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The Millicent Min Trilogy #1
Millicent Min, Girl Genius
Millicent Min is having a bad summer. Her fellow high school students hate her for setting the curve. Her fellow 11-year-olds hate her for going to high school. And her mother has arranged for her to tutor Stanford Wong, the poster boy for Chinese geekdom. But then Millie meets Emily. Emily doesn't know Millicent's IQ score. She actually thinks Millie is cool. And if Millie can hide her awards, ignore her grandmother's advice, swear her parents to silence, blackmail Stanford, and keep all her lies straight, she just might make her first friend. What's it going to take? Sheer genius.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
67 people are currently reading
1649 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Yee
40 books556 followersLisa Yee has written over 20 novels. Her most recent book, Maizy Chen's Last Chance, is about a fifth-generation Chinese American girl, and is a National Book Award Finalist, Newbery Honor, and the Asian Pacific American Children's Literature Award winner.
Lisa's debut novel, Millicent Min, Girl Genius, won the prestigious Sid Fleischman Humor Award. Other books include Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time, Absolutely Maybe, and a series about a 4th grader, Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) and Bobby the Brave (Sometimes), illustrated by Dan Santat.
Lisa is also the author of several American Girl books and the DC Super Hero Girls series. A Thurber House Children’s Writer-in-Residence, Lisa's books have been named a NPR Best Summer Read, Sports Illustrated Kids Hot Summer Read, and USA Today Critics’ Top Pick.
Lisa lives In Western Massachusetts, but spends a lot of time in Los Angeles, especially when it's cold. Her next book, an awkward and hilarious mystery, is called The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum, and is illustrated by Dan Santat.
You can visit Lisa at www.lisayee.com.
Lisa's debut novel, Millicent Min, Girl Genius, won the prestigious Sid Fleischman Humor Award. Other books include Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time, Absolutely Maybe, and a series about a 4th grader, Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) and Bobby the Brave (Sometimes), illustrated by Dan Santat.
Lisa is also the author of several American Girl books and the DC Super Hero Girls series. A Thurber House Children’s Writer-in-Residence, Lisa's books have been named a NPR Best Summer Read, Sports Illustrated Kids Hot Summer Read, and USA Today Critics’ Top Pick.
Lisa lives In Western Massachusetts, but spends a lot of time in Los Angeles, especially when it's cold. Her next book, an awkward and hilarious mystery, is called The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum, and is illustrated by Dan Santat.
You can visit Lisa at www.lisayee.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 395 reviews
March 18, 2012
Last year, I attended an author panel featuring Lisa Yee. She was pretty funny and entertaining so curiously I decided to read Millicent Min--not exactly my first choice of read...I'm much more of a sci/fi-paranormal kind of a girl and the last time I read any middle grade "coming of age" book was Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret and that was way back in 5th grade.
Millicent certainly surprised me. Her blind confidence, sarcasm, and wit make her a delight to read. There were a couple of times that her thought process had me laughing out loud.
While Millicent is a genius in extremes (an 11-year-old high school Junior), there were aspects I found myself connected to: the longing to be included yet the self-preservation of using your "identity" as a shield. Millicent's entire life has been focused on her intelligence and she uses it to protect herself from the friendships she so desperately wants until she meets Emily who knows nothing of her intelligence. As she tries to keep her identity a secret, she ends up discovering that your identity is part of you but is not the whole part.
I really connected with this story personally: having a brother who skipped a grade, another brother who aced the CA mathematics test, and a dad who thought it would be fun for the kids to memorize pi to 30 digits. So I've had first hand experience with how challenging it can be to have other people understand and connect with you.
I really enjoyed this and even though Yee made Millicent into an intellectual "Asian," it wasn't full of stereotypical cliches; Instead, she incorporated other characteristics which made you see past the stereotypical Asian family/type. An entertaining quick read that will appeal to readers who may feel unique or secluded from the "norm."
Millicent certainly surprised me. Her blind confidence, sarcasm, and wit make her a delight to read. There were a couple of times that her thought process had me laughing out loud.
