FANGIRL

Rowell, R. (2013). Fangirl: A novel. New York: St. Martin's Griffin.


Three years after its publication this book continues to top the New York Time Bestsellers List and to be selected as an Outstanding Book for Young Adults by YALSA. This is probably due to Rowell’s crisp writing and relatability of her protagonist Cath Avery.

Cath is recent high school graduate who is excited about starting the next chapter of her life with her twin sister, Wren. Wren is the extrovert of the two, and is excited about starting college too, but she is ready to cut the close ties that bind her to her sister. Cath is at a loss when her twin radically changes her appearance and makes sure that she is dormed in a separate building.

The book’s title comes from the Cath’s obsession with fictional characters Simon Snow and Baz Pitch. She and her sister have been obsessed with the characters that can be found in a Harry Potter-esque series. The girls were so obsessed with them that they created fan-fiction about them. Cath began chronicling her story online and surprisingly gathered a huge fan base herself. At the start of the story this is where Cath finds comfort.

Eventually she is forced to live her life and not just make up a fictional one for Simon and Baz. This emergence is partly due to her roommate Reagan who gently bullies her into a friendship and to living a fuller life. A life that includes Levi, the book’s love interest.

Perhaps the books popularity can be attributed to the swoon-worthy romance between the bookish Cath and the considerate yet all too real Levi. In him, Rowell has written a character who is kind and smart, but one that has some questionable moments.

English teachers will find value in this book because there is a strong focus on writing, in particular a focus and the power of finding one’s voice via their writing.