Title: Girls with Sharp Sticks
Author: Suzanne Young
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: March 19, 2019
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Summary
Innovations Academy is a school where girls learn how to behave in high society. From the beginning, they are taught how to be obedient. The Guardians watch over them, ensuring that they always fall in line with the rules. Also ensuring that they are always on their best behavior. The girls don’t have to learn things like math or science; they’re trained to be obedient to men, no matter what.
After a field trip to a local garden, Mena starts to think that something else more sinister is behind the academy. Following the outburst of a fellow student, Mena begins to notice other things happening around the academy that seem a little fishy. And as she and her friends start to uncover the secrets of Innovations Academy, the truth is much darker than they ever expected. In order to save themselves, the girls must learn how to band together.
Review: Girls with Sharp Sticks
After mentioning this book in this post from last month, I received a copy to review from the publisher. And I’m so happy I did! From beginning to end, I liked almost everything about this book. The characters, the premise, the setting, the messages; everything worked together to create an engaging book I read in almost one entire sitting.
We’re not given a ton information right from the beginning. However, the way we learn about the world that Mena and her friends live in is parallel to the way that the girls figure out what’s happening in their own world. It’s an unraveling mystery throughout the entire book. You know from the beginning that there’s something more sinister behind the academy, but Young does a great job keeping you in the dark until the very end. And by then, you just have to know what’s really going on at Innovations Academy.
While this is a fictional tale, there’s also a lot of truth behind the knowledge that’s being bestowed upon the girls. Young’s story explores a lot about the power relationships between men and women, all the while emphasizing that girls are just as powerful as men. I loved the way that Mena and her friends come into their own strength through their knowledge, empowering them to want to get out of their current situation.
Overall, the book gives you plenty of twists, keeping you on your toes while you’re reading. One or two of the plot points are slightly predictable, but these don’t take away much from the story. I would recommend this book on its themes alone, but its portrayal of strong female characters and strong female friendships are also strong selling points.
Strong feminist themes and an unpredictable plot make Girls with Sharp Sticks the YA release you’ll want to immediately grab when it comes out in March.
4.5/5 stars