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The Girl Who Outgrew the World
When precocious eleven-year-old Lilly undergoes an inexplicable and startling growth spurt, her father and doctors decide to take drastic action to curb what they see as a dangerous development. Faced with condescending treatment and cruelty, Lilly escapes and embarks on a journey to discover her true self. Zoje Stage's new novella is a parable for how patriarchy treats the female body (and, by extension, the female mind and soul) and the objectification of girls.
168 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2022
21 people are currently reading
8890 people want to read
About the author
Zoje Stage
15 books2,761 followersZoje Stage is a USA Today and internationally bestselling author of psychological thrillers (Baby Teeth, Dear Hanna, Getaway), psychological horror (Wonderland, Mothered), and offbeat books of dark whimsy (My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast, The Girl Who Outgrew the World). She's been a "Book of the Week" author in People magazine, and a Bram Stoker award nominee. Her books have been named "best of the year" by Forbes Magazine, Library Journal, PopSugar, Barnes & Noble, Book Riot, BookPage, Bloody Disgusting, and more. She lives in Pittsburgh with her cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
May 15, 2022
Oh what it is to be female. Joyous in the amazing things our bodies can do but also how we are so much more than the bodies that house our souls.
In this novella Zoje takes the current relevance of body autonomy and sexualisation/objectification of girls and twists the narrative into a dark fairytale with a very unique heroine. Lilly is only eleven but her body is growing and developing faster than what is normal. With her mother having died in childbirth her father has been her everything. Heartbreakingly she now sees the fear on his face.
As if puberty isn’t bad enough at least your peers are going through it too, but in Lilly’s case she is an anomaly. Luckily there is one person who is by her side come rain or shine. So how appropriate that her best friend’s name is Rain and she brings nothing but sunshine to Lilly’s world.
At points this is an uncomfortable read but it’s meant to be. It is showing how little control females have on aspects of themselves and their bodies. Part coming of age and part fairytale this is a book of wonder and in my hopes I see a future where all women outgrow the world we are living in. Never make yourself smaller is a motto for Lilly and for every girl out there.
In this novella Zoje takes the current relevance of body autonomy and sexualisation/objectification of girls and twists the narrative into a dark fairytale with a very unique heroine. Lilly is only eleven but her body is growing and developing faster than what is normal. With her mother having died in childbirth her father has been her everything. Heartbreakingly she now sees the fear on his face.
As if puberty isn’t bad enough at least your peers are going through it too, but in Lilly’s case she is an anomaly. Luckily there is one person who is by her side come rain or shine. So how appropriate that her best friend’s name is Rain and she brings nothing but sunshine to Lilly’s world.
At points this is an uncomfortable read but it’s meant to be. It is showing how little control females have on aspects of themselves and their bodies. Part coming of age and part fairytale this is a book of wonder and in my hopes I see a future where all women outgrow the world we are living in. Never make yourself smaller is a motto for Lilly and for every girl out there.
January 25, 2022
What an incredibly unique story! You’ll love meeting Lilly and entering into her incredibly big world! Thanks so much to the author for this early copy for review
February 21, 2022
Lilly Wolf is an 11 year old girl who is growing at a rapid rate. She's being hounded by press as well as doctors. Throughout it all, her only comfort is her best friend Rain. Her father James is desperate for a cure for his daughter and starts blaming himself. He feels as if he's done something in the past and karma is taking it out on his daughter.
This part of the book shows just how sorrowful James is: Rain, despite of her name, was nothing short of sunshine and James hoped she could do more than brighten Lilly's day. Was it too much to ask a tween Rain to replenish their atmosphere?
Without giving too much away, what I took from this short story is in the end, Lilly finds a place of acceptance and starts a new journey of finally being content.
This part of the book shows just how sorrowful James is: Rain, despite of her name, was nothing short of sunshine and James hoped she could do more than brighten Lilly's day. Was it too much to ask a tween Rain to replenish their atmosphere?
Without giving too much away, what I took from this short story is in the end, Lilly finds a place of acceptance and starts a new journey of finally being content.
March 2, 2022
Fantastic new novella from one of my favorites! Have loved everything she’s put out so far and this one is different than any of the other and still just as fantastic! Lilly is a beautiful human. Rain a possibly even more beautiful human. And the dad a very flawed human ☹️ I can’t say I’d be the same as this dad, cause I know I would be more supportive and loving, but his character is an essentially flawed human trying his best. Lovely story with a fable feel to it.
