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Saturday 25 November 2017

MOXIE by Jennifer Mathieu

Vivian Carter is fed up. Fed up with her high school teachers who think the football team can do no wrong. Fed up with sexist dress codes, hallway harassment and gross comments from guys during class. But most of all, Viv Carter is fed up with always following the rules. 

Viv's mum was a tough-as-nails, punk rock Riot Grrrl in the '90s, and now Viv takes a page from her mother's past and creates Moxie, a feminist zine that she distributes anonymously to her classmates. She's just blowing off steam, but other girls respond and spread the Moxie message. As Viv forges friendships with other young women across the divides of cliques and popularity rankings, she realises that what she has started is nothing short of a girl revolution. 

TIME TO FIGHT LIKE A GIRL 


This is another book I've had on my TBR pile that I was really excited about. When I started reading it the other day, I didn't want to put it down.

Vivian Carter's a good, quiet girl who never speaks out. In East Rockport High, that's the best way to be because everyone knows that the school is run by the rowdy boys in the football team. No matter how much their sexist comments and actions anger her, she doesn't stir trouble. After all, even the faculty lets these jerks get away with doing and saying whatever the hell they want.

But Viv's had enough of the biased dress code, the disgusting T-shirts, of the groping games, and the filthy comments. 

Inspired by her mother's feminist past and their joint love for girl punk rock bands, she decides to start an anonymous zine she calls Moxie. And when Moxie starts to gain interest from other girls and the message sweeps through the school, Viv starts to realise she's started a revolution. But will everything that's going on get in the way of her need to be good and stay under the radar? Maybe it will even get in the way of her interest in the new boy in school...

This book is revolutionary and totally awesome!

Every girl needs to read this. I'm serious, grab a copy right now because you won't regret it. You also won't be able to fight the sense of pride and sisterhood this book makes you feel. Remember that feeling you got when you started watching Wonder Woman and first spotted the Amazons in Themyscira? Yep. That's what I'm talking about.

No matter how old you are, this story will sweep you away and have you nodding and cheering the characters on. Every. Step. Of. The. Way.

Viv was badass. Lucy was tough. Their friends were very cool, and real. The joint strength and loyalty they all display was fantastic. It's always great to read a story about girls who don't see each other as competition, but as equals. The competition thing is such a ridiculous habit to slip into because like the Moxie zine says, it's a tool of division the patriarchy has created to control and keep women 'in their place'.

I despise that saying. It disgusts me, always has. But I loved the way it was dealt with here.

I also really liked Seth. He was such a kind and gentle soul who tries so hard to understand Viv's experience. I loved them together, too. The fact a feminist girl who wants to support and empower other girls also wants to enjoy time with her boyfriend is tackled very well. I've always hated that bullshit about feminists hating boys/men. That's another fabrication meant to belittle our sense of belonging.

As far as the school, the assholes, and the faculty supporting and covering up all of this, they made my blood boil. Trying to hold girls responsible for how some boys behave badly and letting them run riot because they can play sport is such a pathetic excuse. I say: Fuck that! There are so many women's teams performing WAY better than men's, but they don't get the proper attention or as much money.

BTW, that's another thing that's dealt with in this brilliant book with the girls soccer team.

I also LOVED the actual Moxie zine pages added throughout the book. Not only was it an awesome addition to an already fantastic book, it also gives the reader a chance to share in the fun!

MOXIE is a feminist gem with a very powerful message wrapped up in an inspiring story. It might start out as the story of one girl in one high school, but it quickly becomes the very familiar story of every girl in every school and beyond.

I seriously LOVED this book so much I want to hug it. And you know what? I'm gonna go and draw some hearts and stars on my hands right now. 😊


#moxiegirlsfightback


Moxie, September 2017, ISBN 9781444940633, Hodder Children's Books

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