Girl Mans Up

Reviewed by: Brooke Faulkner - McArthur Library, Biddeford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 8, 2017

Review

As she begins eleventh grade, Pen faces hard decisions about her longstanding best friend, Colby, who has become increasingly disrespectful and cruel toward the many girls he plays and uses his friends for various things - including scoring weed and helping him hit on girls. Pen also must contend with ongoing verbal abuse from her Portuguese speaking parents, who blame her appearance and genderqueer presentation for the bullying that she's encountered throughout her childhood, often with her brother Johnny as her only protector. When Blake, the latest girl Colby sets in his sights, turns out to be interested in Pen instead, it forces a series of raw and ugly confrontations with Colby, which are further exacerbated by Pen's befriending of Olivia, who Colby hooked up with over the summer and who is now facing an unwanted pregnancy. Pen is a vividly drawn, relentlessly honest character whose struggles will be deeply felt by readers. The portrayal of the brutal social dynamics at play between her friends and her conflicted loyalties is spot on as is the sweetly real first love she develops with Blake. Heart wrenching, inspiring and filled with gritty, authentic dialogue, this character-driven novel shines due to its endearing, realistically flawed and brave protagonist.

Overall Book Score: excellent