Author: Candace Bushnell & Katie Cotugno
Format reviewed: Ebook
Source: Netgalley
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Publication Date: 16th April 2020
Rating: 5 Stars
From Katie Cotugno and author of Sex and the City Candace Bushnell comes this fierce and feisty exploration of feminism: standing up, speaking out and rewriting the rules.
Don’t be easy. Don’t give it up. Don’t be a prude. Don’t be cold. Don’t put him in the friendzone. Don’t act desperate. Don’t let things go too far. Don’t give him the wrong idea. Don’t blame him for trying. Don’t walk alone at night. But calm down! Don’t worry so much. Smile!
Marin is a smart, driven, popular girl – she's headed for Brown when she graduates and has a brilliant career as a journalist ahead of her. Especially in the eyes of English teacher Mr Beckett. He spends a lot of time around Marin, and she thinks it's harmless . . . until he kisses her.
No one believes Marin when she tells them what happened, so she does the only thing she can: she writes an article called 'Rules for Being a Girl' for the school paper to point out the misogyny and sexism that girls face every day. As things heat up at school and in her personal life, Marin must figure out how to take back the power and rewrite her own rules.
Don’t be easy. Don’t give it up. Don’t be a prude. Don’t be cold. Don’t put him in the friendzone. Don’t act desperate. Don’t let things go too far. Don’t give him the wrong idea. Don’t blame him for trying. Don’t walk alone at night. But calm down! Don’t worry so much. Smile!
Marin is a smart, driven, popular girl – she's headed for Brown when she graduates and has a brilliant career as a journalist ahead of her. Especially in the eyes of English teacher Mr Beckett. He spends a lot of time around Marin, and she thinks it's harmless . . . until he kisses her.
No one believes Marin when she tells them what happened, so she does the only thing she can: she writes an article called 'Rules for Being a Girl' for the school paper to point out the misogyny and sexism that girls face every day. As things heat up at school and in her personal life, Marin must figure out how to take back the power and rewrite her own rules.
What an eye opening read, I mean in some way you sort of know the rules for girls if you are indeed female, but at the same time I've never really thought about them at all.
What is for sure is that people's reactions to Marin's situation are shocking in this day and age but yet still all so believable I regret to say.
It is worrying how few people were happy to believe Marin, in something that should have been taken seriously. Yet from it, her life starts to change and I do feel possibly for the better. She becomes are more rounded character, and has some big opinions on things and isn't scared of challenging anyone for injustices.
This really is a book all about bringing back girl power, and Marin's editorial highlighting the insanity of the rules for girls is a real highlight of the story and I loved how things progressed from there.
I found this to be a quick and easy book to read, possibly because I'm above the target age range, but equally found it very enjoyable and kept me entertained on a sunny afternoon in the garden.
Always a delight to read a new book from Candace Bushnell, I just hope we don't have to wait as long for the next one.
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
What is for sure is that people's reactions to Marin's situation are shocking in this day and age but yet still all so believable I regret to say.
It is worrying how few people were happy to believe Marin, in something that should have been taken seriously. Yet from it, her life starts to change and I do feel possibly for the better. She becomes are more rounded character, and has some big opinions on things and isn't scared of challenging anyone for injustices.
This really is a book all about bringing back girl power, and Marin's editorial highlighting the insanity of the rules for girls is a real highlight of the story and I loved how things progressed from there.
I found this to be a quick and easy book to read, possibly because I'm above the target age range, but equally found it very enjoyable and kept me entertained on a sunny afternoon in the garden.
Always a delight to read a new book from Candace Bushnell, I just hope we don't have to wait as long for the next one.
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
As you say, it's shocking that these rules still apply - I thought we'd moved on from the early 60s! Sounds like a good read.
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