In a small town Texas community world revolves around football. Not surprisingly the players feel entitled to anything and everything including making the girls in the school feel voiceless. All that will change if Viv has anything to say about it.
Viv Carter is a girl that has never rocked the boat. She has grown up in this small town. She has heard the stories of her mothers wild days defending the defenseless. Inspired by these influences she secretly decides to tilt this city on its axis and become a voice for those that has lost theirs even if she is too scared to own it.
I enjoyed this book as an adult and I will likely pass it on to my daughter as well. The points made in the book are relevant in a lot of places. The references were kind of fun too, I learned a little. There will likely be polarizing opinions on the subject matter I am sure but its a books that inspires dialogue. I had no problem reading this book in one sitting and looking forward to more in the future.

i feel so old: the Riot Grrll thing feels like it happened yesterday, but it was 20 years ago. 20. And I was in my 30s, so a little old to embrace the "new" message of female empowerment. Still...

While the message here is great, that you can change things that are blatantly wrong and unfair by bringing them out into the light, the story is incredibly predictable. This may not matter to teen readers, particularly those who may decide to use some of the tactics and methods that Viv uses, but it bothered me that there was nothing surprising here. It's like Sarah Dessen went to feminism school.

ARC provided by publisher.

Thanks to Roaring Brook Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read Moxie, by Jennifer Mathieu. When quiet, studious Vivian gets tired of the football team receiving most of the school funds to build their program, while team members are crude, loud mouthed boys who get by with everything, she fights back through a secret flyer called Moxie. Other girls, who have issues to discuss, join in and, together, they stand up against the unfairness of the situation. It doesn't help that the principal's son, who attempts to overpower a cheerleader, gets by with whatever he wants and the girls are threatened expulsion. Moxie girls, from all walks of life, unite and the results are powerful! I enjoyed this book about strong women who stood up for themselves and won.

This book was written specifically to delight me! I've already started telling my patrons about it. This is an honest account of what young women often face, and seeing Viv fight back was great. She questioned herself and her role in ways that are true to life, and her discussions with her boyfriend are an important issue to explore.

This book made me feel like the Wonder Woman movie did: incredibly hopeful. I know not everyone felt that way from the movie and not everyone will feel that way with this book, but I highly recommend checking this one out. It's not perfect - although it acknowledges white feminism and addresses some concerns with that, it could still stand to be a little more diverse. I especially would've loved to see a transgender character in this, especially as trans issues are the one thing this book doesn't really address. Ultimately, though, this book is a new favorite of mine. It's bursting with passion and it makes you feel some of that passion as well. I turned the last page with tears in my eyes, feeling like I could do anything. I want it in the hands of all teens.

Y'all, please go buy this book for every girl from the ages of 12-18 yrs old. And even if you fall out of the age group, read it for yourself so you can talk about this book with a young lady in your life. This is the perfect book to open dialogue between you and your tween/teen girl.
This was one of the best stories I've read this year. Books trying to relate a message can come across preachy or fake and this book was not that at all. You could relate to this book on so many levels and it made me think back to memories I had of what boys could and can get away with even now a days.
I'm a 40 yr old woman and I could identify with the protagonist so much in this story. My father died when I was young so I know the feeling of being raised by a single mother trying to date and the resentment I had towards her and whatever guy she was seeing at the time.
At this age we forget or maybe don't get that our Moms were teenage girls too and are not just Mom. I loved how she took inspiration from her Mom without her Mom knowing.
I can remember the boys in Jr High (ahem, late 90's) did the exact same thing these guys did in this book. It's still happening. We are still teaching girls it's your fault boys will be boys and you are blamed for their rude actions, because after all they are boys.
And if you are a young lady and want to feel like you are not alone, you can stand up for yourself then get this book immediately. You will love it!

I will definitely be purchasing this for the school library. A wonderful teen novel that might be just the introduction to feminism some teen girls need.

Initially I wasn't sure whether British teens would be able to get into its very American high school setting, but after a few chapters I was immersed. I love the inclusion of the zines in the actual book, especially in ebook format they look really clear (the quality is lost a little in the print version). There as one event within the book (no spoilers) of which I wish had been pushed further in terms of repercussions for the accused.

But overall Moxie is an addictive read that is definitely going to be a hit with teen readers. Sadly though the pink cover may put off a few male readers due to the usual stigma associated with such "girly books".

