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The Notebook Girls: Four Friends, One Diary

Julia Baskin,

Lindsey Newman

Why we're reading this: Recommended by Raina
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Jan 11, 2011 Raina rated it it was amazing

Shelves: feminist, lgbt2q, religious, historical, nonfic, ya, funny, realistic, biographical, romance

I have a couple of cousins who are still teens. One 18, one 16. And it terrifies me to death that this gives a taste of what their life is like, how their brains work. On the other hand, the girls in this are definitely in a very specific place and a very specific time that is very different from my family's. So I can still pretend that my girls aren't smoking pot every day, partying every weekend, etc. etc. etc. I can pretend.

One summary said that these girls go to the top public school in NYC. I have a couple of cousins who are still teens. One 18, one 16. And it terrifies me to death that this gives a taste of what their life is like, how their brains work. On the other hand, the girls in this are definitely in a very specific place and a very specific time that is very different from my family's. So I can still pretend that my girls aren't smoking pot every day, partying every weekend, etc. etc. etc. I can pretend.

One summary said that these girls go to the top public school in NYC. Which may or may not be completely accurate. But it is true that it's a fairly elitist school which students have to test into. Not to mention, the school is four blocks from ground zero, and the girls started this in March, 2002. Unique unique unique. They're able to articulate themselves much much more clearly than most teens I've met, their handwriting is much more legible than most teens I've met, they're aware of the world in a way that I think most teens aren't. It's really cool to watch them throw around feminism, sexism, discrimination, social justice issues, etc. among all their fart and penis jokes.

Which reminds me, these girls (intelligent and educated though they may be) are obsessed with sex. Obsessed. Which makes me wonder how much is conditioning (sex is how you get attention from boys) and how much is empowered sex drive from being post-feminist-movement. Teenage boys have a reputation of being sex maniacs, but would girls be any different if they were allowed to voice/embrace their true desires?

Also refreshing to see how comfortable they were with GLBTIQA issues. Honestly, the way they talk to each other kinda drove me crazy at times. Constantly making raunchy jokes at the expense of each other, etc. But there's so much love in the midst of the harshness. And you really truly watch them grow up over the two years the book covers. Each one goes through something really serious and makes very adult choices in a positive way. Makes me hopeful.

My favorite piece is written on 9/23/03 by Sophie, where she writes about 9/11 two years later. Just beautiful writing about a very unique time and space. Brought to mind amazing visual images and made me think about how I've reacted in the crises I've experienced.

It's just amazing that it got made. ...more

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