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That's Debatable
That's Debatable is a witty, smart, and feminist romantic comedy, author Jen Doll explores what it means to set boundaries while breaking down barriers.
Millicent Chalmers isn't here to make friends.
She's here to win, and she's on track to set a record if--no, when--she wins the state debate tournament for the fourth year in a row. Calm, cool, and always in control, Millie doesn't care what anyone else thinks of her, least of all the sexist bullies bent on destroying her reputation.
Taggart Strong couldn't care less about winning debate, much to the consternation of his teammates, school and parents. In fact, he might even enjoy losing, as long as the side he believes in wins.
But when a tournament takes a scary turn, Millie and Tag find themselves unexpectedly working together. Maybe Millie can teach Tag a thing or two about using his head, and Tag can teach Millie a little bit about following her heart.
Millicent Chalmers isn't here to make friends.
She's here to win, and she's on track to set a record if--no, when--she wins the state debate tournament for the fourth year in a row. Calm, cool, and always in control, Millie doesn't care what anyone else thinks of her, least of all the sexist bullies bent on destroying her reputation.
Taggart Strong couldn't care less about winning debate, much to the consternation of his teammates, school and parents. In fact, he might even enjoy losing, as long as the side he believes in wins.
But when a tournament takes a scary turn, Millie and Tag find themselves unexpectedly working together. Maybe Millie can teach Tag a thing or two about using his head, and Tag can teach Millie a little bit about following her heart.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published August 30, 2022
23 people are currently reading
614 people want to read
About the author
Jen Doll
6 books83 followersJen Doll has written for The Atlantic, The Atlantic Wire, Cosmopolitan, The Hairpin, New York magazine, The New York Times Book Review, The Toast, Topic, Vice, The Village Voice, and The Week, among others. She grew up in Alabama and lives in Brooklyn and upstate New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
January 12, 2024
That’s Debatable is a dual-POV contemporary YA romance following Millie and Tag, two high school debaters. Millie lives in a small town in Alabama and is raised by a single mother. She is determined to win state for the fourth year in a row to win a full-ride scholarship. Tag comes from a wealthy family who is pushing for him to do well in debate to improve his chances for college, but all Tag wants to do is cook extraordinary meals and have debates about what he believes in, not what the prompt tells him to. The two seem to be unlikely friends, but after a shooter scare forces them to lock themselves in a closet, they form a connection.
There were things I loved about this book and things I hated, landing me on a solid 3 Star rating. Firstly, I love this cover. The colors are so bright and fun! I also loved the structure of this novel with the in-text citations that injected some fun side comments into the narration. There were also some of Tag’s recipes included throughout and I loved this idea. I also enjoyed learning all the debate lingo. I haven’t seen any books focused on a debate club nor have I participated in debate, but the author did a great job of introducing the topic to the audience in an easily understandable way and made me want to attend a debate tournament. Finally, the characters were pretty great - especially Carlos! My favorite side character for sure.
I didn’t like how preachy this book got at times. Issues like gender inequality, gun violence, and socioeconomic status were brought up a lot. At times these issues were discussed in an appropriate and subtle manner, but most times these conversations felt forced. These preachy moments took up a large part of the narration and would ruin my reading experience at times.
In general, I did enjoy this book and had a good time reading it. The preachiness bothered me at times, so that’s why I’m settling in the middle here. There was a lot to love and a lot to hate. If you’ve been thinking about getting this book, though, I think you should!
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Children’s Publishing Group for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There were things I loved about this book and things I hated, landing me on a solid 3 Star rating. Firstly, I love this cover. The colors are so bright and fun! I also loved the structure of this novel with the in-text citations that injected some fun side comments into the narration. There were also some of Tag’s recipes included throughout and I loved this idea. I also enjoyed learning all the debate lingo. I haven’t seen any books focused on a debate club nor have I participated in debate, but the author did a great job of introducing the topic to the audience in an easily understandable way and made me want to attend a debate tournament. Finally, the characters were pretty great - especially Carlos! My favorite side character for sure.
I didn’t like how preachy this book got at times. Issues like gender inequality, gun violence, and socioeconomic status were brought up a lot. At times these issues were discussed in an appropriate and subtle manner, but most times these conversations felt forced. These preachy moments took up a large part of the narration and would ruin my reading experience at times.
In general, I did enjoy this book and had a good time reading it. The preachiness bothered me at times, so that’s why I’m settling in the middle here. There was a lot to love and a lot to hate. If you’ve been thinking about getting this book, though, I think you should!
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Children’s Publishing Group for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2022
Firstly, huge thanks to Fierce Reads for the E-ARC. This in no way effects my opinion.
This book…wow. It hit on so many issues we see in today’s world. Sexism, racism, guns, bullying, parental expectations, snobby rich kids getting their way.
Millie is such a relatable character and while my home life is different than hers, the expectations her mom placed on her in accidentally turning her into a little mini me to rectify “mistakes” she had made in the past is such a relatable concept for teenagers nowadays and one that I have some experience with.
Tag was the perfect carefree counterpart to Millies’s character. And honestly the definition of dream guy, I mean, he always had a whole restaurant in his backpack (and don’t get me started on that croque monsieur) And I loved that throughout the book, recipes for the foods he made were included and it really made the characters feel real and like I was talking to them.
This book, as one has likely figured out, is about high school debaters/debate teams. None of the schools I attended had a debate team, so I was absolutely lost so I’m glad the author explained a lot of the terminology. Much of the explanation was in the form of footnotes, the bane of “Nevernight” readers existence, which were helpful but my one complaint would be that the footnotes were at the end of the chapter so I would forget what term or phrase was being described. Hopefully, the final copy of the book clears that up (ideally, footnotes at the bottom of their respective pages if that makes sense)
Overall, it was an absolutely beautify written, thought provoking, poignant novel about modern issues and doing what’s right for you even when it seems wrong for others. While also elegantly lighting up the mood by appeasing to food lovers (I could go for a croque monsieur right about now)
This book…wow. It hit on so many issues we see in today’s world. Sexism, racism, guns, bullying, parental expectations, snobby rich kids getting their way.
Millie is such a relatable character and while my home life is different than hers, the expectations her mom placed on her in accidentally turning her into a little mini me to rectify “mistakes” she had made in the past is such a relatable concept for teenagers nowadays and one that I have some experience with.
Tag was the perfect carefree counterpart to Millies’s character. And honestly the definition of dream guy, I mean, he always had a whole restaurant in his backpack (and don’t get me started on that croque monsieur) And I loved that throughout the book, recipes for the foods he made were included and it really made the characters feel real and like I was talking to them.
This book, as one has likely figured out, is about high school debaters/debate teams. None of the schools I attended had a debate team, so I was absolutely lost so I’m glad the author explained a lot of the terminology. Much of the explanation was in the form of footnotes, the bane of “Nevernight” readers existence, which were helpful but my one complaint would be that the footnotes were at the end of the chapter so I would forget what term or phrase was being described. Hopefully, the final copy of the book clears that up (ideally, footnotes at the bottom of their respective pages if that makes sense)
Overall, it was an absolutely beautify written, thought provoking, poignant novel about modern issues and doing what’s right for you even when it seems wrong for others. While also elegantly lighting up the mood by appeasing to food lovers (I could go for a croque monsieur right about now)
February 10, 2025
As a high school debater in the pf circuit, I have a very big bias when it come to books addressing debate. However, even though I really enjoyed reading about this book, I have to admit it does have ways it could have been better. For anyone that did or is doing pf/ld/ps/policy I think you would find many of the incidents and vocabulary very relatable.
