Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Rubin (Burro Hills) delivers a thought-provoking perspective on surviving rape culture in this queer #MeToo-era Thelma & Louise reboot. All that small-town West Virginia teen Trixie Denton, a diner waitress, wants is to leave her complicated home life behind for a weekend camping trip with best friend Lux Leesburg, the secret object of her affections. But their Appalachian getaway becomes a nightmare when Lux is violently assaulted by a wealthy frat boy at a college bar, and Trixie kills to defend her. Fearing that the police won't believe a claim of self-defense from two poor girls, the white teens take to the open road, with little money and no real destination in mind. Faced with dwindling options and unseen dangers, the two must decide what they'll sacrifice, both for each other and to remain free. Rubin tenderly illustrates the growing tension between friends on the brink of romance, and thoughtfully portrays the way unresolved trauma can cast deep shadows. The road trip is more introspective than eventful, and references to a protest movement that arises around the teens' flight are powerful but cursory. Nevertheless, Rubin's exploration of the culture of misogyny that allowed Lux's assailant to go unpunished for his prior crimes is all too realistic. Ages 14--up. Agent: Lauren Spieller, Triada US. (June)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--All 17-year-old Trixie wants is a weekend away from her small town, her mentally ill mother, and the "hogs" whose leers trigger PTSD from a childhood sexual assault. She's especially eager for time with Lux, her best friend and crush. But when Lux is sexually assaulted at a bar, Trixie's retaliation causes them to flee the state. When they finally see news, they learn their actions have gone viral, with the #MeToo contingent on their side and violent "hogs" against them. As their desperate flight continues, Trixie and Lux decide they can trust only each other. But will their love be enough to counter the weight of bad decisions, a media firestorm, and the pursuit of law enforcement? This breathless Thelma & Louise road trip features vivid characters and intricate worldbuilding. Trixie is a sympathetic protagonist who makes bad decisions for understandable reasons, some spurred by her traumatic past and some by her attempts to take control of her own narrative. Despite the impossibility of a happy or even hopeful ending, readers will root for her. Ethnicities are unspecified; Trixie's hair is "the color of used coffee filters" and Lux has freckles. Because of violence, language, and sexual situations/themes, this is recommended for high school libraries. VERDICT This LGBTQIA+, #MeToo, Thelma & Louise road trip will appeal most to readers who prefer vivid characters and ethical ambiguity to happy endings.--Rebecca Moore, The Overlake Sch., Redmond, WA
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A Thelma and Louise retelling with contemporary resonance. Trix and Lux are two 17-year-old White girls eking out a living in small-town Blue Bottle, West Virginia. Trix works at a local diner, where men constantly hit on her despite her youth, their actions reminiscent of a past sexual trauma that she attempts to compartmentalize. Trix also cares for her mother, whose mental health and memory recall are swiftly declining. Lux is Trix's artistic best friend, a rare bright spot amid the doldrums of their town. During a weekend road trip, a dangerous situation at a bar escalates into a deadly stabbing, with Trix holding the knife. In a shocked and traumatized haze, the friends decide that authorities won't believe their claim of self-defense and so flee the scene of the crime. On the run, Lux and Trix become cult icons in a nationwide discussion surrounding sexual assault, justice, and revenge. On their journey west, as they hope to outrun the police, the girls also explore romantic possibilities with each other, fueled by the intensity unfolding around them. Trix's narration--a startling depiction of a teen coping with trauma while falling in love--radiates with honesty and heart. The novel doesn't shy away from gritty questions and gives a crucial voice to the righteous anger of teen girls. A fiery thriller wrought with dramatic tension and social commentary. (Thriller. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
