"McGinnis' visceral and emotional tale features a strong, stubborn, and alarmingly capable protagonist with unwavering respect for the natural world... Impossible to put down." — Kirkus Reviews
"This is absolute catnip for fans of survival stories... an absolute firecracker of a narrator, wickedly funny, deeply knowledgeable about the woods, and insightful about the wilderness of teenage interactions... Readers not quite ready for Strayed’s Wild may want to start their journey here." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"McGinnis is known for writing tough female protagonists and gritty realism, and she holds nothing back in this latest novel. Ashley is angry, vulnerable, smart, and compelling, and her journey is marked by setbacks, terror, and plenty of gross-out moments. This captivating, fast-paced novel is Hatche t for an older crowd. Highly recommended where adventure and survival fiction are popular." — School Library Journal
“A harrowing and life-affirming journey of transformation.” — ALA Booklist
Praise for The Female of the Species : “[A] gripping story that should be read and discussed by teens, as well as those who work with them.” — ALA Booklist (starred review)
“Each word has been specifically chosen, each character superbly and humanly sculpted, the plot line masterfully completed. McGinnis plays with the readers and they are at her mercy.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (starred review)
“McGinnis gracefully avoids the pitfalls of creating a teenage vigilante, instead maintaining a sense of piercing realism.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“An unflinching look at rape culture and its repercussions.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“This is an astoundingly dark but beautifully written tragedy.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
“[I]t’s raw. Not “raw for YA.” Real-deal raw. And violent. And unforgettable. McGinnis explores both and she goes there in a way no one really has before in YA.” — The Globe and Mail
“Your heart may still be pounding after you’ve finished this book.” — New York Times Book Review
Praise for Heroine : “[A] realistic portrayal of how easy it is to develop an opiate addiction and the very real consequences of addiction. A timely and important message for teens everywhere.” — ALA Booklist
“A compassionate, compelling, and terrifying story about a high school softball player’s addiction to opioids. The writing is visceral, and following Mickey as she rationalizes about her addiction is educative and frightening. A cautionary tale that exposes the danger of prescription medications by humanizing one victim of America’s current epidemic.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Praise for This Darkness Mine : “Rich imagery and a ruthless protagonist propel the novel forward to its shocking, ominous conclusion.” — ALA Booklist
Praise for A Madness So Discreet : “McGinnis excels at rich character development; every person readers meet makes a dramatic impact on the story and on Grace.” — School Library Journal
“McGinnis can surely tell a story.” — USA Today
Praise for Not a Drop to Drink : “The intensity of action moves the story forward, but not at the expense of character development. The honest and hopeful ending-while not ‘happily ever after’—will resonate with readers and leave them asking for more.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
“Those in search of fierce female survivalist characters need look no further than this.” — ALA Booklist
Praise for The Female of the Species : “[A] gripping story that should be read and discussed by teens, as well as those who work with them.”
ALA Booklist (starred review)
"This is absolute catnip for fans of survival stories... an absolute firecracker of a narrator, wickedly funny, deeply knowledgeable about the woods, and insightful about the wilderness of teenage interactions... Readers not quite ready for Strayed’s Wild may want to start their journey here."
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Each word has been specifically chosen, each character superbly and humanly sculpted, the plot line masterfully completed. McGinnis plays with the readers and they are at her mercy.
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (starred review)
A harrowing and life-affirming journey of transformation.
[I]t’s raw. Not “raw for YA.” Real-deal raw. And violent. And unforgettable. McGinnis explores both and she goes there in a way no one really has before in YA.
Your heart may still be pounding after you’ve finished this book.
New York Times Book Review
McGinnis can surely tell a story.
Praise for Not a Drop to Drink : “The intensity of action moves the story forward, but not at the expense of character development. The honest and hopeful ending-while not ‘happily ever after’—will resonate with readers and leave them asking for more.
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
McGinnis can surely tell a story.
"This is absolute catnip for fans of survival stories... an absolute firecracker of a narrator, wickedly funny, deeply knowledgeable about the woods, and insightful about the wilderness of teenage interactions... Readers not quite ready for Strayed’s Wild may want to start their journey here."
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"This is absolute catnip for fans of survival stories... an absolute firecracker of a narrator, wickedly funny, deeply knowledgeable about the woods, and insightful about the wilderness of teenage interactions... Readers not quite ready for Strayed’s Wild may want to start their journey here."
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
01/01/2020
Gr 10 Up— Seventeen-year-old Ashley is comfortable in the Tennessee wilderness, having grown up camping, hiking, and hunting in the Smokies. Her mother left when she was young, and while her father could not always afford to buy food or clothes, he did teach her survival skills. In Ashley's own words, she's on everyone's apocalypse-survival team. One summer night, Ashley and her friends hike into the wilderness to throw a party deep in the Smokies. In their remote small town, friendships are based more on geography than common interests, and Ashley quickly becomes annoyed by and insecure about the actions of some of the people at the party. When she stumbles upon her boyfriend having sex with his ex-girlfriend in the woods, Ashley takes off running. Drunk, devastated, and shoeless, Ashley sustains a serious injury before passing out. When she wakes, she realizes that she is lost in the wilderness without any supplies, and it will be days before anyone realizes that she's in trouble. She begins the journey to find her way home, contending with infection, starvation, thirst, and wild animals along the way. McGinnis is known for writing tough female protagonists and gritty realism, and she holds nothing back in this latest novel. Ashley is angry, vulnerable, smart, and compelling, and her journey is marked by setbacks, terror, and plenty of gross-out moments. VERDICT This captivating, fast-paced novel is Hatchet for an older crowd. Highly recommended where adventure and survival fiction are popular.—Liz Overberg, Zionsville Community High School, IN
2019-12-08
Seventeen-year-old cross-country star Ashley Hawkins and her friends Meredith and Kavita are looking forward to a night of camping and drinking beer with classmates along the Appalachian Trail. Ashley wants to spend time with her boyfriend, Duke, but when his ex, Natalie, shows up, Ashley is less than thrilled. When she catches them together later that night, Ashley punches Duke in the face and flees headlong into disaster: A boulder crushes part of her foot, and to her horror, she soon realizes that she's far from camp and very much alone. In the grueling days that follow, with infection setting in and no supplies at hand, Ashley battles hunger and the elements while reflecting on her life, from her mother's abandonment to her underprivileged upbringing, as well as on a young man who disappeared in these very woods two years ago. McGinnis' (Heroine , 2019, etc.) visceral and emotional tale features a strong, stubborn, and alarmingly capable protagonist with unwavering respect for the natural world, and if a few twists rely a bit too much on coincidence, readers will likely be too invested in Ashley's fate to mind. All major characters seem to be white except Indian American Kavita, the only student of color at their school.Impossible to put down. (Fiction. 13-18)
