Rebel Robin

Rating Description:

1.0 - DNF/Despise

1.5 - Almost DNFed and wish I had

2.0 - Almost DNFed but had redeeming qualities/just boring

2.5 - Alright with lots of notes

3.0 - Alright with notes but I'm not raving about it

3.5 - Technically good but I'm not raving about it

4.0 - Love but with notes

4.5 - Love it so much I want to highlight the book but still with notes

5.0 - Love it so much I want to highlight the book and notes are very positive

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I’ll start this by saying that this was not how I pictured Robin’s story to go. In my head, I always pegged her as a bit alternative for no other reason than because she liked that style and liked to be contrary. In a way, I saw her as a bit like Eddie but not as extreme or so in your face.

Given that, I can’t say I disliked this. There were certainly aspects here that I loved.

1. It was interesting to see how her parents were such free spirits and yet they produced a child that was quite anxious.

2. I thought it was quite apt that the AIDS epidemic was brought up and how that affected Robin’s thoughts on how she will be perceived.

3. I especially loved the arc with her teacher, Mr. Hauser. It was both aspirational but realistic.

That scene, when Robin was lamenting how could he go now when she just realized she needs a mentor on her sexuality, was heartbreaking.

What took away from my enjoyment of this were the small inaccuracies either from the era or from the show.

1. Printers/photo copiers were not really readily available to students unless they were for school activities such as clubs. So, Robin couldn’t have been able to use one to print her resume.

2. During the 80s resumes weren’t needed for blue collar jobs. People filled out job applications and gave references.

3. Tammy Thompson was not a red head in the show. But this issue, I blame on the fact that the book came out before Season 4.

4. Steve was never mentioned as having been in the football team. If he was, then he shouldn’t have been so salty about how the Scoops Ahoy hat was ruining his best feature (his hair). Football helmets would flatten his hair more than the sailor hat.

5. While I get that Robin’s goal of seeing Tammy Thomson at the prom was needed in the plot of this story, it also went against how Robin was in the show. Robin couldn’t even handle seeing Vicki with her boyfriend. She couldn’t possibly have ever thought about going to the prom just to see Tammy. But again, I blame this on the fact that the book came out before Season 4.

What added to my enjoyment of this were the slight digs at Steve. The guy was just living his life and there he was, catching strays from Robin.