The Boyfriend List

Author: E. Lockhart

ISBN:978-0385732079

Publication Information: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Plot Summary: Ruby is having some major problems at school. After accidentally (on purpose) kissing her ex-boyfriend at a party, who happens to now be her best friend's boyfriend, almost everyone at school, including Ruby's best friends, aren't speaking to her. On top of that, Ruby has been suffering from some debilitating panic attacks. Her panic attacks are so bad that her parents insist that she see a therapist. One of her therapy assignments is to create a boyfriend list of every boy that she has had any sort of relationship with, so that during each session they could cover one guy from Ruby's past. Will the boyfriend list help Ruby, or just make her more neurotic?

Critical Evaluation: E. Lockhart certainly knows how to create quirky, neurotic, yet oddly endearing female characters, but doesn't quite pack the same punch as or The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks or Dramarama. While Ruby is certainly going through a difficult time at school, her inability to stick up for herself with her best friends becomes a bit grating after a while. Still, Lockhart seems to capture the neurosis and crisis of teens fairly well in Ruby (and in Ruby's best friend Kim). Reading this book made me remember the mean girls and dramatic showdowns of high school, and also made me happy that I am no longer a part of it. Despite the high drama, the book itself is a fast read and fairly entertaining, one of the better teen chick lit available. Recommended as a summer or beach read, for teen that don't want to think too hard about the storyline or character development.

Reader's Annotation: Ruby is in therapy and has to create a boyfriend list. That could take a while.

Author Information: E. (Emily) Lockhart was born in New York city. In addition to Frankie Landau-Banks, she is the author of the Ruby Oliver books (three in publication and one due to be released later this year), Dramarama, Fly on the Wall and How to Bad. She is a full time writer, a vegetarian, and practices yoga on a regular basis. (Information gathered from the author's website http://e-lockhart.com/main/?)

Curricular Ties: N/A

Genre:Chick Lit

Book talking ideas:

• Why did all of Ruby's friends turn against her?
• Do you think Ruby was completely in the wrong regarding the Ruby , Kim, Jackson love triangle?
• Do you think Jackson as a good boyfriend to Ruby or to Kim? Why or why not?
  

Challenge issues: N/A

Interest Age: Grades 8 and up

Why I selected this piece:I really enjoyed The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks and Dramarama, so I wanted to check out the Boyfriend series.