How to Be a Girl in the World
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
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, Laurel Snyder, or Ali Benjamin!
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 boys—and sometimes her mom’s boyfriend, Jeremy—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?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Eleven-year-old Emma, who is biracial (black/white), lives with her 12-year-old cousin Lydia and her mother, both white, while Emma's single father is in rehab. When Lydia's divorced mom buys a large dilapidated Brooklyn house as a surprise for her boyfriend, Jeremy, Lydia hopes that the house will provide magic to protect her from the unwanted attention of male classmates and Jeremy's discomfiting touches. She's been battling both by wearing heavy clothes, even in August.But as both Jeremy's hugs and her classmates' attentions increase, Lydia wonders if her discomfort is normal, building into tense inner conflict and fears that are well-rendered and relatable. As Lydia grows reticent to trust adults with her concerns, a confession from Emma and an incident at school persuade her to take drastic magical measures to keep both girls safe. The uneasiness Lydia feels with unwanted male attention and peers who suggest that she should covet it sends a powerful message about the male gaze and the importance of individual consent. That message, however, may be occasionally clouded by Carter's (One Speck of Truth) inclusion of magic as a means of exercising autonomy, which in places dilutes the idea that young people need real-world support to combat genuine problems. Ages 8 12.