the characters:
I loved both Millicent and Tag. They both have very relatable and likable personalities. First is Millicent. Millie is the definition of perfection, she puts debate over everything. Being a competitive debater, and being friends with multiple debate champion, I can definitely understand the pressure that Millie faces. Getting champion is goal for many debaters, however only those who put in the most effort, time and energy wins. Millie is chaotic in a very cute way, I also enjoy seeing her differences in and out of debate. I love seeing her friendship with Carlos play out. Tag is the polar opposite to Millie. He argues what he believes and does not care about his stance. Even though it looks like he is a loner and everyone is bullying him for making this choice, however from a debater perspective; he is just an idiot and someone that has brain issues. Cause basically him doing this will result in low speaker points for both him and his opponent. But the growth that Tag goes though is both heartwarming and amazing to read about. Tag is weird, but gentle. The way he worships and is terrified of Millie is extremely cute. Throughout the story I LOVE seeing the interaction between the two characters and how their differences shaped them to be a couple!! Seeing Tag standing up for Millie and defending literally makes me want to cry <3<3<3 #Tagcent4ever
the theme:
So first of all, as I mostly do online debate and rarely do offline debates I am not really in the same debate environment as Millie and Tag, but that doesn't make the theme and topic any less meaningful. Being a proud feminist, and someone that believes in equal rights, I have been doing a lot of research regarding the hostile environment faced by female and minority debaters. The behavior of many male judges, coaches and debaters are not OK, and as a female debater we deserve to fight for the truth, and let it be heard. This book greatly address this theme; from flirty male judges to disgusting male opponents, to quiet bystanders. This book covers it all. Millicent is the representation of "compromising for the sake of winning". Female debaters know that it is useless to fight against this type of invisible power, yet at the end of the book. The readers are taught that when people stand together people are able to overcome issues and barriers. Honestly, the only flaw I have is the book also having a side plot of the romance. Even though I am proudly Team Tagcent, I really would have preferred a book without the romance plot. Me personally, I think the book would be better with just Millie and Tag becoming friends (yes I know friends don't kiss) But the romance side plot was kinda distracting from the overall message (Not saying I didn't enjoy the romance).
extensions
THIS IS NOT SOME FAKE MAKE UP STORY IN THE DEBATE COMMUNITY!!! This is based on many young women's personal story in the debate circuit. People are always taught to debate in a certain way, dress a certain way, and speak in a certain tone. I am sick of people ignoring the importance of this issue. Even though this "sport" started off being "a white men political speech" it deserves more inclusion and acceptance. "Debate is for everyone that wants to think." - Millicent M. Chalmers
Here is some research that I did based on this topic:
https://lahstalon.org/speech-debate-t...
https://harvardpolitics.com/bro-cultu...
https://www.equalityinforensics.org/b...
https://thewildcattribune.com/1398/op...
https://thefword.org.uk/2013/03/what_...
Also, listen to Ella Schnake's 2019 NSDA POI Nationals speech "Debate Like a Girl"
the characters:
I loved both Millicent and Tag. They both have very relatable and likable personalities. First is Millicent. Millie is the definition of perfection, she puts debate over everything. Being a competitive debater, and being friends with multiple debate champion, I can definitely understand the pressure that Millie faces. Getting champion is goal for many debaters, however only those who put in the most effort, time and energy wins. Millie is chaotic in a very cute way, I also enjoy seeing her differences in and out of debate. I love seeing her friendship with Carlos play out. Tag is the polar opposite to Millie. He argues what he believes and does not care about his stance. Even though it looks like he is a loner and everyone is bullying him for making this choice, however from a debater perspective; he is just an idiot and someone that has brain issues. Cause basically him doing this will result in low speaker points for both him and his opponent. But the growth that Tag goes though is both heartwarming and amazing to read about. Tag is weird, but gentle. The way he worships and is terrified of Millie is extremely cute. Throughout the story I LOVE seeing the interaction between the two characters and how their differences shaped them to be a couple!! Seeing Tag standing up for Millie and defending literally makes me want to cry <3<3<3 #Tagcent4ever
the theme:
So first of all, as I mostly do online debate and rarely do offline debates I am not really in the same debate environment as Millie and Tag, but that doesn't make the theme and topic any less meaningful. Being a proud feminist, and someone that believes in equal rights, I have been doing a lot of research regarding the hostile environment faced by female and minority debaters. The behavior of many male judges, coaches and debaters are not OK, and as a female debater we deserve to fight for the truth, and let it be heard. This book greatly address this theme; from flirty male judges to disgusting male opponents, to quiet bystanders. This book covers it all. Millicent is the representation of "compromising for the sake of winning". Female debaters know that it is useless to fight against this type of invisible power, yet at the end of the book. The readers are taught that when people stand together people are able to overcome issues and barriers. Honestly, the only flaw I have is the book also having a side plot of the romance. Even though I am proudly Team Tagcent, I really would have preferred a book without the romance plot. Me personally, I think the book would be better with just Millie and Tag becoming friends (yes I know friends don't kiss) But the romance side plot was kinda distracting from the overall message (Not saying I didn't enjoy the romance).
extensions
THIS IS NOT SOME FAKE MAKE UP STORY IN THE DEBATE COMMUNITY!!! This is based on many young women's personal story in the debate circuit. People are always taught to debate in a certain way, dress a certain way, and speak in a certain tone. I am sick of people ignoring the importance of this issue. Even though this "sport" started off being "a white men political speech" it deserves more inclusion and acceptance. "Debate is for everyone that wants to think." - Millicent M. Chalmers
Here is some research that I did based on this topic:
https://lahstalon.org/speech-debate-t...
https://harvardpolitics.com/bro-cultu...
https://www.equalityinforensics.org/b...
https://thewildcattribune.com/1398/op...
https://thefword.org.uk/2013/03/what_...
Also, listen to Ella Schnake's 2019 NSDA POI Nationals speech "Debate Like a Girl"
August 29, 2022
This is a story about when to follow rules ... and when to break them. Millicent "Millie" Chambers is the top high school debater in Alabama -- she's won the last three state championships, and she is hoping to set a record by winning it for the fourth time this year. Millie is a fierce competitor and is almost exclusively focused on debate. She tries not to let the sexism and bullying she regularly experiences at debate tournaments distract her from her goal, which is not just winning but also getting the scholarship she'll need to attend college. Taggart "Tag" Strong, on the other hand, does not care very much about winning at debate, much to the consternation of his teammates at the private school he attends and his parents. Tag is more interested in saying what he really believes than arguing in favor of a side that he thinks is wrong.
Mille and Tag are assigned to debate each other at a tournament early in their senior year. When they experience a traumatic event at the tournament and get to know each other, Millie and Tag find each other drawn to each other. Millie agrees to help Tag improve at debate while staying true to his values, even though she and her mom had agreed she would stay away from boys and focus on winning debate and the scholarship. As Millie and Tag spend more time together, Millie learns she has just as much to learn from Tag about living a full life -- even as their alliance causes trouble with Tag's teammates and other competitors, who seem committed to tearing Millie down.
I thoroughly enjoyed this thoughtful, astute, and very engaging book. It switches between the perspectives of Mille and Tag, both of whom are highly compelling characters. The author does an excellent job of portraying what drives Millie, the challenges she faces as a female debater and one from a school with fewer resources, and how she navigates those challenges. The book also offered an insightful examination of paths to success, how that intersects with parents and schools' expectations and privilege, and balancing following the rules with doing what you feel is right. I also appreciated the author's note, which discussed her own experiences with debate and how it inspired the book.
Strongly recommended!
Mille and Tag are assigned to debate each other at a tournament early in their senior year. When they experience a traumatic event at the tournament and get to know each other, Millie and Tag find each other drawn to each other. Millie agrees to help Tag improve at debate while staying true to his values, even though she and her mom had agreed she would stay away from boys and focus on winning debate and the scholarship. As Millie and Tag spend more time together, Millie learns she has just as much to learn from Tag about living a full life -- even as their alliance causes trouble with Tag's teammates and other competitors, who seem committed to tearing Millie down.
