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Rebels Like Us
"It's not like I never thought about being mixed race. I guess it was just that, in Brooklyn, everyone was competing to be unique or surprising. By comparison, I was boring, seriously. Really boring."
Culture shock knocks city girl Agnes "Nes" Murphy-Pujols off-kilter when she's transplanted mid senior year from Brooklyn to a small Southern town after her mother's relationship with a coworker self-destructs. On top of the move, Nes is nursing a broken heart and severe homesickness, so her plan is keep her head down, graduate and get out. Too bad that flies out the window on day one, when she opens her smart mouth and pits herself against the school's reigning belle and the principal.
Her rebellious streak attracts the attention of local golden boy Doyle Rahn, who teaches Nes the ropes at Ebenezer. As her friendship with Doyle sizzles into something more, Nes discovers the town she's learning to like has an insidious undercurrent of racism. The color of her skin was never something she thought about in Brooklyn, but after a frightening traffic stop on an isolated road, Nes starts to see signs everywhere including at her own high school where, she learns, they hold proms. Two of them. One black, one white.
Nes and Doyle band together with a ragtag team of classmates to plan an alternate prom. But when a lit cross is left burning in Nes's yard, the alterna-prommers realize that bucking tradition comes at a price. Maybe, though, that makes taking a stand more important than anything.
Culture shock knocks city girl Agnes "Nes" Murphy-Pujols off-kilter when she's transplanted mid senior year from Brooklyn to a small Southern town after her mother's relationship with a coworker self-destructs. On top of the move, Nes is nursing a broken heart and severe homesickness, so her plan is keep her head down, graduate and get out. Too bad that flies out the window on day one, when she opens her smart mouth and pits herself against the school's reigning belle and the principal.
Her rebellious streak attracts the attention of local golden boy Doyle Rahn, who teaches Nes the ropes at Ebenezer. As her friendship with Doyle sizzles into something more, Nes discovers the town she's learning to like has an insidious undercurrent of racism. The color of her skin was never something she thought about in Brooklyn, but after a frightening traffic stop on an isolated road, Nes starts to see signs everywhere including at her own high school where, she learns, they hold proms. Two of them. One black, one white.
Nes and Doyle band together with a ragtag team of classmates to plan an alternate prom. But when a lit cross is left burning in Nes's yard, the alterna-prommers realize that bucking tradition comes at a price. Maybe, though, that makes taking a stand more important than anything.
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First published February 28, 2017
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About the author
Liz Reinhardt
25 books1,795 followersLiz Reinhardt is a perpetually homesick NJ native who migrated to the deep South a decade ago with her funny kid, motor-head husband, and growing pack of mutts. She's a fanatical book lover with no reading prejudices and a wide range of genre loves, but her heart will always skip a beat for YA. In her spare time she likes to listen to corny jokes her kid reads to her from ice-pop sticks, watch her husband get dirty working on cars, travel whenever she can scrape together a few bucks, and gab on the phone incessantly with her bestie, writer Steph Campbell. She likes Raisinets even if they aren't real candy, the Oxford comma even though it's nerdy, and airports even when her plane is delayed. When she isn't writing, Liz Reinhardt teaches a fantastic group of diverse 8th graders in Savannah, GA. Rebels Like Us, her latest YA novel, is full of hot kisses, angst, homesickness, and laughs that are almost as good as the ones that come from the stick of a melty ice-pop.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
February 16, 2017
Reinhardt demonstrates the importance of #ownvoices. Write what you know, and if you do not, research until your fingers bleed. Her writing shows no injury or blood loss. What should have been a good opportunity for an additional diverse character serves as bait and switch for the main character, Nes, reads as a tanned white girl without heart and nuance.
For a black biracial girl, Nes is a rather naive girl from NYC to the Georgia. For example, she never felt "othered" (Children of color experience racism by the age of ten. Research matters). This book serves as a cop-out to what someone that is not of color thinks a biracial person deals with daily.
Furthermore, the story is sacrificed for cliches (She meets Doyle and falls in love instantly, us versus them, you're not like the other girls, magical negress) and romance. It is not until the story's halfway mark that we get a glimpse of racial strife (You know what the synopsis based itself on), despite missed earlier opportunities. By the end, despite serious issues, you're left with wondering why the author bothered writing this story, if she committed to only a third of the story.
Spare your time and either check out #ownvoices or authors capable of writing diverse characters. Major bust. (These 5 star reviews confuse me. Did they read this story or not care to find the troublesome aspects? I think neither. Probably not trained to see the latter. 1.5 rating
For a black biracial girl, Nes is a rather naive girl from NYC to the Georgia. For example, she never felt "othered" (Children of color experience racism by the age of ten. Research matters). This book serves as a cop-out to what someone that is not of color thinks a biracial person deals with daily.
Furthermore, the story is sacrificed for cliches (She meets Doyle and falls in love instantly, us versus them, you're not like the other girls, magical negress) and romance. It is not until the story's halfway mark that we get a glimpse of racial strife (You know what the synopsis based itself on), despite missed earlier opportunities. By the end, despite serious issues, you're left with wondering why the author bothered writing this story, if she committed to only a third of the story.
Spare your time and either check out #ownvoices or authors capable of writing diverse characters. Major bust. (These 5 star reviews confuse me. Did they read this story or not care to find the troublesome aspects? I think neither. Probably not trained to see the latter. 1.5 rating
February 18, 2017
I'm an Indigo employee, and I received an advanced reading copy of this book from Indigo Books and Music, in exchange for my honest review.
Marked this book as a DNF at page 182.
I really really tried. I wanted to like it, since I loved Seventeen fiction's "Something in Between", but this book has been eye roll-worthy and boring and pretty annoying for the first 180 pages, and I don't know if I can take any more.
The plot was slow moving, predictable, and dull (so far), and the characters were really unlikeable and unrelatable. I had such an interest in this book because it covered segregated proms, but I couldn't even get through until the topic is breached.
All the characters are so black and white (no pun intended), when it comes to their characteristics and motivations. The ex boyfriend is definitely a jerk, the ex girlfriend is definitely a jerk, etc. It also seems incredibly predictable - like I have a feeling I know what's coming for about 80% of the characters (but the story didn't hook me in enough for me to want to read through the book to confirm my predictions). The romance was super cheesy, and I hate insta-love, so that was already a let-down.
