Like a Girl

by Rebecca Westcott

Fourteen-year-old Eden McCoy doesn't fit in. All she's good at is running, and she doesn't even dare join the track team. Her priority is to stay in the shadows and avoid the Glossies - a ruthless clique of girls who use social media to punish and humiliate
their targets, led by their queen Bea and her sidekick Mikki.

But one day, Eden breaks her vow to stay unnoticed: she beats track star Mikki in a race. This bold move captures the attention of Bea, who decides Eden needs to either prove her loyalty and become one of the Glossies - or suffer the consequences. And so The Testing begins...

As Eden is challenged to play a cruel prank on another kid or have that same act inflicted on her, her will is pushed to the limit. The only thing keeping her afloat is an unexpected connection with a boy called Riley, a fellow runner who messages her online. But how deep does The Testing run? And how long until Eden breaks?

Paperback

About the author

Rebecca Westcott was born in Chester. She went to Exeter University to train as a teacher and has had a variety of teaching jobs that have taken her to some very interesting places, including a Category C male prison. She started writing a diary when she was eight years old, although she had no idea that one day her entries would be used to help her write a book. Rebecca currently teaches in a primary school and lives in Dorset with her husband and three children. Dandelion Clocks is her first book.

Reviews

[Róisín · Rating 2 out of 5]

An okay book, I’m definitely not the target audience for this book. The concept of the book was okay-but felt flat and a bit too young for the age of the characters and how they spoke. Yes aimed at a specific demographic, to make a point of not trusting everything you read online-especially when you don’t know the full ins and out. Online bullying is a very real thing in today’s society, one that needs to be treated the exact same way as all forms of bullying of any form.

[Mezghaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captured the essence of bullying faced in an average British secondary school. I’m glad eden got her happy ending and was able to move on.
A must read for year 8-11

[Claire Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2022 1,024 10-15year olds completed a survey on social media & the answers helped the author to write this story. It gives a real insight into what life is like for teenagers now.

[Ari (Head in a Book) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, it did come off a little immature and silly sometimes though but I suppose that's what makes it fun.