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Sister Mischief
A gay suburban hip-hopper freaks out her Christian high school -- and falls in love -- in this righteously funny and totally tender YA debut, for real.
Listen up: You’re about to get rocked by the fiercest, baddest all-girl hip-hop crew in the Twin Cities -- or at least in the wealthy, white, Bible-thumping suburb of Holyhill, Minnesota. Our heroine, Esme Rockett (aka MC Ferocious) is a Jewish lesbian lyricist. In her crew, Esme’s got her BFFs Marcy (aka DJ SheStorm, the butchest straight girl in town) and Tess (aka The ConTessa, the pretty, popular powerhouse of a vocalist). But Esme’s feelings for her co-MC, Rowie (MC Rohini), a beautiful, brilliant, beguiling desi chick, are bound to get complicated. And before they know it, the queer hip-hop revolution Esme and her girls have exploded in Holyhill is on the line. Exciting new talent Laura Goode lays down a snappy, provocative, and heartfelt novel about discovering the rhythm of your own truth.
Listen up: You’re about to get rocked by the fiercest, baddest all-girl hip-hop crew in the Twin Cities -- or at least in the wealthy, white, Bible-thumping suburb of Holyhill, Minnesota. Our heroine, Esme Rockett (aka MC Ferocious) is a Jewish lesbian lyricist. In her crew, Esme’s got her BFFs Marcy (aka DJ SheStorm, the butchest straight girl in town) and Tess (aka The ConTessa, the pretty, popular powerhouse of a vocalist). But Esme’s feelings for her co-MC, Rowie (MC Rohini), a beautiful, brilliant, beguiling desi chick, are bound to get complicated. And before they know it, the queer hip-hop revolution Esme and her girls have exploded in Holyhill is on the line. Exciting new talent Laura Goode lays down a snappy, provocative, and heartfelt novel about discovering the rhythm of your own truth.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published July 12, 2011
11 people are currently reading
2369 people want to read
About the author
Laura Goode
4 books22 followersLaura Goode was raised in Minneapolis and received her BA and MFA in English and writing from Columbia University. She has written and directed two full-length plays, and her poetry has appeared in the Denver Quarterly, Cannibal, and Narwhal. She lives in San Francisco.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
May 1, 2011
I’m really not a hip-hop fan and, despite the prospect of a quirky, funny and diverse LGBT love story, I was hesitant to read “Sister Mischief” because of worries over cultural appropriation and such. However, by the end of this book, I was ready to apologise to it for ever doubting how good it would be. This review may not be the most objective thing I’ve ever written. Sometimes a book comes along that you completely fall in love with, even though you know it’s not perfect and you know not everyone will have the same wild feelings towards it as you do but you’re ready to cheerlead for it until everyone stands up and takes notice. I liked this book so much that it’s turned me into a cheesy mess!
First and foremost, it’s a book about identity and individuality. Esme’s a white, Jewish by birth but non-practicing teenager who loves to rap and is coming to terms with her sexuality while living in a Christian conservative town. She and her friends could so easily have slipped into caricature mode, especially with their frequent use of hip-hop speak and slang (which may annoy the hell out of many readers), but Goode fills them with such humour and depth that they’re never anything less than complete characters. It’s so refreshing to read a YA where the group of friends are so close and loving, not just in theory but in practice. There’s been a long period of YAs ruled by loners and outsiders who have a small group of friends they rarely interact with, much less act like real friends with. Throughout their tough times, fights, conversations and laughs, you never for one moment doubt Esme’s love for her friends and vice versa. At first glance they mat fit broad moulds – the butch one, the confident one, the meek Christian girl, the geeky and insecure Indian girl – but they evolve into so much more, busting stereotypes and questioning the identities they’ve been slapped with. They’re young, they do stupid things, they drink and take drugs and have sex, but they’re also smart enough to take responsibility for their actions and grasp the bigger picture, often in a very funny and touching way. They also kick arse!
The hip-hop element was handled with real skill and humour. The girls question their right as Caucasians and Asians (this book also gets huge props for his multi-cultural society which and highlighting the issues of being different in a predominantly SWASP environment – the extra S is for straight, as added by Esme) to appropriate hip-hop and also ask a lot of interesting questions about culture, identity and stereotypes. If I must be a little objective, at points this does feel a little forced, as if Goode is using the girls as mouthpieces, but for the large part, it’s handled well and explored multiple issues without turning it into a preach-fest. Esme frequently notes down lyrics throughout the book, often left as footnotes, along with texts and tweets, using her music as a way to express herself and sort out who she really is.
The relationship between Esme and Rowie was sweet, often beautiful and never simple. It felt real, as did the different ways both girls reacted to their burgeoning sexualities. Esme, the daughter of an extremely liberal single dad to whom she is very close (her dad was one of my favourite supporting characters, but I also loved that all four girls had parental interactions) takes it in her stride for the most part while Rowie is much more reserved, wanting to hide her secret from the world for fear of disappointing her more traditional father, who she believes is already disappointed in her because of her Americanised attitude. Their relationship effects not only them but their friends and family, which we see unfold over the few months the book takes place. It’s a time of change – the book is set around the time Barack Obama was elected President – and this profound moment in time reflects the girls’ struggles. It’s realistic, it’s relatable and, like most teen loves, it’s awkwardly beautiful.
I was, however, disappointed by the portrayal of the main female antagonist. I understand that Goode wanted to set up a contrast to Tess to show the differing attitudes of Christians in teen America – Tess is more relaxed and willing to ask more questions while remaining dedicated to her faith while the antagonist is stricter – but she just came across as a nasty cardboard cut-out. I really wanted to see the community’s wider reaction to the growing LGBT movement in the school, not just from this one token bitchy girl. While we do get an insight into the school’s political workings, it feels insubstantial and disappointing, especially since the rest of the book is so inquisitive and full of colours and ideas, not just black and white. That’s what stops this book from being close to perfect in my eyes.
I loved “Sister Mischief.” I know a lot of people will hate the hip-hop element and there are times where it came close to grating on me, but there was so much love in this book and it was brimming with ideas and questions, I couldn’t help but love it. It’s a book about so many things – love, growing up, discovery, identity, feminism, religion, culture, friendship, school, lies, heartbreak, music, change – and I found it to be nothing less than a delight. It’s not for everyone, it’s not perfect, but I’d still highly recommend it to all. There aren’t many books out there so jam packed with as much creativity, diversity and heart as “Sister Mischief.”
5/5.
First and foremost, it’s a book about identity and individuality. Esme’s a white, Jewish by birth but non-practicing teenager who loves to rap and is coming to terms with her sexuality while living in a Christian conservative town. She and her friends could so easily have slipped into caricature mode, especially with their frequent use of hip-hop speak and slang (which may annoy the hell out of many readers), but Goode fills them with such humour and depth that they’re never anything less than complete characters. It’s so refreshing to read a YA where the group of friends are so close and loving, not just in theory but in practice. There’s been a long period of YAs ruled by loners and outsiders who have a small group of friends they rarely interact with, much less act like real friends with. Throughout their tough times, fights, conversations and laughs, you never for one moment doubt Esme’s love for her friends and vice versa. At first glance they mat fit broad moulds – the butch one, the confident one, the meek Christian girl, the geeky and insecure Indian girl – but they evolve into so much more, busting stereotypes and questioning the identities they’ve been slapped with. They’re young, they do stupid things, they drink and take drugs and have sex, but they’re also smart enough to take responsibility for their actions and grasp the bigger picture, often in a very funny and touching way. They also kick arse!
The hip-hop element was handled with real skill and humour. The girls question their right as Caucasians and Asians (this book also gets huge props for his multi-cultural society which and highlighting the issues of being different in a predominantly SWASP environment – the extra S is for straight, as added by Esme) to appropriate hip-hop and also ask a lot of interesting questions about culture, identity and stereotypes. If I must be a little objective, at points this does feel a little forced, as if Goode is using the girls as mouthpieces, but for the large part, it’s handled well and explored multiple issues without turning it into a preach-fest. Esme frequently notes down lyrics throughout the book, often left as footnotes, along with texts and tweets, using her music as a way to express herself and sort out who she really is.
The relationship between Esme and Rowie was sweet, often beautiful and never simple. It felt real, as did the different ways both girls reacted to their burgeoning sexualities. Esme, the daughter of an extremely liberal single dad to whom she is very close (her dad was one of my favourite supporting characters, but I also loved that all four girls had parental interactions) takes it in her stride for the most part while Rowie is much more reserved, wanting to hide her secret from the world for fear of disappointing her more traditional father, who she believes is already disappointed in her because of her Americanised attitude. Their relationship effects not only them but their friends and family, which we see unfold over the few months the book takes place. It’s a time of change – the book is set around the time Barack Obama was elected President – and this profound moment in time reflects the girls’ struggles. It’s realistic, it’s relatable and, like most teen loves, it’s awkwardly beautiful.
I was, however, disappointed by the portrayal of the main female antagonist. I understand that Goode wanted to set up a contrast to Tess to show the differing attitudes of Christians in teen America – Tess is more relaxed and willing to ask more questions while remaining dedicated to her faith while the antagonist is stricter – but she just came across as a nasty cardboard cut-out. I really wanted to see the community’s wider reaction to the growing LGBT movement in the school, not just from this one token bitchy girl. While we do get an insight into the school’s political workings, it feels insubstantial and disappointing, especially since the rest of the book is so inquisitive and full of colours and ideas, not just black and white. That’s what stops this book from being close to perfect in my eyes.
