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Parents' Guide to

The Nowhere Girls

By Samara Meyer, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Teens aim to end school's rape culture in empowering tale.

Book Amy Reed Coming of Age 2017
The Nowhere Girls Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 17+

Based on 1 parent review

LaurieM 1
LaurieM 1 Adult
January 23, 2021
age 17+

Empowering tale with a lot of unnecessary and demeaning stereotypes

The second half of this book was great. Erin is a well developed character that gives the reader a bit of understanding about Aspergers. The girls come together and support each other. I liked how it showed many female points of view. That said, the first half of the book is full of nasty stereotypes of "conservative Christians" They are all backward, selfish, and mean. The women are portrayed as weak. This book gives the impression that all men are predators. There isn't one well developed male character.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

When THE NOWHERE GIRLS begins, Grace Salter is the new girl in town who just wants to blend in, Rosina Suarez relies on apathy to deal with the strict expectations of her overbearing mother, and Erin Dillelo relates more to characters on Star Trek than she does to the real people in her life. The girls struggle with stress from school, social expectations, and relationships with their parents. In the face of their personal challenges, the three unlikely friends are united by a call to action when Grace learns the story of Lucy Moynahan, a freshman girl who was chased out of town after accusing the school’s three most popular boys of gang rape. Grace convinces Erin and Rosina to help seek justice for Lucy -- but without popularity to gain the favor of their peers, the trio take to the internet, where they form the Nowhere Girls, a support and feminist activist group. Soon the Nowhere Girls grows from an anonymous email chain into a force to be reckoned with that has their whole school and town picking sides in the fight for justice.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (4 ):

Author Amy Reed brings depth and authenticity to this transformative story of friendship and activism. With heartfelt sensitivity for survivors of sexual assault and a deep understanding of the complexities of teen girlhood, Reed features a range of perspectives while smoothly transitioning between narrative voices. Identities often sorely misrepresented in popular media -- like working class, queer, immigrant, and disabled characters -- are multidimensional and treated with respect here. Teens can find a lot to relate to in this diverse cast, who realistically juggle the social pressures of high school, family stress, and their own insecurities.

The Nowhere Girls’ many challenging topics are balanced by the well-developed, wonderfully uplifting character arcs of the three main characters, which will have readers rooting for them from the very first chapter. Grace, Erin, and Rosina are by no means perfect, but they're smart, enjoyable narrators with unique personalities and believable strengths and flaws. Reed is honest and convincing in her portrayal of each girl's journey of personal growth, emphasizing the importance of supportive friendships and speaking up for your beliefs without resorting to cringe-worthy cliches. It is truly touching to witness the Nowhere Girls, with all their differences, unite around a single cause and encourage one another to speak their truths, pursue their passions, and understand their self-worth as girls and as leaders. This is a tremendous, refreshingly nuanced story of girls working together to achieve positive change within themselves and in the world around them that's sure to inspire anyone who picks it up.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how The Nowhere Girls explores the issue of consent and sexual assault. How do you think this book compares with other books, movies, or TV shows that deal with these topics?

  • What did you learn about feminism in The Nowhere Girls that you didn't already know? What do you think feminism means to each character? What does feminism mean to you?

  • If you could form an activist group like the Nowhere Girls, what would you fight for? What would you call yourselves?

  • There's lots of swearing and other harsh language in The Nowhere Girls. Do you think this accurately reflects how teens talk these days? What would you do if you heard someone you know use offensive or hurtful language?

Book Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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