The Female of the Species Hardcover – September 20, 2016

If you've ever wondered what Dexter would be like if it starred a female teenager instead, read this book.Alex's sister, Anna, was raped and dismembered. The police had a suspect but he was let go due to a lack of sufficient evidence. Then one day, he turned up dead; he'd been tied to a chair and tortured, with another empty chair sitting across from him. As if someone had sat there and watched him die.Peekay/Claire is the preacher's daughter, hence the nickname "PK" or "preacher's kid." She's tired of being the good girl, though, and all the strings that come along with that.Jack is your typical popular white jock-type - only he's not. He wants desperately to succeed, so he doesn't end up as yet another dead-end in their small town. And he's just aware enough of his privilege and entitlement that he feels the tiniest bit of guiltAll three of these kids end up converging, and the focal point is Alex: a girl who isn't like other girls. Her sister's death left her feeling hollow inside, filled her veins with barbed wire, and she's filling that void with anger. Anger at rape jokes, at rape, at sexual assault, at double-standards, at sexism, at objectification, at male entitlement. Anger at rape culture, which says that all of these things are, if not okay, then inevitable and therefore expected. So she does what you would expect of a budding psychopath -She does something about it.THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES is not an easy read, for many reasons. Rape, language, violence, gore, animal abuse, drugs. If this book hasn't been banned at least once, I'd be surprised. But as with most banned books, the content in here serves a purpose. It is a grim reminder that we haven't achieved true equality yet, and that all too often, we still slut-shame and still blame the victim.The things that Alex does are wrong, but on same base and depraved level, there is something almost satisfying about her actions, too: when we watch TV dramas and read books, we want the bad guys to be punished. And in those stories, when the judicial and law enforcement channels fail us, people take matters into their own hands. I feel like this is a microcosm, a character study, and a cautionary tale all in one: in this small town, McGinnis shows the various forms sexism and rape culture can take; she shows how humanity exists on a spectrum, and how good people do bad things, and bad people do good things, and what a lot of it comes down to is intent and frequency; and she also shows the importance of enforcing the laws and taking ownership so people don't mete out vigilante justice.I liked this book. It was upsetting and shocking, but it also had some really important messages. Give it a read, if you're up to it. Girl-Dexter is pretty fascinating to watch.4 out of 5 stars

pooled ink Reviews:This book was so good and yet in some ways using the word "good" to describe it feels almost inappropriate. But it had me hungry to know the story resolved to be told, afraid of the realities imbedded in each page, and sobbing through those final accounts as it all came to a close. I'm not a crier, but I had legit snot running down my face from crying as I squinted through my tears to read those final few chapters and it wasn't even entirely for the specific events that explode at the end although that certainly triggered it. More so I cried because this is a piece of my reality and it was hard to have it staring back at me where I couldn't turn away or hide or feign ignorance or stand behind the flimsy belief that people get what they deserve. Because more often than not, they don't.But on a lighter more bookish note...it's well-written, realistic characters, fantastic plot weaving, and it's just really effing good so you should definitely add it to your list. (You can read more of my thoughts/my full review on my Pooled Ink blog on Wordpress)THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES will gently remove your rose-colored glasses right before grinding them coldly beneath its heel. It isn’t a blood-thirsty war cry so much as a dark yet heart-wrenching plea to look, to see, to understand, to change, and by the final page you will want to raise your fist and scream through the tears staining your cheeks for this book may use fictional names but the story is very real and likely in some way yours. A book that ought to be on every shelf with its binding worn and broken from having been read and shared so often because to shelf it pristine would be a betrayal to Alex and the sharp reality she refuses to ignore.

