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Notes from the Teenage Underground
Simmone Howell
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2006
7 people are currently reading
691 people want to read
About the author
Simmone Howell
7 books94 followerswriter of YA novels Notes from the Teenage Underground, Everything Beautiful, Girl Defective and Take Three Girls (w/Cath Crowley and Fiona Wood). Currently living by the sea, taking long walks, and writing book five.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
August 28, 2016
Just as I am about to completely give up on YA, here surfaces another fabulous Australian import to save the day.
Toxic friendship, hippy mom, film-making, mayhem. Great stuff.
Toxic friendship, hippy mom, film-making, mayhem. Great stuff.
July 16, 2010
I read Howell's second book first, but this was still a great follow-up! An original story, awesome pop culture references from art and film and feminism--exactly the type of book I would have loved as a teen! On top of that, the dialogue is interesting, the characters quirky and yet layered, and the themes in the book are carefully and thoughtfully drawn. I especially like the exploration of the "three girl movie" structure, and Gem's reflections on the power struggles found in a triangle. I can't wait to read Simmone Howell's next book!
March 7, 2012
This was sooooo disappointing. I couldn't get into it at all. I wanted it to be a gem but I was so bored reading it.
The only thing that got it three stars was the last 50 or so pages. I admired the writing at a few parts. I loved her relationship with her father and the "you're not special enough for me" part.
Overall, I personally didn't like it that much.
The only thing that got it three stars was the last 50 or so pages. I admired the writing at a few parts. I loved her relationship with her father and the "you're not special enough for me" part.
Overall, I personally didn't like it that much.
July 31, 2010
very, very, very, very good.
July 26, 2021
It is so nice to read YA set in Australia.
A deserving counterpoint to something like The Perks of Being a Wallflower; there is nothing particularly new here, but the transition of young teen to mid teen is one that will forever have power to appeal - it is something we all must go through. Have we chosen our friends well? Do others 'see' us, and how do they? How much of our emerging selves do we dare reveal to our parents?
We often have a tendency to judge ourselves quite harshly, but growing up is a challenge, no matter who we are. This, at least, uses film as a symbol of difference, with lots of interesting insights into movies from different eras courtesy of the range of characters.
A nice read.
A deserving counterpoint to something like The Perks of Being a Wallflower; there is nothing particularly new here, but the transition of young teen to mid teen is one that will forever have power to appeal - it is something we all must go through. Have we chosen our friends well? Do others 'see' us, and how do they? How much of our emerging selves do we dare reveal to our parents?
We often have a tendency to judge ourselves quite harshly, but growing up is a challenge, no matter who we are. This, at least, uses film as a symbol of difference, with lots of interesting insights into movies from different eras courtesy of the range of characters.
A nice read.
November 14, 2010
YAY for this book. It was this book, Notes From the Teenage Underground by Simmone Howell that first inspired me to begin my Awesome Women series of posts. But I've been so nervous about writing this review that it's taken me months to put into words how much I adored this book.
Our main character is Gem, short for Germaine Greer the feminist writer that Gem's hippy mom named her after. Together with her besties, Mira and Lo, they've formed this circle of non-conformity. And to cement it, they've agreed on a special project, one they do every year. This year feels different, like it could be their last, so it has be big and ground breaking. Something very extreme and 'underground'. Something amazing.
This book is so full of fun. Gem's a pretty big film-buff and is still searching to figure out who she is and what she'd like to do with her life.It's just Gem and Gem's eccentric artist mom Bev, who regularly consults the I-Ching and is more friend than mom.. until Gem's absent father arrives on the scene. Gem's mom and godmother are pressuring her to go to university, but Gem feels like film school might be the better option. Another big concern for Gem, is how she fits in with her friends. She has this uneasy feeling when it comes to her Mira and Lo, who are more experienced with boys and seem to connect better with each other. Gem really wants to feel part of the triangle of friends again.
