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Dear Rachel Maddow: A Novel Paperback – June 4, 2019

by Adrienne Kisner (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 175 ratings
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In Adrienne Kisner's Dear Rachel Maddow, a high school girl deals with school politics and life after her brother’s death by drafting emails to MSNBC host Rachel Maddow in this funny and heartfelt young adult debut.

Brynn Haper's life has one steadying force―Rachel Maddow.

She watches her daily, and after writing to Rachel for a school project―and actually getting a response―Brynn starts drafting e-mails to Rachel but never sending them. Brynn tells Rachel about breaking up with her first serious girlfriend, about her brother Nick's death, about her passive mother and even worse stepfather, about how she's stuck in remedial courses at school and is considering dropping out.

Then Brynn is confronted with a moral dilemma. One student representative will be allowed to have a voice among the administration in the selection of a new school superintendent. Brynn's archnemesis, Adam, and ex-girlfriend, Sarah, believe only Honors students are worthy of the selection committee seat. Brynn feels all students deserve a voice. When she runs for the position, the knives are out. So she begins to ask herself: What Would Rachel Maddow Do?

Praise for Dear Rachel Maddow:

"What unfolds is a heartbreaking but ultimately hopeful tale of a struggling student who sees an injustice and steps in. She does so unwillingly, but still, she does. Brynn is realistically depicted and even though this novel is epistolary, the supporting characters are well fleshed out, too. A necessary purchase wherever there are teens." ―School Library Journal, starred review

"In her debut novel, Kisner uses the epistolary format to portray the life of a girl who has very little parental support and is seemingly falling through the cracks at school. . .Revealing Brynn to be an individual with realistic insecurities, biases, and complexities, Kisner playfully explores the very human manner in which a stranger like Maddow might come to feel like a friend and confidant."―Publishers Weekly

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    288 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Square Fish
  4. Publication date
    June 4, 2019
  5. Grade level
    7 - 9
  6. Reading age
    13 - 18 years
  7. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.65 x 8.25 inches
  8. ISBN-10
    1250308836
  9. ISBN-13
    978-1250308832
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Kisner perfectly captures the dueling emotions of hope and hopelessness as Brynn attempts to carve out a place in an often-hostile world, weaving wry humor into some gutting looks at addiction, loss, and abandonment. Dear Rachel Maddow is the perfect book for anyone who has ever felt truly understood by a comforting, friendly face smiling at them from the TV screen." ―Booklist

"This has all the hallmarks of a classic teen drama: the snooty rich-kid villain, the deceitful ex-girlfriend, the crappy stepfather, and the smartass outsider supported by a band of misfits (Brynn’s classmates). . .fans of dark humor and tough heroines will want to tune into this story of a luckless girl finally defining her own future―with or without the help of political pundits." ―The Bulletin

About the Author

Adrienne Kisner has master's and doctorate degrees in theology from Boston University and was inspired by her work with high school and college students to write Dear Rachel Maddow. She is also a graduate of Vermont College of Fine Arts with an MFA in writing for children and young adults. Dear Rachel Maddow is her debut.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Square Fish; Reprint edition (June 4, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250308836
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250308832
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 - 18 years
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.65 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 175 ratings

About the author

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Adrienne Kisner

Adrienne Kisner

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Adrienne Kisner lives in a dorm that is better and likely bigger than yours. She prefers the term "dormitory" to "residence hall." Her opinions are built out of cinder block. She went to school for a long time and has several degrees that have afforded her the professional opportunity to routinely opine to college students about the merits of subverting grammar. Her coolest degree is an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. In her spare time, Adrienne enjoys killing plants and zombies. Her current home is in Boston, but she will always be a Pennsylvanian at heart. Visit her at www.adriennekisner.com

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
175 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