Is it possible to love and hate a book at the same time? Because I loved this book SO MUCH. The message was fantastic, but it makes me so mad that this even needs to be said. Before I get into the full review, I want to mention that this book contains the following trigger warnings: rape, animal cruelty, and violence.“You see it in all animals – the female of the species is more deadly than the male.”This is the story of Alex, a girl whose sister was brutally assaulted and murdered and has a…broken moral compass. It’s also the story about Peekay, the preachers kid who befriends her, and Jack, the boy who comes to love her.Alex was honestly one of the most relatable characters I’ve read in a while. Not in the whole murderous tendencies kind of way, but more in the socially awkward, more in love with her books than people kind of way. She gets so much crap thrown at her with her family – an absent, supposedly violent father, a mother who can hardly look at her, and her sister. The sister that started it all, murdered in the woods. So of course she decides to do something about it.“I live in a world where not being molested as a child is considered luck.”A lot of what was mentioned in this book were things that I, as a learned, inclusive adult, already know, but maybe a younger audience is aware of in the back of their mind. Through Alex we see how American culture has evolved around rape. People are afraid to report sexual assaults because they don’t want their peers to think they are snitching and so it happens over and over again.“But boys will be boys, our favorite phrase that excuses so many things, while the only thing we have for the opposite gender is women, said with disdain and punctuated with an eye roll.”There are so many stereotypes and mindsets that are challenged throughout this book, from the “boys will be boys” mindset, to the girl who wears so much makeup everyone thinks she’s easy but is more than meets the eye, to the boy who, on the surface, seems to have it all but really doesn’t. We see how society treats men and women differently, and the exact scene that the above quote happens in was the one moment where I had to stop and take a moment, because it was so horrible and powerful and true.It happened to be you, but it could’ve been anyone else. Opportunity is what matters, nothing else. I’m telling you, Claire. It doesn’t matter. What you were wearing. What you look like. Nothing. Watch the nature channel. Predators go for the easy prey.The messages this book has are it’s strong point. They are uncomfortable to read or listen to, but they are so important for anyone in our current society to hear and discuss. You can’t just ignore that these things are happening and everything this book discusses is a MAJOR issue in today’s society.“It’s not the sheep that call to me, but the other wolves. I want to run with them, so that I may tear out their throats when they threaten my flock. But I can’t return to the sheep with blood on my breath; they will shy away from me.”It seems so morbid to call this book amazing given the issues that it discusses, but the way it shows that it isn’t okay to just sit by is the beautiful part of this book. Yes, our MC doesn’t always go about solving her issues in a productive way, but in all honesty, the characters come second to the plot in this book.While everyone needs to read this book, the one group that needs to read this more than any other are teenagers. There are so many important messages about consent and standing up for yourself that if I had read this book in high school or even younger, certain things that had happened around me may have ended up differently. So please, do yourself a favor and read this book. You will come out stronger and more understanding in the end.*Check out meltingpages.wordpress.com for more reviews.

SPOILERSTW: animal cruelty, sexual abuse, sexual assault, rape, murder, discussions of indecent images of children, violence.Wow. This is a powerful book. I feel like this is such a powerful and important read for all young people; it is dark and gripping and honest and has such honest conversations about rape, and sexual assault, and slut-shaming. Mindy McGinnis doesn't let anyone get away with negative comments about girls and what they chose to do with their bodies; even when these comments are made by other girls they get shut swiftly down by one of our main characters Alex, who tragically lost her sister after she was raped and murdered.This book is told from the perspective of three different individuals; Alex, who is known as the girl whose sister died, but has a sinister secret hidden. Jack, your typical popular guy but who notices Alex and wants to know her more. and Peekay (or Claire) the preachers kid who wants to cut the apron strings. They all come together throughout this book and you get an honest depiction of teenagers and the issues they face. I say honest depiction, i'm not sure how many teenagers go around [committing cold-blooded murder (hide spoiler)], but other than that i'd say it's pretty realistic.I wrote my university dissertation on rape culture and it horrified me then just how many jokes were made about rape and how it just wasn't taken seriously by so many people and how many excuses are made for it. McGinnis does a brilliant job of portraying so many aspects of rape culture throughout this book, specifically slut-shaming and victim blaming.I picked this book up planning to read a couple of pages and ended up reading the whole book. I just couldn't put it down and it packs a real punch. The bit that stands out to me is the Police Officer giving a speech to the students and highlights just how often rape occurs for males and females, and when the males titter, highlights that most rapes are not stranger-rapes, but acquaintance rapes. People you know, who you might care about. These are the honest and unflinching conversations that are needed about these topics.Alex was a delightful character and I loved watching her slowly come out of her shell. Peekay was also fabulous, and I loved watching her realise her growth and her slow acceptance that Branley is not the enemy. Jack was okay, but I just didn't love him as much as the others.“But boys will be boys, our favorite phrase that excuses so many things, while the only thing we have for the opposite gender is women, said with disdain and punctuated with an eye roll.”I initially rated this five stars because it was a really powerful and important read but then I was reflecting on it and realised I had to give it four stars because I just did not like the ending and it really didn't work for me.The ending honestly felt a little bit rushed to me and like the author wasn't quite sure how to wrap up the dramatic events of Alex killing two people and revealing this to Jake. It also seemed a bit like the author was determined to make Branley the antagonist of this story, despite the rapists and child molesters that are rampant in this story. I would have hoped that this was dealt with a bit better and that Branley wasn't made out to be such a nutter.That said, this is a book that is going to stay with me for some time and one that I highly recommend you read.

“You see it in all animals - the female of the species is more deadly than the male.”This book is a huge comment on rape culture, slut shaming, females in general and their status in society and the hypocrisy that has been ingrained in us all in some way - and all without feeling forceful or over-the-top... Loved it. Flew through it. Everyone should read it; I've seen a lot of females read it, but I just want to give this to everyone that I know, including all of the boys and men.“I live in a world where not being molested as a child is considered luck.”I really do love this book - I could quote it forever - and I really want to give it five stars, BUT I had to mark it down a star because of Jack. I got what the character was meant to be and why he was there, but I just didn't like him, didn't get him and didn't believe him.“Physical attractiveness has nothing to do with it. You were alone, isolated, and weak. The three of them had been watching girls all night, waiting for someone to separate from a group. It happened to be you, but it could’ve been anyone else. Opportunity is what matters, nothing else.”I want to end this by pleading with any teachers, principals, head teachers, etc. PLEASE take the excellent example of the assembly that is depicted in this book and implement it. It is seriously ridiculous to me that we still tip-toe around these issues.“But 'boys will be boys', our favorite phrase that excuses so many things, while the only thing we have for the opposite gender is 'women', said with disdain and punctuated with an eye roll.”

