Sister Mischief

Jan 05, 2012 Katya rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: don-t-need-a-phd, favorites, laugh-your-arse-off-good, teen-lit, lgbtq, 2011, alayma, rainbow-list-stonewall, the-ya-project

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Sister Mischief is one of those books that only comes once in a while - a book about identity that, instead of making universal statements, focuses on individuality.

Have I mentioned that I love character-driven novels? Well, I do. And as far as characterization goes, this book doesn't fail to deliver - our protagonist, Esme, and her friends Rowie, Tessa and Marcy are a group of hip-hop loving, open-minded seventeen-year old girls, who strive to express themselves in a...more Cross-posted with my
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Sister Mischief is one of those books that only comes once in a while - a book about identity that, instead of making universal statements, focuses on individuality.

Have I mentioned that I love character-driven novels? Well, I do. And as far as characterization goes, this book doesn't fail to deliver - our protagonist, Esme, and her friends Rowie, Tessa and Marcy are a group of hip-hop loving, open-minded seventeen-year old girls, who strive to express themselves in a mostly Christian school, in a very Christian community. What's this? Is my audience crying 'Easy A' somewhere in the background?

Well, fear not. While I haven't seen the actual movie, TGWTG has already convinced me of what it is about, and I can tell you here and now that Sister Mischief is nothing like that movie, not least because Laura Goode actually puts effort in her characters and storylines. This isn't a book that satirizes the Christian Right, although we do have our antagonist who takes Jesus' words a little too literally.

But this is a book about identity, and finding your place without necessarily having to be an outcast. The portrayal of teenagers is superb - throughout the book, I could feel Esme's loneliness, Tessa's confusion, Rowie's insecurity (Marcy is badass, though. She steamrolls through the obstacles and isn't afraid to say her mind). I could see their confusion, and how they turn to their own different mediums to sort through their problems. The novel explores the different ways in which religion, peer pressure, culture and even nurture can be crucial to a person's growth without, you know, getting in your face about it.

Religion especially. Yes, the Queen Bee of the school is a vicious bitch who uses the Bible to her advantage, but Tessa is Christian as well. She beleives in her religion, and follows its rules, but isn't judgemental of people who don't. Moreover, she interprets being Christian as loving people and accepting them without censure or ill will. It's a very positive message, and it is delivered with a delicacy which is not usually found in most popular YA.

Esme and Rowie's relationship was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. I found their characterization realistic and tangible, and while I wish their storyline had been more developed, it doesn't lessen the merits of it. It was strange seeing how different their sexual awakening was to them, and how it affected their relationship, both as lovers and as friends, but, again, I found it to be realistic and relatable.

All in all, this is a fabulous book, and while there are definitely some flaws to it, it is still one that I'd recommend to everyone who loves hip-hop and real, lovable characters. So, closing in a truly white-trash fashion:

I read this book, and now I cannot sleep,
My brain is fried and I'm way in too deep,
So get in line, don't waste time,
Request the galley, this book is so fine.

Note: This galley has been provided by the publishers via NetGalley for reviewing purposes. (less)

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Jun 14, 2011 Ashleigh Paige rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: the-great-shelf-of-awesome, e-arc-via-netgalley, will-buy-in-the-future, arc

Also appears on The Screaming Nitpicker. I received a copy from the publishers through NetGalley.

Esme and her BFFs Marcy, Tess, and Rowie make up Sister Mischief, the fiercest undiscovered all-girl hip-hop group in the area. When not working on rhymes and practicing, they hang out and bug the crap out of each other the way only best friends can. When the principal of their school in wealthy SWASP suburb Holyhill makes a rule against hip-hop at school because it "incites violence," the girls star...more

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Apr 30, 2013 Ian Wood added it

I rated this one as worthy on my blog, where you can find a very detailed review. I recommend this for older teens and young adults.

I don't do stars because the system of rating a book as partly worth reading is alien to me. It's either worth your time or it isn't and I'm not going to waste your time tellingn you it's worth three fifths of your time but you'll be throwing away the other two fifths?!

I'm having some sort of existential crisis or something but I definitely do not recommend going di...more I rated this one as worthy on my blog, where you can find a very detailed review. I recommend this for older teens and young adults.

I don't do stars because the system of rating a book as partly worth reading is alien to me. It's either worth your time or it isn't and I'm not going to waste your time tellingn you it's worth three fifths of your time but you'll be throwing away the other two fifths?!

I'm having some sort of existential crisis or something but I definitely do not recommend going directly from TimeRiders to Sister Mischief as I did today. You'll break your neck with the whiplash. This title is supposed to be young-adult fiction, but I have to wonder what 'young-adult' means in this context, because if this novel were a movie it would be very likely be rated NC-17! Here's another reason not to read prologs - you might get more than you bargained for! Laura Goode is definitely not going to have a good effect on me!

Wikipedia says that young-adult fiction can also be called juvenile fiction, but then what does juvenile mean?! I am starting to wonder if I need to change anything at all in my own 'Seasoning' in order to re-publish it as Seasoning YA!. Wikipedia also says that "55% of young-adult fiction is purchased by readers over 18 years of age", so Laura Goode wil be right at home there with this novel.

It took a few pages to properly get into this. I got the impression that Goode was trying a bit too hard to sound hip and cool, but once I got into the rhythm, it felt a lot better. For a disaffected teen story, this one takes things in new and interesting directions, staying true to the characters and to their music, all the time managing to steer clear of Dead Parent Syndrome and definitely not being afraid to bring gay and lesbian characters to front and center.

