Book Review: I'm the Girl by Courtney Summers

Title: I'm The Girl

Author: Courtney Summers

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Young Adult, Thriller, Hard Hitting

Pages: 344

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Year Published: 2022

Format: Audiobook

"The new groundbreaking queer thriller from New York Times bestselling and Edgar-award Winning author Courtney Summers.

When sixteen-year-old Georgia Avis discovers the dead body of thirteen-year-old Ashley James, she teams up with Ashley's older sister, Nora, to find and bring the killer to justice before he strikes again. But their investigation throws Georgia into a world of unimaginable privilege and wealth, without conscience or consequence, and as Ashley's killer closes in, Georgia will discover when money, power and beauty rule, it might not be a matter of who is guilty- but who is guiltiest.

A spiritual successor to the 2018 breakout hit, Sadie, I'm the Girl is a masterfully written, bold and unflinching account of how one young woman feels in her body as she struggles to navigate a deadly and predatory power structure while asking readers one question: if this is the way the world is, do you accept it?"

My Rating: 4.5/5

This book came out at a key time. I've read a few works from the author and she challenges our society to explain why we seem so alright with atrocity after atrocity. This book contains a ton of trigger warnings so I would recommend that you look into those before picking it up. But this book reflects current events uncomfortably. Throughout the story, I couldn't help but feel disgusted with the way this mimics the world girls and women live in. I couldn't help but want the characters to scream out for help, but I realize that this is the reality for victims, people surrounding them see where the road is leading and either can't or won't help them. It was a great read, in the worst way. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Reread Thoughts: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Title: The Hate U Give
Author: Angie Thomas
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Hard-hitting, Young Adult
Pages: 444
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Year Published: 2017
Format: Audiobook

"Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighbourhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between the worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterwards, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil's name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr. 

But what Starr does- or does not- say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life."

My Rating: 4.5/5

I think that I read this at the start of last year and I will reiterate that I think that this story is so very important for our generation. The fact that so many people have been oppressed and treated horribly for years due to difference in skin, or financial status is horrible in itself, but we're in the 21st century and we haven't really helped anything at this point either. I do hope that one day everyone feels protected by officers and not threatened. I'm glad that I reread this book not only for the important message but also to revisit the family dynamics in this story. I loved that parents in this story and though some of the family aspects were "messy" I think it really shows that family isn't only blood. 
I would strongly recommend this to anyone who is open minded to understanding the lives of others in a different situation then themselves, or for someone who needs to feel like they have been heard after a similiar tragedy.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny