meganelise's review
4.0
A slow build at the start, but the second half of the book I didn't want to put down. Bex is a unique and complex point of view, and there were definitely some moments when I wished I could talk some sense into such a paranoid teenager. I was a little surprised by the time jump at the end, but appreciated the bit of closure and growth it showed.
I was given an advance review copy by Netgalley.
I was given an advance review copy by Netgalley.
kippur's review
4.0
Picked this up looking for a queer YA story in the same vein as [b:Starting From Here|10194183|Starting From Here|Lisa Jenn Bigelow|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1322537647s/10194183.jpg|15093354] and got a surprisingly gripping drama. It's hard to say what Radical is about, in that it's not 'just' about guns and the people who own them and not 'just' about family and not 'just' about how it is to exist as a visible queer woman in an isolated, rural, impoverished environment. The story *really* works to earn its emotional high notes: definitely read this, but not if you're looking for something quick or feel-good.
Not a favourite or a candidate for a reread but well worth my ten bucks. I'll be following the author.
Not a favourite or a candidate for a reread but well worth my ten bucks. I'll be following the author.
hkm's review
4.0
Unlike anything I've ever read. A compassionate look at a subgroup of people often dismissed by mainstream society.
emilytrmn's review
4.0
That ... was ... intense. And unlike any YA book I've ever read. I stayed up to nearly 3am to finish this because the second half kept gaining momentum and upping the stakes and I just couldn't put it down because I HAD to know how it would turn out.
This isn't necessarily an easy read - in fact, I'd say there's something for everyone to hate in here, whether it's the opposing perspectives on guns or the way certain subcultures are represented or that Bex is a butch lesbian who is VERY into guns or self-radicalisation via the internet ... I could list more, but I won't. I think it's a testament to the how complexly the novel looks at all of these controversial, potentially polarising topics that you want to keep reading anyway.
As the book was told from Bex's perspective, and Bex was clearly to some extent brainwashed, it was a very atmospheric read and at first, I forgot several times that it was in a contemporary setting rather then a future/alternate universe dystopia. Bex's family were also going through serious financial difficulties, which probably added to this atmosphere. Class was explored in a really nuanced way and it infiltrated every aspect of the family members' lives, from how they treated each other to each of the characters' choices throughout the novel.
Bex, when she wasn't completely consumed by the governments untrustworthiness or how she'd survive when society collapsed, was a great character to read (even though I wanted to scream at her several times towards the end there).
The strongest parts of the novel were the sections with Joan, the lawyer. I think this was because the author herself is actually a lawyer. It felt very believable and grounded and it was in these scenes that Bex was able to the bullshit these subcultures and her family had been feeding her.
I will also say that this definitely isn't the romance the description makes it sound like. It wasn't bad by any means (A+ for the make out scenes), but if you're looking for a ~soulmates~ kind of story, this isn't it. It was a great romance, but it's definitely not that.
My biggest criticism is that the writing, especially in the beginning, got bogged down in the details and it dragged the story a bit. It was rectified when I got further along into the story and everything was set up, but there were still a couple of times when I thought some details were unnecessary or repetitive.
Overall, if you're looking for some rarely explored, complex topics and to get super invested in breaking this one girl out of self-radicalisation (yay internet!), this is the book for you!
This isn't necessarily an easy read - in fact, I'd say there's something for everyone to hate in here, whether it's the opposing perspectives on guns or the way certain subcultures are represented or that Bex is a butch lesbian who is VERY into guns or self-radicalisation via the internet ... I could list more, but I won't. I think it's a testament to the how complexly the novel looks at all of these controversial, potentially polarising topics that you want to keep reading anyway.
As the book was told from Bex's perspective, and Bex was clearly to some extent brainwashed, it was a very atmospheric read and at first, I forgot several times that it was in a contemporary setting rather then a future/alternate universe dystopia. Bex's family were also going through serious financial difficulties, which probably added to this atmosphere. Class was explored in a really nuanced way and it infiltrated every aspect of the family members' lives, from how they treated each other to each of the characters' choices throughout the novel.
Bex, when she wasn't completely consumed by the governments untrustworthiness or how she'd survive when society collapsed, was a great character to read (even though I wanted to scream at her several times towards the end there).
The strongest parts of the novel were the sections with Joan, the lawyer. I think this was because the author herself is actually a lawyer. It felt very believable and grounded and it was in these scenes that Bex was able to
Spoiler
break fromI will also say that this definitely isn't the romance the description makes it sound like. It wasn't bad by any means (A+ for the make out scenes), but if you're looking for a ~soulmates~ kind of story, this isn't it. It was a great romance, but it's definitely not that.
My biggest criticism is that the writing, especially in the beginning, got bogged down in the details and it dragged the story a bit. It was rectified when I got further along into the story and everything was set up, but there were still a couple of times when I thought some details were unnecessary or repetitive.
Overall, if you're looking for some rarely explored, complex topics and to get super invested in breaking this one girl out of self-radicalisation (yay internet!), this is the book for you!
jennifer1001's review
challenging
dark
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
templecat2's review
5.0
When I read the final page, I keened. My heart hurts. Everything hurts. I love this book.
libraryleopard's review
So, I’m going to shamelessly admit that this book definitely falls into the category of “really only read because it had LGBTQ characters” category. A YA book about apocalyptic preppers and gun rights sounded interesting, but not necessarily my thing, but learning that Radical features one of the few butch lesbian main characters in YA literature piqued my attention enough to request it from the library.
