avid_read's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
leaps's review against another edition
3.0
Great introduction to feminism to teenagers. It was stupidily easy to see the sexism that is going on. Almost too easy on my 30 year old self but I liked it.
taylorreadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
“girls are a revolutionary soul force that can change the world for real.”
Oh my gosh what an amazing empowering book! I freaking LOVED this! There was no slut shaming, no girl-on-girl hate, just girls of all race and clique coming together to defeat the deep south patriarchy!
This was seriously such an empowering, zeal filled read! I proabably shouldn't have listened to it while at work when I already want to burn the place down. 😜
I bought the audiobook and I'm so glad I'll have it to listen to over and over again (and I will!) I also ordered the hardcover because OBVIOUS REASONS!
Ladies go read this. and remember MOXIE GIRLS FIGHT BACK!
Oh my gosh what an amazing empowering book! I freaking LOVED this! There was no slut shaming, no girl-on-girl hate, just girls of all race and clique coming together to defeat the deep south patriarchy!
This was seriously such an empowering, zeal filled read! I proabably shouldn't have listened to it while at work when I already want to burn the place down. 😜
I bought the audiobook and I'm so glad I'll have it to listen to over and over again (and I will!) I also ordered the hardcover because OBVIOUS REASONS!
Ladies go read this. and remember MOXIE GIRLS FIGHT BACK!
rodriguesaluisa's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
anaghaa's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
emmaaadub's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this a lot! The book also has an important message, that I think is very important nowadays.
yokorie's review against another edition
4.0
{Trigger/ content warnings at end of review}
I know that Viv would probably resent me for saying the book she stars in is "fun and cute," but it was. It was also inspiring, anger-inducing, frustrating (in more ways than one; more below) and felt oddly complete for the oft-messy first-time exposure to feminism that many women experience.
The friendship between the different women in this book is definitely its highlight: the ways in which they grew and expressed themselves felt very natural, never forced, and the voices of Mathieu's characters felt very realistic, as though they were people I knew myself (and are very similar to ones I do!)
I thought Viv's method of expressing herself via a self-published zine was fun and creative. I enjoyed the included illustrations of the zine's contents rather than a simple description. I've always really liked zines, and I think that they're inclusion made the book stand out in the way that, say, an anonymous blog/ Twitter account wouldn't have. I hope that this inspires more women to get out there and put the pen to paper to make their own: they really are an essential piece in the history of the expression of marginalized communities
However, I think there are a few places where Mathieu could have done better. For example, at several points throughout the book Viv recognizes that the students at her school tend to divide themselves into cliques based on racial identity/ ethnic background. That's great... but it never moves on from those first thoughts. The same goes for women with marginalized sexualities (the characters featured in the blink-and-you'll-miss-it scene aren't described with any particular sexuality.) Beyond Viv's initial "Wow, I bet things here suck for LGBT people" thoughts... nothing else is brought up beyond that. As feminism in our own world pushes further into mainstream thoughts and culture, I would have liked a little more on Mathieu's part to acknowledge that yes, WOC, LGBT+ women, and ESPECIALLY women who ID as both get the short end of the stick not only from racist/ homophobic institutions, but sometimes from members of the mainstream feminist movement itself.
The book wraps up pretty neatly at the end, but I won't penalize Mathieu for that. This is a book that could, sadly, go on forever (Viv is passed over for an internship in favor of a less qualified man! Viv is harassed at her first job! Viv's husband won't help with the laundry because it's 'women's work'!), so I can see why Mathieu wrapped the book up quickly and put a bow on it.
Finally, a short pitch: One of Mathieu's other books, "Devoted," also deals with a young woman finding herself in light of her sexist surroundings, albeit in a more religious setting. I really enjoyed it when I read it a few years ago, so you might want to pick up that one next if you liked this book!
{Trigger/ Content warnings: depictions/ descriptions of sexual assault and harassment, attempted rape, denial of said-attempt, homophobic slurs (that, sadly, go unchallenged by Viv), and (obviously) sexist comments/ actions scattered throughout the book.}
I know that Viv would probably resent me for saying the book she stars in is "fun and cute," but it was. It was also inspiring, anger-inducing, frustrating (in more ways than one; more below) and felt oddly complete for the oft-messy first-time exposure to feminism that many women experience.
The friendship between the different women in this book is definitely its highlight: the ways in which they grew and expressed themselves felt very natural, never forced, and the voices of Mathieu's characters felt very realistic, as though they were people I knew myself (and are very similar to ones I do!)
I thought Viv's method of expressing herself via a self-published zine was fun and creative. I enjoyed the included illustrations of the zine's contents rather than a simple description. I've always really liked zines, and I think that they're inclusion made the book stand out in the way that, say, an anonymous blog/ Twitter account wouldn't have. I hope that this inspires more women to get out there and put the pen to paper to make their own: they really are an essential piece in the history of the expression of marginalized communities
However, I think there are a few places where Mathieu could have done better. For example, at several points throughout the book Viv recognizes that the students at her school tend to divide themselves into cliques based on racial identity/ ethnic background. That's great... but it never moves on from those first thoughts. The same goes for women with marginalized sexualities (the characters featured in the blink-and-you'll-miss-it scene aren't described with any particular sexuality.) Beyond Viv's initial "Wow, I bet things here suck for LGBT people" thoughts... nothing else is brought up beyond that. As feminism in our own world pushes further into mainstream thoughts and culture, I would have liked a little more on Mathieu's part to acknowledge that yes, WOC, LGBT+ women, and ESPECIALLY women who ID as both get the short end of the stick not only from racist/ homophobic institutions, but sometimes from members of the mainstream feminist movement itself.
The book wraps up pretty neatly at the end, but I won't penalize Mathieu for that. This is a book that could, sadly, go on forever (Viv is passed over for an internship in favor of a less qualified man! Viv is harassed at her first job! Viv's husband won't help with the laundry because it's 'women's work'!), so I can see why Mathieu wrapped the book up quickly and put a bow on it.
Finally, a short pitch: One of Mathieu's other books, "Devoted," also deals with a young woman finding herself in light of her sexist surroundings, albeit in a more religious setting. I really enjoyed it when I read it a few years ago, so you might want to pick up that one next if you liked this book!
{Trigger/ Content warnings: depictions/ descriptions of sexual assault and harassment, attempted rape, denial of said-attempt, homophobic slurs (that, sadly, go unchallenged by Viv), and (obviously) sexist comments/ actions scattered throughout the book.}