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My Tiki Girl
Maggie was looking for a friend in Dahlia. She never guessed she’d find love, too. All the tenth-grade girls hate Dahlia Wainwright—a smart, natural beauty and freaky outsider all in one. And that’s exactly what Maggie Keller is drawn to, for she herself is an outsider, having withdrawn from the high school elite crowd after a car accident that killed her mother—an accident for which she blames herself. But Dahlia’s friendship—a manic journey into new identities and outrageous behavior— transforms Maggie in ways she could never have imagined. In her stunning first young adult novel, bestselling adult author Jennifer McMahon paints a lush portrait of the healing power of love.
246 pages, Paperback
First published May 15, 2008
9 people are currently reading
2254 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer McMahon
20 books11.6k followers I'm the author of nine suspense novels, including Promise Not to Telll, The Winter People, and my newest, The Drowning Kind. I live in central Vermont with my partner and daughter, in an old Victorian that some neighbors call The Addams Family house.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
January 23, 2014
A lot of people want to focus on the queer storyline, but I feel the larger theme here is mental illness. The instability, the escaping from reality, these moments shine through as signs of people searching for something. Their world feels comfortable but not safe, fun but not healthy. A place everyone should visit, but no one should stay in.
May 24, 2018
2.5 rounded up just because I love Jennifer McMahon and also because I feel this is an okay book with the intended audience being young girls perhaps struggling with their sexuality. I hate seeing that a lot of people rated it low because they thought it was going to be like McMahon’s other creepy supernatural/horror/thriller type of books. I’m glad I wasn’t expecting something and got disappointed and sorry to those who got bummed due to this. Never a good feeling. I knew this was going to be just based on a gay relationship and maybe a coming of age story as well and that’s exactly what it is.
I really didn’t like some of the writing in this and can see how others said they felt this was her first book, I would have thought that as well. But then at times, I found words on the pages that I reread multiple times and then wanted to write them down because they were poetic and lovely! All in all, if you want a light read about a budding romance, teen drama, mental illness, and some upsetting circumstances, give it a try. This book has it’s flaws, but I didn’t hate it. There were moments I wanted to cry. I just feel like the story could really have been expanded and could have been something even more mature and great!
In short: my least favorite of her books, but still has some charm hidden in the story.
I really didn’t like some of the writing in this and can see how others said they felt this was her first book, I would have thought that as well. But then at times, I found words on the pages that I reread multiple times and then wanted to write them down because they were poetic and lovely! All in all, if you want a light read about a budding romance, teen drama, mental illness, and some upsetting circumstances, give it a try. This book has it’s flaws, but I didn’t hate it. There were moments I wanted to cry. I just feel like the story could really have been expanded and could have been something even more mature and great!
In short: my least favorite of her books, but still has some charm hidden in the story.
February 9, 2009
Maggie Keller's life has been turned upside down because of an automobile accident. She used to be one of the popular girls but now she is just the dark, freaky girl with the bad leg. Then she meets Dahlia. This new girl brings Maggie out of her shell. Dahlia's mother suffers from depression and other mental issues, but her unpredictability and manic personality are just what Maggie needs. The entire story touches on the question "What is normal?" When Maggie finds herself falling in love with Dahlia, the two girls don't consider themselves lesbians. In fact, they are angry that anyone whould think such a thing. Their parents are appalled and their classmates react negatively as well. This is well-crafted story that brings up many issues young adolescents have. McMahon doesn't talk down to her readers at all, and while the ending is positive, it's not neccesarily a happy one.
May 27, 2009
Not sure If I'm going to enjoy this book. I dislike the behaviors of all the characters. Stealing gas from cars in an AA meeting parking lot, and shoplifting for fun. I'm not liking it.... but we'll see.
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Ok, I finished the book, and I change my mind, I did like the book. At first the concept of the "dolls", was a little weird. After reading more of the book, I realized the dolls, especially "Tiki girl" and "LaSamba", symbolized something very important. Good book for young girls.
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Ok, I finished the book, and I change my mind, I did like the book. At first the concept of the "dolls", was a little weird. After reading more of the book, I realized the dolls, especially "Tiki girl" and "LaSamba", symbolized something very important. Good book for young girls.
November 23, 2014
I was hoping something would happen, like a serial killer bursts through the front door or a raving lunatic trying to kill someone. Nope. Just a mother coming of age story. Good but not really what I was looking for.
February 5, 2019
This is nothing like any of the other books written by Jennifer McMahon. Rather, this is a coming of age tale of a girl dealing with the death of her mother and overcoming the guilt she has about the accident while also trying to come to terms with her own sexuality. There's an array of eccentric characters that were enjoyable to read about. McMahon tackles some pretty heavy-handed issues including mental illness, the burden of grief and guilt, exploration of sexual identity, and the pressures of high school and peer groups. Overall, a great young adult novel.
July 18, 2019
If you are an avid Jennifer McMahon reader this is not one of her normal "supernatural" twist and thrill books. Is it good? eh-OKAY story line. I put this on my "to-read" list so long ago, I didn't remember the synopsis. It is a story of a teenager grieving and questioning who she is and her sexuality. Is there other themes like mental health? Sure.
I'm not sure I would recommend this book. I finished it out of obligation not that it was a worth while book.
I'm not sure I would recommend this book. I finished it out of obligation not that it was a worth while book.
September 28, 2008
The story is about Maggie, a girl who used to be popular until a car accident killed her mother and left her with a scarred and limping leg. Maggie can't face her old popular friends, so she becomes close to one of the outcasts, Dahlia, who loves Sylvia Plath, wants to form a band, and has a crazy family. As Maggie gets wrapped up in the elaborate fantasy life Dahlia's family creates, Maggie also loses herself to the power and fear that is first love...with Dahlia.
I feel like I've read a lot of YA books about being gay, and not many about being lesbian. It's really not the same. So firstly, even if this book sucked, it does fill a niche. But it didn't suck. Maggie is a real and likable character, but not perfect. I was yelling at her a lot. Dahlia is similar to Kori from Undone, and Alaska from Looking for Alaska, in that she's that "omg such a cool girl, marches to the beat of her own drummer, doesn't take shit from anyone" kind of person, but then McMahon draws the character even further, Dahlia's care for her mentally ill mother, her longing to be popular even as she distances herself, her anger at being poor.
The love angle of the book is very powerfully written as well. Maggie goes through all the hard points of tough love and possible rejection as well as wondering if she is a lesbian, and how would people react.
My last point to make is that the mother's death is handled well. The story comes out in small pieces, but still near the beginning, and isn't dwelt upon. Maggie feels like a murderer, and her relationship with her father is harmed because of the guilt, Maggie's relationship with her exbest friend is also changed from the guilt. But the accident is never exploited by the author, never goes into a pityfest for Maggie, never feels maudlin.
I really recommend this book to any of my friends who is reading this.
I feel like I've read a lot of YA books about being gay, and not many about being lesbian. It's really not the same. So firstly, even if this book sucked, it does fill a niche. But it didn't suck. Maggie is a real and likable character, but not perfect. I was yelling at her a lot. Dahlia is similar to Kori from Undone, and Alaska from Looking for Alaska, in that she's that "omg such a cool girl, marches to the beat of her own drummer, doesn't take shit from anyone" kind of person, but then McMahon draws the character even further, Dahlia's care for her mentally ill mother, her longing to be popular even as she distances herself, her anger at being poor.
The love angle of the book is very powerfully written as well. Maggie goes through all the hard points of tough love and possible rejection as well as wondering if she is a lesbian, and how would people react.
My last point to make is that the mother's death is handled well. The story comes out in small pieces, but still near the beginning, and isn't dwelt upon. Maggie feels like a murderer, and her relationship with her father is harmed because of the guilt, Maggie's relationship with her exbest friend is also changed from the guilt. But the accident is never exploited by the author, never goes into a pityfest for Maggie, never feels maudlin.
I really recommend this book to any of my friends who is reading this.
April 22, 2013
I hate to say I didn't like it... but I didn't like it. Crazy teenage drama romance just really isn't my thing. It definitely wasn't an awful book, but I just didn't really understand the point the book was trying to make. I am not the targeted age group and I don't struggle with my sexual identity, so I think that made me a little detached from the book. I would say that it is probably a wonderful book for younger readers who are trying to figure themselves out, but that just isn't me anymore. I wouldn't recommend it except to a younger audience (maybe 13-18yr). Still a favorite author of mine.
February 7, 2013
I thought this book was very scandalous! You would never think this book was about two girls falling for each other. Soon later on boys start getting in the way of them, causing conflict. Watching how everything unfolds is really suspensful. for example Maggie realized Dahlia is falling in love with a bad boy from school, she tries to steal her away. Dahlia finally say how much Maggie cared for her and fell in love with her.
July 18, 2014
Definitely one of, if not the best, YA I've read. I like the way they weaved Escapism (and other psychological self defense/themes) into the story. Some characters are just so broken and they try to adjust by trying to make it seem normal by playing along even when it isn't. Yep, my eyes did tear up a bit on some parts ...
October 3, 2016
"Frankenstein girl" Maggie can't seem to forgive herself for her mother's death, and she meets a cast of quirky and zany characters, some of them real misfits and outcasts... and surprises herself by falling in love with her own "Tiki girl." Great pacing, memorable characters, and a coming of age story you won't soon forget.
