#I now have a girl punk rock/riot grrl playlist.

[fudgecake-charlie]

BUT WANNA DISCO? // WANNA SEE ME DISCO?

pearl is not the most pleased at the new turn of events (this fuckin' guy stole some random dude's face??? and is trying to destroy the city using unknown cosmic powers???? what the fuck, man!)

[micamicster]

A Brief History of Women and People of Color in Punk! Part II! For people who loved We Are Lady Parts and are looking to learn more about the punk scene. Part I, covering the genre’s origins. Part III, covering artists currently active.

Track list and artist information under the cut

As always, I’m being generous with my interpretation of “punk.” And, as always, there will be artists I miss or have decided to leave off this list! This is not intended to be comprehensive, so much as an introduction to a handful of influential artists and some ideas for jumping-off points for people to explore further. Feel free to suggest more artists in the comments, and I hope you find someone you enjoy!

Don’t Push Me Around - The Zeros A Mexican-American punk band based in LA, the Zeros actually formed in the late 70s. But despite being massively influential on the West Coast punk scene, they would not release an album until 1991. This theme--of influential live bands struggling to get exposure and record deals--is probably a familiar one by now, and is going to continue to crop up over the next few decades of punk.

Tiempos de Miseria - Los Crudos The 90s were a period where the Latin-American punk scene exploded, and perhaps no group was as influential as Los Crudos. A Chicago based group, Los Crudos wrote most of their songs in spanish, prioritizing their connection with the youth in their own neighborhoods over mainstream marketability. They used their music to address social issues specific to the Latine community. Frontman Martin Sorrondeguy is currently the vocalist for queercore punk band Limp Wrist.

Killing in the Name - Rage Against the Machine You got me! They’re metal, not punk! I know! They still fuck majorly and every element of this song is fantastic. Despite being more of a metal band than a punk band, I think they still belong on this list because of their political activism and because we are talking about the explosion of Latin Americans in the American rock scene. And because it’s my playlist and I’m making the rules.

Rebel Girl - Bikini Kill When we talk about 90s punk, we are talking about Riot Grrl, a movement that Bikini Kill pioneered. And talking about Riot Grrl means that I need to take a moment and give some context. THE most visible movement of 90s punk was Riot Grrrl, a movement by women to reclaim punk despite how aggressively masculine the scene had become. These all-female groups faced discrimination, outrage, and often violence from male audiences, who would throw rocks and chains at them while the performed. Many of the women in the movement were queer, and many of them were outspoken feminists, to the extent that riot grrrl became almost synonymous with third-wave feminism. However, it contained all of the flaws of third wave feminism, most significantly its overwhelming whiteness. Women of color who were part of this scene faced discrimination from within the movement, and found it almost impossible to get the same level of exposure. Many of the artists marginalized by the riot grrrl movement are still active today, and we will discuss them more in the next playlist, focused on contemporary artists.

Cannonball - The Breeders One of the most commercially successful songs associated with the Riot Grrl movement. The Breeders were led by Kim Deal, who was also the bassist/co-vocalist for the Pixies.

Doll Parts - Hole Courtney Love and her band Hole are some of the most prominent (and vilified) women in punk. Her infamy and her status as Kurt Cobain’s widow has almost overwhelmed her own music, but she was talented in her own right. Love played with multiple other groups in the Riot Grrl movement, including Babes in Toyland, but she did not necessarily consider herself to be a part of it. Doll Parts is from their 1994 album Live Through This.

Stutter - Elastica One of the biggest British punk bands of the 90s, Elastica combined punk with pop hooks to be a commercial success in the UK and in America.

Mr. Moneybag$ - Emily’s Sassy Lime Although, as I’ve said, the face of the Riot Grrrl movement was overwhelmingly white, that doesn’t mean that there were no women of color in the scene! High school classmates Emily Ryan and sisters Amy and Wendy Yao released their debut EP in 1995.

Ready to Go - Republica As we move through the 90s and 2000s, punk begins to mix more with other genres. Republica, led by frontwoman Saffron, a Chinese woman born in Nigeria and raised in England, combined electropop with punk to massive success.

One More Hour - Sleater-Kinney By the mid-1990s, most of the original Riot Grrl groups had dissolved. Sleater-Kinney, formed by veterans of the movement, was one of the longest-lasting groups to emerge from Riot Grrl and queercore. Both members played with other influential groups before this one, including Heavens to Betsey and Excuse 17. They are still active, musically and politically, today.