I'm not sure about the cell phone texts which the characters send to each other. They're amusing and informative, but they're shown as numbered footnotes on each page. It’s an interesting technique, but I’d have preferred them to be an integral part of the narration. It’s less distracting from the story that way to me. I found it a bit like watching a foreign language movie with subtitles. Film is a visual medium and whilst dialog is important, if I wanted to read it instead of watch it, I’d get the novel! But it was the novel in this case which frustrated me! Still each to their own.

I was disappointed by the ending. We learn nothing of the future of this band, which seems to me to be the biggest problem with this ending, since the very name of the novel is the name of the band: Sister Mischief. It served only to emphasize to me the question of why that title, especially given this ending?

With all the crew apparently bound for different colleges, it looks like all this power-talk about the band, and what it was, and what it was going to be, and how important it was to the girls, just shrunk away like an old balloon, and that seemed to me to be at odds with the story's bass line and with the positives from earlier where, for example, Es is told by more than one person (Tess's older sister, her own father, the camera guy from the interview) that things will get better.

We’re left with no real feeling that things did get better, only the hopeful and blind assumption that they will. It's funny, but in a way, it made me feel a bit like Es did after Ro's abrupt departure from their relationship! Laura Goode dumped me!

But enough whining. I still think this is a great novel and worth your time to read it.(less)

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Dec 04, 2012 Ed added it

Goode, L. (2011). Sister mischief. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. 367 pp. ISBN: 978-0-7636-4640-0. (Hardcover); $16.99.*

What’s not to love about a group of girls from Holyhill, Minnesota who label themselves as the baddest all girl hip hop crew in the Twin Cities, especially when they are very aware that they are not black? They are, however, Jewish, White, Indian, Christian, lesbian, straight, smart, idealistic, and friends. They are also determined to carve a place for the music they love i...more

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Jul 31, 2011 Laura Martinelli rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-at-work, young-adult

After reading several very positive early reviews, I’ve been waiting to get my grubby little paws of this book. Well worth it!

This is very much a character-driven book, and as a result, I loved Esme. She feels like a natural narrator, and I really felt her anger and frustration about her life through her words. Esme doesn’t have the right answers, she screws up with her friends, and at the end, she still feels like someone trying to find her way. I could really tell how much hip-hop spoke to Esm...more After reading several very positive early reviews, I’ve been waiting to get my grubby little paws of this book. Well worth it!

This is very much a character-driven book, and as a result, I loved Esme. She feels like a natural narrator, and I really felt her anger and frustration about her life through her words. Esme doesn’t have the right answers, she screws up with her friends, and at the end, she still feels like someone trying to find her way. I could really tell how much hip-hop spoke to Esme, and how she uses the style to express herself, not just in the various songs she and Sister Mischief perform, but even in her private notebook and scribblings. I also really liked that she had a bunch of different influences going into her writing, and not just name-dropping a few big names and leaving it at that. I’d also like to comment on how much Esme spends the book scribbling in her notebook and using her lyrics to vent, even about minor things that happen at school—if there’s anything in this book I could relate to, it was this. My early high school years weren’t pleasant, so I’d always turn to my notebook and vent out my frustrations (something that I still do to this day). I loved seeing someone else churn out creative juices, and reading over Esme’s lyrics gave me a big smile.

Concerning the rest of Sister Mischief’s MC’s, I loved them all. I just wanted to give Rowie a big hug and tell her to be true to herself, even if she wasn’t sure about her sexual orientation. Her frustration and conflict between having Esme all to herself and the response from her family was really natural, and I could understand why she and Esme both decided to mentally blue-screen following their break-up. I do wish she would have given coming out publicly a little more thought, but given her background, I can understand her hesitation. Tess was probably my second-favorite character of the bunch, if only because she doesn’t compromise being Christian with insulting her friends for being gay or into hip-hop or different from the rest of white suburban Minnesota. However, while I liked Marcy, I did think she got the least characterization out of the group, if only for being a supportive friend whenever Esme needs her the most. I felt like she needed a deeper exploration to her, as Esme, Rowie and Tess had their characters develop over the course of the book in reaction to the events.

I want to make a comment about religion in the book—Esme identifies as Jewish in a SWASP community, we’ve got Tess the Lutheran, and Marcy’s described as being Catholic. I find the Catholicism mention interesting, as some of Esme’s flashbacks to her childhood with Marcy does bring up the religion, and makes even Marcy feel more like an outsider. It doesn’t seem like that big of a deal in context, but I liked how Goode used something that is definitive of Christian religion to illustrate outsider-status in Midwestern America.

Also, whenever the girls leave Holyhill, there’s a real strong sense of how diverse Minnesota really is. Esme makes a comment early on about how most of her town fits the “blond, blue-eyed” archetype, but the club and subway scenes lent a more diverse culture that Sister Mischief deals with, if only on a limited basis. It would have been nicer to get more of the diversity during the school scenes, but I liked how it was handled. Also, I liked the extended discussions on racial identity, and if it was all right for the four to use music that’s so racially ingrained (also, going back to their musical influences, as well—each girl has her own taste for certain hip-hop artists and other musical genres that they manage to blend in together); also, extended discussion on if using degrading terms like “bitches and hos” was all right as well.

