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Girl Defective (2013)

by Simmone Howell(Favorite Author)

3.86 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0330426176 (ISBN13: 9780330426176)

languge

English

genre

Fiction

publisher

Pan Macmillan Australia

review 1: This Australian import about one girl's coming of age during a summer filled with extraordinary and very ordinary experiences is enjoyed best with your favorite playlist--or if you don't have one of your own, search out the music mentioned in the book. Fifteen-year-old Skylark Martin is the daughter of a musical performance artist given to expressing herself in bizarre fashion--for instance, she dances around with 1,000 tampons hanging off her clothing--and a vinyl record shop owner. Sky's mother moved out several years ago, partly because she couldn't cope with her son Gully and his special needs. Gully's disability is never specified, but he clearly has trouble dealing with others and spends much of his time as a spy. As the Martins' world starts to come apart, Sky finds... more herself attracted to Luke, the brother of a girl who drowned in the nearby canal. She also tries to follow in the sophisticated footsteps of Nancy, a beautiful older friend who takes many of the risks that Sky would like to take. And yet, there can be no risks without some danger, as Sky realizes. Could it be that Nancy is in far more danger than she realizes? It's up to Gully, Luke, and Sky to figure that out. The author does a marvelous job of capturing Sky's yearning for more than what happens to her everyday while also showing the very real dangers that lurk in the dark. While the conclusion seemed a bit rushed after all the build-up, I enjoyed strolling those streets of St. Kilda, listening along with Sky to Nancy's plans to travel to various weird spots, and humming along with the music that the family enjoyed so much. These are unforgettable, imperfect characters trying to find their way. Ultimately, the book reminds us of the dangers in putting someone who admire on a pedestal, and the beauty of loving someone even when he/she is imperfect.
review 2: I wanted to love this. I expected to love it, in fact. I loved Sky's relationship with her brother Gully, and the description of adolescent romantic attraction is spot on and beautiful, but the rest of the story was too many spangles glitter and rhinestones pasted onto a too bleak plot. So. Many. Sad. Things. Big sad things, little sad things, everywhere. And everywhere draped with sparkly embellishments that make it seem like you're supposed to be having fun. Up a point for Gully's investigations. Adorable. less

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