I Believe In Halloween - The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black Part horror, part performance art, part punk band, the Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black was founded by artist Kembra Pfahler and her husband Samoa Moriki in 1990. (Shout out to their sometimes drummer and my sometimes babysitter, Thunderbolt Patterson of The Dictators!) 

Sin Excuses - Cojoba The Latine movement in punk continues! Cojoba was a hardcore Puerto Rican punk band, fronted by Taina. They began by making demo cassettes which they distributed themselves. Sin Excuses is from their second album, released in 2003.

Love Me More - Suffrajett Lead vocalist Simi Stone is a black woman who actively countered the overwhelming whiteness of the Riot Grrl movement. She, along with Tamar-kali Brown, Maya Glick, and Honeychild Coleman, put on a Sista Grrrl Riot--a concert to showcase black women in punk--in 1997. Despite the success of this live show, once again we find that these artists were not able to release music for years. Suffrajett’s first album was released in 2003. Simi is currently a member of The New Pornographers.

Boot - Tamar-Kali Brown Another headliner for the Sista Grrrl Riot shows, Tamar-Kali released her own EP, Geechee Goddess Hardcore Warrior Soul, in 2003. She currently works as a film composer, notably scoring MUDBOUND.

Don’t Give Up - The Noisettes A group that brought punk back to its blues roots (the roots of all rock), The Noisettes were led by Shingai Shoniwa, a Zimbabwean-British singer and bassist. They released their debut album, What’s the Time Mr. Wolf? in 2007.

Doubles - New Bloods A punk trio based in Portland. Two of their members are African-American, and all of them are lesbians. They draw from diverse musical influences, including reggae, New Orleans jazz, violin, and American folk, to create a rich and distinct punk sound. Their 2008 album remains their only release.

[omegaplus]

# 3,975

Strobobean: Winter (2019)

“Keep It Together” is one of those very few songs in my library that appeared on two personal seasonal mixtapes (Suicide’s “Girl” and Green Day’s “She” are also in that club.) I remember chilly, late-October 5PM walks from home to the veteran’s park and back; pondering about the post-punk / d.i.y. aesthetic so unusual to where I felt I was my younger self in another world in this age. I also remember being furloughed at work and quarantined at home during the Pandemic April; experiencing the ultimate quiet and total standstill of time. These were two specific moments I absolutely cannot ignore when I hear Winter’s opener. Though made from an alternative and shoegaze pedigree and not from what I assumed was post-punk and d.i.y., it sure reminded me of the latter by hearing it and its inclusion with the other ‘sounds-like’ stuff on my playlists. 

So right after “Keep It Together” opens up with a booming intro-, it peels back the curtain to a setting of isolation and quiet, and in comes Katrina Eresman’s vocals in a somewhat hushed manner, an overall strength akin to riot-grrl and the sounds of the Pacific Northwest while it rolls at medium speed. You can have the low-lit “Pinch” where Eresman gets deep and personal as Brianna Kelly‘s dangling basslines gives a sense of calm surf rock. Winter speed things up to a relentless, steady dash with “When You Won’t Look”. It’s Strobobean’s strongest and most energetic track on the release when both Eresman and Kelly’s vocals and strings race alongside other while Jake Langknecht‘s drums set the slightly frantic pace and create a finely-tuned alternative craft. You could only guess what Strobobean’s influences are (as not much has been posted about them) when the wheel spins alternative, shoegaze, surf, riot-grrrl, post-punk, and d.i.y. All of those concentrations are to be found on Winter and it manages to be everything it wants to be. 

I wish there was more of Strobobean to go around. Their last appearance was a 2020 digital split with Minneapolis’ Scrunchies and their progress has been hampered by the pandemic. It was nice to pick out those all-too-familiar sounds and how they utilized them in the right now, and I can’t wait what they’ll come up with next.

[a-broader-sensibility-blog]

Music for Radfems

A lot of people enjoyed the resource post I did on radical feminist literature, so I thought I would come back and do a second resource list, but this time for radfem music! Not all of these songs are specifically radical feminist, but I deliberately exclude artists that like to “reclaim slurs” or sing about how sexy they are or how they’re empowered because they’re different from other girls. I also stay away from the YAS, QUEEN/slay/goddess type music about how women are so amazing because they’re beautiful and glamorous. Also, some of the artists on this list are not people who identify themselves or their music as explicitly feminist, but I find feminist threads in how they make music and in their lyrics, in particular. This list is not exhaustive or necessarily as diverse as it should be; it’s just composed of some artists and songs that I personally have enjoyed.

