Alex is a rebel. She’s been to the principal’s office so many times, she’s deemed it one of her favourite places. She climbs in and out of boy’s rooms, dyes her hair vibrant colours and shaves the rest. She doesn’t turn in her homework on time if at all and hates the sexism, religious conformity, rules and traditions of her expensive, private and very Catholic Boarding School.

Alex will do anything to get expelled. Even her father having to fly in to see Father Hughes (the principal) didn’t change things. In fact it made it worse. She knows she will have to do something drastic to step so far over the line, they won’t want her back.

Putting on a play called The Vagina Monologues will do the trick. It’s a bold plan. Father Hughes says no, but the school rule book does say she can apply for extra consideration from the school board. But first she needs 500 signatures or more on a petition.

Her very proper room mate Mary Kate, who can’t even bring herself to say the V word, tries to help – when she’s not trying to achieve her semester plan – score a boyfriend.

More help comes from Pat – a hockey player of all people – very low on Alex’s human species level chart. The problem is, he’s funny, as sarcastic and sharp as she is, and doesn’t even blink at the V word. Despite the help, Alex comes up against one thing after another until the only way she can do the play is at a very diluted state. No cursing. No V word or no play. Are they for real? She can’t even call it by it’s proper name?

Months are spent getting it approved and up and running. But soon her plan of shock and expulsion is overshadowed by the great love and passion of St Mary’s. Hockey. Guy’s Hockey of course. The girl’s teams don’t get any attention.

This is exactly why Alex is trying to put on the play. The sexism, body shaming, and lack of female equality is rampant and will never change. Or will it? Rumours are that The Toothless Beast (Star hockey player) might be coming to St Mary’s to study. Will he inadvertently end up on Alex’s side?

Bad Habits had me laughing out loud early and often. Alex has no shame, breaking rules and putting people in their place if she deemed it necessary.

She might be a rude, funny, sarcastic, cutting feminist rebel, but she’s also “the black sheep of the dorms” that younger girls go to when they have a problem they can’t talk to their parents or nuns about. She goes out of her way to help them, and also look out for her very Catholic bestie Mary Kate.

Not for the faint hearted. Definitely 16+.  Definitely funny!

Author – Flynn Meaney

Age – 16+

(Penguin, 2021, Catholic School, Expulsion, Expelled, Trouble, Feminist, Rebel, Friendship, Humour, Hockey, Party, Parties, Funny, Laughs, Clever Sarcasm, Sarcastic)