September 18, 2011
Not what I expected. I kept waiting for someone to be killed, some crazy psychopath to show up...no such luck. Simple coming of age tale which isn't really my thing.
March 3, 2018
I thought this was such a wonderful book about the need to feel loved, whether it is by a friend, someone who needs that same feeling at a given time, etc.
Maggie has survived an accident that killed her mother. She now walks with a gimp and considers herself "Frankenstein Girl". She was once one of the most popular girls in school, but has retreated, and her classmates have sort of pushed her aside, maybe because they don't know how to deal with her loss and change.
Maggie comes to recognize the alienation of a girl who is new to the school, Dahlia. She approaches her and they slowly become friends. Maggie becomes involved in Dahlia's rather strange home life. Maggie's mother is very weird, with dolls that hold witching powers, Dahlia's brother is 10 and considers himself a wizard, dressing as such.
To me the essence of this book was the feel to be wanted and understood by somebody. It brought to the forefront teenage angst and just needing to have someone care about you.
Maggie has survived an accident that killed her mother. She now walks with a gimp and considers herself "Frankenstein Girl". She was once one of the most popular girls in school, but has retreated, and her classmates have sort of pushed her aside, maybe because they don't know how to deal with her loss and change.
Maggie comes to recognize the alienation of a girl who is new to the school, Dahlia. She approaches her and they slowly become friends. Maggie becomes involved in Dahlia's rather strange home life. Maggie's mother is very weird, with dolls that hold witching powers, Dahlia's brother is 10 and considers himself a wizard, dressing as such.
To me the essence of this book was the feel to be wanted and understood by somebody. It brought to the forefront teenage angst and just needing to have someone care about you.
February 21, 2019
It’s so interesting to read one of your favorite authors first works. To see the way that their writing has developed since then.
My Tiki Girl is written very poetically and at first not very linear at all. Maggie Keller is a sophomore in high school battling regular teenage demons on top of having recently lost her mom in a car accident and coming to terms with her sexuality. The prose McMahon writes to describe Maggie’s feelings for Dahlia almost kind of remind me of Lolita.
I genuinely cared about the odd assortment of characters and what happened to them in this story. The way Maggie describes her sexuality is just enough to spark your curiosity for the outcome but isn’t overboard with details. This is a great coming of age novel for someone questioning their own sexuality or for someone straight to read a different perspective and sympathize with someone different from themselves.
My Tiki Girl is written very poetically and at first not very linear at all. Maggie Keller is a sophomore in high school battling regular teenage demons on top of having recently lost her mom in a car accident and coming to terms with her sexuality. The prose McMahon writes to describe Maggie’s feelings for Dahlia almost kind of remind me of Lolita.
I genuinely cared about the odd assortment of characters and what happened to them in this story. The way Maggie describes her sexuality is just enough to spark your curiosity for the outcome but isn’t overboard with details. This is a great coming of age novel for someone questioning their own sexuality or for someone straight to read a different perspective and sympathize with someone different from themselves.
February 2, 2017
I liked this book. I would say that I "loved" this book but I must say I was confused. The first Jennifer McMahon book I read was Winter People. Then I read the rest of her books, saving My Tiki Girl for last (for no real reason, just did). ALL of her books, other than this one, were horror books, books with twists and turns. After Winter People I did not even bother to read the back of the book, the inside flap, nor did I get a synopsis of what was to come. So, the entire time I read My Tiki Girl, I was waiting for the twist, the scary part. Obviously it never came but that was because it was not a super natural book like all of the others.
It was a good book, my heart broke for the main character.
It was a good book, my heart broke for the main character.
March 4, 2018
Mcmahon, Jennifer My Tiki Girl. Pg. 246: Dutton Books (Penguin), 2008. Language-PG-13, Sexual Content-PG-13, Violence-G.
Her mother is dead, her leg is messed up and now Maggie is the freak in school. Then she meets Dahlia Wainright. They become great friends, but Maggie soon discovers she may have a greater love for Dahlia.
This book was well written but, it was really weird and I almost quit reading by the third chapter. I kept reading and there was quite a bit of swearing and it's not a book I would want to read again.
MS, HS - NO. Student Reviewer-MP
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2008/...
Her mother is dead, her leg is messed up and now Maggie is the freak in school. Then she meets Dahlia Wainright. They become great friends, but Maggie soon discovers she may have a greater love for Dahlia.
This book was well written but, it was really weird and I almost quit reading by the third chapter. I kept reading and there was quite a bit of swearing and it's not a book I would want to read again.
MS, HS - NO. Student Reviewer-MP
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2008/...
