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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
This was a fun teen book. My only quibble is that the ending was left wide open so the author can always pull out a sequel. I would have liked it wrapped up.
Initial Final Page Thoughts.
Awhh, hell yeah.
High Points.
Everything about this book is a high point for me. We have girls kicking ass. We have posh public school. We have secret societies. We have the most amazing pranks IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. We have full on belly-laughter. We have full on heartbreak. And, most importantly, we have arrogant boys getting their just desserts. FIST PUMP.
Low Point.
I have only two low points about this book. The first being that I didn’t read this when I was in high school (all girls school… the career man got very confused when I told him I wanted to be a doctor… you could almost see the cogs in his mind try and process the thought while trying to stop him blurting out ‘B-b-but you’re a girl!’) And the second being that I can’t driving around the UK with a wagon full of piles of this book handing copies out to teenage girls everywhere and spread the word of Miss Landau-Banks. Because I’m guessing that would be frowned upon.
Heroine.
Frankie is possibly my favourite YA heroine, ever. Bold words, I know, but also true words. She is funny, resourceful, educated (but not snobby about it!) and she believes in herself. She is the figurehead for all the girls in the world who have been treated differently because they are of the female disposition. She refuses to take things lying down. She accepts responsibility for her actions when everyone else runs and hides (and is damn well proud of them, rightly so). She never sits around and whinges when she is treated unfairly…. Girl gets revenge. She comes up with the most hilarious and envy-inducing pranks that not only make me want to start a secret society but also run around dressing the statues of Manchester with Bravissimo bras. And she likes wordplay. HOW CAN YOU NOT ADORE HER?
Best friend/Sibling
I loved the interaction between Frankie and Trish, her best friend, and Zada, her sister. Even though both of these characters are on the peripheral, they are such strong women and really added to the whole message of the book. By knowing Trish and Zada, Frankie is surrounded by strong, knowledgeable females. It is obvious that they (and Lockhart herself) hasn’t just read a few feminist essays and then regurgitated its views into a YA book and hope that it will do.
This book knows what it’s talking about and you can feel the passion that Lockhart feels about feminism in its prose. I think a lot of feminism books and ideals are quite overwhelming and preachy (On all accounts do NOT let a male hold the door open for you because that means you are submissive and weak… come on!) but with The Disreputable History, Lockhart brings the message to an audience where understanding that girls are equal (but better at pranking *cough*) to boys is vital and does so without dumbing anything down, keeping it intelligent and thought-provoking, but also hilariously entertaining. The Ladies conversation? So hilarious.
Love Interest. Ugh, men.
I don’t even want to say that Matthew is a love interest, even though he technically is, to Frankie because… please… he doesn’t even deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence. What a poor excuse for a man. He literally made my blood boil and my notebook is filled with sentences like “Ughh, I hate men,” and “Misogynist so and so” and “STOP SAYING SHE IS BEING SENSITIVE FOR HAVING AN OPINION.”
Alpha was a much more interesting character and what I loved about him (apart from that he reminded me of Logan Echolls.. swoon.) was that even though his mind was made up of 50% caveman ‘Me-hunter gatherer, you- stand there look pretty’ thoughts, the other 50% was full of respect and admiration for Frankie and her actions.
Theme Tune(s).
OK, there are practically a billion songs I could go with for this. Shall I go for feminism? Or why men should never underestimate a woman? Or rebellion? Or the power of youth?
Or shall I go for the one that everyone was thinking about and proceeded to abuse the replay button on YouTube.
Yeah, I’ll go for that one.
Angst Scale.
I wanted to give this book a 5/10 because of the anger that coursed through my veins whenever Matthew and his stupid Superman t-shirt were ever mentioned. But then I remembered… Frankie Landau-Banks doesn’t give angst the time of day. So, in honour of her and her teachings, there is no angst scale.
Recommended for.
EVERYONE. People who have ever wondered what really goes on in a secret society. People who love pulling pranks. People who think drinking warm beer on a muddy golf course is laaaame. People who want to read a YA book that has a tough female protagonist who isn’t afraid to stand up for themselves. People who want to stick their middle finger up to the stifling establishment. People who love making up new words and trying to make them work. People who think it’s OK to ask a stranger for a lick of their frozen custard (what is that by the way? It sounds delicious!) People who have ever wanted to kick a boy in the crotch for being a small-minded, ill-educated, complete and utter *CENSORED* *mutters under breath*. Girls who wanted to be forces.
