I absolutely LOVED this book! So much more than I thought I would. There are some triggers in this book so be warned. This book needs to be read by teens and adults - everyone! It is so important to be read and understood - especially by young adults, not just females. This book gave me as an adult a sense of empowerment and encouraged me to always share my voice and not silence myself. This is heavy on the feminist movement, but the true takeaway is much, much more than that - never let anyone silence your voice. This was a fast paced read that I swallowed whole and wanted a second helping of. 5 solid stars

Loved this title -- Definitely will be recommending this one to fans of Rainbow Rowell, Maureen Johnstone and Julie Murphy!

Few books make me want to pump my fist in the air and yell, "Hell yeah!" After reading Moxie, I was pumped up and ready to go fight injustice in the world.

This book was amazing and perfect for any young female patron! It is about a girl who starts a zine in her school because many of the guys she goes to school with are sexist pigs who don't even realize it. She covers a lot of issues that affect girls in high school today: dress codes, special treatment for athletes, hallway harassment, Valentine's Day pressure, and more. Vivian even has her first boyfriend, and we see how he navigates the difficult space between supporting her and still learning about the world. It's the type of book I can see inspiring young adults to action in their own schools. I highly recommend purchasing and highlighting this book for YA females.

Moxie Girls Fight Back! I loved that line throughout the book. The story line in the book is one that really hits home in today's society. Having grown up in a small Texas town on the Gulf Coast, I feel like the author really captured what it's like going to high school in that place for a girl. The main characters were fleshed out but I would have loved to have had a little more background on Vivian's best friends. Overall, I think the book is one that will make people think and make some girls act.

"This is what it means to be a feminist. Not a humanist or an equalist or whatever. But a feminist. It's not a bad word. After today it might be my favorite word. Because really all it is is girls supporting each other and wanting to be treated like human beings in a world that's always finding ways to tell them they're not."

A book about a teen girl coming into her own as a feminist and learning how to fight back against the patriarchy and rape culture? ... do you think I could have clicked "request" on this ARC any faster than I did?

✘ PLOT
At Vivian's high school, she's used to certain things being fact: the football players get away with everything, dress codes only affect girls, and sexual harassment is just part of everyday life. When Vivian starts to delve into her mother's Riot Grrrl past, however, she realizes maybe things don't have to be this way - so she forms Moxie, an anonymous school 'zine that invites other girls to band together and fight back.

"Riot Grrrls were into feminism, obviously, but up until this moment in the gym I didn't think of them as feminists so much as super cool girls who took no shit."

✘ WHAT I LIKED
- This is, in a nutshell, a YA contemporary about feminism, and that's a topic that most authors aren't willing to touch with a ten-foot pole. Not only does Jennifer Mathieu tackle the issue, she does it with finesse and smoothness.

- INTERSECTIONALITY! Vivian is given a firsthand lesson in the problematic aspects of "white feminism" and learns how to take the extra steps needed to ensure complete inclusion of all women (not just the white girls).

- Growth and development. When we first start the story, Vivian has a few problematic views on things, but she is open to listening and learning. There are even a few times where she admits to bristling a little over things she is taught, but she quickly puts her knee-jerk reactions aside and listens.

We also watch several other characters grow a lot - as in the case with Viv's best friend, who turns her nose up at the thought of feminism in the beginning of the book, but as she learns more about the movement, she steadily becomes more open-minded until she is finally proud to call herself a feminist, too.

- When Viv first starts creating the Moxie 'zines and working towards dismantling the school's patriarchal system, she's so gung-ho about it that she tends to fly off the handle whenever anyone says anything incorrect. I think a lot of feminists have been in her shoes (I know I have, and it took me a few years to learn that I don't have to get angry at every person who hasn't been educated).

While the book doesn't promote turning the other cheek regarding people who willfully ignore sexism (or any other relevant -ism), it does promote giving people the chance to learn and grow, and that is so important! Rome wasn't built in a day, guys, and you can't undo a lifetime of indoctrination in one conversation, but when people are making an effort to learn, the most helpful thing we can do is give them a healthy chance.

- Moxie addresses rape culture head on. So many people don't realize how many ways rape culture affects our day-to-day lives, and I was delighted to watch Vivian not only come to realize how much it affected her and her friends, but to watch her fight back against it. There's even an aspect where she touches on the fact that men, regardless of their stance on feminism, cannot fully comprehend what women go through, and I swear, I almost put the book down to applaud Jennifer Mathieu for having the guts to go there.

