Brave New Girl

by Louisa Luna

A fourteen-year-old trying to find her way in the world, Doreen is as much an outcast at school as she is at home. Marginalized by her peers, misunderstood by her parents, and mourning the loss of her older brother who disappeared when she was just a child, Doreen finds solace in her fierce love of music and in her best friend, Ted.
But when her older sister begins dating a bewildering twenty-one-year-old named Matthew, Doreen must confront feelings she never knew she possessed. Forced into adulthood kicking and screaming (not to mention swearing), Doreen ultimately impels her troubled family to forge a new understanding of the world -- and, maybe more surprisingly, of one another.
High school is bad enough; it's worse when you have only one friend in the world and a family that just doesn't get it. This breathless coming-of-age novel explores the alienation of adolescence and introduces a bold and shimmering new voice in fiction.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Coming Of Age, Contemporary, Teen, Chick Lit, Novels

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Louisa Luna is the author of the novels Brave New Girl, Crooked, and Serious As A Heart Attack. She was born and raised in the city of San Francisco and lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughter.

https://www.instagram.com/louisalunaw...

Reviews

[rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this at least six or seven times when it first came out. I was in my early teens and I remember this girl Doreen's voice being one of the first voices that really sounded like mine (and maybe a little bit like Daria Morgendorffer's, who not coincidentally was the heroine of my and my BFF's lives).

There's a part of the book that's stuck with me to this day. One of the plotlines of the story is that Doreen's popular older sister Tracy's boyfriend Matthew is a giant creeper that keeps hitting on Doreen. You can see where this is going, to unpleasant places. At one point, Matthew overcompliments her for something, I forget what, and Doreen thinks "Whatever, man. Glad I could make your day." really sarcastically.*

Every time some guy hits on me at random or gives me some over the top compliment or sometimes, depending on my mood, shows any sort of interest in me at all, this is my first thought. "Whatever, man. Glad I could make your day." I still hear it in my head in Doreen's voice. It's hilariously dismissive of the sort of machismo that makes some men think their attention gives a woman her worth. In that moment, I felt like I wanted to be Doreen, I thought it was so awesome. And that was probably the first stirring of young feminism inside of me.


* = I don't think this is it verbatim, but it's very similar.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

My introduction to the Pixies.

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if I can truly express why this book hit me hard-in a good way. First of all, contrary to what other reviewers may say or think, Doreen is a very authentic character. Hell, I was just like her when I was in middle school. I cussed and cursed just like her, had only one good friend who was male and got a lot of crap for it, hated the world and the phoniness of everybody, especially girls and all the cattiness crap that went along with them (I was very much a tomboy)... and supposed 'adults'. It seems like the type of story that would be way too angst-ridden and overdone. But it's NOT. Not at all. And as much as Doreen seems like a hateful or spiteful brat, she sees the world for exactly how it is and has quite a lot of insightful things bouncing around in her head. She's also pretty witty; I found myself laughing out loud many times while reading this and she doesn't take any shit from anybody which I admire. Again, I was the same way when I was her age. She's actually quite wise beyond her years. Not to say she doesn't have her faults, but she was her own person...which is so RARE these days. Everyone seems to be carbon copies of everyone else. And she points this out numerous times. It's not like she goes out of her way to be different; she's just herself. I also liked the way the book was written like she was a friend of yours sitting in the same room with you telling a story...Maybe I liked it because I could totally relate to her.

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is an exercise in frustration, to the point where it creates an unlikeable main character that has no desire to connect with the reader. Doreen has no friends, and the book shows, with good reason. Unlikeable, stupid, and cocky, Doreen has zero good reasons to act out the way she does, and the author fails to establish means to get the reader to connect with her. Every person likely went through Doreen's "fuck everything" phase, but Doreen presents her angst and punk the fuck rock attitude in such a flat, boring and predictable way. I just found her so dreadful to be in the mind of that it made this book difficult to read.

One aspect of this book that completely offended me is that this is a rape story where the rape presented as entirely meaningless. Doreen is raped by her sister's boyfriend, and yet she spends more time being focused on how awesome the Pixies are and then reminds the reader that "oh hey, something bad happened to me." Unlike Speak, which handles the topic of rape very well, this novel just tacks the rape on and it comes across so meaningless to the other all plot. When Doreen's parents actually confront the situation, they beat the guy up, and Doreen still shows hate towards them. It completely baffled me what the point of adding that was other than to add an extra bit of edge to the novel. It really doesn't work here.

The structure of this novel is dreadful, the main character lacks depth and interesting qualities, and it's awful of me to say, but how can I feel sorry for someone who doesn't do anything about her situation? May be I wasn't the target audience for this book, but it's something I simply can't recommend to anyone unless they want to read this type of crap.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me cry. Real tears of pain and real tears of comfort in the knowledge that I was not alone in my experience. I cannot thank the author enough for bringing together an accessible story that speaks such truth, in such a beautifully readable way. This isn't a "Judy Blume" book for the MTV generation. This story is powerful in its expression and cathartic in its execution. Read it. Women of any age can benefit from the author's insight.
After reading this book, I carry her
words with me for now and always. Thank you.