My first frustration (& eyeroll) of the book came early- in the first or 2nd chapter where a Black character isn't described as black, but instead, as having "a Beyoncé/Nefertiti vibe" *aggressively rolls eyes*. There were also a few subtle mentions of racism scattered through the book so far, but none of them were in-depth, and no context or meaning was attached to any of them. I haven't even gotten to the segregated prom part, so I have no idea how the author address it, or if it's done well.
I was also so frustrated by Agnes' character - she is a biracial (Irish and Dominican) young woman who is seemingly educated and socially aware - but for someone who keeps talking about feminism and being 'woke', and how she's used to talking about race in New York - Agnes never discusses or thinks about race in a meaningful way. She doesn't really question anything, doesn't really think critically - and it doesn't gel with how hard the author is trying to make Nes seem like a Woke Feminist ™. I don't understand why you would want to write a book about race and racism, when you can't seem to address it in an authentic and meaningful way?!?
I'm not saying white authors can't or shouldn't write from non-white perspectives, or about race or racism - but I am saying that if they can't do a topic or a character justice, they should step back and create space for an #ownvoices author to tell the story authentically.
I might eventually finish the book, but who knows? I really really wanted to like it, and I'm sad I felt so let down by it.
Marked this book as a DNF at page 182.
I really really tried. I wanted to like it, since I loved Seventeen fiction's "Something in Between", but this book has been eye roll-worthy and boring and pretty annoying for the first 180 pages, and I don't know if I can take any more.
The plot was slow moving, predictable, and dull (so far), and the characters were really unlikeable and unrelatable. I had such an interest in this book because it covered segregated proms, but I couldn't even get through until the topic is breached.
All the characters are so black and white (no pun intended), when it comes to their characteristics and motivations. The ex boyfriend is definitely a jerk, the ex girlfriend is definitely a jerk, etc. It also seems incredibly predictable - like I have a feeling I know what's coming for about 80% of the characters (but the story didn't hook me in enough for me to want to read through the book to confirm my predictions). The romance was super cheesy, and I hate insta-love, so that was already a let-down.
My first frustration (& eyeroll) of the book came early- in the first or 2nd chapter where a Black character isn't described as black, but instead, as having "a Beyoncé/Nefertiti vibe" *aggressively rolls eyes*. There were also a few subtle mentions of racism scattered through the book so far, but none of them were in-depth, and no context or meaning was attached to any of them. I haven't even gotten to the segregated prom part, so I have no idea how the author address it, or if it's done well.
I was also so frustrated by Agnes' character - she is a biracial (Irish and Dominican) young woman who is seemingly educated and socially aware - but for someone who keeps talking about feminism and being 'woke', and how she's used to talking about race in New York - Agnes never discusses or thinks about race in a meaningful way. She doesn't really question anything, doesn't really think critically - and it doesn't gel with how hard the author is trying to make Nes seem like a Woke Feminist ™. I don't understand why you would want to write a book about race and racism, when you can't seem to address it in an authentic and meaningful way?!?
I'm not saying white authors can't or shouldn't write from non-white perspectives, or about race or racism - but I am saying that if they can't do a topic or a character justice, they should step back and create space for an #ownvoices author to tell the story authentically.
I might eventually finish the book, but who knows? I really really wanted to like it, and I'm sad I felt so let down by it.
February 27, 2017
3.5/5 stars
Rebels Like Us is a standalone YA contemporary novel. It is my first book by this author.
I originally read about this book in Buzz Books 2017: Young Adult Spring/Summer. It sounded interesting.
The narrator is 17 year old Agnes Murphy-Pujols. She is known as Nes. Her father is Dominican and her mother is Irish. She has just moved from Brooklyn NY to a small town in Georgia to complete her senior year of high school.
Her father and brother live in France. And she and her mom have just moved to Georgia.
There is romance in this book. But to me the main focus was racism in the South. Agnes is not black and she is not white. Her high school has very strict traditions. It was shocking to think that any of this could occur in 2017.
At 500 pages I feel like that is way too long for a YA contemporary novel.
I enjoyed Doyle, a Southern boy in her class that works part-time as a gardener. And I loved Agnes' best girlfriend from back home, Ollie.
I will say that the last part of the book was by far the strongest. This book will make you think because there is some stuff about segregated proms that is based on true events. Overall, the topic for this book was very interesting. It just would have worked better for me if the book was 100 pages shorter.
Thanks to netgalley and Harlequin Teen for allowing me to read this book.
Rebels Like Us is a standalone YA contemporary novel. It is my first book by this author.
I originally read about this book in Buzz Books 2017: Young Adult Spring/Summer. It sounded interesting.
The narrator is 17 year old Agnes Murphy-Pujols. She is known as Nes. Her father is Dominican and her mother is Irish. She has just moved from Brooklyn NY to a small town in Georgia to complete her senior year of high school.
Her father and brother live in France. And she and her mom have just moved to Georgia.
There is romance in this book. But to me the main focus was racism in the South. Agnes is not black and she is not white. Her high school has very strict traditions. It was shocking to think that any of this could occur in 2017.
At 500 pages I feel like that is way too long for a YA contemporary novel.
I enjoyed Doyle, a Southern boy in her class that works part-time as a gardener. And I loved Agnes' best girlfriend from back home, Ollie.
I will say that the last part of the book was by far the strongest. This book will make you think because there is some stuff about segregated proms that is based on true events. Overall, the topic for this book was very interesting. It just would have worked better for me if the book was 100 pages shorter.
Thanks to netgalley and Harlequin Teen for allowing me to read this book.
January 5, 2017
I enjoyed Rebels Like Us a lot. It engages in some cliches -- instalove, opposites improbably attracting, fairytale ending, etc -- but does so in a knowing, nuanced way, and populates them with engaging, individual characters who made the story come very effectively to life. In particular, Nes kicks ass. She's strong and confident from the start, and never even considers backing down in a totally foreign, unfamiliar environment -- she's never less than herself, it's a wonderful thing to see. I also appreciated that it took almost half of the book for Nes to recognize the racism swirling around her. In some ways such a thing might seem improbable but, given the background and previous life Reinhardt provides for her main character, I found the delay totally convincing, as was the shame and surprise Nes had to work through as her eyes were slowly opened.
