This is not a book as much as it is a collection of clichéd plot devices and character stereotypes that are more two-dimensional than those found in after-school specials.
It has everything which makes a teen book amount to nothing. A main character named "Maddy Starr" (an obvious author-insert for Mari Mancusi) who constantly bitches about how "nobody gets her, and nobody ever will," and how she's repulsed that no one at her new school is a "mop headed emo boy" or an "Edward Cullen worshiping goth-girl". Rather, they're all "AberZOMBIES" and "Haters." Please note the capital "H," as Maddy expresses such disgust for anyone who is different from herself that she needs to emphasize it with a proper noun. All in all, the result is a grotesque caricature of a gothic teenage girl. She constantly talks about Twilight and My Chemical Romance, at one point even going as far as to complain that the lead singer from My Chemical Romance does not attend her school, because if he did, they would sooo totally be soul-mates.
The reader quickly begins to wonder whether the author truly writes at a middle-school level, or whether this is a devious marketing ploy created to pump the teen demographic for every last one of their parents' dollars. Either way, there is no literary merit to this book. Despite failed attempts at profundity, there's no message deeper than "love is good, follow your dreams, cliques are bad." But even the intended anti-clique message is overshadowed by the fact that all the cliques in the book are so incredibly stereotyped. In the end, they're really more of a straw man to make the main character seem superior than anything more meaningful.
All teenage girls, especially those who self-identify with alternative subcultures, should be insulted at this patronizing blackface show, reducing them to Hot Topic-obsessed, whining cardboard cutouts. I know teenage girls are better than this. The teen market deserves better than what Mari Mancusi has to offer.
It has everything which makes a teen book amount to nothing. A main character named "Maddy Starr" (an obvious author-insert for Mari Mancusi) who constantly bitches about how "nobody gets her, and nobody ever will," and how she's repulsed that no one at her new school is a "mop headed emo boy" or an "Edward Cullen worshiping goth-girl". Rather, they're all "AberZOMBIES" and "Haters." Please note the capital "H," as Maddy expresses such disgust for anyone who is different from herself that she needs to emphasize it with a proper noun. All in all, the result is a grotesque caricature of a gothic teenage girl. She constantly talks about Twilight and My Chemical Romance, at one point even going as far as to complain that the lead singer from My Chemical Romance does not attend her school, because if he did, they would sooo totally be soul-mates.
The reader quickly begins to wonder whether the author truly writes at a middle-school level, or whether this is a devious marketing ploy created to pump the teen demographic for every last one of their parents' dollars. Either way, there is no literary merit to this book. Despite failed attempts at profundity, there's no message deeper than "love is good, follow your dreams, cliques are bad." But even the intended anti-clique message is overshadowed by the fact that all the cliques in the book are so incredibly stereotyped. In the end, they're really more of a straw man to make the main character seem superior than anything more meaningful.
All teenage girls, especially those who self-identify with alternative subcultures, should be insulted at this patronizing blackface show, reducing them to Hot Topic-obsessed, whining cardboard cutouts. I know teenage girls are better than this. The teen market deserves better than what Mari Mancusi has to offer.
I'm not gonna lie to you. This book was pretty awful. I picked it up for the art on the cover which I was surprised to see. I'm ashamed to say that I actually spent around $12.00 on this.
If you absolutely love MCR, Twilight, and very poorly written Manga you might like this title. If you believe that everyone that isn't like you is a subhuman you'll love this book. If you like all of the above and you're desperate for Mister Popular to fall in love with you and really turn out to be just like you then you'll find this to be a most treasured gem of a book.
For the rest of us the only amusement you'll get out of it is having more ridiculous things to add to gAmER gUrL posts on Tumblr.
Just for the record, I did read this book from cover to cover. I hoped against all hope that this girl would wise up and pull her head out of her backside but she never did. The only thing I'm really thankful for is that this book ended up being one of the 10 books I used to get 2 free book credits. Hopefully I can find a nice book to replace this one with.
If you absolutely love MCR, Twilight, and very poorly written Manga you might like this title. If you believe that everyone that isn't like you is a subhuman you'll love this book. If you like all of the above and you're desperate for Mister Popular to fall in love with you and really turn out to be just like you then you'll find this to be a most treasured gem of a book.
For the rest of us the only amusement you'll get out of it is having more ridiculous things to add to gAmER gUrL posts on Tumblr.
Just for the record, I did read this book from cover to cover. I hoped against all hope that this girl would wise up and pull her head out of her backside but she never did. The only thing I'm really thankful for is that this book ended up being one of the 10 books I used to get 2 free book credits. Hopefully I can find a nice book to replace this one with.
Back Cover Reads...
I decided to take Allora adventuring by herself. We headed over to the easy section, where the beginner questd were, and started attacking monsters with her firebombs. It didn't take long until I'd gained another level and was able to get some new, tougher armor and a more powerful magic wand. I also got a new spell- a sort of ice shield thing that would help protect me. Pretty soon I was strong enough to head out of the town's gates and attack those wolves that had kicked my butt the day before. "Whoo hoo!" I cheered as my firebomb blasted them dead. "You go, Allora!"