May 21, 2022
The nitty-gritty: A dark, feminist fairy tale perfect for the times we are living in, The Girl Who Outgrew the World is a unique coming-of-age fable with an unforgettable heroine.
Zoje Stage has crafted a wonderfully weird and thoughtful novella that deals with some hard subjects, but ultimately celebrates finding your place in a world that's out to get you.
Eleven-year-old Lilly is going through a growth spurt. But this isn’t just a normal growth spurt. Instead, Lilly grows taller every day. She has to stoop going through doorways. Her feet hang over the edge of the bed. Even worse, none of her clothes fit anymore. Lilly’s dad James doesn’t know what to do about her, so he takes her to medical specialists to try and find out why she won’t stop growing.
Lilly just wants to be a normal girl. She hates being poked and prodded by doctors, and she hates being teased by her classmates. Luckily she has a best friend named Rain who isn’t bothered by Lilly’s size and sticks by her no matter what. But when her father agrees to check Lilly into the hospital to undergo dangerous treatments, Lilly decides to run away.
Lilly’s favorite poem is called The Village of Wrong Things, and she thinks maybe if the Village is real, it would be the perfect place for a girl like her. Lilly sets out to find it, but her journey is a dangerous one, full of unexpected challenges.
This story was not at all what I was expecting, but I absolutely loved Stage’s message of female empowerment and body positivity. And I do have a word of warning before I go any further. This is indeed a dark fairy tale (despite the upbeat cover) and there is a rather shocking and unexpected rape scene, so do beware if that’s a trigger for you. Despite the dark elements and Lilly’s unusual situation, the overall tone of the story is light and breezy and at first feels almost like a middle grade tale, which makes sense because of Lilly’s age. A big part of this “lightness” is due to Lilly’s positive attitude. She towers over her classmates and is forced to sit at a special desk at the back of the room, yet she adores her friend Rain, who seems to lift her up whenever bad thoughts intrude. Instead of wallowing in fear and despair, Lilly is excited when her father hires a seamstress to make her a whole new wardrobe. Her body seems to be failing her, but she takes steps to find a place where she can belong.
And Rain is a gem of a character, a girl who sees Lilly’s inner beauty and accepts her growth as special rather than monstrous. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for Lilly’s father James, a flawed man who cannot come to terms with his daughter’s size, and in fact admits that’s he’s scared of her. James is trying, although he falls into that trap of assuming he knows what’s best for Lilly without really listening to her. I was relieved when the author didn’t give James a pass on his behavior, and his personal journey ends as a cautionary tale of sorts.
But the real takeaway here is Stage’s message of how much control a woman has—or doesn't have—over her own body, and how men assume they have the right to take away that control (and by “men” I don’t mean “all men,” obviously, with apologies to the good guys out there). Even at eleven Lilly understands that her freedom is compromised, as she keeps running into men who are determined to break her. Luckily she is just as determined to take her freedom back, and she does so in a most spectacular way. This is a coming of age tale with some uncomfortable moments that deal with the sexualization of the female body and how it affects women and girls of all ages, but the message is an important one.
The story takes a bizarre turn after the aforementioned rape scene, and some readers may wonder about the reasons behind Lilly's surreal journey. But if you look at it as an allegory for change and acceptance, it works brilliantly. This is a fairy tale, after all, and as far as I’m concerned, a must read for everyone.
Big thanks to the author for providing a digital review copy. (I also preordered a paperback copy to support the author)
Zoje Stage has crafted a wonderfully weird and thoughtful novella that deals with some hard subjects, but ultimately celebrates finding your place in a world that's out to get you.
Eleven-year-old Lilly is going through a growth spurt. But this isn’t just a normal growth spurt. Instead, Lilly grows taller every day. She has to stoop going through doorways. Her feet hang over the edge of the bed. Even worse, none of her clothes fit anymore. Lilly’s dad James doesn’t know what to do about her, so he takes her to medical specialists to try and find out why she won’t stop growing.
Lilly just wants to be a normal girl. She hates being poked and prodded by doctors, and she hates being teased by her classmates. Luckily she has a best friend named Rain who isn’t bothered by Lilly’s size and sticks by her no matter what. But when her father agrees to check Lilly into the hospital to undergo dangerous treatments, Lilly decides to run away.