ANYWAY. Yes. Totally in the tank for Nes and this book. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Teen for the ARC!
ANYWAY. Yes. Totally in the tank for Nes and this book. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Teen for the ARC!
June 2, 2017
The writing of this book, itself, was pretty good. The author was a pro at making you feel something about the characters; you were frustrated and angry and happy along with them. But the storyline, itself, was not all that great. Until about the 250-300th page, you weren't even aware of what the problem was yet in the book, because it was all focused on Nes whining about not being able to date Doyle even though it was her choice not to, and also her whining about leaving New York. And even when the alternaprom was introduced, it was kind of like it was background music to Doyle and Nes's relationship. So, basically, the gist of it: awkward love story with a little bit of background social justice so that you weren't only reading about two people having a love-hate relationship for 400 pages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
not-yet-read
June 14, 2017Just won a signed ARC of this, and I'm pretty freaking excited!
May 14, 2017
I loved the chemistry between the two main characters, Nes and Doyle. The two had some great banter going from the first time they met. Their flirting had me smiling every time. Both of them were fun characters. I was actually surprised how much of the book focused on their growing relationship. I expected more of the plot to be on the racism Nes faced in Georgia as a mixed-race girl and on her efforts to stop the annual tradition of two proms being held – one white and one black. It took quite a while for Nes to even learn about the prom tradition. And once she did learn, it took a while more for them to get around to doing anything.
Because of that, the plot was a bit uneven. While I absolutely enjoyed watching the relationship between Nes and Doyle, I felt like the prom plot should have gotten more focus. A lot of their work at throwing an inclusive prom happened off-screen. There were news stories, donations, and planning that we were just told about after the fact. The whole prom plot was mostly rushed at the end after it took so long to even be introduced.
In addition to the relationship between Nes and Doyle, I also loved her relationships with her friend, Ollie, and with her mom. Both those relationships are readjusting after the sudden move. Nes and Ollie have to learn how to navigate a long-distance relationship, but they still love each other fiercely. Nes and her mom are trying to figure out how to act around one another after her mom’s affair wrecked their lives in Brooklyn. They’re not in a good place when the book starts, but they still love each other and work on repairing things over the course of the book.
Overall, this was a fun read, despite a couple darker moments. The plot may have been uneven, but the relationships were great.
Because of that, the plot was a bit uneven. While I absolutely enjoyed watching the relationship between Nes and Doyle, I felt like the prom plot should have gotten more focus. A lot of their work at throwing an inclusive prom happened off-screen. There were news stories, donations, and planning that we were just told about after the fact. The whole prom plot was mostly rushed at the end after it took so long to even be introduced.
In addition to the relationship between Nes and Doyle, I also loved her relationships with her friend, Ollie, and with her mom. Both those relationships are readjusting after the sudden move. Nes and Ollie have to learn how to navigate a long-distance relationship, but they still love each other fiercely. Nes and her mom are trying to figure out how to act around one another after her mom’s affair wrecked their lives in Brooklyn. They’re not in a good place when the book starts, but they still love each other and work on repairing things over the course of the book.
Overall, this was a fun read, despite a couple darker moments. The plot may have been uneven, but the relationships were great.
October 16, 2018
This book had so much potential, but everything was done just so wrong. Full review to come
February 6, 2017
This book was O.M. Wowza!!!!! I loved this book, and I know you will too! I finished this book so fast (and would have been faster if I didn't have school!) I was on the edge of my seat turning page after page!!!!!
This book is about a young girl who goes by Nes and how she grows and changes through her last semester of senior year. When Nes' mom does something unthinkable, Nes and her move to a small town in Georgia. Little did her mom know that Georgia may have been the worst place to choose. Nes becomes an outsider in her new school, but then she meets Doyle- the super cute, good-mannered, southern cowboy. Doyle knows he wants Nes from the beginning, but Nes is slow to trust because her heart has been broken by her best friend and first love, but Doyle doesn't give up. As Doyle and Nes' relationship starts to grow, people at the school begin to grow unhappy. Segregation is still a big thing in Georgia, even though the Civil War was like 200 years ago!
This book opened up my eyes. I never knew that this was still going on, and this book, being made up of true events, is down right sickening.
This book showed you that you can change the impossible, that love is a challenge but a great one, and that some people see beyond your exterior and don't care about anything else.
These characters had me loving them from the start. Doyle is amazing! His southern hospitality, playful banter, and his good looks have me so wanting a cowboy like him in my life! Nes is like Katniss meets Rosa Parks. She is strong willed, independent, quick tempered, full of love and loss, creative, and a great friend. She doesn't let her skin color determine anything about her. The side characters are also great! I really liked Critter, Alonzo, and Khabria.
SOME SPOILER DETAILS ABOUT DATES IN THIS NEXT PARAGRAPH!!!!!!
The romance in this book is amazing! I felt like I went on the same roller coaster as Doyle and Nes! Their love for each other is just as strong if not more than their love to change things for the better! I love their dates like going mudding, swimming, playing drunk baseball, and going to a fancy dinner, out dancing, then to a beach in the middle of the night! Can Doyle be my boyfriend!
DONE WITH SPOILERS!!!!!
There is some swearing, hard making out, and some sex, but over all this book is fairly clean.
I got a Advanced Reader Copy of this novel through a drawing, and the book was signed by the author. In no way was I bribed or asked to give this 5 star review. Thank you, Liz Reinhardt for signing my book, and what you wrote is so true... "When the rules aren't fair, make your own."
This book is about a young girl who goes by Nes and how she grows and changes through her last semester of senior year. When Nes' mom does something unthinkable, Nes and her move to a small town in Georgia. Little did her mom know that Georgia may have been the worst place to choose. Nes becomes an outsider in her new school, but then she meets Doyle- the super cute, good-mannered, southern cowboy. Doyle knows he wants Nes from the beginning, but Nes is slow to trust because her heart has been broken by her best friend and first love, but Doyle doesn't give up. As Doyle and Nes' relationship starts to grow, people at the school begin to grow unhappy. Segregation is still a big thing in Georgia, even though the Civil War was like 200 years ago!
This book opened up my eyes. I never knew that this was still going on, and this book, being made up of true events, is down right sickening.