{SirLeo}Well done, m'lady. I see that the wolves are no longer a trouble to thee.
My Heart fluttered with excitement as I read the massage sent from Sir Leo. He must have just logged on. Squee!
{Allora}Why,yes,I have been busy learning some powerful new spells to combat the evil wolves that once caused me so much pain.
{SirLeo}I am impressed. Perhaps you would care to join me on a further adventure? There is a small dragon in yonder cave that has been hording much treasure. We could slay it and then split the reward.
{Allora}That sounds like a most excellent plan.
I decided to take Allora adventuring by herself. We headed over to the easy section, where the beginner questd were, and started attacking monsters with her firebombs. It didn't take long until I'd gained another level and was able to get some new, tougher armor and a more powerful magic wand. I also got a new spell- a sort of ice shield thing that would help protect me. Pretty soon I was strong enough to head out of the town's gates and attack those wolves that had kicked my butt the day before. "Whoo hoo!" I cheered as my firebomb blasted them dead. "You go, Allora!"
{SirLeo}Well done, m'lady. I see that the wolves are no longer a trouble to thee.
My Heart fluttered with excitement as I read the massage sent from Sir Leo. He must have just logged on. Squee!
{Allora}Why,yes,I have been busy learning some powerful new spells to combat the evil wolves that once caused me so much pain.
{SirLeo}I am impressed. Perhaps you would care to join me on a further adventure? There is a small dragon in yonder cave that has been hording much treasure. We could slay it and then split the reward.
{Allora}That sounds like a most excellent plan.
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
Maddy Starr's world has come to an end. Her parents just divorced, and now she's living with her mother and her 8-year-old sister in the unicorn-infested house of her grandmother. Yikes! Could it possibly get any worse?
Yep, it can get worse.
On her first day at her new high school, Maddy is humiliated. As she's about to leave for school, her grandmother declares she will not allow her granddaughter to go to school looking like "a dead prostitute." When Maddy protests that this is her style and she has nothing else to wear, her grandmother promptly hands over something of her very own wardrobe - grandma-style jeans and a sweatshirt adorned with sparkling unicorns. OMG!
It doesn't take Maddy long to figure out that school is not going to be like it was back in Boston. Arriving in a unicorn sweatshirt is bad enough, but she quickly becomes the victim of a group of popular kids she dubs "The Haters." Lucy, Chelsea, Chad, and the biggest bully, Billy, pretty much consider it their job to make life miserable for Maddy.
One bright spot in an otherwise dark world is the birthday gift Maddy gets from her dad. He gives her a subscription to an online fantasy game called Fields of Fantasy. She has watched him play the game for years and has always dreamed of joining as a real gamer. The game is fun to play and gives her some great inspiration for the manga drawings she enjoys creating. An added bonus comes in the form of an online friendship she develops while playing.
Even if everyone at her new school hates her, at least Sir Leo seems to appreciate and understand her online character, Allora.
GAMER GIRL offers readers a look at popular online gaming, the increasingly popular genre of manga, and a glimpse of the frustration of fitting in and dealing with bullies. Mancusi has created a fast-paced story that will surely interest teen readers. They'll not only be able to relate to the characters, but also be encouraged to explore their own talents and be themselves.
Maddy Starr's world has come to an end. Her parents just divorced, and now she's living with her mother and her 8-year-old sister in the unicorn-infested house of her grandmother. Yikes! Could it possibly get any worse?
Yep, it can get worse.
On her first day at her new high school, Maddy is humiliated. As she's about to leave for school, her grandmother declares she will not allow her granddaughter to go to school looking like "a dead prostitute." When Maddy protests that this is her style and she has nothing else to wear, her grandmother promptly hands over something of her very own wardrobe - grandma-style jeans and a sweatshirt adorned with sparkling unicorns. OMG!
It doesn't take Maddy long to figure out that school is not going to be like it was back in Boston. Arriving in a unicorn sweatshirt is bad enough, but she quickly becomes the victim of a group of popular kids she dubs "The Haters." Lucy, Chelsea, Chad, and the biggest bully, Billy, pretty much consider it their job to make life miserable for Maddy.
One bright spot in an otherwise dark world is the birthday gift Maddy gets from her dad. He gives her a subscription to an online fantasy game called Fields of Fantasy. She has watched him play the game for years and has always dreamed of joining as a real gamer. The game is fun to play and gives her some great inspiration for the manga drawings she enjoys creating. An added bonus comes in the form of an online friendship she develops while playing.
Even if everyone at her new school hates her, at least Sir Leo seems to appreciate and understand her online character, Allora.
GAMER GIRL offers readers a look at popular online gaming, the increasingly popular genre of manga, and a glimpse of the frustration of fitting in and dealing with bullies. Mancusi has created a fast-paced story that will surely interest teen readers. They'll not only be able to relate to the characters, but also be encouraged to explore their own talents and be themselves.