"I'm totally sure he's not doing it on purpose, but Seth is a guy, and he can't ever know what it feels like to walk down a hallway and know that you're getting judged for the size of your ass or how big your boobs are. He'll never understand what it's like to second guess everything you wear and how you sit and walk and stand in case it doesn't attract the right kind of attention or worse, attracts the wrong kind. He'll never get how scary and crazy-making it is to feel like you belong to some big Boy Monster that decides it can grab you and touch you and rank you whenever and however it wants."

✘ WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
My only complaint about this book - and the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 - is that the story itself relies so heavily on the feminist aspect that the parts in between, where we're just focusing on Viv's daily life, friendships, romance, etc., fall short a little. The writing felt very young at times, and I actually had to remind myself several times that Viv was a junior in high school, because a lot of her wording and inner monologues just felt more like they were coming from a 14- or 15-year-old, at most.

✘ FINAL VERDICT
Is this book flawless as a contemporary? No. It's a little mediocre on the story-telling aspect. Is this book a brilliant and fun example of what feminism is intended to be, however? Absolutely! Whether you consider yourself a feminist or not, I feel like everyone could learn something from this book - and you might even be surprised by how hard some of the quotes hit home.

Thank you to NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for the ARC! All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

One of the best books I have read this year and definitely I will recommend to everyone. I loved Viv's growth and the realistic portrayal of making decisions and having to deal with the consequences. Loved the way this book focused on a range of experiences, all united under the "I am a girl" banner.
Everyone can be a Moxie Girl!

Where do I begin??? As soon as I heard about this book, I thought it sounded interesting but even then it blew me away. Vivian is a junior at a high school where there have always been double standards, but no one is doing anything about it. Inspired by her mom's younger days as a Riot Grrrl, Vivian starts a zine of her own and inspires the girls in her school to unite and fight back, one act of civil disobedience at a time.

This story handles so many things well: misconceptions about what feminism is, he usual growing pains of high school, shining light onto the things girls and women must consider constantly that the guys in their lives may have no idea about. I can't wait for this book to be out and I already want it to be a part of my school's staff summer book club next year.

Moxie Girls Fight Back!

I love Viv, I love the Moxie girls, I love this book.

Moxie was a great read! I was a little bit worried when it started out that it would be sort of didactic (here are the Bad Football Players! They want women to make them a sandwich! This is sexism!) but my worries were assuaged by the end and I would heartily recommend this book, especially to teens who are just learning about feminism. I loved how Viv was nervous to distribute her zine at first, but then overcame her fears and went for it. I also thought Claudia was super-realistic in that she was really wary of the whole Moxie idea at first but then came around. Girls hear a lot of disparaging things about feminism, and of course not all of them are going to know what it is or be ok with it. I also liked how intersectionality was addressed, and Viv had to become aware of her privilege. It annoyed me how Seth went all #notallmen, but it reminded me of plenty of real-life dudes I've known who had to realize that it's not about them. I also really liked Viv's coming to terms with her mom's conservative boyfriend. It reminded me of the way I was when I first got into feminism, seeing everything in shades of black and white. I'm sure a lot of readers will relate! And I'm a huge Bikini Kill fan, so I loved all the Riot Grrrl callbacks. I'm really excited to share this book with my teens when it comes out.

Did I just finish a book in less than 24 hours? Is it 2013 again??? THIS BOOK MADE ME DO IT!! Tbh I wasnt sure I wanted to read this but I opened it, saw the badass dedication, and was instantly hooked. This is a must read!

Empowering. Exhilarating. Those are the two words that I think best encapsulate this book. My chest was tight 90% of the time but with like good anxiety (the best anxiety) for what was going to happen next. I felt so proud of these girls the whole time!

Fed up with years of sexist bullshit, straight laced Vivian Carter shakes things up in her quiet Texas high school by taking a page from the 90's feminist group, the Riot Grrrls, and sparking a movement. East Rockport could be any high school in America. The problems are ones faced by young women everywhere unfortunately. Jennifer Matthieu does an excellent job telling these girls' stories and tackling contemporary feminist issues without coming off as preachy. Her writing is quick and engaging. And some scenes have an almost ethereal quality.

<i>As I watch Lucy spin and knock her dark curls around, and as I listen to Claudia laugh and sing along (badly), it occurs to me that this is what it means to be a feminist. Not a humanist or an equalist or whatever. But a feminist. It’s not a bad word. After today it might be my favorite word. Because really all it is is girls supporting each other and wanting to be treated like human beings in a world that’s always finding ways to tell them they’re not.</i>

Also, I love that it also mentioned the faults of white feminism and the importance of intersectionality and racial diversity.

