How to Be a Girl in the World

by Caela Carter

Paperback, 2020

Status

Available

Call number

FIC CAR

Call number

FIC CAR

Description

Juvenile Fiction. Juvenile Literature. HTML: From the critically acclaimed author of the ALA Notable and Charlotte Huck Honor Book Forever, or a Long, Long Time comes a poignant coming-of-age novel about the complicated parts of growing up, finding your voice, and claiming your space. Perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead and Corey Ann Haydu! Lydia hasn't felt comfortable in her own skin since the boys at her school started commenting on the way she looks in her uniform. Her cousin and friends think she should be flattered, but the boysâ??and sometimes her mom's boyfriend, Jeremyâ??make Lydia uncomfortable and confused. Even more confusing is when Jeremy hovers too close and hugs a little too long. Then her mom surprises her by buying a dilapidated house in their neighborhood. Lydia hopes to find a little bit of magic in their new home. But just like the adults in her life, and God, and her friends, the magic Lydia deeply believes in eventually loses its power to keep her safe. And as seventh grade begins, Lydia wonders: Is there a secret to figuring out how to be a girl in the world… (more)

Publication

Quill Tree Books (2020), 304 pages

Original language

English

Language

User reviews

LibraryThing member jennybeast
On the one hand -- a strong message about consent, and effective storytelling, including some lovely creepy backgrounds. I liked it. Carter is very good at portraying the inner lives of young girls in a way that feels authentic.

On the other hand -- the short imperative chapters that are meant to
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convey some inner voice. I didn't love these. I had exactly the same issue with Forever, or a Long, Long Time -- super compelling main story broken up by creative writing. This totally works for a lot of people and really doesn't work for me.

If you liked Forever, I think you might really enjoy this one, too, and I fully support books that are about being believed and the damage of sexual harassment. I also really loved that this is completely appropriate for upper elementary/ young tweens.

Advanced reader's copy provided by Edelweiss.
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LibraryThing member electrascaife
Lydia has spent the whole of summer vacation wearing long-sleeved turtlenecks and sweatpants because after the boys at school started commenting on her body she hasn’t felt comfortable or safe in her own skin. And worse, her mom’s boyfriend is starting to give her over-long hugs and
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uncomfortable stares. She’s too afraid that the adults in her life won’t feel the same way she does – that these things are wrong and she’s right to feel unsafe – and so she keeps it all to herself. When her mom surprises her and her live-in cousin with the news that she’s bought a house for them, they start cleaning it up on the weekends since the former owners seem to have left all their belongings behind. Lydia finds a small room in the basement filled with little jars of dried herbs and flowers, and a book of hand-written spells. Could this be the solution to her problem? Could she fight off unwanted male attention with magic? She’ll try anything to make the idea of going back to school in the fall even remotely palatable.

Easily the best read of the year so far for me and it’ll take a lot to top it. This is one of those middle grade books that every single student, no matter their gender, should read, and every single parent should read it, too. It perfectly captures the horror of being a middle school girl in the world, one who sees the injustices against women, feels them keenly, but also sees that this is the norm and she’s meant to accept it as such. So powerfully written, with a so-wonderfully told story. I loved every word of it and I urge all of you to read it for yourselves.
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ISBN

0062672703 / 9780062672704
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