Summary: Alicia has a reputation. Actually, Alicia has secrets, traumas, that she's running away from. Secrets that involve a beloved teacher. Hence the "slutty" reputation. Because this is high school. This book, written in verse, follows Alicia as she navigates her own sexuality, sexualization, and sexual reputation. Is she the monster, the Medusa, everyone makes her out to be? Or is there more to her story worth telling?

Review: I loved this book. I knew going into it that it was going to be hard to read. I think Cole handled the subject matter so well. Throughout the book theres a rabbits/wolf metaphor, that I think anyone who has interacted with an (inappropriately) older male ogling them like a piece of meat can relate to. There are some moments that were hard to read, hard to feel (because you will feel so much for these characters). There are moments where you just want to shake Alicia, and then hug her, and then shake her again. At the end of the day, this book is going to make you feel. Some of those feelings will, and should be, uncomfortable, but that's why they, and this book, are important.

This book was fine. The medusa imagery and motif added another layer to make it more interesting. There was nothing particualry compelling about the book, however. It felt like a repeated trope. It was a fine read, just not one I couldn't put down.

Greek Mythology's golden child for feminist retelling has been The Taking of Persephone, but Medusa is where it's at. While this book isn't about mythology really at all (sorry for the bait and switch) the themes line up. Rupi Kaur meets CW drama in a coming of age book about running from big problems. I loved who they wanted me to love, hated the rest, and hit me with a mirror shield that knocked loose a whole host of feelings.

I received this book as an ARC through netgalley for an honest review and I was worried this wasn't going to sing to me based on my almost exclusive consumption of YA Sci fi/fantasy... but this book flew by. The poetry told a story but still held some delicious morsels of prose.

Tw: SA

This is a book that needs to be in every high school classroom. This novel in verse is fierce, heart wrenching, brittle, and a totally necessary gut punch. It’s a raw, slicing tale of sexual assault and who really is the monster in all of our stories.
I feel like we all know Alicia, our main character. A girl full of life until something happens. Something that alters her chemistry and existence. Now the question the reader should ask themselves is how did they respond to their Alicia. Her poetry is powerful, and I am so thankful for her journey. I also have to say the ending of the book? Perfection. I truly loved being invited on Alicia’s journey. I cannot wait to hold a physical copy in my hands and share it with my students!

Many of us are familiar with the mythical story or Medusa, the gorgon with snakes for heart who turned anyone who looked at her to stone. But do you know how she got that way? How she was beautiful and raped by a god and as her punishment for his crime turned into what we know her for? Alicia understands Medusa because something terrible has been done to her, and now she has lost her will, drive, friends and her hope. But new friends bring new understanding and Alicia begins to heal, to cut the heads off of those who have labeled her or held her down. This is a tough book to read, especially as a teacher, and a lot of tears were shed but my god was this book fantastic and important and it WILL be a staple in my classroom.

Trigger warning for sexual abuse and rape.

Written through poetry, Dear Medusa tells the first-person story of Alicia, the girl at school who has THAT reputation that others whisper behind her back: whore, slut, easy. Her best friend has given up on her and she doesn't seem to have any other close friends. As readers, we find out the truth about Alicia: why she does the things she does and what has happened to her in the past, I found this to be a quick read that I think students will enjoy.

It took awhile to get used to the flow of the writing. If I was a teenager again I would have absolutely loved this book. I think as an adult reading this, it was good in that it showcased mental health well for that audience and I would recommend this book to the students I work with.

A beautiful novel in verse about a girl who is an assault survivor. The poetry is lovely. The characters have depth. I love the romance and the friendships. My library will be buying this.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me an ARC in return for my honest feedback.

Thank you, Random House Children's, for allowing me to read Dear Medusa early.

I have to admit that I have conflicted feelings about this book. I loved the overall story, the rep and so many more things. I just didn't like the the writing as much as I wanted too. Because of the gorgeous cover, I rounded my 3.5 star rating up to 4.

This book was an e-ARC from NetGalley.

Let me start by saying this book had me hooked from the beginning, lol o could not put it down hooked. The main character Alicia starts off at this broken, hurt individual who had been used and abused by those around her. She has not been protected by anyone who is supposed to be in her corner. As the story progresses she meets these amazing people, Deja’s her new best friend who is a black girl who wants to be seen and respected as such. Then she meets Geneva her love interest who is doesn’t want her for her body or judge her.

Many of the adults in this book are horrible human being and this place seems to have some very “old school” views about anything that involves people who aren’t straight, white, Christians.

The representation in this book is the best. Many different race and everyone acknowledges this and their grievances that they have experienced in this predominantly white city. They have gay, lesbian, trans, bi and asexual representation, even if I did wish it was more prominent in the story.

The story isn’t the best “verse” book written, actually I couldn’t even wrap my head around the verse angle. The “game” that Alicia plays with me is somewhat confusing and unnecessary in the story and the wolf/ rabbit metaphors were too much, but all in all gripping story.