Give It Up

May 1, 2015

Gr 8 Up-This urban fiction series features five teenage girls who find themselves on a horrible, student-generated list known as "the swoop list." No girl wants to be put on it, because it means that she is "easy." In order to address the negative backlash that occurs, the school counselor has the "swoop list girls" meet. The protagonists become really close and learn many lessons from one another. The most prevalent being how to cope with having their reputations affected by the list. They find solidarity in the friendships that are formed. Like Anne Schraff's "Bluford High" series (Townsend Pr.), the plotlines are neatly wrapped up and the narratives end neatly. These titles cover very serious topics, such as bullying, dating, gang violence, rape, and sex. Vocabulary might be challenging for some students but the story lines are easy to follow and understand. VERDICT A hi-lo series that will appeal to the author's fans and those who enjoy high school drama stories.-Shauntee Burns-Simpson, New York Public Library

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 6, 2015
An anonymous list that calls out girls for having bad reputations—whether they are deserved or not—connects five girls in this first book in Moore’s Swoop List series, set in rural Georgia’s Jackson High. After Christmas break, 17-year-old Sanaa finds herself an outcast because her name is atop the “swoop list,” which labels her a slut. She soon crosses paths with the other students on the list, and the girls join forces. Moore pulls no punches when it comes to portraying teens facing harsh, perilous situations: her characters deal with rape, gangs, gun violence, abortion, attempted suicide, and more. A diverse cast, quick-moving chapters, and a hopeful tone will have readers invested. Four additional titles are available simultaneously. Ages 11–18.

March 15, 2015
Grades 8-11 Five high-school girls return from winter break to find themselves on the notorious Swoop List, an online who's who of easy lays. The girls, vastly different in character, home life, and sexual history, gather together in solidarity to deal with harsh social shaming from female students and unwelcome sexual advances from boys. With support from Ms. Davis, the school's counselor, the girls begin to fight back against the stigma of being labeled easy and soon become unlikely but fiercely loyal friends. The first title in a new high-low series examining bullying, peer pressure, and sexual double standards is an appealing package that is part cautionary tale, part over-the-top drama-fest. Short chapters and simple language make for a brisk pace, and although the characters are familiar enough to verge on stereotypes, the distinct voices keep the story lines from getting muddled. Expect the drama to continue in the simultaneously released second volume, On Your Knees, when a student brings a gun to school to stop a notorious gang member from harassing one of the girls.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)