African American children’s poet Nikki Grimes has tried her hand at prose with this short but sweet novel of 1960’s Harlem. Seen through the pages of 14 year old Jazmin’s journal, the neighborhood comes alive with Jazmin’s descriptions of her older sister CeCe, who’s too young to be so jaded, and Aunt Sarah, a neighbor who shows up with lots of steaming “leftovers” when money is tight for Jazmin and CeCe. Jazmin knows she’s going to be a real writer someday if she can just get past the school counselor who wants to keep her in vocational classes and the mother who abandoned her to foster homes and poverty. Told in a jazzy, lyrical voice, Jazmin’s Notebook just sings with Nikki Grimes’ poetical turn at prose. Make sure to jot down this title in YOUR notebook next time you’re looking for something good to read.
Category: Riot Grrrl!
Stories that center around the female-identifying teen experience.
Party Girl by Lynne Ewing
The Sacrifice by Diane Matcheck
Weak-One, a young Crow Indian girl, is having more than just a bad day–she’s having a bad life. It all started when her twin brother, who was prophesied to be the Great One, who would lead his tribe to health, wealth and all-around general victory, died. Ever since, her people and even her own father have looked at he with suspicion and distrust. Did she somehow kill her brother so that she could be the Great One? No one knows for sure, but most dislike her just the same. When her father dies, she decides to take off for parts unknown to seek her fate, instead of being just another foster girl at someone else’s fire. Once out on the wild (which geographically gifted readers will recognize as Yellowstone National Park) Weak-One becomes the opposite of her name as she survives on her own, even fighting, killing and skinning a bear. (I was so absorbed in the bear battle that I missed my subway stop) But her adventures aren’t over yet. She is kidnapped by a rival tribe and at first, treated like a queen. Only later she finds out that the tribe intends to use her as a human sacrifice in one of their rituals. Now, don’t get too scared, remeber, this is the girl who fought a bear and won. Find out if Weak-One fulfills her fate or loses it all with the flick of a sacrificial knife.
What Girls Learn by Karin Cook
Tilden is a twelve-year old mess. Her free-spirited mom has just uprooted her and her sister Elizabeth AGAIN, this time to go live with this guy on Long Island who owns a chauffeur business. Just as she and her little sis are getting settled, Tilden’s mother discovers she has a lump in her breast. How Tilden and Elizabeth deal with their mother’s cancer makes for a story that is both brave and tearful. This is definitely a three-hankie read.
Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen
Halley’s always been the quiet one, following her best friend Scarlett’s lead in life and love. Wherever Halley’s going, Scarlett’s usually been there first. But now, Scarlett needs Halley in a way she’s never needed her before–because Scarlett is pregnant and now it’s Halley who has to be the stronger friend. But the emotional turmoil of Scarlett’s pregnancy couldn’t have come at a worse time. While trying to deal with her best friend’s problem, Halley is also navigating the rough waters of her first relationship, trying to establish some distance with her controlling psychologist mother, and coming to terms with her grandmother’s slow slide from sanity. It’s going to be a tough junior year for both girls, but as Halley’s learning, its’ the problems that make us stronger. A quiet novel about the strength of friendship.
Rules of the Road by Joan Bauer
Sixteen year old Jenna Boller is tall. Really tall. Paired with her frizzy red hair and alcoholic, here-and-there dad, Jenna feels like an A # 1 freak. But all that changes the summer she gets in a Cadillac with Mrs. Gladstone and tours the greater part of the U.S., from Chicago to Dallas, doing the one thing she does best–sell shoes. Jenna’s a shoe-salesperson, best darned one in the business, and when the Gladstone shoe empire is threatened from within, Jenna and Mrs. Gladstone go to every store in the country trying to fix what’s wrong and make it right. Through all the trials and tribulations of the road, Jenna learns for the first time in her life to walk tall and not be ashamed of her height or her family. Because she’s got sole. A quirky and original tale. If you like Rules of the Road, don’t miss the performing pumpkin in Bauer’s first novel, Squashed (r/i)
The Necessary Hunger by Nina Revoyr
Back in the day (1986), the WNBA was just a twinkle in some future sports promoter’s eye. But girls were still taking the ball to their male counterparts. Nancy and Raina, stepsisters and all-star players, are living out their last year of high-school stardom living, breathing and worshipping the Cult of the Hoop. But the girls are tired of dealing with the college recruiters that dog their every step, and the racism that is leveled at them because of their mixed African-American and Japanese-American household. In addition, both girls are dealing with their emerging sexual identities as young lesbian women of color. Can their already stressed-out friendship take the pressure when their teams come into direct competition–with each other? After reading this sharp and sweaty novel of competition on the riot-grrl level, you’ll be saying, “SHE got game!”