Lilly’s favorite poem is called The Village of Wrong Things, and she thinks maybe if the Village is real, it would be the perfect place for a girl like her. Lilly sets out to find it, but her journey is a dangerous one, full of unexpected challenges.
This story was not at all what I was expecting, but I absolutely loved Stage’s message of female empowerment and body positivity. And I do have a word of warning before I go any further. This is indeed a dark fairy tale (despite the upbeat cover) and there is a rather shocking and unexpected rape scene, so do beware if that’s a trigger for you. Despite the dark elements and Lilly’s unusual situation, the overall tone of the story is light and breezy and at first feels almost like a middle grade tale, which makes sense because of Lilly’s age. A big part of this “lightness” is due to Lilly’s positive attitude. She towers over her classmates and is forced to sit at a special desk at the back of the room, yet she adores her friend Rain, who seems to lift her up whenever bad thoughts intrude. Instead of wallowing in fear and despair, Lilly is excited when her father hires a seamstress to make her a whole new wardrobe. Her body seems to be failing her, but she takes steps to find a place where she can belong.
And Rain is a gem of a character, a girl who sees Lilly’s inner beauty and accepts her growth as special rather than monstrous. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for Lilly’s father James, a flawed man who cannot come to terms with his daughter’s size, and in fact admits that’s he’s scared of her. James is trying, although he falls into that trap of assuming he knows what’s best for Lilly without really listening to her. I was relieved when the author didn’t give James a pass on his behavior, and his personal journey ends as a cautionary tale of sorts.
But the real takeaway here is Stage’s message of how much control a woman has—or doesn't have—over her own body, and how men assume they have the right to take away that control (and by “men” I don’t mean “all men,” obviously, with apologies to the good guys out there). Even at eleven Lilly understands that her freedom is compromised, as she keeps running into men who are determined to break her. Luckily she is just as determined to take her freedom back, and she does so in a most spectacular way. This is a coming of age tale with some uncomfortable moments that deal with the sexualization of the female body and how it affects women and girls of all ages, but the message is an important one.
The story takes a bizarre turn after the aforementioned rape scene, and some readers may wonder about the reasons behind Lilly's surreal journey. But if you look at it as an allegory for change and acceptance, it works brilliantly. This is a fairy tale, after all, and as far as I’m concerned, a must read for everyone.
Big thanks to the author for providing a digital review copy. (I also preordered a paperback copy to support the author)
March 4, 2022
If a fairy tale can be dark and charming at the same time, this book is it. We follow Lilly as she faces challenges unknown to the average teen. We celebrate with her, and cry with her, and cheer her on. The story ends in an unexpected, but ultimately satisfying way. You won't be able to put it down!
May 25, 2022
This latest book by Zoje Stage summarizes why I feel she has quickly become one the most entertaining and brilliant writers I have ever read. This latest book is one of the most unique stories ever. I don't know anything like it. Brilliant. It combines raw emotions of sadness, happiness, cruelty, kindness, and suspense. The main character is an 11 year old girl named Lilly. I have never pulled for a character in a book or movie like I did Lilly. Her loyal and best friend, named Rain as well.
The book will keep on edge right to the very end. No spoilers. Please read it.
Congratulations Zoje Stage. PLEASE KEEP WRITING!!
The book will keep on edge right to the very end. No spoilers. Please read it.
Congratulations Zoje Stage. PLEASE KEEP WRITING!!
May 7, 2022
I finished this book a little while ago…. Dang… still thinking about it. It has so many different meanings to me.
It turned into a totally different story which I was not expecting. I love books that take you on a walk like this one did.
Zoje stage is such a talented writer.
This book made me happy.
It turned into a totally different story which I was not expecting. I love books that take you on a walk like this one did.
Zoje stage is such a talented writer.
This book made me happy.
May 5, 2022
4 stars
This was a pretty good novella, with a very interesting premise, wonderful characters, with a slightly messy ending IMO. Lilly was a fantastic character. She keeps growing and growing, but always finds a way to stay positive. And her best friend Rain is always there for her. Lilly’s father, James, is perhaps the most interesting character. He loves his daughter, but also fears her, which gives a character a uniquely disturbing perspective, very interesting to read about. This novella was very good, but like I said, but the time we get to the ending, it gets a bit TOO weird. How did we get here??? But it didn’t ruin the story for me. I would highly recommend this story. Zoje Stage is a fantastic writer. Can’t wait to read her new book next year!
