I felt like I was holding my breath this entire book. I am always banging on about wanting new stories, and I think this is the first YA story I’ve read that deals with corrective rape… and, I think, also the first YA book I’ve read set in South Africa (I feel like that can’t possibly be true, but I’m coming up with nothing). This is a powerful, harrowing look at the desire to live an authentic life and the many ways taking that risk may be judged and punished. What follows is devastating, brutal, and heartbreaking. But her increasing boldness and determination to live her life in the open, and her message on the radio about being proud to sing your own song and loving who you love, land her in more trouble than she could have imagined. She’s terrified of being found out, but when she learns about Pride, she desperately wants to take part in the protest and celebration of the event. She’s blissfully happy with Tale, even if they can only hook up in the shadows and must hide their love. Though she’s had a falling out with Janet and her grades are rather terrible, everything else seems to be looking up for Neo. Sid, the station owner, lets Neo have an unpaid internship there that eventually involves her having her own show. Her father works at the security desk at the radio station and takes Neo along to try to prove some kind of point about the reality of working there. Loving music and dreaming of a life in radio is a waste of time. As far as her parents are concerned, Neo’s life should be about school, grades, and good behavior. Her mother eventually installs a padlock on the door to try to stop her from going out (and working under the assumption that she is going out to hear music and meet up with a boy). And I want it all.” She begins sneaking out to meet up with Tale. At one point she thinks, “There is so much more to life than school and work and dirty laundry. She starts to see a bigger world than she knew was possible for her. Tale’s bandmates instantly become Neo’s friends, too, and for the first time in her life, Neo feels a real sense of acceptance and community. She knows being in love with another girl is not something her family (or friends or community) will accept, but that doesn’t stop Neo and Tale from embarking on a lovely, passionate, and semi-secret relationship. When she goes to see Umzi Radio live at a local bar, she develops an enormous crush on Tale, the singer of one of the bands that night. She’s best friends with Janet, absolutely bonkers in love with music, and dreams of hosting her own radio program. I know this book, at some point, deals with corrective rape. Here is all I knew about this book going in: I like Fox.
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