The Tribes of Palos Verdes by Joy Nicholson
Medina Mason may know how to catch a wave, but she just can’t catch a break. In this psychologically tense first novel by Nicholson, Medina tries to surf away her problems. But that is getting harder and harder to do with a mother who is eating herself to death, a father who has a new girlfriend every week and a twin brother who is growing more and more distant. While Medina eventually finds redemption in the waves, it’s a wild and bumpy ride, filled with exhilaration and disappointment. Crack the binding on this baby and prepare to hang 10!
Franco American Dreams by Julie Taylor
Abbie is no stranger to the club scene. As a nineteen year old aspiring fashion designer, she’s “been there, done that” about a hundred times. And she’s got a plan to get the hell out of the boring Dallas Design Institute and onto the catwalks of New York City. But what she didn’t plan on was falling for the fabulous Franco. Now Abbie has to make a difficult decision. Will she wimp out and follow Franco, or will she dump the dude and go for fashion and fame? Way back in 1997, Julie Taylor was paving the runway for couture-chick-lit., when the ideas for Project Runway and America’s Next Top Model were still waiting to born in Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks’ collective brain cells. But you know what, RR readers? Taylor’s novel still feels funky fresh. If you loved The Devil Wears Prada
Foxfire by Joyce Carol Oates
You probably thought gangs were just for guys. Well, you haven’t met Mad Maddy Wirtz and Legs Sadovsky. In this totally tuff novel, Maddy, Legs, and three other girls decide that they have had enough of the conservative 1950’s scene and form a girl-gang called Foxfire. They pledge to always uphold the sisterhood no matter what, in the face of male oppression. Only the men aren’t going down without a fight. One group has to lose and one group has to win, and Legs is determined that Foxfire will overcome the odds…or die trying. And if you saw the lame modern-day version of this story on the big screen, forget about it! (Even though it was one of Angelina Jolie’s first roles–she’s good, but the movie sucks!) The book is way better, so shelve the video and give this paperback a chance. You won’t regret a single boy-bashing minute of it!
Deliver Us From Evie by M. E. Kerr
Ever felt like you stood out like a sore thumb, an inkblot on an otherwise perfect page? Well, that’s how Evie feels in a nutshell. he’s stuck in the middle of Small-Town America with a big secret, a secret that her conservative-minded neighbors won’t forgive too easily should they find out. To her brother Parr, it’s becoming more and more apparent that there is something different about Evie. And he’s not sure he wants to know what that something is. Told from Parr’s point of view, this novel shows how sometimes its better stick out and be true to yourself that lose your individuality and join the party line. A challenging read.
The Romance Reader by Pearl Abraham
Can you imagine being forced to marry someone you didn’t know and couldn’t possibly love? That’s the situation that’s facing Rachel, a tough independent chick who’s trapped in the strict traditions of a Hasidic Jewish family. The only way Rachel can escape the hard demands of her family is through the romance books that she is forbidden to read, but that she manages to beg, borrow and steal anyway. Will Rachel bow to the traditions of her religion? Or will she make a stand for her own, new beliefs? Either way, its gonna suck for Rachel, and you’ll find yourself hanging in with her until the bitter end of this novel.
Girl by Blake Nelson
Welcome to Portland, the “other Seattle.” Meet Andrea Marr, a chick on the edge of the early 90’s alternative atmosphere. Throughout her four years of high school, Andrea moves from big-haired mall GIRL to cynical-grunge Girl and what a trip it is! Falling in and out of love with all the wrong guys, she learns where she fits in her world, and that maybe it’s better to be on your own than with a loser. You’ll be sure to recognize yourself and most of your friends in this exuberant introduction to the alternative-rock scene. This was the first Blake Nelson novel I ever read, and I’ve been in love ever since. Make sure and check out some of his other books on RR: Paranoid Park, Prom Anonymous and Rock Star, Superstar.
Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block
Since you’ve probably outgrown fairy tales, you’ll be sure to appreciate this modern almost-fairy tale of a bigger than life girl named Weetzie Bat who lives on the coast with the most– California. Follow her funky adventures through L.A. Land with her gay glitter-friends Dirk & Duck, and her love-at-first-sight, My Secret Agent Lover Man. For those of you who never grew up, this fractured fairy tale will be your perfect bedtime story. The best way to enjoy this short novel is to read it out loud with your best girlfriend. Before the Spice Girls was Weetzie Bat–REAL girlpower!