Tough Girl

by Libby Heily

Danger lurks everywhere in eleven year old Reggie's world—from the bully next door to the unwanted attentions of a creep at school. Raised by her mentally ill mother, Reggie is left to fend for herself. She escapes in daydreams, battling aliens with her alter ego, Tough Girl.

When Reggie's mother disappears, her fantasy life spirals out of control and starts to invade reality. She is hunted by a creature of her own design, and even Tough Girl is not strong enough to stop him.

Will Reggie survive long enough for her mother to return, or will her dream world take over?







This book contains adult themes and adult language.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Contemporary, Science Fiction

250 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

I’m a writer and an improviser. My young adult fantasy series is published through Fire and Ice YA Publishing. My short fiction has appeared in numerous publications including Daily Science Fiction, Kaaterskill Basin Literary Journal, Twisted Sister Literary Magazine, and Theaker’s Quarterly.

I also love chocolate, cheese, running, club soda, and my husband – not necessarily in that order.

Reviews

[Rebecca Gransden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tough Girl tells the tale of Reggie. Reggie is a young girl facing a bleak existence. In a state of neglect caused by her mother’s fragile mental state she faces a harsh world. She is left to fend for herself and as a desperate attempt to cope her own fantasy life intrudes ever more strongly as she struggles to make her way through unforgiving days. With school a source of further persecution she exists in a narrow world without the skills necessary to find her way out. This is compounded by a swiftly deteriorating physical condition, where lack of access to food and the stress of being on her own take hold.

Libby Heily has done a wonderful job with characterisation in this novel. Reggie’s personality is never overwhelmed by the awfulness of the life she has to contend with, and sympathy is achieved in an unforced manner. The interactions that take place between Reggie and her contemporaries is very authentic and relatable. I was also impressed by the representation of mental health and the reaction of a child of a sufferer. The secretive and evasive way Reggie conducts herself is very real and recognisable to anyone who has been young and felt the confusion of wanting to protect a parent not doing so well but not knowing how to best do that.

The interplay and gradual merging of Reggie’s imaginative and practical worlds is always intriguing, and conveys the disorientation and turmoil of her mindset effectively. The plot is a simple one but amply supports what is best about this story: a potent sense of place and a living snapshot of whole characters. A humane and unusual account of abandonment, youthful psychology and living with poor circumstances.

[Lisa Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Tough Girl, Libby Heily has done something really amazing. This book will blow your mind. It is a book about a girl against the world—a callous, indifferent, violent world that doesn’t notice or care about her. Eleven year old Reggie’s life in the ghetto is a cat and mouse game with danger itself. Her mother is absent even when she is physically there. Reggie has to regularly face down bullies and other creepy characters. Each day is an epic struggle just to find enough food to keep her going. Almost every scene in the book is underscored by a nebulous sense of menace. Reggie’s existence is only about surviving and in order to do that, she creates an imaginary world that she can escape to with an imaginary protagonist named Tough Girl who is capable and in control. Tough Girl offers not only an entertaining escape from a bleak existence but she stands beside Reggie during some of the most difficult situations that Reggie encounters.

This book is incredible both in the sense that it will keep you turning pages and I could totally see this book being read in a college literature class. It is richly layered with symbolism. Plus, Heily nails every single element in this book.

Heily writes the point of view of an eleven year old perfectly. Reggie’s innocence is a stunning contrast to the dismal, violent world around her. She understands that she must be tough but she does not always succeed and her vulnerability is what makes you love her so much. She will even make you laugh. She is honest and she has integrity and yet she understands on some level that she must do bad things in order to survive. It is an untenable position for a child so young to be in and Heily writes it flawlessly. The whole book I felt the tension of living in a violent world with a bunch of creeps everywhere, even when Reggie didn’t--everyone seemed potentially evil except very few characters. What I loved possibly the most about this book is Heily’s absolute mastery of the art of subtlety. Very, very, very few writers can pull off what she has done in this book--blurring the edges between a young girl's imaginary life and mental illness. Between her inner world and reality. Even the sections of the book that deal with Tough Girl and the sci-fi world that Reggie has created in her mind are compulsively readable because they deal with the same difficult themes that Reggie is struggling with in real life and the sci-fi scenes are as much a commentary on poverty, violence and the way society treats children as the scenes with Reggie.

This book is like nothing I’ve ever read before. It is wildly creative and original and you’ll want to read it over and over because it offers so much. It is disturbing and exquisite, gritty, dark and beautiful, poignant, powerful and stunning. Absolutely unique and unapologetic. It is visceral. It is a perfectly orchestrated masterpiece.

Read this.

[Ava · Rating 3 out of 5]

Free copy supplied by the author Libby Heily in exchange for an honest review.

I've been avoiding writing this review for weeks, because I knew it was going to be hard to write. But I HAD TO GET IT OFF MY SHOULDERS eventually you need to get over it.

TOUGH GIRL was kind of a surreal book. It was... strange. Not bad, but definitely different.

It's about a young girl named Reggie, a troubled and misunderstood eleven-year old and her alter ego, Tough Girl. Reggie's unstable mother disappears and during this time, Reggie's alternate life begins to creep into her real life. Soon she can't tell what's real and what's not as she's hunted down by someone she created.

It all sounds very simple and original, and it is. I mean, it's original. Is it simple?



I was completely, utterly, and totally lost when I didn't want to be.

I mean, I literally had to go back and read chapters again because it was such a whirlwind, and sometimes I still didn't get it, which as readers know, is one of the most infuriating feelings in the world. There was a lot of info-dumping through conversations, so when someone was talking for a long time, I sort of just skimmed over it.

Except when the conversation is filled with all the information you need to know so you're not lost in Wonderland, YOU CANNOT PULL THAT SHIT.

