School Library Journal Starred Review (Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

Gr 9 Up-The expression man up refers to many things. It suggests that "real men" take responsibility for their actions. Real men act bravely in the face of adversity. For Pen (short for Penelope), 16, it is a little more complicated than that. She has a difficult time knowing how to man up when she cannot even classify her own gender identity. For her, the LGBTQ lexicon carries too much cultural baggage and too many expectations. Pen does not want to define herself too closely, especially when everything in her world seems to be crashing down around her. Her best friend Colby has recently become a terrible bully, her parents are more and more unsupportive, and her older brother has been kicked out of the house. On a positive note, her crush, Blake, has taken an interest in her. Pen tries to navigate all of this, while still figuring out who that person is staring back at her from the mirror. This is a fresh title in the growing sea of LGBTQ YA literature. Pen and her peers are neither quirky nor whimsical. They cuss, drink, smoke pot, hook up, and get into fights. There is no sugarcoating in this very real portrayal of an aspect of teen life that many experience. VERDICT Recommended for fans of YA urban fiction as well as those who prefer grittier LGBTQ lit. Jaclyn Anderson, Madison County Library System, MS

Voice of Youth Advocates

Pen, a high school junior of Portuguese descent, wears her brother's clothes and kicks butt at video games. When Pen discovers Olivia (a former fling of Pen's longtime best friend, Colby), throwing up at school, it sparks a chain of discoveries about Colby's real character. Simultaneously, Pen experiences all the confusion, excitement, and passion of a first relationship with Blake, a lively, beautiful girl. Pen does not feel that she is exactly a guy or a girl, but one thing is certain: she does not feel that she is someone she should not be. The way other people (especially her mother) treat her, however, makes her feel like something is wrong with her.Girl Mans Up makes a much needed contribution to young adult literature by introducing a vibrant character whose identity falls outside of the gender binary. Sexual details in the book serve to advance the character development, as Pen works out how to engage in a way that corresponds with her identity, and are part of a healthy, consensual relationship with Blake. Girard creates a fully fleshed-out, complex character in Pen that readers of myriad gender and sexual identities will relate to for a variety of reasons. This debut novel is not only Pen's story of developing a deeper self-confidence, but also one of changing friendships, family roles, and romance. The titular message of "manning up" is not restricted to its implied gender; for Pen, it means doing the right thing not only for others, but for one's self.Allison Babin[L1].

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

In this powerful debut, Girard explores questions of family, friendship, loyalty, and identity through the voice of Pen Oliveira, a 16-year old girl who-s -not into dudes,- looks and dresses like a boy, and doesn-t -get why it-s such a big deal to people, the way I am.- The second child of conservative Portuguese parents who immigrated to Ontario, Pen has long felt accepted and protected by her older brother, Johnny, and her childhood friend Colby, who treats her like one of the guys. With Colby increasingly acting like -an entitled jerk,- especially toward girls, Pen confronts difficult choices about where her loyalty lies. New friendships with Colby-s ex Olivia and a girl named Blake, who shares Pen-s love of gaming and wants to be her girlfriend, make her reconsider the meaning of respect, which her parents have always demanded. Girard forcefully conveys the fear Pen lives with, having experienced frequent mockery and bullying, and her courage in aspiring to a safe, loving community for herself and her friends. Ages 14-up. Agent: Linda Epstein, Emerald City Literary. (Sept.)

ALA Booklist (Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

Playing video games and chasing girls with her all-boy crew at's a typical afternoon for Penelope "Pen" Oliveira. Beneath her tough facade, however, she's struggling to balance being queer, being a first-generation Portuguese immigrant, and being a loyal friend. That loyalty is tested when she discovers her best friend Colby's secret 's gotten a girl pregnant and is shirking responsibility. At the same time, Pen's relationship with her very traditional parents deteriorates when they find her kissing Blake, a fellow gamer girl. Pen decides that she needs to "man up" if she's going to survive. Pen's story is about struggling between worlds. She identifies with being a boy, yet knows she's a girl. She is Portuguese through and through, but also sees the world with American eyes. Despite a few characters who feel a bit strained, Girard shows tremendous skill in depicting multidimensional and empathetic characters. Books starring queer girls are still relatively few, so this is a fantastic addition to a steadily growing collection of strong YA narratives for queer youth.