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.

Writers' Lives Self-Esteem & Independence for Teens Humor for Teens book club

memoir middle school

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Who it’s for: A funny, candid memoir finds room for awkward experiments and a more generous idea of confidence.
Themes: Popularity and belonging, Kindness, Self-confidence
Genres: Writers' Lives, Humor for Teens, Self-Esteem & Independence for Teens

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About this book

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.

Popularity, Reconsidered

A funny, candid memoir finds room for awkward experiments and a more generous idea of confidence.

Come here for

A playful look at the rules of popularity
Honest reflections on middle-school social life

Expect

Humor alongside painful moments
A personal journey toward kindness and self-confidence

Where it sits

Self-Esteem & Independence for Teens	34%
Writers' Lives	34%
Humor for Teens	25%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

Writers' Lives
Humor for Teens
Self-Esteem & Independence for Teens

Authors: Maya Van Wagenen
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: April 21, 2015
Format: Print & ebook
Theme: Popularity and belonging · Kindness · Self-confidence
Reading lane: Writers' Lives