What Makes Girls Sick and Tired by Lucile de Pesloüan, illustrated by Genevieve Darling
Special thanks to Second Story Press for sending an ARC for review.
Summary:
What Makes Girls Sick and Tired is a feminist manifesto that denounces the discrimination against and unfairness felt by women from childhood to adulthood. The graphic novel, illustrated in a strikingly minimalist style with images of girls with varied body types and personalities, invites teenagers to question the sexism that surrounds us, in ways that are obvious and hidden, simple and complex.
The book’s beginnings as a fanzine shine through in its honesty and directness, confronting the inequalities faced by young women, everyday. And it ends with a line of hope, that with solidarity, girls will hurt less, as they hold each other up with support and encouragement (Goodreads).
Thoughts:
A picture book! With illustrations and a few words!
Yet, as simple as it appears, the content is a whole different story.
What Makes Girls Sick and Tired is a well-thought-out book. Informative and powerful, it sheds light onto subjects normally brushed off. Compiled with solid facts and a strong sense of emotion in the words, the book creates a profound impression on the reader.
The aspect that speaks most from the book is feminism. As the title indicates, the book is a compiled list of things that girls are sick of. From the most common things to the most obscure, the book covers a broad spectrum on the subject. From stereotypes to relationships, races to identity, and even prices for everyday items, everything is included. It’s a diverse collection that is a pleasure to read.
The book mentions the inequality between genders and does a great job of giving detailed examples; some of which are really interesting! The fact that girls have to pay a ‘pink tax,’ an extra cost for female-directed hygiene products compared to male-directed products, was really fascinating to read about. It’s such a common everyday thing, yet we accept it rather than question it. Considering how books on feminism normally only mention the big items, like discrimination, this book doesn’t brush by the small details. It gives a clearer picture.
Feminism is a fairly new concept in Young Adult literature, and it’s not too widely acknowledged. The book doesn’t push any of its ideas upon the reader. It presents the ideas in a way to encourage exploration and understanding in a non-forceful manner. The author does a marvelous job conveying it. The desire for change in our current society, of equality for both sexes, is shown clearly.
The illustrations are something to mention, too! It fits the book seamlessly. People of all races are included in the book’s pictures. The illustrations are simple, yet incredibly detailed. They’re precise, yet are broad and open for the reader’s own interpretation in mind. Of course – they’re beautiful as well! You can really see the amount of effort the illustrator put into the book. Staying true to the theme, the people in the book, rather than being presented perfectly, are all unique. With an uneven nose or a few pimples, they’re all realistic depictions of everyday people. As a proper representation of society, this adds another layer of depth, a factor that makes the book so powerful.
The selection of colours suits the book’s message well. Sticking to different shades and tones of purple, the drawings throughout the book are consistently precise. Pretty!
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone teen and up. A thin yet quick read, it carries its worth in weight. Through a difficult topic, it carries open-ended ideas and facts, not pushing its beliefs onto anybody. It’s a book that can be universally appreciated.
Reviewed by Jing M.