This book is, quite honestly, mildly terrifying. Bex wholeheartedly believes that some kind of catastrophe is inevitable and she needs to be prepared for it–complete with firearms–and other members of the prepper community are even more paranoid or extreme. As someone who is very pro-gun control, Bex’s head was a very alien place to be.
The main plot of Radical is kicked off by Bex joining Clearview, a shooting club that’s really a cover for a survivalist group. Bex is desperate for the resources and solidarity that Clearview offers, to the point that she’s willing to overlook the elements of extremism, sexism, homophobia, and racism that are present in the community. However, Bex’s budding relationship with a new girl in town and her brother’s growing extremism slowly force her to confront her with the dark side of the survivalist group she’s joined.
I feel like the biggest thing Radical ultimately had going against it was the pacing. The first part honestly just felt like a long dump of information about guns (different types, how to fire them, how to clean them, etc.) and it felt pretty repetitious. I also felt like it took a little too long for Bex to truly wake up to the dark side of the prepper group she had joined. In particular, I felt like the racism present in Clearview wasn’t really interrogated enough–there’s a token Black family that Bex kind of uses as a shield against accusations of the group’s racism, but I really wish that conversations about that had been pushed a little further than they had.
The second half, however, really dealt with the consequences and dark side of Clearview, forcing Bex to confront the worse parts of the survivalist group. That’s really when Bex’s eyes are opened to the truth of Clearview and she’s forced to choose what she truly stands for, which I found much more compelling than the first half.
I did, however, really like the romance in Radical. Bex is very certain of her sexuality and gender presentation but has never had a girlfriend before she meets Lucy, an out-of-town girl staying in Michigan for the summer. Kokie does a great job of writing the tension, anticipation, and nerves present in their growing relationship and Bex’s attempts to balance it with the Clearview community. There’s also a fantastic scene where Lucy blatantly calls out the bigotry and extremism present in survivalist communities, which was much-needed and appreciated by me. I also really liked the clear discussions of consent and what Bex was comfortable with that was present in the sex scene between the two of them. Ultimately, I think the romance in Radical was one of my favorite parts, both in the realistic portrayal of a first relationship and how it pushed Bex to see the truth of Clearview.
Overall, I felt that Radical was a thought-provoking book, but I wished some elements had been pushed further and the beginning half had been a bit more engaging.
Diversity notes: Butch lesbian main character, lesbian love interest, F/F romance, (very minor) Black side characters.
Author/ownvoices notes: E.M. Kokie is a lesbian.
This book is, quite honestly, mildly terrifying. Bex wholeheartedly believes that some kind of catastrophe is inevitable and she needs to be prepared for it–complete with firearms–and other members of the prepper community are even more paranoid or extreme. As someone who is very pro-gun control, Bex’s head was a very alien place to be.
The main plot of Radical is kicked off by Bex joining Clearview, a shooting club that’s really a cover for a survivalist group. Bex is desperate for the resources and solidarity that Clearview offers, to the point that she’s willing to overlook the elements of extremism, sexism, homophobia, and racism that are present in the community. However, Bex’s budding relationship with a new girl in town and her brother’s growing extremism slowly force her to confront her with the dark side of the survivalist group she’s joined.
I feel like the biggest thing Radical ultimately had going against it was the pacing. The first part honestly just felt like a long dump of information about guns (different types, how to fire them, how to clean them, etc.) and it felt pretty repetitious. I also felt like it took a little too long for Bex to truly wake up to the dark side of the prepper group she had joined. In particular, I felt like the racism present in Clearview wasn’t really interrogated enough–there’s a token Black family that Bex kind of uses as a shield against accusations of the group’s racism, but I really wish that conversations about that had been pushed a little further than they had.
The second half, however, really dealt with the consequences and dark side of Clearview, forcing Bex to confront the worse parts of the survivalist group. That’s really when Bex’s eyes are opened to the truth of Clearview and she’s forced to choose what she truly stands for, which I found much more compelling than the first half.
I did, however, really like the romance in Radical. Bex is very certain of her sexuality and gender presentation but has never had a girlfriend before she meets Lucy, an out-of-town girl staying in Michigan for the summer. Kokie does a great job of writing the tension, anticipation, and nerves present in their growing relationship and Bex’s attempts to balance it with the Clearview community. There’s also a fantastic scene where Lucy blatantly calls out the bigotry and extremism present in survivalist communities, which was much-needed and appreciated by me. I also really liked the clear discussions of consent and what Bex was comfortable with that was present in the sex scene between the two of them. Ultimately, I think the romance in Radical was one of my favorite parts, both in the realistic portrayal of a first relationship and how it pushed Bex to see the truth of Clearview.
Overall, I felt that Radical was a thought-provoking book, but I wished some elements had been pushed further and the beginning half had been a bit more engaging.
Diversity notes: Butch lesbian main character, lesbian love interest, F/F romance, (very minor) Black side characters.
Author/ownvoices notes: E.M. Kokie is a lesbian.
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