Today’s review comes from Amanda O’Dell, someone I connected with on Instagram! She’s looking to get back into writing, so she wrote something for me. Enjoy!
Title: Girl Defective
Author: Simmone Howell
Publication Date: March 1, 2013
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
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Summary
Skylark lives above her family’s vintage record shop with her father and brother. Their mother long ago moved aware to pursue her musical destiny. Her brother, Seagull, is smaller than all the kids his age and gets bullied for being different. She tries to protect him, but keeps making mistakes. Their dad drinks too much, but he’s still always there for them.
Sky struggles with adolescence–she may or may not be in love with her mysterious best friend or maybe she loves the boy her dad just hired to work in the shop for Christmas. She’s angry with her mom for leaving, and her dad for being unwilling to move forward.
Forced to face her emotions and come to terms with her feelings, Sky learns to let go and just be happy.
Review: Girl Defective
I didn’t plan on falling in love with Girl Defective. Originally, I picked it up for a fun, light read to pass time. After the first chapter, I was a goner. The story completely absorbed me into this family and their everyday life and the struggle to keep things afloat. It feels like they could be people I know. They feel like my friends. Honestly, I wish they were my friends.
Simmone Howell gave Seagull (Gully) and Skylark (Sky) the best names. I was instantly interested in them. She depicts Gully in the most heart felt, simple yet complicated, concrete way. You can see this little boy, much smaller than the other kids his age, wearing night vision goggles in the afternoon and talking into his hand like a walkie-talkie. I wanted to protect him and confront all the bullies who made fun of him for being different. I hope Agent Gully becomes a detective when he grows up.
Sky is relatable. Everyone went through the tough teenage years of confusion and angst. Howell describes this struggle in a beautiful, tangible way. We’re rooting for Sky to find happiness and peace with herself and everything that happened to her family. There’s also a little romance, which never hurts.
Howell surprises you. Her writing isn’t arduous. It welcomes you with descriptions that drop you into the book like you’re watching a movie. Additionally, she illustrates emotions in an accessible way. Some of the sentences just took my breath away.
I want to hug Gully. Listen to music with Sky. Invited to a family dinner. To wrap things up, you really need to go read this book. Please.