Not Here to Be Liked

September 15, 2021
Grades 8-11 Vietnamese Chinese American Eliza has always pictured herself on the wall of editors at her school newspaper. But when Len (half Japanese, half white), a newspaper newcomer and former jock, makes an impassioned campaign speech for the position, he wins the title. Told that her credentials are no match for Len's likability, Eliza challenges the election on the grounds of persistent sexism, inspiring her classmates to consider the role of sexism in their school. But even as she becomes somewhat of a feminist activist fighting for her spot on the masthead, she starts to see Len in a new, confusing light. Quach's debut is an interesting meditation on what it means to be a Gen Z feminist. Eliza is such a compelling character not only because so many of her opinions evolve but also because she is so aware of those evolutions as they happen. This mettle-bearing rom-com is ideal for any teenager interested in not just feminist philosophy but also what it means to carry that philosophy into the real world.

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Starred review from August 15, 2021
An upset in the struggle for succession at a high school newspaper sends shock waves far beyond the newsroom. Eliza Quan has spent her high school career in Southern California preparing to assume leadership of the Willoughby Bugle; she's the most qualified, and she's sure she's the best for the job. Her plans are stymied, however, by Len DiMartile, a biracial (White/Japanese) ex-baseball player who apparently joined the Bugle's staff on a whim following an injury and who easily wins the election for editor-in-chief. Eliza is angry--why should likability come before dedication and well-informed goals? Determined to contest the election results, Eliza starts a feminist movement in her high school, forming unlikely partnerships in a quest for justice. In the process Eliza learns that there are no simple answers when fighting for what's right--and that even Len may not be as bad as she believed. Maybe even boyfriend material. The narrative tackles the complications of standing up for yourself without harming others while also exploring other dynamics, including life in a refugee family--Eliza's parents are Chinese Vietnamese--and varying attitudes toward feminism as her mother's pragmatism is contrasted with Eliza's push for systemic change. Eliza's best friend is Black, and, in a school setting that is predominately Asian, activism at the intersection of race and gender is also addressed. Quach skillfully balances all these elements, breathing life into this enemies-to-lovers story. A fresh take on high school and activism. (Fiction. 13-18)

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