Just some background info: I absolutely love making playlists (of all types) and I’ve made a number of playlists with feminist themes but this list is not a playlist, but more of a directory. If you end up discovering any songs or artist you love from this list, please let me know and share your own radfem playlists.

P.S. Bikini Kill is left out because everyone already knows Bikini Kill.

Artists

Ani Difranco

Ani has made a ton of powerful music with explicitly feminist themes, as well as devoting her life to activism . Also, she STARTED HER FUCKING RECORD LABEL AT THE AGE OF 18, LIKE IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT “INDIE” MUSIC, THIS IS IT. Her music is also really beautiful, just in terms of unexpected rhythms and guitar riffs and yeah, I just love her. You’ve probably heard of “32 Flavours” but seriously, go beyond and explore her gigantic catalogue.

Teaser : And Lucille, your voice still sounds in me/Yeah mine was a relatively easy tragedy/The profile of our country looks a little less hard-nosed/But you know that picket line persisted and that clinic's since been closed

(”Lost Woman Song,” from Ani DiFranco, 1990.)

Bratmobile

I can’t possibly list every riot grrl-era punk band as this list would simply become copy-pasta from Wikipedia. However, I do feel the need to recommend Bratmobile, a quintessential riot grrrl band, because their lyrics explicitly reject liberal pablum and demand something more substantial not only from men, but from other women as well. They’re a good band to listen to when you’re feeling exasperated at how many women will expend so much effort defending their Nigels and making excuses for men.

Teaser: What do you mean against the feminine form/It’s girls like you who are always torn/Between salvation and one of the boy toys/Give them what they want, but I want more

(”What’s Wrong With You?” from Girls Get Busy, 2002.)

Dory Previn

Dory is a lesser-known folk artist, similar in style to Joni Mitchell. After her husband Andre Previn left her for Mia Farrell in the 1970s, she turned her attention from writing music for movies to writing incisive, deeply personal music. Sometimes she sings more explicitly feminist lyrics, (see “When A Man Wants A Woman,” for example) but what I find really powerful in her lyrics is in the ways she subtly highlights the unequal power dynamics between heterosexual men and women in the context of “loving” relationships. She’s also a good artist to listen to if you are interested in how aging and older women are treated in our society. Finally, she’s super sly at taking digs at “sexually liberated” left-wing dudebros of the ‘70s.

Teaser:

Whatever you give me I'll take as it comes/Discarding self-pity I'll manage with crumbs/I'll settle for moments, I won't ask for life/I'll not expect labels like lover, or wife

(”Lemon-Haired Ladies, from Mythical Kings and Iguanas,1971.)

Joan Baez

Joan Baez doesn’t consider herself a feminist per se, but she’s been an activist on the front lines of progressive politics for over 50 years. Aside from women’s rights, she sings about labour rights, civil rights, and anti-war activism. While Baez is most famous for her covers of classic folk songs, she has also written a lot of her own music, which is super underrated. “Diamonds and Rust,” which is quoted below, is kind of her fuck-you song about Bob Dylan.

Teaser: And there you stayed /Temporarily lost at sea /The Madonna was yours for free /Yes the girl on the half-shell/Would keep you unharmed

(”Diamonds and Rust” from Diamonds & Rust, 1975)

Le Tigre

Le Tigre is fronted by Kathleen Hanna, the most famous face of the Riot Grrrl scene, but also includes JD Samson a visibly gender-nonconforming lesbian artist who unabashedly identifies as lesbian and female. Le Tigre’s music is some of the most explicitly, directly feminist, and while I wouldn’t necessarily say that the band as a whole allies itself with radical (rather than queer) feminism, they’re still feminists. The music itself is electro-pop, VERY early 2000s sounding computerized instrumentals but somehow super catchy and polished anyway.

Teaser:

Carol Rama and Eleanor Antin/Yoko Ono and Carolee Schneeman/You're getting old, that's what they'll say, but/Don't give a damn I'm listening anyway

(”Hot Topic,” from Le Tigre, 1999.)

