The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Sep.27, 2009, under Humorous, Mystery, Printz Award, Romance, Sam's Reviews
Who would like this book? Girls 13 and up who want a funny book about a girl who has finally gotten the guy of her dreams but will not consent to being the girl of his dreams. Lose yourself for love? Maybe not.
Why? Frankie Landau Banks is now a sophomore at the prestigious East Coast co-ed boarding school, Alabaster. Frankie has “blossomed” in many ways over the summer, and at the start of fall term she is attracting attention from the coolest senior boy, Matthew. Though Frankie is thrilled about this arrangement, she is not so hot about Matthew’s habit of marginalizing her. She really takes exception to his obsession with The Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds, a secret society open only to males, and to which Frankie’s father belonged. Frankie is seriously smart and a great schemer, and she doesn’t waste any of her formidable talents. E. Lockhart gives us Frankie’s point of view of every aspect of life at Alabaster. It’s a great exploration of identity and gender. All the better that it’s also seriously funny.
The details: 352 pages, 2008 Review by Samrarian