And I have to give Goode massive kudos for her writing style. There’s a real rhythm in the writing whenever Esme falls into her stream-of-consciousness, almost like an invisible beat to the prose. It felt like Esme was telling you her story and it made the prose feel nature. Also, I loved the use of footnotes throughout the book. A lot of YA books tend to shove texts and IMs and other forms of electronic communication, so not having everything single text and tweet shoved in my face was really refreshing. It also worked for Esme’s notebook scribbling; I liked seeing her thoughts as asides, not italicized or bolded to catch the reader’s eye.

My only real complaint about the book as a whole is that most of the side characters, aside from some other kids from the school and the girls’ parents, don’t really get that much characterization. The most egregious example would be Mary Ashley, for fulfilling the hypocritical Christian white girl role. We don’t really see much of her, outside of a few school settings. I really wanted to see more of her confrontations with Tess, to give her a little more depth than giving the girls a few catty remarks. I was kind of disappointed that the teacher didn’t really do much aside from giving the girls a voice and being the ‘cool’ teacher who disagrees with the administration’s policy; she could have played a more active role in the plot, aside from talking the other staff members into disbanding the anti-hip-hop policy. I would have really liked to have seen more done with them in general, but they’re the only weak point in the story.

Overall, FANTASTIC read. I look forward to pushing this book on to many people as I possibly can. *temples fingers*
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May 21, 2011 Sara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Received from Netgalley.

Summary: Listen up: You’re about to get rocked by the fiercest, baddest all-girl hip-hop crew in the Twin Cities - or at least in the wealthy, white, Bible-thumping suburb of Holyhill, Minnesota. Our heroine, Esme Rockett (aka MC Ferocious) is a Jewish lesbian lyricist. In her crew, Esme’s got her BFFs Marcy (aka DJ SheStorm, the butchest straight girl in town) and Tess (aka The ConTessa, the pretty, popular powerhouse of a vocalist). But Esme’s feelings for her co-MC, Ro...more

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May 01, 2011 Ceilidh rated it 5 of 5 stars

I’m really not a hip-hop fan and, despite the prospect of a quirky, funny and diverse LGBT love story, I was hesitant to read “Sister Mischief” because of worries over cultural appropriation and such. However, by the end of this book, I was ready to apologise to it for ever doubting how good it would be. This review may not be the most objective thing I’ve ever written. Sometimes a book comes along that you completely fall in love with, even though you know it’s not perfect and you know not ever...more I’m really not a hip-hop fan and, despite the prospect of a quirky, funny and diverse LGBT love story, I was hesitant to read “Sister Mischief” because of worries over cultural appropriation and such. However, by the end of this book, I was ready to apologise to it for ever doubting how good it would be. This review may not be the most objective thing I’ve ever written. Sometimes a book comes along that you completely fall in love with, even though you know it’s not perfect and you know not everyone will have the same wild feelings towards it as you do but you’re ready to cheerlead for it until everyone stands up and takes notice. I liked this book so much that it’s turned me into a cheesy mess!

First and foremost, it’s a book about identity and individuality. Esme’s a white, Jewish by birth but non-practicing teenager who loves to rap and is coming to terms with her sexuality while living in a Christian conservative town. She and her friends could so easily have slipped into caricature mode, especially with their frequent use of hip-hop speak and slang (which may annoy the hell out of many readers), but Goode fills them with such humour and depth that they’re never anything less than complete characters. It’s so refreshing to read a YA where the group of friends are so close and loving, not just in theory but in practice. There’s been a long period of YAs ruled by loners and outsiders who have a small group of friends they rarely interact with, much less act like real friends with. Throughout their tough times, fights, conversations and laughs, you never for one moment doubt Esme’s love for her friends and vice versa. At first glance they mat fit broad moulds – the butch one, the confident one, the meek Christian girl, the geeky and insecure Indian girl – but they evolve into so much more, busting stereotypes and questioning the identities they’ve been slapped with. They’re young, they do stupid things, they drink and take drugs and have sex, but they’re also smart enough to take responsibility for their actions and grasp the bigger picture, often in a very funny and touching way. They also kick arse!

The hip-hop element was handled with real skill and humour. The girls question their right as Caucasians and Asians (this book also gets huge props for his multi-cultural society which and highlighting the issues of being different in a predominantly SWASP environment – the extra S is for straight, as added by Esme) to appropriate hip-hop and also ask a lot of interesting questions about culture, identity and stereotypes. If I must be a little objective, at points this does feel a little forced, as if Goode is using the girls as mouthpieces, but for the large part, it’s handled well and explored multiple issues without turning it into a preach-fest. Esme frequently notes down lyrics throughout the book, often left as footnotes, along with texts and tweets, using her music as a way to express herself and sort out who she really is.

The relationship between Esme and Rowie was sweet, often beautiful and never simple. It felt real, as did the different ways both girls reacted to their burgeoning sexualities. Esme, the daughter of an extremely liberal single dad to whom she is very close (her dad was one of my favourite supporting characters, but I also loved that all four girls had parental interactions) takes it in her stride for the most part while Rowie is much more reserved, wanting to hide her secret from the world for fear of disappointing her more traditional father, who she believes is already disappointed in her because of her Americanised attitude. Their relationship effects not only them but their friends and family, which we see unfold over the few months the book takes place. It’s a time of change – the book is set around the time Barack Obama was elected President – and this profound moment in time reflects the girls’ struggles. It’s realistic, it’s relatable and, like most teen loves, it’s awkwardly beautiful.