<i>"My mom talked about how Riot Grrrl was mostly white girls, and she was sorry they weren’t as welcoming to other girls as they could have been. That it was one of the few regrets she had about the whole thing. But that was as far as she’d gone. East Rockport High isn’t just white girls, for sure. I glance over where Kiera and Amaya are sitting. I think about how in this one way, maybe Moxie could be even better than the Riot Grrrls. Even stronger."</i>

There was so many lovely ladies from different backgrounds and I loved the idea of Moxie belonging to all the girls at the school.

Also also, I did not expect this book to have a romance subplot at all. It was a delightful surprise that made my heart flutter but never detracted from the impact of what Vivian was trying to accomplish. In fact, it highlighted the ever present "not all men" argument because as sweet and understanding as Seth was, there were some things he and Viv don't initially agree on.

<i>“Sometimes I think even the best guys have a hard time getting it,” Lucy says, her voice sad and soft. “And I think Seth is a really great guy . I do. But if he hasn’t lived it, he just can’t know, I guess.”</i>

But he is not completely condemned. Viv's mom reminds her to remember he is learning. The same way Viv recovered after getting defensive when confronted about race.

I wish this book was out when I was in high school. Its message speaks volumes. Everyone has a voice and they shouldn't be ashamed to use it. I am so happy for the generation of young girls who will read this and hopefully find inspiration.

*PUNCHES A HOLE THROUGH THE COMPUTER SCREEN* MOXIE GIRLS FIGHT BACK

What a read!

This is one of those one-in-a-million books that makes your heart race and your feet itch to stand up and cheer. Jennifer Mathieu has written a manifesto of intersectional feminism so good and so powerful you should drop everything and read it right now. Read it for Viv, a nice girl who keeps her head down and follows all the rules, even the sexist ones at her high school, until one day she raises her head and looks around and makes a change. Read it for Viv's homemade zine called Moxie, which becomes so much more as her act of female solidarity takes on a life of its own. Read it for the story that races right along, carrying you with it and making you ever more invested in the characters, making for a thrilling ride and an intensely powerful tale of girls standing up for themselves and supporting each other. Read it for all these reasons and more, but READ IT! And then share it.

WHOA! You guys, Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu is so powerful, straight-forward, and the type of book we need in this fist-gripping-teeth-clenching year that we call 2017. I’m not going to lie, I came into this book for a feminist read AND I left the book invigorated, energized, and ready to take on the world.

Moxie‘s main character, Viv is relate-able on so many levels. She is a good student that never falls out of line and always does what she is told. But she also has a knack for being an alert listener and keen observer. I love that she turns to music for escapism and courage. I love that her mom is her role model. And what I really liked about Viv’s character is how determined and courageous she is, even if she is cautious and over-analyzes all her choices and decisions (because who does not do this?). Viv is stealthy, determined, fiesty, funny, and overall, a kickass character.

And I cannot forget about one of my favorite Moxie characters, Seth. As Viv’s crush and a guy that treats her with respect, I was silently shouting in my head, “this is what a male feminist looks like.” His actions and words never fail to positively impact the book and Viv, herself. Seth is still trying to understand the world around him and he knows he has a lot to learn when it comes to feminism. I love that he opens up his mind and world to question authority, male privilege, and social viewpoints. Seth is not perfect but he never fails to take the steps to understand social injustices–he observes, questions, and reacts.

In Moxie, Mathieu’s words not only heighten the awareness of sexism, sexual harassment, and rape in a high school setting, but she also provides a outlet for her female characters to speak out about injustice, take charge, and push against those who downplay equality and social rights. Moxie is more than a “feminist” book. It is a story about maturity, making hard choices, and discovering who you and how you would act in certain situations. This book is equal parts funny and inspiring and awesome and empowering. It is definitely a book that you do not want to pass over this year (or ever).

This book realistically portrays a young, smalltown teen's first forays into feminism as she realizes the casual sexism exhibited by her classmates and the adults in her community shouldn't be the norm. Friendships are portrayed realistically with small jealousies and growing attractions skimmed over. One character a little too neatly reveals themself as a closet feminist, but the overall storyline is solid. Secondary characters aren't as developed as well as I'd like but partially that's because they each could have their own story about their journey.

