Official Review: Too Bad She's a Girl by J W Templeman

Please use this sub-forum to discuss any young adult books.
Forum rules
Authors and publishers are not able to post replies in the review topics.
User avatar
e-tasana-williams
Posts: 358
Joined: 13 May 2016, 18:50
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 141
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-e-tasana-williams.html
Latest Review: Monkey Mind Madness by Sharon Dorival
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU

Official Review: Too Bad She's a Girl by J W Templeman

Post by e-tasana-williams »

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Too Bad She's a Girl" by J W Templeman.]
Book Cover
4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review


It's 1955 in Shawnee Bluff, Kentucky. Eisenhower is in the White House, World War II is a recent memory, and FDA approval of birth control pills is still five years away. In this coming of age tale, twelve-year-old Patti Jo Williams is better than her little brother Rusty at everything, especially baseball. But in her small town on the southern shore of the Ohio River, she is progressively limited by her sex to those activities reserved for women. Then the new girl Flannery arrives at Sunday school. Patti Jo is the only one to befriend her, and they become fast confidantes in a world full of party lines, soda fountains and little league baseball.

Too Bad She's A Girl is the debut young adult novel from author JW Templeman. Independent heroine Patti Jo is reminiscent of Scout, Atticus's feisty daughter in To Kill A Mockingbird. She is the innocent eye in this tale. She sees hypocrisy and struggles to understand the inconsistencies between people's platitudes and their actions. Patti Jo often gives words to her thoughts unfiltered, and has to suffer the consequences.

Templeman's writing easily draws you in as she paints a portrait of Shawnee Bluff and the people who live there. The story is laced with the classic quick wit and clever turns of phrase southerners are famous for. With an alcoholic philandering father often away for days at a time due to his bus-driving schedule, Patti Jo and her mother Helen share camaraderie that makes her home's stifling atmosphere bearable.

Feminist readers will enjoy this tale for its historical value. The book is a snapshot of an America before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and before Affirmative Action. The women in the story are relegated to child rearing, keeping the home and perpetuating their roles in their daughters. Too Bad She's A Girl is a sweet, funny story addressing issues that everyone can relate to: independence, honesty and loyalty. Patti Jo embodies all of these qualities. She refuses to be put into the box that the townsfolk and her parents try to force on her, and her defiance makes her a loveable, memorable character. As her father is fond of commenting, "If she was a boy she could 'a set the world on fire".

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. This is an excellent debut novel from Templeman. Read this one. You will not be disappointed.

******
Too Bad She's a Girl
View: on Bookshelves

Like Eatsleaves's review? Post a comment saying so!
Once you learn to read, you will be forever free ~ Frederick Douglas
User avatar
Serena [Poetree]
Posts: 67
Joined: 14 Jul 2016, 18:07
Currently Reading: Earthkeepers
Bookshelf Size: 638
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-serena-poetree.html
Latest Review: "Ring of Fire" by Stevie Rae Causey

Post by Serena [Poetree] »

Great review! This sounds like a wonderful novel with a very likable protagonist. I love the quote you shared at the end!
Latest Review: "Ring of Fire" by Stevie Rae Causey
User avatar
e-tasana-williams
Posts: 358
Joined: 13 May 2016, 18:50
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 141
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-e-tasana-williams.html
Latest Review: Monkey Mind Madness by Sharon Dorival
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU

Post by e-tasana-williams »

Thank you for your response! Yes I really enjoyed this one.
Once you learn to read, you will be forever free ~ Frederick Douglas
AuthoressofMystery
Posts: 61
Joined: 12 Aug 2016, 20:36
Currently Reading: Finding Poe
Bookshelf Size: 342
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-authoressofmystery.html
Latest Review: "Learn English, Spanish, French, German, Turkish and Persian - Vocabulary Book Series" by Vahid Asghari
Reading Device: 1400697484

Post by AuthoressofMystery »

Great Review! This book sounds like a must read! :-)
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.

Edmond Burke
Latest Review: "Learn English, Spanish, French, German, Turkish and Persian - Vocabulary Book Series" by Vahid Asghari
User avatar
Kia
Posts: 351
Joined: 19 Feb 2016, 17:40
Currently Reading: Damaged Goods
Bookshelf Size: 46
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kia.html
Latest Review: Wheel of Katarnum by James Calliotte
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU

Post by Kia »

This sounds like a fantastic novel. Thanks for such a good review!
"Yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it you can either run from it, or learn from it."- Rafiki
User avatar
kimmyschemy06
Posts: 2598
Joined: 20 Oct 2015, 20:49
Currently Reading: The Searching Three
Bookshelf Size: 694
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kimmyschemy06.html
Latest Review: Kazi Boku by M. Poyhonen

Post by kimmyschemy06 »

Sounds like it could also be put under historical fiction. And since I'm a feminist, I think I'm going to like this book. Great job on the review. Congratulations to J W Templeman on such an obviously well written book.
User avatar
e-tasana-williams
Posts: 358
Joined: 13 May 2016, 18:50
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 141
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-e-tasana-williams.html
Latest Review: Monkey Mind Madness by Sharon Dorival
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU

Post by e-tasana-williams »

AuthoressofMystery wrote:Great Review! This book sounds like a must read! :-)
Thank you for your response! Definitely a must read. I hope you get the chance to read it and enjoy it as much as I did.

