In ‘Bad Girls’ Novel, Mathieu Explores Girl Gangs of Houston in the 1960s

A new young adult novel by Houston author and Bellaire High School teacher Jennifer Mathieu about girl gangs in Houston in 1964? Yes please. Which also happens to be the name of Amy Poehler's memoir. The connection? Poehler directed and acted in the Netflix adaptation of Mathieu's previous novel, Moxie, the story of a "riot grrrrl" rebellion, which debuted earlier this year to critical and audience acclaim.

In October, Mathieu's fifth novel, Bad Girls Never Say Die, serves up a feminist reimagining of S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders, one that promises to explore the deep bonds of female friendship. Naturally, the book features a rivalry between the "good girls" from the "right" side of the tracks and Mathieu's star Evie Barnes, a "bad girl" who is a little too brash, bold and into boys for the times. Mischief? Yes please. Mayhem? Yes please. Murder? Maybe! Read it to find out. Hits bookstores on Oct. 7.