The football team and its patriarchy have always had the run of Vivian Carter's school and she is tired of it. After a new girl is humiliated for having opinions in English class, Vivian uses her mother's riot grrl past to create a zine for the other women at her school. Under the guise of Moxie, Vivian encourages her classmates to challenge the sexist jokes, the games that are sexual assault, and stop allowing the school/town to push them around. Vivian connects with many new friends along the way, truly developing a strong community of women and feminist men.

I completely enjoyed this novel. It is perfect for the political climate of today. While I have read several of Mathieu's other novels, the style of this novel is different from her previous works. She has fun with the story, is empowering, and will continue to inspire this new generation of riot grrls.

I high recommend this book! Every young girl should read this book. It shows how girls regardless of race can find common ground and band together. I love the word Moxie! It shows how girls can be strong and creative and solve problems on their own. Moxie Girls rule!

Very little not to love about this book--teenage girls finding a way to use their voices against the nasty, misogynist, football-worshipping culture in their small Texas town. It's fairly realistic in its portrayal, even of the good guys who just don't quite understand. I want this in the hands of so many teenage girls who think it's not worth it to speak up for themselves.

"After today it might be my favorite word. Because really all it is is girls supporting each other and wanting to be treated like human beings in a world that’s always finding ways to tell them they’re not."

This is my favorite quote in this book. Vivian has taken her Texas high school by storm with her Moxie movement. Tired of the sexist comments, harassment, and bump n grab games in the hallway, the girls start to take a stand. This book is about girls sticking together, supporting each other, and holding each other up. We get to see the gamut, from Viv's mom that used to be hardcore to her growing into an adult that still has her ideals but can also understand where others come from and trying to help them learn and understand what she believes in. Claudia is Viv's best friend and obviously scared and not sure about the Moxie movement. Viv's is trying to figure out her feelings on it - there is so much anger and frustration and confusion and fear. It's all normal - it's all ok, and this story celebrates girls being able to figure that out together.

I really liked that Seth is supportive but realistic. Ultimately most guys just don't have complete understanding what it is like to have to deal with daily sexual harassment, comments, etc.

Teens need this book - it shows a little movement can go a long way. That your actions might affect and help just a small amount of people but that it is worth it. I'm 35 years old and it helps me realize it is not too late to join the grrrl movement, support my fellow women, and start to stick up for each other.

FUCK YES THIS BOOK. THIS IS THE BOOK I NEEDED IN 2017.

OK, back up. First, thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC.

I've enjoyed all of Jennifer Mathieu's books thus far, so I've been looking forward to this one for a while and I'm so so so happy to say it didn't disappoint. It's full of kickass girls doing kickass things. I was outraged from the first chapter and spent at least an entire chapter in the middle of the book rage-crying. I will be buying and rereading the shit out of this book when it comes out in September.

This is definitely a YA story and it starts off with a lot of the things you would expect from a YA book, high school life, best friends, crushes on boys, feeling socially awkward... typical high school life. But as the story unfolds you realize that the culture at this high school is a little bit off. So off that the main character, good girl, study hard, keep-her-head-down-and-stay-out-of-trouble Vivian is moved to action. This is a story about girl power. Maybe spelled GRRRL POWER :-) With throw back references to the era of Riot Grrrls and zines, Vivian decides to fight back against the sexist and misogynist culture at her high school, anonymously. But her actions help break the cycle and the silence, enabling other girls to join in and give voice to all of the things that are wrong that are happening in this school. This is a book about feminism and equality.
I loved how the author tackled this word through one of the characters who voiced her reluctance to use that term. She preferred equality or humanism, both good words, but they don't quite define a movement about women, do they? The word feminism has been high-jacked and turned into a term that describes man haters, feminazis, and other unsavory descriptions. That word has become so socially and politically loaded that many hesitate to use it. Feminism is simply about the balance of power; ensuring social, political, and ideological equality for women. I love that this book is helping the younger generation to take that word back. I especially loved that the author included young women of color to the brave "Moxie" girls movement as this group have been historically marginalized in the feminist movement and it is past time for that to be overtly changed.
The pacing in the story was good, good enough that it kept me reading all day instead of doing the millions of things I was supposed to do today :-) There was enough of a balance of the home and social lives of the characters to give the story meat and not just be a story about organizing for social change. I also loved how the author let the characters make small statements, things that really were both brave and simple enough for high school girls to manage. It felt authentic. I can't wait to hear if my high schoolers think it feels authentic too. I will be purchasing this for my library.
Moxie girls fight back! xoxo