[W.patrick.bingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have ever felt like you didn't belong, then this is the book for you. Existential youth, coping with life and the shitty situations you have to deal with, and existing in the young adult world is what you will find in this well written novel. I highly recommend this quick, but riveting read to everyone.

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book because I was genuinely impressed with "Two Girls Down" and thought this would be, at least, almost as good. Boy was I wrong. This book is the story of a young idiot who hates everyone except her nerdy male friend, and she doesn't like him very much. Foul mouthed, illogical rotten kid. Terrible, bad, phooey!

[kim McRad · Rating 4 out of 5]

good, quick read if you liked perks of being a wallflower...

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't read this until college, but it's a really moving story - it reminds me a lot of Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak.

[Myss-Syckness · Rating 5 out of 5]

I swapped books with a friend a few years ago,
Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower for Brave New Girl.
She told me it was really good, although I didn't exactly beleive her until I started reading.
I was absorbed into this book instantly.
I don't exactly know what it was that sucked me in, but I didn't put it down until it was done.
The end is kind of odd, and questionable, but it was a really messed up story that I would totally read again.
I gave her back the book... but The Perks of Being a Wallflower has still not been returned to me after 3 or 4 years lol.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an old flame for me because I read it at a point in my life when I was going through similar transitions. I had nothing happen to me like the main character, but I feel a sort of peripheral kinship with the girl. But because I've read it twice, once when I was young and the second when I was older, I can truly say that it was more influential in my angst-ridden teen years. It gave me more perspective. I never wanted to be like her, and in most ways I'm not. And I think that's a great thing to get out of a novel: a new sense of self.

[elissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this, but I wanted to like it more than I did. And I can't remember the ending for some reason!

[the duke of wellington · Rating 5 out of 5]

i was a youngster when i read this but i loved this book

[Stacy Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

really enjoyed this one. for a younger crowd but i think its relateble

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

i like this book because it is chock full of pixies quotes.

[Ashley Kosik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read (1-2 days) interesting story from the perspective of 14 year old girl - self proclaimed outcast. *Trigger warning - sexual assault*

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the later books by this author - this book was completely different. Interesting though.

[Cassandra Renée · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book in the thrift store, having never previously heard of it, and I’m very glad I picked it up. For it being less than 200 pages, it is packed with intense situations that made me feel almost everything the narrator felt. If you like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, you'll probably like this book, too.

[Petty Lisbon · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I thought this book was a lonelier version of Blake Nelson's Girl but it grew on me. At first, the grumpy, unreliable narrator was annoying and boring but eventually it got better. I don't think I can get into chapterless books that are just divided into parts or books where everything is just described in second person/there is no dialogue, but I got used to it enough.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried while reading this book.
I connected to this story and felt so seen and understood.

[Addie Bowlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by my best friend years ago when we were still in high school. We were still basking in the glow of reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower, so finding incredible books was high on our to do list. She read Brave New Girl, loved it, and let me borrow it. I loved it so much I never gave it back. The style, tone, characters, feelings, settings, twists, thoughts, everything...I related to Doreen on so many levels, and as a teenager that is a powerful feeling. My favorite books tend to be about outcasts, and this was no exception to that rule.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book i read without a teacher telling me i had to. I related to the main charicter because i was around the same age s her and going through an awkward stage in my life. It also got me interested in one of my favorite bands The Pixies. If i never got this book i would still be deprived of their awsome rockingness.

[Natalie Pietro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this back in high school and it kinda fit with what I was going thought. Being a girl who had to switch high school half way thought I felt like an outcast with only 1 friend and parents that didnt understand. This book is kinda the same ways only she didnt switch schools. Its a coming of age book for any young teens.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read. Just what I needed to get away from all the serious, political stuff! lol! It's a fast read and I felt very nostalgic of my teen years. The language and perception is so accurate and it's loaded with emotion. A real gem.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a re-read for me... It's like being inside the brain/internal monologue of a jilted 14 year old girl, it's very emotional and raw, plus she only listens to the Pixies, which is pretty cool...

[Bowie Rowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember really digging this book in high school, but I'd like to read it again to see what I think of the writing now.

[Jonathan Mazer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you grew up within +/- 5 years of me anywhere near California, and you don't read this novel, you're stupid. And for the rest of you, you're not stupid, but read it anyway-- it's awesome!

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is really good so far

[Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this in school and it was one of those books that I've re-read a million times....

[Kim Capilitan · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love this book :) so freaking awesome and i love Doreen and Ted :)