Gem is an absolutely adorable character. She has such a great voice and personality. She is this mixture of uncertainty and quirkiness. In a kind of desperation to impress Lo, Gem dreams up this fantastic idea of using Andy Warhol as her inspiration and their summer project should be filming this underground film. She asks her co-worker and (would-be love interest) Dodgy if she can borrow a video camera and from there, very interesting things start to happen. As this brilliant film is taken over by Mira and Lo, Gem is able to get a better perspective on life, love, friendship and family.
Reading this book really made me wish that I'd grown up in Australia, with a mom like Bev. I wish that I knew more about art, about films about film-making. You can tell that Simmone Howell has an interest in all of these things, as she's written about them with such feeling and passion. This struggle with growing up and family relationships is something I feel like most of us can relate with. Gem's power struggle in her friendship with Mira and Lo was very believable and felt authentic.
In case you were wondering, at one point in the process of making this awesome, underground film, Gem writes a series of scenes involving 'Formidable Women.' Together with this idea and the image of artsy Bev and the idea of Germaine Greer, I really wanted to highlight some other Awesome women. So a big thank you to Simmone Howell for being my inspiration. This is a wonderful book, it comes very highly recommended by me!
Our main character is Gem, short for Germaine Greer the feminist writer that Gem's hippy mom named her after. Together with her besties, Mira and Lo, they've formed this circle of non-conformity. And to cement it, they've agreed on a special project, one they do every year. This year feels different, like it could be their last, so it has be big and ground breaking. Something very extreme and 'underground'. Something amazing.
This book is so full of fun. Gem's a pretty big film-buff and is still searching to figure out who she is and what she'd like to do with her life.It's just Gem and Gem's eccentric artist mom Bev, who regularly consults the I-Ching and is more friend than mom.. until Gem's absent father arrives on the scene. Gem's mom and godmother are pressuring her to go to university, but Gem feels like film school might be the better option. Another big concern for Gem, is how she fits in with her friends. She has this uneasy feeling when it comes to her Mira and Lo, who are more experienced with boys and seem to connect better with each other. Gem really wants to feel part of the triangle of friends again.
Gem is an absolutely adorable character. She has such a great voice and personality. She is this mixture of uncertainty and quirkiness. In a kind of desperation to impress Lo, Gem dreams up this fantastic idea of using Andy Warhol as her inspiration and their summer project should be filming this underground film. She asks her co-worker and (would-be love interest) Dodgy if she can borrow a video camera and from there, very interesting things start to happen. As this brilliant film is taken over by Mira and Lo, Gem is able to get a better perspective on life, love, friendship and family.
Reading this book really made me wish that I'd grown up in Australia, with a mom like Bev. I wish that I knew more about art, about films about film-making. You can tell that Simmone Howell has an interest in all of these things, as she's written about them with such feeling and passion. This struggle with growing up and family relationships is something I feel like most of us can relate with. Gem's power struggle in her friendship with Mira and Lo was very believable and felt authentic.
In case you were wondering, at one point in the process of making this awesome, underground film, Gem writes a series of scenes involving 'Formidable Women.' Together with this idea and the image of artsy Bev and the idea of Germaine Greer, I really wanted to highlight some other Awesome women. So a big thank you to Simmone Howell for being my inspiration. This is a wonderful book, it comes very highly recommended by me!
Read
January 30, 2009I think this book had many meanings which i though were brilliant although I don't think they are all obvious meanings I think it has different meanings for all. I loved this book and i don't really know why so I am having trouble writing this Review and giving it a rating to be completly honest.
But I do believe most people will like it especially if you fit into one of the following catergories:
-You like to be different and stand out.
-You don't care what people think or try not not to care what others think.
-Work in a video store.
-Have weird friends.
-Like making movies.
-Are a victim to a party going out of control.
-You know what its like to be presured into being a victim of cliques and labels.
Or lucky last..........ARE A TEENAGE GIRL. LOL
But I do believe most people will like it especially if you fit into one of the following catergories:
-You like to be different and stand out.
-You don't care what people think or try not not to care what others think.
-Work in a video store.
-Have weird friends.
-Like making movies.
-Are a victim to a party going out of control.
-You know what its like to be presured into being a victim of cliques and labels.
Or lucky last..........ARE A TEENAGE GIRL. LOL
April 14, 2008
This has lots of overlaps with Beige, both have no show, former drug addicted fathers. But Gem is totally different from Beige. Her two best friends and her have paired up against the "barcodes," but Lo and Mira seem to be leaving her out. Gem comes up with the idea to make an Andy Warholish film over the summer, but Lo starts exercizing weird control over it and Mira takes her boyfriend. Gem is left coming to terms with the end of their friendship, making the film she wants to make and getting to know her father who has dropped in for a visit.[return] The Australian edition had a much cooler cover.
July 11, 2009
Simone writes for the clever and savvy young adult, a refreshing alternative to pumped out bubble fiction.
The characters each have a unique wit which enables the author to reference some cool and edgy litterary and film classics. Rich and colorful and sometimes shady, like delicously aromatic plum pudding made by grandma.
The characters each have a unique wit which enables the author to reference some cool and edgy litterary and film classics. Rich and colorful and sometimes shady, like delicously aromatic plum pudding made by grandma.
January 6, 2015
Loved it!
May 28, 2020
Gem Gordon is 17. She and her best friends, Lo & Mira, aren't the popular girls at school. They're not the nerdy ones either. What they are is dare-to-be-different. Each year, they have a theme they'd stick to and they'd dressed up to the nines and acted it all out. Last year was all Wicca and this year, it's going to be 'Underground'.
As Gem loves films, she wants to make Underground film ("the opposite of Hollywood") and as she explores all kinds of films and inspirational women, she also begins to find that she can stand up for herself. While her friendships fractured and romance was a bust, Gem finds her family staunchly by her and the future to be just as promising.
A fascinating young adult novel even if I'm not particularly familiar with the movies mentioned but I love that the mother character and this mother-daughter relationship is so healthy! Notes from the Teenage Underground is a story of friendship, betrayal, boys, family, but ultimately, the right to stand tall on your own merit.
As Gem loves films, she wants to make Underground film ("the opposite of Hollywood") and as she explores all kinds of films and inspirational women, she also begins to find that she can stand up for herself. While her friendships fractured and romance was a bust, Gem finds her family staunchly by her and the future to be just as promising.
A fascinating young adult novel even if I'm not particularly familiar with the movies mentioned but I love that the mother character and this mother-daughter relationship is so healthy! Notes from the Teenage Underground is a story of friendship, betrayal, boys, family, but ultimately, the right to stand tall on your own merit.
May 30, 2019
This book hasn't aged particularly well!- lots of ableism, fatphobia, slut-shaming and transphobia. So proceed with caution if necessary! However, as a product of it's time, it's a really good read. Gem is a wonderful narrator, and it really captures growing up as a teen girl, the difficulties of friendships and relationships in the modern world. I particularly liked that it was quite meta at times, a novel within the three girls genre that examined the three girls genre as a whole. Ultimately fairly forgettable, but a fun and compelling read.
August 25, 2021
loved this book sm. the references of andy warhol and edie sedgwick were really cool to learn about and i could relate to a lot of the themes. the only reason it’s 4 stars is because i think i should have read this a year ago maybe just idk some ways it was written were the tiniest bit below my reading level?? idk i liked it tho.
December 27, 2021
This is my favorite book. It saved me as a young girl - normalized a single parent home, the pain of difficult friendships, expressing yourself in a way that is not the norm, finding forgiveness and understanding for a toxic parent (when you chose to). I can not express enough how much good this book brought into my life and I am forever grateful that I had the opportunity to read it.
December 2, 2016
Simmone Howell is SO underrated. Whenever I read one of her books, it feels like finding $20 in my pocket, unexpected and wonderful.
July 21, 2019
you inspired me to write again and I’m thankful.
April 5, 2020
In the end this was just boring teenage crap with a couple of art references... disappointing.