This book showed you that you can change the impossible, that love is a challenge but a great one, and that some people see beyond your exterior and don't care about anything else.
These characters had me loving them from the start. Doyle is amazing! His southern hospitality, playful banter, and his good looks have me so wanting a cowboy like him in my life! Nes is like Katniss meets Rosa Parks. She is strong willed, independent, quick tempered, full of love and loss, creative, and a great friend. She doesn't let her skin color determine anything about her. The side characters are also great! I really liked Critter, Alonzo, and Khabria.
SOME SPOILER DETAILS ABOUT DATES IN THIS NEXT PARAGRAPH!!!!!!
The romance in this book is amazing! I felt like I went on the same roller coaster as Doyle and Nes! Their love for each other is just as strong if not more than their love to change things for the better! I love their dates like going mudding, swimming, playing drunk baseball, and going to a fancy dinner, out dancing, then to a beach in the middle of the night! Can Doyle be my boyfriend!
DONE WITH SPOILERS!!!!!
There is some swearing, hard making out, and some sex, but over all this book is fairly clean.
I got a Advanced Reader Copy of this novel through a drawing, and the book was signed by the author. In no way was I bribed or asked to give this 5 star review. Thank you, Liz Reinhardt for signing my book, and what you wrote is so true... "When the rules aren't fair, make your own."
June 8, 2017
Received an ARC from the Tattered Cover Bookstore. Thank you!
Challenge 17: Main character has a different ethnicity
2017 52 book challenge: Book by an author you'very never read before.
2/3/17: I'm only on page 53 and there is on-page sex so this will be a high school only book. So far, I'm liking the story and the writing.
Lots of sex on-page and underage drinking puts this firmly in the high school only category. While I thought it was realistic, it is more one of the "new adult" novels rather than a young adult novel.
While I enjoyed reading this book it left me questioning a lot. For a book that is about breaking down racial barriers and stereotypes, why is the best friend, of Vietnamese decent, great at polishing nails? Really? And even though Agnes is "dark" as described by the author she never was a victim of anything racial in Brooklyn? I find that quite hard to believe. Also, the insta-love between Doyle & Nes seemed a little less than believable.
I did overall enjoy the book, even with those misgivings and think other seniors on the verge of adulthood might as well.
Talking about it with a colleague has me rethinking my 3 stars. Probably only a 2.5 star rating rounded up. I doubt I will add this to our collection, just too graphic with the sex scenes for a public school.
Challenge 17: Main character has a different ethnicity
2017 52 book challenge: Book by an author you'very never read before.
2/3/17: I'm only on page 53 and there is on-page sex so this will be a high school only book. So far, I'm liking the story and the writing.
Lots of sex on-page and underage drinking puts this firmly in the high school only category. While I thought it was realistic, it is more one of the "new adult" novels rather than a young adult novel.
While I enjoyed reading this book it left me questioning a lot. For a book that is about breaking down racial barriers and stereotypes, why is the best friend, of Vietnamese decent, great at polishing nails? Really? And even though Agnes is "dark" as described by the author she never was a victim of anything racial in Brooklyn? I find that quite hard to believe. Also, the insta-love between Doyle & Nes seemed a little less than believable.
I did overall enjoy the book, even with those misgivings and think other seniors on the verge of adulthood might as well.
Talking about it with a colleague has me rethinking my 3 stars. Probably only a 2.5 star rating rounded up. I doubt I will add this to our collection, just too graphic with the sex scenes for a public school.
February 17, 2017
NYC teen Agnes Murphy-Pujols is in for the shock of a lifetime when she moves to middle-of-nowhere Georgia and finds out that her new community holds two segregated proms. Romantic sparks fly when Agnes meets popular Doyle Rahn, and eventually they, and their band of teen allies decide to organize a desegregated "alternaprom". MC Agnes's voice is smart, edgy and laugh-out-loud funny. Her romance with gorgeous southern boy Doyle is off-the-charts HOT, and the side characters are well drawn (alpha-girl Khabria is my absolute favorite along with Agnes's witty long-distance best buddy, Ollie). Author Reinhardt, who lives in Georgia, does a great job painting the regional flavor & climate, so in the dead of Vermont winter, I felt like I was taking a little mini-vacation down south (which was so welcome). Don't miss this inspiring, sexy, witty, uplifting, southern-flavored gem of a book (based on a true story).
July 9, 2017
I'm gonna make this quick and light..unlike the book!
I was really looking forward to this book..it has so much promise with a great message about racism. You really don't realize it sometimes but unfortunately our country has along way to go in that department still.
The wonderful message in this book unfortunately took a backseat to some seriously boring and drawn out issues between the MC's Nes and Doyle. I just wanted them to hurry up and end their relationship so the rest of the book would come alive. It never happened though..the book stayed pretty boring whenever their love life surfaced.
I think with a little less book and a little less going back and forth this could have been a really good read. And because of the important message I'm going to rate this a 3 instead of 2...that's how boring it was at times to me.
I was really looking forward to this book..it has so much promise with a great message about racism. You really don't realize it sometimes but unfortunately our country has along way to go in that department still.
The wonderful message in this book unfortunately took a backseat to some seriously boring and drawn out issues between the MC's Nes and Doyle. I just wanted them to hurry up and end their relationship so the rest of the book would come alive. It never happened though..the book stayed pretty boring whenever their love life surfaced.
I think with a little less book and a little less going back and forth this could have been a really good read. And because of the important message I'm going to rate this a 3 instead of 2...that's how boring it was at times to me.
June 9, 2017
This is a pitch perfect teen romance with social justice theme. The GENIUS of the writing is that I didn't realize she had dark skin in the south because SHE didn't realize she had dark skin in the south.
March 25, 2017
Love this book! The main theme for me is not the romance, but the racism. Great book to read this year. To not forgot how little time pass since Civil right movement. How much we have to do. It's so sad that this theme is still a contemporary subject.
March 13, 2017
I needed an easy read break and I found this book. It's a cute teen book that faces some real issues that's happening in the US.
September 7, 2017
I really wanted to love this book but it took too long to get to the issues in this book. The first 100 pages or so isn't even a set up for the conflict in the book, it is the anger Anges has at her mother and wallowing in pity over being moved to Georgia In January of her Senior Year. With the outrageous thing her mother did, the option should of been for her to live with her grandmother or her best friend's parents instead of uprooting her for mother's stupidtiy. Parents should suffer for their children not the other way around.
