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I read Moxie because it in my classroom library (I teach English 9), and I had heard that my coworkers students were loving it. However, none of my students were picking it up! My goal is to be a reading ambassador to my students, so in order to sell this book, I had to read it.
Even though the main character, Viv, is pretty down and confused for a lot of the book, the overall mood (after reading) is uplifting and positive. While reading, the author does a great job of making the reader really dislike (maybe even hate?) the villains of the story. She also does a great job of delivering a feminist message to a young adult audience.The inclusion of a love interest for Viv was disappointing, but I can understand that she needed to balance his sweetness with the other males of the novel. Also, I know my students will probably enjoy those parts. I told my students that if they liked Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, they would probably like this book; the tone toward the significance and importance of female friendships was very similar. If you are a high school girl or want to remember what it was like to be a high school girl, or want a glimpse into some current ideas about feminism today, you should read this book. Moxie would make a great gift for girls in you life grades 8-12!
MOXIE by Jennifer Mathieu
RED RISING by Pierce Brown
Red Rising was in my classroom library for about a year before I got around to reading it. It got such rave reviews from students (I teach freshman English.) that we decided to add it to our spring science fiction lit. circle. Brown is a master of the plot twist, and goes beyond just telling a story. His characters and setting are rich, and his ability to make the story a commentary on human society in general while still being entertaining is masterful. For me, the “battle scenes” go on for longer than I would like. My female students agree, while my male students think those scenes are great. -Pretty typical! :) At first blush this might just seem like another Hunger Games, but I do really think this book offers a fresh story with an intricate world and dynamic relationships. However, it is definitely for the reader who is NOT beleaguered by the dystopian genre. Bottom line: I’m happy with our choice to buy 40 copies as I think it will be a favorite among my students for years to come.