Sleater-Kinney

Probably every punk fan follower I have is already of a fan of them, but in case you don’t know, Sleater-Kinney is an all-female punk rock band that formed in the mid 1990s a little bit after the height of the riot grrrl movement. They were inspired by the earlier riot grrrl bands, but (in my opinion) their music has grown more sophisticated and rich melodically and lyrically than most of the Bikini Kill/Babes in Toyland stuff you would associate with riot grrrl. The two lead singers, Carrie Brownstein and Corinne Tucker are bisexual (I don’t know about the drummer, Janet Weiss) and briefly dated, continuing to perform side by side during and after their breakup. (The song “One More Hour" is a really searing, painful song that they wrote together about the dissolution of their own relationship.) Anyways, they have a really unique sound that’s a result of both Brownstein and Tucker playing lead guitar and lead vocals, with no bass or rhythm guitar. Rather than harmonizing, they sing overlapping lyrics in a really dissonant way and basically, if you love punk rock like I do, you MUST listen to them right now.

Teaser: Find me out/I'm not just made of parts/Oh you can break right through/This box you put me into

(”Heart Factory” from Dig Me Out,1997.)

Songs

“You Don’t Own Me” by Lesley Gore (Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed-Up Hearts, 1963)

Pretty much the classic oldies proto-feminist song. You’ve probably already heard and love it. Years later, Lesley came out as a lesbian. We love her.

Teaser: You don't own me/I'm not just one of your many toys/You don't own me/Don't say I can't go with other boys

“In Your Shoes” by Sarah McLachlan (Shine On, 2014.)

I saw her perform this song live, and she explained that it was inspired by and dedicated to (in her words) “the most badass teenager in the world,” Malala Yousafzai. The song does not reference Yousafzai directly, but it is very explicit in addressing young women (not men.)

Teaser: Say what’s on your mind with pride/‘Cause you are your own woman

“Stupid Girls” by P!nk (I’m Not Dead, 2006.)

This song came out when I was in middle school, which was shortly after the absolute peak (around 2004/2005) of “stupid girl” culture, when Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and their ilk were still really popular. (I do love Britney though.) This song really touched me and it felt like such a breath of fresh air to see a female pop star at that time who was also bothered by the way porn culture had created only one infantilizing and sexualized path to female stardom.  Later on, I started to feel bad about liking "Stupid Girls” as liberal feminism made me feel guilty because, y’know, some women like being porn stars and getting plastic surgery and fake tans. Anyways, fuck that and this song is super amazing, especially when you’re a 12-year-old proto radfem in the year 2006.

[yawednesdays-blog]

MOXIE is more than just a book, it’s a call to action! We talk all things Riot Grrl, music and our misspent youth with author Jennifer Mathieu.

The Riot Grrl movement was born out of the feminist punk scene of the 1990s. Nearly 20 years later and so much has changed, but even more has stayed the same. There is still a need for female unity. There is still a need for feminist activism. There is still a need for Riot Grrl. Jennifer Mathieu’s new book MOXIE reminds us of all the reasons we need REVOLUTION GIRL STYLE NOW!

YA WEDNESDAY PRESENTS:

An Interview With Jennifer Mathieu

Q: The dedication of this book is badass but it makes me think this story is personal. What inspired Moxie?

A: Writing that dedication was, truly, the most fun I have had writing in years. It was very cathartic. I think I was inspired to write Moxie not only because of my personal interest in Riot Grrrl and feminism (which really started during college) but also because I wanted to write the sort of book my high school self would have wanted to read. My high school was very conservative, stifling, and especially restrictive when it came to gender roles. It was the early 90s in the suburbs and it was hard. The teacher to whom I dedicated the book also bragged about giving his wife a frying pan for her birthday. The vibe was just gross and in my gut I knew it. But I didn’t have Moxie or anything like it, so I decided to write the book I wish I’d had when I was 15.

Q: I grew up in small town not unlike East Rockport High and Vivian’s story felt very real to me. Was your high school experience like what was described in Moxie?

A: Yes, in a lot of ways. I didn’t grow up in a small town, but the sports teams were very important at my school. My school was religious, too, so in many ways it was very conservative. I don’t mean to imply you can’t be religious and progressive or religious and a feminist, but my school was very conservative in its approach to social issues. It put a high premium on conformity. I had several bad experiences there. The teacher to whom I dedicated the book was one of them. I also had my cheerleading coach imply I needed to lose weight. It was really gross.

Q: Music was such a large part of the Riot Grrl movement and Vivian’s story. What songs fueled you while writing Moxie?