March 28, 2019
I absolutely love this author and have waited a long time to get this book. This was definitely not one of her best books. This seemed like it was written for young adults or one of her first books before she started writing really good novels. Most of her books are also somewhat thrillers or have a dark edge to them and this was nothing like that. It's definitely a different book for her and maybe it wasn't that bad but I was expecting it to be like all of her other books and it wasn't so I was a little disappointed in that regard. It was probably a good book just not like her other books.
June 13, 2022
It was so beautiful and well-written. However, Dahlia and Maggie's relationship was toxic. The obstacles the girls faced were totally realistic for a same-sex couple. There is so little queer representation, and this could have been a rare positive one. Maggie should not have let her grades slip or started smoking cigarettes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2019
A coming-of-age novel for young adults. I did not like this as much as the author's usual books.
Read
June 16, 2024I am glad we have evolved past the need for sapphic YA to end with an attempted filicide
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2015
A departure for McMahon--that's not really that much of a departure.
This is the only McMahon book I had yet to read. It has the feel of being her very first book, though, at least in terms of publishing history, it is not. (Perhaps it was written first.) It's billed as her turn to YA after some psychological suspense fiction. But much of her psychological suspense fiction has a YA feel. And this book sneaks in some psychological suspense and even supernatural horror, which is the metier of McMahon's last two books. (She has another book coming out this Fall.)
The book did make me think a bit harder about what makes a book "YA." A lot of it, I think, is that the emotions are so big. (Of course, the characters are often adolescents, a time of big emotions.) The symbolism is on the surface. And the characters are characters. Some of this genre is done better than others, of course. (Sturgeon's Law: 95% of everything is crap.) All those traits apply here. The book is smoothly written, though, which is a plus; an easy page turner.
The story tells of a once-popular girl who has become a pariah since loosing her mother. (Think, Veronica Mars.) It is set in Connecticut, as all of McMahon's books have been New England-based. The girl is sure she is responsible for her mom's death. She befriends a newcomer to her high school, a beautiful girl who both embraces her weirdness and desires to be normal more than anything else--she's poor, her mom's weird, her brother's a nutball, and she accedes to this though she doesn't really want to be. In the course of things, the two girls fall in love, and experiment with Lesbian sex. A contrived ending--plus the love of the new girl--releases her from her guilt.
Of course, there are obstacles. Chief among them are boys--both girls are chased by various boys. There's also the fact that neither wants to acknowledge their attraction. And their fear of what will come to them from their peers and family. They are right to be worried, since the families are not supportive and the peers despicable.
All of this is par for the course, though McMahon stretches hard, often too hard. The characters are just too much characters . . . the little brother thinks he's a warlock. The drunk mother a fortune-teller, at loose ends, a dreamer, but still scared of homosexuality. The widowed father conventional in every way. When they form a band, the other two members are a mentally disabled but nonetheless gifted drummer--what in old times would be called an idiot savant--and the guitarist a too-perfect football player who is willing to hang around with the school weirdoes because the new girl is so hot. It is all too much, all too obviously a novel. One can sink in, but never forgets this is fiction.
What McMahon excels at in this book is evoking the desperate intensity of adolescent love/lust/infatuation. I say evoke because her prose is serviceable and smooth without being revelatory or particular. One reads it and remembers, remembers well, similar experiences from one's own life. But doesn't really fall into the love story here.
McMahon is what I guess I would call a guilty pleasure for me, and this novel fits well within her body of work.
This is the only McMahon book I had yet to read. It has the feel of being her very first book, though, at least in terms of publishing history, it is not. (Perhaps it was written first.) It's billed as her turn to YA after some psychological suspense fiction. But much of her psychological suspense fiction has a YA feel. And this book sneaks in some psychological suspense and even supernatural horror, which is the metier of McMahon's last two books. (She has another book coming out this Fall.)
The book did make me think a bit harder about what makes a book "YA." A lot of it, I think, is that the emotions are so big. (Of course, the characters are often adolescents, a time of big emotions.) The symbolism is on the surface. And the characters are characters. Some of this genre is done better than others, of course. (Sturgeon's Law: 95% of everything is crap.) All those traits apply here. The book is smoothly written, though, which is a plus; an easy page turner.
The story tells of a once-popular girl who has become a pariah since loosing her mother. (Think, Veronica Mars.) It is set in Connecticut, as all of McMahon's books have been New England-based. The girl is sure she is responsible for her mom's death. She befriends a newcomer to her high school, a beautiful girl who both embraces her weirdness and desires to be normal more than anything else--she's poor, her mom's weird, her brother's a nutball, and she accedes to this though she doesn't really want to be. In the course of things, the two girls fall in love, and experiment with Lesbian sex. A contrived ending--plus the love of the new girl--releases her from her guilt.
