LAWLESS SPACES by Corey Ann Haydu

 

Mimi is a popular presence on social media. Her petite under 5 feet frame and generous breasts have always gotten her attention. Just like her mother and grandmother before her, she has caught the attention of men. Lately, Mimi hasn't felt very comfortable with this, but seeking advice from her mother doesn't seem like an option.

Mimi's mom Tiffany is in the midst of a legal battle with a well-known movie maker. Mimi grew up watching her mother perform and seem comfortable with all the attention. Now there's a question about how willing her mother was when it came to the movie business.

As a sixteenth birthday gift, Mimi's mom gives her a notebook. She says that for generations the women in the family have used similar notebooks to record their thoughts and feelings. She tells Mimi the notebooks are "lawless spaces" to write whatever she wants. Tiffany also shares the fact that all the notebooks are stored in the attic, and she encourages Mimi to read them.

Mimi begins reading and discovers for generations the women in her family have struggled with relationships with men. Unplanned pregnancies, unwanted sexual experiences, and love mishaps have made the women of her past feel just as uncomfortable in their bodies as Mimi has been made to feel. Is there a way these notebooks and revelations can help Mimi, or will it just lead to further confusion?

Author Corey Ann Haydu explores the #MeToo movement within a family of women. Direct and to the point, LAWLESS SPACES will no doubt speak to many young adult readers.