~ ARC provided by NetGalley ~

As an alumni of a women's college, Kathleen Hanna loomed large in my memory as a Feminist Icon. I picked through zines at my colleges archive that featured images of Hanna, watched the documentary "The Punk Singer" on repeat, and played Bikini Kill during my radio hour on my campus station. When I saw "Rebel Girl" was being published, I was excited to get an early copy of Hanna's memoir. In the landscape of high profile women telling their own story, Hanna's take was deeply personal and affecting while also demonstrated a sense of self awareness and accountability that is sometimes absent in the memoir form. There are moments when Hanna directly addresses issues in the Riot Grrl movement around racism and centering white female voices that I found refreshing. I also think that Hanna's vantage point of the grunge and punk scene is incredibly valuable in the discourse and history of music. Hanna has led a harrowing life in the spotlight and as a victim of sexism/violence. I think this is an incredibly important text that made me see Hanna with all of her flaws and strength of character.

This was one of the most compelling music memoirs I have read - the intersection of Hanna's personal trauma, her using music as a cathartic force, and her activism within her community/music scene was so interesting and has made her one of the most unique voices in alternative music.

It was so well written, not beating around the bush with the more sensitive issues she faced, and is one of my favorite books of the year.

Phenomenal memoir, inspiring and engaging. I love hearing tales of the diy punk scene and Kathleen Hanna’s story is no different. I absolutely adore the raw, heartbreaking, and uplifting stories, and it was honestly like I was sitting with a friend listening to her recount life stories.

When I was a teenager, Kathleen Hanna was a guiding light for how you could be a girl in both society and the music scene - you didn't have to be a cheerleader, or a groupie, or subservient; instead, you could BE the musician, you could be yourself (even if that was loud and different and unapologetic), you could stand up for yourself and for others. I knew some of her story, but this book gave so much more detail on how and why she became such a force in the world. Some of it was infuriating, some of it was heartbreaking, and some of it was pure joy - but all of it was a great read.

I loved this book! I’ve seen Kathleen Hanna’s documentary The Punk Singer, but this adds so much to her story. I liked how each chapter was so short. I literally couldn’t put this down and read it in less than 24 hours.

I'm not going to be the most neutral critic of Kathleen Hanna's fantastic memoir because I am, first and foremost, a huge fan of her work. I was born a half-decade too late to enjoy the riot grrrl movement but a college friend introduced me to Le Tigre and I've been hooked ever since.

Hanna discusses the childhood traumas that informed her art, her relationships with other musicians in the Pacific Northwest as the grunge scene emerged, and how her thinking on feminism has changed over the years.

Honestly, I have no critiques. Hanna is fearless in what she opts to reveal to her readers and admits to her past mistakes and foibles. I left this book feeling like I have a deeper understanding of her work and what more could you ask for? Highly recommended!

Kathleen Hanna, the legendary frontwoman of Bikini Kill and Le Tigre, delivers an honest, raw memoir in Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk. Known for her unapologetically feminist lyrics and her role in the Riot Grrrl movement, Hanna shares real stories from her tumultuous childhood, her influential career in music, her struggle with Lyme disease, and her marriage to Beastie Boy Adam Horovitz.

Hanna's memoir paints the punk scene of the '90s. Her personal yet feminist lyrics on anthems like "Rebel Girl" and "Double Dare Ya" resonate even more powerfully today. But where did this transformative voice come from? Hanna shares painful and formative experiences from her childhood, her college years, and her first shows, showing just how hard and dangerous it was to be a female punk artist in a male-dominated scene. Male violence and antagonism were constant threats, and she made almost no money to survive on even as her fame (and infamy) grew. Hanna's relationships with her bandmates—Tobi Vail, Kathi Wilcox, JD Samson, and Johanna Fateman—and friendships with musicians like Kurt Cobain, Ian MacKaye, Kim Gordon, and Joan Jett are highlighted in the book. And she gives her side of the famous incident with Courtney Love at Lollapalooza. She takes readers behind the scenes of her musical evolution with Le Tigre and The Julie Ruin. Her candid reflections on the Riot Grrrl movement highlight both its grassroots origins and its limitations, offering a loving yet critical perspective.