I loved “Sister Mischief.” I know a lot of people will hate the hip-hop element and there are times where it came close to grating on me, but there was so much love in this book and it was brimming with ideas and questions, I couldn’t help but love it. It’s a book about so many things – love, growing up, discovery, identity, feminism, religion, culture, friendship, school, lies, heartbreak, music, change – and I found it to be nothing less than a delight. It’s not for everyone, it’s not perfect, but I’d still highly recommend it to all. There aren’t many books out there so jam packed with as much creativity, diversity and heart as “Sister Mischief.”
5/5.
September 30, 2016
this book is...... bad.
i was super excited for this at first. feminism + LGBTQ story + JEWISH LESBIAN MAIN CHARACTER??? that is exactly my aesthetic.
but...... the author was such a straight white goy. i mean, technically i dont know that she's not Jewish? or queer? but if you read this book it sure doesn't seem like it.
1. the entire book was written in some weird exaggerated white mutation of AAVE, because obviously that's how hiphop fans talk.
every other word is something like "wicked" or "bidness" or "faSHO" or "bitches" or "boo" or "yo" and it sounds like an old white republican's view of how People Of Color talk.
2. all the main characters were white, btw, except for one indian girl. there are like two black characters. siblings, refugees from somalia, who are only in the school through a busing program for poor people. this sounds like a joke but it's actually the characters' story.
other than the main indian character and her family, there's one other indian guy. he's constantly shamed, mocked, and has death wished on him by the main main character...... because he's a nerd. DEATH THREATS. because he's a nerd.
out of the like five nonwhite characters, to recap: the two black ones are POOR AFRICAN REFUGEES, an indian one is given death threats for being a nerd, and another indian one doesn't want to be gay because of her culture.
3. at some point the (all white plus one nonblack poc) main characters talk about whether they, as nonblack people, have a right to appropriate rap and hiphop as their own.
the immediate answer is lmao, of course not, "your white guilt is overpowering." because obviously cultural appropriation isnt actually real.
4. uuuuugh oh my god the Straightness TM!!!! the main character (MMC) was a lesbian. there was one bi girl with like one sentence in the whole book.
the aforementioned indian mc (IMC)? has a relationship with MMC, but they end up breaking up bc the IMC ~*doesnt want to be gay*~ because of her ~*culture*~. they promis us a queer story but we can't even have happy love endings for queer girls.
its not rebellious when it's exactly the same as what everyone else does. you know what's really rebellious? giving queer love stories happy endings. TOGETHER endings.
meanwhile, there's a straight girl referred to as the "butchest straight girl in town,"
and EVERYBODY, straights and one gay, throw around the word queer like its nothing... including another gross conversation saying that everyone should reclaim the word. including "we're ALL queer in the end uwu".
5. the hiphop GSA or whatever is called "Hip-Hop for Heteros and Homos," which made me, a real life actual "homo", want to throw up. that name makes me uncomfortable even without the fact that it's by a most-likely-straight author.
words like queer and homo are used constantly throughout this book. hey, kids, just because your character is part of an oppressed group (that you're not part of) doesn't give you the right to reclaim its slurs.
6. when it wasn't embarrassing and awkward misuse of hip-hop slang and "aave", the writing was entirely bad metaphors.
that's it.
bad slang and bad metaphors.
nothing else.
7. the jewish thing was really bad and awkward too? they kept saying she was jewish, but only ever as a negative thing, and also... something that you can't change?
the MMC kept complaining about the judaism her absent mother "forced" on her (note- judaism is matrilineal, but that doesn't mean you HAVE to practice judaism just because your mom did... OBVIOUSLY)
that was the only actual mention of her judaism. her saying how bad it was.
theres more but im tired and distracted so this is all youre getting.
in summary: i was so excited for a queer feminist badass love story with diversity galore... but what i got was a straight white author writing straightly and whitely about a story that shouldnt have been this straight or this white.
:(
i was super excited for this at first. feminism + LGBTQ story + JEWISH LESBIAN MAIN CHARACTER??? that is exactly my aesthetic.
but...... the author was such a straight white goy. i mean, technically i dont know that she's not Jewish? or queer? but if you read this book it sure doesn't seem like it.
1. the entire book was written in some weird exaggerated white mutation of AAVE, because obviously that's how hiphop fans talk.
every other word is something like "wicked" or "bidness" or "faSHO" or "bitches" or "boo" or "yo" and it sounds like an old white republican's view of how People Of Color talk.
2. all the main characters were white, btw, except for one indian girl. there are like two black characters. siblings, refugees from somalia, who are only in the school through a busing program for poor people. this sounds like a joke but it's actually the characters' story.
other than the main indian character and her family, there's one other indian guy. he's constantly shamed, mocked, and has death wished on him by the main main character...... because he's a nerd. DEATH THREATS. because he's a nerd.
out of the like five nonwhite characters, to recap: the two black ones are POOR AFRICAN REFUGEES, an indian one is given death threats for being a nerd, and another indian one doesn't want to be gay because of her culture.
3. at some point the (all white plus one nonblack poc) main characters talk about whether they, as nonblack people, have a right to appropriate rap and hiphop as their own.
the immediate answer is lmao, of course not, "your white guilt is overpowering." because obviously cultural appropriation isnt actually real.
4. uuuuugh oh my god the Straightness TM!!!! the main character (MMC) was a lesbian. there was one bi girl with like one sentence in the whole book.
the aforementioned indian mc (IMC)? has a relationship with MMC, but they end up breaking up bc the IMC ~*doesnt want to be gay*~ because of her ~*culture*~. they promis us a queer story but we can't even have happy love endings for queer girls.
its not rebellious when it's exactly the same as what everyone else does. you know what's really rebellious? giving queer love stories happy endings. TOGETHER endings.
meanwhile, there's a straight girl referred to as the "butchest straight girl in town,"
and EVERYBODY, straights and one gay, throw around the word queer like its nothing... including another gross conversation saying that everyone should reclaim the word. including "we're ALL queer in the end uwu".
5. the hiphop GSA or whatever is called "Hip-Hop for Heteros and Homos," which made me, a real life actual "homo", want to throw up. that name makes me uncomfortable even without the fact that it's by a most-likely-straight author.
words like queer and homo are used constantly throughout this book. hey, kids, just because your character is part of an oppressed group (that you're not part of) doesn't give you the right to reclaim its slurs.
6. when it wasn't embarrassing and awkward misuse of hip-hop slang and "aave", the writing was entirely bad metaphors.
that's it.
bad slang and bad metaphors.
nothing else.
7. the jewish thing was really bad and awkward too? they kept saying she was jewish, but only ever as a negative thing, and also... something that you can't change?
the MMC kept complaining about the judaism her absent mother "forced" on her (note- judaism is matrilineal, but that doesn't mean you HAVE to practice judaism just because your mom did... OBVIOUSLY)
that was the only actual mention of her judaism. her saying how bad it was.
theres more but im tired and distracted so this is all youre getting.
in summary: i was so excited for a queer feminist badass love story with diversity galore... but what i got was a straight white author writing straightly and whitely about a story that shouldnt have been this straight or this white.
:(
November 28, 2017
I liked this book quite a bit for about 80% of it.
I liked that the author acknowledged the potential for cultural appropriation with suburban, mostly white or white-passing teens expressing themselves through hip-hop, although I felt that she didn't engage with it as much as she should have. This is especially important given how often Black art is taken and recycled by white artists, without credit or attribution, and these white artists go on to far more success and fame than most Black artists can dream of.
I liked the organic, exploratory feel of the relationship between Esme and Rowie. I wasn't so keen on Esme trying out het sex in the opening pages - do het people need to try out gay sex to figure out that they're not into it? Let's just leave that trope behind in general, but especially so if we're going to be marketing this to queer teens.
Then I got to the last 20% or so.
Tip: don't describe something as a love story when it ends with the people in the romance splitting up. Don't tell us it's a queer love story when it ends with one of the characters bolting the closet door shut and running off to be in a het relationship we _know_ she won't be happy with. And, most of all, don't leave us that note to instead have it end with a horrible, hokey, cheesy The Kids Show The Principal Up By Taking Over His Big Speech With a Musical Performance straight out of a cliché, awkward 90s teen comedy.
I deeply regret buying this and getting so invested in the love story only to have it ending so awfully. The message queer teen girls need isn't "you should stay in the closet and be unhappy"; they need validation and a model for how to live honestly.
I liked that the author acknowledged the potential for cultural appropriation with suburban, mostly white or white-passing teens expressing themselves through hip-hop, although I felt that she didn't engage with it as much as she should have. This is especially important given how often Black art is taken and recycled by white artists, without credit or attribution, and these white artists go on to far more success and fame than most Black artists can dream of.
I liked the organic, exploratory feel of the relationship between Esme and Rowie. I wasn't so keen on Esme trying out het sex in the opening pages - do het people need to try out gay sex to figure out that they're not into it? Let's just leave that trope behind in general, but especially so if we're going to be marketing this to queer teens.
Then I got to the last 20% or so.
