Wow, what a ride! Rarely does a novel evoke such a range of emotions, or so perfectly capture the important events and ideas of the time - but this one does. There are so many events and ideas in this novel that I'm sure I missed some.

Fifteen year-old Malena and her mother moved to Florida to be near extended family after her immediate family was displaced by Hurricane Maria. Eighteen year-old Ruby's parents are on an extended trip, during which Ruby moved in with her grandmother. Both are attending Orange Grove High School, and that is where their worlds intersect. After a severe sunburn, Malena's mother sends her to school without a bra, because it would rub the sunburn raw; a teacher reports Malena for a dress code violation, which is described as causing the teacher discomfort, and she is sent to the nurse's office, where she is told to cover her breasts with panty liners and surgical tape. While Malena is in the bathroom, tearfully attempting to do just that, Ruby enters the next stall, and, hearing Malena cry, tries to help, telling her that the dress code doesn't include any mention of bras. So begins a tempestuous, tumultuous, and triumphant friendship between two girls from different cultures, one which opens Ruby's eyes to the realities of being a BIPOC student, and opens Malena's eyes to the possibilities inherent in self-advocacy.

Ostensibly about changing the school dress code because of what Malena experienced, this novel covers a wide range of social justice topics, including intersectionality, gender disparities, victim blaming, cultural norms, and socioeconomic differences, among others, and it does so with grace and empathy. Set in a high school, it also includes relationships, families, coming of age, and sexual assault, with compassionate understanding. If it were possible to give this book more than 5 stars, I would. Due to mature themes, this novel is recommended for readers in high school and older, and would be a wonderful choice for book groups of all ages and interests.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

TW: SA. I’m surprised I haven’t scene reviews mentioning that.

I appreciate a YA story covering the issues of white feminism and the white savior complex. I think this addressed that topic well for a YA level. Malena and reality gave Ruby, the white teen feminist from Seattle, the metaphorical slap she needed. In all, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to teens or to adults with the explanation that this is most definitely a YA novel.

Things I enjoyed about this book: it’s inclusion of Puerto Rican culture, with food, some Spanish and Spanglish, the way it addressed cultural norms with elders and their traditional view of gender roles and norms. I enjoyed reading Malena’s POV significantly more the Ruby’s. I liked her growth throughout the book, dealing with the trauma of Hurricane Maria, finding her voice, exploring what being empowered by and owning her body means and looks like for her.

Things I didn’t enjoy: Sometimes it felt like reading a diary, which fits the YA genre, but it’s not necessarily my favorite. Abby’s romance felt very insta-love. I get what the author was trying to do with it, but the character didn’t offer much other than being attractive and popular initially. In general, Abby’s story was irritating, but also somewhat uninteresting. Perhaps it was just underdeveloped, as she was going through some stuff, but I didn’t care. I didn’t care about her romance or her relationship with her sister.

This is one of my favorite kinds of contemporary fiction - I love reading about girls finding their way in the world, and this is an excellent addition to those collections.

Book: Does My Body Offend You?
Author: Mayra Cuevas
Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:
A timely story of two teenagers who discover the power of friendship, feminism, and standing up for what you believe in, no matter where you come from. A collaboration between two gifted authors writing from alternating perspectives, this compelling novel shines with authenticity, courage, and humor.

Malena Rosario is starting to believe that catastrophes come in threes. First, Hurricane Mar�a destroyed her home, taking her unbreakable spirit with it. Second, she and her mother are now stuck in Florida, which is nothing like her beloved Puerto Rico. And third, when she goes to school bra-less after a bad sunburn and is humiliated by the school administration into covering up, she feels like she has no choice but to comply.

Ruby McAllister has a reputation as her school's outspoken feminist rebel. But back in Seattle, she lived under her sister's shadow. Now her sister is teaching in underprivileged communities, and she's in a Florida high school, unsure of what to do with her future, or if she's even capable making a difference in the world. So when Ruby notices the new girl is being forced to cover up her chest, she is not willing to keep quiet about it.

Neither Malena nor Ruby expected to be the leaders of the school's dress code rebellion. But the girls will have to face their own insecurities, biases, and privileges, and the ups and downs in their newfound friendship, if they want to stand up for their ideals and--ultimately--for themselves.

Review:
I absolutely adored this book. This novel is perfect reading for anyone in our world today as it includes so many themes that are not only vital to be included in literature, but are also relevant and often heard/seen in the news. Unfortunately, topics like body positivity, socio-economic differences, and gender differences are not topics that are often represented well in literature. Mayra did an amazing job of portraying Ruby and Malena with sensitivity and strength at the same time, and for making the reader emphasize with what they are going through. It is my hope that young adults who pick up this book are able to resonate with these characters and the storyline and relate to them in some way; I highly recommend that you read this novel.


Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. This is by far the best one I have read that addresses the dress code and girls' bodies. The story doesn't just talk about tank tops and midriffs it goes much deeper than that, providing a path to readers that want to know more. The authors created great characters that felt very authentic, I don't think it would have been as successful if the same person wrote both characters.

Malena Rosario is dealing with the loss of her home in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria leaves It in ruins. She moves to Florida to start new. After a bad sunburn, she goes to school without a bra and is reprimanded by the school administration.

Ruby McAllister has moved from Seattle looking for a fresh start in Florida. She’s a little lost with not knowing her purpose and feels like she’s always been in her sisters shadow. Ruby notices what happens with Malena and together they lead a revolution.

I really enjoyed the characters, they feel real and I enjoyed watching the girls friendships unfold and grow. I think this book was powerful, feminist, and deals with a lot of important topics. The overall message was great. I will say this is extremely long for a young adult book but I still blew through it pretty quickly!

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

I wanted to like Does My Body Offend You? more than I did. The premise is up my alley: adolescent girls being targeted for having curves in school. I was sent home more than once with a warning or an oversized t-shirt because my bra straps were showing or my shorts were too short. The characters are likable, with interesting backgrounds and unique experiences. However, the writing fell flat for me. The story felt predictable and the cadence stilted. I love a feminist high school revolution, but the writing prevented me from loving this book.

Thank you to the publisher for a NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of Marie Marquardt’s books, and was thrilled at the chance to read her latest collaboration with Mayra Cuevas. Does My Body Offend You? is told from two points of view. Malena, who has recently moved to Florida from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, and is trying to adjust to her new life and school, and Ruby, who is very outspoken about women’s rights and who’s trying to be like her older sister.

When Ruby witnesses Melena being scolded and shamed for not wearing a bra to school, she decides to start a campaign to change the school’s dress code. It is through this that both characters learn about privilege, standing up for what they believe in, and the power of friendship.

I would definitely recommend this book to my students! The dual points of view made it an interesting and fun read.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review, and my apologies for the lateness as this came out a few weeks ago.

This was so great!! In this young adult, feminist manifesto, we fall in love with the fantastic Malena, a Puerto Rican displaced from her home following Hurricane Maria. After a bad sunburn, she comes to school without a bra and is of course sent to the assistant principal's office where she and the nurse have her put pantyliners on her nipples because a teacher complained. There, she meets Ruby, a white feminist out to prove that she is an activist. They become friends and take on the dress code, bringing in a wonderful conversation of purity culture, racism, friendship, white feminism and activism, white saviorism, misogyny, sexuality, and sexual assault. And there's a little romance in it that I really loved too. It is the book I wish I had in my teens!

I really loved pretty much everything about this book- the characters, the plot, and the hard-hitting issues. It may have been a full five star book for me, but it dragged just a little bit for me in the middle. However, I really cannot wait for more from these two talents authors.

If you enjoy a little feminist YA (and if you liked the Netflix movie "Moxie"), you'd be into this one too. Super glad I requested this one, despite knowing nothing about it.

4.5 stars rounding up

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is well-written, important, and very relevant. It is a must read for high school students.

Love it!

One of those reads that I begin over lunch, then can't put down until I've finished.

Puerto Rican Malena is new at a mainland high school after her home was wiped out by Hurricane Maria. She's part of a large, loving family, with strong women whose message might seem conflicting to budding feminists: big girls are great, but women are much better off being quiet, dressing quietly, not making waves.

This survival tactic is millennia old, and still going strong, but Ruby McAllister, a white girl transplanted from Seattle, is not having any of it. Unasked, she gives Malena some advice on the first day of school when Malena is put in a humiliating position--with the result that Malena is even more humiliated.

Understandably, Malena's family is furious over Ruby's nosy white-knighting--especially Malena's hot cousin, the soccer star. Malena herself would be just as happy if Ruby would never speak to her, or walk in her line of sight, again.

Ruby of course is horrified! She meant well! She's a feminist! Why should women's bodies be an issue . . . and so the novel develops at a galloping pace, with the teenagers taking action in their own way, dealing with how it backfires, but learning and thinking as they also deal with typical high-octane teen emotions. And one of the things they learn is how adults just might have their own stories that shaped them.

I loved this book. It's full of humor and compassion and sharp-eyed observation about human/cultural interactions. Told in alternating chapters, it makes Malena and Ruby into living, breathing people. I hope every school library gets copies. And every library, for that matter.

Malena - a Puerto Rican recently displaced by Hurricane Maria - and Ruby - a transplant from Seattle - meet on a fateful day in the girl's bathroom of their high school after Malena suffers a bad sunburn, comes to school without a bra, and gets ordered to cover her nipples with pantyliners by the school administration. The event sparks outrage and controversy in the student body as Ruby and Malena join forces to change the school's dress code. Their burgeoning friendship is challenged by misunderstandings and other new relationships, putting their dress code goals in jeopardy as well.