I thoroughly enjoyed this thoughtful, astute, and very engaging book. It switches between the perspectives of Mille and Tag, both of whom are highly compelling characters. The author does an excellent job of portraying what drives Millie, the challenges she faces as a female debater and one from a school with fewer resources, and how she navigates those challenges. The book also offered an insightful examination of paths to success, how that intersects with parents and schools' expectations and privilege, and balancing following the rules with doing what you feel is right. I also appreciated the author's note, which discussed her own experiences with debate and how it inspired the book.
Strongly recommended!
January 15, 2023
I was a big fan of Doll’s debut so I thought I was going to love this, but the singular focus on the subject of debate just didn’t connect with me. You can read my full review at Forever Young Adult.
August 16, 2022
Thank you to Fierce Reads and Netgalley for the ARC!
“When women do stuff that guys in power don’t like, when girls step out of their ‘acceptable’ role, they get slammed for it. That’s how misogyny works. It happened to Mary Wollstonecraft and it was happening to me.”
That’s Debatable follows Millicent Chalmers, a debate champion three years in a row and aiming for a fourth. She’s an excellent debater but faces challenges as one of the only girl debaters in every competition she attends. What I loved about Millie was that she remained fiercely confident in her debate abilities despite feeling like many debate judges and competitors having something personal against her.
Enter Tag, a rich boy from a rich school. A shooter scare happens at a debate competition and Millie and Tag get locked in a storage closet in the room they were debating in, stuck until someone comes to let them know it’s safe to come out. Tag is a debater, but not a very good one. As the book goes on, Millie teaches Tag how to improve his debating skills and the two become friends. As the book goes on, they wonder if they could be more.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It handles a lot of heavy topics like sexism and gun violence with respect and nuance. My main criticism of the book is probably something that will be fixed in a printed version of the book. Each chapter has little footnotes at the end of each chapter that elaborate on terms and detailed noted within that chapter, but you get to all of the footnotes so long after you started the chapter that you don’t remember what the footnote is talking about. However, I’m confident this will change in the printed format and have footnotes on the bottom of pages that need them.
I have a few friends that are in debate that really enjoy it, and I would definitely recommend That’s Debatable to them if they ever wanted to read a book that focused on debate!
“When women do stuff that guys in power don’t like, when girls step out of their ‘acceptable’ role, they get slammed for it. That’s how misogyny works. It happened to Mary Wollstonecraft and it was happening to me.”
That’s Debatable follows Millicent Chalmers, a debate champion three years in a row and aiming for a fourth. She’s an excellent debater but faces challenges as one of the only girl debaters in every competition she attends. What I loved about Millie was that she remained fiercely confident in her debate abilities despite feeling like many debate judges and competitors having something personal against her.
Enter Tag, a rich boy from a rich school. A shooter scare happens at a debate competition and Millie and Tag get locked in a storage closet in the room they were debating in, stuck until someone comes to let them know it’s safe to come out. Tag is a debater, but not a very good one. As the book goes on, Millie teaches Tag how to improve his debating skills and the two become friends. As the book goes on, they wonder if they could be more.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It handles a lot of heavy topics like sexism and gun violence with respect and nuance. My main criticism of the book is probably something that will be fixed in a printed version of the book. Each chapter has little footnotes at the end of each chapter that elaborate on terms and detailed noted within that chapter, but you get to all of the footnotes so long after you started the chapter that you don’t remember what the footnote is talking about. However, I’m confident this will change in the printed format and have footnotes on the bottom of pages that need them.
I have a few friends that are in debate that really enjoy it, and I would definitely recommend That’s Debatable to them if they ever wanted to read a book that focused on debate!
August 21, 2022
"I owe it to myself to see what might happen. To put who I am and what I feel out into the world, regardless of how much it might scare me. And to fight sexism and douchebags every step of the way."
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This book was an okay experience for me. There were some things this book did really well and some others that left something to be desired.
I really liked how sexism and bullying were portrayed in an academic activity as I don't think it is focused on enough. We see females on debate teams being judged on their appearance and even their tone of voice. That's Debatable talks about how women are often accused of being too emotional if they are passionate or have an opinion about something whereas men don't face the same criticisms.
What didn't work for me was the teenage romance between Millicent and a boy named Tag. It was fine however I feel like a friendship could have worked just as well and the romance wasn't needed and added nothing to the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This book was an okay experience for me. There were some things this book did really well and some others that left something to be desired.
I really liked how sexism and bullying were portrayed in an academic activity as I don't think it is focused on enough. We see females on debate teams being judged on their appearance and even their tone of voice. That's Debatable talks about how women are often accused of being too emotional if they are passionate or have an opinion about something whereas men don't face the same criticisms.
What didn't work for me was the teenage romance between Millicent and a boy named Tag. It was fine however I feel like a friendship could have worked just as well and the romance wasn't needed and added nothing to the story.
October 13, 2022
Niche subject excellently executed
I did high school debate in the mid-aughts, and this book did such a great job of capturing the feeling of doing Lincoln Douglas Debate while weaving a wonderful romance. Millie is a great character, Tag is amazing, and the book's use of footnotes is fun and also really debate-y.
If you ever did debate in high school, read this. If you want a fluffy, meaningful romance, read this. It's a delight.
I did high school debate in the mid-aughts, and this book did such a great job of capturing the feeling of doing Lincoln Douglas Debate while weaving a wonderful romance. Millie is a great character, Tag is amazing, and the book's use of footnotes is fun and also really debate-y.
If you ever did debate in high school, read this. If you want a fluffy, meaningful romance, read this. It's a delight.
April 23, 2024
The book is about high school debaters, I thought it would be a fun dive into debates on interesting topics with valid and thought provoking points for the affirmative and for the negative but it didn't quite hit the mark. It mostly talked about the lives of debaters and how girls in debate deal with bullying and harassment, which is important but overshadowed the debate stuff I was looking forward to. I wish it had a better balance between the two.
December 26, 2022
A dedicated debater, Millie, meets Tag, who can't bring himself to argue a point of view he disagrees with. So he is bound to lose - unless Millie decides to coach him.
https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20...
https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20...
Read
July 18, 2023I enjoyed this book, but at the same time I felt the author was trying too hard to call attention to every social issue with which we currently face. I also felt that the author used this book as a platform to express her opinions as to how to deal with those issues. I don't disagree with her beliefs, but the writing came across as preachy. In addition, the focus on sexism was a bit outdated. I think that the events in this book regarding how the female protagonist was treated regarding her ability to debate would have been accurate when I was in high school. I teach 8th grade and I don't see that kind of discrimination any longer.
Don't get me wrong, there are important messages in this book about challenges and discrimination that affect only certain groups of the population, but some of the situations are just outdated.
Similarly I know this is a YA book, but the reader doesn't have to dig for a deeper meaning - everything is just stated outright.
Don't get me wrong, there are important messages in this book about challenges and discrimination that affect only certain groups of the population, but some of the situations are just outdated.
Similarly I know this is a YA book, but the reader doesn't have to dig for a deeper meaning - everything is just stated outright.