I got the feeling that the author knew exactly what was going on (well, obviously), but the reader basically got this:



It's all so confusing, but it becomes intolerable around half-way through the novel. Politics, death, corruption, blackmail, planets, creatures, creatures changing gender and lying about it (??? I think I'm going to have to re-read that part), galaxies...?

I don't even know, you guys.

The writing fit perfectly for the story: dark, intense, and powerful. It's probably not competing against Laini Taylor's writing anytime soon, but it was very good for a self-published novel and I didn't really have a problem with that part.

I didn't feel any real connection to Reggie whatsoever. I admired her - brave, determined, and badass - but I didn't like her. She was weird as hell. She was supposed to be weird, and the scene was supposed to show that Reggie would give anything to have food a comfortable life, but c'mon now.

Sneaking into an apartment to touch a six-hundred pound woman's fat rolls.



In fact, I didn't like any of the characters in TOUGH GIRL. I remained icily unattached from them and respected them from the sidelines. I didn't hate them at all - they just didn't interest me and I wasn't emotionally invested in them. They were all extremely well-developed, howeverThey were all extremely well-developed, however, with interesting back stories and different personalities.

Reggie lived basically on her own in a very dangerous environment, which required her to mature very quickly and learn to take care of herself, but I still think that asking an eleven-year old if she's still a virgin is seriously wrong.

I mean, has the girl even gotten her period yet?

Just because you've learned to fend for yourself and grew up pretty quickly doesn't make you sexually mature. I would know.

The ending was very disappointing and quite dull. A better ending could have greatly improved TOUGH GIRL, but all in all, it was an absorbing, dark, and intense read.

[Jessie Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

All admissions forward: I was sent this book by the author, whom I consider a friend. This did not and does not affect my review.

It's been a real pleasure to watch Libby's growth as an author over the last two years. Having read and greatly enjoyed her short story collection back in 2011, I was anxious to see what she would come up with for her first her full-length novel. I can honestly say that I was not disappointed with the end result; Tough Girl is a clever, heart-wrenching novel with adult themes and ideas, but one that will hold appeal for a wide audience. If you enjoy honest, and occasionally harsh, views on struggles like mental illness, neglect and poverty, this is is your book. If you enjoy novels with strong and determined female protagonists, this is your book. If you enjoy unique fantasy and alternate worlds and places, this is your book.

This may get a bit spoilery, though I am going to try my best not to do. It's just hard to review a book with such a tricky plot without letting on about a few minor details. So: be warned.

Tough Girl is the story of Reggie, an eleven year old girl whom fate has not dealt the kindest of hands. From being bullied at school to neglected at home, Reggie's story is a sad, but not had to envision struggle every day. Thankfully for our heroine, Reggie is also smart, resourceful, resilient, and her own best friend. Escaping into various fantasy worlds with a tough-talking, militaristic alter-ego named Tough Girl, Reggie copes with her problems in a unique and compelling way. Like I said before, Reggie's mom, Mona, neglects her young daughter, leading to Reggie's disconnect from her real life in almost-slumlike building they live in, The Apartments. Reggie's story is a sobering one, and a lot of what she sees and goes through can be tough to read. Libby Heily is an author unafraid to examine the rougher side of life, and it's all to the benefit of the novel. For all its desperation, Reggie's story comes to life with ease.

Obviously in the grip of an unnamed and untreated mental illness, Mona forgets about her daughter for days on end, including the important task of feeding a growing girl. A lot of Reggie's narration and thoughts center around food - either getting it or eating it. I find it remarkably telling that even in Reggie's longest-running fantasy with TG, as she is called, is set on a planet named Girth. Bullied, hungry and alone, even in Reggie's dreams food is the most important part of her day. Her other struggles with classmates like Tara or even bratchild extraordinaire Jacob are painful and sadly quite real to life and carry additional weight to the storyline. There's a lot going on in Tough Girl, be it real or imaginary, and in the end, Heily manages to tie it all together with ease.

I did feel that the end was a bit abrupt. I would've like a little more time with the denoument - just to see it all play out visually. I liked the ending for what it was -it was fitting and believable, but just a very fast turnaround from the pacing of the first 240 pages. This is a shorter novel, but it still packs a punch. Another bonus is the price - it's only $2.99 to join Reggie and her alter-ego in the respective struggles. I was and still am very impressed with Libby Heily's imagination and am excited to see how she will grow and where she will go with her talent after this.

[Daniel Clausen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess a few disclosures are in order. First, I know Libby Heily. We’ve been goodreads friends for a while now, so I've been rooting for her. Second, I don't read a lot of Young Adult books. Not that that matters too much because this book is just a good book and works on a lot of levels.

I think the thing that makes this book great is the main character, Reggie. Writing about poverty has always been difficult. The main reason writing about poverty is difficult is because poverty is often dehumanizing. In such worlds, main characters can lack qualities that we would define as noble. The daily routines of begging, stealing, suffering, menial work are not the qualities we usually associate with protagonists. They are worthy of our pity, but rarely of our wonder. And sometimes our own inner defense mechanism (that could never happen to me) might prevent us from empathizing with the character. The random moments that punctuate actual poverty, too, are usually disruptive to smooth narratives. (One of my friends once told me that while walking through his neighborhood he was randomly hit by a mango from a car passing by). This book manages to avoid all of these pitfalls—Reggie is poverty-stricken, yet noble, likable, and a bunch of other adjectives I can’t quite think of right now.

As I was reading this book, I felt somewhat ashamed at how few great examples of books set in slums I had read, let alone Young Adult books. Maniac Magee was one of my favorite books growing up, so was I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings, but neither of these books seemed to get the randomness of slum-living quite right. For this reason, the book seems utterly necessary. Perhaps more necessary than it would if I knew of other books set in poverty.