I was, however, disappointed by the portrayal of the main female antagonist. I understand that Goode wanted to set up a contrast to Tess to show the differing attitudes of Christians in teen America – Tess is more relaxed and willing to ask more questions while remaining dedicated to her faith while the antagonist is stricter – but she just came across as a nasty cardboard cut-out. I really wanted to see the community’s wider reaction to the growing LGBT movement in the school, not just from this one token bitchy girl. While we do get an insight into the school’s political workings, it feels insubstantial and disappointing, especially since the rest of the book is so inquisitive and full of colours and ideas, not just black and white. That’s what stops this book from being close to perfect in my eyes.

I loved “Sister Mischief.” I know a lot of people will hate the hip-hop element and there are times where it came close to grating on me, but there was so much love in this book and it was brimming with ideas and questions, I couldn’t help but love it. It’s a book about so many things – love, growing up, discovery, identity, feminism, religion, culture, friendship, school, lies, heartbreak, music, change – and I found it to be nothing less than a delight. It’s not for everyone, it’s not perfect, but I’d still highly recommend it to all. There aren’t many books out there so jam packed with as much creativity, diversity and heart as “Sister Mischief.”

5/5.
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Jan 19, 2012 Terri rated it 2 of 5 stars

"Sister Mischief" by Laura Goode is a tough one, literally and figuratively. I came to the book willingly - a Minnesota setting, a book for our LGBTQ kids, an author with Minnesota connections - it's got to be good. Right? Unfortunately, it turns out that I had a hard time getting through this one.

Protagonist Esme Rockett is not very likable from page one - she is tough. She is in your face with her language, her opinions, her anger, her choices. Sometimes she is as judgmental as those she decri...more "Sister Mischief" by Laura Goode is a tough one, literally and figuratively. I came to the book willingly - a Minnesota setting, a book for our LGBTQ kids, an author with Minnesota connections - it's got to be good. Right? Unfortunately, it turns out that I had a hard time getting through this one.

Protagonist Esme Rockett is not very likable from page one - she is tough. She is in your face with her language, her opinions, her anger, her choices. Sometimes she is as judgmental as those she decries as being bigots. You figure out eventually where all of that anger comes from, she's lost her mom and she's questioning her sexuality and she's trying to figure out where to go from here, but most readers won't hold on long enough to figure that out. I was uncomfortable with, offended even, by the first part of the book. The fairly graphic sex scenes were a turn off, as were the drinking, the language, the repartee between the characters. I kept trying to picture who the intended audience for the book was. I am not sure of the author's choices here. Scenes like this are easier, seem more natural and necessary, when you have invested in the characters first, when they are one small part of the whole. It seems less gratuitous. It's easier to see the big picture, rather than focusing just on these things. It gives critics less ammunition as well. With "Sister Mischief" critics will read the first eight pages and say, "You see. You see. We were right. Everything having to do with the LGBTQ world is immoral and wrong." That is exactly what I would hate to see happen. Maybe the choices were made as a way to entice students into reading the book. That might work with some, but caring about a character is a more enticing reason to continue a book any day. At any rate, the author's choices here were not clear and, I think, not the right ones.

All of the messages - and there are many about faith, religion, sexuality, parenting, self-discovery, friendship, acceptance, empowering oneself, and music - are important. While I appreciate the author's enthusiasm and what she is trying to do and say here, the messages are (again) heavy-handed and in your face. There are often complete diatribes on things like the history and importance of hip-hop music. In addition, it is easy to make a stereotypical character like Mary Ashley Baumgarten the antagonist in the story. But real life is more complicated than that - more like we see in the character of Tess. Critics will see an over the top character like Mary Ashley as an attack on Christianity, and maybe that is what it was meant to be. (It was interesting to me that, based on the descriptions, this appears to take place in or near Edina, Minnesota - a place easy to stereotype as the land of the "cake eaters." I, however, have never thought of this area as the land of far right Christianity. I could think of many other places near the Twin Cities where this might be more aptly set in that regard.) It is also easy to make the principal the bad guy without exploring all of the difficult choices he needs to make in a public school in a community like Holyhill. Again, life is more complex than that.In addition to the heavy-handed messaging and the stereotypical characters, some of the events that take place lack credulity. The climactic scene, in which Sister Mischief takes over an all-school assembly, is really hard to believe. That they could ever pull something like that off, stretches believability - and then that they did not receive more consequences - made me cringe. The idea of it is fun to think about - but the likelihood of that ever happening? Not so much. Finally, these teens seem pretty articulate and self-aware for their ages. On the other hand, the fact that they bust the stereotype of hip-hop being all about black males and "bad" students and violence, is a positive!

I like some of the caring adults who stood behind Esme, Marcy, Rowie, and Tess - Esme's dad, Rowie's mom - I cared about them and believed that they cared about these kids. Even though they cared about these kids, I found it hard to care about them and invest in them myself. I wanted to abandon the book as a result. I am glad that I stuck with it because I cared more about the characters by the end of the book and understood where they were coming from.

There are many references to contemporary pop culture that will date this book quickly. And all of the references to hip-hop musicians (even local musicians - most readers outside of the Twin Cities area and aren't a part of the hip-hop scene will know little about them) and hip-hop in general are overdone and might be a turn-of to readers who don't know this world. Though, after I read the book, I had a great conversation with a colleague who knows this scene well. I asked him about each of the musicians listed in the book, and we had a great discussion about the history of hip-hop and rap and its different phases and genres. He only knew one of the local musicians listed, Brother Ali. Great discussion - I learned a lot.))