#MoxieGirlsFightBack

I received an early copy of this novel from NetGalley in return for an honest review....

I was turned onto this book while I was seeking out books with a feminist theme. For one of my MLIS courses, I was to choose four young adult novels to support the feminism theme. I got particularly picky with the last book and then stumbled upon Moxie. To my dismay, I realize it wasn't due out to the public until September. As if the NetGalley God's were looking out for me, I received an email stating the first fifty requests would be approved. I made it, Baby!!!!

After devouring this novel, I have nothing but great things to say.

We start off the novel getting a taste of what it is like to attend the featured school. We have a team of football players, who are above the law, so to speak. Especially, Mitchell Wilson, he is a star player and happens to be the son of the principal. That basically equates to Mitchell getting away with murder (slight exaggeration, but rather on point). These boys can speak how they want, when they want and in front of whomever they want. While everyone else (even the teachers) silently accept the way they behave. But that won't last for long, our protagonist, Vivian, can't take the blatant sexist disrespect and she will no longer sit back silently and take it. With a little inspiration lead by her mother's rebellious young nature and the band Bikini Kill (which I totally thought was so fricken cool since I totally grunged out to this band in high school too) Vivian takes Moxie to the next level. But not on her own, she gets a band of girls to lead the group too. It turns into quite the tale that had tears running down my face from the feeling of girl empowerment and pride.

Mathieu presents feminism to the readers in every way it can be expected. We have the non-believers, the girls who think the word is bad and the girls who claim to be feminist loudly. While on their own, they may be weak, as a group of girls, they are an unstoppable force. By the end of this novel, you will be proudly proclaiming your stance on feminism. You will no longer accept it as a word of shame, Mathieu makes you proud to use the word when regarding yourself.

I have to say the ending will give you the goose bumps, you may get some tears in your eyes. Not because of a tragedy but because of the unity and fight these young women have. This is a book, I will recommend to young girls everywhere. While young men might not find the content as appealing as a female, it still is a book worthy of the reading. Reading this story as a high school freshmen could do the student population well and become an eye opening, perspective changing experience.

If you didn't get an early copy, be ready in September. This isn't a book you want to miss.

This is easily one of my favorite books of 2017. Mathieu's writing is perfect, and the story she tells could inspire a revolution. It's a very empowering book, and one that I've already begun recommending to anyone who will listen.

This was such a fun, quick read. Thank you for the opportunity to read.

Books like Moxie need to be required reading for pre/teens. In this day and age, these topics need to be brought up and unpacked sooner rather than later. Vivian is the perfect protagonist. She cares, is willing to learn, and will admit when she was wrong. Kudos also for portraying positive male support of feminism, as well. The importance of girls supporting girls takes center stage--and I hope younger readers are inspired to look at their own schools/communities and recognize existing prejudice and do something about it.

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!!

It first came onto my radar because of the horribly offensive Kirkus review, which only shows exactly like we need more books like this one.

It manages to inspire readers to action without being dogmatic or preachy. The character development is lovely, the friendship relationships are so real and complex, I LOVED how well it portrayed the guys-who-really-means-well but just can never fully understand what it is to be a girl in the world. A mother and grandparents who are trying hard. And also, just a great, forward-moving plot.

Pub date: Sept 2017
4.5 (with 5 stars for message!)
An awesome emerging feminist story set in a small southern town, this was uplifting and inspiring! Vivian is aware of imbalance at her high school, but after delving into her mother's rebel past and then witnessing several harrassment incidents, she gets angry and Moxie is born. I loved this movement and the way it grows beyond Viv, and I can see this book inspiring and empowering many young girls. Highly recommended!

This book was absolutely phenomenal and a must-have for any public library teen collection. Moxie is a coming of age story for the Vivian who begins to fight back against the institutionalized sexism in her high school. Her friends and strangers are united over the zines she anonymously leaves in the bathrooms and characters grow and adapt as they face challenges with being young women in their toxic high school. The relationships between her and the other young women feel real- they're complicated and nuanced. All the characters are still growing and learning about who they are in relation to the obstacles they face. It's clear that Mathieu took her time to develop the character's Viv interacts with and her relationships with them. Vivian's relationship with Seth is the same. It doesn't overshadow the more important themes in the book, but actually allows the book to tackle the many complexities of being a feminist when Seth argues that 'not all guys' are like the football players at their high school. I honestly can't wait to reread this one.

