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Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now
Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now
Dana L. Davis | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
It's rare that I pick up a YA Contemporary, but there was something about Tiffany Sly that I couldn't pass up.

This book is about a 16 year old girl whose life is uprooted when she must move in with the father she has never known. To make matters worse, a second man claims to be her father and gives her 7 days to take a DNA test. Tiffany and her father's family are from two different worlds, but what I loved is how they're portrayed - how not a single character is who you thought they were at the beginning of the book.

If you want a book that will give you so many feels with a character who is unbelievably relatable, then this is the book for you. If you want a book that will make you cry and laugh, this book is for you. If you like a cast of complex characters, then you'll love Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now.

I read it in about a day, which is my way of saying this book was amazing!
  
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Ali A (78 KP) rated Practice Girl in Books

May 24, 2022  
Practice Girl
Practice Girl
Estelle Laure | 2022 | Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Jo always seems to fall fast for boys - boys who, for some reason, don’t fall for her. One night at a party, she hears why - the boys who are on the wrestling team she manages, consider her a girl who’s good enough to hook up with, but not someone to date, aka, a “practice girl”.

After hearing those two words, Jo feels a lot of things - hurt, angry, ashamed, betrayed… but overall, she refuses to let those words define who she is. As she works on herself and her relationships, Jo begins to unpack and find out more uncomfortable truths about herself and her connections with all those around her. And in doing so, helps her understand her real worth.

I loved the authentic voice of Jo. I was a bit worried when I first started the book, not really knowing how a YA novel was going to handle the topic of sex. But, after reading the first few chapters, I was very interested in Jo’s story, and my mind changed.

My father was killed in a work accident when I was 12 (3 days into my 7th grade school year), and in the past, I have wondered what has done towards male relationships for me… This book had what I felt like an authentic take on a high school girl’s insecurities and vulnerabilities involving boys and relationships during that time. High school is hard enough as it is, a death of a parent sure doesn’t make it any easier.

I absolutely loved Jo’s rekindling with Leah and making friends with Jen and Amber. The talk those four had about boys and relationships while sitting around in a circle was exactly what Jo needed and allowed for multiple viewpoints that I don’t feel like are seen or heard about often in YA (like a lot of stuff, it’s getting more and more common though!)

I’m also super proud of Jo for her stance in her relationship with Sam at the end of the book. They both had stuff they needed to figure out and kudos for her to kind of force him to acknowledge that.

Overall, I enjoyed this YA novel about reputation, double standards, relationships, and empowerment. I recommend it to those who like contemporary novels that have a strong female lead, who learns lessons that I believe are important for young girls to hear.

*Thank you Bookish First and Viking Penguin for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
  
Beautiful Broken Things
Beautiful Broken Things
Sara Barnard | 2017 | Children
7
7.7 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
The fragility of teen friendships
This was a contemporary YA about friendships, there was no romance and it didn't need it. This friendship triangle was a subtle but delicate dance of power imbalance and loyalty. The pacing was steady as the story ebbed and flowed through drama (real not unnecessary) and steadier times.

Caddy was the protagonist and Rosie was her best friend but the story very much revolved around Suzanne, a 16 year old teen, abused and with significant psychological effects. I never understood the lack of police involvement in her past, but I was able to read past that issue. It was a powerful story, wings were spread, influences bad and good happened and the apple cart was well and truly knocked over.

This story built to a crescendo and for the last 10%, I felt like I'd been hit with a mallet. It was powerful reading and my heart had a few fissures that needed mending. I am so glad I am reading this at a time when there's a book two out, even though it has stood alone for a few years.

Sara Barnard writes from the young person's perspective so well. Her characters' feelings towards their parents and their parents' reactions are very real. I remain impressed.