First published October 10, 2017__________
Literary awards: Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Nominee 2018
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Three misfits come together to avenge the rape of a fellow classmate and in the process trigger a change in the misogynist culture at their high school transforming the lives of everyone around them in this searing and timely story.
Who are the Nowhere Girls?
They’re everygirl. But they start with just three:
Grace Salter is the new girl in town, whose family was run out of their former community after her southern Baptist preacher mom turned into a radical liberal after falling off a horse and bumping her head.
Rosina Suarez is the queer punk girl in a conservative Mexican immigrant family, who dreams of a life playing music instead of babysitting her gaggle of cousins and waitressing at her uncle’s restaurant.
Erin Delillo is obsessed with two things: marine biology and Star Trek: The Next Generation, but they aren’t enough to distract her from her suspicion that she may in fact be an android.
When Grace learns that Lucy Moynihan, the former occupant of her new home, was run out of town for having accused the popular guys at school of gang rape, she’s incensed that Lucy never had justice. For their own personal reasons, Rosina and Erin feel equally deeply about Lucy’s tragedy, so they form an anonymous group of girls at Prescott High to resist the sexist culture at their school, which includes boycotting sex of any kind with the male students.
Told in alternating perspectives, this groundbreaking novel is an indictment of rape culture and explores with bold honesty the deepest questions about teen girls and sexuality. (Source: goodreads)
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I thought I might enjoy this one based on the information on the back of the book. I was not disappointed. Though, I have to point out that no one "suspects she may actually be an android" as much as she wanted to be an android. I loved that the three main characters were so vastly different and yet this did not inhibit friendship and connection. I liked that the main traits presented for each girl (Christian, lesbian, autistic) were not part of a need to change any of those characteristics. No one was made fun of by the other and each was allowed to be who they happened to be. Each individual way they dealt with their angst was given equal space without diminishing that is how some people experience the world. There was good character development as well.
The biggest drawback for me may be a spoiler, so I'll just say that "single" is also an acceptable part of life.__________
Why was this banned? obscene sexual activities including rape involving minors; alcohol use; and excessive/frequent profanity
My take --
Obscene sexual activities including rape involving minors: I would hope we would think rape was obscene. There are other sexual activities among minors that appeared to include consent which some may consider "graphic", though I would not put it in the "obscene" category.
Alcohol use: there are some high school parties where alcohol is included. Some of the girls are "encouraged" to become drunk so they are easier to take advantage of.
Excessive/frequent profanity: 47 F words, 22 S word. Minor use of the B word. Mention of some body parts using technical terms, such as "clit". I recall one use of "dick", followed by "pic".
What I thought would be part of the ban .... slurs such as "dyke" and "spic" against one of the main characters. Abortion is also mentioned in passing. Lastly, a reference to a boy who raped a girl and "Even with eyewitnesses, even with video evidence, he still only got three months.
Because he was rich. Because he was white."
Would I want my kid reading this? Absolutely. Then we can have great discussions about consent and how to treat others, and hopefully teach him to be one of the guys who stops gross behavior amongst his peers.
