OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Too Bad She's a Girl" by J W Templeman.]

It's 1955 in Shawnee Bluff, Kentucky. Eisenhower is in the White House, World War II is a recent memory, and FDA approval of birth control pills is still five years away. In this coming of age tale, twelve-year-old Patti Jo Williams is better than her little brother Rusty at everything, especially baseball. But in her small town on the southern shore of the Ohio River, she is progressively limited by her sex to those activities reserved for women. Then the new girl Flannery arrives at Sunday school. Patti Jo is the only one to befriend her, and they become fast confidantes in a world full of party lines, soda fountains and little league baseball.

Too Bad She's A Girl is the debut young adult novel from author JW Templeman. Independent heroine Patti Jo is reminiscent of Scout, Atticus's feisty daughter in To Kill A Mockingbird. She is the innocent eye in this tale. She sees hypocrisy and struggles to understand the inconsistencies between people's platitudes and their actions. Patti Jo often gives words to her thoughts unfiltered, and has to suffer the consequences.

Templeman's writing easily draws you in as she paints a portrait of Shawnee Bluff and the people who live there. The story is laced with the classic quick wit and clever turns of phrase southerners are famous for. With an alcoholic philandering father often away for days at a time due to his bus-driving schedule, Patti Jo and her mother Helen share camaraderie that makes her home's stifling atmosphere bearable.

Feminist readers will enjoy this tale for its historical value. The book is a snapshot of an America before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and before Affirmative Action. The women in the story are relegated to child rearing, keeping the home and perpetuating their roles in their daughters. Too Bad She's A Girl is a sweet, funny story addressing issues that everyone can relate to: independence, honesty and loyalty. Patti Jo embodies all of these qualities. She refuses to be put into the box that the townsfolk and her parents try to force on her, and her defiance makes her a loveable, memorable character. As her father is fond of commenting, "If she was a boy she could 'a set the world on fire".

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. This is an excellent debut novel from Templeman. Read this one. You will not be disappointed.

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Too Bad She's a Girl
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Great review! This sounds like a wonderful novel with a very likable protagonist. I love the quote you shared at the end!

Thank you for your response! Yes I really enjoyed this one.

Great Review! This book sounds like a must read!

This sounds like a fantastic novel. Thanks for such a good review!

Sounds like it could also be put under historical fiction. And since I'm a feminist, I think I'm going to like this book. Great job on the review. Congratulations to J W Templeman on such an obviously well written book.

AuthoressofMystery wrote:Great Review! This book sounds like a must read!

Thank you for your response! Definitely a must read. I hope you get the chance to read it and enjoy it as much as I did.

-- September 12th, 2016, 11:39 am --

Kia wrote:This sounds like a fantastic novel. Thanks for such a good review!

It *is* fantastic. I can't say enough good things about it. Hope you get a chance to read this one. Thank you for the reply!

-- September 12th, 2016, 11:41 am --

kimmyschemy06 wrote:Sounds like it could also be put under historical fiction. And since I'm a feminist, I think I'm going to like this book. Great job on the review. Congratulations to J W Templeman on such an obviously well written book.

Yes! It could easily be in the historical fiction genre. Please read this one, I really enjoyed it and hope you will too. I look forward to more from J W Templeman for sure!

Sounds like a sweet tale. I love strong and feisty heroines, like Patti supposed to be. I loved Scout, another selling point for this book. Good job on the review!

Thank you for a brilliant review! I love the time period in which the book is set. I would not call myself a feminist but I do believe women and men should be equal. There is a fine line and I believe some go overboard. God created men and women different for a reason. I love how the main character stands up for what she believes is right. I do not like judgemental bigots and have no tolerance for them. The main character befriends a pregnant teenager during a time when unwed mother-to-be was frowned upon, I believe this is true humanity and we should all love and accept one another.
Sounds like a fascinating read that I cannot wait to get lost in the pages.

Great review! I loved Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird and I like books with a strong setting. Glad you enjoyed the story!

I love reading books that have locations near me! I'm in Kentucky.
Thanks for sharing your review!

I'm glad you enjoyed reading the book. Thank you for the great review!

Now, this sounds like an excellent novel! Thanks for the review =) Good to see someone writing a story that spins a tale of life like this. Normal people in a normal time past doing normal things - this book sounds like pure gold.

After reading this review, it makes me want to read the book. I like when independent girls speak their minds even when society limits their abilities. Even sometimes in the modern south, I see girls put down because they are girls. The southern adage is often "boys will be boys." Well, then what will girls be? I will be interested to read this book to see if I see Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird in this character also.

Great review! I love the comparison to to kill a mockingbird. This book sounds great!