-- September 12th, 2016, 11:39 am --
Kia wrote:This sounds like a fantastic novel. Thanks for such a good review!
It *is* fantastic. I can't say enough good things about it. Hope you get a chance to read this one. Thank you for the reply!

-- September 12th, 2016, 11:41 am --
kimmyschemy06 wrote:Sounds like it could also be put under historical fiction. And since I'm a feminist, I think I'm going to like this book. Great job on the review. Congratulations to J W Templeman on such an obviously well written book.
Yes! It could easily be in the historical fiction genre. Please read this one, I really enjoyed it and hope you will too. I look forward to more from J W Templeman for sure!
Once you learn to read, you will be forever free ~ Frederick Douglas
User avatar
gali
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 53652
Joined: 22 Oct 2013, 07:12
Favorite Author: Agatha Christie
Currently Reading: The Suite Life
Bookshelf Size: 2287
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-gali.html
Reading Device: B00I15SB16
Publishing Contest Votes: 0
fav_author_id: 2484

Post by gali »

Sounds like a sweet tale. I love strong and feisty heroines, like Patti supposed to be. I loved Scout, another selling point for this book. Good job on the review!
A retired Admin/Mod

Pronouns: She/Her

"In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you." (Mortimer J. Adler)
User avatar
lydialeigh71
Posts: 46
Joined: 10 Aug 2016, 08:50
Favorite Author: Robin Jones Gunn
Currently Reading: The Mask of Perpetuity
Bookshelf Size: 717
fav_author_id: 5926

Post by lydialeigh71 »

Thank you for a brilliant review! I love the time period in which the book is set. I would not call myself a feminist but I do believe women and men should be equal. There is a fine line and I believe some go overboard. God created men and women different for a reason. I love how the main character stands up for what she believes is right. I do not like judgemental bigots and have no tolerance for them. The main character befriends a pregnant teenager during a time when unwed mother-to-be was frowned upon, I believe this is true humanity and we should all love and accept one another.
Sounds like a fascinating read that I cannot wait to get lost in the pages.
User avatar
bookowlie
Special Discussion Leader
Posts: 9071
Joined: 25 Oct 2014, 09:52
Favorite Book: The Lost Continent
Currently Reading: The Night She Went Missing
Bookshelf Size: 442
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-bookowlie.html
Latest Review: To Paint A Murder by E. J. Gandolfo

Post by bookowlie »

Great review! I loved Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird and I like books with a strong setting. Glad you enjoyed the story!
"The best way out is always through" - Robert Frost
User avatar
Kourtney Bradley
Posts: 2137
Joined: 10 Oct 2015, 21:45
Favorite Book: Bridges of Madison County
Currently Reading: Layla
Bookshelf Size: 412
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kourtney-bradley.html
Latest Review: Dante's Demons by K.L. Barstow
Reading Device: 1400697484

Post by Kourtney Bradley »

I love reading books that have locations near me! I'm in Kentucky. :)
Thanks for sharing your review!
Whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light. :techie-studyingbrown:
–Vera Nazarian
AA1495
Posts: 1210
Joined: 17 Aug 2016, 14:45
Favorite Book: <a href="http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelve ... 19636">Out of the Box Awakening</a>
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 122
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-aa1495.html
Latest Review: YiaYia’s Kitchen by Brianna Koucos Midgley

Post by AA1495 »

I'm glad you enjoyed reading the book. Thank you for the great review!
User avatar
greenstripedgiraffe
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 836
Joined: 22 Oct 2015, 10:47
Currently Reading: The New Strong-Willed Child
Bookshelf Size: 274
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-greenstripedgiraffe.html
Latest Review: Swarm by Guy Morris

Post by greenstripedgiraffe »

Now, this sounds like an excellent novel! Thanks for the review =) Good to see someone writing a story that spins a tale of life like this. Normal people in a normal time past doing normal things - this book sounds like pure gold.
"no one down here" --- Up the Down Staircase
Latest Review: Swarm by Guy Morris
User avatar
ELF32
Posts: 4
Joined: 19 Oct 2016, 06:01
Currently Reading: Cross Justice
Bookshelf Size: 14

Post by ELF32 »

After reading this review, it makes me want to read the book. I like when independent girls speak their minds even when society limits their abilities. Even sometimes in the modern south, I see girls put down because they are girls. The southern adage is often "boys will be boys." Well, then what will girls be? I will be interested to read this book to see if I see Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird in this character also.
CrescentMoon
Posts: 1319
Joined: 08 May 2014, 22:50
Currently Reading: Superhighway
Bookshelf Size: 87
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-crescentmoon.html
Latest Review: "Letorian Descendants- Casey Blane Series (Book 1)" by Jodi Ann Fahey

Post by CrescentMoon »

Great review! I love the comparison to to kill a mockingbird. This book sounds great!
Latest Review: "Letorian Descendants- Casey Blane Series (Book 1)" by Jodi Ann Fahey
Post Reply

Return to “Young Adult Fiction Books”