Rainbow Rowell is a unique, and fearless author who has created several masterpieces in the past few years. I first stumbled across her name on Amazon while browsing the new teen books. The cover of her first teen novel, Eleanor & Park caught my eye, and once I had read the synopsis, I knew I wanted- no needed – to read it.
When I discovered that she was coming out with a new book, Fangirl, I was ecstatic. Okay, I may not have fainted, squealed, or wet my pants with my excitement…all definitions of “fangirling” on Urban Dictionary, but I did write the title down on my list of books to read ASAP. I would highly recommend that you do the same. While this book may be marketed for anyone that shops in the teen section at a bookstore, I would caution younger teens from picking up this title. The story in itself is great, but there are several instances that would most likely be rated PG-13 or R if this book were a movie.
But some of these said instances are what makes this book what it is…which is a story about sisters, first loves, college, leaving home, and finding a place in this crazy thing called life. It also takes a close look at the transition from childhood to adulthood, and how sometimes just to feel a little comfort, we hold on to the one thing that makes sense to us.
Content Analysis:
Language/Profanity: 1 religious exclamation; 10 mild obscenities; 6 religious profanities; 4 derogatory names; 1 scatological word; 1 anatomical term; 20 f-word derivatives
Violence/Gore: None
Sex/Nudity: Teens kiss; teens have several sexual encounters, two of which involve innuendo and talk of nudity; incest is mentioned in a joke; teens talk of a partner cheating on another; teens have a sleepover that is co-ed; several characters are referred to as “perverts”; a gay character in a book is mentioned and referred to a couple of times; situations where a young teen is exploring her sexuality for the first time.
Mature Subject Matter:
Teen parties; college life; teen exploration of personal sexuality
Alcohol / Drug Use:
Teens drink alcohol; teens smoke; there are several party scenes where alcohol is involved