September 15, 2025
As a high school debater in the pf circuit, I have a very big bias when it come to books addressing debate. However, even though I really enjoyed reading about this book, I have to admit it does have ways it could have been better. For anyone that did or is doing pf/ld/ps/policy I think you would find many of the incidents and vocabulary very relatable.
the characters:
I loved both Millicent and Tag. They both have very relatable and likable personalities. First is Millicent. Millie is the definition of perfection, she puts debate over everything. Being a competitive debater, and being friends with multiple debate champion, I can definitely understand the pressure that Millie faces. Getting champion is goal for many debaters, however only those who put in the most effort, time and energy wins. Millie is chaotic in a very cute way, I also enjoy seeing her differences in and out of debate. I love seeing her friendship with Carlos play out. Tag is the polar opposite to Millie. He argues what he believes and does not care about his stance. Even though it looks like he is a loner and everyone is bullying him for making this choice, however from a debater perspective; he is just an idiot and someone that has brain issues. Cause basically him doing this will result in low speaker points for both him and his opponent. But the growth that Tag goes though is both heartwarming and amazing to read about. Tag is weird, but gentle. The way he worships and is terrified of Millie is extremely cute. Throughout the story I LOVE seeing the interaction between the two characters and how their differences shaped them to be a couple!! Seeing Tag standing up for Millie and defending literally makes me want to cry <3<3<3 #Tagcent4ever
the theme:
So first of all, as I mostly do online debate and rarely do offline debates I am not really in the same debate environment as Millie and Tag, but that doesn't make the theme and topic any less meaningful. Being a proud feminist, and someone that believes in equal rights, I have been doing a lot of research regarding the hostile environment faced by female and minority debaters. The behavior of many male judges, coaches and debaters are not OK, and as a female debater we deserve to fight for the truth, and let it be heard. This book greatly address this theme; from flirty male judges to disgusting male opponents, to quiet bystanders. This book covers it all. Millicent is the representation of "compromising for the sake of winning". Female debaters know that it is useless to fight against this type of invisible power, yet at the end of the book. The readers are taught that when people stand together people are able to overcome issues and barriers. Honestly, the only flaw I have is the book also having a side plot of the romance. Even though I am proudly Team Tagcent, I really would have preferred a book without the romance plot. Me personally, I think the book would be better with just Millie and Tag becoming friends (yes I know friends don't kiss) But the romance side plot was kinda distracting from the overall message (Not saying I didn't enjoy the romance).
extensions
THIS IS NOT SOME FAKE MAKE UP STORY IN THE DEBATE COMMUNITY!!! This is based on many young women's personal story in the debate circuit. People are always taught to debate in a certain way, dress a certain way, and speak in a certain tone. I am sick of people ignoring the importance of this issue. Even though this "sport" started off being "a white men political speech" it deserves more inclusion and acceptance. "Debate is for everyone that wants to think." - Millicent M. Chalmers
Here is some research that I did based on this topic:
https://lahstalon.org/speech-debate-t...
https://harvardpolitics.com/bro-cultu...
https://www.equalityinforensics.org/b...
https://thewildcattribune.com/1398/op...
https://thefword.org.uk/2013/03/what_...
Also, listen to Ella Schnake's 2019 NSDA POI Nationals speech "Debate Like a Girl"
the characters:
I loved both Millicent and Tag. They both have very relatable and likable personalities. First is Millicent. Millie is the definition of perfection, she puts debate over everything. Being a competitive debater, and being friends with multiple debate champion, I can definitely understand the pressure that Millie faces. Getting champion is goal for many debaters, however only those who put in the most effort, time and energy wins. Millie is chaotic in a very cute way, I also enjoy seeing her differences in and out of debate. I love seeing her friendship with Carlos play out. Tag is the polar opposite to Millie. He argues what he believes and does not care about his stance. Even though it looks like he is a loner and everyone is bullying him for making this choice, however from a debater perspective; he is just an idiot and someone that has brain issues. Cause basically him doing this will result in low speaker points for both him and his opponent. But the growth that Tag goes though is both heartwarming and amazing to read about. Tag is weird, but gentle. The way he worships and is terrified of Millie is extremely cute. Throughout the story I LOVE seeing the interaction between the two characters and how their differences shaped them to be a couple!! Seeing Tag standing up for Millie and defending literally makes me want to cry <3<3<3 #Tagcent4ever
the theme:
So first of all, as I mostly do online debate and rarely do offline debates I am not really in the same debate environment as Millie and Tag, but that doesn't make the theme and topic any less meaningful. Being a proud feminist, and someone that believes in equal rights, I have been doing a lot of research regarding the hostile environment faced by female and minority debaters. The behavior of many male judges, coaches and debaters are not OK, and as a female debater we deserve to fight for the truth, and let it be heard. This book greatly address this theme; from flirty male judges to disgusting male opponents, to quiet bystanders. This book covers it all. Millicent is the representation of "compromising for the sake of winning". Female debaters know that it is useless to fight against this type of invisible power, yet at the end of the book. The readers are taught that when people stand together people are able to overcome issues and barriers. Honestly, the only flaw I have is the book also having a side plot of the romance. Even though I am proudly Team Tagcent, I really would have preferred a book without the romance plot. Me personally, I think the book would be better with just Millie and Tag becoming friends (yes I know friends don't kiss) But the romance side plot was kinda distracting from the overall message (Not saying I didn't enjoy the romance).
extensions
THIS IS NOT SOME FAKE MAKE UP STORY IN THE DEBATE COMMUNITY!!! This is based on many young women's personal story in the debate circuit. People are always taught to debate in a certain way, dress a certain way, and speak in a certain tone. I am sick of people ignoring the importance of this issue. Even though this "sport" started off being "a white men political speech" it deserves more inclusion and acceptance. "Debate is for everyone that wants to think." - Millicent M. Chalmers
Here is some research that I did based on this topic:
https://lahstalon.org/speech-debate-t...
https://harvardpolitics.com/bro-cultu...
https://www.equalityinforensics.org/b...
https://thewildcattribune.com/1398/op...
https://thefword.org.uk/2013/03/what_...
Also, listen to Ella Schnake's 2019 NSDA POI Nationals speech "Debate Like a Girl"
June 8, 2024
"It is far better to be often deceived than never to trust; to be disappointed in love, than never to love."
The concept itself was outstanding. It's a novelty, an astonishing breath of fresh air that had infinite potential which, alas, wasn't reached.
The idea of making a romance book where the main characters are debaters but also make it a feminist novel is profusely exceptional. The execution on the other hand, was done poorly. The writing was so tedious and a lot of parts felt forced, as if they have been added just to make the book longer, it didn't matter that their presence wasn't relevant in any way to the plot.
The beginning was bewitching, utterly captivating. Having a debate about banning the private ownership of handguns and having an actual shooting happen during it was an entirely alluring way to start off a novel. While reading it, I was genuinely shocked at how disproportional the story was to its success. I frankly never heard anyone talk about this book. I picked it up in the bookstore initially for its cover (I know, what a cliche) and after reading the back I ended up at the register with this embarrassingly big smile on my face that pretty much translated into: "Take my money!!!".
But the further I got to dive into the storyline, the more disappointed I became and the more I understood why it lacked recognition. The characters were so unrealistic and even ludicrous at times. The conflict that their entire fight was based upon was minimal, insignificant and rather inane. Tag was such a weird main character. There were chapters where he truly was the epitome of a feminist, a gentleman and just a moral person in general and then there were these utterly paradoxical chapters that refuted everything the author made it seem he stood for. He constantly kept agreeing with Millicent about how women are being treated unjustly and how they have been for centuries and then, out of nowhere, he tries to guilt trip Millie into stating that "she owes him" and is conceited enough to even say that "he'll step aside" so she could win as if she didn't just teach him everything he knew. She helped him become the best version of a debater he could be and how does he repay her? By being the kind of guy that mistreats women and makes them feel like they have to take the stairs all the damn time because they're not entitled to the elevator. His character was purely oxymoronic. Millie's wasn't that great either. Nor was her mom's. The rule they had? It felt straight out of a bad movie. Her mom's attitude even felt childish. Instead of having a normal, adult-like conversation with her daughter (who deserves to be happy and have a life that she loves, if I may add) she freezes her out completely and tells her "do what you want to do" as if she couldn't care less about what her daughter wants. It's like she didn't want her daughter to do what she wanted to do as much as she wanted her "to want what she wants her to want" and that vexed me to no end, especially because all throughout the novel she kept talking about feminism and how women should be allowed to do what they want to do. Kind of ironic, isn't it?
