Plot Summary

Girl Mans Up

M-E Girard
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Girl Mans Up

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2016

Book Brief

M-E Girard

Girl Mans Up

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2016
Book Details
Pages

384

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Ontario, Canada • 2010s

Publication Year

2016

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

14-18 years

Lexile Level

HL620L

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Super Short Summary

Girl Mans Up by M-E Girard follows Pen, a sixteen-year-old in Ontario, Canada, navigating her fluid gender identity amidst her conservative Portuguese parents and a complex friendship with Colby, a womanizer. As Pen develops feelings for a classmate, Blake, she struggles with societal expectations and personal loyalty, ultimately finding strength in her true self and her supportive brother, Johnny. The book addresses experiences of bullying and gender-related challenges.

Challenging

Emotional

Contemplative

Inspirational

Unnerving

Reviews & Readership

4.2

6,105 ratings

73%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Girl Mans Up by M-E Girard is widely praised for its authentic portrayal of gender identity and LGBTQ+ themes. Reviewers commend the strong, relatable characters and the protagonist's journey of self-discovery. However, some criticism targets the pacing and the complexity of side plots. Overall, it's a compelling and necessary read in contemporary YA literature.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Girl Mans Up?

Readers who would enjoy Girl Mans Up by M-E Girard are teens and young adults exploring gender identity and LGBTQ+ themes. Comparable to Luna by Julie Anne Peters and If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo, fans of realistic, coming-of-age stories with strong, complex characters will find this book compelling.

4.2

6,105 ratings

73%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

384

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Ontario, Canada • 2010s

Publication Year

2016

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

14-18 years

Lexile Level

HL620L

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