Reggie seems necessary too. Who is Reggie? She's someone afflicted by three kinds of horrible: hunger, bullying, a crazy mother—and of course, she is poor. For Reggie, fantasy is a natural outlet for her. In her fantasy world we meet Tough Girl. If Tough Girl is the romantic hero for Reggie, the noble protagonist who has powers that help her overcome her situation, then we can also see many of those same qualities in Reggie. The book works because the elements of poverty that can be so dehumanizing never fully overwhelm her spirit. This is good—it makes the book work. And yet, the book never makes her background seem overly contrived…and it’s still possible to have that unsettling feeling that things won't workout for Reggie.

Do things work out for Reggie? Read and find out.

[E.J. Wesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fearless author needs fearless readers...

Tough Girl is harsh ... and sweet ... and gritty ... and endearing. It truly is all of those things, which is no small thing for a single book to accomplish. The story of a young girl (Reggie) and her imaginary guardian, Tough Girl, is a--at times--brutal examination of the isolation and hopelessness brought about by mental illness, bullying, and poverty. The author does a wonderful job of making the reader both admire and pity Reggie by fearlessly examining the realities of her world, and juxtaposing it against the beauty and power of a child's imagination.

Ultimately, Tough Girl will be a difficult read for many people. It pulls no punches, and doesn't apologize for making you squirm--and it will make you squirm, or should. Tough Girl feels real and raw, because for many the torment Reggie experiences IS very real. However, if you are a fearless reader who doesn't shy from the bright lights of self-examination, and the often hard truths of human nature, I think you'll find Tough Girl to be an excellent and worthwhile read.

[Susan Swiderski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be careful. This book fights dirty. When you least expect it, it's liable to break your heart.

Eleven-year-old Reggie's life is beyond tough; that's why she counts on her imaginary alter-ego Tough Girl to help her survive. The brutal bullying she endures at school pales in comparison to the harsh reality of her home life, where she shares a filthy, sparsely-furnished apartment with her mentally ill mother. Then Mom disappears, and Reggie's struggle to survive gets even harder. And much much scarier.

Fantasy and reality swirl together in a dizzying blend, making it difficult at times to discern which is which, but no matter how vivid Reggie's fantasy world is, it can't fill her growling stomach. Is she... tough enough? Can she survive?

You'll have to read the book to find out the answer to that question, but I guarantee you of one thing: this book will make you ache for this child.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Info: Genre: Fiction
Reading Level: While the character is MG, the author has warned “This book contains adult themes and adult language.” This is a book for adults, or for people with the inner strength and maturity to handle the storyline.
Recommended for: anyone to whom it appeals
Trigger Warnings: (implied) rape, violence, domestic violence, bullying, (implied) child molester
Animal abuse: Cats left to their own devices outside in a city.

Please note: Libby Heily was a guest on my blog January 25, 2013 in conjunction with her blog tour promoting this book. Please click on this link (where formatting permitted) to visit and read it. If you are reading this review on a site that does not allow formatting, please visit my blog, Now is Gone, which is linked in my profile, to see the post.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Danger lurks everywhere in eleven-year-old Reggie's world—from the bully next door to the unwanted attentions of a creep at school. Raised by her mentally ill mother, Reggie is left to fend for herself. She escapes in daydreams, battling aliens with her alter ego, Tough Girl.

When Reggie's mother disappears, her fantasy life spirals out of control and starts to invade reality. She is hunted by a creature of her own design, and even Tough Girl is not strong enough to stop him.

Will Reggie survive long enough for her mother to return, or will her dream world take over?

My Thoughts: This is a very stark story, brutal and honest, but at the same time absolutely enthralling. I felt so badly for Reggie! Her mom keeps slipping into catatonia and (although it is not explicitly stated), it is understood from the hints that this is a result of a violent assault. Reggie herself easily slips into dream worlds and apparent hallucinations, and then we have the story within a story about Tough Girl and her adventures, which apparently play out in Reggie’s mind. Tough Girl not only allows Reggie an outlet for her creativity, but also serves as a bit of an escape hatch and a form of self-motivation, I think.

Even what I’ve mentioned will unfortunately be a bit of a spoiler, but I haven’t really said anything more than the blurb, which is why I haven’t placed this whole review under a spoiler tag. I can’t say anything else about the plot, because the whole thing rests upon not knowing what is real and what is part of her daydream worlds.

I really hate to cry, and this book made me cry a lot, especially the last 15 percent or so. It was so very sad, and I just wanted to take Reggie in like a stray kitten or something and take care of her. It definitely made me want to become a foster mom, just in hopes I could help someone like her. We’re not financially stable enough to do that, of course, but if we ever become so, it is something I think I’d like to do. Very poignant story, very heartbreaking because it is so real. I still have a lump in my throat.

Absolutely recommended to anyone who would like to read it. Be warned: it is very sad. But the ending is worth it. I need to now find something lighthearted and upbeat to take my mind off this, though...

[A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book source ~ ARC. My review is voluntary and honest.

Reggie is in the 6th grade and has problems with a school bully. But that’s only one of the things she has to deal with. She’s poor and her mom is constantly zoning out. This month’s food is almost gone and Reggie needs her mom to snap out of it, cash her check, and buy some groceries. Except when her mom goes out to shop, she never returns home. As the days pass, Reggie relies heavily on her imaginary friend, Tough Girl. But her situation is deteriorating quickly. Will she survive until her mom returns?

This is a weird read. Not bad weird though, but good weird. Reggie is a fighter, in the sense that she continues on despite adversity. But she’s only, what? 11 or 12. Her mom appears to have some kind of mental illness and is getting worse. Then she just disappears. Gah! Poor Reggie! Things are happening and Reggie doesn’t want to go to foster care, but holy shit. What the hell is going on in this book? The parts with Tough Girl are just as interesting. I can’t elaborate because I want you to read it and see for yourself. What a great read. I recommend this.