I really wanted to like this book. 2.5 stars for me.

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Jul 20, 2011 Isamlq rated it 4 of 5 stars

Theirs are individual, highly original and strong voices. And they’re funny! Throw in a couple of surprising moment of sweet…and this is me, hours later, contemplating a re-read. First of, I don’t get hip hop, but their early discussions on its origins, white/black/blue/red etc and ‘white guilt’ were hilarious and made perfect sense to me. They put into words the questions I had. All I will say is that SISTER MISCHIEF is clever in tackling the subject. Then throw in some politics, religion, a jo...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Melinda rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was totally a pageturner for me. I confess I loved it. The relationships between the four girls is hilariously awkward. I felt like the old person listening to teen conversations and thinking "what did she just say?" I am not up on hiphop and teen slang so sometimes the combinations of words in a sentence didn't compute but I didn't feel as though the sentences shouldn't be set up the way they were (I hope that makes sense). Anyway, Esme and her dad's relationship was fun, but I couldn't ge...more

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Jul 31, 2011 T. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: z2011-reads, genre-ya, won-goodreads-firstreads, author-laura-goode

I won this through the GoodReads First Reads program. It arrived on 20 July 2011.

First apology: This took me longer to read than I intended. I had a family member in palliative care, so my July was very chaotic. Rest assured, I wanted to read this book faster, but circumstances just didn't allow it.

Second apology: I admittedly don't know much about hip-hop. I know of some of the major artists, a few of the cultural issues, but that's it. So I'm sorry that I can't comment more on that part of the...more

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Jul 20, 2011 Andrea rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Little Bookworm
Plot: I could see this as movie. It would be a great Disney type movie except for the cursing and lesbians. And, while you might be able to lose the cursing, the lesbian part is a big part of why this book works in a different way from the standard YA love story. Music is hard to read on paper and rarely comes through so while I could picture the girls rapping and singing I couldn't really "hear" it. But the message comes across pretty well despite the discrepancies of medium....more The Little Bookworm
Plot: I could see this as movie. It would be a great Disney type movie except for the cursing and lesbians. And, while you might be able to lose the cursing, the lesbian part is a big part of why this book works in a different way from the standard YA love story. Music is hard to read on paper and rarely comes through so while I could picture the girls rapping and singing I couldn't really "hear" it. But the message comes across pretty well despite the discrepancies of medium.

Writing: There is a lot of slang, but it was fairly easy to follow. My main obstacle was the grocery list of musical artist and songs that occur with some frequency in the story. I wanted to say "YAY! I'm glad that you know your artists and musical genre, but moving on." I was glad when that lessened as the story became more established. That is my main gripe. Other than that the prose flowed nicely and it had a bit of a poetic flavor to it.

Characters: I loved Esme. I just want to hug her and maybe mother her a little bit because she really needs a mother. Her father does his best and he is a very open and emotional father and I loved that about him. His willingness to give her freedom and not hold her back was so awesome in a parental figure. But her yearning for her wayward mother is deeply apparent. Esme is such a tough talking chick, but she is so vulnerable and willing to love. She and her friends are so amazing together and their dynamic alone made the book worth reading. They were each so distinct but all bought something to the table. They like to discuss deep and meaningful things like religion and sexual language and misogamy in rap music. They are a awesome group of heavy thinking, heaving rhyming girls and I thought they were great.

Love Story: Esme, who knows for sure that she is a lesbian, starts a little something with Rowie, who is unsure of her sexual orientation. This leads down an interesting road that is probably pretty obvious. I think that it is a huge growing part for Esme, even though I want nothing but everlasting love for her.

Overall: Worth reading. If you love hip-hop, then this is the story for you. If you love LGBT stories, then this is the story for you. If you like high school empowerment , then this is the story for you. If you don't like any of the above, well, then I don't know what to tell you.(less)

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Aug 11, 2011 Sophie rated it 2 of 5 stars

I was really excited when I picked up this book. It sounded awesome. And there were a few moments of awesomeness in it. Overall, however, I was disappointed. Since this is my first negative reviews I'll try to go into a bit more detail than my "I loved it!" reviews.

The good:

The premise: Two members of an all-female hip-hop group from suburban Minnesota fall in love while fighting unjust authority at school? How awesome is that?

Minor characters getting their due: I really loved some of the supp...more

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Sep 25, 2011 Lynette rated it 4 of 5 stars

I liked this a lot more than I expected to when I started it, when I wasn't sure if the conversations about the ethics of white suburban girls doing hip-hop or being a Christian who isn't an asshole were being slotted in just to get them out of the way. But they definitely weren't. This is an Issue Book, but it's about a hell of a lot of issues - queerness, faith, family, friends, the First Amendment, hip-hop, immigration, and that isn't even half of the issues the book touched on. Maybe it's a...more

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Feb 16, 2012 Catherine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, lgbtq

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 07, 2011 Crowinator rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, booklist-review, ya, queer-characters, 2011-reads, contemporary, favorites, favorites-read-in-2011, books-i-own-not-arcs, characters-i-love, school-hard

My kneejerk reaction: I really didn't want to read this because they used the word "bidness" and the word "illest" in the same sentence on the back of my ARC.

Actual reaction: I love this book no shit. Even though it made me feel old.

Review later.

