Overview
Seventeen-year-old Gem loves movies, her feminist mom, and Dodgy, her coworker in a video store (at least she thinks she loves Dodgy). When a school trip inspires Gem to make an underground film, her best friends Lo and Mira are quick to join the project, taking on the roles of producer and star. The film is intended to cement the girls’ friendship as well as their superiority over their sucker high school peers. But when the fragile balance of their friendship begins to falter, and intentions lead to betrayals big and small, it will take great movies, bad haiku, and a pantheon of great voices-from Dostoyevsky to Thoreau to Andy Warhol-to help Gem find the meaning of love, friendship, and being true to herself.About the Author
SIMMONE HOWELL is an award-winning short story writer, screenwriter, and small press publisher. She won a 2004 AWGIE award (Australia) for her short film ’Pity 24’ and has been screened at the London-Australian Film Festival and the Los Angeles Shorts Festival. She lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and son.
Reviews "Heathers meets I Shot Andy Warhol in this gritty ode to underground cool. ...[T]een misfits and film geeks will devour this renegade read with pleasure." -Publishers Weekly "Through short, episodic chapters, Howell crafts a realistic story that female readers should relate to, specifically the turbulent and volatile nature of the girls and their friendship. Lo, Mira and Gem are sassy, whip-smart characters with interests in art, politics, literature and film. ...Abefitting contribution to the teen-literature market." -Kirkus Reviews
"Howell creates an engaging coming-of-age novel about a summer in a seventeen-year-old girl’s life. The writing is unique, because of or despite being peppered with Australianiasm that Americans might not understand. ...Gem’s narration rings true, and the characters are endearing, whether good or bad. ...Although the subplots are many, they are nicely
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
Heathersmeets I Shot Andy Warholin this gritty ode to underground cool by award-winning screenwriter and debut Australian novelist Howell. The story's contagious blend of video store lingo, catty alpha girl politics and a twinge of real heart is both knowingly pretentious and fun. When 17-year-old Gem and her anti-establishment pals, Lo and Mira, form a group called Ug (short for Underground) in order to flaunt and elevate their fringe social standing, there's no doubt that each of their lives is about to change. "To be really Ug means you don't give a fig about the status quo. You can be ugly, or a virgin, or a lesbian, but whatever you are you revel in it." Ug's goal? To shock their cookie-cutter classmates by making a subversive film and airing it at a "Happening," à la Warhol's Factory. When the supposedly united trio's plan backfires (as Mira messes around with Gem's dodgy crush and Lo turns haughty and controlling), Gem decides to create and air a solo project about life as she sees it. Despite the friends' harried break-up, Gem realizes, "It's better to think that we're all different but we're also all people and people have to live together." With references to Valerie Solanas, Edie Sedgwick, Dostoevsky and Germaine Greer, teen misfits and film geeks will devour this renegade read with pleasure. Ages 14-up. (Apr.)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business InformationVOYA -
Although the novel held my interest, it lacked the complexity of real life. The author brings up good issues, but they are not described in a realistic way. Nevertheless the novel rose above my expectations. Stay true to yourself is the main idea. The author conveyed this idea well and it is very clear for the reader to understand. The book is enjoyable for anyone who is looking for an easy read with a good moral.VOYA -
Gem, Mira, and Lo are a teenage outcast triumvirate in their Australian high school. Each summer, they embark on a "project" to enhance their outsider status. Last summer it was All Things Occult. This summer is Underground, ss la Andy Warhol. Gem, a movie buff and filmmaker-wannabee named after feminist Germaine Greer, wants to create an underground film on great women in history. Mira and Lo have a different idea and rewrite Gem's serious script into a trashy one. As backdrop to the Project, Howell delves into Gem's relationship with her artistic, still hippie mother, Lo; Mira's strengthening friendship against Gem's slow alienation; Gem's poor choice for a first boyfriend; Mira and Lo's emotional issues; and the return of Gem's absentee father. Howell creates an engaging coming-of-age novel about a summer in a seventeen-year-old girl's life. The writing is unique, because of or despite being peppered with Australianisms that Americans might not understand. Boys are categorized as "barcode" (blah) or dangerous. Gem's narration rings true, and the characters are endearing, whether good or bad. Film references are both popular and obscure. The relationships among the friends are realistic, especially Lo's leadership over her minions and how quickly "ins" can become "outs." Although the subplots are many, they are nicely interwoven into the whole, resulting in a cohesive, fun read. That whole summer in December/Christmas thing is something else in this satisfying read.From the Publisher
From Kirkus ReviewsThrough short, episodic chapters, Howell crafts a realistic story that female readers should relate to, specifically the turbulent and volatile nature of the girls and their friendship. Lo, Mira and Gem are sassy, whip-smart characters with interests in art, politics, literature and film. …Abefitting contribution to the teen-literature market. —Kirkus ReviewsFrom VOYA
[A]n engaging coming-of-age novel about a summer in a seventeen-year-old girl's life. …Gem's narration rings true, and the characters are endearing, whether good or bad. —VOYA
From Publisher's Weekly
Heathers meets I Shot Andy Warhol in this gritty ode to underground cool. …[T]een misfits and film geeks will devour this renegade read with pleasure. —Publishers Weekly
From Booklist
Unvarnished but rousingly raunchy debut. …There's sufficient humor, raw emotion, and adolescent envelope pushing to carry YA readers along. —Booklist