4.5* rounded up.

Every time I thought this book wasn't going to go somewhere (and, most importantly, was afraid it would pull a punch) I was pleasantly surprised. I read a lot of trans stories, but I don't read many that take this approach.

For one thing, Phoebe is out the whole time, so while she does experience some transph*bia, she is never outed, which was a relief. The characters who get redemption arcs do say some rancid stuff, but before their arc is complete, they have to deconstruct their own biases around social expectations. While this book doesn't get into it in detail, I would argue that the overall message is that we can't deconstruct transph*bia without also ALSO deconstructing our expectations around gender roles. This book walks an interesting line of the relevant characters realizing that they can't singlehandedly change society, while also realizing that they need to grow in order to be happy and have healthy relationships. For example, Phoebe learns things along the way, and then adapts her relationships to those things as she figures out who she is. She initially hates/fears makeup, then wears makeup the way other people expect her to, and eventually decides what to keep and what to pass over. Furthermore, the decision to be conventionally girly is not ultimately vilified. WEAPONIZING gender norms, however, absolutely is.

Mackenzie is, arguably, the second main character, and I loved that her arc isn't based solely on guilt for her words and actions toward Phoebe. She's forced to do a lot of self-evaluation. It's never fully explored that she's been perpetuating a lot of the very things she claims to despise, especially when it comes to using certain language to tear down other girls, but the work she DOES do on-page addresses it sufficiently for this story. It's implied that all of these characters still have room to grow and adapt, whether or not they take it. They're kids: they all make mistakes, many of which are based on social pressure to conform.

And can I just say that I LOVE how this book turned a popular trope on its head in the character of Ben? I don't want to leave spoilers here, but this story deftly uses and reframes some popular high school tropes in a very satisfying and realistic way. Also, the dad is the underrated MVP. He's so cute and sincere and trying his best even when he's way out of his depth.

The one thing I would have liked to see addressed more directly is some of the hom*phobic things some of the kids say throughout the story. While there is commentary on this, and there is a bada$$ queer character of indeterminate orientation, I was still left feeling a little iffy on that front. I don't think every single book is obligated to explicitly confront every topic, but was kind of odd to me that the issue was raised but never directly addressed. I suspect that some people will be uncomfortable with how much work this story does to be mainstream in a time when, even on a legal level, transness is inherently counterculture. On the other hand, this is a story about navigating social pressure and figuring out what matters to you. It's nice to have a brightly-colored graphic novel about two girls learning to like themselves and set boundaries in a story where Pheobe's struggles are different from, but not totally INDEPENDANT from, the struggles of her cis classmates.

Overall, I just found this really charming, and I loved that everyone had room to be messy and confused. I very much enjoyed the ARC of this book (thank you, NetGalley) and I am so glad that there seems to be more space in mainstream publication for stories like this, with #ownvoices authors exploring a wide range of narratives.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. The main characters actually felt like teenagers in a way that not every writer is able to capture well. I will definitely be recommending it to those who might like it.

This is a really great graphic novel that does a really good job of navigating the complexities of being a teen girl, dealing with boys, dealing with friendship, and compounded by experiences a trans girl. I love the ways it showed different dynamics and the ways Phoebe has to figure out what she wants her own life to look like, instead of following expectations in order to be seen as a girl. I really enjoyed this even as several scenes were rough to get through.

I feel bad that I've been in such a reading slump because I haven't been able to care about a lot of these anticipated releases like this one. I really wanted this one to be the one to break the slump, but unfortunately, this wasn't it for me.

Girlmode depicts the expectations, pain and joy of teenage girlhood and first presents you with a Mean Girl narrative (mean girly girls vs nerd nice guy) to flip it on its head and present a story about finding yourself (also weird lowkey lesbophobia that's never fully adressed despite the presence of (narritevely isolated) lesbian character, although i think the author may be a lesbian and i know we're supposed to view it negatively, it's weird that a story where transphobia is adressed, this one remark is not adressed, especially given the backlash against trans dykes)

That being said I fully appreciated the nuance of what started out as a cliché story and turned out to be way depeer than I expected out of YA graphic novel. Phoebe just moved to the West Coast to live with her father, away from her estranged famous mother. SHe just transitioned and want to enjoy her life fully out as a girl in this new high school. In a typical teen movie fashion, Phoebe must choose between the popular girls who want to teach her feminity and the way of girls or the nerds, with a nice guyTM who accepted her before her makeover. Phoebe's makeover lands her in the hand of a popular surfer boyfriend, and then the nice guyTM, but both turn out to be controlling, transphobic who make her miserable. Whereas the narrative is sympathetic to the popular mean girl and depicts her own struggle with the sexist assumptions and rules placed on teenage girls. But at the end Phoebe must learn to choose herself, her hobbies, her style, her own way of being.

