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Activist
When a heartbreaking testimony appears on an anonymous website, it's easier for Cassie's prestigious school to dismiss the accusations than to face the truth: that this is a place where the students aren't safe. As more survivors speak out, Cassie and her friends realise that they must take the situation into their own hands if they want anything to change, no matter the consequences.
Cassie goes to a prestigious academic school where girls have only just been admitted after decades of it being single-sex. When a female student from the school anonymously posts about the sexual abuse she has suffered and the school does not act properly, Cassie knows that she needs to take matters into her own hands. She and her friends prepare for battle - with a strike, an assembly, as well as outside school spending their weekends protesting to save the woodland from development. But will her activism only make things worse, or will she succeed in righting the wrongs that so many choose to ignore? And could there be a more personal reason for her behaviour?
A powerful, timely verse novel about the need to act and stand up for what's right.
Shortlisted for NE Teen Book Award
Longlisted for ABA award
Cassie goes to a prestigious academic school where girls have only just been admitted after decades of it being single-sex. When a female student from the school anonymously posts about the sexual abuse she has suffered and the school does not act properly, Cassie knows that she needs to take matters into her own hands. She and her friends prepare for battle - with a strike, an assembly, as well as outside school spending their weekends protesting to save the woodland from development. But will her activism only make things worse, or will she succeed in righting the wrongs that so many choose to ignore? And could there be a more personal reason for her behaviour?
A powerful, timely verse novel about the need to act and stand up for what's right.
Shortlisted for NE Teen Book Award
Longlisted for ABA award
- GenresYoung AdultPoetry
336 pages, Paperback
Published October 13, 2022
5 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 14, 2023
This made me cryyyyyy. Content warning for sexual assault and rape.
I love novels in verse for topics like this. Poet X and Punching the Air are others I'd recommend. It's so raw, you can't help but feel involved.
Activist is a powerful argument for the power of people standing together against what they know is wrong, and it is rife with discussion material to dig your teeth into.
My only criticisms, and the reason this is four not five stars, are that 1. it feels cartoonishly horrible at their school (partly explained by the recent mixing of genders and their joke of a safeguarding lead but still) and more importantly 2. It only pays lip service to the intersectional issues in feminism.
Now I am assuming from this that Louisa Reid is white and didn't want to speak for experiences she hasn't had, but only once is it mentioned by a Black character that it's worse when misogyny is inextricably linked with racism, the protagonist spends a few pages feeling bad about centering herself, and then it isn't brought up again. So I can understand why it isn't covered if what I've assumed is correct, but that doesn't change the fact that it is a blind spot.
Ignoring that though, I absolutely am planning on recommending this book to people I want to discuss it with. Give it a read!
I love novels in verse for topics like this. Poet X and Punching the Air are others I'd recommend. It's so raw, you can't help but feel involved.
Activist is a powerful argument for the power of people standing together against what they know is wrong, and it is rife with discussion material to dig your teeth into.
My only criticisms, and the reason this is four not five stars, are that 1. it feels cartoonishly horrible at their school (partly explained by the recent mixing of genders and their joke of a safeguarding lead but still) and more importantly 2. It only pays lip service to the intersectional issues in feminism.
Now I am assuming from this that Louisa Reid is white and didn't want to speak for experiences she hasn't had, but only once is it mentioned by a Black character that it's worse when misogyny is inextricably linked with racism, the protagonist spends a few pages feeling bad about centering herself, and then it isn't brought up again. So I can understand why it isn't covered if what I've assumed is correct, but that doesn't change the fact that it is a blind spot.
Ignoring that though, I absolutely am planning on recommending this book to people I want to discuss it with. Give it a read!
August 18, 2022
Angry, sad and brilliantly hopeful, I LOVED it.
October 15, 2022
This book is raw. It talks about feminism. The routes of it, who is against it, what it really means. It’s set in a private school. It talks about adversity, about the kinds of people feminism represents, those discourses usually leave behind or marginalise. The backlash being feminist comes with, the misrepresentation and the miscommunication life throws at you if difficult topics aren’t handled properly. The carelessness the word is sometimes used in. This book puts feminism into context, it doesn’t leave out certain peoples’ hardships based on their backgrounds.
Everyone should be a feminist, yes. But please read around the history. Don’t leave people behind, stand together. It’s also not just a women’s problem, men need to talk about feminism too. Everyone needs to talk about it. This book explains why. It explains the consequences of ignorance, ‘acceptance’ and collective anger.
A powerful story told through verse. It’s quick to get through, but it’s very hard hitting because of how reflective it is of reality. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows. But this never means you should give up.
Not 100% sure this should be considered YA due to the heavy topics it deals with, just because it’s set in sixth form does not mean it’s a light novel. Please read the trigger warnings.