While Millicent is a genius in extremes (an 11-year-old high school Junior), there were aspects I found myself connected to: the longing to be included yet the self-preservation of using your "identity" as a shield. Millicent's entire life has been focused on her intelligence and she uses it to protect herself from the friendships she so desperately wants until she meets Emily who knows nothing of her intelligence. As she tries to keep her identity a secret, she ends up discovering that your identity is part of you but is not the whole part.
I really connected with this story personally: having a brother who skipped a grade, another brother who aced the CA mathematics test, and a dad who thought it would be fun for the kids to memorize pi to 30 digits. So I've had first hand experience with how challenging it can be to have other people understand and connect with you.
I really enjoyed this and even though Yee made Millicent into an intellectual "Asian," it wasn't full of stereotypical cliches; Instead, she incorporated other characteristics which made you see past the stereotypical Asian family/type. An entertaining quick read that will appeal to readers who may feel unique or secluded from the "norm."
April 20, 2010
I SO wished that this book (and the other two of the series) had been around when I was 10 or 11 or so. There really is a dearth of Asian-American children's lit (or "ethnic" children's lit in general), and the few that exist often take an educational tone, feeling the need to over-generalize for an entire race or give a history lesson. This book is sublimely well-rounded--it's laugh-out-loud funny, but it's definitely a substantive book-it's an award winner and deals with real issues. The best part about this book/series is that the characters could really be any ethnicity; this book doesn't fall into the "Asian-American" category, appealing only to a fraction of the population. And yet there is much that Asian-American kids can relate to within the books. One of the hidden gems that I just loved is Yee's sense of place. This is definitely a Southern California book, more specifically a San Gabriel Valley one. This is not outright, but there are mentions of the Rialto Theater (in South Pasadena) and the Bruggemeyer Library (in Monterey Park), among other things. I highly recommend this book to all ages, but especially for the 10-12 age range.
April 8, 2014
Millicent Min Girl Genius is a fabulous story for introverts.
Millicent says things that logical people may often have thought about emotional situations. She made me laugh out loud several times.
The story is really well written with amazing voice. I can picture Millie hanging out with her grandmother and attending her college poetry class at 11 years old.
Ms. Yee brilliantly captures the loneliness of being smart but socially awkward. All the character are well drawn and I enjoyed my time with each of them. It's about finding a friend and being afraid of losing them. Of learning to enjoy things in life like overpriced $4 cotton candy and rollercoaster rides that make you dizzy.
A great book that I whipped through in one day!
Millicent says things that logical people may often have thought about emotional situations. She made me laugh out loud several times.
The story is really well written with amazing voice. I can picture Millie hanging out with her grandmother and attending her college poetry class at 11 years old.
Ms. Yee brilliantly captures the loneliness of being smart but socially awkward. All the character are well drawn and I enjoyed my time with each of them. It's about finding a friend and being afraid of losing them. Of learning to enjoy things in life like overpriced $4 cotton candy and rollercoaster rides that make you dizzy.
A great book that I whipped through in one day!
Read
May 21, 2025This taught me the word “camaraderie” in 5th grade.
April 15, 2011
I was an avid reader as a little girl, and I read hundreds of books. But this book about a young Chinese-American girl with a genius IQ is an easy runner-up for my favorite childhood novel.
This book begins with young Millie Min, precocious and antisocial, who is eager to experience college and get into the outside world at the tender age of eleven. She could read "In Cold Blood" at three years old and has a poster of Mona Lisa in her room, and when her mother signs her up for volleyball classes, she is utterly devastated.
Cue new friendships with new people- her detested tutoree Stanford and her new best friend Emily, a vibrant and feminine girl who shows Millie a new side of childhood.
To me, this a flawless summer read. The characters are delightful, from Millie's quirky grandmother to her amazing parents. The whole book is loaded with peaceful, home-y summer images that make you wish the weather was always warm, and the book really has wit and heart. I am no longer a little girl, but I still love this book.
This book begins with young Millie Min, precocious and antisocial, who is eager to experience college and get into the outside world at the tender age of eleven. She could read "In Cold Blood" at three years old and has a poster of Mona Lisa in her room, and when her mother signs her up for volleyball classes, she is utterly devastated.
