A Girl Undone: A Girl Called Fearless, Book 2
By Andrea Beach,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Angsty, suspenseful sequel is less socially conscious.
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What's the Story?
Avie is still on the run from the Paternalist government. She has evidence of the new political party's wrongdoings, including selling nuclear weapons to a foreign government. She heads to Canada so she can find a way to expose the Paternalists from a safe place. Eventually she's recaptured by Retrievers, thugs hired by her fiancé, who take her back to her life as a trophy and virtual prisoner of the Paternalist candidate for governor. She'll have to decide whether she can live with her decision to save herself or whether she can sacrifice herself to bring an end to the Paternalist's stranglehold on women's lives and personal freedom.
Is It Any Good?
Catherine Linka's follow-up to A Girl Called Fearless is suspenseful and compelling but less meaty than its predecessor. It doesn't explore important social issues as it follows Avie's inner journey to making the right decisions, which gives it a more angsty, hand-wringing feel. Readers who haven't read the first book may feel lost, as some of the recapping of what came before is convoluted and confusing. Details about women's lives under the authoritarian government are rediscovered late in the novel, and, until they are, readers may find themselves wondering what the big deal is. The plotting is not as well structured, with some events seemingly happening at arbitrary moments.
But Avie is still a compelling, strong, believable hero, and teens who enjoyed the first book will enjoy rooting for A GIRL UNDONE as she struggles with choosing between saving herself and trying to help others.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about sequels. If you've read both books, do you think the author had two volumes in mind from the start? Why are sequels and series so popular in all kinds of media (books, TV shows, movies)?
Would you try to run away or stay and continue the fight? If you'd stay, how would you fight for your freedom?
Book Details
- Author: Catherine Linka
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
- Topics: Friendship , Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
- Publication date: June 23, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 13 - 17
- Number of pages: 304
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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