Thank you to the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Everyone should be a feminist, yes. But please read around the history. Don’t leave people behind, stand together. It’s also not just a women’s problem, men need to talk about feminism too. Everyone needs to talk about it. This book explains why. It explains the consequences of ignorance, ‘acceptance’ and collective anger.
A powerful story told through verse. It’s quick to get through, but it’s very hard hitting because of how reflective it is of reality. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows. But this never means you should give up.
Not 100% sure this should be considered YA due to the heavy topics it deals with, just because it’s set in sixth form does not mean it’s a light novel. Please read the trigger warnings.
Thank you to the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2023
Activist by @louisareid is a #versenovel masterpiece. It's gripping narrative forces the reader to question how seriously we address the issues of sexual harassment, assault and rape and how effectively we challenge 'toxic masculinity' within our education communities and beyond. The writing is raw yet beautiful and will engage all readers in what is a timely issue faced by many.
Whilst it covers some difficult topics, this novel ultimately offers readers the hope that can be taken when people come together and stand up against injustice.
Whilst it covers some difficult topics, this novel ultimately offers readers the hope that can be taken when people come together and stand up against injustice.
January 13, 2023
Thanks Louisa for this amazing book ❤️ while it was terribly sad it also helped me feel not alone in this fight and is so inspirational
January 30, 2023
Well this took me by surprise ...
No offense to anyone but I hated the first forty pages. I almost dnfed it. It was confusing, and I didn't get the writing. To be fair I usually hate free verse, but always give it a try
Anyway, I pushed myself and I'm so glad I did. Because it was a really powerful, raw book.
I could relate easily to the MC being loud and furious about the world as well. And boy this book made me furious. That's it, this book makes you FEEL. Intensely.
The writing didn't bother me as much after but still... Why free verse? It was striking from time to time.
The secondary characters had no use whatsoever which annoyed me. But the MC is strong enough to hold the whole book.
Overall, I'd say that I loved the story and the voice of the MC but not so much the form the author chose. I still highly recommend it, and will continue reading books by Louisa Reid because jeez, her stories are overwhelming in the best of ways.
No offense to anyone but I hated the first forty pages. I almost dnfed it. It was confusing, and I didn't get the writing. To be fair I usually hate free verse, but always give it a try
Anyway, I pushed myself and I'm so glad I did. Because it was a really powerful, raw book.
I could relate easily to the MC being loud and furious about the world as well. And boy this book made me furious. That's it, this book makes you FEEL. Intensely.
The writing didn't bother me as much after but still... Why free verse? It was striking from time to time.
The secondary characters had no use whatsoever which annoyed me. But the MC is strong enough to hold the whole book.
Overall, I'd say that I loved the story and the voice of the MC but not so much the form the author chose. I still highly recommend it, and will continue reading books by Louisa Reid because jeez, her stories are overwhelming in the best of ways.
January 2, 2023
I am a flag-flying, lie-defying, freedom-fighting activist.
This feminist story written in verse deals with equality and speaking out against sexual assault and rape, it's raw and doesn't shy away from the struggles of being heard and taken seriously by those who want to turn away or can't relate.
It's deeply passionate and thought provoking, the words hit their mark and Reid hammers the point in with strongly written verses and metaphors, I tabbed so many quotes from this book, at times I even stopped to digest the anger and cheer.
It's fast paced and easy to get lost in. It's empowering and something I'd highly reccomend for absolutely everyone, this is the kind of book that'll stay with you for a while.
This feminist story written in verse deals with equality and speaking out against sexual assault and rape, it's raw and doesn't shy away from the struggles of being heard and taken seriously by those who want to turn away or can't relate.
It's deeply passionate and thought provoking, the words hit their mark and Reid hammers the point in with strongly written verses and metaphors, I tabbed so many quotes from this book, at times I even stopped to digest the anger and cheer.
It's fast paced and easy to get lost in. It's empowering and something I'd highly reccomend for absolutely everyone, this is the kind of book that'll stay with you for a while.
September 25, 2022
A free verse novel delving in to many topics that people should be fighting for / against.
Cassie goes to a private school that used to only allow boys, there her and her group of friends are subjected to sexual harassment and abuse from both other students and teachers.
Misogyny rules and Cassie won't let this happen for much longer.
Along with her friends they rage against the powers at the school as well as locally. Cassie has a strong voice and brings up some important topics that teenagers should be thinking about.
Cassie goes to a private school that used to only allow boys, there her and her group of friends are subjected to sexual harassment and abuse from both other students and teachers.
Misogyny rules and Cassie won't let this happen for much longer.
Along with her friends they rage against the powers at the school as well as locally. Cassie has a strong voice and brings up some important topics that teenagers should be thinking about.
