D, A to Z Challenge: DEAR RACHEL MADDOW.

Dear Rachel Maddow by Adrienne Kisner
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

This is the fourth book in my #atozchallenge! I'm challenging myself to read a book from my shelves that starts with each letter of the alphabet. Let's clear those shelves and delve into that backlist!

Brynn Harper doesn't have many constants in her life. But Rachel Maddow is one. After writing an email to Rachel for a school project--and getting a response back--Brynn continues writing emails to Rachel but never sending them. She chronicles her life in high school, stuck in the basement as part of the kids in remedial classes; her brother Nick's death; breaking up with her first girlfriend; and how hard things are at home with her mother and stepfather. And soon, she's telling Rachel about how unfair things are at school, when one of the honors kids tries to steamroll his way to being the student representative for the school board, without giving a voice to all types of kids at the school. Brynn knows this issue would fire up Rachel, but is it worth sticking out her neck and getting involved?

I absolutely loved this book and its heroine, Brynn. It's told all in letters (emails)--"epistolary YA written to a real person," as Kisner says in her acknowledgements. I balked for a second, but I quickly loved the format, because Brynn's unique and witty voice shines through via her letters to Rachel. We get the occasional email from someone else to help convey plot and sometimes comments on her letters from her increasingly exasperated, rueful, and impressed English teacher, Mr. Grimm.

Brynn's in remedial classes after some terrible things have happened, especially her brother Nick's death. His loss is a central theme to the book, and her grief is so startling and realistic. I truly loved this girl with my whole heart.

The lesbian and bisexual rep in this book is strong (so wonderful), as is the fact that it touts powerful women (from Rachel Maddow to Brynn and her posse). It's amazing to read a YA novel that covers politics and females fighting for their shot. Nothing is glossed over here--there aren't pretty endings tied up in bows--but you have to root for Brynn, and you have to be impressed with her willingness to stand up for herself. Especially because it seems like the world is stacked against this kid, a lot.

If you're a Rachel Maddow fan, you'll especially love the novel (obviously) as it calls out little quirks and inside jokes from her show. But you don't have to enjoy Rachel to love this book. I think it would be nearly impossible not to love it, honestly, between spunky Brynn and the fact that it's so easy to get caught up in the plot, the school politics, and the characters. There's a lot of depth and heart to this novel, and I highly recommend it, to teens and adults alike. 4.5 stars.

You can read more about the #atozchallenge here.


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