June 28, 2022
oh so there’s no such thing as an original experience.
another school library pick, witty writing that was very enjoyable and that crazy girl appeal i love.
another school library pick, witty writing that was very enjoyable and that crazy girl appeal i love.
October 4, 2022
when i think of all that is possible i get dizzy with freedom
November 13, 2012
Reviewed by Jocelyn Pearce for TeensReadToo.com
NOTES FROM THE TEENAGE UNDERGROUND is a fantastic debut novel! It starts out with three best friends, Gem, Lo, and Mira, trying to come up with ideas for their summer project. The summer before was their Satan Summer; they dabbled in all things occult. The summer project has a theme, goals, and guides. This year, they want to do something spectacular; it could be their last summer project--who knows what the future will bring?
Lo is usually the one with ideas, but this time, Gem has some ideas of her own. Their theme for the year is Underground, whatever that means. Ug for short. Their guide? This is where Gem is inspired. She sees some of his work--four films of kissing couples playing over and over--at the National Gallery, and she decides, with a bit of help from her artsy mother, Bev, that Andy Warhol should be their guide into the world of the Underground (which at first kept making me think of riding the subway a lot...). She does some research into Andy Warhol, his work, his life, and the people around him, and then comes up with a goal: to make an Underground film.
During the course of this project, Gem realizes a lot of things about her life and her relationships. She feels like her friendship with Lo and Mira is an isosceles triangle; the two of them are close together, and Gem is all alone at one end. She's also being pressured to make some decisions about her future, as all seventeen-year-olds are. Her mother and Sharon, school counselor and Gem's godmother, want her to go to University, but Gem's a lot more interested in film school. Speaking of her love of movies, she's starting to think she could love something else at Video City, where she works--her coworker, Dodgy. On top of all of this, Gem's father, Rolf, has always been out of the picture, just sending the occasional weird haiku from where he lives out in the wilderness--but now it looks as though he could be stepping back into Gem's life, at least for awhile.
This summer is a turning point in Gem's life. When it's all over, Gem will be different. Her life will be different. This much is pretty obvious. But how will things change?
I really, really loved this book. It was a lot of fun to read, and the idea of the summer project was very interesting, something that set this book apart from a ton of others. Almost all young adult literature is about things changing, as that's what's always going on for teenagers, but Simmone Howell's novel had something that makes it stand out in my mind! If it's got Andy Warhol and obscure movies in it, it's got to be different.
Gem is a wonderful character. I really felt, while reading this, as if I knew her. She's very interesting, and what goes on in her mind is fascinating. I couldn't put this book down! I woke up at one in the morning, for some reason anxious to finish this book. That almost never happens to me! As I'm writing this, it's a little bit difficult to explain what about this book is so amazing, but there's something. It really captures the teenage experience. Simmone Howell obviously remembers this time in her life very well! I'm going to have to revise my `Best of 2006' list to add this one! This is a must read!
NOTES FROM THE TEENAGE UNDERGROUND is a fantastic debut novel! It starts out with three best friends, Gem, Lo, and Mira, trying to come up with ideas for their summer project. The summer before was their Satan Summer; they dabbled in all things occult. The summer project has a theme, goals, and guides. This year, they want to do something spectacular; it could be their last summer project--who knows what the future will bring?
Lo is usually the one with ideas, but this time, Gem has some ideas of her own. Their theme for the year is Underground, whatever that means. Ug for short. Their guide? This is where Gem is inspired. She sees some of his work--four films of kissing couples playing over and over--at the National Gallery, and she decides, with a bit of help from her artsy mother, Bev, that Andy Warhol should be their guide into the world of the Underground (which at first kept making me think of riding the subway a lot...). She does some research into Andy Warhol, his work, his life, and the people around him, and then comes up with a goal: to make an Underground film.