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Sep 04, 2011 Liralen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, fiction, lgbtq, reviewed, 2012, ya

I loved this book, and I wish it -- or books like it -- had been around when I was in high school. The characters are wonderfully complex, not to mention flawed, and the situations they find themselves in are realistic enough to be believable but unlikely enough to keep me reading. Esme in particular is relatable, and oy, I know I have a tendency to rail against unnecessary sequels, but I hope Laura Goode keeps writing.

Well, maybe not a sequel. But more awesome lgbtq books, yeah?

The one thing th...more

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Jun 28, 2012 Karissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

I honestly think I may have enjoyed this book more if I had listened to it on audio book. It was an interesting idea, but it took me a long while before I actually got into the story and cared for the main character. But thanks to this book, I do have a gang sign to throw out whenever I want to. 4H! Keep in mind it's only when I am being retarded at work and messing with my employees.

Anyways, the book starts off with Esme realizing for sure that she is a lesbian. And what's the best way to do t...more I honestly think I may have enjoyed this book more if I had listened to it on audio book. It was an interesting idea, but it took me a long while before I actually got into the story and cared for the main character. But thanks to this book, I do have a gang sign to throw out whenever I want to. 4H! Keep in mind it's only when I am being retarded at work and messing with my employees.

Anyways, the book starts off with Esme realizing for sure that she is a lesbian. And what's the best way to do that? Sleep with a guy in the back seat of his car. Which is what happens at the beginning of the book. A risky way to start off, but I'm game.
So, Esme lives in Holyhill, Minnesota. The name alone ought to give you a clue as to how the story goes down. Esme is a lesbian living in Holyhill. Esme is a JEWISH lesbian living in Holyhill. However, I must stress that the whole Jewish part of kind of just thrown in there. She is Jewish on her mom's side and her mother ran out on her when she was a child so she doesn't really have an religious training. But I guess it's cool to through in people's faces.

Not only is Esme a Jewish lesbian in Holyhill, Minnesota, but she is also an MC and write some awesome rhymes! Okay, that kind of sounded white, but then I am so I guess it's okay. Anyways, Esme has three best friends: Marcy, who everyone assumes is a lesbian because of how butch she is but really is straight as an arrow. She just has a lot of brothers. Tess, who used to hang out with the popular crowd before she found her new friends. So when anything goes down, they just use Tess as the face of their group since she was a part of the other crowd not too long ago. And Rowie, who was another nationality, I just cannot remember which. I think she was Middle Eastern. And Esme is totally is in love with her.

Esme and her friends decide that they will start up a club. 4 H. Hip Hop for Heteros and Homos. The club is meant to discuss hip hip and it's influence on society, and also be the LGBT club of the school, since they don't have one. Of course they are spurred on by the fact that a memo has been sent to all students to sign the agree to not listening or speaking of hip hop on school grounds. Which the four girls just cannot possibly do.

Ultimately, it's an novel about acceptance. Of other people and of yourself. And it was a good read after you get past all the rhyming. I think that's why I would have enjoyed it better as an audiobook. I can never hear singing or rhyming in my head. And I'm sure I would have enjoyed listening to her words than reading them. But it was one of the better LGBT books I've read. Though I did want to punch Rowie in the face just a little bit. (less)

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Sep 07, 2011 Kricket rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, nyc, music, teen-fiction, outsiders-and-nerds, glbt

i just read an excerpt from this on amazon and started cracking up at the reference desk. can't wait until the order gets in!

update: really liked this. but what's not to like about four badass teenage girls protesting their high school's anti hip-hop policy by starting a combination GSA and hip-hop discussion group? tess, marcy, rowie & our main character the fearless esme also perform as "sister mischief" at various open-mic nights. esme has only recently come out to her friends and father,...more

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Dec 09, 2011 Renata rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, fiction

This book reminded me of David Levithan's YA stuff, in these girls are way too smart and well-spoken to resemble real teenagers in any way. They all talk like they are in a graduate level women's studies seminar at all times. Which is fine--I love reading sassy teen girls talk about representations of sexuality in hip hop. (I love David Levithan's overly-educated teenagers, too.)

The friendship between the members of Sister Mischief, an all-girl hip-hop crew in suburban Minnesota, felt realistic,...more

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Sep 02, 2011 Vanessa rated it 4 of 5 stars

My book club buddy wrote this! Can't wait. Rock on, Laura.

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Jan 02, 2013 Jenni French rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: genre-contemporary-fiction, age-5-grades-9-12, lgbtqia-lit

Meh. I picked up this book because of the GLBT characters and also because of the Minnesota connection, but then I realized I had read it - and not enjoyed it - before. A group of suburban white girls form a hip-hop group and try to bring that music style back into their school, where it has been banned. I'm not very interested in music-themed books as it is, and the characters in this book just sound pretentious, so they got on my nerves fairly quickly. Performing their hip-hop on the light rai...more

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Sep 27, 2011 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: excellent-contemporary, 2011-favorites, fantastic-debuts, good-enough-to-get-physical-copy, best-friend-material, all-time-favorites

For a more in-depth review and more, check out http://vivaladolcevita14.blogspot.com/

Ok, so I've FINALLY had a chance to read this book. I had some issues with my NetGalley copy, being that after I transferred it from Adobe to my Nook, it wouldn't open and apparently didn't exist *facepalm* So I decided to let my time with it run out and ended up buying the Nook copy. I'm glad I've finally read this book.

