From the Publisher
"When I love a book, I just inhale, absorb, consume. This book is so good and beautiful and true." — Carrie Mesrobian, William C. Morris Award Finalist
"An instant winner, reminiscent of the classic Speak, with a caustically funny and searching teen protagonist." — School Library Journal
“This is a thoughtful examination of sexual assault, trauma, and misogyny. . . Remarkably moving.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Arresting dialogue and tender moments showcase the girls’ distinct and lively personalities while offering striking examples of the way society ignores teenage girls’ experiences.” — Publishers Weekly
“For teens—especially girls—still finding that place between vulnerable and armored, this will be a balm.” — Booklist
"A captivating portrait of a girl at war with herself, this novel grapples with complex social issues in the guise of one young person’s trauma . . . Recommend this to readers who want a more contemporary, inclusive alternative to Kaysen’s Girl, Interrupted.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Booklist
For teens—especially girls—still finding that place between vulnerable and armored, this will be a balm.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"A captivating portrait of a girl at war with herself, this novel grapples with complex social issues in the guise of one young person’s trauma . . . Recommend this to readers who want a more contemporary, inclusive alternative to Kaysen’s Girl, Interrupted.
Carrie Mesrobian
"When I love a book, I just inhale, absorb, consume. This book is so good and beautiful and true."
Booklist
For teens—especially girls—still finding that place between vulnerable and armored, this will be a balm.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"A captivating portrait of a girl at war with herself, this novel grapples with complex social issues in the guise of one young person’s trauma . . . Recommend this to readers who want a more contemporary, inclusive alternative to Kaysen’s Girl, Interrupted.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"A captivating portrait of a girl at war with herself, this novel grapples with complex social issues in the guise of one young person’s trauma . . . Recommend this to readers who want a more contemporary, inclusive alternative to Kaysen’s Girl, Interrupted.
Kirkus Reviews
2020-07-27
A teen regarded as troubled is sent away to a therapeutic boarding school.
High school junior Mia Dempsey started having sex, drinking, and doing drugs when she was 14. But after punching her stepmother in the face, Mia is sent to Red Oak Academy, a strict boarding school for troubled girls in Minnesota. Her dorm mates—impulsive Poppy, who stalked her ex-girlfriend; Vera, who self-harms; and Trinity, who shared naked photos of herself on the internet—provide a sense of camaraderie. Their friendly banter often lightens the mood while Mia processes her traumatic past (her mother was murdered by a boyfriend when Mia was 3) and contemplates how to get out of Red Oak. The arrival of a Danish girl named Freja, who cheerfully proclaims she’s attending the school simply to evade the publicity that follows her celebrity mother, sparks trouble. Throughout the introspective first-person narrative, Mia is fierce and smart, but she is also vulnerable and lashes out, not always learning from her mistakes. The characters are fully realized and memorable, with both tender moments of friendship and emotional breakdowns. This is a thoughtful examination of sexual assault, trauma, and misogyny. Mia and most other characters are White; Mia’s Red Oak therapist is described as half White and half Ojibwe, and two fellow students are people of color.
Remarkably moving. (list of poems) (Fiction. 14-18)