This was a pretty good novella, with a very interesting premise, wonderful characters, with a slightly messy ending IMO. Lilly was a fantastic character. She keeps growing and growing, but always finds a way to stay positive. And her best friend Rain is always there for her. Lilly’s father, James, is perhaps the most interesting character. He loves his daughter, but also fears her, which gives a character a uniquely disturbing perspective, very interesting to read about. This novella was very good, but like I said, but the time we get to the ending, it gets a bit TOO weird. How did we get here??? But it didn’t ruin the story for me. I would highly recommend this story. Zoje Stage is a fantastic writer. Can’t wait to read her new book next year!
May 4, 2022
What a doozie of a novella! It’s got modern fable/Greek mythology vibes meets Dateline with a sprinkling of Moana. Now that’s a sentence I’ve never said before.
Heads up - rape and sexual assault
This is a small book about a wonderful, gigantic girl. Lilly, who is eleven year old, has started growing, but it’s waaay more than your average growing pains. Doctors are at a loss for what to do, as is her dad. Once they want to start riskier treatments, Lilly decides she must run away to figure out where she really belongs.
I’ve gotta say, this book surprised me in a good way. After reading (and immediately loving) our author’s other books like Baby Teeth and Getaway I was waiting for the creepiness to set in, but it never did. It’s super interesting to see this fantastic author writing in a different genre than usual.
Stage does a great job of taking the mental and physical anguish of puberty, but amping it up like whoa. It made me remember feeling like a stranger/swamp monster in my own body.
The best part of this book is the way it showcases the strength of friendship, the ones that really see us for who we are. That’s the good stuff.
I enjoyed this little book and am eternally grateful to @zoje.stage_author for sending an ARC my way and for personalizing it! 😍 Thank you!
Heads up - rape and sexual assault
This is a small book about a wonderful, gigantic girl. Lilly, who is eleven year old, has started growing, but it’s waaay more than your average growing pains. Doctors are at a loss for what to do, as is her dad. Once they want to start riskier treatments, Lilly decides she must run away to figure out where she really belongs.
I’ve gotta say, this book surprised me in a good way. After reading (and immediately loving) our author’s other books like Baby Teeth and Getaway I was waiting for the creepiness to set in, but it never did. It’s super interesting to see this fantastic author writing in a different genre than usual.
Stage does a great job of taking the mental and physical anguish of puberty, but amping it up like whoa. It made me remember feeling like a stranger/swamp monster in my own body.
The best part of this book is the way it showcases the strength of friendship, the ones that really see us for who we are. That’s the good stuff.
I enjoyed this little book and am eternally grateful to @zoje.stage_author for sending an ARC my way and for personalizing it! 😍 Thank you!
January 5, 2025
This is a fable unlike anything I have read. I think it's meant for middle schoolers, but adults can profit from reading it as well.
Trigger warning: It contains a rape scene.
Amazing story that should be read and discussed by all who are considered different.
Trigger warning: It contains a rape scene.
Amazing story that should be read and discussed by all who are considered different.
July 4, 2022
This book is eery. This book is heartbreaking. This book is beautiful. You need to read this book.
June 13, 2022
This is the most unique book I have read in a long time and utterly engaging.
Of course this can be read as a fairytale about a girl who grows too fast, a girl who becomes a giant. However there is more, much more ….
Thé tenuous relationship between a father and a growing girl, the societal judgment of those who are different , the pull and push of conformity, the sexualisation of the young female body … but most of all that within each female heart and mind is a mountain of strength without which the world would crumble … we have allowed society to relegate this to the power of men. Lilly will take you on a journey to a fairytale land .. and to a land that lies deep within us, it just needs to be excavated.
Of course this can be read as a fairytale about a girl who grows too fast, a girl who becomes a giant. However there is more, much more ….
Thé tenuous relationship between a father and a growing girl, the societal judgment of those who are different , the pull and push of conformity, the sexualisation of the young female body … but most of all that within each female heart and mind is a mountain of strength without which the world would crumble … we have allowed society to relegate this to the power of men. Lilly will take you on a journey to a fairytale land .. and to a land that lies deep within us, it just needs to be excavated.
