What Makes Girls Sick and Tired

"Girls are sick and tired because sexism affects everyone, every day, in ways that are both obvious and subtle and both simple and complex." This feminist rally sets off this title, written and illustrated by a French-Canadian duo. This fanzine–turned–graphic narrative explains how girls and women are silenced by sexism, racism, and other prejudices; the various obstacles highlighted by the blunt text run the gamut from gender conditioning to income inequality, while also presenting issues facing women of color and gender-nonconforming women. Each page features a different challenge, which results in a lack of depth rather than a cohesive look at discrimination. Darling's inclusive pop art snapshots of women experiencing or recovering from societal injustices pack a punch. However, teen readers looking for a way to challenge social inequality won't find it here. In the age of burgeoning social activism, this simplistic manifesto fails to translate the readers' information into action outside of encouraging solidarity and support for other women.