Jesse's girl
I had planned to post this on Valentine's Day, as I originally imagined this book to be a romantic love story between two high schoolers. But then I read it. In the end, I decided a V-Day tie-in would be pushing it. I will attempt to tell you why.
As a fifteen-year-old out lesbian, Jesse could have it worse. She has supportive parents and a best friend, Wyatt, who actually had to drop out of school because of bullying. Most of all, Jesse has Emily. Emily is nothing like the tomboyish, rough-around-the-edges Jesse: she's clean-cut, productive, orderly, and sweet to everyone. Their lust for one another, however, is undeniable. Every Tuesday, the two meet for an electrifying - and very secret - make-out session. There are complications: Emily has a long-term boyfriend and aspirations to live the kind of conventional life Jesse finds stifling. Enter Esther, an enthusiastic activist freshman who alerts Jesse to the large corporation that's trying to move in on their home turf - specifically, Vander High. When Jesse finds out that Emily is responsible for this, she doesn't know what to think. Should she fight for her beliefs, like Esther urges her to, or should she quit and try to salvage what little relationship she and Emily share?
I'm going to have a lot to say about this book, and when it's all said and done my rating might not make sense. Or it might. Who knows? But for a few reasons, this book really stirred something up in me.
Make no mistake: this is Jesse's story. Of all the well-written surly teenagers out there, Jesse might be one of the most relatable. I loved being inside her head with her messy thoughts. I felt like I could be friends with her. She can snarl, but she doesn't mind trying to be friendly. Her toughness is malleable; she can be intimidated, but she'll bite back - sometimes for no reason at all. Growing up with a lawyer mom and a therapist dad, she knows the concept of debate tactics and can recognize a probing question, but in practice she still stumbles. There's a great scene around the time of the climax where her parents coax the truth out of her by being patient and knowing when to be firm and gentle. It's nice to see parents being used that way in a teen novel. Esther also has her moments as a Joan of Ark-worshipping, manically upbeat peacenik. Her continuous encouragement of Jesse comes from her belief in the goodness of humanity. She has a backstory full of tragedy, and it's heavily implied that she's still reeling from it. But this just makes her character more of a bright spot in a story that is dead-set on the concept of the theme of "something is lost, something is gained."
My criticisms for the most part center around Emily. Oh, Emily. From the word go - well, chapter two - my expectations for her slowly slipped downward. Poor Emily. It's obvious from the way she is written that while she is smart, outgoing, genuine, and ambitious, there is something going on underneath the surface that she cannot or will not acknowledge. Her attitudes and behaviors range from mild to very pleased. She is always in control, and if she feels it slipping, she knows the right breathing exercises to do so that she can calm down and regain it. She is steadfast to a fault - except when she's being manipulative or duplicitous. Don't get me wrong - this is a fascinating, masterful character study. But that's all it is. Does Emily learn anything about herself? Does she know or care what she's doing to Jesse is wrong and, as I said, manipulative? The summary of Difference would like you to believe that this is a story about Emily and Jesse, how they grow and change and make difficult choices. Well, Jesse grows and changes. And in my opinion, the one decision she makes never seemed that hard in the first place.
Part of this is, I think, due to a rushed ending, which takes the reader by surprise. The build-up for it, emotionally at least, is subtle and not well defined. Jesse has a very nice moment at the very end with Emily, but again - it's Jesse's moment. And it's even earned. But it feels too tidy, and a little limp. I feel it's important to state that I don't hate Emily as a character - I care about her a lot. But the severe lack of arc for her character is a significant flaw, only serving to make Jesse's growth appear all the more important.
Bottom line: if you're looking for, say, the lesbian version of Eleanor and Park, this won't satisfy you. But I still recommend The Difference Between You and Me and Madeleine George's earlier (and superior) work, Looks (my review). Love stories are hard to come by, but a good yarn about speaking your mind and finding a good friend in the process is a decent replacement. Rating: 3.5 manifestos out of 5.
I'm going to have a lot to say about this book, and when it's all said and done my rating might not make sense. Or it might. Who knows? But for a few reasons, this book really stirred something up in me.
Make no mistake: this is Jesse's story. Of all the well-written surly teenagers out there, Jesse might be one of the most relatable. I loved being inside her head with her messy thoughts. I felt like I could be friends with her. She can snarl, but she doesn't mind trying to be friendly. Her toughness is malleable; she can be intimidated, but she'll bite back - sometimes for no reason at all. Growing up with a lawyer mom and a therapist dad, she knows the concept of debate tactics and can recognize a probing question, but in practice she still stumbles. There's a great scene around the time of the climax where her parents coax the truth out of her by being patient and knowing when to be firm and gentle. It's nice to see parents being used that way in a teen novel. Esther also has her moments as a Joan of Ark-worshipping, manically upbeat peacenik. Her continuous encouragement of Jesse comes from her belief in the goodness of humanity. She has a backstory full of tragedy, and it's heavily implied that she's still reeling from it. But this just makes her character more of a bright spot in a story that is dead-set on the concept of the theme of "something is lost, something is gained."
My criticisms for the most part center around Emily. Oh, Emily. From the word go - well, chapter two - my expectations for her slowly slipped downward. Poor Emily. It's obvious from the way she is written that while she is smart, outgoing, genuine, and ambitious, there is something going on underneath the surface that she cannot or will not acknowledge. Her attitudes and behaviors range from mild to very pleased. She is always in control, and if she feels it slipping, she knows the right breathing exercises to do so that she can calm down and regain it. She is steadfast to a fault - except when she's being manipulative or duplicitous. Don't get me wrong - this is a fascinating, masterful character study. But that's all it is. Does Emily learn anything about herself? Does she know or care what she's doing to Jesse is wrong and, as I said, manipulative? The summary of Difference would like you to believe that this is a story about Emily and Jesse, how they grow and change and make difficult choices. Well, Jesse grows and changes. And in my opinion, the one decision she makes never seemed that hard in the first place.
Part of this is, I think, due to a rushed ending, which takes the reader by surprise. The build-up for it, emotionally at least, is subtle and not well defined. Jesse has a very nice moment at the very end with Emily, but again - it's Jesse's moment. And it's even earned. But it feels too tidy, and a little limp. I feel it's important to state that I don't hate Emily as a character - I care about her a lot. But the severe lack of arc for her character is a significant flaw, only serving to make Jesse's growth appear all the more important.
Bottom line: if you're looking for, say, the lesbian version of Eleanor and Park, this won't satisfy you. But I still recommend The Difference Between You and Me and Madeleine George's earlier (and superior) work, Looks (my review). Love stories are hard to come by, but a good yarn about speaking your mind and finding a good friend in the process is a decent replacement. Rating: 3.5 manifestos out of 5.
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