Official Review: Too Bad She's a Girl by J W Templeman

[MrsCatInTheHat]

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

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3 out of 4 stars

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JW Templeman’s Too Bad She’s A Girl takes us back a bit to the nostalgia of post WWII and small town living. Some of the nostalgia is good and makes us crave things from the past. Some of it reminds us of how things have improved in society regarding certain social issues.

Shawnee Bluff, Kentucky is a small but growing town, attracting young veterans and their families to a wholesome life of God, country and good living. It’s a place where children explore their world: playing in creeks and along the railroad tracks, then coming home for meals and heading back out again.”. Much of their lives revolve around pick-up baseball games and traipsing through creeks and fields, creating fun and trouble along the way.

Patty Jo and her brother, Rusty, are among the children that roam the town. Patty Jo loves to join the boys in their many antics, as well as on the ball field. Her father often expresses his wish that his daughter, who shows interest in lawn mowing, mechanics and playing ball, was a boy. In that time period, girls just did not do those things. Coach Mack sees her talents and wonders if she could pass as a boy in the big game against the rival team, Olive Hill. He sets his plan in action, making most of the team wonder if this girl is going to make him look bad. Her parents have somewhat predictable reactions to her farce. Patty Jo, despite liking to play with the boys, is also a compassionate soul. A new girl, Flannery, has come to town. Flannery is staying with relatives while she has her illegitimate baby. Back then, it was common for girls to go visit out-of-town family when they were in “trouble”. Patty Jo and a local boy, Nick, become Flannery’s only friends.

Another vital subplot is that of alcoholism and its impact on families. When a father deals with his war wounds through alcohol abuse, it affects not only his family but also those around him. In Too Bad She’s A Girl, we see how friends and mothers, as well as the immediate family deal with what was then considered a weakness and a sin, but we also see how they deal with it together. Additionally, the story explores the view of sin and having children outside of marriage, as Flannery becomes a part of the town’s life. We see how people, as well as the Church, reacted to her sins. In today’s world, some of their reactions would be inconceivable, but some are more forward thinking than we might have expected in the 1950s.

I rate this story 3 out of 4 stars. The basic story is interesting and gives one quite a bit to think about in regards to how society has changed over the years. However, many scenes, especially those set in the family home, seemed repetitive. Less of those scenes would have helped to keep focus on the primary story lines. From a sociological perspective, one can really get a good picture at how different groups in society viewed things such as sin and out of wedlock marriage a mere sixty years ago. It is so different today. Anyone who enjoys seeing those differences and the progress we have made since then would enjoy this story.

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Too Bad She's a Girl
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[SpiderDreamer1]

This sounds like a very interesting recommendation. Looking at social issues in earlier time periods is always fascinating because you expect some things to have changed and yet many haven't, or certain people in those earlier time periods were more tolerant than you would think. You mentioned some scenes being repetitive; is it just the scenes of family and play, or are some other emotional beats hammered in more than they should be?

[MrsCatInTheHat]

This sounds like a very interesting recommendation. Looking at social issues in earlier time periods is always fascinating because you expect some things to have changed and yet many haven't, or certain people in those earlier time periods were more tolerant than you would think. You mentioned some scenes being repetitive; is it just the scenes of family and play, or are some other emotional beats hammered in more than they should be?

It was fascinating to see who was accepting and who wasn't. We still have this today but far more are accepting of differences and people's problems than they used to be. As far as scene repetition, it was more the scenes with family, hanging out in their living room that just seemed the same every time I came across them. The emotional scenes were well done and at an appropriate frequency for the story line.

[lane_vespertine]

I read the first ten or fifteen pages of this book awhile back and simply could not get into it.
I'm glad it picked up a bit after that for your sake!
Anyway, very good review!

[Wasif Ahmed]

This does not seem like a book I might enjoy. Nonetheless the review was well written.