So Agnes moves to a small town in Georgia and quickly becomes the target of the mean girls. Adding fuel to the fire she starts dating the ringleader's ex boyfriend. After painfully reading all that hoping the racism which the book blurbs proclaim quite loudly we start seeing little bits of it.
It comes to a head when Agnes learns they still hold two seperate proms, one for blacks and one for whites. So if you are interracial you can't go to prom nor can you go in you are in a same sex relationship.
After trying to convince the principal that this is outdated and very wrong, he sidesteps it by telling them to talk to the mothers who run this. That gets them nowhere. So out of nowhere Agnes' best friend back in NYC spears a fundraiser that gets them the money for the prom.
Pranks go haywire and someone gets hurt. In the end they get one prom for the whole school.
I really wanted to like this book better, but it took to long to get to the plot of the story. It was over the top on the relationship between Agnes and Doyle.
This book really needed an other edit, strip the mother's actions, the details of the relationship and drop the story of her father remarried in Paris. Instead show more issues interracial couples face and expand more on the fight for the right to one prom
So Agnes moves to a small town in Georgia and quickly becomes the target of the mean girls. Adding fuel to the fire she starts dating the ringleader's ex boyfriend. After painfully reading all that hoping the racism which the book blurbs proclaim quite loudly we start seeing little bits of it.
It comes to a head when Agnes learns they still hold two seperate proms, one for blacks and one for whites. So if you are interracial you can't go to prom nor can you go in you are in a same sex relationship.
After trying to convince the principal that this is outdated and very wrong, he sidesteps it by telling them to talk to the mothers who run this. That gets them nowhere. So out of nowhere Agnes' best friend back in NYC spears a fundraiser that gets them the money for the prom.
Pranks go haywire and someone gets hurt. In the end they get one prom for the whole school.
I really wanted to like this book better, but it took to long to get to the plot of the story. It was over the top on the relationship between Agnes and Doyle.
This book really needed an other edit, strip the mother's actions, the details of the relationship and drop the story of her father remarried in Paris. Instead show more issues interracial couples face and expand more on the fight for the right to one prom
wishlist
August 11, 2017After reading the Buzz Books excerpt: I honestly didn't expect to like this one based on the synopsis, but it was very readable and the MC was very witty and sassy. I don't think this one was on my TBR, so I must add it ASAP :)
Read
June 1, 2019Categories
Young Adult Social Themes, Young Adult Romance, Young Adult Coming of Age
Young Adult Social Themes, Young Adult Romance, Young Adult Coming of Age
June 10, 2019
Good! Cute! I didn't know that some proms in the south were still segregated so recently YIKES
September 1, 2021
Just nope. Couldn’t do it. Soooooo boring!
May 12, 2017
Rebels Like Us is about a girl named Agnes who moves from New York to Georgia for her senior year of high school and gets a huge dose a culture shock. I empathized with her character because moving from CT to MD was like that for me. I laughed out loud when Agnes' teachers thought she was messing with her by not calling her "Ma'am."
Honestly, not much happens in the first third of the book besides Agnes meeting and hanging out Doyle, going to school, arguing with her mom, dealing with Ansley (the head mean girl) and avoiding talking to her father, but the book moves along at a good pace and I still wanted to keep reading and I wanted to see what happened to the characters. I generally dislike "instalove", but it worked for Agnes and Doyle. They're a cute couple.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of racism at the new school, including segregated proms. I was annoyed at that. I don't see how that would be allowed in 2017. Agnes, Doyle and their friends make an alternative prom, but it doesn't sit well with people who want to keep their "traditions" alive, and someone puts a burning cross on Agnes' lawn. I felt like after that there was a huge lead up to the alterna-prom with all the news coverage and everything, and then the prom itself was barely covered in the book. That was kind of a let down. It's like Ok, then the prom that we all worked so hard for happened. Cool. There was so much money left over that there will be another one next year. Nice. I'm gonna graduate now.
I still enjoyed the book and was very happy to win it through the First Reads program, but I only gave it four stars because of that.
Honestly, not much happens in the first third of the book besides Agnes meeting and hanging out Doyle, going to school, arguing with her mom, dealing with Ansley (the head mean girl) and avoiding talking to her father, but the book moves along at a good pace and I still wanted to keep reading and I wanted to see what happened to the characters. I generally dislike "instalove", but it worked for Agnes and Doyle. They're a cute couple.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of racism at the new school, including segregated proms. I was annoyed at that. I don't see how that would be allowed in 2017. Agnes, Doyle and their friends make an alternative prom, but it doesn't sit well with people who want to keep their "traditions" alive, and someone puts a burning cross on Agnes' lawn. I felt like after that there was a huge lead up to the alterna-prom with all the news coverage and everything, and then the prom itself was barely covered in the book. That was kind of a let down. It's like Ok, then the prom that we all worked so hard for happened. Cool. There was so much money left over that there will be another one next year. Nice. I'm gonna graduate now.
I still enjoyed the book and was very happy to win it through the First Reads program, but I only gave it four stars because of that.
July 9, 2017
3.5 Stars!!
Rebels Like Us by Liz Reinhardt was good. I enjoyed it, the writing style has a simple clearness to it, different personalities, and filled with many, many messages. Even with its cliches, it’s still a fun read, with a message.
I seem to joy stories where characters go from city to small town or the other way around. Maybe it’s because I moved around a lot when growing up, or maybe that’s just fun to read. Anyways, the lead character, Nes, goes from city life to Southern small town life, now I personally have only lived in the south once and it was for a very short time. But city life it very different from small town life, and I’m not just talking about less traffic or not much to do. But the everyday life, the way people think and stuff it very different. For my, the writer got this part right. The HUGE differences between areas, and how people think depending on where they have grown up shows in this book. I’ve lived in places where people judge you depending on where you live in that town, who you know in that town, and even on what you believe, and who you live your life. When I moved there, I couldn’t believe the lack of open minds. So, for me, the author got that part right.
