Its the sort of novel that makes you want to step out and hug somebody or even hug yourself. This time we have meredith russos if i was your girl, a book many rioters loved. If youre a parent who wants to read some of these challenged and challenging. If i was your girl is an intense pressure cooker drama centered on the chaotic affair between two interrelated lesbian couples. Its an interesting plot, though, focusing not on the act of transitioning, or the reasons of transitioning those come through flashbacks throughout the story, but the aftereffects of the transition. If i was your girl is one of those books that, once youve started too read, you cannot quit. Meredith russo was born, raised and lives in tennessee. The awardwinning, bighearted novel about being seen for who you really are, and a love story you cant help but root for amanda hardy is the new girl in school. A new kind of bighearted novel about being seen for who you. Oh, and i dont want to digress too much, but that same basic template works if you want to build a scene, or write a synopsis, or structure a key piece of dialogue. I like the book because it talks about the reality of any other teenage mother taking care of there child, with baby daddy issues, and wants to find love. Storyline if i was your girl is an intense pressure cooker drama centered on the chaotic affair between two interrelated lesbian couples.
The first half of the book is mostly sweet, fluffy romance and the honeymoon stage of grant and amandas relationship. In her new school, she finds close friends, her first boyfriend, and acceptance. It was a super quick, fastpaced novel, yet still conquered sensitive topics. If you want to hit the big time with your novel, you will need to focus on your plot structure. Its a book about a trans teenage girl written by a trans woman, and that perspective is invaluable. Like anyone else, all she wants is to make friends and fit in. Fasten your seatbelts and get ready for the gone girl whirlwind tour. From this point of view, you could compare her to john grisham, but also to classical authors like dostoevsky. She started living as her true self in late 20 and never looked back. But amanda is keeping a secret, and shes determined not to get too close to anyone. All these details are clues in identifying the title and author of the book. If i was your girl by meredith russo published by flatiron books published.
Six winning steps toward a compelling opening line, scene and chapter. Of course, not every plot twist is as dramatic as this, but i love it when an author does a nifty bit of sleightofhand magic. I do like the second half, though, with amanda coping with her identity and struggling with the truth. She intends the advice to both help her daughter and scold her at the same time. On the whole, if i was your girl is a solid read, and not one just for ya readers.
Like amanda, meredith is a gigantic nerd who spends a lot of her time obsessing over video games and star wars. If i was your girl is one of those books that really matter. Once upon a bookcase a wonderful, warm hearted novel about realising who you really. Too much complexity all that intricate plot detail just gets in the way of finding the actual bones of your novel. Meredith russos style, rhythm and plot conception is masterly. First, pin down everything you can remember about the book, plot, character names, time period in which the book may have been published, genre, etc. Sassy teen mom toi lives with her son, her mom, her little brother and her cousin in new jersey. Reading guide for if i was your girl by meredith russo discussion guide for book clubs. This book tells the story of 19 year old amanda hardy who is so much more than her parents thought she was. Online resources can help with your search for a halfremembered book, even if all you have is a basic plot line. If i was your girl by meredith russo, paperback barnes. If i was your girl was partially inspired by her experiences as a trans woman. Amanda had tied the loose ends, but her relationship with.
By the time there was if i was your girl had been taken out of the offer, and i resolved that id have to find it in a library somewhere. In fact, i love it so much i put together a list of 100 books with plot twists. If i was your girl by meredith russo october 19, 2016 books the zoella book club if i was your girl meredith russo young adult the zoella book club 2016 is back for round two and we couldnt be more excited to reveal the eight books that zoe has picked for us to spend the colder months curled up with. Its a wonderful, important, comingofage novel and i have never rooted harder for a character. Select from a variety of genres including romance, mystery or teen vampire. Emma and jane both rented the same apartment but emma rented it first. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of if i was your girl by meredith russo. Trans girl amanda hardy, eighteen and a couple years on the lady pills, leaves the atlanta burbs for the tennessee sticks to live with her estranged dad and finish high school. Sure, there are episodes of tension and cruelty, but goodness prevails at the heart of the story.
