But as the book said, it eventually becomes a prison. It’s sort of a coping mechanism-the shallow satisfaction that I get from imagining that I hurt back someone who hurt me is a dark fantasy that lets me sleep some nights. Like Peekay, there were times when I fantasized about inflicting harm to people who hurt me. I am thoroughly engaged such that when I have to drop reading to do something else, I’m still thinking about the book, its characters and what will happen next.Ī particular chapter where Peekay lost her control and tried to hit someone resonates with me.

There’s a suggestion of a takedown on the penis doodles everywhere and the next day, someone vandalized the school’s entrance with a massive vagina. There’s a promise of murder and lo, there’s murder on that same chapter. It makes daring propositions then follows through immediately. The narrative is efficient, resulting to immediate gratification on the part of the reader. One liners like, “I am vengeance” and “My life is a list of things I didn’t do.” definitely catches attention and makes powerful impression. Jack is a self-proclaimed douchebag, trying hard not be a douchebag but still almost always ending up like one.

Her impulsiveness and emotional antics lead her to dangerous situations but she is a good person deep inside. Peekay, the prodigal preacher’s kid, is the bumbling sidekick. Despite her dark personality, she is quite adorable when she goes through the motions of any regular high school kid, like making friends or being in love for the first time. Alex is cold and calm, loyal and fierce -my perfect anti-heroine. And Jack who is the hotter girl’s childhood friend, who also sleeps with her even though she clearly has a boyfriend.Īll three narrators are deeply flawed but I can’t help but be drawn in with their appeal. There’s Peekay who got dumped by her boyfriend for a hotter girl in school. Alex Craft, the girl who made the bold opening chapter, is out for revenge on the person responsible for her big sister’s murder.

The book is told in alternating points of view of three teenagers living in an Ohio small town. “The Female of the Species” is a pulpy YA, packed with a girl power punch hellbent on its intent to smash patriarchy. With great satisfaction, I report that the book delivered. You cannot promise me murder, then cop out. There is no going back with a strong statement as that.

“This is how I kill someone.” declares the book’s opening line.

The female of the species mcginnis