Sunday, May 08, 2011

The Wild Girls

Note that this review may contain spoilers.

I picked this book up at the library when I saw its title, proclaiming it was perfect for my sister. The cover caught my eye so I read the inside, read the back, and I knew it was a book I had to read. After all, what better story for a teenager learning to write, then a story about teenagers learning to write?

Exposition: Upon exploring the area around her new home, Joan, our narrator, happens upon Fox. And such our two main characters are handed to us. What an interesting pair they are.

Fox, who believes her mother turned into such a creature, is large and in charge. When she's out in the woods. At school, she is Sarah, a quiet girl who everyone thinks is a freak. Joan, who was never really interested in boys and makeup, listens to the sounds of her parents' fights and wishes she could fly away.

Rising Action: Joan's adventures in the land of writing start when Fox's sci-fi author dad gives her a notebook. "...use it when you want to write down other stuff...Stuff that happens...Stuff that you're scared of. Stuff that you make up. Sometimes it helps to write stuff down." She falls deeper into writing when she and Fox decide to work together on an entry for a short-story contest. They write a story of two girls, the wild girls.

After seeing the stunning reading of their piece, a woman who calls herself Verla Volante offers them a spot in her exclusive summer creative writing class. Through this class, things are revealed to us about our heroines. The way Joan feels toward her dad, the way Fox longs for a mother. They also learn quite a few things themselves. "A good writer tells the truth by telling lies... Anything that doesn't kill you makes you stronger. And later on you can use it in some story... Pay attention. Notice things and think about what you notice." But not all of it is about writing. Fox learns from her mother why she left. Joan learns that her dad is just like any other villain. "A villain doesn't think he's a villain... You might think he's a villain. But he thinks he's right."

Climax: We could argue over what the climax is though I think Joan may be the only one who really knows. Personally, I believe it is when Joan walks on the stilts with her dad by her side. It's a beautiful moment, one that could leave you feeling the world is a wondrous and awesome place.

Falling Action/Resolution: "I've written one book, and I'll write another. That, Verla says, is what writers do."

6 comments:

  1. This sounds like an interesting book. I'll check it out sometime.

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  2. Nice review. I've never heard of that book. Thanks for bringing to my attention.

    I also love the quote at the end, "I've written one book and I will write another. That is what writers do."

    Awesome.

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  3. Thanks, Angela. ^^ I thought it was a nice way to end it as it's very true.

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  4. Before this post, I never heard of this book either. I'd like to read about teens learning to write, so maybe I'll pick this one up.

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  5. I have this book and have read it a million times. It really speaks to me about courage and being able to believe in something enough to stand up for it, and getting to know yourself, not who the adults want you to be. (Mrs. Parsons :) I love the music video you posted, it had me crying. And thanks for showing NaNoWriMo, as it is the funnest challenge i have ever tried.

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    1. Hello. Thank you for commenting. ^^ I'm glad to know that you enjoy my blog and that you had fun with NaNo. If you don't mind, exactly which video are you referring to?

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