Simple Saturday

When my pal, Jennifer Ziegler, asked me if I would interested in writing a discussion guide for her hot, hot, hot YA  How Not to be Popular I agreed to do it as a fellow writer and as a friend. She told me that librarians and teachers have been begging for one. And now, after completing the discussion guide,  I see why.

This book is more than a lively read; a clever, quirky tale; a fun weekend literary romp. This book is IMPORTANT! This book can make a difference in a kid's life. How Not to be Popular is a 'must read' for any teen struggling to make sense of the complicated social hierarchy so prevalent on today's high school campuses. Can you think of a teenager who isn't?

How Not to be Popular is a story about a girl who has to move often. After attending ten different high schools, she has decided it simply hurts too much to go through the effort of developing friendships only to ultimately have to leave. She's emotionally damaged. Her solution is to become unpopular. When she moves to Austin during her senior year, instead of seeking her usual status relationships with the cheerleader/dance teams types known as the 'Bippies', she sinks the the lowest level on the social food chain; the 'bottom feeders', the losers, the 'Helping Hands'.

There is tremendous depth to this novel...layers upon layers of metaphors, symbolism, paradoxical contradition, and plenty of oxymorons! Who can refuse a tasty oxymoron? How Not to be Popular is a study of the critical aspects required to live an authentic life, one that is free, honest, truthful, and all-out fun!

This book is one that, as a teacher, I would cherish and have the students read year after year after year. Oh...the things we could discuss. Things close to their hearts. I've been privileged to witness the positive, transformative affect a book can have on a kid.  How Not to be Popular is just that kind of book!