A thing that I liked though, were the little explications at the bottom of the pages. They offered some rather funny insight and bonus opinions that really gave the novel a hint of personality and character.
This book had so so so much potential concept-wise, and I couldn't have been more devastated that the presentation didn't even come close to matching it.
The concept itself was outstanding. It's a novelty, an astonishing breath of fresh air that had infinite potential which, alas, wasn't reached.
The idea of making a romance book where the main characters are debaters but also make it a feminist novel is profusely exceptional. The execution on the other hand, was done poorly. The writing was so tedious and a lot of parts felt forced, as if they have been added just to make the book longer, it didn't matter that their presence wasn't relevant in any way to the plot.
The beginning was bewitching, utterly captivating. Having a debate about banning the private ownership of handguns and having an actual shooting happen during it was an entirely alluring way to start off a novel. While reading it, I was genuinely shocked at how disproportional the story was to its success. I frankly never heard anyone talk about this book. I picked it up in the bookstore initially for its cover (I know, what a cliche) and after reading the back I ended up at the register with this embarrassingly big smile on my face that pretty much translated into: "Take my money!!!".
But the further I got to dive into the storyline, the more disappointed I became and the more I understood why it lacked recognition. The characters were so unrealistic and even ludicrous at times. The conflict that their entire fight was based upon was minimal, insignificant and rather inane. Tag was such a weird main character. There were chapters where he truly was the epitome of a feminist, a gentleman and just a moral person in general and then there were these utterly paradoxical chapters that refuted everything the author made it seem he stood for. He constantly kept agreeing with Millicent about how women are being treated unjustly and how they have been for centuries and then, out of nowhere, he tries to guilt trip Millie into stating that "she owes him" and is conceited enough to even say that "he'll step aside" so she could win as if she didn't just teach him everything he knew. She helped him become the best version of a debater he could be and how does he repay her? By being the kind of guy that mistreats women and makes them feel like they have to take the stairs all the damn time because they're not entitled to the elevator. His character was purely oxymoronic. Millie's wasn't that great either. Nor was her mom's. The rule they had? It felt straight out of a bad movie. Her mom's attitude even felt childish. Instead of having a normal, adult-like conversation with her daughter (who deserves to be happy and have a life that she loves, if I may add) she freezes her out completely and tells her "do what you want to do" as if she couldn't care less about what her daughter wants. It's like she didn't want her daughter to do what she wanted to do as much as she wanted her "to want what she wants her to want" and that vexed me to no end, especially because all throughout the novel she kept talking about feminism and how women should be allowed to do what they want to do. Kind of ironic, isn't it?
A thing that I liked though, were the little explications at the bottom of the pages. They offered some rather funny insight and bonus opinions that really gave the novel a hint of personality and character.
This book had so so so much potential concept-wise, and I couldn't have been more devastated that the presentation didn't even come close to matching it.
January 9, 2023
Are you shocked to find out that this story is about, wait for it, high school debate? No, but for those thinking that a book about debate isn’t going to be their jam, I’d wager a guess that you’ll end up liking this. Millicent M. Chalmers is a no-nonsense high school senior looking for her fourth state win in debate. She’s counting on winning in order to get a scholarship for college. She won’t be able to afford it otherwise. Taggart (Tag) is also a senior on the debate circuit. Although, his approach to debate lately tends to lean toward him agreeing with his opponent rather than, well, debating his opponent. Needless to say, his record isn’t great and his parents and fancy prep school aren’t thrilled. Millicent, on the other hand, is the person to beat. She’s a perfectionist, intimidating, and a winner.
Millie and Tag are debating each other when there is a shooter scare in the school the meet is being held. They end up in a supply closet, scared and unable to talk or make noise, waiting out whatever is happening outside. Thankfully, the issue is a false alarm but that moment in the closet brings them together. It might be trauma, or it might be teen hormones; regardless, there’s a connection. One hiccup to this budding romance is that Millie and her mother made a pact this year- no boys. Her mom sees them as a distraction that Millie doesn’t need and Millie’s never really had an interest until Tag. So when she offers to tutor Tag in debate (he desperately needs it), he accepts. At this point, I knew this story was headed into major rom-com territory but it lead to some other places too.
Millie’s story isn’t just about debate and being the best. It’s about all the subtle ways that girls (females) are treated versus their male counterparts. While I never thought high school debate would be so disparaging of an example, it was. It also explains Millie’s drive to win, her dress code, the way she never raises her voice during a debate, and why she never stays at the hotels at an out-of-town debate. Her life purely exists to win state, get a scholarship, and head off to college but her time spent with Tag shows her there might be more to it than being so singularly focused. Not everyone is thrilled with their relationship (her mom still doesn’t know) but her tutoring is proving to be just the thing Tag needs to start winning. As the story builds momentum toward state, I found myself rooting for Millie even if that meant she had to beat Tag. There are quite a few obstacles to overcome to get to that point and I appreciated the author's outcome. A solid, dual pov book with contemporary issues, easily understandable debates, friendship struggles, and walking the fine line between making your parents happy without sacrificing your own happiness.
Millie and Tag are debating each other when there is a shooter scare in the school the meet is being held. They end up in a supply closet, scared and unable to talk or make noise, waiting out whatever is happening outside. Thankfully, the issue is a false alarm but that moment in the closet brings them together. It might be trauma, or it might be teen hormones; regardless, there’s a connection. One hiccup to this budding romance is that Millie and her mother made a pact this year- no boys. Her mom sees them as a distraction that Millie doesn’t need and Millie’s never really had an interest until Tag. So when she offers to tutor Tag in debate (he desperately needs it), he accepts. At this point, I knew this story was headed into major rom-com territory but it lead to some other places too.
Millie’s story isn’t just about debate and being the best. It’s about all the subtle ways that girls (females) are treated versus their male counterparts. While I never thought high school debate would be so disparaging of an example, it was. It also explains Millie’s drive to win, her dress code, the way she never raises her voice during a debate, and why she never stays at the hotels at an out-of-town debate. Her life purely exists to win state, get a scholarship, and head off to college but her time spent with Tag shows her there might be more to it than being so singularly focused. Not everyone is thrilled with their relationship (her mom still doesn’t know) but her tutoring is proving to be just the thing Tag needs to start winning. As the story builds momentum toward state, I found myself rooting for Millie even if that meant she had to beat Tag. There are quite a few obstacles to overcome to get to that point and I appreciated the author's outcome. A solid, dual pov book with contemporary issues, easily understandable debates, friendship struggles, and walking the fine line between making your parents happy without sacrificing your own happiness.
January 5, 2024
4.5 Stars
*****
Millicent "Millie" M. Chalmers is one of very few young women in the debate circuit in her state, and she is determined to win it all again for her fourth (and final) year of high school.
Taggert "Tag" Strong could not care less about winning debate, even when it angers his teammates, his school, and his parents. He is not willing to debate against whatever he believes in, even if that means his opponent wins.
Millie and Tag are in the middle of a debate about gun reform, when there is an actual shooter scare. They end up trapped in a closet together, with Millicent asking why he decided to tank the debate. Millicent decides to help him with a new kind of debate. As they work together they grow closer, but what will happen when they are forced to once again debate each other?
This book was a surprise hit for me. I had hardly heard anything about it going in, but it sure wowed me. Lots of think pieces in here about debate, gun reform, misogyny, and more. This is very much a book about morality and the responsibility of everyone, even the youth, within a community to fight injustice. Specifically about not upholding old rules or traditions when they create a disadvantage for others or uphold outdated sexist ideals. I especially enjoyed Millie's final debate against sexism (and specifically a certain all male team) she has faced as a young woman in debate.
It was also good to see Tag recognizing his wealth and privilege as a white male and try to do something with his power, while also not speaking over those whose voices need to be heard. I also enjoyed that debate was not his only passion, he also loves cooking and creating meals for others. This was a fun addition that added depth to his character and formed a bond with Millie over strange food combinations.
Millie and Tag were very cute together, but also very respectful of each other and their boundaries. Tag understood Millie's drive and hated somehow being the reason she was called names and disrespected by her peers. Millie was happy to help train Tag in a new form of debate and it made her realize her love of teaching others. Helping Tag also pushed her to try new techniques herself, instead of sticking to her strict rules. Both helped the other be more authentic to themselves and to push against bullying, shaming, and online harassment.
The commentary on sexism in debate could be applied to so many different clubs and sports, which makes this book very easy to understand and to engage with. It also helps created a feeling of rage, as many women have been placed in similar situations. I am no debater, but this novel had me hooked from the beginning, right up until I cheered at the end. Even the snippets of debate information throughout was a helpful and interesting way to enrich the reading experience and allowed the reader to connect with both Millie and Tag. I highly recommend this book if you want a powerful novel about fighting for what you believe in and changing the world one debate at a time.
*****
Millicent "Millie" M. Chalmers is one of very few young women in the debate circuit in her state, and she is determined to win it all again for her fourth (and final) year of high school.
Taggert "Tag" Strong could not care less about winning debate, even when it angers his teammates, his school, and his parents. He is not willing to debate against whatever he believes in, even if that means his opponent wins.
Millie and Tag are in the middle of a debate about gun reform, when there is an actual shooter scare. They end up trapped in a closet together, with Millicent asking why he decided to tank the debate. Millicent decides to help him with a new kind of debate. As they work together they grow closer, but what will happen when they are forced to once again debate each other?
This book was a surprise hit for me. I had hardly heard anything about it going in, but it sure wowed me. Lots of think pieces in here about debate, gun reform, misogyny, and more. This is very much a book about morality and the responsibility of everyone, even the youth, within a community to fight injustice. Specifically about not upholding old rules or traditions when they create a disadvantage for others or uphold outdated sexist ideals. I especially enjoyed Millie's final debate against sexism (and specifically a certain all male team) she has faced as a young woman in debate.
It was also good to see Tag recognizing his wealth and privilege as a white male and try to do something with his power, while also not speaking over those whose voices need to be heard. I also enjoyed that debate was not his only passion, he also loves cooking and creating meals for others. This was a fun addition that added depth to his character and formed a bond with Millie over strange food combinations.
Millie and Tag were very cute together, but also very respectful of each other and their boundaries. Tag understood Millie's drive and hated somehow being the reason she was called names and disrespected by her peers. Millie was happy to help train Tag in a new form of debate and it made her realize her love of teaching others. Helping Tag also pushed her to try new techniques herself, instead of sticking to her strict rules. Both helped the other be more authentic to themselves and to push against bullying, shaming, and online harassment.
The commentary on sexism in debate could be applied to so many different clubs and sports, which makes this book very easy to understand and to engage with. It also helps created a feeling of rage, as many women have been placed in similar situations. I am no debater, but this novel had me hooked from the beginning, right up until I cheered at the end. Even the snippets of debate information throughout was a helpful and interesting way to enrich the reading experience and allowed the reader to connect with both Millie and Tag. I highly recommend this book if you want a powerful novel about fighting for what you believe in and changing the world one debate at a time.
September 2, 2022
We know how much pushback there is when girls want to compete in a traditionally male sport, but what are the dynamics in a non-sport high school activity that is, in theory, coed?
Meet Millicent Chalmers, high school senior in Alabama. Despite the toxic masculinity so prevalent at debate competitions, she has managed to maintain her composure sufficiently to win the state competition three times in a row. If she wins this year, it will garner her a four year scholarship. Given that she has one parent, her mother who is an RN and often works double shifts to keep them afloat, that scholarship is her brass ring. She's learned to be cool and focused, able to tear apart opponent's arguments on a regular basis.
Then there's Taggart Strong, almost a complete opposite. His family lacks for nothing, but he has trouble with the concept of debating in support of an issue he finds morally wrong. That mindset drives his best friend and captain of the debate team crazy. It also frustrates his parents who see him as being on track to go to college and become a lawyer like his father. Tag, however loves to cook and the inherent satisfaction in creating new dishes is a much stronger lure than college, but how to get that across to Mom and Dad?
When there's what at first seems to be a school shooter situation during a debate tournament, Millicent freezes, but Tag responds by pulling her into a storage closet where they remain for nearly an hour. It's the beginning of big changes for both of them. I'll leave it to you to discover them by reading the book, but will say they involve some pretty nasty behaviors toward Millicent, a gradual relaxing on both their parts toward the iron straight paths they see themselves on, and plenty of great information about the whole debate process. In sum, it's a smart, intriguing look at contemporary challenges teens face and will make many of them do some self-reflection.
Meet Millicent Chalmers, high school senior in Alabama. Despite the toxic masculinity so prevalent at debate competitions, she has managed to maintain her composure sufficiently to win the state competition three times in a row. If she wins this year, it will garner her a four year scholarship. Given that she has one parent, her mother who is an RN and often works double shifts to keep them afloat, that scholarship is her brass ring. She's learned to be cool and focused, able to tear apart opponent's arguments on a regular basis.
Then there's Taggart Strong, almost a complete opposite. His family lacks for nothing, but he has trouble with the concept of debating in support of an issue he finds morally wrong. That mindset drives his best friend and captain of the debate team crazy. It also frustrates his parents who see him as being on track to go to college and become a lawyer like his father. Tag, however loves to cook and the inherent satisfaction in creating new dishes is a much stronger lure than college, but how to get that across to Mom and Dad?
When there's what at first seems to be a school shooter situation during a debate tournament, Millicent freezes, but Tag responds by pulling her into a storage closet where they remain for nearly an hour. It's the beginning of big changes for both of them. I'll leave it to you to discover them by reading the book, but will say they involve some pretty nasty behaviors toward Millicent, a gradual relaxing on both their parts toward the iron straight paths they see themselves on, and plenty of great information about the whole debate process. In sum, it's a smart, intriguing look at contemporary challenges teens face and will make many of them do some self-reflection.
July 12, 2022
thank you to macmillan children's and netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I'm a sucker for debate-themed books, and this one is no exception. It feels like a classic YA contemporary, but unique enough to be its own story. As a story it flowed well, and I was invested in the characters throughout, even if it was a little bit heavy handed with some aspects. Overall, I definitely recommend it if this sounds like your thing.
THAT’S DEBATABLE is truly that classic, cheesy YA book, interwoven with the more serious issues in a high school debate environment. It dealt with school shootings, misogyny, sexual harassment, etc. While I do wish that since these topics are so heavy and so prevalent that they’d been mentioned before the start of the book, I do think that a book focusing on these issues fits really well with the debate themes. As a debater myself, I can’t fully relate to Millicent’s experiences, but that’s not to say that there aren’t serious problems with environments like speech and debate, and I think that this book does an interesting job discussing them, even if it’s a bit clunky at times.
As a whole, I really enjoyed the characters and the character work throughout this book. Tag and Millie have a great dynamic and I enjoyed the way that they both had different ways of approaching the world and being vulnerable, but that didn’t necessarily involve miscommunication for the sake of miscommunication. Though this isn’t strictly a character growth book, the characters still grow, although Tag is still a lovable golden retriever type (who cooks!!) from beginning to end, and Millie is still as ambitious and successful in getting what she wants as ever.
At the end of the day, this book was definitely a success in my eyes. I love to see more debate books, and especially ones that feel like they have as much of a heart for speech and debate as this does. It had some good elements, like the footnotes, and I really enjoyed overall how the story came together. And even if I refuse to ever recommend L-D debate to someone, I’d definitely recommend this book.
