"Rourke-Mooney's snarky yet heartwarming prose propels the story and reveals Birdie's inner struggles with body image, gender, and physical strength; the result is a captivating and offbeat debut that explores wrestling, gender nonconformity, femme friendships, and finding one's bliss and true self."
-Publishers Weekly
"Fans of GLOW and WWE will catch familiar names, but readers who don't care about wrestling shouldn't dismiss this highly entertaining, knockout debut packed with vivid characters, fun wordplay, and the perfect amount of heart."--Booklist, starred review
"This debut, similar to Jennifer Mathieu's Moxie, is a fun bear-hug about self-acceptance and embracing the weird and the messy...The
joyful friendships and fresh perspective make a great read for wrestling enthusiasts and newcomers alike."
-Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (
BCCB)
"The short chapters feature visceral, detailed language and laugh-out-loud-funny dialogue....Birdie's coming out as nonbinary (she/they) is sweet, is lovingly received by friends and family, and provides an important reflection for teens everywhere who are struggling with big questions around gender identity...A wild, weird, and fun romp."
-Kirkus"In this kinetic coming-of-age dramedy, the romance is all about finding your passion and inventing a bold new version of yourself -- in and out of the wrestling ring. Birdie's transformation from awkward outsider to badass star is filled with all the drama and fun of sports competition, makeovers, mean girls and sexist old-timers, but it's also infused with real poignancy and insight."
-Alisa Kwitney, author of
Cadaver & Queen"Rourke-Mooney beautifully captures the exhilaration of finding your true self - wherever, whoever you are; no matter what others expect you to be. Birdie is the protagonist for the ages you'll want to keep cheering for in this tables-turning, world-rocking story of heels and faces, kayfabe and reality, and outsiders and the way in." -Jen Doll, author of
Unclaimed Baggage"In this powerhouse debut novel, readers will be treated to a story about gender, wrestling, wrestling
with gender, pagans, powerful women, and pure fun."
-KL Goin, author of
Fat Kid Rules the World"
We Are Mayhem reads like a fist-raising anthem to let your weird roar free. This book is for everyone who's fed up with being squeezed into society's tiny boxes, for everyone who's been told they're too much, and for everyone who's done playing small."
-Emma Kress, author of
Dangerous Play"Scrappy and sparky, Birdie and her big arms will bust your heart and crack you up as she figures out how to turn her weird into a way to belong.
We Are Mayhem socks it to the gender binary, spinning sex roles on their heads and flipping expectations on their butts. A speedy must-read for anyone trying to find their true self in the mayhem that passes for real life now."
-Lisa Lerner, author of
Just Like Beauty