Awhh, hell yeah.
High Points.
Everything about this book is a high point for me. We have girls kicking ass. We have posh public school. We have secret societies. We have the most amazing pranks IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. We have full on belly-laughter. We have full on heartbreak. And, most importantly, we have arrogant boys getting their just desserts. FIST PUMP.
Low Point.
I have only two low points about this book. The first being that I didn’t read this when I was in high school (all girls school… the career man got very confused when I told him I wanted to be a doctor… you could almost see the cogs in his mind try and process the thought while trying to stop him blurting out ‘B-b-but you’re a girl!’) And the second being that I can’t driving around the UK with a wagon full of piles of this book handing copies out to teenage girls everywhere and spread the word of Miss Landau-Banks. Because I’m guessing that would be frowned upon.
Heroine.
Frankie is possibly my favourite YA heroine, ever. Bold words, I know, but also true words. She is funny, resourceful, educated (but not snobby about it!) and she believes in herself. She is the figurehead for all the girls in the world who have been treated differently because they are of the female disposition. She refuses to take things lying down. She accepts responsibility for her actions when everyone else runs and hides (and is damn well proud of them, rightly so). She never sits around and whinges when she is treated unfairly…. Girl gets revenge. She comes up with the most hilarious and envy-inducing pranks that not only make me want to start a secret society but also run around dressing the statues of Manchester with Bravissimo bras. And she likes wordplay. HOW CAN YOU NOT ADORE HER?
Best friend/Sibling
I loved the interaction between Frankie and Trish, her best friend, and Zada, her sister. Even though both of these characters are on the peripheral, they are such strong women and really added to the whole message of the book. By knowing Trish and Zada, Frankie is surrounded by strong, knowledgeable females. It is obvious that they (and Lockhart herself) hasn’t just read a few feminist essays and then regurgitated its views into a YA book and hope that it will do.
This book knows what it’s talking about and you can feel the passion that Lockhart feels about feminism in its prose. I think a lot of feminism books and ideals are quite overwhelming and preachy (On all accounts do NOT let a male hold the door open for you because that means you are submissive and weak… come on!) but with The Disreputable History, Lockhart brings the message to an audience where understanding that girls are equal (but better at pranking *cough*) to boys is vital and does so without dumbing anything down, keeping it intelligent and thought-provoking, but also hilariously entertaining. The Ladies conversation? So hilarious.
I don’t even want to say that Matthew is a love interest, even though he technically is, to Frankie because… please… he doesn’t even deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence. What a poor excuse for a man. He literally made my blood boil and my notebook is filled with sentences like “Ughh, I hate men,” and “Misogynist so and so” and “STOP SAYING SHE IS BEING SENSITIVE FOR HAVING AN OPINION.”
Alpha was a much more interesting character and what I loved about him (apart from that he reminded me of Logan Echolls.. swoon.) was that even though his mind was made up of 50% caveman ‘Me-hunter gatherer, you- stand there look pretty’ thoughts, the other 50% was full of respect and admiration for Frankie and her actions.
Theme Tune(s).
OK, there are practically a billion songs I could go with for this. Shall I go for feminism? Or why men should never underestimate a woman? Or rebellion? Or the power of youth?
Or shall I go for the one that everyone was thinking about and proceeded to abuse the replay button on YouTube.
Yeah, I’ll go for that one.
Angst Scale.
I wanted to give this book a 5/10 because of the anger that coursed through my veins whenever Matthew and his stupid Superman t-shirt were ever mentioned. But then I remembered… Frankie Landau-Banks doesn’t give angst the time of day. So, in honour of her and her teachings, there is no angst scale.
Recommended for.
EVERYONE. People who have ever wondered what really goes on in a secret society. People who love pulling pranks. People who think drinking warm beer on a muddy golf course is laaaame. People who want to read a YA book that has a tough female protagonist who isn’t afraid to stand up for themselves. People who want to stick their middle finger up to the stifling establishment. People who love making up new words and trying to make them work. People who think it’s OK to ask a stranger for a lick of their frozen custard (what is that by the way? It sounds delicious!) People who have ever wanted to kick a boy in the crotch for being a small-minded, ill-educated, complete and utter *CENSORED* *mutters under breath*. Girls who wanted to be forces.