The teen characters in this book feel pretty authentic (albeit to an adult reader), complete with strengths and typical teenage weaknesses. Malena is the more likeable of the two main characters, though Ruby's experiences and mistakes in the book will be relatable to many readers. Some of the secondary characters (and there are a lot) made me want to know more about them, especially Abeula Joan. The central conflict of the story sometimes gets set aside for other topics, and this book tackles a lot of important ones - sexism, assault, displacement of people, racism, white ignorance, teenage relationships and rebellion, among others - though sometimes in ways that feel a bit "tacked on" than fully developed. I think teen readers, especially those who are more politically engaged or interested in social justice, will find this an interesting and engaging read.

Thank you to Random House Children's and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Does My Body Offend You? in exchange for an honest review!

A body positive book for teens, that as adult I found to be an enjoyable read. We need more books like this one.

Does My Body Offend You? by Mayra Cuevas and Marie Marquardt is a fantastic YA novel that tackles tough, relevant topics in an engaging and engrossing way. Full of visceral moments that will pull you right back into those high school days, where at any moment you could be forced to stand and have your hem measured in front of the entire class.

Malena has already had her life turned upside down by Hurricane Maria. When a severe sunburn prevents her from wearing a bra, a teacher at her high school flags her for a dress code violation, leading to Malena being shamed and admonished by the school nurse and secretary. Ruby is new at this school, too, but knows that what she sees happening to Malena in the nurse’s office is wrong. Ruby and Malena team up to fight the sexist dress code, but starting a revolution has unexpected consequences.

What makes this novel so impossible to put down is the combination of spectacular character development and the natural, organic intersectionality of these issues. Does My Body Offend You? doesn’t shy away from any topic, but it also doesn’t stretch to try and pack in non-related issues. Is this book totally relevant and relatable? Yes. Does it feel like these issues are forced and the book is just trying to talk about hot button issues? Not even a little bit.

Ruby’s experience in social activism has her primed for a fight, but she struggles to recognize her privilege. Malena feels as though she has lost her voice since her displacement from Puerto Rico, but can’t seem to bridge the gap between who she was there and who she is perceived to be in the U.S. Each will have to face their shortcomings and blind spots head on in order to heal.

Each character in this large cast is incredibly well developed. Malena and Ruby aren’t the only ones facing up to their own problematic perceptions. Malena’s cousin Carlos is a baseball superstar, and gets his own special privileges. Ruby’s sister wants so desperately to change the world, she forgets who she’s wanting to change it for. And Malena is so tired of being adrift, of being looked upon with pity, that she loses sight of what made her, her to begin with.

I loved how each time Malena and Ruby made a poor choice, it made sense for their character. This isn’t one of those books where everyone is perfect, but the characters are flawed in realistic and relatable ways. It never felt like the authors were manipulating the characters to make a point or include another hot take. Instead, each scene feels organic and natural.

This novel should be required reading for every high schooler, as it so accurately reflects and acutely pinpoints how we can be blind to our own issues and privileges. It also shows constructive ways to make a positive and lasting change, regardless of your age.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children’s, Knopf Books for Young Readers, and the authors for an advanced ebook such that I could write this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Does My Body Offend You? is available now!

The characters in this book are dynamic and jump off the page, making you feel all of the same emotions as the girls. The distinct voices work to showcase how their identities influence their though processes, connections with other characters, and the consequences of their actions. The feminist themes are in your face, and offer tangible and relatable experiences for readers. Highly recommend this book for every teen collection.

Does My Body Offend You? is a very timely YA book with a message pertaining to a few serious topics for teens and their parents alike.
Did you see or read the book Moxie? If you enjoyed it, this would be a great companion novel to it.

Ruby and Malena could not be more different. Malena has recently moved to Florida after Hurricane Maria ruined her home and the island of Puerto Rico. She feels out of place already, but when she is called out of class for something that she could not help, a nosy upper classman tries to "help" her.
Ruby, meanwhile is a middle class white girl from Seattle. She is all about calling out authority and giving a voice to the people that need one. She has the best intentions, but sometimes doesn't know when she crosses boundaries.

At the beginning, I was excited to see these two come together for the greater good. It seemed like Ruby really knew what she was talking about and like she could assist Malena in her standing up for herself. Only that's not what happened. Ruby tramples Malena and really takes over something that should be more about Malena and the injustices SHE experienced. Malena is a girl that really needed to find her voice in her new school and do it with confidence. While Malena eventually finds her voice and their movement takes a different turn, I felt like some of the message was getting lost in the outside relationships. What started out a dress code feminist movement became a lot more. It became a story of sexism, body shaming, rape culture, racism, discrimination and privilege.

