CW: descriptions of prolonged assaults/attempted rapes

3.5 Stars

Well that was a short and at times gritty NZ YA novel!

Lizzie struggles to feel safe after a brutal assault on her way home. She seeks to control her fear by learning to fight back. This was a good portrayal of NZ teens although I didn't think there was enough texting or social media communication given that cellphones are pretty much surgically attached to teenagers hands these days. For such a short novel I was surprised at how well I felt like I knew the main characters. I think there probably could have been a lot less of referring to girls as weak cry babies though, as that started to get on my nerve and goes against the very message of the book. I'm serious though, there were numerous comments along the lines of stop acting like a girl etc. Other than that gripe, which upon reflection is quite a big one, it is a good novel. I am pleased to have this in the library and love the theme of empowering young women to stand up for themselves ( )