Vivian is just an average girl, a dutiful daughter and a good student. She doesn't stand out, which in her mind is a good thing...right? Going to high school in a small town in Texas means that football is life, but does it have to mean football team captain, Mitchel West, can get away with treating girls like objects, too? Picking up from her mom's old Riot Grrrl 'zines Vivian, who some would vote 'most likely to never do anything interesting ever' starts a movement. Moxie Girls Fight Back! But, can they win? I would recommend this book to every girl (and boy) entering high school, it's not only a great story with friendship, romance, drama and humor, it's an inspiration. This shows what a bunch of resourceful, smart and courageous young women can do to change their community together and why women especially need to stand up for themselves and others.

Let me gush about Moxie. I thought it was a great story- even though girls are living that story every day in small town USA. So is it a story? Or a mockumentary? Either way, I was fully satisfied by the end and almost hope that there is a sequel even though I hope for Viv's sake that she doesn't have to continue to deal with such an adversarial school environment.

Viv is a smart girl who lives with her Mom and spends time with her grandparents in their small town where everything revolves around the success and failures of the high school football team. As a junior, she has been just going along with an adversarial school environment where the male students continually harass the females. The male teachers are unfair in their enforcement of the dress code and in general in their general demeanor towards the girl's complaints.

When a sexual assault gets brushed off by the administration, Viv writes a zine and distributes it anonymously to the girls at school. The other girls embrace the spirit of Moxie, and it starts a movement.

I read a DRC of this book courtesy of NetGalley, and I wish I already had a finished copy because it is one of the best YA books I've read this year.

Moxie By Jennifer Mathieu September 19, 2017

THIS BOOK. I've been interested in this book for awhile because 1) Houston author 2) it involves Riot Grrrl and feminism 3) AMY POEHLER bought the movie rights 4) the hilariously missing the point review by Kirkus review & the 5) shitstorm that followed the review calling it out. So of course I jumped at the chance to read it in advance through Net Galley and I'm ready to gush about how great this book is.

In a small town in Texas the girls put up with a lot of sexist behavior from the boys and the administration doesn't do a thing about it. Vivian reaches her limit and wants to let the girls know that this isn't ok, but Viv is a bit of a shy girl that likes to go unnoticed, so inspired by her mom's Riot Grrrl past she creates a zine (NOT A NEWSLETTER!) called Moxie to call out the bullshit going on at her high school. The girls in her school respond to the zine and Moxie becomes more than the zine that Viv created, it becomes anything the girls need or want it to be that unites the girls.

What I really liked about Moxie is how Vivian is portrayed. She is like a lot of girls in high school and doing something that draws attention to her is really intimidating, but she finds a way to do so in her own way. Viv questions how involved she wants to get in her own creation, because she's scared of the consequences. I liked that the Riot Grrrl movement was included, critiqued, and built upon. Moxie is intersectional feminism, something that Riot Grrrl kind of dropped the ball on. As a fan of Riot Grrrl music, I would of liked more of the history and bands explored than Bikini Kill, but that is not the main focus of the book. Moxie also looks at high school relationships, Viv dates a boy that is new to her high school and is not like the other guys at her school, he isn't perfect and doesn't always understand why Viv is upset with how the school is and he doesn't always say the right thing, but he tries. That is an important theme in the book, the characters and the club are not perfect, but they are trying.

Moxie is a great story about feminism that I personally believe should be on every summer reading list for high school students, male and female. The issues that are dealt with in this book are problems that students face everywhere on a regular basis.
The characters are realistic, diverse, and quite opinionated about life at East Rockport High School. The females, in particular, are fed up about the administration’s blind eye toward the sexist treatment they receive from the males, especially the football team members. The administration is also at fault for their sexist views on how young women should dress so they don’t distract or entice the school’s male population. When sexual assaults are reported to the administration, there are no repercussions to the young men involved. The main character, Viv, becomes fed up and changes the dynamics of the school environment when she quietly starts a protest by creating the Moxie zine; this is an attempt to unite and empower the females to fight back against sexism and inequality in their school.
This is a fast read with an engaging plot, interesting and memorable characters, realistic dialogue and a familiar setting that at one time or another, all people can relate to.
I highly recommend this book, not only for teenagers, but school administration, faculty, staff, and parents.

Thanks to NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for ARC.

