Story of a Girl

I loved this book. It is an honest portrayal about having sex the first time and being too young and the emotions that come with it. The novel also describes the effect of such experiences on a girl's reputation. It is not, however, a morality tale. We see how Deanna is seduced and we also see that the older boy is not as heartless as he first appears. The book also describes the effect of this experience on all aspects of Deanna's life--her family, her friendships, her perception of the future. Ultimately, she learns how others forgive her and how she can forgive herself. The ending is especially good because it is not neatly tied up. It's ambiguity, while hopeful, feels realistic.

When Deanna's father catches her having sex in a car when she is 13, her life is drastically changed. Two years later, he still can't look her in the eye, and though Tommy is the only boy she's been with, she is branded the school slut. Her entire family watches her as though she is likely to sleep with anyone she sees, and Tommy still smirks at and torments her when she sees him. Her two best friends have recently begun dating, and Deanna feels like an intruder. She tries to maintain a close relationship with her older brother, but Darren and his girlfriend are struggling as teenage parents. Deanna learns to protect herself by becoming outwardly tough, but feels her isolation acutely. Her only outlet is her journal in which she writes show more the story of an anonymous girl who has the same experiences and feelings that she does. Through this, readers see the potential that Deanna cannot identify in herself. This is a heartbreaking look at how a teenager can be defined by one mistake, and how it shapes her sense of self-worth. show less

Relatable.

This book is a reminder that you can’t run from yourself. No matter where you go, you’re still going to be you— and you’ll still have to deal with the things you are trying to run from.

It’s also a reminder that we all wish sometimes that we could change the way people see us. Once someone puts a label on you in their head, it’s there and it’s really hard to change. Deanna didn’t want her dad to see her as that girl in the backseat of an older guy’s car. But that’s what he saw when he looked at her. Can you ever change something like that? I think this book gives hope that you can, but even if you don’t, you still have to move on anyway.

It’s been 10 years since I read this book and it’s stark and show more honest as ever. I wish I had this book as a teen— it would’ve changed my life. Even as a 20-something and now a 30-something, it still had a pretty big impact.

I would love to be the girl on the waves, paddling away from all the bullshit.

Bonus: Sara Zarr narrates the audio & it’s perfection. show less

Story of a Girl starts out with the main character, Deanna Lambert, being caught by her father having sex with a 17-year old boy when she is 13. The rest of the book takes place when Deanna is 16, during the summer between her sophomore and junior year in high school.

While the book does deal with the decision of why Deanna decided to have sex so young and the consequences of that choice and being caught, it is about so much more. It also explores how she deals with the image others have constructed of her as a slut and what her own image of herself is. The book also looks at the repercussions of the choice in Deanna's family and her friendships. Although the book does go to some emotionally trying places, the journey is utterly show more worthwhile.

I loved this book. It's realistic YA fiction at its best. The characters feel real and the plot is well-paced and believable. Moreover, despite her flaws and some of her poor decisions, Deanna is a wonderful character whom I just wanted to hug and tell that things would get better. Best of all, the book is a wonderful mixture of sweet, sad, and hopeful. If you enjoy YA, go out and read this book now. Also, read Sweethearts which is equally good. show less

I am surprised this book didn't receive an overall higher rating. I found it almost painfully realistic, but not without a sense of humor. Deanna is a teen living in a family full of disappointments. Her Dad was laid off from his job at the paper mill and though he works, has never recovered from that loss. Her brother Darren is a teenaged parent, living in the basement with his wife, Stacy, and their baby, April. And Deanna is the biggest disappointment--school slut. Her reputation was ruined forever in 8th grade when her father found her with an older boy, and in her small town of Pacifica, labels stick. Between her classmates opinions of her, and her father's terrible ongoing judgment of her, she can barely hold her head up. The show more story is set in the summer of her 17th year, four years after the event that has stunted her life. During this summer, Deanna comes to terms with her reputation in a way that seems believable and satisfying to me. Others change along with her. I found it to be a brave and beautiful story. show less

God I loved this book. I stumbled on this book by looking at a friend's (Catie's) profile page and seeing that this book was listed as one of her favorites. Well, I can never go wrong with reading one of Catie's favorites. The topic that this story addresses is very sensitive, very personal and done very well. (very very very).

Deanna is taken advantage of by her older brother's friend when she is only in middle school. Her parents know about it, everyone at school knows about it and as a result, she is labeled a slut by her father and all her classmates. Deanna is growing up in a family that seems to struggle financially and in a town without much hope. There is so much about this storyline that reminded me of my hometown and my high show more school. Because of this, mid-story I recommended this book to a friend from high school and I believe the story resonated with her as well.

What is it about judging high school girls based on the sex they may have had or did not have? Does this still happen or is it a thing of the past? 8th grade and up can be such tough years for girls. There is so much need, hope and doubt in girls those age. There is desire to experiment with new things and to push boundaries. I remember the conflict and the hurt well. Zarr captures it perfectly.

And I know this book is not just about judgment of sexual behavior, it is about a young girl who was so insecure and needy that she fell prey to an older boy who saw the neediness and vulnerability in her. It is about parents who fail to love unconditionally and instead judge and are extremely conditional with affection.

I do not want to give the storyline away. But just know this is a beautiful and extremely personal book. Zarr writes Deanna's character so well. You will hate her father, you will hope for her and get frustrated with her. I loved it and highly recommend this book. My daughter (13 years old) is slightly too young for this story, but I look forward to sharing it with her when she is a few years older. show less

Some books are written about lovable characters who you admire and root for. Some are written about flawed characters like Deanna, and the author's purpose in such cases is to make us, readers, not to love, but maybe understand them.

I realize why Story of a Girl received such mixed reviews. Not every reader cares to get to know someone like Deanna. She is a loser, she is a bad friend, she is a slut, right? It is so much easier to call her all these names and be done with her. Too bad, girls like her are everywhere you look. Open any YA book and here she is - an incorrigible slut and a rotten person.

The thing is, I have a problem with the notion that a 13-year girl caught having sex in a car with a 17-year old guy (or any girl for that show more matter) is a slut. I am sorry, but I am not willing to put this ugly label on a child who has no emotional or intellectual capacity to consent to sex. If nothing else, Sara Zarr highlights the psychological immaturity of girls like Deanna and that sex is not something that they want to do, but a means to satisfy their need for intimacy, companionship and attention that they don't get from their families and friends. Zarr addresses these issues with a lot of understanding, care and compassion.

I can't be mad at or dismissive of Deannas of this world. Instead, I feel a lot of sadness towards them. Not only their reputations are ruined, but their years of childhood are lost and their innocence is tarnished forever. I hope they can get over their skewed views of what intimacy is and move on to be better, happier people. I want them to succeed. show less