Name: Moxie
Rating: 4.184713375796179 (157 reviews)
ISBN: 9781626726352

Jennifer Mathieu

In a small Texas town where high school football reigns supreme, Viv, sixteen, starts a feminist revolution using anonymously-written zines.

a novel

Moxie

chloe rae

Probably more of a 4.5*


HOLY SMOKES THIS BOOK. It was amazing. I mean, SO amazing. It’s relevant and inspiring and IMPORTANT and revolutionary and just SO. GOOD. 
I don’t quite remember when I first got introduced to feminism, but it was definitely in a negative way. It mainly consisted of people telling me it’s just a bunch of ‘men haters’ who make a big deal about nothing and how it’s all fake and blah blah blah. And then I got to college and my world view just EXPLODED and I learned about ACTUAL Feminism (mainly, intersectional feminism) and how incredibly important it is and I saw what these women and men actually stood for and it was just INCREDIBLE. Now, I’m proud to say I’m a feminist and to openly talk about these kinds of issues with people. Because it MATTERS. WE MATTER. 
This book was the best kind of uplifting. It could be absolutely INFURIATING at times because of all the injustice and sexism, but that shit was so maddening because it’s REAL. It’s STILL HAPPENING. And Viv and her friends taking action was just so inspiring and beautiful and I kept getting emotional at the end and I also got goosebumps? 
Damn. Overall, a super great and important read. One that has me feeling like I can conquer the world. Moxie girls, we fight back!

This book was genuinely awful, and should have stuck to the revenge plot instead of preaching feminism, because you could probably find a Colleen Hoover book that is somehow more feminist. I can understand the blatant choice feminism and the "feminism is for men too!!" propaganda, because I suppose that's how you would attract 16 year old straight white girls who care about nothing but who their next boyfriend will be. However, the whole republican subplot? "Adults can disagree on politics and still be friends!!" No, girl, your friend voted a serial rapist for president. And I'm supposed to believe this creature used to be a rebellious punk rock feminist in the 90s? Be serious.

A Novel

Jazelle H

“She had more than her necessary share of moxie.”

At Vivian Carter’s high school, the football team’s misogynistic bullies are viewed as gods, while the school’s female population is viewed as easy prey. Growing up with a mother whose “misspent” youth compromised of the punk-rock Riot Grrrl revolution’s feminist zines, Vivian decided to take action. Her Moxie zines--not newsletters, please--spark a movement throughout the women in her school, who are sick of the sexual harassment too. After all, Moxie girls fight back!

“It occurs to me that this is what it means to be a feminist. Not a humanist or an equalist or whatever. But a feminist. It’s not a bad word. After today it might be my favorite word. Because really all it is is girls supporting each other and wanting to be treated like human beings in a world that’s always finding ways to tell them they’re not.”

Vivian Carter isn’t a flashy, warrior woman character, and she doesn’t need to be. This story demonstrates the outward struggle the everyday girl is left to face, and the inner struggle that comes with it. While it’s difficult to stand alone, Vivian gives a voice to the masses. Her feminist-driven, once-rebellious mother’s own youth is a beautiful inspiration, not just for Viv, but for readers as well. While character investment locks into place for any person--male or female--who’s ever felt judged or mistreated for their gender, the prose, however, is a little lacking. With that quick and easy flow--usually created by a unique voice and well-wielded language--missing, the momentum slows down a bit. The escalation is a little slow as well, which also keeps the momentum from reaching that rollercoaster ride rush that gets book-dragons eating page after page.

“Moxie girls fight back!”

Considering the current social atmosphere, this novel’s relevance speaks for itself. Silence doesn’t make for a revolution--action does. It’s time to rage, roar, or riot. It’s time to use our voices as a united weapon. Find your inner moxie, stand up, and fight back!

Ivy X

Enjoyed the story…but I think the movie did do a bit more justice with having Claudia take the fall. I think the book made the side characters feel a bit 1-dimensional—Claudia being timid, Lucy always ready to attack the patriarchy, etc.