Cue new friendships with new people- her detested tutoree Stanford and her new best friend Emily, a vibrant and feminine girl who shows Millie a new side of childhood.
To me, this a flawless summer read. The characters are delightful, from Millie's quirky grandmother to her amazing parents. The whole book is loaded with peaceful, home-y summer images that make you wish the weather was always warm, and the book really has wit and heart. I am no longer a little girl, but I still love this book.
June 13, 2021
11 year old child genius, Millicent Min is already in high school (while I had to check my spelling of genius). Although really hard, Millie has a hard time making friends. At the beginning of this book, her only friends was her grandmother Maddie (I love her so much).
Having read So Totally Emily Ebers (review here) first, I didn’t completely understand Millie’s reasons for lying to Em. Seeing things from her perspective actually made me feel bad for her.
At the end, Millie learns what it’s like to have and also be a BFF and I thought it was cute (though not my fav book in this series).
Having read So Totally Emily Ebers (review here) first, I didn’t completely understand Millie’s reasons for lying to Em. Seeing things from her perspective actually made me feel bad for her.
At the end, Millie learns what it’s like to have and also be a BFF and I thought it was cute (though not my fav book in this series).
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January 3, 2012I bought this book for my daughter, and then read it before I gave it to her. It was way cute and had a great voice to it. Sometimes diary books tend to drag, because none of the action is happening in real time. It's always the main character's ruminations on the events that we read. Lisa pulled it off excellently. (She is, I'm pretty sure, a girl genius.) My only complaint was there were a few swear words that I wish weren't there. After all, the main character is eleven and since kids tend to read up by a couple of years, it's very young girls who are reading this book. That said, I'll definitely read more of Lisa's books.
February 17, 2021
خیلی جالب بود😍🌱
July 20, 2019
داستان دخترکی ۱۱ ساله و نابغه که بخاطر هوشش از اجتماع همسالانش طرد شده است و همین امرو او را در روابط اجتماعی ضعیف بار آوردهاست.
او اکنون دانشجو است اما هیچ دوستی نداردو تنها رفیق وی "مدی" مادربزرگش است.
مادرش او را به کلاس والیبال میفرستد و به همینواسطه او با امیلی آشنا میشود اما از ترس از دست دادنش اشارهای به واقعیت زندگیش نمیکند.
در همین زمان مادربزرگش از وی میخواهد به استنفورد که نوهی دوستش است درس بدهد زیرا او تجدید آورده است.
همین موضوع اگرچه در ابتدا برای ملیسنت غیرقابل تحمل بود اما در نهایت باعث تجربههای جدی و خوبی در زندگیاش میشود.
کتاب از نثری روان و قابل فهم و توصیفاتی ساده برخوردار است. نثر روان به گونهای است که شما را با سیر داستان همراه کرده و احساساتتان را به حس و حال ملیسنت گره میزند.
او اکنون دانشجو است اما هیچ دوستی نداردو تنها رفیق وی "مدی" مادربزرگش است.
مادرش او را به کلاس والیبال میفرستد و به همینواسطه او با امیلی آشنا میشود اما از ترس از دست دادنش اشارهای به واقعیت زندگیش نمیکند.
در همین زمان مادربزرگش از وی میخواهد به استنفورد که نوهی دوستش است درس بدهد زیرا او تجدید آورده است.
همین موضوع اگرچه در ابتدا برای ملیسنت غیرقابل تحمل بود اما در نهایت باعث تجربههای جدی و خوبی در زندگیاش میشود.
کتاب از نثری روان و قابل فهم و توصیفاتی ساده برخوردار است. نثر روان به گونهای است که شما را با سیر داستان همراه کرده و احساساتتان را به حس و حال ملیسنت گره میزند.
December 31, 2023
certified banger thank you Lulu — like a Fredrik backman novel for YA and Asian
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February 13, 2024بچهها کامفورت بوک من، کامفورت بوک من بچهها.
June 5, 2021
Millicent Min is a childhood classic that still holds up today.
