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A review by samanthaisonline
The Radical Element: 12 Stories of Daredevils, Debutants, and Other Dauntless Girls by Jessica Spotswood
4.0
The Radical Element, sequel to an anthology I haven't read yet, is probably one of my highest rated anthologies every. It's pretty hard to go wrong when you're writing historical fiction about badass diverse girls.
Daughter of the Book by Dahlia Adler - 4
Our Jewish protagonist, Rebekah, wants an education. However, growing up female in 1838 Savannah, Georgia puts a bit of a stopper on that. Naturally, she fights back.
You're a Stranger Here by Mackenzie Lee - 4.5
Vilatte, a Mormon girl who is grappling with her faith, faces severe hatred and terror on account of her Mormonism. Beautifully written.
The Magician by Erin Bowman - 5
Ray, a girl pretending to be a boy so she can remain employable, is clever. The writing is too - tying in magic vocabulary throughout the story. My favorite story in the anthology.
Lady Firebrand by Megan Shepherd - 4
Rose, a white northerner in a wheelchair and Pauline, a kickass black girl, are undercover in the South with Rose's confederate family. And there happens to be a man called Lord Firebrand sabotaging confederate plans...
Step Right Up by Jessica Spotswood - 3.5
Perfectly serviceable story. Girl has abusive uncle. Girl runs away to join circus. I didn't really click with any of the characters.
Glamour by Anna-Marie McLemore - 4.5
Girls in Graciela's family have always been able to look white with a little bit of magic, just long enough to acquire medicine or other things that merchants wouldn't sell to their family. But Graciela's using it to become Grace, a girl who can become a Hollywood star. I enjoyed that this addressed the issues of 1920s Hollywood as well as the PTSD of war. The prose, as always with McLemore's writing, is stunning. I will say, though, that their stories are a little repetitive. Latina girl falls in love with trans boy. Literally every time. (Not that there's anything wrong with that! It just takes the wind out of the plot twists sometimes!)
Better for All the World by Marieke Nijkamp - 4
Carrie wants to be a lawyer. Carrie is also a coded-autistic girl in 1927. Loved that this story took an explicitly anti-eugenics stance.
When the Moonlight Isn't Enough by Dhonielle Clayton - 5
"Before the war, moonlight used to taste like sugar and butter and fresh cream." This is how you open a story!!!
Some things I loved about this story
- the prose
- immortal black people as commentary on how America treats black people
- WWII
- tuck everlasting vibes
- "i like history with a teaspoon of magic" SAME
The Belle of the Ball by Sarvenaz Tash - 4
Rosemary wants to be a writer. Rosemary's mother wants her to be a proper 1950s girl. What's a girl to do? Okay story. Sorta saved by the extremely lovable latino love interest.
Land of the Sweet, Home of the Brave by Stacey Lee - 4.5
Lana, a girl of Japanese and Chinese descent, goes to a talent competition and absolutely kills it. I love her. Definitely a great read.
The Birth of Susi Go-Go by Meg Medina -3
Maybe it's because I just don't like the 70s that I don't really care about the story or maybe I am right in believing that the character is a little shallow. Idk I've read the "my parents don't understand American culture so I rebel" story 1000 times and I've definitely read better versions of it.
Take Me With U by Sara Farizan - 3
I feel the same way with this story as with the previous one. I don't care about the 80s. I feel no connection to the copious music references. Just didn't love it.
I have to say, for a book about "radical girls" in American history, it is oddly lacking in Native American and queer women.
On average, my rating for this book is 4.08, which is remarkably high for me rating an anthology.
Daughter of the Book by Dahlia Adler - 4
Our Jewish protagonist, Rebekah, wants an education. However, growing up female in 1838 Savannah, Georgia puts a bit of a stopper on that. Naturally, she fights back.
You're a Stranger Here by Mackenzie Lee - 4.5
Vilatte, a Mormon girl who is grappling with her faith, faces severe hatred and terror on account of her Mormonism. Beautifully written.
The Magician by Erin Bowman - 5
Ray, a girl pretending to be a boy so she can remain employable, is clever. The writing is too - tying in magic vocabulary throughout the story. My favorite story in the anthology.
Lady Firebrand by Megan Shepherd - 4
Rose, a white northerner in a wheelchair and Pauline, a kickass black girl, are undercover in the South with Rose's confederate family. And there happens to be a man called Lord Firebrand sabotaging confederate plans...
Step Right Up by Jessica Spotswood - 3.5
Perfectly serviceable story. Girl has abusive uncle. Girl runs away to join circus. I didn't really click with any of the characters.
Glamour by Anna-Marie McLemore - 4.5
Girls in Graciela's family have always been able to look white with a little bit of magic, just long enough to acquire medicine or other things that merchants wouldn't sell to their family. But Graciela's using it to become Grace, a girl who can become a Hollywood star. I enjoyed that this addressed the issues of 1920s Hollywood as well as the PTSD of war. The prose, as always with McLemore's writing, is stunning. I will say, though, that their stories are a little repetitive. Latina girl falls in love with trans boy. Literally every time. (Not that there's anything wrong with that! It just takes the wind out of the plot twists sometimes!)
Better for All the World by Marieke Nijkamp - 4
Carrie wants to be a lawyer. Carrie is also a coded-autistic girl in 1927. Loved that this story took an explicitly anti-eugenics stance.
When the Moonlight Isn't Enough by Dhonielle Clayton - 5
"Before the war, moonlight used to taste like sugar and butter and fresh cream." This is how you open a story!!!
Some things I loved about this story
- the prose
- immortal black people as commentary on how America treats black people
- WWII
- tuck everlasting vibes
- "i like history with a teaspoon of magic" SAME
The Belle of the Ball by Sarvenaz Tash - 4
Rosemary wants to be a writer. Rosemary's mother wants her to be a proper 1950s girl. What's a girl to do? Okay story. Sorta saved by the extremely lovable latino love interest.
Land of the Sweet, Home of the Brave by Stacey Lee - 4.5
Lana, a girl of Japanese and Chinese descent, goes to a talent competition and absolutely kills it. I love her. Definitely a great read.
The Birth of Susi Go-Go by Meg Medina -3
Maybe it's because I just don't like the 70s that I don't really care about the story or maybe I am right in believing that the character is a little shallow. Idk I've read the "my parents don't understand American culture so I rebel" story 1000 times and I've definitely read better versions of it.
Take Me With U by Sara Farizan - 3
I feel the same way with this story as with the previous one. I don't care about the 80s. I feel no connection to the copious music references. Just didn't love it.
I have to say, for a book about "radical girls" in American history, it is oddly lacking in Native American and queer women.
On average, my rating for this book is 4.08, which is remarkably high for me rating an anthology.