I'm a sucker for debate-themed books, and this one is no exception. It feels like a classic YA contemporary, but unique enough to be its own story. As a story it flowed well, and I was invested in the characters throughout, even if it was a little bit heavy handed with some aspects. Overall, I definitely recommend it if this sounds like your thing.
THAT’S DEBATABLE is truly that classic, cheesy YA book, interwoven with the more serious issues in a high school debate environment. It dealt with school shootings, misogyny, sexual harassment, etc. While I do wish that since these topics are so heavy and so prevalent that they’d been mentioned before the start of the book, I do think that a book focusing on these issues fits really well with the debate themes. As a debater myself, I can’t fully relate to Millicent’s experiences, but that’s not to say that there aren’t serious problems with environments like speech and debate, and I think that this book does an interesting job discussing them, even if it’s a bit clunky at times.
As a whole, I really enjoyed the characters and the character work throughout this book. Tag and Millie have a great dynamic and I enjoyed the way that they both had different ways of approaching the world and being vulnerable, but that didn’t necessarily involve miscommunication for the sake of miscommunication. Though this isn’t strictly a character growth book, the characters still grow, although Tag is still a lovable golden retriever type (who cooks!!) from beginning to end, and Millie is still as ambitious and successful in getting what she wants as ever.
At the end of the day, this book was definitely a success in my eyes. I love to see more debate books, and especially ones that feel like they have as much of a heart for speech and debate as this does. It had some good elements, like the footnotes, and I really enjoyed overall how the story came together. And even if I refuse to ever recommend L-D debate to someone, I’d definitely recommend this book.
June 17, 2022
Language: R (86 swears, 10 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
For Millie (17yo), it doesn’t really matter what she thinks, because she needs to debate and win in order to get scholarships for college. But when she debates against Tag, she discovers another side of debate: using your voice to say something that matters. Tag keeps losing because he insists on debating the right side of the argument, regardless of the rules of debate. But Millie thinks she can help them both stay true to their values and win.
Millie has always been good at debating, but her journey in this book is about finding her voice – who she wants to be and what she wants to say. Doll encourages readers to find their voices and use them in ways that matter – stand up for whichever causes and values are important to you! We can do more good in this world by speaking up and then doing something about what we’re saying. The empowerment practically jumps off these pages. I also love how Doll uses footnotes throughout the book to add to the debate preparation from facts vibe – and there are even some of Tag’s recipes in there, just for fun.
Millie, Tag, and their families are implied White, but Millie and Tag each have have an implied non-White friend. (Tag’s friend refers to himself as Southeast Asian and doesn’t get more specific.) The mature content rating is for innuendo, sexual harassment, and mentions of sex, blow jobs, nude photos, and sexual favors. The violence rating is for fist fights and discussions of school shootings.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
For Millie (17yo), it doesn’t really matter what she thinks, because she needs to debate and win in order to get scholarships for college. But when she debates against Tag, she discovers another side of debate: using your voice to say something that matters. Tag keeps losing because he insists on debating the right side of the argument, regardless of the rules of debate. But Millie thinks she can help them both stay true to their values and win.
Millie has always been good at debating, but her journey in this book is about finding her voice – who she wants to be and what she wants to say. Doll encourages readers to find their voices and use them in ways that matter – stand up for whichever causes and values are important to you! We can do more good in this world by speaking up and then doing something about what we’re saying. The empowerment practically jumps off these pages. I also love how Doll uses footnotes throughout the book to add to the debate preparation from facts vibe – and there are even some of Tag’s recipes in there, just for fun.
Millie, Tag, and their families are implied White, but Millie and Tag each have have an implied non-White friend. (Tag’s friend refers to himself as Southeast Asian and doesn’t get more specific.) The mature content rating is for innuendo, sexual harassment, and mentions of sex, blow jobs, nude photos, and sexual favors. The violence rating is for fist fights and discussions of school shootings.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
August 27, 2022
Read this book if you like: Dual POV, hard hitting topics, opposites attract
Check triggers*
Millicent Chalmers lives in a small Alabama town, raised by a single mother. She's not here to make friends. She's here to win, and she's on track to set a record in the state debate tournament for the fourth year in a row. Calm, cool, and always in control, Millie doesn't care what anyone else thinks of her, least of all the sexist bullies bent on destroying her reputation.
Taggart Strong couldn't care less about winning debate. He comes from a wealthy family who pushed him to being in debate for his future. Much to the consternation of his teammates, school and parents he will argue only things he believes in.
The tournament takes a scary turn which leads to Millie and Tag unexpectedly working together. Maybe Millie can teach Tag a thing or two about using his head, and Tag can teach Millie a little bit about following her heart.
This book was so good. I loved the debate aspect of the book. They hit on a lot of tough topics like school shooting, gun control, gender equality, and more. I love the use of footnotes throughout the book. I think this would be a great read for teens and adults. Definitely get this one! It comes out August 30th!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author, and MacMillan Children's for the gifted ebook! ❤️
Check triggers*
Millicent Chalmers lives in a small Alabama town, raised by a single mother. She's not here to make friends. She's here to win, and she's on track to set a record in the state debate tournament for the fourth year in a row. Calm, cool, and always in control, Millie doesn't care what anyone else thinks of her, least of all the sexist bullies bent on destroying her reputation.
Taggart Strong couldn't care less about winning debate. He comes from a wealthy family who pushed him to being in debate for his future. Much to the consternation of his teammates, school and parents he will argue only things he believes in.
The tournament takes a scary turn which leads to Millie and Tag unexpectedly working together. Maybe Millie can teach Tag a thing or two about using his head, and Tag can teach Millie a little bit about following her heart.
This book was so good. I loved the debate aspect of the book. They hit on a lot of tough topics like school shooting, gun control, gender equality, and more. I love the use of footnotes throughout the book. I think this would be a great read for teens and adults. Definitely get this one! It comes out August 30th!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author, and MacMillan Children's for the gifted ebook! ❤️
April 13, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan Children's Publishing Group for allowing me to read and review this book! all thoughts and opinions are my own.
That's Debatable is a quick, easy YA read.
It's an enemies to friends to maybe lovers romance during a debate tournament for high school students. Millicent is a headstrong character who does not care much of what others think and does what she can to be successful. Tag doesn't really care for debate and school etc and would rather someone else win instead. They start to unexpectedly work together and learn something from the other about themselves.
I did like Millicent though there were times when she was a bit insufferable but I think that might have been more on the intentional side. I liked Tag as well and the back and forth, push and pull between the two characters. The story is a quintessential YA book and I think many YA readers will enjoy the quick paced writing.
4 stars.
That's Debatable is a quick, easy YA read.
It's an enemies to friends to maybe lovers romance during a debate tournament for high school students. Millicent is a headstrong character who does not care much of what others think and does what she can to be successful. Tag doesn't really care for debate and school etc and would rather someone else win instead. They start to unexpectedly work together and learn something from the other about themselves.
I did like Millicent though there were times when she was a bit insufferable but I think that might have been more on the intentional side. I liked Tag as well and the back and forth, push and pull between the two characters. The story is a quintessential YA book and I think many YA readers will enjoy the quick paced writing.
4 stars.
June 2, 2022
Funny and Smart
This book brings together a lot of things that may seem like opposites, just as the main characters Tag and Millie do. But it shows us that a story can be both thought-provoking and romantic, serious and fun. It brings up a lot of important issues that the teens on the debate team argue about, and also shows the unfolding across-the-tracks love story of Millie and Tag. Tag goes to private school and speaks his mind without a care. Millie has to carry out private rituals to get through all the sexism and harassment she faces as a female debater, and she can't get to the college of her dreams without a scholarship. After a false-alarm school shooting scare brings them together, they find a deep connection in spite of their differences. Readers of all ages will love this book, with teens and anyone who wants to revisit or learn about the debate world gaining new insights. And since Tag's true passion is cooking, there is the added bonus of recipes!
