PositiveThe MantleFebos writes freely and boldly, narrating seemingly unpleasant, disturbing and intrepid experiences of a young girl. Yet, her writing is candid and sincere as she juxtaposes her thoughts with her actions ... Febos’s narrative about her body gently strums our heart strings with her blatant honesty ... Despite a promising start, the memoir slowly weakens with less-connected pieces on \'skin hunger\' and cuddle-parties and traveling that fail to deliver their intended impact...The intermingling of the two seems jarred and confusing despite the powerful point she is trying to put across about consent and sexual desires ... Due to unnecessary and extended scholarly digressions, classical allusions, and cultural references, the text meanders between meaning and muddled thoughts potentially leaving the reader confused and uninspired. However, Febos’s writing is honest, bold and inviting. Girlhood, like an onion, needs to be peeled patiently to reveal its true center.