Tip: don't describe something as a love story when it ends with the people in the romance splitting up. Don't tell us it's a queer love story when it ends with one of the characters bolting the closet door shut and running off to be in a het relationship we _know_ she won't be happy with. And, most of all, don't leave us that note to instead have it end with a horrible, hokey, cheesy The Kids Show The Principal Up By Taking Over His Big Speech With a Musical Performance straight out of a cliché, awkward 90s teen comedy.
I deeply regret buying this and getting so invested in the love story only to have it ending so awfully. The message queer teen girls need isn't "you should stay in the closet and be unhappy"; they need validation and a model for how to live honestly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2016
I'm surprised this got published, and I don't mean that in a this was utter crap way, I mean it in a this tells a story about such a goddamn specific niche way: a crew of mostly white high school girls in a Minneapolis suburb (EDINA!) fight to found a group called "Hip Hop for Heteros and Homos." Meanwhile, romance brews between Esme and definitely questioning/closeted Rowie.
I was skeptical going into this - white author, with a 50+% white cast, writing about hip hop in the suburbs. Setting is ripe for gross appropriation. But within the first 30 pages or so the characters are already talking about whether or not white people have a space in the rap scene, and if so, how to do so in a way that recognizes the more marginalized creators of the genre. I liked that the girls disagreed in nuanced ways and that the appropriation discussion came up several times over the course of the book.
I did feel like the book was trying a little too hard a little too often, though. The book could be grating. It name drops, it postures, and it can be didactic. Sometimes I felt downright embarrassed for the book. Maybe that comes from being someone who name drops, who postures, and who can be a bit didactic. But still, it charmed in that same way that insecure teenagers can be charming.
The romance part of the book was pretty solid - I empathized hard with Rowie, who wanted Esme to keep their relationship a secret because she feared being outed to her Indian family. Her parents actually seemed pretty cool, so it's easy to get frustrated with Rowie for just using that as a confused excuse for her internalized homophobia bullshit. But also - I understand the appeal of closets. Sometimes we don't have the best reasons for being closeted but also it just feels safe, OK? And I liked the development of her character, but I think I would have rewritten the way things ended up between her and Esme .
Other things I liked:
1. I think this is the first time I've read about Somali characters, even though they were fairly secondary.
2. I like the way texts were integrated (as footnotes). That structure actually aligns with the way texts feel in my life.
3. Minneapolis and other suburban references! I need to start reading more set in the Twin Cities. It's such a quiet but powerful thrill to recognize your own geography in a book.
I was skeptical going into this - white author, with a 50+% white cast, writing about hip hop in the suburbs. Setting is ripe for gross appropriation. But within the first 30 pages or so the characters are already talking about whether or not white people have a space in the rap scene, and if so, how to do so in a way that recognizes the more marginalized creators of the genre. I liked that the girls disagreed in nuanced ways and that the appropriation discussion came up several times over the course of the book.
I did feel like the book was trying a little too hard a little too often, though. The book could be grating. It name drops, it postures, and it can be didactic. Sometimes I felt downright embarrassed for the book. Maybe that comes from being someone who name drops, who postures, and who can be a bit didactic. But still, it charmed in that same way that insecure teenagers can be charming.
The romance part of the book was pretty solid - I empathized hard with Rowie, who wanted Esme to keep their relationship a secret because she feared being outed to her Indian family. Her parents actually seemed pretty cool, so it's easy to get frustrated with Rowie for just using that as a confused excuse for her internalized homophobia bullshit. But also - I understand the appeal of closets. Sometimes we don't have the best reasons for being closeted but also it just feels safe, OK? And I liked the development of her character, but I think I would have rewritten the way things ended up between her and Esme .
Other things I liked:
1. I think this is the first time I've read about Somali characters, even though they were fairly secondary.
2. I like the way texts were integrated (as footnotes). That structure actually aligns with the way texts feel in my life.
3. Minneapolis and other suburban references! I need to start reading more set in the Twin Cities. It's such a quiet but powerful thrill to recognize your own geography in a book.
July 21, 2011
Theirs are individual, highly original and strong voices. And they’re funny! Throw in a couple of surprising moment of sweet…and this is me, hours later, contemplating a re-read. First of, I don’t get hip hop, but their early discussions on its origins, white/black/blue/red etc and ‘white guilt’ were hilarious and made perfect sense to me. They put into words the questions I had. All I will say is that SISTER MISCHIEF is clever in tackling the subject. Then throw in some politics, religion, a joint or two, and… well, this is not a simple book! They sure as heck weren’t simple characters.
The humor had me busting my gut. Once the school of SWASPS comes up with a policy counter hip hop, they respond by starting up a GSA club with focus on discussions on it. So… yes, a it’s a little serious with discussion on religion but that’s just one aspect of it because if we strip it down, it’s all on the individuality of these four girls who want to express themselves in an unconventional manner. So, the great thing is they are regular girls, but not teen YA cardboard cutouts. I dare not say that I loved them, because to do so would be too simplistic. And this book, and these young women are anything but.
Out of the four, I was certain Marcy would be my favorite, given her tough and independent I don’t care what others think/say stance. But it was Rowi, with her confusion and choices and actions that stands out right now; particularly her choices with regard to Esme... I saw/felt the conflict. Of course, there’s Tess to consider with her faith and religion coupled with an (unexpected, but deeply appreciated) open mind.
*I wish I had a head/an ear for hip hop, then I could get a handle on what they sounded like… but that’s the extent of my complaints.
READ THIS PEOPLE!
4/5
*Thanks NetGalley
The humor had me busting my gut. Once the school of SWASPS comes up with a policy counter hip hop, they respond by starting up a GSA club with focus on discussions on it. So… yes, a it’s a little serious with discussion on religion but that’s just one aspect of it because if we strip it down, it’s all on the individuality of these four girls who want to express themselves in an unconventional manner. So, the great thing is they are regular girls, but not teen YA cardboard cutouts. I dare not say that I loved them, because to do so would be too simplistic. And this book, and these young women are anything but.
Out of the four, I was certain Marcy would be my favorite, given her tough and independent I don’t care what others think/say stance. But it was Rowi, with her confusion and choices and actions that stands out right now; particularly her choices with regard to Esme... I saw/felt the conflict. Of course, there’s Tess to consider with her faith and religion coupled with an (unexpected, but deeply appreciated) open mind.
*I wish I had a head/an ear for hip hop, then I could get a handle on what they sounded like… but that’s the extent of my complaints.
READ THIS PEOPLE!
4/5
*Thanks NetGalley
September 7, 2011
i just read an excerpt from this on amazon and started cracking up at the reference desk. can't wait until the order gets in!
update: really liked this. but what's not to like about four badass teenage girls protesting their high school's anti hip-hop policy by starting a combination GSA and hip-hop discussion group? tess, marcy, rowie & our main character the fearless esme also perform as "sister mischief" at various open-mic nights. esme has only recently come out to her friends and father, but when a nefarious* classmate exposes her secret relationship and outs her to the entire school, sister mischief and 4H (hip-hop for homos and heteros) becomes more important than ever.
for the record, i know nothing about hip-hop but i could tell that laura goode does, and her characters were beautifully real and also super hilarious. i'm not sure of specific teens i'd recommend this to, because i kind of think everyone should read it.
*maybe a little TOO nefarious. she was kind of a one-sided conservative christian evil villain. i liked the way tess's christianity was portrayed much better. at least goode included both characters.
update: really liked this. but what's not to like about four badass teenage girls protesting their high school's anti hip-hop policy by starting a combination GSA and hip-hop discussion group? tess, marcy, rowie & our main character the fearless esme also perform as "sister mischief" at various open-mic nights. esme has only recently come out to her friends and father, but when a nefarious* classmate exposes her secret relationship and outs her to the entire school, sister mischief and 4H (hip-hop for homos and heteros) becomes more important than ever.
for the record, i know nothing about hip-hop but i could tell that laura goode does, and her characters were beautifully real and also super hilarious. i'm not sure of specific teens i'd recommend this to, because i kind of think everyone should read it.
*maybe a little TOO nefarious. she was kind of a one-sided conservative christian evil villain. i liked the way tess's christianity was portrayed much better. at least goode included both characters.
September 17, 2011
Originally Posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2...
**This Review is based on an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy). The final text and/or cover may be different.**
"We ride to get high, Minnesota-do-or-die
We talk shit and kick it, out bidness is the shiznet
Sot holler out out name, we're the illest Sister Mischief"
This book was fun and completely filled with raps and rhymes and that type of stuff. I don't usually listen to or consider myself a fan of rap, but this book totally rocked! Laura Goode has created an amazing novel which looks at community, finding yourself and true love...with totally pumpin' beats.
Our MC, Esme is a totally rock-my-socks-off chick. Loved her! Her sarcasm, her difficulty in finding who she is, and her amazing lyrics are upbeat and keep the rhythm throughout the entire novel. I liked her most of the time, except when she kinda expects too much of other people. Poor Rowie. That's all I'm gonna say!
Marcy, up next, is pure AWESOME-NESS. She totally is the sassy best friend, who doesn't take no (or crap) for an answer. I liked Tess, as she was the popular girl who went and hung out with the bunch of misfits. She stands up for them, has connections (her dad's a state senator...I think) and seems to always seem so sugary-sweet mixed in with a little bit o' evil.
Now onto Rowie...okay, first off, she's from the same place as I am in India! I'm from Bangalore too! Awesome connection. Okay, other than that, she really wasn't a very strong character, definitely had her faults, but totally didn't blame her for what happened between Esme and her (not gonna give out the deets). But then she just kinda made me mad after that. Nothing more to say other than that.