"I am vengeance"* * * *4 / 5I've never read anything quite like The Female of the Species. It's bold, it's dark, it's unafraid to explore themes like justice, vengeance, sexuality, power, and violence. Alex Craft killed a man and she doesn't regret it. When the murderer and rapist of her older sister walked free, Alex took vengeance into her own hands but now she's afraid that she'll never quite fit into society, that it's safer to remain in this small town with her alcoholic mother for the rest of her life."There are parts of yourself that you hate; parts that you know other people wouldn't understand"This book focuses on three teenagers, and we hear from each of their points of view:Alex: Afraid of herself, entering her final year of school with no friends, no ambition, and no hope for the futurePeekay: The preacher's daughter trying to divorce her father's job from her identity, newly broken up from her boyfriendJack: An athlete aiming to go to college who only just seems to have noticed Alex for the first time and is infatuatedWhilst she doesn't get her own "voice" or chapters, another very prominent character is:Branley: Jack's on-again-off-again fling and childhood friendAlex and Peekay meet when they both volunteer at the local animal rescue centre, getting off to a great start when Peekay calls her Anna, the name of Alex's murdered and avenged sister. Over the course of the book the two form a close friendship, particularly when Alex rips out a chunk of a guy's nose to protect her. Alex and Jack meet it becomes clear that the two are in competition for the title of valedictorian: Jack needs it to get scholarships to go to college, but Alex doesn't care, and that interests Jack. These three teenagers are drawn together by Alex and at the heart of Alex is violence: she's not afraid to speak with her fists, but she is afraid of who, of what, she is becoming."It's not the sheep that call to me but the other wolves. I want to run with them"I was a bit concerned from the synopsis of the book that Alex would get this ~I'm special, I'm so dangerous, I'm not like other girls/people~ vibe. A couple of times this does crop up, particularly when Alex talks about herself like she's a wolf, a wild animal, but mostly it is avoided and developed into something complex. Because Alex is definitely complex and an amazing character; she's not always likeable, but she is always fascinating. Her story winds together several threads: her dead sister and the blood on her hands, her trying to live a normal teenage life, her first relationship, and her overwhelming sense of justice that draws her friends closer but puts her at odds with society.My least favourite of the trio was Jack: he's unlikeable at the start, purposefully by the author I think, for being a "bro", for laughing at his mate's sexual jokes, for his past and his behaviour, and then when he changes, when he grows out of this and you think he might be becoming a solid guy, he becomes utterly infatuated with Alex. I do, however, like the inclusion of his point of view; without it, The Female of the Species would be a rather dark and unforgiving book and Jack injects that "normal teenager" experience of wondering why your girlfriend won't text you back and if you are going to get into college.The Female of the Species has a couple of bumps - the peculiar and slightly unsatisfying ending, the slightly ~emo~ vibe at times - but it is a fascinating, difficult to read, page-turning book. I thoroughly recommend!

Jau no pirmā teikuma bija jūtams, ka man par šo grāmatu būs dalītas jūtas un tā arī bija. Pat, īsti negribot, es jutu līdzi galvenajai varonei un biju nikna uz viņas vcākiem par to, ka viņai netiek sniegta palīdzība, par to ka tikai piever acis un izliekas, ka viss ir kārtībā. Un kur gan vēl skolotāji? Meitene visas savas dienas pavada skolā un kamēr viņas sekmes nenoslīd zem normas, neviens nav ieinteresēts vai ar viņu viss ir kārtībā, vai nevajaga viņai piedāvāt palīdzību, aprunāties. Un ja jau vecāki zina, ka viņu atvases lieto alkoholu un narkotikas, un kur viņi lieto, tad kādēļ gan netiek darīts pilnīgi nekas?!Bet palīda man zem ādas un mazāk par 4 zvaigznēm nevaru iedod, jo uzrakstīts tik skumji, ka nevar attiet, roka neceļa pēc jaunas grāmatas.Mājās man vēl ir autores jaunākā grāmata fantāzijas žanrā un ir dzirdēts, ka visas viņas grāmatas ir smagas. Nu tad jau redzēs.

Great book. The topic is a sensitive one the author has done very well of introducing the topic to a wide audience. The book is not without fault and at parts can lean quite heavily into glamorizing violence if it is for a "just cause". This is a novel however and to make us connect with the characters I understand why the author took that route.I think this book would be great to give to someone in their mid to late teens (15-18) depending the individuals maturity level. It really puts a spotlight on what people of that age are going through and putting others through.I think for people who are well involved within social issues will definitely see fault but I think this is a great starting point and very well handed by the author through out.