April 9, 2022
I'm a huge fan of Zoje Stage. Getaway was one of my favorite reads last year. Wonderland's exploration of motherhood and identity blew me away. And we won't even mention the *chef's kiss* that is Baby Teeth. So when I saw the cover reveal for The Girl Who Outgrew the World, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I was beyond thrilled to receive an ARC--and just look at that COVER. If the heart eye emoji were real, it would be me.
Anyway.
Lilly is an average eleven year old girl until she isn't. Struck by a condition which causes her to inexplicably grow, she struggles to understand the changes her body is going through while trying to navigate the world around her. What follows is a beautifully-terrifying journey spanning seconds and lightyears.
I cannot put into words how much I loved this book.
Stage's writing is haunting and engaging, a power-punch of metaphors that transcend the words on the page. On the surface, we have Lilly and her mysterious "ailment." A young girl desperate to know why this is happening and afraid of what these changes mean for her future. We see how it impacts her relationships, particularly with her best friend and father, and we also get the internal reflection adding depth to her character without buoying down the plot with info dump or overly dramatic monologues.
But underneath the mystery, we get a sharp critique on many relevant, pressing issues that cannot be ignored: women's autonomy, agency over their bodies, sexuality, and identity, to name a few. No spoilers, of course, but Stage's examination of these social constructs within Lilly's abbreviated tale is one that will stick to your bones and make you question the expectations society as a whole places on women from a young age. The literal metaphor of a girl not fitting into the space--UGH, it's SO GOOD.
Overall, everyone needs to read The Girl Who Outgrew the World so I can shout-discuss the rest of my thoughts without giving anything about this spectacular work away. Thank you to the publisher and the author for the advanced copy.
Anyway.
Lilly is an average eleven year old girl until she isn't. Struck by a condition which causes her to inexplicably grow, she struggles to understand the changes her body is going through while trying to navigate the world around her. What follows is a beautifully-terrifying journey spanning seconds and lightyears.
I cannot put into words how much I loved this book.
Stage's writing is haunting and engaging, a power-punch of metaphors that transcend the words on the page. On the surface, we have Lilly and her mysterious "ailment." A young girl desperate to know why this is happening and afraid of what these changes mean for her future. We see how it impacts her relationships, particularly with her best friend and father, and we also get the internal reflection adding depth to her character without buoying down the plot with info dump or overly dramatic monologues.
But underneath the mystery, we get a sharp critique on many relevant, pressing issues that cannot be ignored: women's autonomy, agency over their bodies, sexuality, and identity, to name a few. No spoilers, of course, but Stage's examination of these social constructs within Lilly's abbreviated tale is one that will stick to your bones and make you question the expectations society as a whole places on women from a young age. The literal metaphor of a girl not fitting into the space--UGH, it's SO GOOD.
Overall, everyone needs to read The Girl Who Outgrew the World so I can shout-discuss the rest of my thoughts without giving anything about this spectacular work away. Thank you to the publisher and the author for the advanced copy.
March 28, 2022
I couldn’t put this book down! It was interesting the ending was different than what I was expecting but it was a fun book.
September 18, 2022
I have to let this book digest. I get it, but I also don’t.
July 10, 2022
I love how Stage refuses to corner herself into a genre.
This was actually refreshing, being that it's so different from any other book I've read. Here the author combines the whimsical magic of her previous work "Wonderland" and the structure of a children's fairy tale or fable (although this book is definitely not for children!). The writing was direct, simple and a pleasant read for my long commutes on the train. I admired a lot about it, including the message. Stage crafts a story that is less a direct metaphor about the terrors and uncertainties of growing into a woman and more an analogous story that evokes the same feelings without a direct corresponding experience in the real world. To draw the comparison that puberty is like what Lilly goes through misses the point, which is something I came to understand while reading.
While I didn't really like James (and I don't think I was meant to), I thought his perspective really contributed to the pangs of disgust and fear Stage is trying to get across, and I liked the way alternating POV was used here.
That being said, I gave this a 3 because it just didn't thrill me all the way. I think it was because it was very different from my expectations, but I found myself shook out of the experience at some points, never able to fully immerse myself.
I'm looking forward to "Mothered", which appears to be more of a thriller.