I really loved the little footnotes at the end of the page sometimes. It was really cool to see texts, tweets, notes etc. that Esme and her friends connect over in the subtext. That was pretty different for a novel. I think the only other one (which isn't a classic) which I've seen footnotes in would be Stay by Deb Caletti.
Okay, now here's a little warning for the some of you: this book has a ton of swear words. If you're okay with that, that's cool, but other than that, loads of the raps (which would probably take up nearly 1/3 of the book if you combined it all together) have swear words and Esme and her friends do swear on almost every page. Just warning younger readers!
Overall, Sister Mischief was about being defiant and standing up for you and others, for your beliefs and interests. Laura Goode has created an amazing LGBT novel about true love, friendship and the sickest raps around. A geat debut, and can't wait to read more from her in the future!
**This Review is based on an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy). The final text and/or cover may be different.**
"We ride to get high, Minnesota-do-or-die
We talk shit and kick it, out bidness is the shiznet
Sot holler out out name, we're the illest Sister Mischief"
This book was fun and completely filled with raps and rhymes and that type of stuff. I don't usually listen to or consider myself a fan of rap, but this book totally rocked! Laura Goode has created an amazing novel which looks at community, finding yourself and true love...with totally pumpin' beats.
Our MC, Esme is a totally rock-my-socks-off chick. Loved her! Her sarcasm, her difficulty in finding who she is, and her amazing lyrics are upbeat and keep the rhythm throughout the entire novel. I liked her most of the time, except when she kinda expects too much of other people. Poor Rowie. That's all I'm gonna say!
Marcy, up next, is pure AWESOME-NESS. She totally is the sassy best friend, who doesn't take no (or crap) for an answer. I liked Tess, as she was the popular girl who went and hung out with the bunch of misfits. She stands up for them, has connections (her dad's a state senator...I think) and seems to always seem so sugary-sweet mixed in with a little bit o' evil.
Now onto Rowie...okay, first off, she's from the same place as I am in India! I'm from Bangalore too! Awesome connection. Okay, other than that, she really wasn't a very strong character, definitely had her faults, but totally didn't blame her for what happened between Esme and her (not gonna give out the deets). But then she just kinda made me mad after that. Nothing more to say other than that.
I really loved the little footnotes at the end of the page sometimes. It was really cool to see texts, tweets, notes etc. that Esme and her friends connect over in the subtext. That was pretty different for a novel. I think the only other one (which isn't a classic) which I've seen footnotes in would be Stay by Deb Caletti.
Okay, now here's a little warning for the some of you: this book has a ton of swear words. If you're okay with that, that's cool, but other than that, loads of the raps (which would probably take up nearly 1/3 of the book if you combined it all together) have swear words and Esme and her friends do swear on almost every page. Just warning younger readers!
Overall, Sister Mischief was about being defiant and standing up for you and others, for your beliefs and interests. Laura Goode has created an amazing LGBT novel about true love, friendship and the sickest raps around. A geat debut, and can't wait to read more from her in the future!
September 4, 2011
I loved this book, and I wish it -- or books like it -- had been around when I was in high school. The characters are wonderfully complex, not to mention flawed, and the situations they find themselves in are realistic enough to be believable but unlikely enough to keep me reading. Esme in particular is relatable, and oy, I know I have a tendency to rail against unnecessary sequels, but I hope Laura Goode keeps writing.
Well, maybe not a sequel. But more awesome lgbtq books, yeah?
The one thing that bugged me was that the conversations sometimes got a little preachy -- like, 'oh, hey, let me tell you about the great empowering parts of hip-hop.' Maybe I wouldn't have minded if I hadn't heard the spiel before (though I do think that hip-hop has some kind of terrific -- and, yes, empowering -- roots), but those were the only parts that didn't feel entirely 'on' to me.
4.5 stars. Laura Goode, please write more books.
Well, maybe not a sequel. But more awesome lgbtq books, yeah?
The one thing that bugged me was that the conversations sometimes got a little preachy -- like, 'oh, hey, let me tell you about the great empowering parts of hip-hop.' Maybe I wouldn't have minded if I hadn't heard the spiel before (though I do think that hip-hop has some kind of terrific -- and, yes, empowering -- roots), but those were the only parts that didn't feel entirely 'on' to me.
4.5 stars. Laura Goode, please write more books.
Read
July 25, 2018How former classmates portray MN hometown in YA lit, the fascination continues. I probably only groked about 25% of this due to my lack of familiarity to the hip hop cannon. Seemed oddly reminiscent of Clerks-- quirky characters, witty dialog, claustrophobic plot tied to just a few locations and relationships... but maybe that is a fair summary of suburban life.
July 20, 2011
The Little Bookworm
Plot: I could see this as movie. It would be a great Disney type movie except for the cursing and lesbians. And, while you might be able to lose the cursing, the lesbian part is a big part of why this book works in a different way from the standard YA love story. Music is hard to read on paper and rarely comes through so while I could picture the girls rapping and singing I couldn't really "hear" it. But the message comes across pretty well despite the discrepancies of medium.
Writing: There is a lot of slang, but it was fairly easy to follow. My main obstacle was the grocery list of musical artist and songs that occur with some frequency in the story. I wanted to say "YAY! I'm glad that you know your artists and musical genre, but moving on." I was glad when that lessened as the story became more established. That is my main gripe. Other than that the prose flowed nicely and it had a bit of a poetic flavor to it.
Characters: I loved Esme. I just want to hug her and maybe mother her a little bit because she really needs a mother. Her father does his best and he is a very open and emotional father and I loved that about him. His willingness to give her freedom and not hold her back was so awesome in a parental figure. But her yearning for her wayward mother is deeply apparent. Esme is such a tough talking chick, but she is so vulnerable and willing to love. She and her friends are so amazing together and their dynamic alone made the book worth reading. They were each so distinct but all bought something to the table. They like to discuss deep and meaningful things like religion and sexual language and misogamy in rap music. They are a awesome group of heavy thinking, heaving rhyming girls and I thought they were great.
Love Story: Esme, who knows for sure that she is a lesbian, starts a little something with Rowie, who is unsure of her sexual orientation. This leads down an interesting road that is probably pretty obvious. I think that it is a huge growing part for Esme, even though I want nothing but everlasting love for her.
Overall: Worth reading. If you love hip-hop, then this is the story for you. If you love LGBT stories, then this is the story for you. If you like high school empowerment , then this is the story for you. If you don't like any of the above, well, then I don't know what to tell you.
Plot: I could see this as movie. It would be a great Disney type movie except for the cursing and lesbians. And, while you might be able to lose the cursing, the lesbian part is a big part of why this book works in a different way from the standard YA love story. Music is hard to read on paper and rarely comes through so while I could picture the girls rapping and singing I couldn't really "hear" it. But the message comes across pretty well despite the discrepancies of medium.
Writing: There is a lot of slang, but it was fairly easy to follow. My main obstacle was the grocery list of musical artist and songs that occur with some frequency in the story. I wanted to say "YAY! I'm glad that you know your artists and musical genre, but moving on." I was glad when that lessened as the story became more established. That is my main gripe. Other than that the prose flowed nicely and it had a bit of a poetic flavor to it.
Characters: I loved Esme. I just want to hug her and maybe mother her a little bit because she really needs a mother. Her father does his best and he is a very open and emotional father and I loved that about him. His willingness to give her freedom and not hold her back was so awesome in a parental figure. But her yearning for her wayward mother is deeply apparent. Esme is such a tough talking chick, but she is so vulnerable and willing to love. She and her friends are so amazing together and their dynamic alone made the book worth reading. They were each so distinct but all bought something to the table. They like to discuss deep and meaningful things like religion and sexual language and misogamy in rap music. They are a awesome group of heavy thinking, heaving rhyming girls and I thought they were great.
Love Story: Esme, who knows for sure that she is a lesbian, starts a little something with Rowie, who is unsure of her sexual orientation. This leads down an interesting road that is probably pretty obvious. I think that it is a huge growing part for Esme, even though I want nothing but everlasting love for her.
Overall: Worth reading. If you love hip-hop, then this is the story for you. If you love LGBT stories, then this is the story for you. If you like high school empowerment , then this is the story for you. If you don't like any of the above, well, then I don't know what to tell you.
May 21, 2011
Received from Netgalley.
Summary: Listen up: You’re about to get rocked by the fiercest, baddest all-girl hip-hop crew in the Twin Cities - or at least in the wealthy, white, Bible-thumping suburb of Holyhill, Minnesota. Our heroine, Esme Rockett (aka MC Ferocious) is a Jewish lesbian lyricist. In her crew, Esme’s got her BFFs Marcy (aka DJ SheStorm, the butchest straight girl in town) and Tess (aka The ConTessa, the pretty, popular powerhouse of a vocalist). But Esme’s feelings for her co-MC, Rowie (MC Rohini), a beautiful, brilliant, beguiling desi chick, are bound to get complicated. And before they know it, the queer hip-hop revolution Esme and her girls have exploded in Holyhill is on the line. Exciting new talent Laura Goode lays down a snappy, provocative, and heartfelt novel about discovering the rhythm of your own truth.
