Tuesday, March 4, 2008

How Not to Be Popular by Jennifer Ziegler Book Review

How Not to Be Popular by Jennifer Ziegler
(Hardcover, Delacorte)
Rating:


Sugar Magnolia "Maggie" Dempsey has been moving all her life. She never minded her hippie parents nomadic lifestyle until this last move. The move that took her away from a best friend and a boyfriend. Now Maggie and her parents are in Austin, TX and Maggie is determined not to fit in at school. Why risk all the heartache when her parents will just up and move in a couple of months? So Maggie tries to be as weird as she can. She wears overalls and galoshes. She carries a tin lunch box. She invites her parents to eat lunch in the cafeteria. But it doesn't seem to be working...Maggie starts to make friends and she notices that other people start wearing overalls and carrying tin lunch boxes. What is it with these kids in Austin?

I've noticed a lot of people reviewing this lately and I had to add my review to the mix because this book was such fun to read! Most people try to be popular and some people just act like themselves, but who has ever heard of someone trying not to be popular? Maggie's outfits were hilarious. And it was funny seeing how her best efforts were actually making her popular. There were some cliches in this book, such as the popular kids being the mean ones and the "uncool" kids being the ones that befriended Maggie. Still, all in all, Maggie's adventures were fun to read about. The ending has some nice twists to it that I enjoyed. A little dash of sadness, a little sprinkle of humility, a few cups of happy endings, and a lot of humor make this a book that you should definitely pick up. And isn't this just an awesome cover?

13 comments:

  1. Oooh. This book looks funny and really enjoyable. Just my kind of book. I'll have to put it on my to-read list. Nice review!

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  2. This sounds like a young adult book. Is it? I'm always looking for books I can pass along to my 13-year old granddaughter.

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  3. this one is on my to-read list as well!!

    and I really like your blog too!! are you interested in exchanging links?? :]

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  4. I really enjoyed HNtbP. Was so fun (we have a book soundtrack up if you're interested in listening!)

    -Mollie

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  5. i loved this book, i thought it was amazing

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  6. I'd really like to read this.

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  7. I've been dying to read this! Great review as always!

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  8. I love reading books based in places I live, or used to live in. I will have to pick up a copy of this one.
    Is the author from Austin?

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  9. i still have yet to read this!! i enjoyed your review!

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  10. I'm looking forward to this one too. And that hat on the cover: cute!

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  11. Terri - Yes, it is a young adult book. The characters are in the senior year of high school but it would be appropriate for a 13 year old. Sex is mentioned but the main character has a very responsible outlook on it.

    Tali - I'd love to exchange links. :)

    Mollie - I'm definitely checking out that soundtrack!

    Mari - I'm not sure if the author is from Austin or not but she definitely has a feel for the city.

    Thanks to everyone who enjoyed the review! More to come this weekend. :)

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  12. I've managed to get my library to buy this book!!
    =D

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  13. I'm reading this right now, and I'm loving it. I know a book is good when it can make me laugh in the middle of class when other people are finishing a test. So they all look at me.

    (That really happened to me today, if you were wondering. lol.)

    hope.

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