Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Girls Play Dead in exchange for my honest review.
Girls Play Dead by Jen Percy is raw, powerful, and deeply moving. Percy blends her personal story with sharp cultural commentary, creating a layered exploration of what it means to survive as a woman in the face of danger, abuse, and systemic failure. From her childhood in rural Oregon to the lasting effects of sexual assault, she writes with honesty and precision, examining the instinct to “freeze” in moments of threat and the countless ways women find to endure.
The mix of memoir, history, and investigative storytelling makes this an incredibly compelling read. Percy shares stories of women in bunkers, women fighting for their lives, and women trapped in situations they should never have been in to begin with. It is heartbreaking at times, but also full of strength and resilience. This is the kind of book that stays with you, both for its fearless honesty and for the reminder that survival can take many forms.