Jeannette Ordas

'I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!' Zoella '... this is my new favorite book. I'm proud to be a Moxie girl!' Jennifer Niven, author of All the Bright Places and Holding Up the Universe Vivian Carter is fed up. Fed up with her high school teachers who think the football team can do no wrong. Fed up with sexist dress codes, hallway harassment and gross comments from guys during class. But most of all, Viv Carter is fed up with always following the rules. Viv's mum was a tough-as-nails, punk rock Riot Grrrl in the '90s, and now Viv takes a page from her mother's past and creates Moxie, a feminist zine that she distributes anonymously to her classmates. She's just blowing off steam, but other girls respond and spread the Moxie message. As Viv forges friendships with other young women across the divides of cliques and popularity rankings, she realises that what she has started is nothing short of a girl revolution. TIME TO FIGHT LIKE A GIRL A page-turning read with a feminist message, for anyone who has ever had to deal with #everydaysexism 'MOXIE is sweet funny and fierce. Read this and then join the fight!' AMY POEHLER

Time to Fight Like a Girl

Elisa Bieg

I want to buy this book for every.single. teenager I know. And their moms. 

This is the sweetest, most relatable, most intelligent novelized approach to feminism that I have ever laid eyes on. It is gradual, and real, and beautiful, and maddening, and awesome. It is heart-breaking and empowering. 
SO.MANY.FEELS.

I hardly ever read contemporary YA. 
A lot of it is unrelatable to me, frankly. But this... this was not. This was on-point, apropos and just generally awesome and needed. 

Teenage girls go through so much more shit these days. And that’s on top of all the stuff that hasn’t been handled yet. It’s fucking rough and anyone who doesn’t see it is just, frankly, shutting their eyes to the truth. 

This book makes people think about things and open their eyes. I want to leave it in everyone’s mailbox and make it mandatory reading. Because it’s not a treatise, it’s not a debate. It’s a story that could be a true story, that reflects the true state of society and how hard it is to stand up to oppression when that’s all you’ve always known. (And oppression comes in many forms, so let’s not go into a debate about degree of oppression, ok?)
It also shows how even good people sometimes don’t get it because they don’t experience it themselves.

And it shows that something can be done about it. It shows that together we are strong. It shows that change is possible, but not immediate, but it takes work, and dedication and determination. 

It shows that every one of us is a potential part of a huge, powerful movement for possible change, and al we need to do is  get up, take stock and be willing to stand up for what’s right.

You will be tempted to dismiss this book as a cute YA chick-lit — because of the cute cooler, the pink, the sweet character. Don’t. Read the whole thing, and be willing to see how this could have taken place in so many places around the world, to anyone or anyone’s daughters. Then get mad. And get determined to do something to change it. 

This book is how we spark understanding of what it means to grow up in an environment so replete with toxic chauvinism that we have come to accept it at normal. And it’s how we realize that we can change it. 

So yes, I’m giving it 4 stars and a rave review. And I’m recommending it to every teen I know, and telling them to pass it on to their moms after they are done!

Sonja H

„Moxie“ gehört zu den Büchern, die mir auf YouTube begegnet sind. Insbesondere Russell von „Ink and Paper Blog“ äußerte sich sehr begeistert über den Roman.

Mich hat die Geschichte geärgert.

Erwartet hab ich eine Antiheldin, die zur Heldin wird, die Dinge erst unüberlegt anstößt, dann mit wachsender Überzeugung hinter ihren Entscheidungen steht, Missstände offen anspricht, den Dialog mit Mitschülern und Lehrern sucht,..
Bekommen habe ich ein braves Mädchen, das gern mutig wäre, das heimlich in die Fußstapfen ihrer einst feministischen Mutter tritt, das sich in den tollsten Jungen der Schule verliebt, der so anders ist, als die anderen, das sich vor dem eigenen Mut fürchtet, ununterbrochen an sich selbst zweifelt – das bis zum Schluss die Antiheldin bleibt.

Die Autorin hat unglaublich dick aufgetragen: Mädchen haben an dieser Schule nur als Cheerleader eine wichtige Rolle inne, Jungs haben das Sagen, vergreifen sich an den Mitschülerinnen und alle Lehrer schauen weg, selbst eine „Fastvergewaltigung“ (ich bin nicht recht dahinter gestiegen, ob es letzten Endes eine war oder nicht), wird nicht ernst genommen, von niemanden.
Aber da ist Seth, Vivians Schwarm, der so untypisch Junge ist, der sich aber auch passiv im Hintergrund hält.

