Paula Stokes' Girl Against the Universe is one of those rare titles that actually lives up to the accolade of being for "fans of John Green, Rainbow Rowell and Mathew Quick." Like those three authors, Girl Against the Universe focuses on a protagonist who has to overcome her own anxiety brought about by outside causes - in this case, being one of the few members of her family to survive a horrific accident - and finding another external means to focus herself internally and come out on top by the end of the narrative. At once inspiring and entertaining, Girl Against the Universe should be identified as one of Stokes' greatest classics yet.
Many authors have employed strong characters with tragic backstories and anxiety issues as a shortcut to a great narrative. Stokes' narrative does not fall for this, but presents a fully-realized, three-dimensional character where, while her tragic backstory is a major focus, is not all that defines her. Unlike many stories that fall shorter, the narrative isn't completely consumed with how Maguire navigates her tragedy, nor is it completely shoved into the background. It does, however, frame how Maguire deals with school, love interests and how joining the school's tennis team becomes an important - but again, not completely defining - part of her character, in concert with her closest friends. As such not only does it offer a meaningful and insightful picture of how Magurie deals with her anxiety and tragic past, but also an entertaining but again meaningful look into her every day life and how she conquers the school's social ladder.
Grade: 5/5 stars, Goodreads.com scale (an exemplary reading experience that the reader will find highly satisfying with extremely memorable plot, narrative or characters and will likely carry for some time to come, with a very high likelihood of returning to reread).
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