As an 11 year old child genius already in high school, brainiac Millicent has no peers and no friends. She's an independent who is content with her studies and improving herself intellectually. Or so she tells herself. At her core, Millie wants a friend as much as any lonely person, but her IQ has kept other kids at a distance, and she has no idea how to bridge the gap whilst being herself.
Millie is hilarious. Her pretentious sarcasm had me laughing out loud several times. I loved the way her brain worked and the way she described things. She has such a strong voice that the book's journalistic style helped to enunciate.
Emily wears a training bra. What she's in training for, I hesitate to even think about.
Any signs of Stanford being human have disappeared. Poof! He had gotten a buzz cut and reeked of cologne. Ode de Oaf, it smelled like.
I am still carefully monitoring my parents' behavior. They seem to be doing better these days; however, Dad did chase Mom around the yard, holding two sparklers on the top of his head, pretending to be a bull. If that were not bad enough, Maddie grabbed a tablecloth and whipped it in the air yelling, "Toro, toro, toro!" It's a miracle that I even go out in public with these people.
Her parents and their quirky relationship was a joy to read. As was Millie's relationship with her eccentric grandmother, Maddie. Millie's feud with Stanford was funny and dynamic, and her friendship with Emily heartwarming.
Millie is so smart, but still has much to learn. As a kid, I loved the book because of its charming humor, and because Millicent was a loner. I love it for those same things now, but as an adult I realize it also holds a great message about possessing different types of intelligence. You can be book smart, but have no emotional intelligence to speak of. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and therefore everyone has both traits that can be valued, and ways to grow.
The two companion books, Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time and So Totally Emily Ebers taught me how to look at things from other people's perspectives. As it is said, "there's two sides to every story," and I credit this trilogy of books with helping me become a more compassionate kid. They made the act of putting yourself in another's shoes entertaining.
A wonderful nostalgic summer read. This book is geared toward middle-schoolers but I think anyone could enjoy it.
As an 11 year old child genius already in high school, brainiac Millicent has no peers and no friends. She's an independent who is content with her studies and improving herself intellectually. Or so she tells herself. At her core, Millie wants a friend as much as any lonely person, but her IQ has kept other kids at a distance, and she has no idea how to bridge the gap whilst being herself.
Millie is hilarious. Her pretentious sarcasm had me laughing out loud several times. I loved the way her brain worked and the way she described things. She has such a strong voice that the book's journalistic style helped to enunciate.
Emily wears a training bra. What she's in training for, I hesitate to even think about.
Any signs of Stanford being human have disappeared. Poof! He had gotten a buzz cut and reeked of cologne. Ode de Oaf, it smelled like.
I am still carefully monitoring my parents' behavior. They seem to be doing better these days; however, Dad did chase Mom around the yard, holding two sparklers on the top of his head, pretending to be a bull. If that were not bad enough, Maddie grabbed a tablecloth and whipped it in the air yelling, "Toro, toro, toro!" It's a miracle that I even go out in public with these people.
Her parents and their quirky relationship was a joy to read. As was Millie's relationship with her eccentric grandmother, Maddie. Millie's feud with Stanford was funny and dynamic, and her friendship with Emily heartwarming.
Millie is so smart, but still has much to learn. As a kid, I loved the book because of its charming humor, and because Millicent was a loner. I love it for those same things now, but as an adult I realize it also holds a great message about possessing different types of intelligence. You can be book smart, but have no emotional intelligence to speak of. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and therefore everyone has both traits that can be valued, and ways to grow.
The two companion books, Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time and So Totally Emily Ebers taught me how to look at things from other people's perspectives. As it is said, "there's two sides to every story," and I credit this trilogy of books with helping me become a more compassionate kid. They made the act of putting yourself in another's shoes entertaining.
A wonderful nostalgic summer read. This book is geared toward middle-schoolers but I think anyone could enjoy it.
April 27, 2017
Absolutely charming and quite fun to read. Millicent Min is a girl genius who finally makes a friend who knows nothing about her or her abilities...but keeping the secret, and figuring out what other 11 year olds talk about, may be her biggest challenge yet.
I was never an 11-year-old genius, but I certainly found portions of this relatable. Definitely recommended.
