More Than One Way to Be a Girl

LoveReading4Kids Says

Endlessly entertaining and inspirational, this radiantly witty novel imparts important messages about gender stereotypes with heartfelt humour.   Zizi and Loretta are polar opposites, “like two sides of the same planet - dark and light”. Zizi loves “clothes, make-up and boys”. She’s eager to please, and even winds up apologising when a boy grabs her boob. “He was just being a boy. He can’t help it”, she reasons. Cue outrage from feminist Loretta. Self-taught in the arts of mechanics, plumbing and carpentry, she can’t believe how previously “smart and spirited” Zizi is now “drowning in the frothy, pink sea of girliness.” But, despite their differences, the girls strike up a friendship, and decide to make a bet for the summer vacation. Zizi will relinquish her make-up and short skirts, while Loretta will adopt Zizi’s girly style. On trading places, they both learn a whole lot about themselves, and experience firsthand how differently the world treats different “kinds” of girls.

This is fabulous on female friendship, and head-over-heels brilliant on exposing the multiple ways in which girls moderate their behaviour to fall in line with gender expectations, from not running to prevent attention-drawing boob-bouncing, to victim-blaming, self-blaming and doing domestic chores when boys are let off the hook. 100% recommended for all girls upwards of 13 (and boys, for that matter), and perfect for fans of Holly Bourne.

Joanne Owen

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