Take Three Girls is the collaborative effort of YA writers Cath Crowley, Fiona Wood and Simone Howell. It follows the lives of three boarding school girls as they find themselves under attack from a cyber bullying presence and form an unlikely friendship.
`The novel covers all the intricacies of female friendships in a way that is too often overlooked in young adult books. It brings attention to fake friends and the dangers of competing with other girls so much that you lose sight of yourself, but it also celebrates the beauty of having friends who accept every part of you and support you when things look bleak.
The three protagonists have strong, well-defined voices that really helps to break the perception that all teenaged girls are a hivemind. Each girl has their own struggles that are handled tactfullyand gracefully intertwine with each other to form a complete narrative rather than three separate stories.
The love and friendship that the three girls show each other is a breath of fresh air compared to the typical female friendships in fiction, which usually revolve around men. Though Clem, Ady and Kate all have different interests, they embrace their differences and show each other unconditional love as they struggle through year 10.
Take Three Girls encourages us to look past the stereotypes we inadvertently place on people and find the good within them. It warns us of jealousy and the risks that come with first love. The girls face pressure from all sources, including their so-called friends, their family, their teachers and their partners, but by staying true to themselves they are able to help each other survive their hardships.
The message of the novel is overwhelmingly positive. It’s an honest and vulnerable portrayal of high school, friendship and family life, and it doesn’t shy away from sensitive topics like body issues, sexuality and substance abuse. It’s a reminder that in this digital age the ability to hurt people is more powerful than ever, but the ability to ease that pain and turn a bad experience into something positive is much more important.
Astrid Sholte’s novel combines urban fantasy and murder mystery in a setting that echoes the popular dystopian-style factions of young adult fiction, but with enough unique elements to make it stand out. The world of Four Dead Queens is reminiscent of fantasy, but instead of magic, there is strange and interesting technology that serves as …
For anyone who loves fairy tales with a twist, the Rondo series is the perfect way to escape to a world of magic and mystery. Rodda creates a new layer to the classic formula, drawing from familiar characters such as evil queens, talking animals and mythical creatures, but the addition of two protagonists from the …
Cally Black’s In The Dark Spaces is an immersive sci-fi thriller that features some incredible aliens and insightful thoughts on human nature. While it’s full of action and danger, the heart of the story revolves around family, morality, communication, and love in all its forms. Exposition is scarce, but this works in the book’s favour. [...]
‘The Gilded Ones’, an action-packed new fantasy series from début author Namina Forna, follows the story of a young female named Deka, who lives in the West-African-inspired society of Otera, in which women live to be of service to men, and their roles in everyday life are grounded in misogyny. For Deka, reaching a certain …
Ellie Marney’s new novel takes the grass-roots feeling of a tight-knit country town, and throws in an explosive mixture of cult ideologies, peer pressure and moral dilemmas. Set in a small town in rural Victoria, White Night tells the story of a status quo shaken by one secretive community, and a boy and a girl [...]
The Bronze Key is the third instalment in the Magisterium series. Picking up a year after book three (The Copper Gauntlet), Callum and his best friends are now entering the third year of their magical training. Callum has now revealed the truth about his soul to his close friends, as well as his frenemy Jasper …
Take Three Girls – by Cath Crowley, Simmone Howell & Fiona Wood
Take Three Girls is the collaborative effort of YA writers Cath Crowley, Fiona Wood and Simone Howell. It follows the lives of three boarding school girls as they find themselves under attack from a cyber bullying presence and form an unlikely friendship.
`The novel covers all the intricacies of female friendships in a way that is too often overlooked in young adult books. It brings attention to fake friends and the dangers of competing with other girls so much that you lose sight of yourself, but it also celebrates the beauty of having friends who accept every part of you and support you when things look bleak.
The three protagonists have strong, well-defined voices that really helps to break the perception that all teenaged girls are a hivemind. Each girl has their own struggles that are handled tactfullyand gracefully intertwine with each other to form a complete narrative rather than three separate stories.
The love and friendship that the three girls show each other is a breath of fresh air compared to the typical female friendships in fiction, which usually revolve around men. Though Clem, Ady and Kate all have different interests, they embrace their differences and show each other unconditional love as they struggle through year 10.
Take Three Girls encourages us to look past the stereotypes we inadvertently place on people and find the good within them. It warns us of jealousy and the risks that come with first love. The girls face pressure from all sources, including their so-called friends, their family, their teachers and their partners, but by staying true to themselves they are able to help each other survive their hardships.
The message of the novel is overwhelmingly positive. It’s an honest and vulnerable portrayal of high school, friendship and family life, and it doesn’t shy away from sensitive topics like body issues, sexuality and substance abuse. It’s a reminder that in this digital age the ability to hurt people is more powerful than ever, but the ability to ease that pain and turn a bad experience into something positive is much more important.
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