This was actually refreshing, being that it's so different from any other book I've read. Here the author combines the whimsical magic of her previous work "Wonderland" and the structure of a children's fairy tale or fable (although this book is definitely not for children!). The writing was direct, simple and a pleasant read for my long commutes on the train. I admired a lot about it, including the message. Stage crafts a story that is less a direct metaphor about the terrors and uncertainties of growing into a woman and more an analogous story that evokes the same feelings without a direct corresponding experience in the real world. To draw the comparison that puberty is like what Lilly goes through misses the point, which is something I came to understand while reading.
While I didn't really like James (and I don't think I was meant to), I thought his perspective really contributed to the pangs of disgust and fear Stage is trying to get across, and I liked the way alternating POV was used here.
That being said, I gave this a 3 because it just didn't thrill me all the way. I think it was because it was very different from my expectations, but I found myself shook out of the experience at some points, never able to fully immerse myself.
I'm looking forward to "Mothered", which appears to be more of a thriller.
May 26, 2022
4 stars
A really good novella and I really liked how the idea of girls should not be big and shouldn't pull attention on themselves was written literally where our main character is continuously growing and basically outgrowing the world. The perspective of Lily was written really well, while reading it I definitely felt the essence of an 11 year old girl. The ending where James cant see Lily really hit me . I liked how this book took these metaphors and turned them into reality
A really good novella and I really liked how the idea of girls should not be big and shouldn't pull attention on themselves was written literally where our main character is continuously growing and basically outgrowing the world. The perspective of Lily was written really well, while reading it I definitely felt the essence of an 11 year old girl. The ending where James cant see Lily really hit me . I liked how this book took these metaphors and turned them into reality
May 18, 2022
I don't do a lot of reviews.... I just rate the books I've read but this book, man! It has been almost 24 hours since I finished it and I find myself periodically just stopping and thinking about Lilly. The father is so inept at dealing with his daughters ever changing body... so much so that he is afraid of his daughter. He makes her feel like something other than a beautiful human. I loved the comradery with all the women in the town town. They are the ones that made her feel beautiful. We must all stick together... through pain, sorrow or joy. For Rain to walk in and immediately join the ranks of the women says something to me about the capabilities of women to stand tall together and fight for what is right or to just merely help each other on their journey. Rain is such a beautiful person. She is the friend that everyone needs in their life. I could pick apart so many aspects about this story but then we would be here all day. There are parts that are hard to get through but such is life! Read it!!!! You'll see what I mean!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2022
Another amazing book by Some Stage!!!
This is a beautiful story. I can't recommend it more highly!!!
Read it and then read Baby Teeth!!! Another work of exceptional writing!!!
This is a beautiful story. I can't recommend it more highly!!!
Read it and then read Baby Teeth!!! Another work of exceptional writing!!!
February 4, 2024
Great book, especially with all the things going on in today's world.
July 17, 2022
I wept while reading this wondrous, whimsical, yet brutally true, feminist fairy tale, and it cracked open my heart a little. I believe this book may be one of, if not THE favorite, of all time for me. I am so glad that my daughter lent me Baby Teeth, which introduced me to Zoje Stage's writing and the inkling that all her stories would mean something to me. I had planned to start another book today, but I need time. I'm not ready to let Lilly and Rain and the women of Town Town go. I don't know if this is for everyone, though I implore you to find out, it was certainly for me!
May 19, 2022
“Lilly has needs beyond what you want.”
May 15, 2022
Zoje Stage's novella, The Girl Who Outgrew the World is unique, whimsical and sensitive. Her prose immerses you into each character, time and place.
I look forward to many more stories from Ms. Stage.
I look forward to many more stories from Ms. Stage.
May 15, 2022
Thank you to the author. I won a copy of this novella on her Instagram account.
Something about the cover of this novella made me what to read it . Silly, I know but it did and I did and I freaking loved it! I need to read more by this author. That’s all .
Something about the cover of this novella made me what to read it . Silly, I know but it did and I did and I freaking loved it! I need to read more by this author. That’s all .
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November 3, 2024I am still processing this one. For now, I have not rated. I don’t want to jump in and misconstrue any fans because of my stars rating. I liked it as an out there and untraditional fairytale, with darkness, sadness and a larger than life (literally) ending. It leaves your head spinning and you want to find a friend and have a conversation about the book. I welcome all conversations.