But the lead character, Nes, wasn’t someone clicked with on a few leaves. The just moved missing old life and friends, I got. But I wish I could've seen more of her embracing her divorced family roots. I’ve been learning my family history for about a year now, and because of that, it’s opened my mind even more, for one, and two I’ve looked into these new places I didn’t know I’ve come from, learning about their culture and stuff. See, Nes who’s Dominican and Irish comes from bright colors roots, but she doesn’t seem to know that. I wish I could of see traits from both Dominican and Irish, other than her hair from Dominican and that she sunburns easily because of her Irish blood. With that said, I do wish I could have gotten to know the character a bit more, I seem that we just get the first leave of who they are.
There are many messages in this book. I enjoy when a writer can put many messages that got together into one book without loose the plot. But more of the messages have to do with racism. Now, I am all for books that cover this topic, for me, this book did a good job of covering racism in a small town. I do want to say racism in the South because I’ve lived in small town in the north and they have the same problems. Now, I haven’t lived anywhere where they have straight out ban people of color from things/places. But this author writes a good story that shows that even nowadays in some places look down at mixed race dating. I do wish there could have been more talk about racism so more, and how it affected the character more.
I like the role that family plays in this book with both of the leads. More and more family is starting to play a part in YA contemporary novels. And that’s a plus for me. The relationship that changes the most in the book is between Nes and her mother. This book shows that there are many different sides to stories, even if it’s not for the best or right reason, every single story has it’s own point of view and why something happened. This book kinda shows that.
Even though I did have a few problems with this book, the joy of reading outweighed them. It’s a fun summer read, with meaning between its pages. If your looking for a summer book, that shines a little light on to mixed race dating, and topics similar to that, then this book could be for you.
(I was given an e-copy of this through NetGalley, for a 100% honest review of my own thoughts.)
Rebels Like Us by Liz Reinhardt was good. I enjoyed it, the writing style has a simple clearness to it, different personalities, and filled with many, many messages. Even with its cliches, it’s still a fun read, with a message.
I seem to joy stories where characters go from city to small town or the other way around. Maybe it’s because I moved around a lot when growing up, or maybe that’s just fun to read. Anyways, the lead character, Nes, goes from city life to Southern small town life, now I personally have only lived in the south once and it was for a very short time. But city life it very different from small town life, and I’m not just talking about less traffic or not much to do. But the everyday life, the way people think and stuff it very different. For my, the writer got this part right. The HUGE differences between areas, and how people think depending on where they have grown up shows in this book. I’ve lived in places where people judge you depending on where you live in that town, who you know in that town, and even on what you believe, and who you live your life. When I moved there, I couldn’t believe the lack of open minds. So, for me, the author got that part right.
But the lead character, Nes, wasn’t someone clicked with on a few leaves. The just moved missing old life and friends, I got. But I wish I could've seen more of her embracing her divorced family roots. I’ve been learning my family history for about a year now, and because of that, it’s opened my mind even more, for one, and two I’ve looked into these new places I didn’t know I’ve come from, learning about their culture and stuff. See, Nes who’s Dominican and Irish comes from bright colors roots, but she doesn’t seem to know that. I wish I could of see traits from both Dominican and Irish, other than her hair from Dominican and that she sunburns easily because of her Irish blood. With that said, I do wish I could have gotten to know the character a bit more, I seem that we just get the first leave of who they are.
There are many messages in this book. I enjoy when a writer can put many messages that got together into one book without loose the plot. But more of the messages have to do with racism. Now, I am all for books that cover this topic, for me, this book did a good job of covering racism in a small town. I do want to say racism in the South because I’ve lived in small town in the north and they have the same problems. Now, I haven’t lived anywhere where they have straight out ban people of color from things/places. But this author writes a good story that shows that even nowadays in some places look down at mixed race dating. I do wish there could have been more talk about racism so more, and how it affected the character more.
I like the role that family plays in this book with both of the leads. More and more family is starting to play a part in YA contemporary novels. And that’s a plus for me. The relationship that changes the most in the book is between Nes and her mother. This book shows that there are many different sides to stories, even if it’s not for the best or right reason, every single story has it’s own point of view and why something happened. This book kinda shows that.
Even though I did have a few problems with this book, the joy of reading outweighed them. It’s a fun summer read, with meaning between its pages. If your looking for a summer book, that shines a little light on to mixed race dating, and topics similar to that, then this book could be for you.
(I was given an e-copy of this through NetGalley, for a 100% honest review of my own thoughts.)
July 4, 2017
Agnes Murphy-Pujols has just been uprooted from her active life in Brooklyn halfway through her senior year in high school to move with her Irish mother to a small town in Georgia while her brother attends the Sorbonne and lives with their Dominican father in Paris. Feeling like she got the raw end of the deal, Agnes is equally pissed at her mother for “cheating on” her father, despite their separation, and stressed out at having to deal with fitting in at a new school. Luckily, her looks and fiery personality draw the interest of ultra-popular Doyle and they flirt their way through the semester. The book’s focus becomes more racial when Agnes finds out about her new school’s tradition of segregated proms and tries to create change.
At nearly 500 pages, Rebels Like Us is one of the longest YA books I’ve encountered. The writing is solid and the characters well developed. It’s likely to please those interested in a romance novel with a few tangents. While the book bills itself as focusing on racial issues, those really take a backseat to the relationship between Agnes and Doyle. That said, their courtship does not seem to be given adequate attention as an inter-racial relationship. Some important issues are broached, which could serve as a catalyst for thought in some young minds, but nothing new or earth shattering is really presented. A shorter length may have worked better for this piece, which is a bit slow to get going and does seem to go on for a while. The novel could actually work well as the basis for a film.
I received an advance uncorrected proof of this book as a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author/publisher for participating in the giveaway.
At nearly 500 pages, Rebels Like Us is one of the longest YA books I’ve encountered. The writing is solid and the characters well developed. It’s likely to please those interested in a romance novel with a few tangents. While the book bills itself as focusing on racial issues, those really take a backseat to the relationship between Agnes and Doyle. That said, their courtship does not seem to be given adequate attention as an inter-racial relationship. Some important issues are broached, which could serve as a catalyst for thought in some young minds, but nothing new or earth shattering is really presented. A shorter length may have worked better for this piece, which is a bit slow to get going and does seem to go on for a while. The novel could actually work well as the basis for a film.
I received an advance uncorrected proof of this book as a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author/publisher for participating in the giveaway.
