Reviews for Two YA Novels that Pack a Wallop

Here are two YA novels that deal with harrowing issues, both fo them written in verse.

Activist by Louisa Reid

Ooooof. I wasn’t prepared for this one. I didn’t know it was in verse, so that was a nice surprise - it’s been a while since I read something in verse (usually my yearly re-read of Crank). This was a little different from what I am used to, but I enjoyed it nevertheless.

I may or may not have read the blurb, I honestly don’t remember. I expect that I did, because looking at it now, it sounds like a book I would pick up. A book about girls who have joined an all-boys school holding a protest after sexual assault allegations? Let me at it. But it ended up being so much more than that.

I loved the interactions between the family - the feelings of the older brother being able to do no wrong; the grandparents who supported the whole way through (even if not in the way our main character would have liked).

The school - that just made me mad. So mad. I know it’s realistic, I think that why it made me so mad. The allegations are made, and no-one seems to take them seriously - boys will be boys - excuse me while I throw up.

There was more than one protest going on, which made for interesting reading. We had the school protest about a cause close to the hearts of the girls, and a bigger climate/urban sprawl protest as well. The author did a great job of blending these and making one relate to the other in ways I didn’t expect. It was fascinating to see the way both played out and how they were similar and yet so very different. 

The ending. Oooof. Just, maybe have some tissues on hand.

Content Warnings: discussions of sexual assault, the patriarchy, bullying, slut shaming, domestic violence.

Overall Rating: 5 stars

The Name She Gave Me by Betty Culley

I have got to stop reading books that break me. This one was mild, because I don’t have strong family trauma, or any personal experience with the foster system, but I can see how it would be even more painful for others. For me it was the author’s note that got me - this is #ownvoices adopted. Had I known that, maybe I wouldn’t have read it!

This is also a novel in verse, which is nice. I think it fit the topic well, because it was like seeing scenes from a life - which is what our main character was doing herself; trying to making the scenes of her life, and the lives of her birth and adoptive families line up.

I would probably recommend this book to those who want a clean read - there is very little romance; and those who want something that is not too exciting - there is a missing child for a short while. It’s very much slice-of-life, and an easy read. I did find that the main character read quite young - I had to keep reminding myself that she was meant to be 16; in my head she felt more… 13? Maybe?

There’s not much more to say to without spoiling the story, but it was a good book.

Content warnings: foster care system, adoption, minor physical abuse (a grab leaving bruises), emotional abuse from mother, missing child (briefly), discussions of health conditions and amputation.

Overall Rating: 4 stars, and only because of the reading younger thing.

 Posted by Li

7 February 2024

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