January 25, 2025
I didn't like this book, and apparently I'd like to write about it. I'll try to keep it concise.
*There are spoilers in the second paragraph if you care about that*
In terms of my issues with the writing style, the novella format of the book made everything feel underdeveloped and sped-through, and I struggled to connect with or care about any of the characters because of this. Additionally, many of the metaphors the author uses are far too abstract, to the point where they become wordy and confusing, and I often couldn't tell if a description was meant to be metaphorical or literal. Examples of this include descriptions of birds speaking English to Lilly (?), and the description of the doctor's apartment building as a purple frosted gingerbread castle (??). There are also a distracting amount of typos in this book, and sentences like this which make little sense and sound like clunky, first-draft material:
"Rain was good with new people, but Lilly...On her own, she felt so very on her own."
On her own she felt so very on her own??? I know Zoje Stage can do better than this.
The tone and setting of the book is also inconsistent, which lead to more confusion and feelings of bafflement at where the story was going. It seems to begin in the real world, (though I'm not completely sure about this considering the doctor lives in a purple gingerbread castle), where Lilly is a girl in middle school who goes to her friend's house and does normal eleven-year-old-girl activities. But then she's suddenly being drugged and raped by her doctor, she kills him by crushing his body with her weight, then she's in a pickup truck with a bearded Scottish man and is suddenly nine months pregnant with her rapist's child, and then is dropped off in a forest-y, fairy-tale town full of old women dressed in fluorescent colors, and that isn't even where the book ends.
It feels like Lilly is going from one place to another, meeting character after character, but we never connect with her at all because we know nothing about her or how she feels. If I was an eleven year old who suddenly grew to seven feet tall or so (though the book never gives adequate scale for how tall she actually is) I would be mortified to the point of never leaving my house. But Lilly barely seems to care at all, and I understand that it's meant to be a message about how the development of girls into women is only scary and threatening to outsiders (men) and how this seemingly monstrous transformation is only viewed as grotesque by the outside world, and that's what feeds insecurity and disordered behaviors in girls and women. But it just doesn't present a realistic or believable main character. Similarly, none of the characters are explored or really described much at all, which makes the world of the book feel empty, only occupied by "the doctors" and "the kids at school." Lastly, Lilly's dad is extremely irritating and unlikable and I KNOW that's the point, but when every character in your story is meant to be a stand-in for a certain societal attitude or problem, that doesn't create characters who feel like real, three-dimensional people who can be connected with and related to by readers. It creates shallow characters and a confusing story.
This book really surprised me, since I know from Baby Teeth and Dear Hanna that Zoje Stage is a very talented writer and can explore the human mind in intricate and compelling ways. But this book really didn't work for me and I wouldn't recommend it.
*There are spoilers in the second paragraph if you care about that*
In terms of my issues with the writing style, the novella format of the book made everything feel underdeveloped and sped-through, and I struggled to connect with or care about any of the characters because of this. Additionally, many of the metaphors the author uses are far too abstract, to the point where they become wordy and confusing, and I often couldn't tell if a description was meant to be metaphorical or literal. Examples of this include descriptions of birds speaking English to Lilly (?), and the description of the doctor's apartment building as a purple frosted gingerbread castle (??). There are also a distracting amount of typos in this book, and sentences like this which make little sense and sound like clunky, first-draft material:
"Rain was good with new people, but Lilly...On her own, she felt so very on her own."
On her own she felt so very on her own??? I know Zoje Stage can do better than this.
The tone and setting of the book is also inconsistent, which lead to more confusion and feelings of bafflement at where the story was going. It seems to begin in the real world, (though I'm not completely sure about this considering the doctor lives in a purple gingerbread castle), where Lilly is a girl in middle school who goes to her friend's house and does normal eleven-year-old-girl activities. But then she's suddenly being drugged and raped by her doctor, she kills him by crushing his body with her weight, then she's in a pickup truck with a bearded Scottish man and is suddenly nine months pregnant with her rapist's child, and then is dropped off in a forest-y, fairy-tale town full of old women dressed in fluorescent colors, and that isn't even where the book ends.
