I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

This book got me in the feels. It is so hard to walk this earth in a female body. It is so hard to be a teenager. It is so hard to stand up for yourself. It is so hard to love yourself.

I’m taking one star off because the characters were a bit flat and just felt like a conduit to the book’s message. But it was definitely a message worth reading.

Never judge a book by its cover...

In this book we get to peek inside the minds of two best friends, Maya and Juniper as they each navigate through high school life in the various roles they play, student, girlfriend, daughter and friend.

At first reading, the different views was a bit confusing, but I realized what was going on soon enough. The book emphasizes that are so many sides to every person and it’s not as simple as being good or bad. There are so many labels that people assign, the golden boy or the assumed school junkie, but are they really who everyone thinks they are? Is anyone?

This is a YA book centered around physical abuse but also covers so much more. Other topics include cutting, bulimia, self-medicating, therapy, and all sorts of relationships.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing an advanced copy of this book.

What Kind of Girl was exactly the question asked not only by students, but by the victim herself. High school junior Maya was abused by her popular track star boyfriend Mike on several occasions. After a vicious slap that left her with a very visual black eye, Maya decided to report the abuse to the principal. Students then began to take sides- questioning the behavior of both parties involved. Maya’s best friend, Junie, tried to be there for her, but she had her own set of problems that needed to be dealt with on a daily basis.

High school years can be a very trying time for most teenagers, but even more so when self image and self worth are questioned. This YA novel highlighted some problems teenagers faced such as abuse, bulimia, cutting, and drugs. The author portrayed her characters in a realistic manner and the internal conflicts were well written. It was a very emotional and heartfelt read.

I think teenagers will find this novel relatable and thought provoking. Highly recommended.

FULL REVIEW: https://wordsunfilteredbys.wordpress.com/2019/07/12/what-kind-of-girl/

The story starts with Maya going to her school principal to tell her that golden boy, Mike Parker, has been hitting her. It has different perspectives, Maya and Junie, the best friend. Maya’s sections have different voices, The Popular Girl and The Girlfriend, which were confusing. The section titled The Burnout was also perplexing to read.

Although the characters’ voices are vastly different, it was still a struggle to figure out whose point of view I was reading. This story explores the aftermath of domestic abuse, anxiety and eating disorders. The readers become aware of all the self-doubt, the confusion, the self-blame and minimising the seriousness of the abuse.

This book was received as an ARC from SOURCEBOOKS Fire in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was very eye opening just as The Hate You Give and Girl in Pieces talking about domestic violence and how some couples can not resolve their issues. This book in particular had a lot of eye opening scenes and questions such as why did she talk to her high school principal and not go to the police? Why are all her friends taking sides and not being there to support her? What does Mike have over her that strikes fear in her? This was a page turner with some realization and important life lessons that our readers will sure learn from. Fans of The Hate U Give will also enjoy this book as well.

We will consider adding this title to our YFiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of WHAT KIND OF GIRL by Alyssa Sheinmel in exchange for my honest review.***

4.5 STARS

After months of abuse, Maya finally tells her principal that her boyfriend Mike, school Golden Boy, hits her. Soon everyone at school has an opinion including Junie, the best friend Maya never told. Junie has her own problems with anxiety disorders and her girlfriend and the two friends aren’t as close as before Mike. Junie plans a rally to get Mike expelled, but Maya isn’t certain what she wants.

Alyssa Sheinmel blew me away with WHAT KIND OF GIRL. Told in Maya’s and Junie’s voices readers are privy to Maya’s self doubts, conflicted feelings about Mike and love. She minimizes, blames herself and questions the seriousness of the abuse. Junie’s anxiety manifests itself, in part, in racing thoughts of self doubt. Her stream of consciousness anxiety is palpable in her narration. Sheinmel gave both young women pitch perfect, distinct voices.

My only issue is that the narration was confusing and I needed half the book to figure out whose words I was reading even though the voices were different. Sections titled The Girlfriend, The Popular Girl etc first seemed like different characters, like in Jennifer Mathieu’s THE TRUTH ABOUT ALICE before realizing they were different roles Maya played in her own life. I didn’t even know Maya’s name until the end of the first section. I assume this was by design, but I would have preferred more direction.

WHAT KIND OF GIRL does a fantastic job showing domestic and dating violence, from the victim’s self doubt to the loved ones who wonder why Maya didn’t speak up sooner to bystanders victim blaming and slut shaming to authorities hoping the “problem” will go away before they have to act. Maya grows a great deal throughout the story, but still has a long way to go which she realizes. Junie develops insight and assertiveness throughout the book and finally embraces participating in treatment with her therapist.

WHAT KIND OF GIRL would be a great classroom read and should be read by everyone.

This is actually a very difficult read. It touched on some very very serious subjects in life. Not just for kids but for adults too. It deserves your full attention when you are reading it.

Great young adult book! What Kind of Girl is about teens in high school and the struggles they go through daily. Popular guy Mike’s girlfriend goes to the principals office to report he’s hit her causing a black eye. This is where the students take sides. Why didn’t she tell anyone this has been going on for months? Why didn’t she leave him? People are wondering if this is true or just for attention. This book deals with a lot of important stuff. Bulimia, abuse,self harm. I think it is a very good informative book.

This was an excellent YA book. I hadn’t read any YA that deals with relationship violence in this way. I am definitely going to purchase a copy and have my 14 year old daughter read it when it comes out. Thank you so much for the ARC!