Hanna shares both the hardest times and the most joyful moments of her life, revealing how they continue to fuel her revolutionary art and music. Her memoir is not just a chronicle of her career but a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of staying true to one's values.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

As a Midwestern pre-teen during the riot grrl days, I was listening to and fascinated by Bikini Kill and Le Tigre, but decidedly NOT part of the scene. As such, this is a fascinating read to get insight into Hanna's experience and the formation of the feminist punk scene. This has me pulling out my old mix CDs and reminiscing about long drives shouting "Rebel Girl." (Full recommendation to be sent to email subscribers of WordSmarts.com)

The title says it all -- Kathleen Hanna who was a founding mother of the Riot Grrl feminist punk rock movement is a legend. I did not have deep knowledge about this movement only a very surface one so I learned a lot! From zines to music and the hardscrabble life of escaping an abusive father and other men, this book covers it all. Her memoir is engaging (though sometimes a difficult read per the aforementioned abuse). She had to face misogynists and hate from other women (including Courtney Love), who questioned her feminism etc. An encounter with Kathy Acker led her on the path to writing and being in a band. Particularly powerful throughout is her description of the women who lined up after concerts to share their own stories of abuse. It was a tumultuous journey and I am so happy to see her story has a happy ending (no spoilers here). Worth a read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ecco for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

I selected this book to read primarily due to enjoying the music of Bikini Kill and wanting to know more about the band. I found that and much more! Not only does this book chronicle the 90s punk scene and the birth of the Riot Grrl scene but it also provides an illuminating look at the challenges that Hanna and many other girls of the time faced growing up and into their adulthood. The book unflinchingly confronts the reader with stories of abuse, assault, and harassment. However, the book never becomes a story of victim hood but shows how Hanna was able, with the help of many good friends, to survive these experiences and to make something positive out of them. It is instructive how Hanna frequently calls herself out for mistakes that she has made even as she advocated for anti-racism and feminism. Hanna pulls zero punches in this book even when the target is herself. This is a great read for people interested in punk and the struggle to end sexism and racism.

I went into this book as a massive fan of the artist Kathleen Hannah and left it as a big fan of the person Kathleen Hannah. Raw, often brutally honest and often even pretty funny. One of favorite reads of the year.

Kathleen Hanna’s memoir is sometimes a difficult read, combining the combination of accessibility and confrontation that marks much of her work on Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, and The Julie Ruin. I was especially struck by the precarious financial situation faced by working independent artists. At one point, Hanna writes about having only $400 to her name after a tour. She is open about a decision to sign to a major label in order to have access to health insurance. She is also upfront about sexual trauma in a way that can be upsetting, but which fits with both the overall arc of her journey in the book and with her goals as an advocate.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have always loved Kathleen Hanna. When I was a kid, learning about the Riot Grrrl movement made me feel like I could do anything. So maybe I'm a little biased. I had of course heard all of the negative press surrounding her as well. I was never sure about how much space it was okay for me to take up and Hanna was a definitive example of that. Calling attention to issues is always going to make people who would rather hide the truth uncomfortable. Becoming a public figure makes you a target for these people. Hanna lived through it all and came out on the other side, not unscathed, but definitely stronger.

I loved this book. I read it over the last few days of school and was pissed every time I had to set it down. I could've read it in one sitting if I wasn't busy with my classroom shutdown. Hanna's voice shines through every vignette and was so ridiculously relatable for me. The shit she dealt with and came through - I can't imagine trying to do that all in the public eye.

An absolute icon and personal hero of mine, Kathleen Hanna shows how the trauma she survived shaped her life and experiences. First book I've absolutely loved in a long time.

As a big fan of Bikini Kill and riot grrrl music in general, I knew I had to request Kathleen Hanna's Rebel Girl from NetGalley. I was elated when I was approved for the title.

Admittedly, I did not know much about Hanna, and I did not know what to expect. I've heard everything from her being a pioneer in punk music for women to her being a white feminist. I knew that I wanted to learn more and separate fact from fiction.

What I got was much more than I expected. Hanna's writing showcases her voice in a way professional writers aim to do. My favorite memoirs are ones, like Rebel Girl, that allow me to get closer to the author. Hanna's frankness, vulnerability, and humor really stood out to me. I feel like I have a better idea of not only her background and history but also her personality, as it shone through her prose.