Of course, there are obstacles. Chief among them are boys--both girls are chased by various boys. There's also the fact that neither wants to acknowledge their attraction. And their fear of what will come to them from their peers and family. They are right to be worried, since the families are not supportive and the peers despicable.
All of this is par for the course, though McMahon stretches hard, often too hard. The characters are just too much characters . . . the little brother thinks he's a warlock. The drunk mother a fortune-teller, at loose ends, a dreamer, but still scared of homosexuality. The widowed father conventional in every way. When they form a band, the other two members are a mentally disabled but nonetheless gifted drummer--what in old times would be called an idiot savant--and the guitarist a too-perfect football player who is willing to hang around with the school weirdoes because the new girl is so hot. It is all too much, all too obviously a novel. One can sink in, but never forgets this is fiction.
What McMahon excels at in this book is evoking the desperate intensity of adolescent love/lust/infatuation. I say evoke because her prose is serviceable and smooth without being revelatory or particular. One reads it and remembers, remembers well, similar experiences from one's own life. But doesn't really fall into the love story here.
McMahon is what I guess I would call a guilty pleasure for me, and this novel fits well within her body of work.
September 11, 2015
Maggie Keller forgot Toto, and that is where everything turned upside down. She is Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz play at her school, and forces her mother to turn back. After an accident, not only does she lose her mother but her popularity as well. Now she is the outcast, with the bad leg. Then she meets Dahlia, the new girl. Dahlia forces her out of her shell, and teaches her to look at life a different way. Under the guidance of Dahlia and her mother, she becomes Tiki Girl. She is loved, and she is happy. Then they fall in love. Soon, everyone begins to see them differently. But they haven't changed at all.
I love Jennifer McMahon's novels. When I came upon this in the library I grabbed it not knowing a thing about it. When I read the description I was a little disappointed that it wasn't a psychological thriller, like most of her other works, but I was curious to see how she would write a YA novel. This book is jam packed with so many themes I thought it would make my head spin, but McMahon writes about mental illness, death of a parent, bullying, being the outcast at school, lesbianism, PTSD, socioeconomic status, and sexuality in general not only with ease but with gentleness. Not ever did I feel like a character was being judged for who they were or what they went through. That's not to say that the book wasn't hard hitting. I could feel every emotion that both Maggie and Dahlia expressed. There was confusion, anxiety, guilt, and sadness expressed by both of them over the death of Maggie's mother to the obvious mental illness of Leah, Dahlia's mother, that Dahlia often hid but when she did express how hard it was living with Leah and not knowing if they would have money for food or rent it was sad for the reader. The author did a great job fully developing each and every character so that the reader could empathize with them. That is the gift of this novel. I never felt sorry for anyone but I felt "with" them. Dahlia and Maggie wanted to just be normal but didn't have a clue as to how to achieve that as adolescents with parents who were just "checked-out" and no one to guide them. The ending was wrapped up a little too quickly and neatly for me. It felt like McMahon just wanted to be done with the book so she wrapped it all up with a bow.
This was a good YA book that is for older readers but it handles many difficult themes without judgement or shame. This is probably the best part of the book. I would definitely recommend this book. Its a well written YA book that adults can enjoy. 4 stars.
I love Jennifer McMahon's novels. When I came upon this in the library I grabbed it not knowing a thing about it. When I read the description I was a little disappointed that it wasn't a psychological thriller, like most of her other works, but I was curious to see how she would write a YA novel. This book is jam packed with so many themes I thought it would make my head spin, but McMahon writes about mental illness, death of a parent, bullying, being the outcast at school, lesbianism, PTSD, socioeconomic status, and sexuality in general not only with ease but with gentleness. Not ever did I feel like a character was being judged for who they were or what they went through. That's not to say that the book wasn't hard hitting. I could feel every emotion that both Maggie and Dahlia expressed. There was confusion, anxiety, guilt, and sadness expressed by both of them over the death of Maggie's mother to the obvious mental illness of Leah, Dahlia's mother, that Dahlia often hid but when she did express how hard it was living with Leah and not knowing if they would have money for food or rent it was sad for the reader. The author did a great job fully developing each and every character so that the reader could empathize with them. That is the gift of this novel. I never felt sorry for anyone but I felt "with" them. Dahlia and Maggie wanted to just be normal but didn't have a clue as to how to achieve that as adolescents with parents who were just "checked-out" and no one to guide them. The ending was wrapped up a little too quickly and neatly for me. It felt like McMahon just wanted to be done with the book so she wrapped it all up with a bow.
This was a good YA book that is for older readers but it handles many difficult themes without judgement or shame. This is probably the best part of the book. I would definitely recommend this book. Its a well written YA book that adults can enjoy. 4 stars.
