Popular a Memoir

Overview

2015 YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction New York Times Bestseller A breakout teen author explores the true meaning of popularity and how to survive middle school in this hysterically funny, touchingly honest contemporary memoir. "I was inspired by [Maya's] journey and made a point of saving a copy of 'Popular' for my sister, who starts middle school this fall. Maybe if I had read it when I was her age, it could have saved me from a world of hurt, or at least put that world in perspective." --Maude Apatow, New York Times Book Review Can curlers, girdles, Vaseline, and a strand of pearls help a shy girl become popular? Maya Van Wagenen is about to find out. Stuck near the bottom of the social ladder at "pretty much the lowest level of people at school who aren't paid to be here," Maya has never been popular. But before starting eighth grade, she decides to begin a unique social experiment: spend the school year following a 1950s popularity guide, written by former teen model Betty Cornell. The real-life results are hilarious, painful, and filled with unexpected surprises. Told with humor and grace, Maya's journey offers readers of all ages a thoroughly contemporary example of kindness and self-confidence, along with a better understanding of what it means to be popular.

Details

Publisher

Penguin

Published

2014

Pages

259

Language

EN

Categories

JUVENILE NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiography / Literary, Juvenile Nonfiction / History / General, Juvenile Nonfiction / Humor / General, Juvenile Nonfiction / Social Topics / General, Juvenile Nonfiction / Social Topics / Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance, Young Adult Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Literary, Young Adult Nonfiction / Humor, Young Adult Nonfiction / Social Topics / Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance

ISBN-13

9780525426813