Recent Reads #11; the 11th and 13th of 2018.
*
Yes, I am aware that this title may be confusing. Let me clear this
up: the wonderfully magical YA 'Out of the Blue' by Sophie Cameron was
my 12th read of 2018, and I
devoted a whole post to it (with a review from me, and an
interview with the author) last week. Okay? Cool. We good. Onwards! *
King
Coo, by Adam Stower (published with David Fickling Books).
BEN
POLE is on the run from his arch-enemy MONTY GRABBE when he discovers
a forest with rope swings, water slides, Herbert the wombat, and best
of all KING COO.
Yes, I was sent a copy of this (delightful, short 'n' sweet) Middle Grade novel, but that in no way affects my opinion of it. And my opinion is: it's GREAT.
It
was just what I needed to get out of my reading slump, and mix things
up a little after a lot of non-fic and tragic YA (tragic as in sad,
not as in badly written!). This story was simply gorgeous and light and special, and since reading it I've seen people post tweets about how positive it is in terms of gender role subversion (King Coo, ruler of the jungle, is a young girl with a luscious beard!) and also how it teaches kids to stand up to their bullies.
Moxie, by
Jennifer Mathieu (published with Hodder Children's Books).
'Vivian
Carter is fed up. With
her
high school teachers who think the football team can do no wrong, the
sexist
dress codes, hallway harassment and gross comments from guys during
class. But most of all, Viv Carter is fed up with always following
the rules. Viv takes a page from her mother's '90s Riot Grrrl past
and creates Moxie, a feminist zine she distributes anonymously to
classmates. Soon,
other
girls respond and spread the Moxie message. Viv forges friendships
across the divides of cliques and popularity rankings, and
realises
that what she has started is a
great girl
revolution.'
Everyone was telling me to read this, and now I've finally got round to it I can see why. I'm normally a little hesitant to read American YA, as I find the writing style and dialogue between characters a little grating, to be brutally honest. But this novel was brilliantly written, and the American angle to it was super sweet.
And goddamn, it fed the feminist fire in my gut!
This excellent book is currently £7.59 on A Great Read!
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Moxie sounds like something I would've picked up as a teenager and loved
ReplyDeleteMel ★ http://www.meleaglestone.co.uk
I definitely could have done with it when I was 15. But, better late than never! xo
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