A review by icanreadish
Teen Spirit by Francesca Lia Block

fast-paced

1.5

ive read a few of francesca lia block's other books and really enjoyed her whimsical, dream-like sense of atmosphere and compelling writing style. i was very disappointed with teen spirit. not only did it not have have block's touch of magic on the page, but the plot was also incredibly predictable and rushed. there was no atmosphere - horror? romance? teen coming of age? - and no tension. i also did not like the amount of times our main character talked about her 'half cherokee' heritage. while, yes, i guess i can expect that nonsense to come from a white teenager (note our mc has been raised by a single white mother and does not know, or have anything to do with her father) but it felt really out of place in 2024. 

the only good line is when our mc realizes she and her mother are more similar than she likes - "both with our dead men, trying to be dead". a beautiful line and a fantastic, guttural moment lost in the sea of ... whatever this was.