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Mar 24, 2021
5/5 Girl Mans Up is young adult, coming of age story about a 16 year old girl named Pen who struggles with others’ expectations of who she needs to be. Ever since Pen was old enough to make her own decisions about her appearance, she has always hated the idea of “girly” things. She began stealing her brother’s clothes, only hanging out with boys, and dedicating most of her time to video games. Since her parents have very traditional Portuguese backgrounds, they have never approved of the ways Pen chooses to express herself, constantly reminding her of what a lady is supposed to be. Fortunately for Pen, her older brother Johnny has always been protective of her, often taking the blow whenever their mother starts an argument. Pen is happy with the way she dresses, but it makes most people confused. Some suggested that maybe she’s transgender, saying that she must dress and act like a boy because she wants to be one. For Pen, it just isn’t that deep, why can’t everyone just accept her how she is and move on? But once she finally decided to cut her hair, that was the last straw. It started arguments with both her family and friends, forcing Pen to distance herself from them. Now Pen must figure out what kind of people she really wants to be associated with, and who’s really going to accept who she is. This book is amazing for numerous reasons, one of them being the messages it gives teenagers who struggle with who they are and who they want to be. It lets them know that it’s okay to not conform to the typical stereotypes that are constantly being pushed onto them by society. Another message that will really resound with the readers is that if the people you surround yourself with aren’t supportive of the ways you choose to express yourself, it’s okay to distance yourself from them, even if that includes family. Overall, this book is a great read that I would highly recommend to anyone.