[Naberius · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting story, although I had mixed reactions to it. The author does a wonderful job of portraying Reggie and her world (which is somewhat heartbreaking). However, as depressing as her surroundings might be, Reggie is pretty resilient. She has an alter-ego, Tough Girl, and she spends time dreaming up elaborate plots for her. The author gives us Tough Girl's voice, in conversations with Reggie, and in situations that are all her own (like in Chapter 4), and even as as know that Tough Girl isn't real, her situations are Reggie's way of dealing with what's going on for her in the real world. I found I had to adjust to the two viewpoints, however, at least when I first started reading.

In addition to Reggie, there are other interesting characters here. For example, there is Mrs. Ruiz, one of Reggie's neighbors, who is gaining weight for beauty pageants (and yes, you read that correctly). There's also Tara, the bully who loves to torment Reggie. And not everyone is awful --- DeShawn, one of the boys Reggie makes friends with at school, is kind to her. All of the different people that Reggie interact with, and react to, just give us a richer portrayal of who she is.

Reggie's a compelling character, and the pacing of the story is quick, so it's easy to keep reading, even when the storyline gets a bit dark or scary. I thought the author did a great job of making Reggie seem really realistic --- she's a real-feeling little girl who tries to be tough, and who sometimes succeeds, and who sometimes doesn't. I found that I was pulled into her story, and wanted to find out what was going to happen to her (even when I was worried for her ..... and that happens a lot with this story). I didn't always feel like I quite understood what was happening, however, and I think that's why the book didn't completely resonate with me. And this exposes a bit of a flaw in using a rating system like mine ---- I didn't think the book was great, but rather, that I felt that while it was interesting, it wasn't a story that I felt like I wanted to talk to everyone I know about. This isn't anything to do with the author, or her writing --- it's just my reaction to the story. Reading is a personal thing, and I always feel that what resonates with one person might not resonate with another, and also, that upon a re-read, a book can strike you completely differently. I gave this a 3 out of 5 ---- it's not that it could be better, but I felt like I had a so-so reaction to it.

If this book sounds interesting, but you'd like to read more reviews, I'd encourage you to check out what some other readers on GoodReads had to say. In particular, Danielle Villano has a great review,

I did want to mention that although the main character, Reggie, is eleven, that I wouldn't recommend this book to a young reader, due to the mature themes and content here.

[Melysah Bunting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tough Girl by Libby Heily is a story about a young girl who lives in the ghetto. Reggie's mother is mentally ill and disappears one day leaving Reggie to fend for herself. Luckily, Reggie has Tough Girl as her sidekick.

It is a delicate tale. It isn't easy reading about a child with no food and no parents. A young girl who dreams of joining the Army. But Reggie is a tough girl. It's not a name, it's a warning.

Tough Girl by Libby Heily is an imaginative tear-jerking tale. Where a little girl walks the line of two worlds. A place of nothingness. A place full of celestial foreign beings trying to save a life-giving creature.

I really like Heily's inventive style. I always enjoy her stories that have a slightly bizarre edge to them. Where else could you find a story about an intergalactic crime war that involves a man married to to a six-hundred pound woman who is entering a beauty pageant?

The only negative thing I usually have to say about Libby Heily's work is I wish there was more of it. While I wanted more story, it seems just right when I think about it. After all you don't want too much of a good thing.

The characters are interesting. The pace is extremely fast. The emotion you feel for Reggie combined with the whole space element makes it a very unique read. And I always look forward to what Libby is going to come up with next.

[Linda Harley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I loved most about this book was its originality. Reggie at first appearance seems like your typical 11 year old girl having to survive school and home. But just beneath the surface there is a lot of tragedy that she must face, including a mentally ill mother, starvation, and learning who to trust and who to run away from. She often retreats into her own fantasy world to escape from it all, but the fantasy world bleeds into her real life, and in the end the reader is left not knowing what was real and what was fantasy. The story takes unexpected twists and turns, making it fresh. There is little I could find technically wrong with the writing, in fact it was above par. The only critique that I have is, that at certain parts of the story it dragged a bit for me. It has a rather slow opening but picks up speed towards the end.
Tough Girl touches on mature adult topics, but in an innocent way from a child's perspective. However, I do not recommend this book for young readers. I would say probably around the tweens to teenager years are okay. But if a tween, I'd recommend the family read it together so that some of the subjects can be discussed. I think it could be used as an excellent educational tool within families to discuss what some people in this world actually do experience.

[Erin Schable · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very vivid writing, you can almost see it as a movie, very imaginative as well, but it also deals with some difficult, heartwarming issues, the ending is sad and happy at the same time. worth the read.

[Danielle Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Originally posted on my blog, The Reader's Commute)

Originally I was hesitant about agreeing to read Tough Girl. Seeing "SciFi" in the genre category had me hesitant, because I've never really felt like I truly understood science fiction / would not be able to discuss it in an eloquent way. However, my love for young protagonists and interesting storylines won out, and I knew that I had to read this book.

It should be noted: Although Reggie, the main character, is eleven years old, this is not just a children's book. In fact, some of the subject matter (violence, child endangerment, sexual abuse) may not be the best for younger children or squeamish readers.

Reggie, as a protagonist, is interesting in a sad and unusual way. Her home circumstances are heartbreaking; her living conditions are dismal (I could practically feel the dirt underneath my fingernails) and her mother, Mona, is as good as absent. Despite being poor in circumstance, Reggie is rich in imagination. She concocts elaborate plots for her alter-ego, Tough Girl (nicknamed TG). TG, unlike Reggie, is strong and outspoken. She doesn't fear pain or death. TG's first real chapter (the chapters are split to allow equal time between Reggie's and TG's storylines) has the blue-haired army captain, covered head-to-toe in heat-protecting jelly, leading her team across lava pits. Geysers of molten lava threaten to spew at any moment. The tension is apparent; the danger is exciting.

As the story progressed, I found myself more interested in Reggie's storyline, however. This may be because, as a writer and a reader, I am more interested in contemporary fiction. Reggie begins to connect with DeShawn, a kind boy at school who feeds her tasty sandwiches (Reggie's own kitchen is bare). She also forms a relationship with her intriguing neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Ruiz. Mrs. Ruiz is a six-hundred pound woman who eats day and night, gaining weight for beauty pageants.

