Grrrls on the Side

June 1, 2017

Gr 10 Up-A coming-of-age novel set in the 1990s alternative scene. When Tabitha Denton's best friend abandons her, she finds solace in alternative music. While at a concert, she is invited to a Riot Grrrl meeting, where she finally feels like she belongs. Tabitha soon falls for fellow Riot Grrrl Jackie, who is different from anyone she's ever met. Tensions mount at home as Tabitha's mother becomes concerned about her relationship with Jackie in particular. Teens will approach this book as historical fiction, whereas adults may find the 1990s setting nostalgic. However, the universal themes of finding one's voice and community will resonate with all readers. While the dialogue is didactic at times, the narration is well paced and will keep readers turning pages. Tabitha is bisexual and refuses others' attempts to place her in a box. In addition to sexuality and feminism, issues of race also play a central role in the narrative. Each chapter is followed by a page from a zine written by one of the characters. VERDICT An additional purchase for large libraries. Give to fans of Isabel Quintero's Gabi, a Girl in Pieces or Laura Goode's Sister Mischief.-Jenni Frencham, Columbus Public Library, WI

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2017
A teenage outcast finds herself in the riot-grrrl scene.White, fat high school sophomore Tabitha is bullied for her size and a sexual identity she has yet to claim, but she finds solace in punk music and her "absolute disdain for all that is mainstream." Attending a Bikini Kill show, she's handed a zine with information about a local riot-grrrl meeting, and after getting up the nerve to attend, she finds a group of young women working to smash the patriarchy through creativity, activism, and mutual support. She falls in with the group and comes out as bisexual, embarking on a relationship with white longtime member Kate. As their relationship grows rocky, Tabitha begins to develop a close friendship and intense chemistry with a new member of the group, Jackie, who is black and butch. Pack's characters call out problematic behaviors and ideologies, and, while occasionally preachy and didactic, her book earnestly tackles biphobia, racism, and microaggressions, gender presentation, body image, and intersectionality. An author's note written after the 2017 Women's March on Washington situates the narrative in the early 1990s and explains the contemporary relevance of the riot-grrrl movement. Snippets reproduced from the characters' zines are scattered between chapters, providing additional insights into their inner selves and an authentic replica of a cultural moment. Like the riot-grrrl movement itself, unsubtle but full of heart. (Historical fiction. 14-17)

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