I loved that the authors took on a lot for a young adult book and had two characters from different backgrounds find common ground and form a friendship during this movement. The way food and culture played into the girls' roles was done exquisitely. I enjoyed that a part of Puerto Rico was brought to the mainland and interspersed within the story and the message. Ruby and Malena were true teens and full of flaws and finding themselves and their voices. It's hard to admit mistakes, but seeing that growth in them made them all the more real. And while Ruby trampled at the beginning, she learned where her place was at and how to be supportive to Malena.

Does My Body Offend You was a good story with strong characters and a great message. A few things weren't wrapped up or dealt with in the end, but overall it was a story that I would definitely want to share with my teenagers to show them that they do have a voice, even when they think they don't.

A poignant and pointed illustration about how current and past societies have overwhelmingly blamed the victims of sexual assault. I hope all the readers will notice that, although the dress code in most schools and jobs lean hard on "curvy" girls to not dress super sexy, it was, in fact, the skinny, decidedly "un-curvy" girl who was, in fact, assaulted.

Does My Body Offend You? By Mayra Cuevas & Marie Marquardt

Published: April 5, 2022
Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 419
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Mayra Cuevas was born and raised in Puerto Rico, Mayra is a professional journalist and fiction writer who prefers love stories with happy endings. Her debut fiction short story was selected by best-selling author Becky Albertalli to appear in the Foreshadow YA serial anthology in 2019. She is currently a special projects producer for CNN. She keeps her sanity by practicing Buddhist meditation and serving on the Board of Directors of Kadampa Meditation Center, Georgia. She lives with her husband, also a CNN journalist, and their cat, in the charming town of Norcross, Georgia.

Marie Marquardt is an author of young adult novels, a college professor, and an immigration advocate. Her debut novel, Dream Things True (St. Martin’s Press), was a 2015 YA BEA Buzz Panel choice praised in Kirkus as a “worthy examination of undocumented immigration in the American South through the lens of young love.”
Her second novel, THE RADIUS OF US, reflects the experience of Latin American teenagers fleeing gang violence and seeking asylum in the United States. It’s an issue that Marie Marquardt cares about profoundly, and she believes that connecting to it emotionally it can be a powerful antidote to the hate, fear, and misunderstanding that plagues our society.

“Nipples and third arms shall be concealed at all times.”

Malena was born in Puerto Rico, but after hurricane Marìa ravaged her home, she found herself in Florida, fearing she would never fit in. Ruby moved from Seattle and thinks she knows best. Her intentions and good, but her methods are lacking. So what happens when two young women from different cultures come together? A revolution.

Oh, my heart. I devoured this book. It was impossible to put down from the frost chapter through the last. Everything was beautiful.

The characters were so well done. I loved the things that made them different, but also the things that united them.

I love how vastly different the two narrators were, it made their experience so much better. I enjoyed the cultural references and how inclusive this novel was.

This book will make you want to stand up and scream, break down and cry, and will make you say “me too”. The unity, the power, and the genuine desire to enact change is so inspirational and empowering.

This is an absolute must read for everyone, all ages. When we take the time to listen and make the effort to hear what is being said, we can change the world.

The premise is solid, and the writing style flows well.

I felt though that some of the conflict was slightly drawn out in the middle and then the ending rushed.

The feminist message within the plot is excellent, and the way the movement grew a bit quickly beyond the control of the teenagers was portrayed in a very realistic fashion. There was a subplot that I felt should have been explored a bit more especially as pertaining to how it impacted Ruby and her reactions to things.

Overall though, it is worth the read and teenage girls especially could be inspired by it.

📖 Book Review 📖

#doesmybodyoffendyou
#mayracuevas
#mariemarquardt
#YA
#arc
#NetGalley (published 4/5/2022)
#schooldresscode

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

These past bunch years I've been seeing the dress code #violations hit the news. And it has really been ticking me off. Some of this stuff has been ridiculous. So when I saw this book come up for review, I knew had to get it. And it did not disappoint.

A hurricane Maria Puerto Rican transplant (to FL) gets a really bad sunburn on her back. Her mom, a PA, tells her to go to school without a bra. Big mistake. Biggest problem is that she has a large bust and it gets noticed. And gets her in trouble. Then a girl with a flat chest talks her into fighting the dress code.

There is one incident of assault you may want to prejudge for yourself before giving this book to a young person.

This book needed to get written. It needs to get around. I'll do my best to share it all over. School districts need to change their #dresscodes. This book will help give kids ideas of how to #fightback.

#dresscodesneedtochange
#dresscode
#unisexrules
#bookstagram #booknerds #bookworm #booklover #bookdragon #readalot #ilovereading #inkdrinker #bookrecommendation #bookreview #booknerdigan #bookish #gottareadthisbook #books #readalot #ilovereading