Overall, a story with great art about the harmful expectations of patriarchy demanding you to mould yourself into someone else, toxic masculinity and parental love and abandonment.

A stunning graphic novel that navigates the complexities of girlhood.

I LOVED this story. It captures how being a girl is ... well, complicated, especially when there are societal rules that women feel must follow. The latter idea is specifically portrayed in Macca, the popular girl in school, and taught to Phoebe, our mc. As the story progresses, Phoebe slowly deconstructs societal expectations, toxic masculinity, and harmful biases; ultimately leading to self-discovery and the enduring love of female friendships.

A pleasant surprise was Macca's character arc and it's artistically shown in theater!

If you are looking for LGBTQ+ graphic novels, Girlmode is NOT to be missed!

Will always be lined up for a new YA book with a transfem lead! GIRLMODE is a classic look at what it means to be a teenage girl, for a recently-transitioned trans girl. I would say it’s more focused on the ways in which women interact with the patriarchy, and some of the added ways it affects trans girls, rather than focusing on queer culture (the main character is really the only queer character in the book). My feelings were a little bit mixed in the first half or so of the book as it feels like the MC is being asked to conform to misogyny to be a ‘real girl’, but I did like how this ended up being explored, and the room for characters to grow out of bias as teenagers (but also that I can still hate on the real antagonist!).The art was really fun and I feel like it fits the characters really well. It also contributed to the kind of 90s movie feel that I think the author was going for with the story! Overall, this was a pretty quick and enjoyable read, and I always love seeing more transfem stories being featured in YA!

I have to admit with being disappointed by 'Girlmode'. Not by the stunning artstyle or the journey of our trans female mc but rather how unlikeable all of the characters in this book were. Which I understand (or assume) was partially meant to be the point but made the reading experience wholly unenjoyable as a person that seeks likeable characters at the centre of stories. As well as throwing around queer slurs for let me check... no reason?

The story had potential and if the mean girl main characters had more character development throughout the graphic novel rather than for a few pages at the end, I really feel this could have been something special but unfortunately just fell flat. Our mc was fantastic, following her journey and how her personality changes and grows and worsens in order to fit in and find her place. Unfortunately, none of the side characters were given the same character development treatment and were mostly all just made worse. I hope others enjoy it more.

This was a great graphic novel!! I loved the conversations that were had about being a girl from the point of view of a trans person verses a cis person. It told a great story of change over the course of a year and how much one can change over that time.

Thank you author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!!

I love this idea! I also loved the art!!! Oh my gosh this book was beautiful.

The journey through this book is not only the Mc but her best friend too and it was awesome! Everything just went together beautifully.

My last thing is I would’ve absolutely destroyed any of those boys if I saw them acting like that! *POW*

A compelling and engaging story. This graphic novel follows Phoebe Zito as she learns how to be a girl and how to decide for herself what being a girl means to her. her journey is realistic and moving, from friends who try to mold her into what they though she should be to boys who don't understand her, I loved following her. Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the eARC.

4.5 stars
Stunning artwork!

What defines girlhood? Society? your friends? your crushes/partners? or yourself?
These questions are what we work through in this book, Girlmode, plus in life. Many things can feel right in a moment and many people can mean well but let prejudice or emotions/thoughts affect and influence them.
Girlmode follows Phoebe in a new school to find herself, what feminity is to her and her body/beliefs and the people around her being a hindrance or a backup for her along the way. Phoebe isn't the only one who learns and accepts herself and I think that was the gem of this book.

GIRLMODE is a YA graphic novel about phoebe, a trans kid trying to figure out who she is while adjusting to life in a new state and a new school. she's quickly adopted by mackenzie ishikawa, a popular girl who decides to take her under her wing and teach her all about girlhood. phoebe isn't sure if mackenzie's lessons will help or hinder her journey, especially when mackenzie's advice includes which boys not to date or which hobbies not to to pursue. this was such a heartfelt and touching story of self-discovery and girlhood and i absolutely loved how complex, flawed and realistic the characters were, especially considering they're teenagers!! i love that ultimately, phoebe and mackenzie's friendship was more important than any of the boys, and their reunion and reconciliation felt very well done to me.

read if you like:
- graphic novels
- clueless, but tai is trans
- female friendships

thanks to netgalley and harperalley for the advanced copy! GIRLMODE is out october 15.