This Girl is Different

By J.J. Johnson

Evie is different. Not just her upbringing-though that's certainly been unusual-but also her mindset. She's smart, independent, confident, opinionated, and ready to take on a new challenge: The Institution of School.

It doesn't take this homeschooled kid long to discover that high school is a whole new world, and not in the way she expected. It's also a social minefield, and Evie finds herself confronting new problems at every turn, failing to follow or even understand the rules, and proposing solutions that aren't welcome or accepted.

Not one to sit idly by, Evie sets out to make changes. Big changes. The movement she starts takes off, but before she realizes what's happening, her plan spirals out of control, forcing her to come to terms with a world she is only just beginning to comprehend.

JJ Johnson's powerful debut novel will enthrall readers as it challenges assumptions about friendship, rules, boundaries, and power.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishers
• Release date: Dec 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781561457212

J.J. Johnson

JJ Johnson lives in Edmond Oklahoma with his with and two kids. He can usually be found traveling through time and space fighting dinosaurs 

Reviews for This Girl is Different

[ishanella · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Evie meets Rajas and Jacinda while out hiking in the forest. She had a sprained ankle and was waiting around for her mother, whom she refers to as Martha, to figure out she's missing and pick her up.

You never find out what Rajas and Jacinda were doing in the forest, as a matter of fact, you never visit the scene again. However, do you do learn - from Evie's first person present narrative - that they both go to the high school that she has enrolled in for her senior year.

The books details the clash of cultures as a homeschooler joins the public school system and sees first hand what public school and peer interaction is like. It details her interaction with her teachers and her clashes with authority - something she seems unaccustomed to since Martha, though her mother, is a bit of a free spirit, and while a fun character to read, she's not much of an authority figure in Evie's life than a friend. It raises questions on what happens when personal freedom impinges on the freedoms of another, and there is no responsibility for one's action.

Evie soon finds out that being a part of something is different than reading or hearing about it, that experience can change perspective. Even though I found the initialization of the conflict to be sudden and a little out of character, I found the story to be a quick and easy read, leaving room for some great discussion points on rights and responsibility.

[review of arc via netgalley]

[cornelia16-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Zwei Welten prallen aufeinander, als die 17-jährige Evie, die bis dahin zu Hause von ihrer alleinerziehenden, feministischen Mutter Martha unterrichtet wurde, erstmals eine staatliche Schule besucht. Zwar findet sie schnell Freunde in der Cheerleaderin Jacinda und in deren Cousin Rajas, aber Evie kann sich nur schwer in den strengen Schulablauf einordnen. Vielmehr kritisiert sie die Unterdrückung der Schüler durch Lehrkräfte und ruft gemeinsam mit Jacinda den Blog PLUTOS gegen Intoleranz und Sexismus ins Leben. Eine Lehrerin wird in diesem Blog an den Pranger gestellt und danach bricht eine ungeahnte Mobbingkampagne vom Zaune, die sich nicht mehr stoppen lässt und in der Evie selbst zum Opfer wird. Am Ende steht sie ganz allein da und hat nicht nur die Lehrerschaft, sondern auch die Mitschüler gegen sich und ihren radikalen Gerechtigkeitssinn aufgebracht. Die Highschoolstory mit zahlreichen philosophischen Exkursen liest sich durchaus spannend, enthält eine teeniegerechte Lovestory, ist jedoch sehr dem amerikanischen Schulsystem verhaftet. Insofern brauchbarer Zusatztitel für größere Bestände.

[princess0starr · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not bad, but not astoundingly good. I liked Evie, although her motivations seemed too grand. I felt like she could have used some more time getting used to high school before screaming about how unfair it was. I liked Jacinda and Rajas in the beginning, but the way their characters went seemed a little too out of the way for me. Overall, I think the plotline was too rushed- too much happens in too little time. I'd liked to have seen Evie's actions and changes stretch out and see what goes on further in the story. Still, not a bad story, just needs work.

[shaunterria_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

"This Girl is Different" should find a welcome home in any well-rounded YA library. Evie, a creative, opinionated and driven homeschooler, has decided to attend high school for her senior year in order to experience life as a "normal" teenager before going her first-choice college, Cornell. Quite typically, she makes friends, loses friends, and realizes that she does not know everything about everything in typical YA coming-of-age fashion. What sets this story apart are the touches of realism: while Evie and her mom reside in a cool self-constructed dome, they also live on a tight budget and her mother works at Walmart to make ends meet. The realistic descriptions of her romantic feelings for a boy at school and her complicated relationship with a teacher are some others ways JJ Johnson elevated a simple tale into one that has some twists and turns that are not too predictable. This a great read for teenagers interested in seeing their school experience from the perspective of a true outsider, and will probably be checked out more often than in. Recommended purchase for high school libraries.