Review: I enjoyed the book. It was well written and the story line was easy to follow. I liked how it focused on individuality which made the book better in my eyes. It was an awesome portrait of high school life and female friendships, it was definitely upbeat. I think people should read this, I doubt you'd be disappointed.
Summary: Listen up: You’re about to get rocked by the fiercest, baddest all-girl hip-hop crew in the Twin Cities - or at least in the wealthy, white, Bible-thumping suburb of Holyhill, Minnesota. Our heroine, Esme Rockett (aka MC Ferocious) is a Jewish lesbian lyricist. In her crew, Esme’s got her BFFs Marcy (aka DJ SheStorm, the butchest straight girl in town) and Tess (aka The ConTessa, the pretty, popular powerhouse of a vocalist). But Esme’s feelings for her co-MC, Rowie (MC Rohini), a beautiful, brilliant, beguiling desi chick, are bound to get complicated. And before they know it, the queer hip-hop revolution Esme and her girls have exploded in Holyhill is on the line. Exciting new talent Laura Goode lays down a snappy, provocative, and heartfelt novel about discovering the rhythm of your own truth.
Review: I enjoyed the book. It was well written and the story line was easy to follow. I liked how it focused on individuality which made the book better in my eyes. It was an awesome portrait of high school life and female friendships, it was definitely upbeat. I think people should read this, I doubt you'd be disappointed.
August 3, 2011
Full review: The lonely book-club
The book is very light and easy to read, you get the hang of the story quite easily. It’s composed well and it’s not confusing. The small notes that are put in here and there “by” the protagonist is a bit annoying from time to time, but one gets used to them and they definitely adds to the “young” atmosphere the book tries to hold.
The characters differ from each other and it’s easy to see which character are which without having to look back in the story to get to remember “which of the girls was this girl again.”
From time to time the hip hop slang gets a little annoying but will probably amuse younger readers.
The book is very light and easy to read, you get the hang of the story quite easily. It’s composed well and it’s not confusing. The small notes that are put in here and there “by” the protagonist is a bit annoying from time to time, but one gets used to them and they definitely adds to the “young” atmosphere the book tries to hold.
The characters differ from each other and it’s easy to see which character are which without having to look back in the story to get to remember “which of the girls was this girl again.”
From time to time the hip hop slang gets a little annoying but will probably amuse younger readers.
September 25, 2011
I liked this a lot more than I expected to when I started it, when I wasn't sure if the conversations about the ethics of white suburban girls doing hip-hop or being a Christian who isn't an asshole were being slotted in just to get them out of the way. But they definitely weren't. This is an Issue Book, but it's about a hell of a lot of issues - queerness, faith, family, friends, the First Amendment, hip-hop, immigration, and that isn't even half of the issues the book touched on. Maybe it's a lot more like real life than any book that isn't an "issue book" could ever be.
Hip-hop isn't really my thing (though after this book, I'm thinking maybe it should be), but smart girls who're trying to figure themselves out and don't feel like they quite fit in definitely are.
Hip-hop isn't really my thing (though after this book, I'm thinking maybe it should be), but smart girls who're trying to figure themselves out and don't feel like they quite fit in definitely are.
September 26, 2013
Sister Mischief is the story of four fierce.friends, Esme, Marcy, Rowie and Tessie. Although they live in the conservative Minneapolis suburb Holyhills they are about that life. The girls embrace the hip hop music and culture and fight for their rights when the school administration seeks to put a ban on all things hip hop. This book was amazing I loved how the main characters had each others back and stood up for their beliefs. Looking forward to reading more books by this author.
May 8, 2011
My kneejerk reaction: I really didn't want to read this because they used the word "bidness" and the word "illest" in the same sentence on the back of my ARC.
Actual reaction: I love this book no shit. Even though it made me feel old.
Review later.
Actual reaction: I love this book no shit. Even though it made me feel old.
Review later.
December 8, 2014
A group of white suburban midwestern girls take on sexuality through hip hop. There's the right amount of teenage angst and drama and good guys and bad guys, but sometimes a little too philosophizing.
September 3, 2011
My book club buddy wrote this! Can't wait. Rock on, Laura.
October 24, 2013
cheesy and silly
July 31, 2011
After reading several very positive early reviews, I’ve been waiting to get my grubby little paws of this book. Well worth it!
This is very much a character-driven book, and as a result, I loved Esme. She feels like a natural narrator, and I really felt her anger and frustration about her life through her words. Esme doesn’t have the right answers, she screws up with her friends, and at the end, she still feels like someone trying to find her way. I could really tell how much hip-hop spoke to Esme, and how she uses the style to express herself, not just in the various songs she and Sister Mischief perform, but even in her private notebook and scribblings. I also really liked that she had a bunch of different influences going into her writing, and not just name-dropping a few big names and leaving it at that. I’d also like to comment on how much Esme spends the book scribbling in her notebook and using her lyrics to vent, even about minor things that happen at school—if there’s anything in this book I could relate to, it was this. My early high school years weren’t pleasant, so I’d always turn to my notebook and vent out my frustrations (something that I still do to this day). I loved seeing someone else churn out creative juices, and reading over Esme’s lyrics gave me a big smile.
Concerning the rest of Sister Mischief’s MC’s, I loved them all. I just wanted to give Rowie a big hug and tell her to be true to herself, even if she wasn’t sure about her sexual orientation. Her frustration and conflict between having Esme all to herself and the response from her family was really natural, and I could understand why she and Esme both decided to mentally blue-screen following their break-up. I do wish she would have given coming out publicly a little more thought, but given her background, I can understand her hesitation. Tess was probably my second-favorite character of the bunch, if only because she doesn’t compromise being Christian with insulting her friends for being gay or into hip-hop or different from the rest of white suburban Minnesota. However, while I liked Marcy, I did think she got the least characterization out of the group, if only for being a supportive friend whenever Esme needs her the most. I felt like she needed a deeper exploration to her, as Esme, Rowie and Tess had their characters develop over the course of the book in reaction to the events.
I want to make a comment about religion in the book—Esme identifies as Jewish in a SWASP community, we’ve got Tess the Lutheran, and Marcy’s described as being Catholic. I find the Catholicism mention interesting, as some of Esme’s flashbacks to her childhood with Marcy does bring up the religion, and makes even Marcy feel more like an outsider. It doesn’t seem like that big of a deal in context, but I liked how Goode used something that is definitive of Christian religion to illustrate outsider-status in Midwestern America.
Also, whenever the girls leave Holyhill, there’s a real strong sense of how diverse Minnesota really is. Esme makes a comment early on about how most of her town fits the “blond, blue-eyed” archetype, but the club and subway scenes lent a more diverse culture that Sister Mischief deals with, if only on a limited basis. It would have been nicer to get more of the diversity during the school scenes, but I liked how it was handled. Also, I liked the extended discussions on racial identity, and if it was all right for the four to use music that’s so racially ingrained (also, going back to their musical influences, as well—each girl has her own taste for certain hip-hop artists and other musical genres that they manage to blend in together); also, extended discussion on if using degrading terms like “bitches and hos” was all right as well.
And I have to give Goode massive kudos for her writing style. There’s a real rhythm in the writing whenever Esme falls into her stream-of-consciousness, almost like an invisible beat to the prose. It felt like Esme was telling you her story and it made the prose feel nature. Also, I loved the use of footnotes throughout the book. A lot of YA books tend to shove texts and IMs and other forms of electronic communication, so not having everything single text and tweet shoved in my face was really refreshing. It also worked for Esme’s notebook scribbling; I liked seeing her thoughts as asides, not italicized or bolded to catch the reader’s eye.
My only real complaint about the book as a whole is that most of the side characters, aside from some other kids from the school and the girls’ parents, don’t really get that much characterization. The most egregious example would be Mary Ashley, for fulfilling the hypocritical Christian white girl role. We don’t really see much of her, outside of a few school settings. I really wanted to see more of her confrontations with Tess, to give her a little more depth than giving the girls a few catty remarks. I was kind of disappointed that the teacher didn’t really do much aside from giving the girls a voice and being the ‘cool’ teacher who disagrees with the administration’s policy; she could have played a more active role in the plot, aside from talking the other staff members into disbanding the anti-hip-hop policy. I would have really liked to have seen more done with them in general, but they’re the only weak point in the story.
Overall, FANTASTIC read. I look forward to pushing this book on to many people as I possibly can. *temples fingers*
This is very much a character-driven book, and as a result, I loved Esme. She feels like a natural narrator, and I really felt her anger and frustration about her life through her words. Esme doesn’t have the right answers, she screws up with her friends, and at the end, she still feels like someone trying to find her way. I could really tell how much hip-hop spoke to Esme, and how she uses the style to express herself, not just in the various songs she and Sister Mischief perform, but even in her private notebook and scribblings. I also really liked that she had a bunch of different influences going into her writing, and not just name-dropping a few big names and leaving it at that. I’d also like to comment on how much Esme spends the book scribbling in her notebook and using her lyrics to vent, even about minor things that happen at school—if there’s anything in this book I could relate to, it was this. My early high school years weren’t pleasant, so I’d always turn to my notebook and vent out my frustrations (something that I still do to this day). I loved seeing someone else churn out creative juices, and reading over Esme’s lyrics gave me a big smile.
