Not Here To Be Liked

By Author / Illustrator

Michelle Quach, Kevin Wada (Illustrator)

Genre

Real life

Age range(s)

14+

Publisher

Usborne Publishing Ltd

ISBN

9781474989732

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

16-09-2021

Synopsis

Falling in love wasn't part of the plan.... Eliza Quan fully expects to be voted the next editor-in-chief of her school paper. She works hard, she respects the facts, and she has the most experience. Len DiMartile is an injured star baseball player who seems to have joined the paper just to have something to do. Naturally, the staff picks Len to be their next leader. Because while they may respect Eliza, they don't particularly like her - but right now, Eliza is not here to be liked. She's here to win. But someone does like Eliza. A lot. Shame it's the boy standing in the way of her becoming editor-in-chief....

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Reviews

Not Here to Be Liked is contemporary teen fiction that will really appeal to fans of Moxie and Super Awkward. This book is set in the US and has a diverse set of characters from different backgrounds. It explores important themes of feminism, activism, misogyny, parental expectations and bullying. The cover artwork by Kevin Wada is also very eye-catching.

The main character, Eliza Quan, isn't at all concerned with appearances or pleasing people. She doesn't care what she looks like or even whether anyone likes her. How refreshing. I loved that she felt free to be true to herself, stick by her principles and not be influenced by the expectations of others! Eliza works hard at school and on her school paper and is experienced and indeed good at what she does. She believes that the effort she has put in should equal results. However, the role of editor in chief, a role Eliza aspired to and expected to get, goes to Len DiMartile, ex star baseball player. Len appears to have joined the paper just because he needed something to focus on following an injury which meant he couldn't play baseball any longer. This sparks a feminist movement within the school, with Eliza at the forefront, questioning the prevalence of sexist behaviour.

I had to wonder, though, was it sexism or was it that Len was more popular? Should being popular be necessary to get ahead? Why is it that the top positions in their school remain so unequivocally male dominated? One of my favourite characters was Dr Guinn, the member of staff that both Eliza and Len manage to successfully talk around to get each other out of detentions. Dr Guinn understands how Eliza is feeling but points out that life isn't always fair. He sets out to get the two working together and as they do, Eliza starts falling for Len. The very last person she should fall for in light of her campaign.

Not Here to be Liked is a book that teenagers can relate to with issues that they will likely have strong opinions about. A strong lead character who is resilient in the face of adversity. I have to say that for a character that was supposed to be unlikeable, I had a lot of time for Eliza. This was an empowering read. Recommended for older teens.

432 pages / Reviewed by Clair Bossons, school librarian