Off the Record

Starred review from April 5, 2021
Garrett (Full Disclosure) interrogates body image, familial tension, power dynamics, and sexual assault in this contemporary feminist novel about aspiring journalist Josie, a Black 17-year-old from Atlanta. Struggling with her family’s commentary on her body and resigning herself to wait until college to find friends, Josie’s delighted when a magazine contest offers her a chance to travel on a multicity press tour and write a cover story on Marius, the Black star of an upcoming film, whom she soon finds herself falling for. When an actor reveals she was sexually assaulted by a famous director—the same director Marius will be working with in his next film—Josie digs deeper into the rumors while coping with her own past sexual assault. Josie is a talented, self-conscious teen who clearly critiques the way women are treated in the world around her. Expositional plot points gleaned through Josie’s interviews can drag at times, but a side story offers a sweet romance, and Josie’s largely internal journey remains a clear portrait of a young woman finding her voice while coming into her own. Ages 14–up. Agent: Brianne Johnson, Writers House.