During the course of this project, Gem realizes a lot of things about her life and her relationships. She feels like her friendship with Lo and Mira is an isosceles triangle; the two of them are close together, and Gem is all alone at one end. She's also being pressured to make some decisions about her future, as all seventeen-year-olds are. Her mother and Sharon, school counselor and Gem's godmother, want her to go to University, but Gem's a lot more interested in film school. Speaking of her love of movies, she's starting to think she could love something else at Video City, where she works--her coworker, Dodgy. On top of all of this, Gem's father, Rolf, has always been out of the picture, just sending the occasional weird haiku from where he lives out in the wilderness--but now it looks as though he could be stepping back into Gem's life, at least for awhile.
This summer is a turning point in Gem's life. When it's all over, Gem will be different. Her life will be different. This much is pretty obvious. But how will things change?
I really, really loved this book. It was a lot of fun to read, and the idea of the summer project was very interesting, something that set this book apart from a ton of others. Almost all young adult literature is about things changing, as that's what's always going on for teenagers, but Simmone Howell's novel had something that makes it stand out in my mind! If it's got Andy Warhol and obscure movies in it, it's got to be different.
Gem is a wonderful character. I really felt, while reading this, as if I knew her. She's very interesting, and what goes on in her mind is fascinating. I couldn't put this book down! I woke up at one in the morning, for some reason anxious to finish this book. That almost never happens to me! As I'm writing this, it's a little bit difficult to explain what about this book is so amazing, but there's something. It really captures the teenage experience. Simmone Howell obviously remembers this time in her life very well! I'm going to have to revise my `Best of 2006' list to add this one! This is a must read!
July 6, 2007
I might've liked this one better if it wasn't just the main character, Gem, who was the likable one in the three-way friendship. Lo was too being different for the sake of being different, the most subversive, but not for any real reason. Mira was kind of a ditz. It was hard to tell what Gem really had in common with either of them, which I suppose is half the point. If M or F? focused on the strength of a friendship, Notes from the Teenage Underground showed the breakdown. Gem's strongest relationship was with her mother, which was actually nice to see.
Gem is the sort of person I would be friends with - her friends aren't. She's a total film nut, and when she's planning for their summer - which they've themed 'underground', she thinks artistically, and about doing something that has meaning. She takes Andy Warhol as her inspiration, but at the same time, she doesn't accept that scene as a model straight out, and she thinks critically. I suppose my attitude to her friends was formed at the beginning, when they both proved to be unaware of A Clockwork Orange. Now I've never finished either the book or the movie, but I certainly know about it, and if these girls are trying to be so different, why are they so ignorant? Which isn't very nice of me I guess. I'm a bit of a snob.
The book's also fairly feminist - Gem's mother named her after Germaine Greer, and raised her alone. The appearance of her absentee father forms part of the climax of the novel - but what was nice was despite the way Gem may feel about anyone at any particular time, the story itself treats them with equal respect. Unlike me. So, Gem grows up a little and it's nice. Just a pity her friends couldn't have either.
(from my livejournal)
Gem is the sort of person I would be friends with - her friends aren't. She's a total film nut, and when she's planning for their summer - which they've themed 'underground', she thinks artistically, and about doing something that has meaning. She takes Andy Warhol as her inspiration, but at the same time, she doesn't accept that scene as a model straight out, and she thinks critically. I suppose my attitude to her friends was formed at the beginning, when they both proved to be unaware of A Clockwork Orange. Now I've never finished either the book or the movie, but I certainly know about it, and if these girls are trying to be so different, why are they so ignorant? Which isn't very nice of me I guess. I'm a bit of a snob.
The book's also fairly feminist - Gem's mother named her after Germaine Greer, and raised her alone. The appearance of her absentee father forms part of the climax of the novel - but what was nice was despite the way Gem may feel about anyone at any particular time, the story itself treats them with equal respect. Unlike me. So, Gem grows up a little and it's nice. Just a pity her friends couldn't have either.