For more depth, more examples and explanations, read this book, start your novel. I love it when a book makes me want to run up to the first person i can find and say, holy crap, you need to read this book right now. Struggling to raise her son without a father, going to school full time, and working at ihop it seems like she had it altogether. The awardwinning, bighearted novel about being seen for who you really are, and a love story you cant help but root for. Finding a book when youve forgotten its title the new. If i was your girl is a ya coming out romance about a trans girl, amanda. Summary plot overview girl consists of a single sentence of advice a mother imparts to her daughter, only twice interrupted by the girl to ask a question or defend herself. If i was your girl is the type of book you read and want to immediately share, because its too important to keep to yourself. This study guide consists of approximately 34 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of if i. Its hard not to fall in love with the main character amanda who moves in with her father and starts a new school after her previous school becomes unsafe. This study guide was created using the following version of this book. Amanda wants a fresh start, having suffered severe bullying after coming out as transsexual. If i was your girl is an amazing, important story, and one i highly recommend. Reading guide for if i was your girl by meredith russo.
She works parttime at ihop, and spends most of her free time hanging out with her friends, avoiding. The story first chronicles the mentally draining relationship between lynn and stacia who have been dating for only a few months. If i was your girl tells the story of amanda hardy, a teenage girl who goes to live with her father in lambertville after she is brutally attacked in a mall bathroom. While we cant provide a formula for a guaranteed bestseller, we can offer a few basic plot rules that can ease your journey down that road toward a good plot. After being bullied and beaten in her previous high school, she goes to live with her father in a small tennessee town, leaving behind her old identity as andrew. Answer a few quick questions and this website will automatically write a story or blurb for you using your keywords. Zara larsson if i was your girl hq 1 album 2014 record company ten, under exclusive license to universal music ab find it on itunes. Each week, our editors select the one author and one book they believe to be most worthy of your attention and highlight them in our pro connect email alert. Synopsis as a seventeen year old baby momma, tois life was not poppin.
If i was your girl by meredith russo overdrive rakuten. If i was your girl is a book that talks about a young teenage mom taking care of her child but also trying to find love. Outline your novel fast with a simple story template. If i was your girl was the first book ive read with a trans main character, and im i really enjoyed this read.
Meredith russos 2016 young adult novel if i was your girl focuses on the experiences of a teenage girl going through her senior year in a new school where she must navigate both the standard challenges of an eighteenyearolds life and also the repercussions of being trans. After amanda is attacked in a public toilet by the father of a fellow student, her mother and father decide it would be better if she make a clean break and move in with her father in a different town. Then the next round of zoellas book club was announced and youll never guess which was the first book on the list and because i bought it when it was the featured book, it was half price. Parents need to know that if i was your girl is the story of amanda, a transgender teen. The novel debuted in the number one spot on the new york times fiction best sellers of 2015 list print and e book dated 1 february 2015, and remained in. This isnt a book where amandas transness is but one aspect of her character and the plot is about other things although i like those too. The girl on the train is a 2015 psychological thriller novel by british author paula hawkins that gives narratives from three different women about relationship troubles and binge drinking.
Her plan is to be deep stealth, keep her grades up, make nice with pop, then warp out of the south upon graduation. If i was your girl is a high school romance from the perspective of a transgender girl. Anita diamants new novel,the boston girl, comes to us as the transcript of a taperecorded monologue delivered by an 85yearold woman named addie baum. Make it specific and practical with this book as your guide. Then my love for bee was completely destroyed by the ending of the novel i wont. While the writing and plot are forgettable, this novel is necessary because it gives young adult readers of any and all gender identities the chance to read trans experiences in relatable contexts. Emmas story occurs before janes but both are told in alternating chapters. This was my first book with a trans heroine, and im glad i expanded my horizons by reading it. Gone girl is an example of mystery, suspense, and crime genres. So this book tells two different stories, emmas and janes. Its more like a cyclone on steroids, with farm animals and houses zooming by really fast.