Concerning the rest of Sister Mischief’s MC’s, I loved them all. I just wanted to give Rowie a big hug and tell her to be true to herself, even if she wasn’t sure about her sexual orientation. Her frustration and conflict between having Esme all to herself and the response from her family was really natural, and I could understand why she and Esme both decided to mentally blue-screen following their break-up. I do wish she would have given coming out publicly a little more thought, but given her background, I can understand her hesitation. Tess was probably my second-favorite character of the bunch, if only because she doesn’t compromise being Christian with insulting her friends for being gay or into hip-hop or different from the rest of white suburban Minnesota. However, while I liked Marcy, I did think she got the least characterization out of the group, if only for being a supportive friend whenever Esme needs her the most. I felt like she needed a deeper exploration to her, as Esme, Rowie and Tess had their characters develop over the course of the book in reaction to the events.
I want to make a comment about religion in the book—Esme identifies as Jewish in a SWASP community, we’ve got Tess the Lutheran, and Marcy’s described as being Catholic. I find the Catholicism mention interesting, as some of Esme’s flashbacks to her childhood with Marcy does bring up the religion, and makes even Marcy feel more like an outsider. It doesn’t seem like that big of a deal in context, but I liked how Goode used something that is definitive of Christian religion to illustrate outsider-status in Midwestern America.
Also, whenever the girls leave Holyhill, there’s a real strong sense of how diverse Minnesota really is. Esme makes a comment early on about how most of her town fits the “blond, blue-eyed” archetype, but the club and subway scenes lent a more diverse culture that Sister Mischief deals with, if only on a limited basis. It would have been nicer to get more of the diversity during the school scenes, but I liked how it was handled. Also, I liked the extended discussions on racial identity, and if it was all right for the four to use music that’s so racially ingrained (also, going back to their musical influences, as well—each girl has her own taste for certain hip-hop artists and other musical genres that they manage to blend in together); also, extended discussion on if using degrading terms like “bitches and hos” was all right as well.
And I have to give Goode massive kudos for her writing style. There’s a real rhythm in the writing whenever Esme falls into her stream-of-consciousness, almost like an invisible beat to the prose. It felt like Esme was telling you her story and it made the prose feel nature. Also, I loved the use of footnotes throughout the book. A lot of YA books tend to shove texts and IMs and other forms of electronic communication, so not having everything single text and tweet shoved in my face was really refreshing. It also worked for Esme’s notebook scribbling; I liked seeing her thoughts as asides, not italicized or bolded to catch the reader’s eye.
My only real complaint about the book as a whole is that most of the side characters, aside from some other kids from the school and the girls’ parents, don’t really get that much characterization. The most egregious example would be Mary Ashley, for fulfilling the hypocritical Christian white girl role. We don’t really see much of her, outside of a few school settings. I really wanted to see more of her confrontations with Tess, to give her a little more depth than giving the girls a few catty remarks. I was kind of disappointed that the teacher didn’t really do much aside from giving the girls a voice and being the ‘cool’ teacher who disagrees with the administration’s policy; she could have played a more active role in the plot, aside from talking the other staff members into disbanding the anti-hip-hop policy. I would have really liked to have seen more done with them in general, but they’re the only weak point in the story.
Overall, FANTASTIC read. I look forward to pushing this book on to many people as I possibly can. *temples fingers*
September 23, 2020
Just another disappointing lesbian novel where she doesn't get the girl. Writing is juvenile. Really does feel like it was written by a teenager, and not in a good way. Characters are actually obnoxious, their voices all sound forced, and the dialogue comes off as cheesy.
January 19, 2012
"Sister Mischief" by Laura Goode is a tough one, literally and figuratively. I came to the book willingly - a Minnesota setting, a book for our LGBTQ kids, an author with Minnesota connections - it's got to be good. Right? Unfortunately, it turns out that I had a hard time getting through this one.
Protagonist Esme Rockett is not very likable from page one - she is tough. She is in your face with her language, her opinions, her anger, her choices. Sometimes she is as judgmental as those she decries as being bigots. You figure out eventually where all of that anger comes from, she's lost her mom and she's questioning her sexuality and she's trying to figure out where to go from here, but most readers won't hold on long enough to figure that out. I was uncomfortable with, offended even, by the first part of the book. The fairly graphic sex scenes were a turn off, as were the drinking, the language, the repartee between the characters. I kept trying to picture who the intended audience for the book was. I am not sure of the author's choices here. Scenes like this are easier, seem more natural and necessary, when you have invested in the characters first, when they are one small part of the whole. It seems less gratuitous. It's easier to see the big picture, rather than focusing just on these things. It gives critics less ammunition as well. With "Sister Mischief" critics will read the first eight pages and say, "You see. You see. We were right. Everything having to do with the LGBTQ world is immoral and wrong." That is exactly what I would hate to see happen. Maybe the choices were made as a way to entice students into reading the book. That might work with some, but caring about a character is a more enticing reason to continue a book any day. At any rate, the author's choices here were not clear and, I think, not the right ones.
All of the messages - and there are many about faith, religion, sexuality, parenting, self-discovery, friendship, acceptance, empowering oneself, and music - are important. While I appreciate the author's enthusiasm and what she is trying to do and say here, the messages are (again) heavy-handed and in your face. There are often complete diatribes on things like the history and importance of hip-hop music. In addition, it is easy to make a stereotypical character like Mary Ashley Baumgarten the antagonist in the story. But real life is more complicated than that - more like we see in the character of Tess. Critics will see an over the top character like Mary Ashley as an attack on Christianity, and maybe that is what it was meant to be. (It was interesting to me that, based on the descriptions, this appears to take place in or near Edina, Minnesota - a place easy to stereotype as the land of the "cake eaters." I, however, have never thought of this area as the land of far right Christianity. I could think of many other places near the Twin Cities where this might be more aptly set in that regard.) It is also easy to make the principal the bad guy without exploring all of the difficult choices he needs to make in a public school in a community like Holyhill. Again, life is more complex than that.In addition to the heavy-handed messaging and the stereotypical characters, some of the events that take place lack credulity. The climactic scene, in which Sister Mischief takes over an all-school assembly, is really hard to believe. That they could ever pull something like that off, stretches believability - and then that they did not receive more consequences - made me cringe. The idea of it is fun to think about - but the likelihood of that ever happening? Not so much. Finally, these teens seem pretty articulate and self-aware for their ages. On the other hand, the fact that they bust the stereotype of hip-hop being all about black males and "bad" students and violence, is a positive!
I like some of the caring adults who stood behind Esme, Marcy, Rowie, and Tess - Esme's dad, Rowie's mom - I cared about them and believed that they cared about these kids. Even though they cared about these kids, I found it hard to care about them and invest in them myself. I wanted to abandon the book as a result. I am glad that I stuck with it because I cared more about the characters by the end of the book and understood where they were coming from.
There are many references to contemporary pop culture that will date this book quickly. And all of the references to hip-hop musicians (even local musicians - most readers outside of the Twin Cities area and aren't a part of the hip-hop scene will know little about them) and hip-hop in general are overdone and might be a turn-of to readers who don't know this world. Though, after I read the book, I had a great conversation with a colleague who knows this scene well. I asked him about each of the musicians listed in the book, and we had a great discussion about the history of hip-hop and rap and its different phases and genres. He only knew one of the local musicians listed, Brother Ali. Great discussion - I learned a lot.))
I really wanted to like this book. 2.5 stars for me.
Protagonist Esme Rockett is not very likable from page one - she is tough. She is in your face with her language, her opinions, her anger, her choices. Sometimes she is as judgmental as those she decries as being bigots. You figure out eventually where all of that anger comes from, she's lost her mom and she's questioning her sexuality and she's trying to figure out where to go from here, but most readers won't hold on long enough to figure that out. I was uncomfortable with, offended even, by the first part of the book. The fairly graphic sex scenes were a turn off, as were the drinking, the language, the repartee between the characters. I kept trying to picture who the intended audience for the book was. I am not sure of the author's choices here. Scenes like this are easier, seem more natural and necessary, when you have invested in the characters first, when they are one small part of the whole. It seems less gratuitous. It's easier to see the big picture, rather than focusing just on these things. It gives critics less ammunition as well. With "Sister Mischief" critics will read the first eight pages and say, "You see. You see. We were right. Everything having to do with the LGBTQ world is immoral and wrong." That is exactly what I would hate to see happen. Maybe the choices were made as a way to entice students into reading the book. That might work with some, but caring about a character is a more enticing reason to continue a book any day. At any rate, the author's choices here were not clear and, I think, not the right ones.
All of the messages - and there are many about faith, religion, sexuality, parenting, self-discovery, friendship, acceptance, empowering oneself, and music - are important. While I appreciate the author's enthusiasm and what she is trying to do and say here, the messages are (again) heavy-handed and in your face. There are often complete diatribes on things like the history and importance of hip-hop music. In addition, it is easy to make a stereotypical character like Mary Ashley Baumgarten the antagonist in the story. But real life is more complicated than that - more like we see in the character of Tess. Critics will see an over the top character like Mary Ashley as an attack on Christianity, and maybe that is what it was meant to be. (It was interesting to me that, based on the descriptions, this appears to take place in or near Edina, Minnesota - a place easy to stereotype as the land of the "cake eaters." I, however, have never thought of this area as the land of far right Christianity. I could think of many other places near the Twin Cities where this might be more aptly set in that regard.) It is also easy to make the principal the bad guy without exploring all of the difficult choices he needs to make in a public school in a community like Holyhill. Again, life is more complex than that.In addition to the heavy-handed messaging and the stereotypical characters, some of the events that take place lack credulity. The climactic scene, in which Sister Mischief takes over an all-school assembly, is really hard to believe. That they could ever pull something like that off, stretches believability - and then that they did not receive more consequences - made me cringe. The idea of it is fun to think about - but the likelihood of that ever happening? Not so much. Finally, these teens seem pretty articulate and self-aware for their ages. On the other hand, the fact that they bust the stereotype of hip-hop being all about black males and "bad" students and violence, is a positive!
