The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis is a complex exploration of modern-day rape culture ridden with morally ambiguous characters. The story’s protagonist, Alex Craft, is no exception. She lives with the fact that her sister was raped and killed only a few years prior to the book’s beginning, and even though all signs pointed to one culprit, the murderer was able to walk free. Alex now serves as a tragic reminder of the most gruesome crime her small town has ever witnessed, making her a social pariah within her community, but Alex prefers it that way. Because despite her longing for a normal life, she knows that there is something fundamentally wrong with her, something that makes it possible for her to kill her sister’s murderer and get away with it. Readers follow Alex as she navigates high school in the aftermath of her crime, and, despite her better instincts, develops deep emotional relationships with other people her age.

The book is told through the distinct perspectives of the three central characters: Alex, her new best friend, PeeKay, and popular kid extraordinaire, Jack. Each character was fully fleshed out, with obvious flaws and just enough redeeming qualities to make them likable. Even the story’s side characters were three-dimensional, a rare feature for a YA novel. The characters were the focus of the story, as opposed to the plot, and I found myself relating to their moments of vulnerability and insecurity.

As mentioned previously, the book focuses on analyzing the culture surrounding rape and other instances of sexual assault. There are quite a few descriptions of sexual assault within the book, but none of them are overly graphic. However, I would still say this book isn’t entirely suitable for elementary and early middle schoolers. The depictions of trauma, mental health, and sexual assault can be extremely dark and complex, especially for younger audiences.

This book is also a decidedly feminist narrative, although it doesn’t state to be one outright. Alex, as a person who spent much of her young adult life as an outcast observing other teenagers, can boil down the cruelty of teenage interaction into the simplest of terms. She speaks in favor of supporting other girls, instead of competing with them for asinine reasons. Being a social leper means that she isn’t working to impress or assimilate with others. Instead, she devotes her energy to defending and uplifting the other female characters of the story.

Overall, The Female of the Species left me absolutely reeling with its stunning emotion and complexity. It raised my expectations for realistic YA novels, and I haven’t been able to move on from it for weeks. Five out of five stars. I would have devoured it even if it was a thousand pages long.

Review by: Kristine S, 11th Grade

—Amanda Charles, Young Adult Librarian, Central Library, Teen'Scape