October 17, 2015
When my sister and I were browsing the Young Adult section at our local library, she came across this book. After finding the tiki girl on the cover creepy she put it back. I took it back off the shelf to read the description, because unlike her, I like the tiki girl in the cover and I feel like it adds a sense of mystery to the book. After reading the description I decided to get it anyway, because I was curious about what hula dancers have to do about a girl having social issues.
After reading the first few chapters I knew that i'd read the book all of the way to the end instead of just trying to find out what happens by skimming and skipping pages or by looking up the book summary online, like I did with previous books. I love the main characters, especially Leah, because of the way they act and think about the world around them, like how they steal stuff and get away with it, Jonah believes that he's a wizard, Dahlia believes that Dead Aunt Mary was a living person at one point, and how Leah believes that the dolls that she owns represent her closest companions, and that whoever the doll represents gets to live a separate life, as their doll.
Then the middle of the book weirded me out, and I considered only giving it three stars instead of four.
But the book quickly changed my mind, and I realized that I was cheering for all the main characters to have a happy ending, not just Dahlia and Maggie.
Even though Dahlia and Maggie don't and up together in the end, I am still satisfied with the ending when Leah goes to a mental hospital where she belongs, Dahlia and Jonah live with their Aunt who they actually like(I like her too), Joey doesn't have to be homeless anymore, Sukie and Troy get back together, and Maggie and her father make up and she successfully applies to a new school where she meets another girl, who is a much better influence than Dahlia was. Overall, I love how casual the book was at times, and how much drama the characters created.
I'll never forget about this book, it has permanently altered my opinions.
After reading the first few chapters I knew that i'd read the book all of the way to the end instead of just trying to find out what happens by skimming and skipping pages or by looking up the book summary online, like I did with previous books. I love the main characters, especially Leah, because of the way they act and think about the world around them, like how they steal stuff and get away with it, Jonah believes that he's a wizard, Dahlia believes that Dead Aunt Mary was a living person at one point, and how Leah believes that the dolls that she owns represent her closest companions, and that whoever the doll represents gets to live a separate life, as their doll.
Then the middle of the book weirded me out, and I considered only giving it three stars instead of four.
But the book quickly changed my mind, and I realized that I was cheering for all the main characters to have a happy ending, not just Dahlia and Maggie.
Even though Dahlia and Maggie don't and up together in the end, I am still satisfied with the ending when Leah goes to a mental hospital where she belongs, Dahlia and Jonah live with their Aunt who they actually like(I like her too), Joey doesn't have to be homeless anymore, Sukie and Troy get back together, and Maggie and her father make up and she successfully applies to a new school where she meets another girl, who is a much better influence than Dahlia was. Overall, I love how casual the book was at times, and how much drama the characters created.
I'll never forget about this book, it has permanently altered my opinions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2012
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
Maggie Keller's life turned upside down the day she forgot Toto. In eighth grade, Maggie was cast as Dorothy, the lead in The Wizard of Oz. As her mom is driving her to rehearsal, Maggie shouts out that she forgot the stuffed dog at home. Her mom, without checking the traffic around them, turns the car around and causes an accident.
Maggie was once the most popular girl in her class. But after the accident, she has a deformed leg, and considers herself the Frankenstein of the class. Her ex-best friend, Sukie, is the new #1 girl and has a new best friend, Heather. Maggie is on the fringes of school society now.
When Dahlia Wainwright arrives at school, the two form their own exclusive freak club. Dahlia lives by her own rules, not caring what others think. Maggie tries to live that way ATA (after the accident.) Maggie is enamored with Dahlia's home life. Jonah, Dahlia's younger brother, thinks he's magical. And Dahlia's mom, Leah, weaves creative worlds with the dolls that she collects. Leah welcomes Maggie into their lives, dubbing her "LaSamba," the sad clown.
Slowly, Maggie starts to question her feelings for Dahlia. A simple touch of Dahlia's hand causes sparks inside Maggie. Maggie has never felt like this before, certainly not with Sukie, and in hindsight, not with her old boyfriend, Albert.
Soon, the school is hearing rumors about Maggie and Dahlia. For all Dahlia's talk of not caring, she has started to enjoy popularity, and doesn't want to disappear into the unknown again.
The issues in MY TIKI GIRL are definitely for an older reader. Though there are no actual sex scenes in the story, the underlying context is very apparent and may be too much for a younger reader. Maggie struggles to come to terms with whom she is and who she is supposed to be. With a distant father at home, and unusual friends at school, Maggie must decide what it is she wants and go after it.
Maggie Keller's life turned upside down the day she forgot Toto. In eighth grade, Maggie was cast as Dorothy, the lead in The Wizard of Oz. As her mom is driving her to rehearsal, Maggie shouts out that she forgot the stuffed dog at home. Her mom, without checking the traffic around them, turns the car around and causes an accident.