I like some of the caring adults who stood behind Esme, Marcy, Rowie, and Tess - Esme's dad, Rowie's mom - I cared about them and believed that they cared about these kids. Even though they cared about these kids, I found it hard to care about them and invest in them myself. I wanted to abandon the book as a result. I am glad that I stuck with it because I cared more about the characters by the end of the book and understood where they were coming from.
There are many references to contemporary pop culture that will date this book quickly. And all of the references to hip-hop musicians (even local musicians - most readers outside of the Twin Cities area and aren't a part of the hip-hop scene will know little about them) and hip-hop in general are overdone and might be a turn-of to readers who don't know this world. Though, after I read the book, I had a great conversation with a colleague who knows this scene well. I asked him about each of the musicians listed in the book, and we had a great discussion about the history of hip-hop and rap and its different phases and genres. He only knew one of the local musicians listed, Brother Ali. Great discussion - I learned a lot.))
I really wanted to like this book. 2.5 stars for me.
November 30, 2017
I... still don't know what to think of this book. I have it two because it was earnest and well-written and appeared genuine. But I don't know what to think frankly.
March 5, 2018
A humorous tale of sisterhood and the thrill and heartbreak of first love.
January 30, 2019
nothing amazing but hella entertaining.
May 8, 2021
I went to Edina High School and appreciate a novel about that racist, sexist pressure cooker that doesn’t require me to go back to therapy.
July 25, 2019
as always, wonderful in this contemporary with no fantastic or elements but a surprise in the ending!
July 7, 2011
Esme Rockett is a Jewish lesbian white-girl living in the suburbs of Minneapolis. She’s obsessed with hip-hop, and she’s formed an all-girl hip-hop group with her best friends Marcy, Tess, and Rowie (who she’s also crushing on hardcore). When their Christian-dominated high school tries to ban hip-hop and the culture associated with it from school grounds, the girls decide to take matters into their own hands and form a gay-straight-hip-hop alliance. This move is met with resistance and struggle, but the girls work hard to stay true to themselves and the music they love.
All common sense should dictate that I would not be predisposed to like this book. Although I’m a casual fan of hip-hop music, I wouldn’t consider myself an expert in the least. The summary (available on Goodreads) is so full of hip-hop vernacular that it’s almost off-putting, and my immediate reaction to the premise of the book was to worry about the cultural appropriation that can take place when a bunch of suburban white girls (and one Indian girl) adopt characteristics of another culture. But. But. I grew up in the suburbs of Minneapolis. Holyhill High School? Could have been MY high school (in fact, I had moments where I was sure that Goode drew inspiration from my alma mater). So I decided to dive into the book and see what would happen.
I’m so glad I did, guys, because I really, really loved this book. I recognize that this book won’t resonate with everyone. It’s the kind of book that I’m going to be a champion of because I think it’s hilarious and honest and well-written, but I also have to recognize that like all novels, not every reader will love it like I love it. That’s okay, though, because I love this book enough to make up for those who don’t.
Let it be said: Goode is a really, really good writer. She manages the capture the distinct voices of each of the four girls that make up Esme’s crew, creating characters that are funny, warm, and flawed. These are girls who have chemistry together, who banter and tease each other and love one another deeply. A welcome break from novels that feature protagonists who have no friends or maybe one friend, this novel allows female friendships to flourish. Reading the scenes where the four girls are together, goofing around, were some of the best.
Goode also tackles the subject of hip-hop and cultural appropriation with grace and aplomb. Not only is it clear that Goode has done her homework about hip-hop music in general, but she creates characters who have a genuine love for the music. Even though I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that some of the hip-hop speak made me wince a little, I was able to accept it because it didn’t completely take over the story and because the other elements regarding hip-hop were done so well. The empowerment that the girls felt through writing their own rhymes was poignant. When they connected hip-hop to other types of poetry, I felt ridiculously happy.
There’s a lot to like in the story, even if hip-hop’s not your thing. Goode’s novel is about coming into your own and pursuing individuality. Esme’s relationship with her father was remarkable and yet felt very natural. Her relationship with Rowie felt so real and was, at times, completely heartbreaking. It’s one of the most realistic portrayals of first love that I’ve ever seen, and I not only completely bought their feelings for one another but could actually see the chemistry between them on the page.
The only issue I took with the book was the portrayal of Esme’s arch-nemesis. The girl was like liquid evil, with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Her extreme Christian views would have been completely intolerable had it not been for Tess, whose more inquisitive, accepting Christian views were supposed to provide a juxtaposition for Mary Ashley’s narrow-minded, discriminating worldview. However, the character still felt too much like a stereotype and plot point; the one flaw in Goode’s really compelling debut novel.
Highly, highly recommended, you guys. This is a book I’m going to be giving out as gifts this year.
Sister Mischief by Laura Goode. Candlewick Press: 2011. Electronic galley accepted for review.
All common sense should dictate that I would not be predisposed to like this book. Although I’m a casual fan of hip-hop music, I wouldn’t consider myself an expert in the least. The summary (available on Goodreads) is so full of hip-hop vernacular that it’s almost off-putting, and my immediate reaction to the premise of the book was to worry about the cultural appropriation that can take place when a bunch of suburban white girls (and one Indian girl) adopt characteristics of another culture. But. But. I grew up in the suburbs of Minneapolis. Holyhill High School? Could have been MY high school (in fact, I had moments where I was sure that Goode drew inspiration from my alma mater). So I decided to dive into the book and see what would happen.
I’m so glad I did, guys, because I really, really loved this book. I recognize that this book won’t resonate with everyone. It’s the kind of book that I’m going to be a champion of because I think it’s hilarious and honest and well-written, but I also have to recognize that like all novels, not every reader will love it like I love it. That’s okay, though, because I love this book enough to make up for those who don’t.
Let it be said: Goode is a really, really good writer. She manages the capture the distinct voices of each of the four girls that make up Esme’s crew, creating characters that are funny, warm, and flawed. These are girls who have chemistry together, who banter and tease each other and love one another deeply. A welcome break from novels that feature protagonists who have no friends or maybe one friend, this novel allows female friendships to flourish. Reading the scenes where the four girls are together, goofing around, were some of the best.
Goode also tackles the subject of hip-hop and cultural appropriation with grace and aplomb. Not only is it clear that Goode has done her homework about hip-hop music in general, but she creates characters who have a genuine love for the music. Even though I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that some of the hip-hop speak made me wince a little, I was able to accept it because it didn’t completely take over the story and because the other elements regarding hip-hop were done so well. The empowerment that the girls felt through writing their own rhymes was poignant. When they connected hip-hop to other types of poetry, I felt ridiculously happy.
There’s a lot to like in the story, even if hip-hop’s not your thing. Goode’s novel is about coming into your own and pursuing individuality. Esme’s relationship with her father was remarkable and yet felt very natural. Her relationship with Rowie felt so real and was, at times, completely heartbreaking. It’s one of the most realistic portrayals of first love that I’ve ever seen, and I not only completely bought their feelings for one another but could actually see the chemistry between them on the page.
The only issue I took with the book was the portrayal of Esme’s arch-nemesis. The girl was like liquid evil, with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Her extreme Christian views would have been completely intolerable had it not been for Tess, whose more inquisitive, accepting Christian views were supposed to provide a juxtaposition for Mary Ashley’s narrow-minded, discriminating worldview. However, the character still felt too much like a stereotype and plot point; the one flaw in Goode’s really compelling debut novel.
Highly, highly recommended, you guys. This is a book I’m going to be giving out as gifts this year.
Sister Mischief by Laura Goode. Candlewick Press: 2011. Electronic galley accepted for review.
August 1, 2011
I won this through the GoodReads First Reads program. It arrived on 20 July 2011.
First apology: This took me longer to read than I intended. I had a family member in palliative care, so my July was very chaotic. Rest assured, I wanted to read this book faster, but circumstances just didn't allow it.
Second apology: I admittedly don't know much about hip-hop. I know of some of the major artists, a few of the cultural issues, but that's it. So I'm sorry that I can't comment more on that part of the novel.
My track record with GoodReads First Reads books is… not good. The blurb will sound neat. I'll enter. Sometimes I'd win. Then I'd get the book and it would be… meh. Vampire novels by people who "never read vampire novels, so they could write about PURE vampires"—and then basically write an Anne Rice knockoff. Authors who think a 15-year-old saying "crap" is "edgy". You know what I mean. You've probably got some duds too.
That is certainly not the case with Sister Mischief.
THE GOOD:
- The characters. I liked all four main characters: Esme, Rowie, Marcy, Tess. I loved that they had a solid friendship and that they talked about more than romance; they truly felt like friends, with their up and downs.
- Tess. While I liked everyone in the main four (see above), Tess really stood out to me because, in other books, the "religious girl" tends to be meek or stuck up or whatever, and here, Tess's faith is simply a facet of her. She's smart. She's pretty. She's a kick-ass singer. And she happens to be Lutheran. Her faith is a part of her, but only a part.
- Positive kid-parent relationships. Too many YA novels focus on parent-kid strife. It was nice to see an author portray relationships where the parents are supportive and the kids are respectful in return. Whether it's Esme's dad or Rowie's mom, it was so nice to see parents who weren't stupid and oblivious, but rather actively interested (in a non-invasive way) in their kids' lives.
- The writing. Overall, Goode's writing was solid, smart, and engaging. Not having time to read was frustrating, because I really wanted to.
- Smart girls. Not only are the main four girls smart, they aren't afraid of being smart. They don't dumb themselves down to fit it. They're smart and PROUD. Word nerd power!
THE NOT-SO-GOOD
- The footnotes. Some were fine, but a lot of the texts and notes didn't add to the story.
- The epilogue. I'm picky with epilogues, I know, but it seems like so many of them (especially in YA) are superfluous, and while I don't hate this one, it didn’t add much in my opinion.
- Predictability. After a while, the end was pretty much a foregone conclusion. Goode's writing was still engaging, but when you can pretty much tell exactly how things are going to play out, it kills the suspense.
- How the "big messages" were handled. All the big topics—sexuality, who has the "right" to make hip-hop, etc.—are covered, but some of the segues to the discussions feel extremely forced, as if the author said, "Oh, damn, I was supposed to talk about the politics of white people in hip-hop in this chapter. I'll stick the girls in the car and have them chat." Once the conversations got going, they were fine, but the way some of them began was stilted.
Overall, I loved Sister Mischief. Don't be put off if you don't like hip-hop. Substitute any type of "fringe" activity and the heart of the story is the same. It's about finding yourself and not being afraid to show that self to others. YA may be big business now, but a lot of it is crap. This, however, is a novel I'd both happily read again and get for my 13-year-old niece.
First apology: This took me longer to read than I intended. I had a family member in palliative care, so my July was very chaotic. Rest assured, I wanted to read this book faster, but circumstances just didn't allow it.
Second apology: I admittedly don't know much about hip-hop. I know of some of the major artists, a few of the cultural issues, but that's it. So I'm sorry that I can't comment more on that part of the novel.
My track record with GoodReads First Reads books is… not good. The blurb will sound neat. I'll enter. Sometimes I'd win. Then I'd get the book and it would be… meh. Vampire novels by people who "never read vampire novels, so they could write about PURE vampires"—and then basically write an Anne Rice knockoff. Authors who think a 15-year-old saying "crap" is "edgy". You know what I mean. You've probably got some duds too.
That is certainly not the case with Sister Mischief.
THE GOOD:
- The characters. I liked all four main characters: Esme, Rowie, Marcy, Tess. I loved that they had a solid friendship and that they talked about more than romance; they truly felt like friends, with their up and downs.
- Tess. While I liked everyone in the main four (see above), Tess really stood out to me because, in other books, the "religious girl" tends to be meek or stuck up or whatever, and here, Tess's faith is simply a facet of her. She's smart. She's pretty. She's a kick-ass singer. And she happens to be Lutheran. Her faith is a part of her, but only a part.
- Positive kid-parent relationships. Too many YA novels focus on parent-kid strife. It was nice to see an author portray relationships where the parents are supportive and the kids are respectful in return. Whether it's Esme's dad or Rowie's mom, it was so nice to see parents who weren't stupid and oblivious, but rather actively interested (in a non-invasive way) in their kids' lives.
- The writing. Overall, Goode's writing was solid, smart, and engaging. Not having time to read was frustrating, because I really wanted to.
- Smart girls. Not only are the main four girls smart, they aren't afraid of being smart. They don't dumb themselves down to fit it. They're smart and PROUD. Word nerd power!
THE NOT-SO-GOOD
- The footnotes. Some were fine, but a lot of the texts and notes didn't add to the story.
- The epilogue. I'm picky with epilogues, I know, but it seems like so many of them (especially in YA) are superfluous, and while I don't hate this one, it didn’t add much in my opinion.
- Predictability. After a while, the end was pretty much a foregone conclusion. Goode's writing was still engaging, but when you can pretty much tell exactly how things are going to play out, it kills the suspense.
- How the "big messages" were handled. All the big topics—sexuality, who has the "right" to make hip-hop, etc.—are covered, but some of the segues to the discussions feel extremely forced, as if the author said, "Oh, damn, I was supposed to talk about the politics of white people in hip-hop in this chapter. I'll stick the girls in the car and have them chat." Once the conversations got going, they were fine, but the way some of them began was stilted.
Overall, I loved Sister Mischief. Don't be put off if you don't like hip-hop. Substitute any type of "fringe" activity and the heart of the story is the same. It's about finding yourself and not being afraid to show that self to others. YA may be big business now, but a lot of it is crap. This, however, is a novel I'd both happily read again and get for my 13-year-old niece.
September 15, 2015
According to the back cover, this is a book all about sisterhood and love and hip hop. In other words it sounded like a typical coming of age story. I like those stories sometimes but most of the time I get frustrated because they have similar themes with a different name attached.
I can’t pinpoint why Sister Mischief was so different to this. Maybe because Esme was in love with a girl but the story wasn’t really about that? You completely felt how much she did love Rowie but her life didn’t begin and end with her. She was hurt and sad when they broke up, for a while afterwards as well, but she didn’t fall into a pit of despair as her whole life ended (Bella Swan, I’m looking at you). She had her friends and her dad and her life to be getting on with.
Her friends were so interesting as well. They were all so different to each other, not just in religion (a Protestant, a Catholic, a Jew and a Hindu walk into a bar) but in how they talked and how they reacted to things. They all had their things to deal with and their history with each other and Holyhill, it was all woven in very well together. I especially liked how religion and culture were brought up without being the source of all evil. Tess has to deal with being part of the same religion that is used as fuel for the hatred of bigots and Rowie has to come to terms with wanting to not lose touch with her culture in a place where being SWASP (Straight White Anglo Saxon Protestant) is the very vocal majority.
And these four girls and their relationships with their parents and each other were just the focus of the book. And you had important side plots (Esme’s forced outing, the belief that everything will be better in college, Mary Ashley being angry that Tess has moved away from the bible group, Rowie and Esme together) but the book didn’t focus too much on any of them to make them overshadow everything else.
I wasn’t such a fan of how heavy handed it could be with some issues. There was a conversation near the beginning where the four girls discussed whether it was okay for them (three white girls and one Indian girl) to be doing hip hop at all due to cultural appropriation. It was an interesting discussion definitely but it seemed to come out of nowhere a little, like the author was going ‘I did think about the issues and here’s proof’. That happens a couple more times, just enough for me to wonder if that scene/conversation was strictly necessary, but not enough to severely impact my enjoyment of the book.
And this last issue was completely personal to me, but I don’t really know that much about hip hop so I got lost a couple of times when the discussion got technical. That was just me though so I don’t really hold it against the book at all.
All in all, I give it four out of five stars. I read it in two hours and I really enjoyed it, but it’s not quite five stars for me. I’m always looking for LGBTQ+ books which have a main plot that isn’t all about coming out/homophobia so I was very pleased with this book.
I can’t pinpoint why Sister Mischief was so different to this. Maybe because Esme was in love with a girl but the story wasn’t really about that? You completely felt how much she did love Rowie but her life didn’t begin and end with her. She was hurt and sad when they broke up, for a while afterwards as well, but she didn’t fall into a pit of despair as her whole life ended (Bella Swan, I’m looking at you). She had her friends and her dad and her life to be getting on with.
Her friends were so interesting as well. They were all so different to each other, not just in religion (a Protestant, a Catholic, a Jew and a Hindu walk into a bar) but in how they talked and how they reacted to things. They all had their things to deal with and their history with each other and Holyhill, it was all woven in very well together. I especially liked how religion and culture were brought up without being the source of all evil. Tess has to deal with being part of the same religion that is used as fuel for the hatred of bigots and Rowie has to come to terms with wanting to not lose touch with her culture in a place where being SWASP (Straight White Anglo Saxon Protestant) is the very vocal majority.
And these four girls and their relationships with their parents and each other were just the focus of the book. And you had important side plots (Esme’s forced outing, the belief that everything will be better in college, Mary Ashley being angry that Tess has moved away from the bible group, Rowie and Esme together) but the book didn’t focus too much on any of them to make them overshadow everything else.
I wasn’t such a fan of how heavy handed it could be with some issues. There was a conversation near the beginning where the four girls discussed whether it was okay for them (three white girls and one Indian girl) to be doing hip hop at all due to cultural appropriation. It was an interesting discussion definitely but it seemed to come out of nowhere a little, like the author was going ‘I did think about the issues and here’s proof’. That happens a couple more times, just enough for me to wonder if that scene/conversation was strictly necessary, but not enough to severely impact my enjoyment of the book.
And this last issue was completely personal to me, but I don’t really know that much about hip hop so I got lost a couple of times when the discussion got technical. That was just me though so I don’t really hold it against the book at all.
All in all, I give it four out of five stars. I read it in two hours and I really enjoyed it, but it’s not quite five stars for me. I’m always looking for LGBTQ+ books which have a main plot that isn’t all about coming out/homophobia so I was very pleased with this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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