What Kind of Girl
Navigating Truth and Loyalty Among Young Women
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Little, Brown Book Group
Published:6th Feb '20
Should be back in stock very soon
At North Bay Academy, an incident involving Mike Parker ignites a fierce debate among students, revealing deep-seated issues of truth and loyalty. What Kind of Girl explores these themes.
In What Kind of Girl, the narrative unfolds at North Bay Academy, where the students find themselves divided after an incident involving Mike Parker and his girlfriend. When she walks into the principal's office with a bruise, the school is thrust into a whirlwind of speculation and debate. Questions arise about the nature of their relationship, the timing of her report, and the motivations behind it. As the girls rally around their convictions, the atmosphere becomes charged with tension, revealing the complexities of truth and loyalty among peers.
The story delves into the psyche of young women grappling with societal expectations and personal experiences of abuse. It paints a vivid picture of how they navigate their friendships, confront their fears, and challenge the status quo. Each character embodies different facets of the struggle for empowerment and understanding, making the reader reflect on the broader implications of their choices. What Kind of Girl is not just about the incident but also about the journey of self-discovery and the fight for justice.
Alyssa Sheinmel's writing is both poignant and thought-provoking, inviting readers to consider the multifaceted nature of truth and the strength required to voice one's experiences. As the narrative progresses, it becomes clear that the quest for answers is intertwined with the characters' growth, making this a compelling read that resonates long after the last page is turned.
Alyssa Sheinmel played with narrative and reader expectations in her excellent 2019 novel A
Danger To Herself and Others, so it's no surprise that What Kind of Girl puts similar tricks in play. An ingenious way of suggesting that all of us contain multitudes of contradictory opinions, especially in cases of he-said, she-said. Sheinmel brilliantly dramatises the pupils' attempts to create a system of morality for themselves, rather than simply accepting the one handed down by authority.
Sheinmel's chapters provide labels - "the popular girl", "the bulimic", "the activist" - but in the style of The Breakfast Club, both reader and characters realise that people are far messier than just one detail, just one story. This is an immensely satisfying book from a skilled author. * The Irish Times *
Both timely and timeless, WHAT KIND OF GIRL is a powerful exploration of abuse in its many forms, as well as the strength it takes to rise up and speak your truth. Alyssa Sheinmel has crafted a compelling, moving, and empowering story of hope and courage - one that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page * Amber Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Way I Used to Be *
A poignant, thought-provoking novel that will resonate deeply * Kirkus Revie
ISBN: 9780349003290
Dimensions: 196mm x 126mm x 28mm
Weight: 300g
384 pages