The juxtaposition of Mrs. Ruiz's large, doughy body and Reggie's emaciated frame, the overabundance of food in the Ruiz apartment and the bare cabinets in Reggie's apartment, the glamorization of something as simple as a piece of buttered toast: these were the details that kept me reading.

Speaking again about juxtaposition, I was very interested in examining and dissecting the parallels between Reggie's contemporary storyline and Tough Girl's futuristic, alternative storyline. Particular chapters that took place on Planet Girth, TG's home planet, mirrored the emotions and events of Reggie's own life in out-of-this-world ways. While I was not always interested in TG's storyline (confusion about the Bublaran and Octhmuslans occurred on more than one occasion for me), I enjoyed understanding Reggie's method of coping with her issues and her own situation. When TG's world becomes too big for Reggie to control, the consequences are startling.

This book kept me on my toes. I did not always know what to expect, which is nice after reading so many predictable titles. The twists towards the end of Tough Girl are exciting and surprising. I am so glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone to read Heily's debut novel.

[Mary Fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Originally posted on my blog, Zigzag Timeline)

11-year-old Reggie lives a dangerous life in an ordinary world. A resident of the impoverished Apartments and cared for only by a mentally ill mother, she faces constant bullying at school as well as the real-world dangers presented by poverty. She escapes this harsh reality via her imaginary alter ego, Tough Girl, who battles aliens in a faraway fanciful land.

Tough Girl is told from Reggie’s point of view and follows her as she goes about her life. She never seems to catch a break—the big girl at school picks on her, the popular boy creeps on her, and then, to top it all off, her mother can’t feed her. Reggie’s quiet, introverted personality is a direct result of all that external trauma. She does her best to remain invisible, hiding away in the safety of her mind.

Tough Girl is what Reggie aspires to be. Reggie spends much of her time detailing the world Tough Girl occupies, and the book switches between Reggie’s real world and Tough Girl’s imaginary one. Tough Girl is something straight out of a pulp sci-fi novel: a tough-as-nails fighter who doesn’t take crap from anyone.

The contrast between real-world Reggie and Tough Girl highlights the character’s mental state. Reggie can’t cope with the harrowing reality she lives in, a reality she can’t defeat by kicking bad guys. Tough Girl’s world allows her a sense of triumph, even if it’s only in her own head. The harder Reggie’s life is, the more she relies on Tough Girl. She even incorporates elements from her life into her fantasies. For instance, after a distinctive new neighbor moves in, she turns him into a character for Tough Girl to tangle with.

After Reggie’s mother disappears, she starts losing control of her fantasies. The imaginary beasts invade her real-world vision, and she can no longer control how Tough Girl’s story unravels. Confusion and bewilderment reign until the very end, which throws in a surprising twist.

Heily’s writing mimics a child’s simple, innocent thoughts. The basic sentence structure and vocabulary reflect Reggie’s point of view. Hers is not a very complex mind—she sees things in a certain way and has a hard time understanding anything else. For instance, she knows to fear rape, but doesn’t even know what it really is. She doesn’t understand the advances of a boy at school. She also fears the foster care system, thinking that she’s better off alone with her mentally ill mother, even though living with her means starvation.

Reggie is easy to sympathize with and even admire. Simplistic as her thoughts are, she always keeps her head on straight and deals with her situation face-on and with honesty. Fiercely independent, she handles the brutality of her situation with admirable strength, even though that strength is somewhat misplaced. Heily has done a superb job in depicting a child’s naiveté in a believable manner, making the story ring true.

Tough Girl is a harsh, gritty tale that deals with disturbing themes both in Reggie’s reality and in Tough Girl’s imagined world. Its unapologetic and uncensored depictions can be hard to read, but ultimately rewarding.

[truliefree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tough Girl is a an endearing book about a young girl named Reggie. Reggie is left to fend for herself because her mother Mona spends most her time in her own mind.

Tough Girl was written by author Libby Heily and is her first novel. Heily is known for her short stories.

This is a fiction book based on a young girl in 7th grade. Reggie has no friends, has never met her father, encounters bullies and her mother is mentally incapable of taking care of her. She has to fend for herself, including dumpster diving for food. Reggie has been neglected most of her life and doesn't know what it feels like to be loved. Reggie was creating her own story in her head about a girl named Tough Girl who she called TG. TG was Reggie's way of dealing with the stress of her life.

Mona, Reggie's mother escapes into her own mind. She spends days at a time starring at an alarm clock with the static noise on high. When Mona isn't stuck on the couch, she's out walking around in a daze or out gambling what little money they have. Mona neglects to keep food in the apartment for Reggie and never cleans. The more I read about Mona's neglect the angrier I was at her. I felt outraged that a mother could treat her daughter that way. Reggie was more of an adult than Mona. Reggie did her best to take care of her mother and herself. She was more afraid of going into foster care than staying in such a situation. I cried for her on many occasions.

I became emotionally invested in Reggie. I found it very hard to put down the book once I started reading it. The story line grabbed my attention in a vice grib and refused to let go until I was at the end of the book. I didn't want to set it down and lost several hours of sleep because I couldn't stop reading. The author threw in several curve balls that I didn't expect and was shock to read but they only made the book that much more interesting. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next to Reggie and TG. I absolutely loved Tough Girl and will be recommending it to all. Tough Girl is a very memorable book because of all Reggie's struggles as well as the curve balls thrown out.