March 28, 2019
I wasn't sure about this book when I first started it because it felt like maybe too much thinking and talking took too long but eventually I settled in and I really enjoyed it! Even as a Known Gay, I did love Doyle a whole heck of a ton and I was really invested in them getting together. It felt real, the journey they went through finally get their lives straightened out. And I liked how certain traits or values were flipped to the non-stereotypical one, that was interesting and compelling. The realizations and shifting perspectives they went through felt authentic and on one hand, it's like "communicate!" But only the other, you totally get why that's easier said than done. Between their pasts and their youth, it only makes sense that the characters behave as they do. All in all, I recommend it! Very compelling & interesting read.
***Edit***
So, after reading a couple of the negative reviews of this book, I can't say I disagree with the points about race and the lack of truly meaningful thoughts and conversation around it in this book. On that front, this book doesn't deserve a 4/5 rating, I was just in the mood for a sweet love story right now, so that's what my feelings and review are based on. I enjoyed that aspect, but I do admit that this book did not quite deliver what the synopsis promised. It's fun & contemporary with its share of dark and upsetting moments, but it could've been executed better in the social justice & diversity category & I defer to people of color to have the most informed opinions and thoughts on that aspect.
***Edit***
So, after reading a couple of the negative reviews of this book, I can't say I disagree with the points about race and the lack of truly meaningful thoughts and conversation around it in this book. On that front, this book doesn't deserve a 4/5 rating, I was just in the mood for a sweet love story right now, so that's what my feelings and review are based on. I enjoyed that aspect, but I do admit that this book did not quite deliver what the synopsis promised. It's fun & contemporary with its share of dark and upsetting moments, but it could've been executed better in the social justice & diversity category & I defer to people of color to have the most informed opinions and thoughts on that aspect.
March 5, 2017
I remember my first reaction to this book (before I held it in my hands) being that the story sounded very relevant and intriguing, and that I really liked the cover. I’d also never read a book with a bi-racial main character before, which was surprising and shameful for me. When the book arrived in the mail, I remember feeling very excited, as well as intimidated by the size of it! It is nearly 500 pages long! I’d never encountered a contemporary YA book which was that long before, and I really hoped that the story would hold my attention all the way through.
But, I had nothing to worry about. In fact, I now wish that the book had been longer, because I was not ready to say goodbye when it ended. Overall, this was a strange experience for me, because I do not read a lot of contemporary YA, at all, and when I do, I usually find that I’m just not challenged or entertained enough.
I found Agnes (Nes) to be likeable from the start though, even though she’s quite a bit younger than I am. See, I believe that one of the reasons why I prefer fantasy and sci-fi YA to contemporary is that most of the time, even if the main characters are in their mid-teens, they feel less-young to me somehow. In YA contemporary, there’s usually the reminder that the characters are in high school, or on summer or spring break, etc. I was not a fan of high school, so I don’t like to read about it (so that’s maybe another reason too).
But anyway, this was not an issue for me while reading Rebels Like Us! I was actually interested in what would happen to Nes’ social life at school and in the town she moved to. I also cared about her close relationships with other characters, because I cared for her. All characters were multi-layered and realistic, and simply a joy to read about (in good situations, and bad ones). And I distinctly enjoyed Nes’ relationship with Doyle. Nes and Doyle are both very complex characters, and their interactions were therefore just as complex.
This novel also dealt with a number of very current and relevant issues regarding race in the U.S.A. I felt the same shock and outraged which Nes felt when she found out about the segregated proms in the town she’d moved to from NYC. I think that the “keep the traditions and the old ways” form of thinking of the town Nes moved to is reflective of a lot of real towns, and this is something which needs to change. This book pointed out, quite effectively, just how ridiculous racism is (any time, and especially now in the 21st century).
Reinhardt shared all of this with us with the use of her lovely writing (even lyrical at times), portraying emotional moments, horrifying ones, ones filled with love, and even scenes or commentaries from Nes which made me burst out laughing. As I am not bi-racial, and am 100% Romanian (as far as I know), I cannot vouch as to whether Nes’ experiences as a person of colour are accurate. But I can say that due to having lived in Austria as a labeled “outlander” for nearly a decade, and being judged and segregated for this thing I had no control over, that some of Nes’ experiences felt a little familiar, as well as painful for every part of my heart and soul.
I highly recommend this book to those who would like to read a romance with writing which is engaging, funny, passionate, and which also tackles many of the issues faced by North American society today. This has definitely been one of my favourite reads of 2017 thus far!
But, I had nothing to worry about. In fact, I now wish that the book had been longer, because I was not ready to say goodbye when it ended. Overall, this was a strange experience for me, because I do not read a lot of contemporary YA, at all, and when I do, I usually find that I’m just not challenged or entertained enough.
I found Agnes (Nes) to be likeable from the start though, even though she’s quite a bit younger than I am. See, I believe that one of the reasons why I prefer fantasy and sci-fi YA to contemporary is that most of the time, even if the main characters are in their mid-teens, they feel less-young to me somehow. In YA contemporary, there’s usually the reminder that the characters are in high school, or on summer or spring break, etc. I was not a fan of high school, so I don’t like to read about it (so that’s maybe another reason too).
But anyway, this was not an issue for me while reading Rebels Like Us! I was actually interested in what would happen to Nes’ social life at school and in the town she moved to. I also cared about her close relationships with other characters, because I cared for her. All characters were multi-layered and realistic, and simply a joy to read about (in good situations, and bad ones). And I distinctly enjoyed Nes’ relationship with Doyle. Nes and Doyle are both very complex characters, and their interactions were therefore just as complex.
This novel also dealt with a number of very current and relevant issues regarding race in the U.S.A. I felt the same shock and outraged which Nes felt when she found out about the segregated proms in the town she’d moved to from NYC. I think that the “keep the traditions and the old ways” form of thinking of the town Nes moved to is reflective of a lot of real towns, and this is something which needs to change. This book pointed out, quite effectively, just how ridiculous racism is (any time, and especially now in the 21st century).