This book brings together a lot of things that may seem like opposites, just as the main characters Tag and Millie do. But it shows us that a story can be both thought-provoking and romantic, serious and fun. It brings up a lot of important issues that the teens on the debate team argue about, and also shows the unfolding across-the-tracks love story of Millie and Tag. Tag goes to private school and speaks his mind without a care. Millie has to carry out private rituals to get through all the sexism and harassment she faces as a female debater, and she can't get to the college of her dreams without a scholarship. After a false-alarm school shooting scare brings them together, they find a deep connection in spite of their differences. Readers of all ages will love this book, with teens and anyone who wants to revisit or learn about the debate world gaining new insights. And since Tag's true passion is cooking, there is the added bonus of recipes!
July 14, 2022
It could have been a just cheerful rom-com - Millie is focused on winning the state debate title for Alabama for the fourth year in a row but she decides to make time to coach Tag, a debater from a private school who is struggling with his inability to argue the other side on issues he does not consider debatable. What strengthens this title is the inclusion of lots of big ideas (thank you, debate format!) beginning with what seems to be a shooter at the hotel where there’s a debate tournament arguing gun ownership. It’s a false alarm, but staging the “meet-cute” while locked in a closet listening for gunfire situates the story firmly in real world issues. Throughout the book Millie endures sexism and discrimination from judges and other teams while Tag, already a pretty thoughtful guy, learns to interrogate his own privilege. What could have been weighty and didactic is a genuinely good read. EARC from Edelweiss.
August 24, 2022
4.5 stars. This is a fun realistic fiction book for any current high school debate team member. Millie is striving for her 4th state debate championship as a senior. She has scholarship hopes riding on it and can't let anything get in her way. Tag is getting sick of debating resolutions that he doesn't agree with so he starts debating the other side and is losing all of his debates. When Millie and Tag are brought together in a terrifying moment, Millie starts coaching Tag on how to debate a side that he doesn't agree with in a way that he can win but still make his real views known. "That's Debatable" is filled with lots of great debate information (all footnoted to make sure non-debate readers aren't confused) as well as a a critical look at continuing sexism in the debate circuit. Teens who like light realistic fiction that still packs a powerful punch as well as any adult who once a high school debater should enjoy this book. ARC courtesy of NetGalley.
March 6, 2022
Fun easy read!
Rating: 3/5
Synopsis:
Millicent Chalmers isn’t here to make friends.
She’s here to win, and she’s on track to set a record if—no, when—she wins the state debate tournament for the fourth year in a row. Calm, cool, and always in control, Millie doesn’t care what anyone else thinks of her, least of all the sexist bullies bent on destroying her reputation.
Taggart Strong couldn’t care less about winning debate, much to the consternation of his teammates, school and parents. In fact, he might even enjoy losing, as long as the side he believes in wins.
But when a tournament takes a scary turn, Millie and Tag find themselves unexpectedly working together. Maybe Millie can teach Tag a thing or two about using his head, and Tag can teach Millie a little bit about following her heart.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me an eARC!!
Rating: 3/5
Synopsis:
Millicent Chalmers isn’t here to make friends.
She’s here to win, and she’s on track to set a record if—no, when—she wins the state debate tournament for the fourth year in a row. Calm, cool, and always in control, Millie doesn’t care what anyone else thinks of her, least of all the sexist bullies bent on destroying her reputation.
Taggart Strong couldn’t care less about winning debate, much to the consternation of his teammates, school and parents. In fact, he might even enjoy losing, as long as the side he believes in wins.
But when a tournament takes a scary turn, Millie and Tag find themselves unexpectedly working together. Maybe Millie can teach Tag a thing or two about using his head, and Tag can teach Millie a little bit about following her heart.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me an eARC!!
December 20, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley & Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows the two POVs of two teenagers in the debate circuit but both have very different lives. They're first traumatized early on in the book with a school shooter scare but end up bonding throughout the book with their passion for debate.
This was a pretty fast-paced and enjoyable novel! I was pleasantly surprised. I will say though, it does get a bit preachy at times but it makes sense since it's all about debate! I personally find the cover a bit misleading because it's not a typical cheerful rom-com book, it's more like a realistic fiction book with romance taking the backseat. Very enjoyable and fleshed out characters!
This book follows the two POVs of two teenagers in the debate circuit but both have very different lives. They're first traumatized early on in the book with a school shooter scare but end up bonding throughout the book with their passion for debate.
This was a pretty fast-paced and enjoyable novel! I was pleasantly surprised. I will say though, it does get a bit preachy at times but it makes sense since it's all about debate! I personally find the cover a bit misleading because it's not a typical cheerful rom-com book, it's more like a realistic fiction book with romance taking the backseat. Very enjoyable and fleshed out characters!
September 28, 2022
This is my first Jen Doll book, and I LOVED it. What a fun, engaging, thoughtful read. The best dual-POV books are ones where you at first feel sorry to leave the voice you're with . . . and then are instantly happy to be with the next voice. I adored both Millie and Tag and loved spending time inside their heads. The supporting cast is also stellar – strong characterizations, interesting people (I especially enjoyed Tag's little sister!). All the details about the world of teen debating – an entirely new world for me – were fascinating and fun and lent richness to the story. (Those PANTYHOSE, good lord.) I gobbled up this book during two bathtub soaks and highly recommend it.
December 26, 2021
Review copy courtesy of Farrar, Straus, and Giroux through Edelweiss
The cartoony cover and breezy blurb really undersells a very upsetting beginning to this story (spoiler alert: the book begins with a school shooting event that ends up being a false alarm but feels epically real), and even though I kept reading to read about a (white) Rory Gilmore-esque speech champion and her middling-in-speech but (white) viral-in-Twitter-thread-writing love interest, the beginning of the book really took me out.
The cartoony cover and breezy blurb really undersells a very upsetting beginning to this story (spoiler alert: the book begins with a school shooting event that ends up being a false alarm but feels epically real), and even though I kept reading to read about a (white) Rory Gilmore-esque speech champion and her middling-in-speech but (white) viral-in-Twitter-thread-writing love interest, the beginning of the book really took me out.
January 20, 2023
i thought this was actually a pretty sophisticated meditation on the limits and expansions of privilege, (free) speech, and the necessity of debate (and “debate”) cloaked in a really lovely story about two people learning from each other. doll isn't advancing any paradigm shifting ideas here, but, much like how tag and millie gain greater awareness from their environment, experiences, and each other, the book firmly but not didactically nudges its reader towards increased awareness of the very real, not up for debate issues on the page and in real life.
November 15, 2022
3.5 stars.
I learned a lot about Lincoln-Douglas debate through this book! The romance was believable, and Millicent was a great character to root for, even if she was a little too perfect. Tag's food sounded delicious, and I just felt hungry throughout reading this book.
A cute contemporary romance -- and it was nice that it was set in Alabama with main characters who didn't agree with the norms of the state politics.
I learned a lot about Lincoln-Douglas debate through this book! The romance was believable, and Millicent was a great character to root for, even if she was a little too perfect. Tag's food sounded delicious, and I just felt hungry throughout reading this book.
A cute contemporary romance -- and it was nice that it was set in Alabama with main characters who didn't agree with the norms of the state politics.
December 20, 2022
I thought it was a good read and there was very little romance, which I liked! I liked how most of the characters were POC and had different backgrounds as well, it's very inclusive. However, the topics of gun violence and harassment took over the book and made me uncomfortable to read as a reader. I thought it could've been toned down less, but overall it was a decent book. This is a very motivational book and it has great morals! Not corny or too into romance either. I
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