A: I remember the first girl punk song that blew my mind was Cherry Bomb by the Runaways. I discovered it in high school because it was on the Dazed and Confused soundtrack, which I played obsessively on cassette – lol! When I got to Northwestern for college, I met up with people who I really connected with, and they introduced me to punk. I listened to a lot of those songs as I was writing Moxie, including a ton of Bikini Kill, of course. I listened to Cool Schmool by Bratmobile repeatedly as well as a lot of Team Dresch songs. I listened to a lot of music by bands that came a bit after the RG movement, including Sleater-Kinney and Cadallaca. I don’t always listen to music when I write, but for this book I definitely did!

  Q: In Moxie, Vivian finds a box of paraphernalia from her mother’s high school days called “My Misspent Youth” box. What would be in your My Misspent Youth box?

A: Great question! It’s funny because after the book went to print I wondered if I should have called that box something else because I don’t think Vivian’s mom thought her youth was misspent – she was mostly being tongue in cheek about it! Her youth was important and revelatory for her as was mine. I’m 40 years old, and I think I would include my ticket stubs from all the shows I went to – Fugazi, Sleater-Kinney, The Queers, etc. as well as some of the books that made a real impact on me, including Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion and the Sisterhood is Powerful anthology, edited by Robin Morgan. I’d include some of my journals and the letters and postcards my friends and I wrote to each other – we were part of the last generation to write to one another instead of just email or text. I would also include Zine, the Pagan’s Head zine anthology by Pagan Kennedy, which introduced me to zine culture and what zines are all about.

A few item from Jennifer’s “My Misspent Youth” box.

  Q: Vivian was inspired by the Riot Grrl movement from the 1990s. What historical movement or individuals inspired you both in high school and now?

A: For me personally, looking at feminism’s second wave, I am deeply inspired by Gloria Steinem and Audre Lorde. I had the opportunity to hear Gloria speak when I was in college and it was an amazing experience. Audre Lorde’s “Sister Outsider” collection is as relevant today as ever, especially in regard to feminism needing to be inclusive and not just a movement full of middle class white women. As far as RG, I was and still am inspired by Kathleen Hanna, the lead singer of Bikini Kill and later Le Tigre and The Julie Ruin. I know in her early years she shunned off the “leader” title, but she is so charismatic, inspiring, and hilarious it’s no surprise that word kept getting thrown at her. I have also been so impressed by Beth Ditto, who led the band Gossip and is now a solo artist. I recently read her autobiography From Coal to Diamonds and was so touched by her insight and honesty. She was really influenced by the Riot Grrrl movement as well. And finally, Roxane Gay is one of the most important feminist voices out there right now. She should be required reading in schools, and that’s why I name dropped her in Moxie! LOL!

Some of the woman that inspire Jennifer Mathieu. Take note ladies.

Q: In Moxie, some students are less than enthusiastic with the idea of a feminist agenda at their school. What would you say to anyone who thinks “feminist” is a dirty word? 

A: I would be really gentle with them because arguing back isn’t going to help change their minds. I would ask them why the think this way. For a lot of people I think it’s the media’s influence or just stuff heard at home. Feminists are man haters or can’t wear makeup – just dumb stereotypes that get circulated online and elsewhere. I would ask them if they think women and men should be paid the same. I would ask them if men should be able to cry in public and not get shamed for it. I would ask them if childcare and housework should be valued no matter who does it. Feminism isn’t scary if you think about it like that – it’s really about liberation for everyone from stifling and repressive stereotypes. As the great bell hooks said, feminism is for everybody. It’s about love, inclusivity, and living authentically.  I think approaching the conversation that way might help.

Q: After finishing Moxie I was ready to take over the world! What would you suggest for girls who want to continue the Moxie movement after they finish this kick-ass book?

A: I’m so glad you felt this way! I didn’t want Moxie to be the ending point but rather the starting point, so with the help of my former student, Lexi Acevedo, I created the Moxie Tumblr which can be found at moxiegirlsfightback.com. There you can find resources, a playlist, and tips on starting your own Moxie Club at your school! You can also Ask a Moxie Girl a question or submit original art and writing to be shared on the Tumblr. It’s my hope that the Moxie movement really becomes a community. The book is already out in the UK and I recently heard from two young women over there who are working on their own zines and starting a Moxie Club! i wanted to scream with excitement! Actually, I did!

Q: So, the rights to Moxie have been acquired by Amy Poehler’s production company (yay!). What songs would be on your dream Moxie soundtrack?