[karenball_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Evie (Evensong Sparkling Morningdew) has been homeschooled all of her life by her freespirited, hippie mother, Martha. When Evie decides she wants to spend her senior year in a public high school, hoping for some "typical" life experiences, like friends, dating, school dances, and detention, things don't quite go how she had planned. Is being independent, strongwilled and smart enough to get you through a day in high school? Every time she turns around, she confronts a new problem -- and her solutions to those problems only seem to create more problems. When she decides to create a blog for students to post comments to reveal injustice and oppression at their school, it is meant to be a forum for raising awareness of problems -- but what happens when that turns into cruelty and bullying? How will all of this affect Evie's future and her dreams of going to Cornell University? Taking responsibility for your actions and words is a strong theme, and the First Amendment issues are realistic. Best for 8th grade and up, as there is some mature content.

[l_manning · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Evie is different in many ways. She's been raised to be a free-thinker. Her mother has home-schooled her, and they live in a self-sustaining home. This are going to change however, because Evie has decided to finish out her senior year in public high school. She quickly makes two friends, and it seems like things will go well. Evie soon finds her outspokenness is not so welcome. While trying to give other students a voice, Evie finds herself mixed up in something much bigger. She soon has to risk everything to try and set things right while staying true to herself.I found this to be a very fun book. I think it can be difficult to keep a character like Evie from being overbearing with her opinions, but the author did a good job. For the most part Evie was able to express her beliefs without being too oppressive with her opinions. You could tell that in the end Evie was really interested in the best thing for everyone. She wanted to make a difference in people's lives. Even though things may not have turned out exactly like Evie wanted, she had her heart in the right place. This makes her easy to like.The other characters were equally fun. Evie's mom was particularly wacky, but in a good way. This book was a super fast read, mostly because I was enjoying it so much. I would definitely recommend this book. Evie is not your typical YA heroine, but I think that's part of her appeal. She is in fact different, but in some really wonderful ways.Galley provided by publisher for review.

[summerskris_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Having been homeschooled all her life, Evie is excited to start public school. Despite making some new friends just before school starts, however, the jump from private schooling to public schooling is rocky, and her outspoken nature gets her in a lot of trouble over the idea of justice, especially with those satisfied with the status quo.The book is filled with many contemporary cliches: the cheerleaders and jocks, the nerds and dorks, the popular kids and invisible kids. I'm a bit tired of seeing these stereotypes blown so big in proportion. It may have seen as necessary for this book. Who else would be the ones to target and be targeted when Evie's attempts to reform the school begin to be used to the opposite effect? However, I feel as though it was blown out of proportion even with Jacinda being a cheerleader captain with a good heart.Evie is a unique character. She’s grown up learning how to speak for herself, and she’s a bit of an idealist. When she brings up her opinions on school, she expects instant change, which I found a bit ridiculous. It doesn't make her likable, and she ends up frustrating herself, her peers, and her teachers with her outrageous requests.Still, this a book about growing up. Evie makes a lot of mistakes, there are drastic results, and she learns from them. This Girl is Different is about what it means to be an individual, on the courage to side with justice, and on the consequences of our actions. I doubt older readers like myself will enjoy this book, having seen too many stereotypes in books and movies, but tween readers may enjoy it as it seems more relatable to younger readers.

[rivkabelle_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

(Book provided by publisher for review)Homeschooler meets public school! I love these books ...Evie (the homeschooler) and her new friends Jacinda and Rajas are fun, engaging characters. They're very real, like high school seniors I would expect to meet wandering the halls of any high school. They meet by chance and quickly become friends - and maybe more. Evie is unlike anyone Rajas or Jacinda have ever met, and they are quickly caught up in her plans to revolutionize The Institution Of School and take down The Man. But soon their plans get out of hand, and sheer chaos erupts, tearing apart the school - and shattering their friendships. While Evie's mother is fully supportive, and even instigates a large amount, of the 'revolution,' Evie begins to wonder if perhaps there isn't a better way to bring about (needed!) social changes ... Taking the leap from homeschool to public school is a major learning experience for Evie - but also for all the students, and teachers. Lessons are learned, sometimes painfully, and everyone begins to realize there are always alternative ways to get your point across.

[grgenius_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So, where to begin. When I first saw this book listed in Peachtree Publishing's spring catalog, it gave me pause. Why? Well, the cover first and foremost. You have to admit that's a pretty eye catching piece of artwork there and I just love how "different" is turned upside down....kind of like Evie's world in the coming days. Second giver of pause, the story synopsis. It sounded just "different" enough to be interesting, but what I got once I started on my reading adventure....was a whole lot more. To keep from rambling on (too much at least), I'll address a few points of interest that I felt really stood out....though trust me, the whole story is well worthy of praise. Here goes...1. The title is a perfect fit because this girl...Evie...IS different. Her ideals, standards, and beliefs are almost foreign in some respects to those of her new classmates and not just in that "homeschooler" way. It's not merely the more structured study setting she has to adjust too, it's the whole environment from students and teachers to the hierarchy of popularity and rights both recognized and impinged upon. It's a very different mindset than the one she was raised in and one that she'll need to adjust to rather quickly if she hopes to keep her dreams of attending Cornell alive. (Or will she?)2. The cast of characters is a unique blend stemming from a variety of backgrounds that reflect what we see in the world today. Think about your friends, acquaintances, and neighbors. It's highly doubtful they are all cookie-cutter images of you so why shouldn't the literary world reflect that diversity as well? My point exactly...and the author does a great job in creating that mix right here. From a girl that lives on a fairly self-sustaining homestead to the peppy Cheer Squad leader with more substance than it may first seem and a lot more in-between, they're an eclectic bunch but memorable all the more for it.3. A mother daughter relationship that doesn't spout angst, extreme displays of over protective behavior, or overtly sunshine and roses declarations of love....but instead presents them more as sisters, best friends even. Shocked? I'm not, but that could have something to do with my own relationship with my Mom. Literarily speaking, it is more of a shocker but a welcome one at that. Martha is a down to earth woman who may have lived an "interesting" life once upon a time which resulted in the birth of her daughter (think hippies and free love, not call girl), but that chapter of her life is closed, leaving her free to instill the values of clean living, self and mutual respect for all living things along with a good healthy dose of rebellious nature in Evie's life. A refreshing approach to see AND read.4. The emotions cast are felt full force...even the first blush of teenage love and potential heartbreak. While not breaking new ground with the inclusion of a love life for Evie, the way it is approached is somewhat "different" as it doesn't take center stage in the story and yet it's positive and negative reprucussions are clearly felt. It's a blur of new emotions mixed with anxiety and a little self-doubt but something that comes with life and Evie is well equipped to handle it.5. A broad range of topics, some of which are controversial in nature, are covered within these pages...some of which you might not anticipate. Abuse of power when dealing with teachers as well as students, freedom of speech, inappropriate relationships, environmental causes, friendship, making hard decisions for better or worse, and staying true to your beliefs....all this and more in this ONE novel. Quite the feat but well presented. In short, this BOOK is different...not in the fantastical elements used sort of way, but in the reality of the events and situations presented, the strength of the beliefs put forth, and the possibilities left open like a warm sunny day. It's a fiction book, yes...but one that will have you thinking of all the real life applications long after you finish the final page. A great read indeed and one I'd certainly recommend though in regards to the age level, I'd say the "12 - 16 years old" audience they were aiming for is just about as young as I would go. There are a few sensually tinged scenes and the concepts explored may be a little over the heads of readers younger than the intended group, but that doesn't mean it can't wait on their wish lists in the mean time. As for adult readers, come one...come all. In fact, a read of this book may open up a few doors of conversations to be had with those younger folks around you. From the "hard talks" to their social awareness, there are many jumping points to take note of.

[evie6bookish · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This girl is Different is a debut YA novel by JJ Johnson. I got it in the mail just yesterday and was delighted with the way it looked. The cover art is beautiful, well-thought-out and it relates to the story inside in many ways. The texture of the dust cover and the way the pages are numbered are very unique and truly different from other YA books I've read so far. The heroin of this story, seventeen-year-old Evie, is anything but ordinary teenager. Being home schooled by her counterculture mother, she never really experienced how public schools work, never had to put herself out there and try to become part of society, never even had to pick up a textbook and study from it. She's different than other girls (and boys) her age, she doesn't wear make-up, she lives in perfect harmony with the surrounding nature, she draws snakes and other animals and she builds scale models of cities, communities, villages and buildings. Evie and her mom seem to be very environmentally conscious, they get their electricity from solar panels, they grow their own vegetables, keep their own chickens and a cow, and they even bake their own bread at home.Their house is a geodesic Dome Home, which they built themselves. Obviously, not your typical American (or any other for that matter) family. Evie is a well-read girl with a strong moral spine and a pretty good idea of what she wants to do with her life. And what she wants right now is to get a first-hand experience with the Public School system, so she enrolls in a local high school for her senior year. Just when the school year is about to start, Evie goes for a hike in the nearby woods and sprains her ankle while trying to catch a snake. Stranded 5 miles deep into the wilderness and not being able to call for help, she's lucky enough to be found by two young hikers. Her "non-rescuers" (she does not perceive herself as a damsel in distress, and therefore does not feel the need to actually be rescued), are, as it turns out, her future school mates, Rajas and Jacinda. The three of them are very comfortable with each other from the very start and they quickly become close friends. But there's more to the story than just Evie's social experiment and her experiences at school. Things get more serious when our heroine witnesses teachers abusing their power and being unfair toward students. Evie being herself, she can't just ignore the social injustice and she takes it upon herself to do something to bring changes to her school. Together with Rajas and Jacinda they start PLUTO (People's Lightning to Undermine True Opposition), an anonymous organization, whose purpose is to fight for respect, freedom and student rights. To bring attention to the inequality in the school, PLUTOs post a lightning bolt on the person's door/locker, and then they discuss the reasons for being "stricken by the lightning" on PLUTO's blog. Unfortunately, despite PLUTO's best intentions, things quickly snowball out of control, as the lightning strikes are being posted no longer only by PLUTO members, and no longer only truly "deserving" people are being targeted. Things are about to go very, very wrong... This Girls is Different is an amazingly refreshing and unique read. It deals with some important issues, like social injustice, power abuse, bullying, teacher-student relationships, etc., and yet it doesn't have the heaviness and slowness one would expect from a book like that. I was immersed in the story from the very opening words and wasn't able to put this book down, until 320 pages later, when I hit the back cover. I literally swallowed the book in one bite and, even though I was perfectly satisfied with the way the story played out, I still found myself wanting more. More of the world seen through Evie's eyes, more of JJ's excellent writing style, more of the fantastic chemistry between Rajas and Evie, more, more, more! One of my favorite highlights of this book were the quotes at the beginning of every chapter. JJ Johnson did a great job picking them, they related to the chapters in a special way and made it so much more fun to read them. Honestly, I find it very hard to believe that what I just read was a debut novel. I look at some writers who have been writing for years now and they still have no hope of reaching JJ Johnson's level of writing skills. Her storytelling is superb! I have no doubt that I will be re-reading this book many times in the future. Books like this one make me want to add a sixth star to my five star rating system!

[wakela_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Even though I finished the book, I am still on the fence about it. On one hand, I liked the story a lot. On the other hand, some of the characters were either flat or way too cliché.Evie had been raised by her flower power mom. She was even home schooled. However, Evie decides that she wants to spend her last year in high school with the regular kids. So she enrolls in a local high school.Evie’s mom was extremely wishy washy. As long as Evie wasn’t really bothering her, Evie could do whatever she wanted. So Evie grew up without any parental guidance or authority figure in her life.Now flash forward to Evie entering high school. We all know that schools are bound by rules and regulations. Even though you may not like them, they are still there and need to be obeyed. Evie has difficulty with this concept.This book does deal with bullying in school. I just think that the characters could have either been a little less cliché or maybe a little more drawn out.In conjunction with the Wakela's World Disclosure Statement, I received a product in order to enable my review. No other compensation has been received. My statements are an honest account of my experience with the brand. The opinions stated here are mine alone.

[theepicrat · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This Girl Is Different is not for the weak-minded. A sharp contrast from books like The Lipstick Laws and Audrey, Wait!, but not quite as dark and troubled as Ballads Of Suburbia. This Girl Is Different is a quite precocious book that will surely inspire readers to be more aware of social justice, freedom of speech, and bullying.Not to mention all the interesting quotes that open each chapter spurred me on to see what happens next as Evie critically examines the school system and how it contrasts with the freedom that she enjoyed via home-schooling. She dives into the social circles, thankfully with the help of her new friends Jacinda and Rajas who seem to be in the more popular-but-nicer crowd. She gets frustrated with the unfair cell phone policy that favors students who can afford data plans on their phones, but can't answer your mom's call during the lunch hour when it's not disrupting class!While I didn't love Evie to death (she gives tough love), I did enjoy the message behind This Girl Is Different and it made me consider the difference between the structure of high school versus the freedom of college/real world. Constantly I can see the reasoning behind the school rules, but still I can see how startling it could be for Evie who was unused to the structure. How limiting it can be for one to express oneself (i.e. defend one's dignity), especially when a teacher oversteps their professional boundaries or goes beyond the definition of strict discipline.I wish there had been a little more good blogging before things spiraled out of control, but this is high school and drama travels explosively fast as Evie soon finds out! Kudos for J.J. Johnson on providing a diversity of authority figures - parents, teachers, principal, etc - who had different expectations for these high-schoolers and acted as both good and bad guys. This is also a story that may inspire educators to take a good look at their teaching attitude - I know that This Girl Is Different would have changed my whole perspective if I had pursued a teaching career!