(from my livejournal)
September 6, 2012
A fast-paced story set to the backdrop of hippy-feminist mothers, disturbed girlfriends, Andy Warhol, and a whole lot of teenage angst. When we first meet Germaine (Gem) Gordon she laments her fears that she will never live up to her namesake, the mighty Greer, and that she will be forever overshadowed by her two best girlfriends Lo and Mira. The tumultuous triumvirate of girls take great pride in the outsider status that they have cultivated for themselves, relishing every cry of ‘freak’ that comes their way. This summer the girls have decided to take on a project worthy of their ‘alternative’ status, and equally as subversive as their attitudes towards conformity – welcome to the summer of the Underground.
While Lo’s ideas become increasingly provocative and dangerous, Gem finds a muse in the form of Andy Warhol and his factory of Superstars. Aided by her esteem for formidable women, Gem suggests an underground film project that serves to be sufficiently ‘underground’ as well as giving her an experience behind the camera and hopefully bringing her closer to her crush. However, like most plans involving three girls fighting over one idea, things start to sour rapidly.
This novel deals with isolation, art, protest, and abandonment. The
characters are almost comical in their egotism (but easy to sympathise with) and the emotions are kept terse throughout the plot. I was very impressed with the range of sources quoted in this novel – from famous feminist to film fantasies. A really great read detailing the desire to be different, and the not-so-subtle politics of the teenage realm.
While Lo’s ideas become increasingly provocative and dangerous, Gem finds a muse in the form of Andy Warhol and his factory of Superstars. Aided by her esteem for formidable women, Gem suggests an underground film project that serves to be sufficiently ‘underground’ as well as giving her an experience behind the camera and hopefully bringing her closer to her crush. However, like most plans involving three girls fighting over one idea, things start to sour rapidly.
This novel deals with isolation, art, protest, and abandonment. The
characters are almost comical in their egotism (but easy to sympathise with) and the emotions are kept terse throughout the plot. I was very impressed with the range of sources quoted in this novel – from famous feminist to film fantasies. A really great read detailing the desire to be different, and the not-so-subtle politics of the teenage realm.
August 24, 2017
I enjoyed this novel of Simone Howell’s. It is the classic struggle of a teenage girl who is in a friendship group of three struggling to find her own sense of identity. Seventeen year old girl, Germaine (Gem or Gem-Gem as she is known by her friends) Gordon struggles to find people who like her and relate to her. She loves movies, her hippy-feminist mother, her friends, Lo and Mira, and her co-worker, Dodgy, (at least she thinks she does) from the video store. The main character Gem is tight with Lo and Mira and has been for a number of years. Lo, Mira and Gem come up with a plan to do something radical to help draw people to them, whilst ensuring that they continue to be different to the mainstream (or Barcode people as referred to by Lo). Lo has placed herself as the leader of the group, daring the others to take risks and playing them off against each other with their insecurities. Lo is uncomfortable with the fact that Gem has a very close relationship with her mother, Bev, as she lacks this herself.
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By Meg's Pen Blog
December 27, 2007
Set in Melbourne, Australia, this new novels spins on the axis of an oft-told story about a friendship between a small group of girls falling apart. But the edges — and edginess — of the story kick back any cliché. Gem, Mira, and Lo set themselves apart from others by their dress, their interests, but mostly their commitment to the Ug project. Ug is short for underground, and their holiday project is to create an underground film, similar to Warhol's sixties cinema experiments. While hipsters in their own right, the girls look to the past for cultural clues. There's a lot going on here: subplots about Gem's family, her crush, her desire to lose her virginity, as well as the story of the Ug project. Yet, another core story anchors it all: the teen search for identity. Gem's not sure who she is, pretty sure who she doesn't want to be, and through friends, family, and fringe culture, tries to find her true self in a very strange time.
April 14, 2012
This book, after awhile, felt kind of personal- so much so, that when I advised my friend to read she turned it down after the first couple of pages- which left a slight sting.
I don't know what spurred me on in reading this book, possibly sheer perseverance in putting up with the miss matched chapters and the unusual mentality of the teenage mind.
