Thursday, February 9, 2012

Allen, Elise Populazzi


Allen, Elise      Populazzi   
 Harcourt Brace/Houghton Mifflin     2011  394p  16.99 978-0-547-48153-1 
 ms/hs VG-BN Realistic Fiction     

   Cara, who has always been on the bottom rung of the social ladder, plots how to rise to the top and become a “Populazzi,” in her new school.     Cara is moving to a new school.  It is a chance for new beginnings, an opportunity to overcome “invisibility” and become one of the popular crowd.  With her lifelong friend Claudia, the girls plot the ladder to social success. 

   Cara jumps from boyfriend to boyfriend, moving up the social strata and changing her looks, personality, and behavior along the way.  She begins with Archer, a boy from the Theater crowd, ditching him for Nate, a bad boy who puts Cara one step away from the “Populazzis.”  How far will Cara go to be someone of the cool crowd?

In addition to dealing with her social-climbing activities, a new environment, and a more challenging curriculum, Cara’s home life also provides challenges.  Her mother is in a totally dependent relationship with a cruel, emotionally abusive man.  Cara’s mom is not there for her and doesn’t have her back when events come to a head.

Fast-paced and entertaining, the characters, cliques, and experiences will seem authentic to teen readers who will recognize themselves in this entertaining and humorous page-turner.
1. Interpersonal relations - Fiction. 
2. Popularity -- Fiction. 
3. High schools -- Fiction.       Hilary Welliver

 

No comments: