Moxie

This is easily one of my favorite books of 2017. Mathieu's writing is perfect, and the story she tells could inspire a revolution. It's a very empowering book, and one that I've already begun recommending to anyone who will listen.

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!!

It first came onto my radar because of the horribly offensive Kirkus review, which only shows exactly like we need more books like this one.

It manages to inspire readers to action without being dogmatic or preachy. The character development is lovely, the friendship relationships are so real and complex, I LOVED how well it portrayed the guys-who-really-means-well but just can never fully understand what it is to be a girl in the world. A mother and grandparents who are trying hard. And also, just a great, forward-moving plot.

I loved this fucking book, internet. It is, as they say, EVERYTHING, and every girl between like 11 and 17 needs to be assigned to read it somehow.

Ok, let me back up. For the first 1/4 or 1/3 of Moxie, I was pretty cynical. Things were painfully on the nose -- a boy who repeatedly says "but ... not all boys!", cartoon villain football players, one dimensionally sexists authority figures and institutions, etc, etc -- but as the book developed, so did its depth. Most importantly, its central female characters are wonderful, from Vivian and her pining for the days of riot grrls who desperately immerses herself in Bikini Kill without really knowing why, to her friends old and new, to Emma, the school's perfect cheerleading, spreadsheet-making flower. At its core, Moxie is a story of these girls finding their power, first learning to face the world on their own and then, gloriously, learning that they're not actually alone, not even close. (I wouldn't admit it out loud, but just writing that gives me chills.)

I'm a teacher who's around teen girls all the time, and I've got a 10-year-old niece who is creeping up on that world with alarming speed. And all of them -- every single one -- need to know about the power they have. They need this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for the ARC.

FUCK YES THIS BOOK. THIS IS THE BOOK I NEEDED IN 2017.

OK, back up. First, thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC.

I've enjoyed all of Jennifer Mathieu's books thus far, so I've been looking forward to this one for a while and I'm so so so happy to say it didn't disappoint. It's full of kickass girls doing kickass things. I was outraged from the first chapter and spent at least an entire chapter in the middle of the book rage-crying. I will be buying and rereading the shit out of this book when it comes out in September.

This book made me feel like the Wonder Woman movie did: incredibly hopeful. I know not everyone felt that way from the movie and not everyone will feel that way with this book, but I highly recommend checking this one out. It's not perfect - although it acknowledges white feminism and addresses some concerns with that, it could still stand to be a little more diverse. I especially would've loved to see a transgender character in this, especially as trans issues are the one thing this book doesn't really address. Ultimately, though, this book is a new favorite of mine. It's bursting with passion and it makes you feel some of that passion as well. I turned the last page with tears in my eyes, feeling like I could do anything. I want it in the hands of all teens.