Reading a book about a little girl who was neglected to such extreme was heart wrenching. Reggie's story was so sad. Even the happy moments were over shadowed by the sadness Reggie constantly feels. Reggie trust no one and lives her life afraid. She's afraid Mona will never snap out of it, that Mona will be hurt when shes out on one of er dazed walk, that Mona will someday not return. Reggie holds onto the idea that at least she's not going through life alone, that at least she has Mona. Its sad to that Reggie feels that Mona is there for her when in fact she is alone. I was disgusted that Reggie had to dumpster dive just to eat on several occasions. It wasn't the act that was the worst part for me, but the fact that because her mother didn't care enough about her to feed her. I instantly hated Mona from the start and by the end of the story my feelings were 500 times worse.

"Tough Girl" gets a 5 star rating from me.

[Tara Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tough Girl by Libby Heily was definitely not the book I was expecting. When I'd read the description I'd gathered it wouldn't necessarily be all rainbows and flowers, but the depths of this book went far beyond even what I'd imagined they would.

Reggie's basically taking care of herself, by herself. To say she's being raised by her mentally ill mother is quite a bit of an overstatement, as her mother mostly sits on the couch listening to static on the radio. Poor Reggie spends most of her time at home wondering if she's going to have enough food to last her until the next day. When Mona disappears on what Reggie originally thought was a shopping trip and fails to return, she is left with $10 to buy food for I don't know how long and in the end has to resort to stealing from the local convenience store.

Luckily, she makes a friend in DeShawn, who often shares his food or just brings extra for her. He's kind to Reggie when so many others treat her like she's less than human. So while she's hungry, it's more or less bearable.

Her only other constant companion is Tough Girl. Her alter ego, a human on the planet Girth in the army fighting aliens. TG gives her strength when she needs it and has always got her back in trouble. A lot of the time while reading I forgot that Tough Girl was supposed to be a fictional character to Reggie. She's strong and her personality is extremely well developed.

Reggie runs in to bullies all over the story. The apartments she lives in are the bad area of town and often on weekends she hides away from the fights and the sirens that follow. She's constantly trying to make herself invisible and worried about whether or not she's going to have to defend herself from Tara the Boulder or unwanted sexual advances from some of the meaner boys in the school.

It was a quick read, once I really got in to the story I couldn't stop reading it until it was over. Reggie's story and Tough Girl's story were incredibly enthralling despite the subject matter of one side of that coin. My heart broke for Reggie with every turn of the page and I couldn't help but marvel at Tough Girl. Forgetting she was supposed to be a teenager because she was just that awesome.

I don't think I would recommend this one to a younger audience. Maybe 17 and above because of certain aspects of the story. But I would definitely recommend it as a fast and easy read that draws you in from the beginning. I'm really glad that I read it.

[Gaele · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a story that skirts the edges of actually becoming a transgressive fiction work, Tough Girl is both emotionally demanding and disturbing while managing to craft a protagonist that is as admirable as her situation is deplorable.

This is not a “light read” nor should it be taken as such, but there is great beauty and insight within. Part of that beauty comes from the all too realistic depictions of a family on the edge, battling poverty, mental illness and violence: all told from the point of the child.

Meet Reggie, 11 years old with a rich and varied imagination and a serious knack for survival. With a severely mentally ill mother, and little in the way of creature comforts, her escape is into the world of imagination and the creation of her alter ego – Tough Girl, to get her through the worst of times. Descriptive of a dissassociative personality disorder, this story details a child crafting a protective shell in times of extreme stress, and relying on that alter ego more frequently as the stressors in her life become too much to handle.

Libby Heily has done an amazing job in crafting this story. With a voice that rings true as an eleven year old, with an amazing innocence and naiveté despite her circumstances, her determination and honest integrity. Additionally, with the increasing presence and voice from Tough Girl, and the confusion that result as the two worlds begin to merge and blur the lines between imagination and reality are detailed with a grace not often found in a book aimed at teens.

Nor do I necessarily believe that this is a book for every reader of YA age – more skewed to the older teens, as there are complex and disturbing elements of subject matter that not all parents would want their young teens exposed to. This is a book well worth reading, laced with symbolism and correlating the trials and struggles between the two worlds, making it a truly worthy commentary on society’s treatment of children of poverty. Disturbing and gritty, with near visceral reactions to some scenes and situations there is a beauty in the lack of apology for the realities detailed within.

I received an eBook copy from the author for purpose of honest review in the Indies Rock promotion at I am, Indeed. I was not compensated for this review, and all conclusions are my own responsibility.

[Beverly Diehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Dark things, like chocolate, and this book, can be amazing.

Although the protagonist here is 11 years old, this is NOT an MG (Middle Grade) book; Young Adult, perhaps.

Reggie lives with her tuned-out-of-life mother, Mona, in a small, filthy studio unit in The Apartments. We first meet Reggie as she is attempting to get even with Tara, the girl who bullies her at school, but someone spots her, and once again, she gets her tail handed to her, ending with a big dose of bug spray in her mouth.

Being from The Apartments was already one strike against her. Having a mother who is mentally ill, who sits most days staring into space and listening to a clock radio tuned to static, who once made a public appearance wearing nothing but shoes and a short jacket (probably raped), when Reggie was in 4th grade has marked her as a permanent target. Crazy mother, the whispers follow her, and now, Bug Girl.

Now in middle school and sixth grade, her only friends are Leon, at school, and Tough Girl, her alter-ego/fantasy creation. TG, with her blue, spiked hair, is in the Intergalactic Army and has missions on water worlds, and fire worlds, an assassin and soldier extraordinaire, killing monsters and bad guys alike, sometimes getting hurt, but always surviving in the end, and showing up to encourage Reggie on, just when she feels like giving up.

Then Mona disappears one day, and Reggie does what she can to survive, living off mustard-and-bread "sandwiches," stealing food from local markets, dumpster diving at McDonald's. Eventually, she makes more friends; DeShawn, also from the apartments, and the new upstairs neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Ruiz. Mrs. Ruiz weighs about 600 pounds and is trying to gain more weight for a beauty pageant.

The story weaves between what is really going on in Reggie's life, and Tough Girl's adventures on Planet Girth. Only the line between reality and fantasy is thin, and things aren't always what they seem. And when Leon attacks one of Reggie's tormentors with a hammer, she is racked with guilt.

Beautifully written, I could not put it down, and was aching with sympathy for Reggie, while at the same time, filled with admiration for her and Tough Girl.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this, especially after all the good reviews. Unfortunately, I had to fight my way through the entire thing. It wasn't due to the writing itself. Heily is a talented writer. Her scenes and descriptions are well done as well as her character and world building. It was simply the story itself, which didn't grab me.

The MC is eleven, but this is by no means a middle grade story, and I wouldn't recommend it for younger YA readers either. It immediately starts with a girl, who suffering from bullying, tries to retaliate with bug poison. She's a girl in a rough situation: no one likes her at school, no friends in the neighborhood, her mother's has major psychological problems and no one else is there for her either. All of this has already turned the MC into a closed, dark child, whose only escape is an imaginative figure named TG.

My first problem was simply that I found it hard to connect to the MC. Her life is terrible, but that in itself isn't enough (in my opinion) to make a character sympathetic. Her life is rough, and she reacts just the same.

Her daydreams of the super TG, a sort of science fiction heroine, did little for me. They were not only violent but didn't really fit an 11-year-old's fantasy (even a troubled one)- for example, TG has no problem murdering other and at one point, even pretends to be a prostitute to lure a man into a trap. I also found it difficult to draw a connection between the MC and TG. Their stories seemed to run independant from each other, as if the author stuffed two very seperate books in one cover. I found the flipping back and forth jolting as well as confusing. Maybe there is supposed to be a 'higher' connection, but I didn't find it.

Facit: I struggled between giving Tough Girl 2 or 3 stars, simply because Heily's writing in itself is very good. It doesn't seem fair to completely ignore that. Unfortunately, I didn't like the story and cannot recommend it - definitely not for anyone younger.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tough Girl is the story of Reggie, a girl who is bullied relentlessly at school and then comes home to a mother with serious mental health issues. She escapes by creating an alter-ego (TG/Tough Girl). Reggie writes sci-fi type stories about Tough Girl but TG also 'visits' Reggie and talks her through some of her toughest situations. When Reggie's mother disappears, the line between her real and imaginary worlds becomes blurred. Can she save herself before it is too late?

Overall, I appreciated Tough Girl. It was an original story with a believably flawed MC in Reggie. The first chapter set the tone and was heart-breaking. Reggie is bullied again by Tara and then tries, unsuccessfully, to take revenge. And, when Reggie's mother disappears, I wished I could crawl into the story to help Reggie - or at least buy her some food.

For me, the best part of the story was the relationship between Reggie and DeShawn (her sort-of boyfriend). His mother's reaction to Reggie was pretty spot-on.

I didn't mind TG and her scenes with Reggie worked well within the story. However, when we switched to TG's point of view and were basically reading Reggie's writing, it didn't really fit for me. There were a few spots where I felt that the author had two really great stories to tell (one sad story about bullying and another adventurous sci-fi novel). Rather than splitting them, they were sort-of forced together into one book.

Also, the story of the upstairs neighbor's was a little strange (especially one scene early on). I could see how the author was tying the two worlds (real and imagined) together but it wasn't the strongest part of the book.

There were a couple of typos / proofreading errors but they didn't detract from the story.

I would give Tough Girl 3 stars and would read more from this author.

I was given an ARC of Tough Girl by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Lu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the strangest and most exciting books I have read in a long time! Reggie is one fascinating character! Poor and hungry, bullied and mistreated by life and society, she keeps her head up and tries her best. But she has a coping mechanism = Tough Girl. TG helps her by escaping reality and be who she wishes she could be.



This book definitely makes you feel and appreciate your circumstances and you end up feeling really bad for Reggie, and even more connected to her. This story is haunting and it makes you feel for not only for Reggie, but also all the other characters who are stuck in these conditions. There are also the ‘villains’ in this story, whether real or imaginary, who are so well described that they get you worked up without even trying! Even characters who are not supposed to be villains but yet still are in my opinion, are in this book. For example, one character buys her love with food, and even though you know she needs it, you also feel very bad for her.

The imaginary world is absolutely crazy and so imaginative! Even though I prefer to hear from Reggie and not TG, I appreciate the intricacy in which these two stories were woven together!

This isn’t a book for very sensitive readers, but for readers who don’t mind a different take on struggle and what it is like to be truly alone in life. There are quite a few twists in the story and by the end it all makes perfect sense, so I don’t want to spoil anything. Definitely give this book a read when you need something a little different from the normal!

This got a 8/10 from me.

[Lynxie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really know what to say about Tough Girl.

I kind of feel like I've just woken up from a very bizarre dream, the real and fantasy worlds of Reggie's blurred considerably. Sometimes it was obvious which was which, other times not so much and that became a little confusing.

The book had me second guessing my instincts about characters, plot and even the ending. It forced me to see things like Reggie, the craziness and the reality all mixed in together, and that made for a bit of a strange read. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, it's far too complex to reach everyone on a real level, but at the same time it's simplistic.

I'm probably just confusing you all, but that is how I feel right now.

The writing was simple and easy to read, there was some great imagery coupled with real-life teen issues (bullying and the like), but it was coupled with some incredible storytelling. The intricacies of the fantasy world was immense.

Initially it reminded me a little of Tahlia Newland's work with the bullying and the alternate realism that occurred, but it wasn't the same style as Tahlia's work. This was harsher and in some ways more real, but in others not.

A rather confusing review I think, but sadly, that's what you're going to get as that's how I'm feeling right after reading this one.

A couple of things I noticed:

57% - 'waived' shoud be 'waved'
70% - 'She could feels (feel) his eyes...'

Also, the PDF version provided for my kindle had some very funky formatting issues, which should not be present when purchasing the book.

**NOTE: I was provided an electronic version of this book in return for an honest review**

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tough girl was a lot darker YA book than I'd been expecting going in but it was a great read, I actually liked the gritty side to it, it gave the book a feeling of realism to the story.
As Reggie starts to get lost in her own world the lines of reality and fantasy start to blur together and it's not always easy to tell as the reader which is which as you get lost in Reggie's world alongside her.
It was hard to see the tough life she has and the rough neighbourhood she lives in and I could understand why she prefers to live in a dream world, though to be honest I don't think she even realises half the time that she is.
I did have a problem with the ending though, it felt a little sudden and that Reggie doesn't receive the help mentally that she would after the kind of break down she goes through.
But, other than that, Tough girl was spot on, it was written really well and the author has a good grasp on both the gritty world Reggie lives in and the fantasy world full of aliens and other planets she imagines.
There was a good balance of both and some great twists at the end.
This is not one to be missed.

Favourite quotes

'She had one last thing she needed to take care of before she rejoined the Ruizes. She had to check on TG. Reggie closed her eyes.'

'"Tough girl. It's not a name, it's a warning."'

[Star · Rating 5 out of 5]

While ‘Tough Girl’ is about an eleven year old girl, it is not childlike at all. Ms. Heily has written ad beautifully poignant novel which will haunt you. I stayed up late reading ‘Tough Girl’ because I had to know what happened next and it was well worth the loss of sleep. I was sucked into Reggie’s story because Ms. Heily makes you feel every bit of Reggie’s emotions along with her. Reggie doesn’t have a great home life as her mom is mentally ill and slips away more and more each day. So Reggie’s left to fend for herself and in doing so has created an alter ego and friend of sorts in Tough Girl or TG, for short. Soon Reggie’s life starts to spiral out of control and her fantasies are invading the very reality she is trying to keep at bay. I was blown away by Ms. Heily and her ability to perfectly paint this world to life around the reader. I can’t say enough good things about ‘Tough Girl’! This is a book with very mature themes and as such, you may want to read it before your child does to be sure you are able to discuss it with them and then read it with them. ‘Tough Girl’ will bring out so many emotions while reading, so be sure to have some tissues close by. Excellent, excellent work and I hope to see more from this author.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic! The writing is superb, and the story is fascinating.

I won't go into the plot details, as you can get that from other reviews here, but this book not only resonated with me, as someone who was bullied as a kid, but also kept my attention throughout, leaving me needing to know what happens next.

At first, the alternate universe created by Reggie, the main character, is a little strange, but as the book went on, it was fascinating to see the level of detail that Reggie was able to put into it (she had a lot of time to herself to think about it), and really, it would be the envy of any science fiction writer. Libby, if you want to create a spinoff just about that, I would read it!

As for Reggie's real life, the level of description on what it's like to be an outsider is fantastic. In fact, I would say it's pretty dead on. Libby puts you right inside Reggie's head, and you feel the entire time that you're there with her, seeing what she's experiencing.

Is the book dark? Yes. Does it have some uncomfortable scenes? Definitely. Is it a tough subject. For sure. These aspects get you thinking and keep you hooked throughout. It is most definitely worth the read.

[Veronica Morfi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tough Girl was the dark tale of Reggie, a girl with a lot of everyday troubles which she decided to solve with the help of her imagination. Reggie's life is far from perfect, she gets bullied and her mother is lost inside her own world. So Reggie escapes in her fantasy world more and more and finally it gets really hard to understand what's real and what's not, even for the reader.

This book introduces us to the dangerous, sad and lonely world that Reggie has to live in. Definitely not a world for an eleven year old, and that's why while reading the story I would forget that she was so young. She had to grew faster in order to take care of herself. So, this is not a book for kids. Just like the blurb says there are adult themes(like attempting rape) and adult language.

The writing was great and even though the story had a fast and kind of forced ending it was a great book to get lost into. But I am still glad it was short, cause it made me feel sad and a bit depressed. Through out the whole book I just wanted to hug Reggie and never let go.

[Tammy Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tough Girl was not quite the book I was expecting at all. It is a very fast paced read and never skips a beat. I found this book to be very emotional and at times even disturbing. Libby Heily writes a very gritty, harsh, dark yet at time enduring story here.
when you begin this story you may think that Reggie is a typical 11 yr old girl with all the regular things that entails however, there is much more to her then you even know. Reggie creates an escape into her own imaginary world to help her through the tough times. You are taken on such a twisted ride through a world that leaves you wondering what's real and what is imaginary.
I will say that this book may not be for every one as it was a very tough read for me. I don't recommend this for anyone who is faint of heart or not emotionally mature as it contains some very dark and at time emotionally disturbing scenes.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Libby Heily has written a captivating and fascinating first novel. Reggie is a girl whose mother is mentally ill and as a result, the two of them are living on the very outer margins of society. Reggie deals with this by escaping into a fantasy world of her own creation. As Reggie is literally scrounging in order to survive, her world continues to spiral out of control, and the control she exerts on her fantasy world becomes tenuous at best. Beyond that, I will not say for fear of giving too much away of the plot. Libby (who is a friend of mine through our mutual participation in improv classes in Raleigh) creates gritty reality for Reggie and a fascinating science fiction world in Reggie's mind. Either story by itself would have been a captivating read; together, they produce an incredibly compelling tale of a girl trying to deal with circumstance no child should ever have to.

[Frank McKennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read!

The author the author very effectively draws the reader into the mind of the protagonist, Reggie, and takes one on an obstacle course with land mines along the way. The characters are threatening with increasing intensity, the dialogue adept , the encroaching darkness grim and the conclusion a surprise. Libby is a certainly a new artist to watch and read.

Why four and not five stars. Two areas where I was left wanting more. First, the character development of the secondary antagonists left me needing to know more about them and their thinking. Second, the conclusion, while satisfying on many levels for this story, felt incomplete. There were many loose ends that I wanted to see resolved.