A: Yes, right now the screenplay is being developed and we’ll see what happens from there! As for my dream soundtrack, I would recommend every song on the Moxie playlist, which you can find on the Tumblr. For sure Bikini Kill’s “Rebel Girl” and “Feels Blind” would go on there, but I would also want to include some contemporary lady punk, including a song called “Mujer Moderna” by this kick ass San Antonio band called Fea as well as “Dream Number Nine” by a UK band called Big Joanie.

San Antonio band FEA

UK band Big Joanie

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu: The Review 

From the book flap:

 MOXIE GIRLS FIGHT BACK!

Vivian Carter is fed up. Fed up with a school administration at her small-town Texas high school that thinks 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 mom 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 a feminist zine that she distributes anonymously to her classmates. She’s just blowing off steam, but other girls respond. As Viv forges friendships with other young women across the divides of cliques and popularity rankings, she realizes that what she has started is nothing short of a girl revolution.

Moxie is a book about high school life that will make you wanna riot!

Overall: There are times when the problems of the world seem too big to handle. Climate change, racism, politics…Problems- so, so BIG. Me- SO, SO small! To stop myself from sliding into depression and retreating to my bedroom with a quart of gelato, I  remind myself that no problem, no matter the size, gets solved with inaction and even a small act creates momentum, the opposite of inertia. MOXIE is that reminder. Moxie proves that small acts can lead to BIG change. Alright ladies-go read this book, then go change the world!

Judge a Book by its Cover: Black, white, pink and pissed! The Moxie cover fits the book’s vibe perfectly.

Me Talk Pretty: Jennifer pretty much channeled me at 17 while writing Vivian. This quote especially sums up my high school experience.

Audiobook Narration:  Audiophiles, you’re in luck. Moxie will be available as an audiobook on September 19th and the reader is audiobook veteran  Suzy Johnson.

Kick-Ass Factor: The Kick-Ass factor for Moxie is high! Don’t get me wrong, this is not a book about a girl who suddenly finds out she’s got secret martial arts skills and starts challenging bullies in hand to hand combat. No, Moxie kicks ass in a way that is real, believable and accessible to anyone. Vivian just gets fed up with the misogynist status quo at school and she decides to do something about it. It’s not something that would be considered overly grand or reckless to everyone, but for meek Vivian, it’s huge. And from her one act of defiance, the Moxie movement is born.

Body Count: While this is not a book with a literal body count, there are definitely casualties.

The Chosen One: The plot of Moxie could have slipped into the cliché if not for the skillful writing of Jennifer Mathieu. Moxie is Vivian’s story, but this is not one girl against the world. There are other girls in this book who are fighting their own battles in their own ways.  Moxies girls fight back, but there are consequences.

Just. Why. One thing I couldn’t understand was Vivian’s love for frozen dinners. Please Vivian, stop with the Stouffer’s!

He Said/She Said: Moxie is told from the perspective of Vivian, a girl who does a lot to go unnoticed. She’s smart, but afraid to speak out in class. She clever, but doesn’t want to draw attention to herself. She’s got ideas, good ones, but she’s too scared to voice them. Vivian’s inner dialogue proves this girl has a voice, she just needs to learn to use it.

Bizarre Love Triangle: Jennifer introduces the sort of love triangle that is way more common in real life than the usual YA trope: The Platonic Love Triangle. It’s easy to feel pulled in two different directions when a new friend threatens to shake-up the friend equilibrium between you and your old school bestie. Especially when the new friend is a badass girl from the big city with all kinds of subversive ideas. Is there room in Viv’s life for old friends and new ideas?

Don’t Believe the Hype: When Amy Poehler endorses your book and wants to turn it into a movie, the bar is set pretty damn high.  And for me personally as a self proclaimed Riot Grrl, this particular bar was 20 feet above eye level. But Moxie is worth all the praise it’s receiving. ALL. OF. IT.

Open tab/Last call: Jennifer Mathieu proves that Moxie Girls can be both gentle and tough. This is why the perfect Moxie drink is Fortified Lemon- sweet and sour with a hidden kick! We’ll keep the punch bowl full for you, Jennifer!

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu, Roaring Brook Press, 336 Pages, September 19, 2017

Ann-Eliza

First Reads Friday Presents: MOXIE by Jennifer Mathieu, Author Interview + Review MOXIE is more than just a book, it's a call to action! We talk all things Riot Grrl, music and our misspent youth with author Jennifer Mathieu.