I loved this book. It captures the essence of being a teenager perfectly, also dealing with...more

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Jul 07, 2011 Clementine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, fiction, music, ya, favorites

Esme Rockett is a Jewish lesbian white-girl living in the suburbs of Minneapolis. She’s obsessed with hip-hop, and she’s formed an all-girl hip-hop group with her best friends Marcy, Tess, and Rowie (who she’s also crushing on hardcore). When their Christian-dominated high school tries to ban hip-hop and the culture associated with it from school grounds, the girls decide to take matters into their own hands and form a gay-straight-hip-hop alliance. This move is met with resistance and struggle,...more Esme Rockett is a Jewish lesbian white-girl living in the suburbs of Minneapolis. She’s obsessed with hip-hop, and she’s formed an all-girl hip-hop group with her best friends Marcy, Tess, and Rowie (who she’s also crushing on hardcore). When their Christian-dominated high school tries to ban hip-hop and the culture associated with it from school grounds, the girls decide to take matters into their own hands and form a gay-straight-hip-hop alliance. This move is met with resistance and struggle, but the girls work hard to stay true to themselves and the music they love.

All common sense should dictate that I would not be predisposed to like this book. Although I’m a casual fan of hip-hop music, I wouldn’t consider myself an expert in the least. The summary (available on Goodreads) is so full of hip-hop vernacular that it’s almost off-putting, and my immediate reaction to the premise of the book was to worry about the cultural appropriation that can take place when a bunch of suburban white girls (and one Indian girl) adopt characteristics of another culture. But. But. I grew up in the suburbs of Minneapolis. Holyhill High School? Could have been MY high school (in fact, I had moments where I was sure that Goode drew inspiration from my alma mater). So I decided to dive into the book and see what would happen.

I’m so glad I did, guys, because I really, really loved this book. I recognize that this book won’t resonate with everyone. It’s the kind of book that I’m going to be a champion of because I think it’s hilarious and honest and well-written, but I also have to recognize that like all novels, not every reader will love it like I love it. That’s okay, though, because I love this book enough to make up for those who don’t.

Let it be said: Goode is a really, really good writer. She manages the capture the distinct voices of each of the four girls that make up Esme’s crew, creating characters that are funny, warm, and flawed. These are girls who have chemistry together, who banter and tease each other and love one another deeply. A welcome break from novels that feature protagonists who have no friends or maybe one friend, this novel allows female friendships to flourish. Reading the scenes where the four girls are together, goofing around, were some of the best.

Goode also tackles the subject of hip-hop and cultural appropriation with grace and aplomb. Not only is it clear that Goode has done her homework about hip-hop music in general, but she creates characters who have a genuine love for the music. Even though I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that some of the hip-hop speak made me wince a little, I was able to accept it because it didn’t completely take over the story and because the other elements regarding hip-hop were done so well. The empowerment that the girls felt through writing their own rhymes was poignant. When they connected hip-hop to other types of poetry, I felt ridiculously happy.

There’s a lot to like in the story, even if hip-hop’s not your thing. Goode’s novel is about coming into your own and pursuing individuality. Esme’s relationship with her father was remarkable and yet felt very natural. Her relationship with Rowie felt so real and was, at times, completely heartbreaking. It’s one of the most realistic portrayals of first love that I’ve ever seen, and I not only completely bought their feelings for one another but could actually see the chemistry between them on the page.

The only issue I took with the book was the portrayal of Esme’s arch-nemesis. The girl was like liquid evil, with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Her extreme Christian views would have been completely intolerable had it not been for Tess, whose more inquisitive, accepting Christian views were supposed to provide a juxtaposition for Mary Ashley’s narrow-minded, discriminating worldview. However, the character still felt too much like a stereotype and plot point; the one flaw in Goode’s really compelling debut novel.

Highly, highly recommended, you guys. This is a book I’m going to be giving out as gifts this year.

Sister Mischief by Laura Goode. Candlewick Press: 2011. Electronic galley accepted for review.(less)

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Sep 17, 2011 Rabiah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Originally Posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2...

**This Review is based on an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy). The final text and/or cover may be different.**

"We ride to get high, Minnesota-do-or-die
We talk shit and kick it, out bidness is the shiznet
Sot holler out out name, we're the illest Sister Mischief"

This book was fun and completely filled with raps and rhymes and that type of stuff. I don't usually listen to or consider myself a fan of rap, but this book totally rocked! Laura Go...more Originally Posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2...

**This Review is based on an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy). The final text and/or cover may be different.**

"We ride to get high, Minnesota-do-or-die
We talk shit and kick it, out bidness is the shiznet
Sot holler out out name, we're the illest Sister Mischief"

This book was fun and completely filled with raps and rhymes and that type of stuff. I don't usually listen to or consider myself a fan of rap, but this book totally rocked! Laura Goode has created an amazing novel which looks at community, finding yourself and true love...with totally pumpin' beats.

Our MC, Esme is a totally rock-my-socks-off chick. Loved her! Her sarcasm, her difficulty in finding who she is, and her amazing lyrics are upbeat and keep the rhythm throughout the entire novel. I liked her most of the time, except when she kinda expects too much of other people. Poor Rowie. That's all I'm gonna say!
Marcy, up next, is pure AWESOME-NESS. She totally is the sassy best friend, who doesn't take no (or crap) for an answer. I liked Tess, as she was the popular girl who went and hung out with the bunch of misfits. She stands up for them, has connections (her dad's a state senator...I think) and seems to always seem so sugary-sweet mixed in with a little bit o' evil.
Now onto Rowie...okay, first off, she's from the same place as I am in India! I'm from Bangalore too! Awesome connection. Okay, other than that, she really wasn't a very strong character, definitely had her faults, but totally didn't blame her for what happened between Esme and her (not gonna give out the deets). But then she just kinda made me mad after that. Nothing more to say other than that.

