Who is the Author:

Hannah is the front woman for Le Tigre, Bikini Kill,and the Julie Ruin. 

What is the book about:

Hanna’s early childhood and life as a very hard-working influential musician and feminist thought leader.

The most shocking moment: Hannah inspired the name for the Nirvana album Smells Like Teen Spirit. She wrote ‘Kirk smells like Teen Spirit’ on the wall of Kirk Cobain’s apartment in Sharpie during a drunken rampage.

Are there Photos: Yes. The book features a plethora of photos from her childhood to the present day. The photos offer an appropriate companion to her story that is less about the job of rocking out than a personal reflection. Though sadly there are very few concert photos from the early days of her bands.

Is it worth your time:

If you’ve ever wondered what being a musician is really like – from putting a song together and working with band members to life on tour – this is a must-read. Far from glamorous, Hannah makes music feel like both a job and a calling. Her candid approach shines through in moments like when she includes a photo of her band getting chased by a pig during an impromptu tour stop.

The book strikes an intimate tone throughout, feeling deeply personal and straight from the heart. Hannah writes in a deliberate and well-edited manner that manages to be both thorough and concise, never overstaying its welcome. She particularly excels at helping readers understand the early punk scene beyond the big cities, painting a vivid picture of her roots as a musician: 

“Olympic (Washington) ran on lo-fi DIY punk. It was the type of place where people were always saying stuff like ‘Let’s put on a show in the old barn.’ The scene was all about kids producing their own culture and supporting each other. And girls were a vital part of the whole thing.”

While the subtitle, “The Life of a Feminist Punk,” might suggest a purely philosophical treatise, Hannah skillfully weaves her feminist worldview throughout the narrative, backing it up with concrete actions. For instance, she describes actively ensuring women could access the front of her shows, recognizing that to cultivate more female musicians, women needed to see other women play.

One aspect that could have improved “Rebel Girl” is a deeper layer of self-reflection, especially in relation to some of the more challenging or controversial parts of Hannah’s journey. For example, Hannah talks about her crush on Adam Horovitz from the Beastie Boys, but then quickly skips ahead to the point where he got divorced, and they got married.

Similarly, the breakup of Bikini Kill is attributed to communication issues, but this explanation feels cursory. A deeper dive into the tensions, challenges, and eventual reconciliation of the band would have been illuminating, especially for aspiring musicians looking to understand the complexities of creative collaboration. Offering insight into how the band found common ground after years apart could have made Hannah’s story even more inspiring and instructive.

Lastly, the memoir would have benefited from a broader reflection on the current state of women in rock. As a trailblazer in the 1990s music scene, Hannah has a unique vantage point to comment on how the industry has evolved—or not—for female artists. A thoughtful critique or call to action for the next generation of women in music could have rounded out her story and underscored her lasting influence on the punk and feminist movements.

Despite these brief oversights, Rebel Girl powerfully reminds readers of the progress made in the treatment of female musicians and women more broadly, while also highlighting how much work remains. This memoir is well worth the read, even for those who aren’t musicians or familiar with the bands mentioned. Rebel Girl offers an unvarnished, deeply personal look at the grit and determination required to make a living through art. It’s not a tale of fame and glamour, but one of resilience, creativity, and conviction. Whether you’re a fan of punk or simply curious about what it takes to live a life dedicated to art and activism, this book is a compelling and inspiring read.

Photo Credit: HarperCollins