A fun, well-written feminist book with a great, but heavily flawed, main character who I loved.
“They do sometimes go crazy, these people, because the world is telling them not to want the things that they want. It can seem saner to give up—but then one goes insane from giving up.”
“They do sometimes go crazy, these people, because the world is telling them not to want the things that they want. It can seem saner to give up—but then one goes insane from giving up.”
Unfortunately, this book just didn't do it for me. The characters were unlikeable, the plot..ehh. No, just didn't work for me. After reading reviews, I was expecting a story about a feminist teen and girl power, but I didn't get that here. I felt Frankie was manipulating, jealous, insecure...just not what resembles a strong female. Sure, she was smart and creative, but I just couldn't get past the fact that she was controlling and vindictive. It was just annoying. No, you can't be in the secret boys club. Your boyfriend for 3 freaking months likes to hang out with his friends without you. Get over it. It has nothing to do with seeing females as less than, but more about male bonding. What's wrong with that? Absolutely Nothing. Being a strong woman is about being secure with who you are. He wants to hang out with the guys? Cool. I'll be at Target, drinking a Starbucks caramel frappuccino, see ya later. Or I'll be at home in my pjs watching The Walking Dead, see ya later. No need to stalk people and want to be involved in every single aspect of their life. That was just a bit too psychotic for me. Frankie was a bit of a nutjob.
My past couple of reads have been kinda grim and dark and this book succeeded in bringing me out of all that. It was light and fun which was what I needed.
The book's main character, Frankie Landau-Banks, goes to an elite preparatory school where its students mostly consist of sons and daughters of CEOs and socialites. Frankie's sophomore year was going great until she realises her boyfriend, Matthew Livingston, belongs to a male-only secret society and that he has no intention of ever including her in it.
Many reviewers called this a feminist book. And I have to agree that Frankie does exhibit feminist values. She wants to be seen as someone who can be powerful and ambitious instead of adorable and pretty. And she makes it her mission to let the guys know that even if it means infiltrating and taking control over their secret society. But at the same time, Frankie's actions do make her seem as if she needs to be validated by these guys.
Yes, it is a book that takes a feminist stance. But it did feel somewhat contrived at times. Frankie could have easily formed her own female-only society and it would've achieved the same goal of undermining the male club. Nevertheless, it is indeed a step towards the right direction compared to most YA female characters out there, especially in YA contemporaries.
This was also a delightfully easy and quick read. Anything longer would turn things stagnant. The story itself was fun in a sense that it involves privileged white kids navigating the politics of boarding school.
In short, mindless entertainment at its best.
The book's main character, Frankie Landau-Banks, goes to an elite preparatory school where its students mostly consist of sons and daughters of CEOs and socialites. Frankie's sophomore year was going great until she realises her boyfriend, Matthew Livingston, belongs to a male-only secret society and that he has no intention of ever including her in it.
"She will not be simple and sweet. She will not be what people tell her to be."
Many reviewers called this a feminist book. And I have to agree that Frankie does exhibit feminist values. She wants to be seen as someone who can be powerful and ambitious instead of adorable and pretty. And she makes it her mission to let the guys know that even if it means infiltrating and taking control over their secret society. But at the same time, Frankie's actions do make her seem as if she needs to be validated by these guys.
Yes, it is a book that takes a feminist stance. But it did feel somewhat contrived at times. Frankie could have easily formed her own female-only society and it would've achieved the same goal of undermining the male club. Nevertheless, it is indeed a step towards the right direction compared to most YA female characters out there, especially in YA contemporaries.
This was also a delightfully easy and quick read. Anything longer would turn things stagnant. The story itself was fun in a sense that it involves privileged white kids navigating the politics of boarding school.
In short, mindless entertainment at its best.
2015 Reading Challenge- Book set in High School
Thank you, John Green, for another stellar recommendation! I wish I had this book when I was in my early teens because that would've been awesome. Not that this book doesn't hold up to someone in their early 20s, but it definitely would've resonated more if I were younger.
That being said, I should also clarify that given the choice I will almost always choose the more lighthearted thing. I like upbeat music, I prefer comedies to dramas when it comes to movies and TV, and for the most part, fun adventures take precedence for me in books. Other reviewers slammed the book saying it was juvenile or that is the teen fiction the good girls read. Girls without problems like anorexia or cutting or promiscuity or retrograde amnesia.
Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, and my opinion is that I'd rather not read about girls with anorexia or cutting. Maybe I was a good girl and never got into trouble really, but that doesn't make me any worse or less acceptable that anyone else. Maybe I took those reviews personally, so I shall back off and continue with my review.
This book was fun. A high school girl who discovers she dislikes the antiquated boys club ideas and anonymously takes over the Basset Club. And she is the boss! She loves the power and freedom and wants to be taken seriously as a smart person and not just a pretty girl and she's becoming a feminist. I didn't much care for the fact that she was lovesick over her dickish boyfriend, Matthew, but then again, she is a teenage girl with flaws.
I loved that Frankie was smart and loved power and control and freedom. This is the kind of diverse females that we're talking about! She wants to create change in the world and she's tired of men and women telling her or implying that she's not enough; she needs a male to take care of her.
I loved the mystery, the pranks, her alpha dog status, and that she didn't end up with a boyfriend by the end (OOPS SEMI SPOILER WHATEVER BASED ON HER CHANGING OPINIONS YOU SHOULD SEE IT COMING).
Again, this is aimed at a younger audience, but don't let that stop you of any gender and any age from reading this book. If you like power struggles and pranks, you'll enjoy this book.
Thank you, John Green, for another stellar recommendation! I wish I had this book when I was in my early teens because that would've been awesome. Not that this book doesn't hold up to someone in their early 20s, but it definitely would've resonated more if I were younger.
That being said, I should also clarify that given the choice I will almost always choose the more lighthearted thing. I like upbeat music, I prefer comedies to dramas when it comes to movies and TV, and for the most part, fun adventures take precedence for me in books. Other reviewers slammed the book saying it was juvenile or that is the teen fiction the good girls read. Girls without problems like anorexia or cutting or promiscuity or retrograde amnesia.
Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, and my opinion is that I'd rather not read about girls with anorexia or cutting. Maybe I was a good girl and never got into trouble really, but that doesn't make me any worse or less acceptable that anyone else. Maybe I took those reviews personally, so I shall back off and continue with my review.
This book was fun. A high school girl who discovers she dislikes the antiquated boys club ideas and anonymously takes over the Basset Club. And she is the boss! She loves the power and freedom and wants to be taken seriously as a smart person and not just a pretty girl and she's becoming a feminist. I didn't much care for the fact that she was lovesick over her dickish boyfriend, Matthew, but then again, she is a teenage girl with flaws.
I loved that Frankie was smart and loved power and control and freedom. This is the kind of diverse females that we're talking about! She wants to create change in the world and she's tired of men and women telling her or implying that she's not enough; she needs a male to take care of her.
I loved the mystery, the pranks, her alpha dog status, and that she didn't end up with a boyfriend by the end (OOPS SEMI SPOILER WHATEVER BASED ON HER CHANGING OPINIONS YOU SHOULD SEE IT COMING).
Again, this is aimed at a younger audience, but don't let that stop you of any gender and any age from reading this book. If you like power struggles and pranks, you'll enjoy this book.
I read this book as part of my Young Adult Literature class, and those class discussions may have contributed to my opinions.
First thing I am going to say is that I really enjoyed the plot of the novel. I loved the secret society and old boarding school aspect of the novel. I also found all of the pranks amusing and clever.
I also found the narrator very interesting. We don’t get the story directly from Frankie as I see in many YA novels, but rather from someone who appears to be looking from the outside. They are able to give the reader key information, but it’s still biased to Frankie’s thoughts. This limited third-person narrator seems to be observing Frankie, but they still know her feelings and thoughts. It was jarring at times to be ripped out of the story in order to be given some key information, but it forced me to be attentive and to avoid passively reading the story.
However, I am torn about the character of Frankie Landau-Banks. In the beginning, I really liked her. I believed in her and wanted her to succeed in challenging the system. However, by the end of the novel, that changed. I felt as if Frankie was becoming an example of what happens when you have too much of a good thing. I started to see that her actions might have been too rash and premature. I also think that her frustration with her friends and the student body was to be expected. Her pranks were very well thought out in what messages they were conveying, but I think they might have been too abstract. It wasn’t like poetry where a reader can re-read as many times as they want. These were pranks, where typically the main goal is entertainment for someone. I thought it would be expected that her classmates didn’t “get it.” As a result, by the end of the novel she is aggressive and obsessed with getting the books to like/respect her. I felt as if she took two steps forward and three steps backward; as if she fell into the traps of the very institutions that she was challenging. It seemed as if all she did was for nothing, as if there is no way to really change an institution.
This aspect of power throughout this novel has also piqued my interest. In my YA Lit class, we have been talking a bit about what power teens have in the world around them. I think this novel highlights the power teens have over each other. We see this throughout the novel with the peer pressure in the cafeteria, Frankie’s control in the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds, the reaction to the different pranks, and the school’s reaction when Frankie admits what she did. The book demonstrates how teens have power over each other through means of peer pressure and enforcing the status quo. It also implies how one teen can take control of the system but not necessarily change it. Others need to be behind them, but also fully understand what they are standing up for. I think if the student body at Alabaster knew what the messages were and believed in them, Frankie would have been more successful.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, and I am looking forward to reading more of E. Lockhart’s work.
First thing I am going to say is that I really enjoyed the plot of the novel. I loved the secret society and old boarding school aspect of the novel. I also found all of the pranks amusing and clever.
I also found the narrator very interesting. We don’t get the story directly from Frankie as I see in many YA novels, but rather from someone who appears to be looking from the outside. They are able to give the reader key information, but it’s still biased to Frankie’s thoughts. This limited third-person narrator seems to be observing Frankie, but they still know her feelings and thoughts. It was jarring at times to be ripped out of the story in order to be given some key information, but it forced me to be attentive and to avoid passively reading the story.
However, I am torn about the character of Frankie Landau-Banks. In the beginning, I really liked her. I believed in her and wanted her to succeed in challenging the system. However, by the end of the novel, that changed. I felt as if Frankie was becoming an example of what happens when you have too much of a good thing. I started to see that her actions might have been too rash and premature. I also think that her frustration with her friends and the student body was to be expected. Her pranks were very well thought out in what messages they were conveying, but I think they might have been too abstract. It wasn’t like poetry where a reader can re-read as many times as they want. These were pranks, where typically the main goal is entertainment for someone. I thought it would be expected that her classmates didn’t “get it.” As a result, by the end of the novel she is aggressive and obsessed with getting the books to like/respect her. I felt as if she took two steps forward and three steps backward; as if she fell into the traps of the very institutions that she was challenging. It seemed as if all she did was for nothing, as if there is no way to really change an institution.
This aspect of power throughout this novel has also piqued my interest. In my YA Lit class, we have been talking a bit about what power teens have in the world around them. I think this novel highlights the power teens have over each other. We see this throughout the novel with the peer pressure in the cafeteria, Frankie’s control in the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds, the reaction to the different pranks, and the school’s reaction when Frankie admits what she did. The book demonstrates how teens have power over each other through means of peer pressure and enforcing the status quo. It also implies how one teen can take control of the system but not necessarily change it. Others need to be behind them, but also fully understand what they are standing up for. I think if the student body at Alabaster knew what the messages were and believed in them, Frankie would have been more successful.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, and I am looking forward to reading more of E. Lockhart’s work.
Almost a 4! Spoiler-y review. I enjoyed huge amounts of this book. Following Frankie's journey as she realizes her force as a young woman was very rewarding. I wish I had read this when I was in high school! There's a lot of challenging gender and social norms here, which I loved. And then the secret society center was so fun. But for me, it fell flat at some places, especially the end. I wanted so badly for Frankie to realize her worth and when it finally happens its for like two seconds...after she still craves the attention and approval of these boys. I really want a follow up on Frankie. I want more of her friendship with Trish and her sister. Let's talk about her mom more. Her family is kinda like wtf after everything goes down....what happens with them? How does she spend the rest of her time at Alabaster and what's the name of her girl gang/future secret society?
I just wanted a litttttle more from this read, and that's why my rating was lower, but I still really liked it!
I just wanted a litttttle more from this read, and that's why my rating was lower, but I still really liked it!
Wow. Where was this book when I was in high school? Why didn't I read this when it came out 8 years ago?