Undiscovered Gyrl

by: Allison Burnett

Published by: Vintage Books (August 11 release)

Reviewed by Leslie Granier

The content of Undiscovered Gyrl is Katie Kampenfelt’s blog detailing her daily thoughts and experiences. When the story begins, Katie (which is an alias) has just decided to defer attending college for a year in order to explore what future path she wants to follow. As she tries to deal with her father’s illness and her mother’s boyfriend, whom she does not like, Katie seeks happiness and consolation by constantly getting high and drunk and having unprotected sex with several men. She must decide whether she should seek help or to continue down the destructive road she is traveling.

By writing the narrative in the first person, the author allows the reader to feel greater empathy for the difficulties Katie is facing. She seems to be a typical outgoing teenager who likes to have fun. By her own admission, Katie believes she can have any guy she wants. However, her complete lack of self-respect is exhibited by the risky lifestyle she leads. I kept trying to decide if she was looking for attention or if she was just self-destructive. I am not sure if she even knows.

This book is written for young adult females. The author’s use of a blog to tell Katie’s story is clever. However, it may draw an audience of younger teenagers for whom this book would not be appropriate. The story is fast-paced but at times it is somewhat redundant as Katie keeps putting herself in the same dangerous situations over and over. The story does contain some humor, but it is mainly dark humor. I have yet to find out what the difference between a “gyrl” and a “girl” is. Perhaps the younger generation is aware but it is not explained in the book.

Members of a book club will have a great time dissecting this story. The unexpected ending allows the reader to draw her own conclusions about the veracity of Katie’s experiences.

Armchair Interviews says: Undiscovered Gyrl is definitely worth reading.

Author’s Web site: http://www.UndiscoveredGyrl.com