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Summary
Summary
The Field Guide to the North American Teenager meets Derry Girls in this hilarious and relatable young adult novel in diary entries about a British teen determined to be a good feminist and her charming, embarrassing, and inspiring journey to figuring out how.
At fifteen, Kat Evans is still sorting it all out, and that includes being a good feminist (and, by extension, a good human).
She promises herself that this school year, she'll be making changes to her life that will make her less of a walking disaster, like: 1) keeping her diary every day as all the top journalists and writers do; 2) stop obsessing over her crush Hot Josh because she doesn't need a man to complete her; 3) stop stalking said Hot Josh on Instagram and accidentally liking his pictures; 4) somehow managing to stop worrying about every single thing in her life; and, most importantly, 5) SMASHING THE PATRIARCHY--that is, after she figures out what it is and how one goes about dismantling it.
And though Kat may lack the grace it requires to meet her goals, she makes up for that with plenty of good humor as she stumbles through high school with all its bullies, parties, and crippling moments of self-doubt. With the help of her best friends, her parents, and her diary, Kat may figure out how to be a cool, fun feminist yet.
Author Notes
Kate Weston is a former stand-up comedian who still gigs from time to time and likes nothing more than a proper giggle. She lives in London with her partner and adorable cat Angus. Diary of a Confused Feminist is her debut novel.
Reviews (3)
Publisher's Weekly Review
In this winsome comedy told via diary entries spanning four months by British author Weston (Murder on a School Night), Kat Evans, 15 and cued white, balances her desire to be an "excellent feminist" with her crush on popular new student and model Hot Josh, who reads as white. Kat relates her yearning to advocate for the #MeToo movement following the 2018 Golden Globes as well as awkward happenings experienced by her and her best friends Millie, of Greek heritage, and Sam, of Trinidadian descent, such as Kat accidently flinging her menstrual cup onto the school playground. When Millie and Sam acquire boyfriends, and Kat's white-coded neighbor Matt ghosts her, her confidence is shaken; subsequent lies and a hurtful prank from a school bully prompt Kat to turn further inward and withdraw from her friends, dramatically affecting her mental health. Though some romantic tropes wear thin, Kat's struggle to balance her personal life with her call to activism is affecting. Weston addresses sensitive issues of anxiety, compulsive behaviors, and depression with clarity and tact through intricate and deftly timed comedic scenarios, as well as Kat's engaging voice, which evokes Bridget Jones by way of a self-deprecating adolescent. Ages 14--up. (Jan.)
Booklist Review
Kat Evans, 15, not only records events and observations in her diary, she takes notes on her progress as a feminist, including her "unfeminist" thoughts. Some of her efforts are less than successful, such as trying to paint #TIMESUP on the asphalt in the schoolyard (she only gets as far as #TIM before she is apprehended). She constantly compares herself to her best friends and fellow feminists, Sam and Millie, especially after they acquire boyfriends. She has a wistful and unrequited eye on a boy she calls "Hot Josh," and any effort to gain his attention ends disastrously. Kat experiences multiple humiliations, but with the assistance of a therapist who is also helping her with crippling panic attacks, in addition to the support of her friends and family, she rallies triumphantly. Kat is wickedly funny, even when describing her mishaps, and an engaging, sympathetic character. She is surrounded by loving and loyal friends and family, even at her lowest. Overall, this is a laugh-out-loud novel about a witty and wonderful young woman.
Kirkus Review
Activism and laugh-out-loud hijinks abound in this diary-format novel about an aspiring teen journalist with anxiety. Kat Evans, nearly 16, lives in a quiet English town and worries a great deal, especially about being left behind by her friends, who are pairing up with romantic partners. Kat's three best friends work hard to support her: Millie is an actress who's determined to be cast as Juliet in the school play, Sam is a talented artist, and Matt is Kat's neighbor and a popular out gay classmate. The story opens in early September. After learning more about feminism from Kat's and Matt's mums, Kat, Millie, and Sam decide to spray-paint "#TimesUp" on the tarmac at school to commemorate the 2018 Golden Globes #MeToo protest. Unfortunately, they're caught by the principal after only having completed "#Tim," giving their creepy classmate Tim Matthews the wrong idea. Mishaps and feminist acts of rebellion continue throughout. The humor is well done, featuring over-the-top yet believable scenarios and Kat's relatable and detailed inner-monologue responses. Kat's family is warm and supportive, especially once it becomes clear that she needs mental health intervention. Her diary poses authentic questions that interrogate the tenets of feminism in a thought-provoking, accessible way that never feels preachy or overwrought. Sam is Black; other major characters read white. A raucously entertaining examination of feminist principles. (Fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