I really loved the little footnotes at the end of the page sometimes. It was really cool to see texts, tweets, notes etc. that Esme and her friends connect over in the subtext. That was pretty different for a novel. I think the only other one (which isn't a classic) which I've seen footnotes in would be Stay by Deb Caletti.
Okay, now here's a little warning for the some of you: this book has a ton of swear words. If you're okay with that, that's cool, but other than that, loads of the raps (which would probably take up nearly 1/3 of the book if you combined it all together) have swear words and Esme and her friends do swear on almost every page. Just warning younger readers!

Overall, Sister Mischief was about being defiant and standing up for you and others, for your beliefs and interests. Laura Goode has created an amazing LGBT novel about true love, friendship and the sickest raps around. A geat debut, and can't wait to read more from her in the future!(less)

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Oct 28, 2011 Sharon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Despite the almost flamboyant eccentricity of the subject matter in Sister Mischief, the characters here really blew me away. I have a soft spot for coming-of-age YA novels because I'm always searching for that "high" of what it's like to be when you're younger and the world is so small but in that time period it's so large and yet conquerable. The combined force of the members of "Sister Mischief" was able to bring me back to those times, much like the camaraderie of the Sisterhood of the Trave...more

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Mar 24, 2011 Raquel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-for-work

Sister Mischief is a very charming novel and you won't be able NOT to fall in love with the Jewish Lesbian teen protagonist Esme Ruth Rockett. Esme is a rapper at heart and she and her friends form Sister Mischief, a hip-hop group consistently entirely of an eclectic mix of teen girls. So much of Esme's circumstance is an anomaly. She is a lesbian hip-hopper minority in the middle of a very white Christian town in the American mid-west. Finding herself, her sexuality, her passion for hip-hop in...more

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Nov 10, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Esme, Tess, Rowie, and Marcy are typical high school juniors in most areas. They are good students with their eyes set on top-notch colleges. For the most part, they don't give their parents any grief, and they keep their noses clean in school. However, they do have one passion - and when school authorities declare that this passion is no longer to be allowed at school, the girls rebel.

Holyhill High School is adding a new policy to...more Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Esme, Tess, Rowie, and Marcy are typical high school juniors in most areas. They are good students with their eyes set on top-notch colleges. For the most part, they don't give their parents any grief, and they keep their noses clean in school. However, they do have one passion - and when school authorities declare that this passion is no longer to be allowed at school, the girls rebel.

Holyhill High School is adding a new policy to its school conduct code, and each student is required to sign it. The new policy outlaws hip-hop music and any apparel, or behavior, associated with it. This has Esme and her friends seething.

The girls may not look like it, but they are hip-hop rappers to the core. They call themselves Sister Mischief, and they are good. Tess is the vocalist, Marcy provides the beat, and Esme and Rowie work together to create the rhymes. Hip-hop lets them express who they are. Tess used to hang out with the conservative Christian majority who populate the school district, but she stepped over to the hip-hop side when she began doubting her faith. Marcy's rhythm comes from her involvement in the high school band's drumline. Rowie is the daughter of two Indian doctors, and Esme lives with her artistic father and considers herself a true word nerd and a lesbian.

When news of the new anti-hip-hop policy reaches the girls, they all agree they will not be signing it. Their real plan for rebellion comes when they are called to the principal's office about their refusal to sign. As spokeswoman of the group, Esme announces that they are starting a new school club devoted to the study of hip-hop music and the possibility of using it to create a positive view of sexuality, especially regarding women. The principal agrees to a deal, allowing them to hold their meetings in a location just off the school campus in return for their signatures on the form.

It is obvious that the school administration is not supportive of the girls' new group, and when they become a target for harassment, they are determined to retaliate. With the help of their growing membership and the behind-the-scenes support of a possible staff advisor, they are out to change the attitude of one of the most highly regarded high schools in the country.

In addition to their quest to have hip-hop recognized as an important musical genre, the girls are also learning very personal lessons about love, loyalty, and understanding. When Esme reveals to her friends that she is a lesbian, the relationships in the group go through changes that threaten the long-time friendships.

Author Laura Goode uses creative language and intense emotions to grab her readers and involve them in the girls' passion for their cause. The stresses of school, family issues, and self-discovery make SISTER MISCHIEF a book teens will surely relate to. (less)

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May 18, 2012 Becky rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: lgbtq, music, religion-or-lack-thereof, ya

A Cliff Huxtable award to the dad in this novel, too! There was a lot going on in Sister Mischief, but there's a lot going on in day-to-day life, so I liked how inclusive it was, even about chem lab, and I loved all the serious conversations the girls have while also being silly. All the discussion of race, sexuality, music, culture, religion, and whether or not college is going to be the great world you're waiting for (don't wait!)... I've never read a book quite like this one. Kudos, Laura Goo...more

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Aug 03, 2011 The Lonely book club rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

Full review: The lonely book-club

The book is very light and easy to read, you get the hang of the story quite easily. It’s composed well and it’s not confusing. The small notes that are put in here and there “by” the protagonist is a bit annoying from time to time, but one gets used to them and they definitely adds to the “young” atmosphere the book tries to hold.

The characters differ from each other and it’s easy to see which character are which without having to look back in the story to get t...more

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