I was pleased that Hanna touched on a range of political topics from sexism, racism, abortion, SA, sex work, etc. I was especially glad she talked about the racism within the riot grrrl scene. Multiple times throughout the book, Hanna spoke about how her whiteness gave her the privilege to focus on sexism rather than include racism, especially in the early days of riot grrrl and Bikini Kill. She did not make excuses for herself; she admitted that she believes she perpetuated the concept of white feminism in her past and how she regrets not talking about both sexism and racism. As a reader, I could tell she has learned from those mistakes and educated herself throughout the years--from reading to listening to BIPOC voices. I was very happy to learn this as I always wondered what she thought about racism in riot grrrl.

As a reader it was clear that Hanna put her heart and soul into this memoir. I learned so much about her life and trauma, her thoughts and opinions, her losses and triumphs. I appreciate her vulnerability and honestly, and I am so happy to have read this book. I find it hard to not give memoirs a 5 star review (unless it is poorly written). However, Rebel Girl is absolutely worth the 5 star ranking.

Thank you NetGalley, Ecco, and Kathleen Hanna for this ARC.

Kathleen Hanna was my teen idol, and this feels like hearing her tell stories at the bar. The photos, too, make it even more real. I so appreciate REBEL GIRL'S layers - from Hanna's difficult childhood to her escape to Evergreen, founding a feminist art gallery, learning from Kathy Acker, and onto to starting Bikini Kill. The image of her crisis counseling survivors at shows will stay with me for a long time, as will her friendships with other artists. Hanna is a feminist genius - thank you for founding a movement and inspiring us all! I also appreciate that she shouted out riot grrrls of color, such as Emily's Sassy Lime, Mimi Thi Nguyen, Ramdasha Bikceem, Bianca Ortiz, Lauren Jade Martin, and more! <3

Kathleen Hanna's "Rebel Girl" is the riot grrrl memoir we need right now. A poignant reminder of the struggle of women in music (and society) in the 1990s and, specifically, in the punk rock scene. Hanna lays bare all her trauma to show us exactly why we have always, and still do, need a feminist movement. Other retrospectives of the Riot Grrrl movement don't come close to the detail that "Rebel Girl" gives us. This is a deep and lasting portrait of a specific moment in time that Hanna skillfully brings the reader into, whether you lived through that time or not.
This book transported me back to my experience in the 1990s, attending shows and rallies while in college. The push to make change in small ways through music and zines while navigating the world of dudes ever-present in the scene. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a clear picture of the 1990s punk scene, from the perspective of the founder of the riot grrrl movement.
The short chapters offer small vignettes, which made me want to keep reading longer than I have for other memoirs. Hanna is a skillful artist and author who also does great activism work, with her tees4togo campaigns. She is currently on tour for this book, but will likely be out on the road again with either Bikini Kill or Le Tigre soon, so catch her if you can!

Kathleen Hanna has written the most fantastic memoir.Intimate open real the short chapters made me feel like I was hearing from a dear friend.Her personality her views pop off the page absolutely brilliant read.#netgalley #eccobooks

This book is not for the faint of heart. Kathleen Hanna's story is sometimes brutal, ugly, and violent. The book has lots of moments that make you uncomfortable. And that's part of the point. The raw, unapologetic, in-your-face energy Hanna brought to the stage is applied to this book. With the very frank and open way it’s written, it's like you’re reading her diary. This is her story; she doesn't sugarcoat anything. She speaks up about the sexual assault and violence she's faced and speaks on how it affected her. She casts a critical eye not just on men in her life, the music scene, or her family, but on herself, her band, and even the Riot Grrl movement she helped to form. She’s quick to point out her shortcomings, what she could’ve done better, and how she’s learned from all these experiences.

But it's not all grim; there are a lot of touching moments to be found. She shares cute anecdotes about Tobi Vail and Kurt Cobain. She also tells the story of how she fell in love with her now husband Adam Horovitz of the Beastie Boys. She also discusses her struggles with Lyme disease, the evolution of Julie Ruin, and the formation of Le Tigre. It’s a very engaging book because she pulls no punches, she doesn’t try to paint herself as the good guy all the way through, she’s very honest, and she knows how to tell a story. A must-read for any fan of Hanna's or just punk rock in general.

For any fan of punk music, this autobiography tells directly the how the life of the founder of Bikini Kill influenced her music and the connections she has made during her career.

I love how much this book was like talking to a friend. The shorter chapters were like conversations and were easy to read and digest.