Maggie was once the most popular girl in her class. But after the accident, she has a deformed leg, and considers herself the Frankenstein of the class. Her ex-best friend, Sukie, is the new #1 girl and has a new best friend, Heather. Maggie is on the fringes of school society now.
When Dahlia Wainwright arrives at school, the two form their own exclusive freak club. Dahlia lives by her own rules, not caring what others think. Maggie tries to live that way ATA (after the accident.) Maggie is enamored with Dahlia's home life. Jonah, Dahlia's younger brother, thinks he's magical. And Dahlia's mom, Leah, weaves creative worlds with the dolls that she collects. Leah welcomes Maggie into their lives, dubbing her "LaSamba," the sad clown.
Slowly, Maggie starts to question her feelings for Dahlia. A simple touch of Dahlia's hand causes sparks inside Maggie. Maggie has never felt like this before, certainly not with Sukie, and in hindsight, not with her old boyfriend, Albert.
Soon, the school is hearing rumors about Maggie and Dahlia. For all Dahlia's talk of not caring, she has started to enjoy popularity, and doesn't want to disappear into the unknown again.
The issues in MY TIKI GIRL are definitely for an older reader. Though there are no actual sex scenes in the story, the underlying context is very apparent and may be too much for a younger reader. Maggie struggles to come to terms with whom she is and who she is supposed to be. With a distant father at home, and unusual friends at school, Maggie must decide what it is she wants and go after it.
August 9, 2012
Perhaps you've noticed my love affair with Jennifer McMahon? When you read three books by someone in a week, it becomes obvious that you are a little obsessed. Then comes the fall, the moment you realize that you have read all their books and the there is no more to read. Ironically, that's sorta what this book was like. Hard, fast love followed by the realization that your love story isn't forever.
Maggie has become a outcast by her own free will. After a car accident that killed her mom, she isn't into the friends and life she had before. Instead, she befriends the strange new girl, Dahlia. Their odd friendship quickly grows into something more as Maggie realizes her feelings run deeper.
This is the typical figuring out your into chicks story, but done in a very non-typical way. It keeps to McMahon's usual dreamlike feel, but lacks the sinister undertones of her other books. It also isn't quite as good as the other books, but it's still loads better than most books.
Maggie's feelings for Dahlia grow slowly through the first part of the book and as a lesbian, it all seems way familiar. Maybe all of us have a thing for the bad girl? Maybe it's just that the bad girls in high school were better at giving off the feeling that *maybe* they could be into girls as well. Either way, I was smack dab back in my teenage brain reading this book.
The relationship between the girls is shorter than I would have liked, but again that puts you right in Maggie's head because it's shorter than she would like too. This book lacks most of the tragedy and heartache that fill way too many coming out books, and I appreciated that.
Aside from the main girls, the supporting cast in an interesting mix of damaged people who seem to breath full lives because of how damaged they are. The small period of time you visit in this book is a mess,but you believe every minute of it.
Great book, definitely more YA than not. Very worth a read.
Maggie has become a outcast by her own free will. After a car accident that killed her mom, she isn't into the friends and life she had before. Instead, she befriends the strange new girl, Dahlia. Their odd friendship quickly grows into something more as Maggie realizes her feelings run deeper.
This is the typical figuring out your into chicks story, but done in a very non-typical way. It keeps to McMahon's usual dreamlike feel, but lacks the sinister undertones of her other books. It also isn't quite as good as the other books, but it's still loads better than most books.
Maggie's feelings for Dahlia grow slowly through the first part of the book and as a lesbian, it all seems way familiar. Maybe all of us have a thing for the bad girl? Maybe it's just that the bad girls in high school were better at giving off the feeling that *maybe* they could be into girls as well. Either way, I was smack dab back in my teenage brain reading this book.
The relationship between the girls is shorter than I would have liked, but again that puts you right in Maggie's head because it's shorter than she would like too. This book lacks most of the tragedy and heartache that fill way too many coming out books, and I appreciated that.
Aside from the main girls, the supporting cast in an interesting mix of damaged people who seem to breath full lives because of how damaged they are. The small period of time you visit in this book is a mess,but you believe every minute of it.
Great book, definitely more YA than not. Very worth a read.
May 15, 2010
Jennifer McMahon is one of my favorite authors. I have read all of her books so far, and 3 1/2 stars would have been a better rating for this book. All of her books are eccentric, bizarre, strange, and slightly twisted, which I think is the main reason I like them. I always feel like I'm in some sort of perverted circus world a little bit when I read them (Is that weird?). And this one was no different, however I feel that her first attempt at a young adult novel was a little bit too provocative for any young adult I know!
