Trigger warning: Abuse, self-harm, bulimia 

Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review. 

I think this book did a very good job of showcasing how domestic violence can occur with teens. The last time I recall having a big discussion about this was when that Lifeftime movie starring Fred Savage and Candace Cameron called "No One Would Tell" that followed a young couple in love, but the boy in questions starts abusing the girlfriend. That movie showed how many people knew what was going on and how more people should speak up when they suspect someone they love is being abused. That said, the book's switching POVs among several teen girls was distracting and caused me to not engage as much as I should have while reading. Everything is eventually revealed, but I felt myself slightly annoyed because this book really didn't need a gimmick. 

"What Kind of Girl" shows the different people who are linked together after one of the most popular boys at North Bay Academy, Mike Parker, is accused by his girlfriend of him hitting her. The book follows different teen girls in this one with them only being identified as "the girlfriend," "the popular girl," "the bulimic," and "the pothead." Eventually the author reveals who is who in this one. 

I didn't get a very good sense of the male in this story, Mike Parker. He's obviously abusive, but the book chooses (rightfully so) to focus on the teen girls in this story and the widening sides at the school with those who don't believe Mike hit his girlfriend and those that do.  The girlfriend chapters were the best in my mind. That said, I just got tired of jumping around after a while. When the book reveals who is who though it was much easier to read in my opinion. It just felt very gimmicky and I don't think the book needed that, that's the main reason I gave this book three stars. The book also starts to read as repetitive after a while. When Sheinmel reveals who the girls are in the book things become clearer, but I think that could have been dealt with better earlier. I can see this turning off some readers after a while with them not wanting to wade through all of this. 

The setting of this book is North Bay Academy. Through the multiple POVs you get the sense the school is diverse, but also has a lot of wealthy classmates mixed in with many people, the principal included, shocked that Mike could hit anyone. And of course there are a lot of people questioning why "the girlfriend" put up with it then. I thought this book tackled a lot of strong subject matter well, and others a little rushed. I think it was good though that we have a young adult book talking about abuse between younger people. I think the last young adult book that did that I read was Sarah Dessen's "Dreamland."

The ending was okay, the book really didn't grab me much except when I was trying to work out the connection between all of the girls in this one. 

A look at abuse between teens and the many sides key people at this school take about it. We get chapter headings with: The Girlfriend, The Bulimic, The Popular Girl, and the Pothead. We find out that each girl so far has different thoughts about the boyfriend in this story, Mike, who is accused of hitting his girlfriend. 

Right now I feel very sorry for the girlfriend character because she still wonders at this point did she do something to cause the first fight where he slapped her.

Getting interesting perspectives from the other people in this story. 

I found this book to be very frustrating than her other books, I found the H Paul very confusing, unlikable aswell as frustrating and I thought the h Emma was a bit of a doormat with him because he would do his own thing and she would be left on her own, I know it's a marriage of convenience but I would like to see a bit of affection lol.

As usual we have the ow but this time she's just a troublemaker who isn't the ow but wants to be and she runs the orphanage where Emma goes to work part tine seeing as Paul leaves her on her own alot and Diana sees an opportunity to cause trouble by getting Emma to help some people who are stranded and when Paul finds out she tells him that Emma wanted to go on her own and not get an ambulance, so Paul and Emma argue and this is the point now where I really dislike Paul as he tells Emma that "Diana is worth a dozen of you"when she tries to explain about what Diana really said and the only reason he eventually believes her is when a lady who works at the orphanage tells him that she overheard what had been said and that Diana had been lying.

Now I'm expecting him to come home to Emma and for him to apolgise and grovel to her but he doesn't and somehow towards the end despite all the trouble the ow had caused she's the one who is apologising to him when he tells her he'll go to America on his own, I'm pleased there was a part where he goes and tells Diana what he thinks of her but I think he is one of the worst characters out of all Betty's books for saying that to Emma and I would have liked to have seen Emma grow a backbone rather than choosing to be second best if he went with Diana.

I would have liked it better if she threw him out whilst explaining what had really happened, divorce him, let Diana know that's all hers now and then marry someone who thinks she's worth a dozen over any woman, I thought the ending as usual was very quick and I still didn't see him apologise to her, not at all satisfying and it's all to do with that comment lol.

Disclaimer:  ARC via Netgalley.

                Every time there is a terrorist attack committed by someone who claims to be follower of Islam someone who claims to be a follower of Christianity wonders why Muslims condemn the terrorist. 

                Toorpaki’s book (written with the help of Katherine Holstein) should be required reading for such idiots.

                Toorpaki is a squash player from Pakistan, from the area of Pakistan where the Taliban has a presence, so needless to say her abilities draw death threats from that group.  But that isn’t the most compelling part of this book.

                Toorpaki’s parts are a huge part of the book, and the reason why this book should be handed to idiots.  Toorpaki’s father, Shams, is a man from a family of rank but he is not a traditional son.  While he is a devout Muslim, he is not conservative in matters of religion.  He believes in education for all his children, and more importantly, acknowledges his wife as his equal (if not ruler).  In an arranged marriage, Shams, as Toorpaki notes, gives his wife the gift of finishing her education and even supporting her in manners that even Western men would balk at, even as he teaches.  Toorpaki’s mother isn’t less remarkable, rising to a prominent educational position and facing death by a belief in educating girls.  Additionally, both parents raise their children (two girls, three boys) to be contributing members of society, educating not just their girls, but their boys as well.  Teaching among the many lessons that all people should be accorded respect and that we should never stop learning (or even teaching).

                Toorpaki’s parents are what we should all be as human beings.

                It is true that the book is partial hero worship to her parents, and it is hard not to see why.    By her own admission, Toorpaki was not a traditional daughter.   She was far more physical than her sister and a traditional school environment did not work for her.   She wasn’t a problem child, at least not in the Western sense of the term.  Her parents allow/encourage/accept her tomboyish personality by giving her boy clothes and a bicycle.  She even takes up weight lifting prior to her discovery of squash.

                And it is that “boyish” aspect of the story that transcends simply Pakistan and deals with gender issues the world over.

                Look at Serena Williams, who has been called too manly and not a real woman simply because she is a physical powerhouse.  Or the Olympic swimmers who were judged on their appearance as opposed to their medals.   Toorpaki’s chronicle about reactions to her post weight lifting appearance as well as her squash ability deal with issues like these.   Today in the liberated West, we want our women athletes to be feminine to look like Swimsuit Issue model beauty instead of the physical powerhouse beauties they are.  Even Toorpaki’s harassment by her fellow male students is something that we still see in the West – anyone else see that story about a male fan making his way onto the hotel floor where the US Women’s Soccer Team was staying?

                Of course, there is much about the Taliban and its impact upon Toorpaki when she becomes a target.   This is even more powerful because Toorpaki drew unwanted attention when as a young girl, she assumed, for lack of a better word, a boy’s identity and name – Genghis Khan.  The persecution by the Taliban is sadly just a contamination and speaks more for the need of support of people like Toorpaki’s parents then anything as well as highlighting the determination and bravery of the whole Toorpaki family.  Furthermore, the struggle to get Toorpaki to safety also shows the strength of a community and community ties.  

                It’s true, to be fair, that at times there is a desire to mutter “get on with it” or the structure seems a bit loose, but the story is compelling told.  While not chatty, it is far more than readable.  This is also because Toorpaki includes her family in the telling.