[MrsCatInTheHat]

I read the first ten or fifteen pages of this book awhile back and simply could not get into it.
I'm glad it picked up a bit after that for your sake!
Anyway, very good review!

I think this is why reading reviews can be so helpful. Often, the first few pages don't show me what I need to know before delving into a story.

[SpiderDreamer1]

This sounds like a very interesting recommendation. Looking at social issues in earlier time periods is always fascinating because you expect some things to have changed and yet many haven't, or certain people in those earlier time periods were more tolerant than you would think. You mentioned some scenes being repetitive; is it just the scenes of family and play, or are some other emotional beats hammered in more than they should be?

It was fascinating to see who was accepting and who wasn't. We still have this today but far more are accepting of differences and people's problems than they used to be. As far as scene repetition, it was more the scenes with family, hanging out in their living room that just seemed the same every time I came across them. The emotional scenes were well done and at an appropriate frequency for the story line.

We've come a long way, certainly, though there are areas where people refuse to change their outdated mindsets and we can always improve. But the comparison is certainly interesting. And I can see why those scenes would be repetitive.

[MrsCatInTheHat]

We've come a long way, certainly, though there are areas where people refuse to change their outdated mindsets and we can always improve. But the comparison is certainly interesting. And I can see why those scenes would be repetitive.

I think this is one of the best parts about the book, seeing how society's mindset has changed overall, for the better. Yes, there are pockets of society that have outdated mindsets but overall, society is open minded and cares far more about the child than how the child got there, as one element of the book demonstrates.

[bookowlie]

Great review! I like historical fiction as it gives me a glimpse of what life was like in another time period. It's always nice to learn something new about social and other issues of the era. Since this is in the Young Adult genre, I wonder if teens are interested in this type of book, since so many teens like sci-fi or fantasy nowadays.

[MrsCatInTheHat]

Great review! I like historical fiction as it gives me a glimpse of what life was like in another time period. It's always nice to learn something new about social and other issues of the era. Since this is in the Young Adult genre, I wonder if teens are interested in this type of book, since so many teens like sci-fi or fantasy nowadays.

I was surprised to discover this listed as Young Adult. I think it would be more appealing to older adults, who have seen times change, as it really gives one much to think about as one reads. I constantly wandered off from reading, thinking about the changes I've seen, the changes that still need to be made, etc. It would be an excellent book for a sociology class!

[bookowlie]

Great review! I like historical fiction as it gives me a glimpse of what life was like in another time period. It's always nice to learn something new about social and other issues of the era. Since this is in the Young Adult genre, I wonder if teens are interested in this type of book, since so many teens like sci-fi or fantasy nowadays.

I was surprised to discover this listed as Young Adult. I think it would be more appealing to older adults, who have seen times change, as it really gives one much to think about as one reads. I constantly wandered off from reading, thinking about the changes I've seen, the changes that still need to be made, etc. It would be an excellent book for a sociology class!

I once did a review for a children's picture book and it was listed in the General Fiction genre. Although the story had a universal message, I'm not sure adults would want to read a children's picture book.

[MrsCatInTheHat]

I once did a review for a children's picture book and it was listed in the General Fiction genre. Although the story had a universal message, I'm not sure adults would want to read a children's picture book.

Good point. The story does focus on teens and kids but some of the adults are more than just background figures so I think there could be interest in it from a variety of ages. Really depends on how it's presented.

[AA1495]

Great review! Agree with your point about the repetitiveness of some scenes. Thank You for the well written review!

[MrsCatInTheHat]

Great review! Agree with your point about the repetitiveness of some scenes. Thank You for the well written review!

The repetitiveness was distracting at times but the story was overall a good read. Especially from a sociological standpoint, which is one of my favorite aspects to analyze in life.

[kandscreeley]

This sounds like a unique storyline. I'm not quite that old, so I don't remember when things were like that. It sounds like it is a good look book. Too bad about the repetition. BTW, I like your new avatar.