Ich mag diese Schwarz-Weiß-Sichten des Feminismus nicht. Männer und Frauen haben ihre dunklen Seiten, Männer und Frauen sind in Rollenvorstellungen gefangen, es gibt nicht nur „die bösen Jungs“ und die „unterdrückten Mädchen, die sich wehren müssen“.

Ich weiß, dass ich leicht reden habe, in einer Zeit, in der viele Frauen vor mir für die Rechte gekämpft haben, die ich heute genieße, aber „Moxie“ soll gerade die heutige Generation ansprechen und man sollte meinen, wir hätten mittlerweile erkannt, dass Umdenken und Dialog Veränderungen herbeiführen müssen und nicht die Verurteilung einer Gruppe und der passive Widerstand mit Flyern und Aufklebern, und einem „Bake Sale“ (seufz).

Wieso reden diese Mädchen nicht mit ihren Eltern oder wenigstens mit ihren Müttern? Wieso wenden sie sich nicht an Lehrerinnen (die im Buch nicht von Bedeutung sind)? Wieso sind ALLE verängstigt, wieso gibt es unter den vielen Schülern an dieser Schule nicht einen Haufen „vorlauter“ Mädels und Jungs, die ihre Stimme erheben?

Tut mir leid, aber das erscheint mir in keiner Weise realistisch zu sein. Auch nicht in Amerika. Selbst ich, die ich als schüchtern galt in meiner Schulzeit, habe in so einigen Situationen ohne nachzudenken den Mund aufgerissen und nicht über Konsequenzen nachgedacht. Und da draußen gibt es mehr von meiner Art, auch bei den jugendlichen Schülerinnen!

„Moxie“ ist in keiner Weise hilfreich für Mädchen, die sich untergebuttert fühlen. Sollen sie etwa nun auch Zines basteln und hoffen, dass eine Bewegung daraus entsteht!? Sollen sie heimliche Parties feiern, sich verschwestern und hoffen, dass man sie dennoch hört und sieht?!
Sollten sie nicht vielmehr das Gespräch mit Vertrauenspersonen suchen? Sollten sie nicht Ausschau nach Gleichdenkenden suchen, egal ob männlich oder weiblich?

Ich weiß, dass wir in keiner gleichberechtigten Welt leben, was übrigens auch im Hinblick auf andere Unterschiede gilt, aber diese Art von Feminismus wird uns nicht weiterbringen, sie wird die Kluft nur tiefer machen.

Vilde

Ruby Kennedy

i watched the movie before this, and it was really good as well. i loved the overall message and it made me want to start a riot at my school. #MOXIEGIRLSFIGHTBACK

Josefina

i think this is a good book for someone that's just getting started on understanding feminism, if it spoke more about intersectionality and we didn't have a romance, this would've definitely been a 5 star.

Nadine 

Quick thoughtful read on rampant sexism and toxic masculinity and how it took initially one voice to motivate others. Also an interesting commentary on the diversion of funds towards masculine sports at the cost of other interest groups.
Must read for middle school examining gender, equality, values and voice

Becky

I am woman hear me roar!

This book fills me with feminist feels and is all about the girl power. This is a book which should be handed out to everyone at high school age and beyond. It would be required reading if I had my way, it really would.

I made several notes for myself and I will write a full review from them but this book was utterly fantastic and I didn't want to not be reading it. It was this brilliant feminist read which any woman can relate to because whilst you may not have gone through all of the situations in the book you can relate and had similar things happen or know someone who has experienced something similar. Basically, this is a book about how the world is not equal. That there is still a toxic attitude to women out there and that you need to make your voice hear about the injustices.

I loved every page and it was absolutely fantastic. I may have been nervous going in (I've not seen negative comments, guys, that creates high expectations) but I am so impressed with this book. Mathieu can write authentic teen voices and make a book relatable to any age. You'll want to crack out your Doc Martens and listen to some female punk rock after reading this.

Tiffany Robinson

This book was so good! I just loved the story and the characters! I would like to see more of them one day.

Moxie a novel

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