How To Be Popular

Author: Meg Cabot
ISBN:978-0330444064
Publication Information: MacMillian UK

Plot Summary: Steph Landry has been a dork ever since a certain red Super Big Gulp incident in the 6th grade. But it isn't grade school anymore, it is the start of the 11th grade, and Steph has a secret weapon to shake her klutzy reputation, a manual on "How to be Popular". Steph is convinced that this manual is the secret to all her problems. And while it helps her become part of the in-crowd, she risks losing her best friends Becca and Jason along the way. What is will become more important to Steph, maintaining her friendship with Becca and Jason, or pursuing her quest to become the head of the popular table at the cafeteria?

Critical Evaluation: Meg Cabot certainly knows how to write for the chick lit genre. Her characters are simultaneously funny and frank, dealing with issues ranging from the different versions of mini skirts (micro mini, regular mini, etc.) to harder problems, like peer pressure, or how to make new friends without alienating your old ones. Cabot definitely caters to the teen girl set, and I think that few boys would willingly pick up this book, but this book does a great job of dealing with the above mentioned projects with gravity and wit. This is a great recommendation to girls that are searching to read something that is initially light reading, and morphs into a novel that provides a lot of empathy and perspective into the teen high school experience.

Reader's Annotation: Steph Landry is known as the class klutz. Until now. Entering the 11th grade, Steph has a secret weapon that will make her popular... and she isn't afraid to use it.

Author Information: Meg Cabot has published over 25 books, with over 15 million copies in print and available in 38 different countries. Her series, The Princess Diaries has been turned into two movies by Disney, both were commercial successes. She attended Indiana University, graduating in 1991 with a degree in art. She currently splits her time between Key West, Indiana and New York with her husband and cat. (Information taken from the author's website http://www.megcabot.com/about-meg-cabot/frequently-asked-questions-about-meg-cabot/#college)

Curricular Ties: n/a

Genre: contemporary life, chick lit

Book talking ideas:

• Why is being popular so important to Steph? How would you try to shake a klutzy reputation?
• Why are Becca and Jason so angry at Steph? Is their anger justified?
• If you were Steph, how would you mediate the relationship between Steph's Grandfather and Mother?
  

Challenge issues: n/a

Interest Age: Grades 9 and up

Why I selected this piece: Meg Cabot is one of the heavy hitters in the chick lit genre, whether for adults or teens. It seemed important to include at least one Cabot book in the blog.