It feels like Lilly is going from one place to another, meeting character after character, but we never connect with her at all because we know nothing about her or how she feels. If I was an eleven year old who suddenly grew to seven feet tall or so (though the book never gives adequate scale for how tall she actually is) I would be mortified to the point of never leaving my house. But Lilly barely seems to care at all, and I understand that it's meant to be a message about how the development of girls into women is only scary and threatening to outsiders (men) and how this seemingly monstrous transformation is only viewed as grotesque by the outside world, and that's what feeds insecurity and disordered behaviors in girls and women. But it just doesn't present a realistic or believable main character. Similarly, none of the characters are explored or really described much at all, which makes the world of the book feel empty, only occupied by "the doctors" and "the kids at school." Lastly, Lilly's dad is extremely irritating and unlikable and I KNOW that's the point, but when every character in your story is meant to be a stand-in for a certain societal attitude or problem, that doesn't create characters who feel like real, three-dimensional people who can be connected with and related to by readers. It creates shallow characters and a confusing story.
This book really surprised me, since I know from Baby Teeth and Dear Hanna that Zoje Stage is a very talented writer and can explore the human mind in intricate and compelling ways. But this book really didn't work for me and I wouldn't recommend it.
May 4, 2022
Lilly is eleven years old and she can't stop growing. In no time she grows even taller than her father, James, who worries about Lilly's health and the consequences of growing too tall for her heart to handle. James looks for help from a bunch of doctors who want to have Lilly admitted for a series of tests, like a lab animal. When Lilly learns of this she decides to run away to a land she heard about in a poem, where she can be herself amongst others like her.
This is a modern fairy tale with Stage's signature unease. It is a brutal portrayal of what it's like to be a girl, to have the fate of your body decided by others, and the objectification that comes with being female. Lilly's height and body changes are the excuses others use to violate her, and what causes her father to not only think differently about her but to fear her as well. This is a book that displays the fear men have of women and femininity, and the power women possess in their minds and bodies. Ultimately, the tale is both tragic and beautiful.
The Girl Who Outgrew the World is in some ways a departure from Stage's usual dark and sinister adult fare, but for me it seems like the natural evolution of a great storyteller stretching her legs (and wings) into new and exciting realms. It is a beautiful and heartbreaking story full of danger and magic that is deliciously satisfying. I give it 5 stars! Grab a copy!
This is a modern fairy tale with Stage's signature unease. It is a brutal portrayal of what it's like to be a girl, to have the fate of your body decided by others, and the objectification that comes with being female. Lilly's height and body changes are the excuses others use to violate her, and what causes her father to not only think differently about her but to fear her as well. This is a book that displays the fear men have of women and femininity, and the power women possess in their minds and bodies. Ultimately, the tale is both tragic and beautiful.
The Girl Who Outgrew the World is in some ways a departure from Stage's usual dark and sinister adult fare, but for me it seems like the natural evolution of a great storyteller stretching her legs (and wings) into new and exciting realms. It is a beautiful and heartbreaking story full of danger and magic that is deliciously satisfying. I give it 5 stars! Grab a copy!
October 26, 2024
Hmm, a fairy tale for adults, or at least for adult women. The main characters in the novel are children, but rape and an unwanted pregnancy occur, so this is not a book for children. Instead, it is an extended metaphor about how little control women often have over their bodies and lives. Boys and men often try to take sexual advantage of females. Fathers can be disgusted and unnerved by their daughters as we grow up, and fathers may do cruel things under the guise of protecting the females under their control. Male doctors can be equally callous and wrong-headed in the conclusions they draw. In fact, it is often only women who can truly see females for who we truly are.
These are the messages in this fable about a girl who rapidly grew to an enormous size before she could be content. It was a fun little read if you like fairy tales or magical realism.
These are the messages in this fable about a girl who rapidly grew to an enormous size before she could be content. It was a fun little read if you like fairy tales or magical realism.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2022
The review on the cover says "The perfect fairy tale: magical, brutal, and full of heart." and that pretty much sums it up. A reflection on parenting a growing child - taken in the literal sense in this story. Brutal and touching and grating and heartwarming.
Definitely a modern fairy tale. Not quite expected, not quite unexpected. It was oddly unsettling at times and I don't know if I was empathizing with the parent or the child.....
Definitely a modern fairy tale. Not quite expected, not quite unexpected. It was oddly unsettling at times and I don't know if I was empathizing with the parent or the child.....
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