December 5, 2022
only took me 3 hours to read, highly recommend if you are looking for raw feminist literature that portray the honest truth & struggles in fighting for equality; the setbacks, the ability to trudge through cruelty in order to make change, being able to relate to the real, abhorrent situations demonstrated in this book that provoked a wide variety of emotions from me. It tells the modern day perceptions of feminism, the wrong and the right.
i never really do reviews but this is genuinely a brilliant read.
i never really do reviews but this is genuinely a brilliant read.
November 17, 2022
Engaging and empowering novel for YA and up. Louisa's beautiful verse is stunning - thought-provoking yet accessible as she explores important themes of toxic masculinity, misogyny and the importance of standing up for what you believe. A must for every school library, I tore through this in one sitting. Powerful and necessary.
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January 6, 2023Powerful and uncomfortable (uncomfortable because of how true and familiar the hateful language and themes are)
One thing I didn’t like was her assembly as personally I don’t know a single lower 6th who would feel comfortable with the costume and dance aspect- the presentation yes but not the beginning.
One thing I didn’t like was her assembly as personally I don’t know a single lower 6th who would feel comfortable with the costume and dance aspect- the presentation yes but not the beginning.
March 4, 2023
Another breathtaking book from Louisa Reid. Louisa's books always break me into a million emotional pieces before putting me back together with renewed hope. Activist covers the hard subjects of women and girls' safety and systemic misogyny. Cassie and her friends make a stand to demand respect and safety at school, this book should be read in every secondary school by all students 😍📖😍
November 11, 2022
Loved it! The writing style perfectly conveys the thoughts and feelings of the main character which evokes frustration and annoyance within the reader. A powerful, hard-hitting story encouraging people to speak out.
November 25, 2022
An intense, beautifully written verse novel. It genuinely tugs are your heart to see all Cassie has to do to make herself heard. She's a brave, bold activist - but maybe she has no choice? Twists and turns right up to the end. Another winner from Louisa Reid.
September 5, 2023
A powerful YA Book, written in verse.
A strong message of standing up for what you believe in and the possibility of change if you don't give up!!
Themes explored - toxic masculinity, feminism, friendship and family.
This is a book that should feature in all Secondary Schools!
A strong message of standing up for what you believe in and the possibility of change if you don't give up!!
Themes explored - toxic masculinity, feminism, friendship and family.
This is a book that should feature in all Secondary Schools!
October 18, 2023
Inspired by the 'Everyone's Invited' website, this hard-hitting verse novel explores Cassie's journey to becoming an activist and standing up against the sexism and misogyny at her exclusive private school. A powerful and important story.
November 20, 2023
wow. at first i wasn’t sure if i’d actually like this. the writing style is vastly different to what i usually read but this book is literally so good, i read it in one sitting, the only thing that would’ve made it better is if henry was brutally killed. after all, that wanker deserves that shit.
January 14, 2024
3.5 stars. Another verse book- a style that I’m a big fan of. The story covered some important topics. It was fairly frustrating that the school in the story didn’t seem at all interested, and I’m unsure how accurate that is? Pretty good book but not hugely gripping for me
January 19, 2025
this book was easy to read and
the feminism was well done in some books they act like it done as soon as the book is finished
thankfully this one doesn't the characters are well developed enough to know that there's more to do .
And I REALLY FUCKING HATE HENRY AND DR MARCH !!!!!
the feminism was well done in some books they act like it done as soon as the book is finished
thankfully this one doesn't the characters are well developed enough to know that there's more to do .
And I REALLY FUCKING HATE HENRY AND DR MARCH !!!!!
October 15, 2022
A fiercely powerful verse novel that everyone should read. You can read my full review here: http://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home....
December 19, 2022
I’ve never read anything quite like this before. Moving and memorable, it makes me want to have a go at writing in verse myself. More please!
February 16, 2023
Cw sexual assault at a prestigious school. Good for a non or reluctant reader, 14-18, who is interested in gender dynamics. Very easy "poem" style. I'm sure it fills a market gap.
March 21, 2023
Powerful verse novel - speaks to the problems of sexual abuse in schools...
May 16, 2023
A very quick read. I imagine this is far more appealing to school age YA.
August 14, 2023
Not what I was expecting but as I read I realised the book couldn’t have such an impact without its format.
May 11, 2024
Loved loved it…. Great read for young adult!!
August 14, 2024
Love the writing style, loved the book! And inspirational read for all our future feminists
October 29, 2024
I love the verse but I found the story too full of angst to be enjoyable to read. It's an Important topic but maybe a little too bluntly portrayed.
April 9, 2025
Oof, hits hard in America in this the woeful year 2025.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews