The First Rule of Climate Club

I recently reread some YA books, including Dress Coded by this author. When I looked her up on Amazon, I realized that book had a sequel that had come out last summer! I dunno how it was never suggested to me by Amazon, but I ordered it and just finished. 

This one is a similar format with first person POV chapters by the main character, Mary Kate, who was a supporting character in Dress Coded. These chapters are blended with lists, letters, flyers, text messages, emails, etc. 

The premise this time is that Mary Kate is part of a new climate change science class, and the class works together to help their community with climate change issues. They create a big festival to earn money for a school composting program while also teaching people about other climate-related issues. 

One of the two secondary plotlines is that Ms. Lane, one of the cool teachers from the first book, is running for mayor. All the kids support her and the existing mayor is an ass. 

The other secondary plot is that Mary Kate's best friend Lucy is mysteriously ill. With the help of a doctor recommended by a guy from the climate change class, Lucy finally learns what's wrong with her and begins treatment. I'm not spoiling what it is, but it is actually tied to climate change. 

This one is just as good as the first. Molly from the first book is an active character here, too, in case anyone was a fan of her and wanted more. I recommend both!

DRESS CODED

 
Man, I honestly can't believe I pulled this off, but I completed all 3 YA books in one day. It's been nice just reading and not worrying about anything else. 

I have liked all three of the ones I read today, but I've got to say Dress Coded was my favorite. It's got a more unusual format, which includes texting, podcast transcripts, lists and letters mixed between the chapters. It feels more realistic in its chaos. 

It's got an obvious theme: girls are being unfairly dress-coded at their middle school and one of them starts a podcast to tell their stories. 

There are a lot of disturbing elements here, but each one feels like it could be absolutely true. There's a girl who hides her period-stained pants with her sweatshirt around her waist and is in the hallway in a tank top to get her phone from her locker to call someone to bring her fresh pants. She gets in trouble with the principal and a completely sexist male teacher and even gets the class trip cancelled. This is utterly unreasonable, but definitely sounds like it could be real. There's a black girl with natural hair who gets detention for retaliating after a boy in her class pushes her hair down to get it "out of his way." Not exactly fitting with the dress code, but also definitely believable. And there are loads of other stories. 

Also wound through the book is the main character's bad relationship with her vape-addicted older brother and the trouble he brings their family, plus other friend drama. 

It's quite well-done and I recommend it. I do recommend all three I read today.