The Disturbed Girl's Dictionary

Reviewed by: Elizabeth Andersen - Westbrook High School, Westbrook, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 3, 2018

Review

This book provided powerful insight into a life of poverty. It was sad and disturbing, so much so that I often had to put it down; however, it is an important story and a voice that is a necessary addition to young adult collections. Macy is angry and she has every right to be. Her father is in jail, her mother is on drugs, her brother has been removed by Child Protective Services, she often has to sleep in the bathtub, and she has been labeled “disturbed” by her school. Through all this Macy is a survivor who does the best she can to keep her family and friendships together. Macy’s first-person story is often disconnected and jumbled, as is her life, but this adds to the realism of the telling. A few heartbreaking scenes are quite graphic and best suited for mature YA audiences.

Overall Book Score: excellent