Plot Summary

White Girl

Sylvia Olsen
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White Girl

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1992

Book Brief

Sylvia Olsen

White Girl

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1992
Book Details
Pages

235

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Vancouver Island • 1960s

Publication Year

1992

Audience

Middle grade

Recommended Reading Age

12-18 years

Lexile Level

760L

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Super Short Summary

In Sylvia Olsen's White Girl, teenager Josie Jessop’s life is upended when her mother marries Martin, a First Nations man, and moves them to his reservation. As Josie navigates prejudice and bullying at school, she finds friendship in Rose and begins to appreciate the beauty of the community. Josie's growing bond with Martin's family ultimately teaches her about love, acceptance, and the importance of family. The book addresses racism, bullying, and suicide.

Contemplative

Emotional

Challenging

Inspirational

Heartwarming

Reviews & Readership

3.8

130 ratings

62%

Loved it

25%

Mixed feelings

14%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Sylvia Olsen’s White Girl delves into themes of identity and belonging. Reviewers praise its authentic portrayal of Indigenous culture and the protagonist’s nuanced growth. However, some critics feel the narrative pace lags and wish for deeper character development. Overall, it's commended for its heartfelt and insightful exploration of cross-cultural dynamics.

Who should read this

Who Should Read White Girl?

Fans of White Girl would likely appreciate stories about cultural identity, personal growth, and social issues. Comparisons include Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give for their themes of resilience and exploration of complex social environments.

3.8

130 ratings

62%

Loved it

25%

Mixed feelings

14%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

235

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Vancouver Island • 1960s

Publication Year

1992

Audience

Middle grade

Recommended Reading Age

12-18 years

Lexile Level

760L

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