This story is about Maggie, a girl who lost her mother in a car accident and is left as an outcast because of the injuries she sustained in them. She gravitates towards the new girl at school, who is also dark and unique like her, and they develop a lesbian relationship, complete with stripteases and descriptive sex scences that seem mildly inappropriate for most teens. In any event, the novel turns out to be pretty good, sending a message of how important it is for teens to feel like the belong and to find someone that loves them, no matter what form that love may take.
I guess McMahon came from a good place in trying to make homosexuality be okay amongst teens, and it depicts the discrimination that comes with being gay, especially so early in life. Come to think of it, McMahon's novels have a little bit of lesbianism in them all around. Is she gay herself? (And I am asking this literally, not to pick fun). Anyways, a pretty good book depicting the difficulties of teenage life and finding your identity. I have her newest novel on my shelf right now and ready to read.
January 26, 2012
Two years ago Maggie's life was irrevocably changed. A car accident shattered Maggie's leg and took the life of her mother. Maggie spent most of the year in the hospital and then recovering at home. Once a straight-A student and heavily involved in drama, Maggie's not sure who she is anymore. Her friends and classmates don't know who she is, either, and Maggie is feeling very alone.
Enter Dahlia. Dahlia lives with her mentally ill mother in the not-so-nice part of town. Maggie soon finds herself spending most of her time at Dahlia's house. But soon Maggie's relationship with Dahlia turns romantic, and Dahlia's mother, whom Maggie thought to be a cool person, kicks Maggie out of the house while screaming "abomination!" at her over and over again. Soon the too-big secret is out and Maggie and Dahlia are facing teasing at school and stony silences at home. Maggie must sort through her feelings and discover what is truly important to her.
Again, it intrigued me that the only characters who were against homosexuality in this story were Maggie's mostly-absent father (still grieving the loss of his wife), Dahlia's mentally ill mother (taken away to a state home as soon as she's discovered to be off her medication), and Maggie's less-than-mature classmates. None of the good characters take any issue with Maggie and Dahlia's relationship. This was an interesting book, in that it addressed abusive homes, death of parents, terrible accidents, teasing and bullying, and relationships all in one fell swoop.
Enter Dahlia. Dahlia lives with her mentally ill mother in the not-so-nice part of town. Maggie soon finds herself spending most of her time at Dahlia's house. But soon Maggie's relationship with Dahlia turns romantic, and Dahlia's mother, whom Maggie thought to be a cool person, kicks Maggie out of the house while screaming "abomination!" at her over and over again. Soon the too-big secret is out and Maggie and Dahlia are facing teasing at school and stony silences at home. Maggie must sort through her feelings and discover what is truly important to her.
Again, it intrigued me that the only characters who were against homosexuality in this story were Maggie's mostly-absent father (still grieving the loss of his wife), Dahlia's mentally ill mother (taken away to a state home as soon as she's discovered to be off her medication), and Maggie's less-than-mature classmates. None of the good characters take any issue with Maggie and Dahlia's relationship. This was an interesting book, in that it addressed abusive homes, death of parents, terrible accidents, teasing and bullying, and relationships all in one fell swoop.
November 18, 2015
I really wanted to just love this book. I found it on a goodreads list of Queer “must reads” and was just generally stoked that the storyline wasn’t just about being queer and coming out but also dealt with mental illness, child neglect, PTSD, death of a parent (not a spoiler… it’s like in the first line of the book), and dealing with old/new friendships. Which would have made this book THE BEST BOOK EVER if the author had taken the time to explore all of these topics instead of lightly broaching them and then running the hell away. Like it’s pretty obvious from the get go that Leah has some serious mental issues and that the system was failing her children but it was done in such a comical way that it was almost… not serious? And then there was the fact that instead of not having Maggie deal with the car accident and her mother’s death (which would have been SO great), the author chooses to just ignore them both?
The first few chapters were really good, the middle was a bit sluggish and predictable (“OMG, I think I’m in love with a girl and g a s p, so is this straight boy”), and the ending really felt rushed and sloppy. Like there was definitely enough space for redemption and dealing with issues but it felt like the author got bored of her own story and just finished it up really fast.
An ok read if you’re just wanting to add a little more queer literature, but if you’re looking for something with more substance, I would skip.
(We take the books they think we deserve…. said every queer kid ever.)
The first few chapters were really good, the middle was a bit sluggish and predictable (“OMG, I think I’m in love with a girl and g a s p, so is this straight boy”), and the ending really felt rushed and sloppy. Like there was definitely enough space for redemption and dealing with issues but it felt like the author got bored of her own story and just finished it up really fast.
An ok read if you’re just wanting to add a little more queer literature, but if you’re looking for something with more substance, I would skip.
(We take the books they think we deserve…. said every queer kid ever.)
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