James D. Huck
5.0 out of 5 stars Witty, funny, and well-written.
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2018
Verified Purchase
An excellent debut novel in the Young Adult fiction genre by Adrienne Kisner. The concept of the book is very creative; the characters are really developed with a surprising measure of complexity; and the plotline of teen love, personal tragedy, and highschool drama is quite well put together. In much of the YA literature that I've read (which isn't that much, to be honest!), it's very hard not to become trite and overly melodramatic. Kisner avoids that tendency and has a wonderful balance between hitting on just enough melodrama to make it appealing to this reading demographic, but also enough seriousness and writing saavy to avoid overdoing it or relying exclusively on teen melodrama to tell the story, thus making it an appealing read to older, more mature readers. The idea of using a homework assignment that involves composing emails to Rachel Maddow (and the choice of Maddow was perfect for this story, given Maddow's often biting political commentary, her unquestionable journalistic skill, her inspirational persona, even her sexual identity as a lesbian) as the vehicle through which Brynn (the book's protagonist) tells the story and charts her own personal growth is brilliant. And this epistolary style is enhanced by Brynn's witty banter throughout the book, which is sharp, humorous, and very organic. That is a testament to Kisner's obvious skill as a writer; and it also evidences Kisner's own endearingly clever way of thinking and communicating. I highly recommend this book to any young adult, high school age reader, especially young female adult readers.
5 people found this helpful
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nikbatch
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful YA Novel!
Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2018
Verified Purchase
The characters just feel so real, especially the protagonist Brynn. Brynn's confidence, at times, seems to waver, but she has this wonderful sense of humor that she uses to cope defensively with an abusive stepfather, indifferent mother, fickle ex-girlfriends, and bullies. Brynn has so much heart that is tempered with some self-deprecating humor that it makes her such a winning character. And the very meta aspect of writing Rachel Maddow as a diary but also a form of therapy that helps her process and understand herself and those around her. Moreover, there is a political theme that is sharp and insightful not in an idealistic in a way that would make this YA novel a bit cliche or cookie cutter. It is kind of painful in its realism but doesn't kill the reader's hopes. Lastly, this book is an intersectional dream. The cast of characters is diverse providing various readers with a way of identifying with multiple characters and ultimately feeling for each one. It is a truly wonderful book!
7 people found this helpful
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Bernice
4.0 out of 5 stars I loved the book as much asI love the real Rachael Maddow
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2020
Verified Purchase
I loved the book. But! as a71 year old I did not see any reason to have so much cussing. That added nothing to the book.
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Sarah
5.0 out of 5 stars Once I got hooked, I finished this book in one sitting
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2018
Verified Purchase
As an adult YA reader, I'm not typically fond of epistolary novels as I find that the format can be clunky and slow the action more than I would care for it to. However, once you get a ways into it, "Dear Rachel Maddow" and the story told by Brynn in her journalistic emails is more than worth it. It weirdly reminds me of Forrest Gump because it touches on so many important issues and topics, though it does so in a much more subtle , meaningful, and relatable manner. This book is written in language that youth will understand and connect to, putting them directly in Brynn's shoes and encouraging them to think about others experiences and perspectives. The author transforms a stereotypical high school storyline and makes it the reality that high schoolers actually live everyday. The characters are intersectional, but their diversity of identity and circumstance is not the central story line - it simply and tactfully informs it. The author won me over, and I personally related to the characters time and time again. This is a must have for every middle and high school library. It's one of the books that a kid will pick up and feel less alone once they've finished it.
7 people found this helpful
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LGBTRepinBooks
3.0 out of 5 stars Dear Rachel Maddow
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2021
A writing project gone wrong, this YA book tells the story of lesbian main character Brynn, who loses her older brother, breaks up with her first girlfriend, and struggles with her messy home life. The story is told through Brynn’s email drafts to Rachel Maddow, her lesbian icon whom she watches everyday and confesses all of her problems to. The story discusses her fight for inclusion and everyone has a voice.

Recommendation: 7/10

Trigger Warnings: Ableism, homophobia, child abuse (physical and emotional), cheating, minor suicidal ideation, drug overdose, death of a family member, depression, trauma

Representation: Lesbian, Disabilities, Bisexual

Personally, I am a huge fan of this type of email/journal format. Adrienne Kisner does this well with humor, detailing some chapters in other people’s lives, and adds a ton of personality to all of her characters. The lesbian and bisexual representation is strong in this book and demonstrates what powerful women look like. I loved how this book covers politics and females fighting for their shot. I loved how this book oozes truth, it does not clean up the messes of everyday life and does not end happily ever after. You learn to love Brynn and cheer her on, even with all odds against her.

The story line does take some time, quite a slow burn. In the beginning, I considered changing books, but Brynn's drive really sucked me in. I love how she really rallied the troops but also struggled like most of us when we often feel alone.
One person found this helpful
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