Book Review: Rookie on Love edited by Tavi Gevinson

When I’m reviewing books for professional publications, I stay quiet about them on social media. I’m always really excited once a review comes out to be able to talk about the book, finally! Here’s one of my most recent reviews, which originally appeared in the March 2018  School Library Journal Xpress Reviews. 

GEVINSON, Tavi , ed. Rookie on Love. 288p. illus. Penguin/Razorbill. Jan. 2018. pap. $14.95. ISBN 9780448493992.

Gr 9 Up –Essays, comics, poetry, interviews, conversations, advice, and how-to articles examine the ups and downs of affection in young lives in this anthology. Standout pieces include Janet Mock’s advice on crushes and rejection, Jenny Zhang on self-respect and demeaning relationships, Emma Straub’s “Book Love” about books and opening a bookstore, Sukhai Rawlins’s beautiful ode to her Wampanoag grandmother, and John Green and Rainbow Rowell’s conversation about writing about teenagers. Other contributions address digital communication in modern relationships, sibling bonds, confessional letters, emotional fortitude, boundaries, being single, music, dogs, crushes, jealousy, and friends. Most entries are short—only a few pages—and the variety of formats helps the collection feel lively. Black-and-white spot art, with small touches of pink, is scattered throughout, bringing the zinelike feel of Rookie to the page. The inclusion of various kinds of love (for romantic partners, for books, for music, for siblings) with all different outcomes makes for an inclusive reading experience. Readers may most enjoy dipping in and out of this collection or jumping around to find what speaks to them at a particular moment in time. An assortment of teenage Rookie readers, grown-ups, Rookie regular contributors, and high-profile names mean some pieces are more polished than others, but all brim with honesty, passion, and, often, humor. VERDICT An empathetic, genuine, and affirming collection that will attract older teens.

Filed under: Book Reviews