Reinhardt shared all of this with us with the use of her lovely writing (even lyrical at times), portraying emotional moments, horrifying ones, ones filled with love, and even scenes or commentaries from Nes which made me burst out laughing. As I am not bi-racial, and am 100% Romanian (as far as I know), I cannot vouch as to whether Nes’ experiences as a person of colour are accurate. But I can say that due to having lived in Austria as a labeled “outlander” for nearly a decade, and being judged and segregated for this thing I had no control over, that some of Nes’ experiences felt a little familiar, as well as painful for every part of my heart and soul.
I highly recommend this book to those who would like to read a romance with writing which is engaging, funny, passionate, and which also tackles many of the issues faced by North American society today. This has definitely been one of my favourite reads of 2017 thus far!
May 24, 2017
At 490 pages Rebels Like Us is a lengthy read, and in the back of my mind I had a few sneaking suspicions I would not finish this book. I was wrong. I could hardly stop myself from plowing from cover to cover.
What I do want to make clear for parents is Rebels Like Us is perfect for high school students and young adults trying to find their way in the world, but should not be read by younger readers trying to "read up." Liz Reinhardt does not skip around adult issues such as alcohol or sex, but nor did I feel at anytime she wrote in things just for shock value as in some YA.
I have to admit, I was intrigued by the storyline. My children have moved to the south in the last few years from California and are bi-racial. As in the story line, like Agnes they are neither white nor black. They have gotten Mexican and Chinese slurs recently.
I grew up in Georgia and have heard of double proms mentioned in Rebels Like Us. The reasoning adults provided was "black people needed different music than white people." Enough said.
There is much work to do in America and around the world, but Liz Reinhardt offers hope and encouragement through her uplifting story.
What I do want to make clear for parents is Rebels Like Us is perfect for high school students and young adults trying to find their way in the world, but should not be read by younger readers trying to "read up." Liz Reinhardt does not skip around adult issues such as alcohol or sex, but nor did I feel at anytime she wrote in things just for shock value as in some YA.
I have to admit, I was intrigued by the storyline. My children have moved to the south in the last few years from California and are bi-racial. As in the story line, like Agnes they are neither white nor black. They have gotten Mexican and Chinese slurs recently.
I grew up in Georgia and have heard of double proms mentioned in Rebels Like Us. The reasoning adults provided was "black people needed different music than white people." Enough said.
There is much work to do in America and around the world, but Liz Reinhardt offers hope and encouragement through her uplifting story.
December 21, 2021
This just wasn't good. I only continued reading it because I've had this book for a while and wanted to finish it. The pacing was really off - very slow until over halfway through the book. The main plot as described in the synopsis didn't start until over halfway through the book!! The main character was very immature for a high school senior. More research also could have been done, especially given the fact that the main character is Black, but the author is white, and the story deals heavily with racism and discrimination. The concept was promising, but the execution just didn't follow through. There was SO much unnecessary drama that could have been cut, especially between the main couple, and side characters and plots that were introduced but never wrapped up. Everything was way more dramatic than it needed to be. Once I got to the prom stuff, the main plot as described in the synopsis, I got more interested in the story, but it was still a struggle to get through. Overall, it felt like the first draft of a book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2025
Rebels Like Us is such a powerful and emotional read that stayed with me long after I finished it. From the very first pages, the story pulls you into the lives of characters who feel real, messy, and deeply human. Liz Reinhardt writes with so much heart and honesty that it’s impossible not to get emotionally invested in their journey.
What really stood out to me was how raw and realistic the emotions felt. The characters are flawed and make mistakes, but that only makes their growth more meaningful. The friendships, relationships, and personal struggles are written in a way that feels authentic and relatable, especially when it comes to finding your voice and figuring out who you are in the middle of chaos. The story balances heavy topics with moments of warmth and hope, which makes the emotional impact even stronger.
This book isn’t just about rebellion in the loud, dramatic sense—it’s about standing up for yourself, choosing empathy, and learning how to be brave in quiet but powerful ways. Rebels Like Us is heartfelt, thoughtful, and beautifully written, and it’s an easy five-star read. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a story that feels real, emotional, and meaningful.
What really stood out to me was how raw and realistic the emotions felt. The characters are flawed and make mistakes, but that only makes their growth more meaningful. The friendships, relationships, and personal struggles are written in a way that feels authentic and relatable, especially when it comes to finding your voice and figuring out who you are in the middle of chaos. The story balances heavy topics with moments of warmth and hope, which makes the emotional impact even stronger.
This book isn’t just about rebellion in the loud, dramatic sense—it’s about standing up for yourself, choosing empathy, and learning how to be brave in quiet but powerful ways. Rebels Like Us is heartfelt, thoughtful, and beautifully written, and it’s an easy five-star read. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a story that feels real, emotional, and meaningful.
July 7, 2017
I really tried to love this book, but I found it hard. I feel like the book should have gotten to the point much sooner, and that it was unnecessarily long. I had to wait until almost half way through the book for it to get to the point, and I thought the side stories should really have played less of a point throughout the story. I think the plot was falsely advertised as being about racism when I saw it as more of a romance. Racism played less of a role in the story then the cover description said. Overall, if you're looking for a good romance with a side story of a girl and her friends overcoming prejudice in their town, this is the book for you. If you are looking for a book where most of the story revolves around overcoming racism, this story really doesn't give it.
April 13, 2019
Trigger Warning ⚠
Racism, hate speech
I absolutely love this book so much! I was hesitant at first about reading it as the topic of racism angers & saddens me. I don't know how people can be so cruel. But I am so glad I pushed through the hesitation & read it. Its about a girl who moves with her mother to a small town & the daughter faces racism at her school. Its heartbreaking at times, hilarious, beautiful & so authentic.
The characters are so amazing & are so well developed. I got so attached to them & I wish there was a sequel so I could know more.
The world building is done so well. Its easy for me to see all the details in my head.
This is definitely one of my new favorite books of all time!
Racism, hate speech
I absolutely love this book so much! I was hesitant at first about reading it as the topic of racism angers & saddens me. I don't know how people can be so cruel. But I am so glad I pushed through the hesitation & read it. Its about a girl who moves with her mother to a small town & the daughter faces racism at her school. Its heartbreaking at times, hilarious, beautiful & so authentic.
The characters are so amazing & are so well developed. I got so attached to them & I wish there was a sequel so I could know more.
The world building is done so well. Its easy for me to see all the details in my head.
This is definitely one of my new favorite books of all time!
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