Being a former 1990s girl teen, as well as the mom to two young school aged girls, I was honestly very excited to get my hands on ARC of Moxie.

See, Moxie is about Viv, who is the daughter of a former 1990s tough as nails punk girl.

Somehow though after Viv’s father passes away, her mom moves back home to have the help of her conservative parents to raise Viv.

In the process, it would seem that her mom lost some of her edge and her fierceness.

So Viv’s grown up flying under the radar and is by all intents and purposes a good girl. She is quiet and even dutiful (as her grandmother puts it). Don’t get me wrong she has friends, but still tries her best to to not get noticed.

But something snaps in Viv when she has to keep dealing with the status quo of how in her small Texas town the girls are treated as inferior to the boys and the high school football team.

So, Viv ends up fighting back and creates a magazine type revolution (Moxie) to put a stop to what she and her fellow female classmates have endured over the years.

What ensues is truly inspiring and really to me is the perfect read for all young teens girls and women, too.

What can I say, but I truly enjoyed this book and wasn’t sure as I had just finished reading Brown Girl Dreaming when I picked up full steam with this one. But definitely a winner in my eyes and perfect followup to the book I mentioned to have read before it. (First appeared on my Goodreads).

I don't read a lot of YA/books geared for teens, but if they were all as good as Moxie, I would read them all. Jennifer Mathieu has written a compelling and relatable coming-of-age story. Vivian is a quiet, good girl who keeps her head down and is doing her best to get through high school. This is extra challenging because her Texas high school worships all things football - creating an atmosphere where football players are treated like gods and can get away with anything.
After one day too many of being insulted and subjected to ridicule, Vivian skips Friday Night Football, delves into her mom's memory box, and becomes inspired by the Riot Grrrl movement. Moxie is born and everything changes. Girls find their voices and speak out.
I cheered for Vivian and her friends from page one. I was inspired by the story, and know that if I had read a book like this as a teenager that I would have felt unstoppable.
Dig out your zines, crank up Bikini Kill, and enjoy a few happy hours with Moxie.

Absolute, emphatic YES! to "Moxie," a book that I'd love to recommend to all high schoolers. Vivian lives in a small Texas town, where football is king and girls are silenced. Raised by a progressive mother who was a Riot Grrrl, Vivian has gone through her mother's old zines and thought a lot about these issues. Constantly confronted by sexist teenage boys who rule the school because they are on the football team (e.g. telling girls to "Make me a Sandwich" when they answer questions in class), Vivian is fed up. The old Riot Grrrl zines speak to her and help her to find her own voice. She uses them as a model to create Moxie zines for their school.

Vivian's high school embodies a lot of stories we hear on the news about unfair treatment of female students across the country. This includes behaviors as mentioned above which are less offensive but dangerously tolerated by teachers and faculty (they get no support from administration on any of these problematic behaviors) and escalate to things like the "bump'n'grab" game, where they bump into a girl and use it to grope/molest her. There are also some dangerous systemic issues like the "dress code violations" which single out girls and shame them in front of classmates, because they are a distraction to boys (who are not told to control themselves and wear offensive shirts on the regular). This is a common problem and offers a voice to frustrated teenage girls everywhere. There are also mentions of sexual assault (through retellings of events/not too detailed), which is unfortunately all too common, but good to warn about for people who would want to know before reading. Moxie becomes a voice for the otherwise ignored female students in this toxic environment.

Through Moxie, although anonymous, Vivian starts making connections with other girls, from all different social classes and cliques- because ultimately, they are all victims of this sexism. I think this is the really beautiful message of the book- unity to make change. I absolutely loved this section of the book with the quote: "this is what it means to be a feminist. Not a humanist or a 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." Incredible.

The book also approaches feminism for the male ally through a romantic interest for Vivian. What is really great is how they point out that boys have also been "indoctrinated" into the sexist culture, but they can also join the movement without infringing on girls rights to be heard and have safe spaces. I think this was navigated really well overall, and I thought the romance added to the story in this way, rather than detracting from the overall equality/girl power messages.

I do wish alcohol had been left out of the book, as it wasn't really necessary to the plot, and teenage drinking does not need to be linked with girl power/feminism. But overall, I found it to be such a powerful book with an incredible message, that I loved it overall anyway. I highly recommend it! Another really great thing about the book was the inclusion of messages/examples about peaceful protests and how to be heard when you are constantly ignored. It's a really fantastic read!

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.