For me, this book did it and didn't do it (hence the three stars) I very much sat on the fence with this one, some aspects were easy to relate to and then others were just a bit weird.
Deciding to review this a couple of years after reading the book is a slightly bad idea, seen as I can't remember many details, however, I do remember that it somewhat opened my mind and made me realize that anything and everything is very much open to interpretation... I advise this read to any teenagers who want to explore their taste and stretch their imagination in reading.
I don't know what spurred me on in reading this book, possibly sheer perseverance in putting up with the miss matched chapters and the unusual mentality of the teenage mind.
For me, this book did it and didn't do it (hence the three stars) I very much sat on the fence with this one, some aspects were easy to relate to and then others were just a bit weird.
Deciding to review this a couple of years after reading the book is a slightly bad idea, seen as I can't remember many details, however, I do remember that it somewhat opened my mind and made me realize that anything and everything is very much open to interpretation... I advise this read to any teenagers who want to explore their taste and stretch their imagination in reading.
March 26, 2016
Amazing depiction of toxic friendships here - I really felt for Gem, dealing with two friends she's known forever, but who also make her nervous and she can feel herself slipping out of the triangle. I found the pop-art culture references interesting - I recall a writing teacher telling me years ago that today's teens wouldn't know who Marilyn Monroe is or know her movies, but here's a YA book full of Andy Warhol references! I guess it doesn't matter what subject you use (within reason!) - if you make it interesting and relevant and have great characters, it doesn't matter.
Without giving anything away, I love how it ends and how Gem deals with everything that happens, and that things aren't necessarily solved or end up 'happily ever after', but it's satisfying. She has a crazy mum and godmother too, that was pretty funny ;)
Without giving anything away, I love how it ends and how Gem deals with everything that happens, and that things aren't necessarily solved or end up 'happily ever after', but it's satisfying. She has a crazy mum and godmother too, that was pretty funny ;)
March 17, 2009
I really enjoyed this book...I thought the characters developed well and I empathised with Gem from the start...teenage agnst who can forget it! I also liked the fact that the boy she fancys, Roger/Dodgy, is not the stud muffin of the school but someone she has something in common with...very refreshing and realistic.
One last point was the fact that although it was clearly set in Oz the author hasn't made a big point of highlighting the cultural differences rather I feel the book works to emphasise the sameness of teenagers...I do think that American teen fiction can work to alienate the reader by over-stating the cultural dissimilarities! Anyhow about to start Ms Howell's next book 'Everything Beautiful'.
One last point was the fact that although it was clearly set in Oz the author hasn't made a big point of highlighting the cultural differences rather I feel the book works to emphasise the sameness of teenagers...I do think that American teen fiction can work to alienate the reader by over-stating the cultural dissimilarities! Anyhow about to start Ms Howell's next book 'Everything Beautiful'.
June 20, 2013
This book didn't really pull my interest, the beginning was dragged on and had a lot of explaining, so I'm guessing this book is more on the descriptive side. The book wasn't horrible, because the drama in the middle was really interesting and kept me wanting to know what will happen between Gem and Roger (Dodgy), but at the same time, it wasn't really my taste in topic and because of that I found myself skimming through the chapters for the interesting parts or the dialog. I happened to have finished this book within approx. 10 hours, but it would've been more if it had pulled my interest. I'm positive that this book will be intriguing to others cause it's not all that terrible, you just have to find the right person for it.
January 30, 2016
Seventeen-year-old Gem loves movies, her feminist mom, and Dodgy, her coworker in a video store (at least she thinks she loves Dodgy). When a school trip inspires Gem to make an underground film, her best friends Lo and Mira are quick to join the project, taking on the roles of producer and star. The film is intended to cement the girls 19 friendship as well as their superiority over their sucker high school peers. But when the fragile balance of their friendship begins to falter, and intentions lead to betrayals big and small, it will take great movies, bad haiku, and a pantheon of great voices from Dostoyevsky to Emerson to The Beatles to help Gem find the meaning of love, friendship, and being true to herself.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews