the ways intersectionality affects experiences in the way that books can serve as windows into the lives of those who may be different from us. To me, it felt like a realistic portrayal, and even a bit preachy at times. But maybe thatās just my privilege āreading.ā I donāt know. One thing I do know is that I am always a little bewildered by people complaining about books like this one being fat-shaming or fat-phobic. For me, it just feels real. I have had the same thoughts, doubts, and insecurities as Tabitha. Sometimes I still do. Itās clear that she knows itās not right for her to feel that way, but she does. Does the fact that I sometimes hate the way I look or feel insecure because Iām fat make me less of a feminist? I donāt think so. And IMO anyone who thinks it does needs to check their own privilege.
fiendfull's review
4.0
Grrrls on the Side is a charming and in-your-face YA novel set in the 90s alternative scene. Tabitha discovers a local Riot Grrrl meeting and goes as an escape from high school and her unkind former friends. What she finds there is more than an alternative movement, people with whom she can think about feminism, consider her own sexuality, and be faced with big issues like racism that she had barely encountered before in her privileged world.
Packās novel combines the angry 90s setting that may be unfamiliar to many younger readers with issues that are still very relevant today, like intersectionality and different kinds of acceptance. She makes race a big point in the book, not shying away from the issues of white feminism, though the novelās treatment is fairly light. Overall, indeed, Pack opts for a positive outlook, making this a novel that highlights issues, but is focused on the self-discovery of a teenage girl who needs to find a place in the world for being different. This makes it a good book for LGBT teenagers who need inspiring and empowering reads that give the message of fighting for whatās right and finding your own happiness, rather than something focused on the bad. It is a novel for those who find 10 Things I Hate About You too straight and white or who are looking for a fun YA read that doesnāt ignore real issues at the same time.
Packās novel combines the angry 90s setting that may be unfamiliar to many younger readers with issues that are still very relevant today, like intersectionality and different kinds of acceptance. She makes race a big point in the book, not shying away from the issues of white feminism, though the novelās treatment is fairly light. Overall, indeed, Pack opts for a positive outlook, making this a novel that highlights issues, but is focused on the self-discovery of a teenage girl who needs to find a place in the world for being different. This makes it a good book for LGBT teenagers who need inspiring and empowering reads that give the message of fighting for whatās right and finding your own happiness, rather than something focused on the bad. It is a novel for those who find 10 Things I Hate About You too straight and white or who are looking for a fun YA read that doesnāt ignore real issues at the same time.
caseythecanadianlesbrarian's review
2.0
This was overall fine, but not great? I was pretty interested in the 90s riot grrrl culture with the zines and punk music (I'm just slightly too young to have experienced it first hand) but I'm not really sure how much this would appeal to teens today who didn't already know about it. I wish the author had done more descriptions of the music, what it sounded like, and how it made the girls feel. I guess I love the idea of a YA novel being set in this time but Pack didn't have the best execution--I didn't really feel immersed in the time period. Although some parts of the zines were really great--the band lyrics were adorable!
As far as the plot and characters go, I didn't feel really invested. The story seemed to happen really fast without careful development of the characters and their relationships. I kept thinking things like "She has a crush on Mike? When did that happen?", "What, Tabitha has a crush on Kate now? When did that happen?", then "What, they're a couple already?" "What, they broke up already?" "What, now she likes Jackie?" It just felt like the author was throwing plot developments about Tabitha and her relationships at us but didn't take the time to actually develop the characters and their relationships. Her whole coming out as bi felt super rushed too, and the throwaway moment of her mom finding out was really downplayed in a way that just didn't feel believable to me. Like, her mom finding out she was bi was a non-event!
My biggest problem: it feels like the only purpose of the black characters is to criticize the whiteness of riot grrrl... which is a very necessary and historically accurate critique but it is really demeaning to have three black girl characters in the novel whose only defining feature is blackness and who are only there to serve the narrative of the white girl. [Although to be fair I don't think Pack did a good job fleshing out the other white characters either (riot grrrls Marty and Kate were fairly one-note characters as well)]. Another point related to race that seemed weird to me was that Pack used the black characters to point out the racism of riot grrrl but not Cherie, who's Asian (did it specify what exactly her heritage was? I can't remember--if the book did, it was a throwaway moment too).
As far as the plot and characters go, I didn't feel really invested. The story seemed to happen really fast without careful development of the characters and their relationships. I kept thinking things like "She has a crush on Mike? When did that happen?", "What, Tabitha has a crush on Kate now? When did that happen?", then "What, they're a couple already?" "What, they broke up already?" "What, now she likes Jackie?" It just felt like the author was throwing plot developments about Tabitha and her relationships at us but didn't take the time to actually develop the characters and their relationships. Her whole coming out as bi felt super rushed too, and the throwaway moment of her mom finding out was really downplayed in a way that just didn't feel believable to me. Like, her mom finding out she was bi was a non-event!
My biggest problem: it feels like the only purpose of the black characters is to criticize the whiteness of riot grrrl... which is a very necessary and historically accurate critique but it is really demeaning to have three black girl characters in the novel whose only defining feature is blackness and who are only there to serve the narrative of the white girl. [Although to be fair I don't think Pack did a good job fleshing out the other white characters either (riot grrrls Marty and Kate were fairly one-note characters as well)]. Another point related to race that seemed weird to me was that Pack used the black characters to point out the racism of riot grrrl but not Cherie, who's Asian (did it specify what exactly her heritage was? I can't remember--if the book did, it was a throwaway moment too).
zahraalawati's review
4.0
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Therefore, I thank the publisher for a chance to read this incredible novel.
trigger warning for sexual assault.
Grrrls on the Side takes place during the Riot Grrrl movement of the early to mid-ā90s.
Our story begins when 16-year-old Tabitha attends a punk concert with her friend, Mike. There, she picks up a zine and ends up going to a Riot Grrrl meet-up. Through this she meets Jackie, a black butch lesbian, who changes Tabithaās world forever. She becomes a person that makes her question her life, her privilege, everything she thought she knew about the punk-rock scene. And as their relationship develops, so does the group thatās been formed within the club.
Tabitha is shy, quiet, with a very strong moral compass, a girl who discovers her identity and learns to stand up for herself- who proudly calls herself a bisexual. This is also an #ownvoices novel, the author herself is a bisexual.
The romance was just beautiful! I loved it. The bi character wasn't oversexualized!! Even the black lesbian wasn't oversexualized. It's just rare to find this in YA.
SO, reasons you gotta read this:
girl punk rock band.
best female friendships.
feminist ass ladies!
best fat girl rep I've ever seen (she never complained that she was too fat, and didn't fit in, even when she was bullied in school).
on point bi rep!
zines
set in the '90s.
Really, this book was just awesome, and I'm happy that Carrie Pack has written this kind of novel, really, you never find this kind of stuff in YA.
I urge you all to pick this novel up.please read this, trust me.
trigger warning for sexual assault.
Grrrls on the Side takes place during the Riot Grrrl movement of the early to mid-ā90s.
Our story begins when 16-year-old Tabitha attends a punk concert with her friend, Mike. There, she picks up a zine and ends up going to a Riot Grrrl meet-up. Through this she meets Jackie, a black butch lesbian, who changes Tabithaās world forever. She becomes a person that makes her question her life, her privilege, everything she thought she knew about the punk-rock scene. And as their relationship develops, so does the group thatās been formed within the club.
Tabitha is shy, quiet, with a very strong moral compass, a girl who discovers her identity and learns to stand up for herself- who proudly calls herself a bisexual. This is also an #ownvoices novel, the author herself is a bisexual.
The romance was just beautiful! I loved it. The bi character wasn't oversexualized!! Even the black lesbian wasn't oversexualized. It's just rare to find this in YA.
SO, reasons you gotta read this:
girl punk rock band.
best female friendships.
feminist ass ladies!
best fat girl rep I've ever seen (she never complained that she was too fat, and didn't fit in, even when she was bullied in school).
on point bi rep!
zines
set in the '90s.
Really, this book was just awesome, and I'm happy that Carrie Pack has written this kind of novel, really, you never find this kind of stuff in YA.
I urge you all to pick this novel up.please read this, trust me.
mandarchy's review against another edition
3.0
It was a lot of fun to go back and visit the '90s. I wish that I had hung out with a group of strong minded women like the grrrls in this book. I was hoping that it would have less young adult content. I could not have this book in my grade school library, but if I had a daughter I would want her to read it because I think it has a lot of important points. So many talking points, this book touches on sexuality, gender identity, race, feminism - it would be a great book club feature.
tesch18's review
2.0
2.5 stars
Very problematic in several regards. Will try to write a full review when I have the time.
Very problematic in several regards. Will try to write a full review when I have the time.
spex's review
2.0
As a heavy, queer, Midwestern girl who grew up during (but was almost oblivious of) the Riot Grrl/Zine era, I expected to be biased toward this book. Tabitha's suburbanite, introvert troubles seemed a little flat when she found herself with such a surplus of romantic interests and such a forgiving and lenient mother. I appreciated the topical focus on intersectionality, and how feminism has historically been exclusive, yet those felt pointed at the audience of today. The zine bits did add some nostalgia and cool visual appeal. It's a fun, fast read with good points to encourage today's girls who may be feeling left out, knowing that they can find their folk. I'd recommend to outsider readers who may be reluctant or young.
Side note -- I was really dismayed by the extraordinary lack of research, even just typing a destination into Google maps. There's a pivotal scene on a bus between a woman who got on a bus at Peoria, going to Champaign, so that she would end up in St. Louis -- which would never happen. That's like riding the bus from Philly to Pittsburgh in order to end up in NYC. It'd be unnoticeable to anyone not from the Midwest, but since so much of the action happens in the Chicago suburbs, one should expect a large part of the readership will be familiar with the area. How that got past both the author and the editors is kind of amazing, and a little offputting for the readers who know.
I was given an advance e-book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
Side note -- I was really dismayed by the extraordinary lack of research, even just typing a destination into Google maps. There's a pivotal scene on a bus between a woman who got on a bus at Peoria, going to Champaign, so that she would end up in St. Louis -- which would never happen. That's like riding the bus from Philly to Pittsburgh in order to end up in NYC. It'd be unnoticeable to anyone not from the Midwest, but since so much of the action happens in the Chicago suburbs, one should expect a large part of the readership will be familiar with the area. How that got past both the author and the editors is kind of amazing, and a little offputting for the readers who know.
I was given an advance e-book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
mreadsbooksnfics's review
4.0
Thank you to the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I love this book a lot because it deals with so many important issues. I was drawn into the voice of Tabitha right away and sped through the whole book. There's a vast amount of great rep in the book... bi rep... weight rep... there's even rep about how feminism can become white feminism and the dangers of excluding women of color from the conversation. As a person of color... I consider myself non binary so I say person... it makes me very happy as a feminist as well to see the acknowledgement sometimes white feminism can get in the way of feminism meant for everyone... aka intersectional feminism, which is meant for everyone.
Tabitha becomes involved with the Riot Grrrls, a feminist group and she even starts her own zine... which is like a magazine she makes herself and contains social commentary about the world around her. She thinks she has a crush on this guy named Mike... but then she meets Kate and she realizes she is bi. Tabitha also becomes more involved with the Riot Grrrls, becoming friends with the group of young women. She even helps out planning meetings and when her friends start a band.
Tabitha is amazing because she is a teenager trying to figure out who she is... and I can relate to her as an adult because I remember the confusing teenager years. What is even better is I can also relate as an adult because I didn't discover feminism and its importance to me until I was 24. So it's awesome to see her grow and change, becoming shaped by feminism because I'm living the same journey daily. I adore the conversation about how feminism needs to include everyone as well... because at times, feminism can feel not so inclusive... which should never happen. All voices in feminism need to be heard... not just the white ones or a certain group of women. All women, no matter skin color or sexual orientation or lifestyle. So I deeply appreciate Carrie Pack talking about this topic because all of the issues brought up in her book need to be seen more often in YA.
This book is set in the 90s as well so it made me super nostalgic for a time I didn't get to live in because I was so young. This is an awesome book, and I would highly recommend it to everyone.
I love this book a lot because it deals with so many important issues. I was drawn into the voice of Tabitha right away and sped through the whole book. There's a vast amount of great rep in the book... bi rep... weight rep... there's even rep about how feminism can become white feminism and the dangers of excluding women of color from the conversation. As a person of color... I consider myself non binary so I say person... it makes me very happy as a feminist as well to see the acknowledgement sometimes white feminism can get in the way of feminism meant for everyone... aka intersectional feminism, which is meant for everyone.
Tabitha becomes involved with the Riot Grrrls, a feminist group and she even starts her own zine... which is like a magazine she makes herself and contains social commentary about the world around her. She thinks she has a crush on this guy named Mike... but then she meets Kate and she realizes she is bi. Tabitha also becomes more involved with the Riot Grrrls, becoming friends with the group of young women. She even helps out planning meetings and when her friends start a band.
Tabitha is amazing because she is a teenager trying to figure out who she is... and I can relate to her as an adult because I remember the confusing teenager years. What is even better is I can also relate as an adult because I didn't discover feminism and its importance to me until I was 24. So it's awesome to see her grow and change, becoming shaped by feminism because I'm living the same journey daily. I adore the conversation about how feminism needs to include everyone as well... because at times, feminism can feel not so inclusive... which should never happen. All voices in feminism need to be heard... not just the white ones or a certain group of women. All women, no matter skin color or sexual orientation or lifestyle. So I deeply appreciate Carrie Pack talking about this topic because all of the issues brought up in her book need to be seen more often in YA.
This book is set in the 90s as well so it made me super nostalgic for a time I didn't get to live in because I was so young. This is an awesome book, and I would highly recommend it to everyone.