Now here’s a little break from history books and nonfiction. Here’s relatable YA books focusing on double standards, femnisim, beauty, love and sexuality and all those things in between.

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

I forgot to put this in my Diverse Reads post of 2021. In fact it was the first book I read for the new year, and it is wonderful. It’s a rare YA book where I can actually say I loved all the characters (except the ones you obviously have to loathe) in this small Texas high school. Inspired by her mom’s old riot girl zines, the heroine, Vivian decides to anonymously start her own zine to fight back against the rampant sexism and sexual harassment. She was strong minded and passionate but non-patronizing and it covers multiple aspects of feminism including why some may not want to be labeled as one. Plus it shows male allies, and how feminism can be nuanced and people can get it wrong. It doesn’t mean they’re not trying, they are, it’s hard work but everyone is doing their best to get to a better future. So 5 out of 5.

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

This satirical novel covers almost everything that sucks and is great about being a woman. In a world years from now where superficiality and reality tv reigns, the Miss Teen Dream pagent is in flames when the airplane holding all 50 pagent girls is struck in the middle of an island. The survivors must choose whether to build a fire or work on their special talents, but at least they won’t worry about ruining their perfect size 0 figures. It’s quite fun as it uses such stereotypes as the Christ-loving Texas loudmouth, the ditzy blondes and Adina, the only sane one who is just using this to write an article blasting the pagent for its unattainable beauty standards. But it flips a lot of things on its head as Shanti uses the exoticism of her Indian heritage to get ahead rather than admit she’s just Valley Girl like everyone else. The repressed sexuality of Mary Lou because girls aren’t supposed to like it too much. Or Nicole who fears of being just another black girl stereotype. Also I love the footnotes that explain the various “cultural” references of their world like the Tale of Two Cities game was banned because “Charles Dickins is clearly a pornographic name,” the hot bisexual threesome trope and more.

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

When the boys of the soccer team take their rivalry with the school’s football too far with their pranks and vandelism, and just generally ignoring their girlfriends, Lissa decides its enough. In order to get their attention and stop this nonsense, proposes a shut in. Cut off their sex. Not everyone is a fan of that and not just the guys. It delivers a multi-facted view of the double standards of sexuality between men and women, and between women themselves. That and how it dovetails into more things like defining oneself and what they want in life, what they want to be like, not just in sex.

Giving up the V by Serena Robar

Like above, this deals with the various views on sexuality. Spencer is determined to be a virgin simply because she wants to wait for the right person. And then it seems like she has found him in the gorgeous, Benjamin Hopkins. Like above, it doesn’t shame anyone for wanting or not wanting sex, whatever their reason. In fact, her best friend, Alyssa is determined to finally get rid of hers in a one night stand. This is more of an indiviual book following Spencer’s journey for Mr. Right rather than a scoping web to catch all views on sexuality, but with the relatable characters, it’s one any teen could enjoy.

Unscripted by Nicole Kozer

I’m going to start off with saying this is a hard book. Zelda is going to the well-known comedy camp and aspires to reach the height of her SNL idol, and cabin-named Gilda Radner. Plus the end of summer presentation where one of her favorite female comediens is coming to watch their work. She is thrilled to be put in the varsity team. The all-boys varsity team that don’t take well to having a girl among their ranks. It’s not just the disbelief that she can be funny that gets to her, but the constant insistance that she play a stripper in their improvs, the jokes about her boobs, the jokes that she is taking thier fun too seriously. Not to mention the belittlement from the coach. But that’s okay, because he sees her potential and is just giving her “real” critiques for the first time. He also really likes her. . . Yeah you can see where it’s heading. While it doesn’t go into rape territory, he is grooming her and manipuating her confused feelings towards him. It’s hard to see how insecure and helpless she feels, and the way she blames herself. It’s constant even though there is some amount of justice in the end.

Becoming Latina in 10 steps/Being Americana by Lara Rios

Marcela’s world is turned upside down when a nasty aunt drops the bomb that she is not fully Mexican. Turns out, she’s not her father’s daughter, her mother had a brief affair with a white man and they don’t know whose the real dad. Not only must Marcela grapple with her new view of her mother, but she re-thinks her identity, is she not latina enough. Well with 10 easy steps like helping a troubled teen, be more Catholic, dating a Mexican man, maybe this will convince herself that she is as much as part of her family as she had thought. Of course, such best laid plans do not always work the way one wants to. Like her growing affection for George from Accounting, the dull white person she doesn’t want to be. Really, its more about Marcela, trying to figure out her identity and get out of her own self-absorbed bubble and the flaws that plague her. With that she can be unlikeable and moody at times, but Rios’ humor helped softened it. But I do enjoy the main message that you define your identity more than any speck of blood or some stereotypical list of traits.

I much preferred its sequel, Becoming Americana that is set several years later and stars Lupe, the rebellious teen girl that Marcela had sought to mentor. She has adjusted well in college and mentoring other former gang bangers, but she is still finding her way in the world. Especially what it means to be Americana in a world that so often judges her past, her skin color, and her old decisions. Especially as her abusive and unsupportive family feel threatened by her choices to persue her education. She’s too “uppity.” Not to mention she is torn between two men, her roommate and old mentor, Nash. A man who helped save her and represents all the stability and safety she craved. And Will, a rich white boy who does love her but she doesn’t believe will understand her. It’s a great coming of age story, bittersweet too but realistic and conflicted just like any human.