Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

A manifesto for budding feminists. At the core of this engaging novel are besties Chelsea, who is Irish- and Italian-American and into fashion and beauty, and Jasmine, who is African-American, loves the theater, and pushes back against bias around size ("I don't need your fake compliments, your pity. I know I'm beautiful. Inside and out"). They and their sidekicks, half-Japanese/half-Lebanese Nadine and Puerto Rican Isaac, grow into first-class activists—simultaneously educating their peers and readers. The year gets off to a rocky start at their progressive, social justice-oriented New York City high school: Along with the usual angst many students experience, Jasmine's father is terminally ill with cancer, and after things go badly in both their clubs, Jasmine and Chelsea form a women's rights club which becomes the catalyst for their growth as they explore gender inequality and opportunities for change. This is an inspiring look at two strong-willed teens growing into even stronger young women ready to use their voices and take on the world, imploring budding feminists everywhere to "join the revolution." The book offers a poetic balance of dialogue among the main characters, their peers, and the adults in their lives. The exquisite pacing, which intersperses everyday teen conflicts with weightier issues, demonstrates how teens long to be heard and taken seriously.A book that seamlessly brings readers along on a journey of impact and empowerment. (resources for young activists, endnotes) (Fiction. 12-18)

School Library Journal Starred Review

Gr 8 Up-amp}mdash; A highly needed work for the Too movement. Told from the viewpoints of Chelsea and Jasmine, this thought-provoking novel explores ideas of body-shaming, racial stereotypes, and gender inequality. Chelsea is a poet and Jasmine is a writer and actress. Fed up with their school's lack of acknowledgement of women's rights, they decide to take a stand with their blog, "Write Like A Girl." It catches the attention of many of their fellow classmates and other teens, but causes problems for them with faculty. Will they be able to enlighten their school community or make things worse for themselves? Readers will enjoy the original poems and creative, witty blog entries. The ending will leave teens inspired to make a difference and challenge the status quo. Watson and Hagan do not disappoint in this powerful story of two girls who take a stand against injustice while learning how to navigate a world that seeks to silence them. VERDICT A timely and must-have collaboration for all YA collections{amp}mdash; Cicely Lewis, Meadowcreek High School

ALA Booklist

This is a refreshingly unapologetic celebration of young women's voices in a format that encompasses poetry, blog posts, essays, and prose. Best friends Jasmine and Chelsea intend to start junior year at their progressive, social-justice-focused high school on a high note in their respective clubs: for Jasmine, the August Wilson Acting Ensemble and for Chelsea, the Peaceful Poets. When both are (ironically) met with resistance to new, more inclusive ideas, they decide to leave their clubs and form a new one focused on elevating women's voices, especially those of activists and people of color. When their blog, Write Like a Girl, goes viral, the school's administration attempts to shut them down. Watson and Hagan keep Jasmine and Chelsea's voices distinct and allow them to resound with authenticity. Despite facing very real hardships like fat-shaming, sexism, and loss of a parent, Jasmine and Chelsea are steadfast in their convictions and relentlessly supportive of both each other and their own emotions. Readers won't be able to help feeling empowered and uplifted by the end of the novel.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

A manifesto for budding feminists. At the core of this engaging novel are besties Chelsea, who is Irish- and Italian-American and into fashion and beauty, and Jasmine, who is African-American, loves the theater, and pushes back against bias around size ("I don't need your fake compliments, your pity. I know I'm beautiful. Inside and out"). They and their sidekicks, half-Japanese/half-Lebanese Nadine and Puerto Rican Isaac, grow into first-class activists—simultaneously educating their peers and readers. The year gets off to a rocky start at their progressive, social justice-oriented New York City high school: Along with the usual angst many students experience, Jasmine's father is terminally ill with cancer, and after things go badly in both their clubs, Jasmine and Chelsea form a women's rights club which becomes the catalyst for their growth as they explore gender inequality and opportunities for change. This is an inspiring look at two strong-willed teens growing into even stronger young women ready to use their voices and take on the world, imploring budding feminists everywhere to "join the revolution." The book offers a poetic balance of dialogue among the main characters, their peers, and the adults in their lives. The exquisite pacing, which intersperses everyday teen conflicts with weightier issues, demonstrates how teens long to be heard and taken seriously.A book that seamlessly brings readers along on a journey of impact and empowerment. (resources for young activists, endnotes) (Fiction. 12-18)

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

From poet Hagan and the author of Piecing Me Together comes a complex and socially conscious coming-of-age tale featuring young women of color. Jasmine, a plus-size African-American girl with a passion for acting, and her best friend Chelsea, a white girl and budding feminist, attend a social justice-focused high school in Manhattan-s Washington Heights neighborhood. As the two struggle with the racism and sexism that are thriving even in seemingly progressive spaces, they come into their own as young activists pushing back against injustice. The characters are very human in both their passions and their frailties (Jasmine-s struggle to cope with her father-s terminal cancer; Chelsea-s occasional concessions to the same female ideals she rails against), but strong messaging can sometimes bog down the book-s pace as the girls stop everything to educate their parents, teachers, and a crush about institutionalized discrimination. The most important message is actually more subtle than the girls-: by following their convictions, young women have the power to change the world for the better. It-s a message, and a story, that any teen could benefit from and enjoy. Ages 13-up. Author-s agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio. Artist-s agent: Cindy Uh, Thompson Literary Agency. (Feb.)