I was never an 11-year-old genius, but I certainly found portions of this relatable. Definitely recommended.
January 1, 2009
This book is a very good book. It tells a story of a girl who basically is a genius and she is 13 and is GOING TO COLLEGE!!!! So then this mom calls her and wants Millicent to tutor Stanley (student) for some money. Then she aggrees to tutor him, but some things get away. Stanley avoids Millicent when his friends are near him,and he is a pain for Millicent to teach Stanley, but later on in the story he gets better and gets better grades!! But Millicent almost regreted that she aggreed to teach but in the end she is a very happy person!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2017
I barely made it through this book, and i did so only by heavily skimming, ignoring the insufferably annoying narrator, Millicent,and the atrocious dialogue. I will not be using this in my classroom!
May 19, 2018
FYI Contains: Fatshaming, Racism, Bullying,
Millicent Min, Girl Genius starts with a resume and goals that Millie has for herself that is scarily impressive and intimidating, especially given she's ELEVEN. She's in a difficult spot, light years ahead of most people intellectually but having a hard time as socially and physically awkward. She is like the definition of innocently adorkable with her well meaning but defeating "pep talks" and not getting A LOT of references.
Emily is Jewish, bigger than average (though it doesn't really specify), calls her mom Alice, and her parents are in the middle of a divorce.
Stanford is the one in summer school for flunking English, rivals with Millie, and all around cool basketball star jock.
There's brief first period conversation that really hit home since my daughter recently had hers.
It felt a bit like Harriet the Spy and Genius: The Disney Original Movie, which is great because I loved both growing up.
I was a tad frustrated with Millie towards the end with not getting it and wanted to scream "EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IS A THING". She's good on psychology, but this never comes up?!? The one minor thing that I was really hoping would come up in the next book.
The drama is a bit predictable, but great nonetheless. There's TONS of character progression all around. I don't even think a single person remains the same as they started.
After finishing I immediately went looking for the next book for the series. Turns out it isn't strictly a series, but there are companion books for Stanford and Emily. I will absolutely be checking out these as well.
Notes from Listening:
Wow that character list! and yr book signature. Adorkable.
Poor Millie! HS ppl are assholes.
Wow Debbie don't be a dick.
Fuck Debbie and Craig.
Aww Emily. Fatshaming.
Lol Stanford.
Racism against Chinese
Little feeling like Harriet the Spy
Emily is Jewish, calls her mom Alice, dad left them
lol incense incident
aww making jewelry
oh no Standford you ass
Reminds me of the old Disney Original Movie Genius
Classic Pillow Fight
Totally saw that drama coming.
Oh the puberty. Hitting far too close to home.
oh, her "pep talk"
Stanford & Emily sitting in a tree...
Stanford's "teaching"
She thinks Mom is dying
Poor emily with the divorce
why is she living in the washroom when her dad has an office?
pregnancy = brain tumor
WTF is wrong with her dad?
on a diet "but you're not fat"
Emotional IQ
Fuck Digger.
YESSS Stanford
Need more Millie Min, see Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time and So Totally Emily Ember
Millicent Min, Girl Genius starts with a resume and goals that Millie has for herself that is scarily impressive and intimidating, especially given she's ELEVEN. She's in a difficult spot, light years ahead of most people intellectually but having a hard time as socially and physically awkward. She is like the definition of innocently adorkable with her well meaning but defeating "pep talks" and not getting A LOT of references.
Emily is Jewish, bigger than average (though it doesn't really specify), calls her mom Alice, and her parents are in the middle of a divorce.
Stanford is the one in summer school for flunking English, rivals with Millie, and all around cool basketball star jock.
There's brief first period conversation that really hit home since my daughter recently had hers.
It felt a bit like Harriet the Spy and Genius: The Disney Original Movie, which is great because I loved both growing up.
I was a tad frustrated with Millie towards the end with not getting it and wanted to scream "EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IS A THING". She's good on psychology, but this never comes up?!? The one minor thing that I was really hoping would come up in the next book.
The drama is a bit predictable, but great nonetheless. There's TONS of character progression all around. I don't even think a single person remains the same as they started.
After finishing I immediately went looking for the next book for the series. Turns out it isn't strictly a series, but there are companion books for Stanford and Emily. I will absolutely be checking out these as well.
Notes from Listening:
Wow that character list! and yr book signature. Adorkable.
Poor Millie! HS ppl are assholes.
Wow Debbie don't be a dick.
Fuck Debbie and Craig.
Aww Emily. Fatshaming.
Lol Stanford.
Racism against Chinese
Little feeling like Harriet the Spy
Emily is Jewish, calls her mom Alice, dad left them
lol incense incident
aww making jewelry
oh no Standford you ass
Reminds me of the old Disney Original Movie Genius
Classic Pillow Fight
Totally saw that drama coming.
Oh the puberty. Hitting far too close to home.
oh, her "pep talk"
Stanford & Emily sitting in a tree...
Stanford's "teaching"
She thinks Mom is dying
Poor emily with the divorce
why is she living in the washroom when her dad has an office?
pregnancy = brain tumor
WTF is wrong with her dad?
on a diet "but you're not fat"
Emotional IQ
Fuck Digger.
YESSS Stanford
Need more Millie Min, see Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time and So Totally Emily Ember
June 25, 2024
Main character was very unlikeable and I’m not sure if that was intentional or not. 🤪
June 28, 2017
That was really sweet and funny. I can't wait to introduce it to the girls one day.
July 21, 2015
I'm not sure why I finished this book, as I lost interest about 3/4 of the way through. Ironically, it's possible that the reading level was too low for me (I love YA, but this is really more of a middle school read, and that's not my style). That being said, this would be a good book for kids who are struggling with Millicent's problem: being super book smart, but not so bright in the common sense department.
Yee makes Millicent a very believable character. So believable, in fact, that it hurts. Millicent's studying poetry at the college level, but she also thinks her mom has a terminal disease (instead of the very obvious pregnancy symptoms she is manifesting, though possibly not so obvious to a tween). Some story elements verge on the stereotypical: Millicent is horrible at sports, and she's not very nice to people who aren't as smart as she is. That being said, her relationship with her parents was VERY believable, especially with her poor dad, who keeps trying to connect with Millicent over normal kid-type stuff, only to be rejected as childish and silly.
Once we've established that Millicent is book smart and life stupid, Yee introduces Emily, a new girl who befriends Millicent, not knowing she's a genius. Having been burned in the past by people who make fun of her intellect, Millicent pretends to be normal, and actually fools Emily, who is not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but is very kind (and also hurting over her parents' divorce, a subplot element that saves her personality from being extremely annoying).
This is one of those books where people learn lessons, and as such, to an adult audience, it comes over a bit on the didactic side. If, however, you have a gifted child on your hands who needs a few gentle lessons in coping with her/his gifts, this book is a good call. It's also good for the average tween who might be more like Emily than Millicent, and help him/her develop compassion for somebody who can't help the way her/his brain works. I'm a bit too grown up to appreciate it now, but when I was Millicent's age, this book would have been a great comfort to me. Recommended for tween library collections.
Yee makes Millicent a very believable character. So believable, in fact, that it hurts. Millicent's studying poetry at the college level, but she also thinks her mom has a terminal disease (instead of the very obvious pregnancy symptoms she is manifesting, though possibly not so obvious to a tween). Some story elements verge on the stereotypical: Millicent is horrible at sports, and she's not very nice to people who aren't as smart as she is. That being said, her relationship with her parents was VERY believable, especially with her poor dad, who keeps trying to connect with Millicent over normal kid-type stuff, only to be rejected as childish and silly.
Once we've established that Millicent is book smart and life stupid, Yee introduces Emily, a new girl who befriends Millicent, not knowing she's a genius. Having been burned in the past by people who make fun of her intellect, Millicent pretends to be normal, and actually fools Emily, who is not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but is very kind (and also hurting over her parents' divorce, a subplot element that saves her personality from being extremely annoying).
This is one of those books where people learn lessons, and as such, to an adult audience, it comes over a bit on the didactic side. If, however, you have a gifted child on your hands who needs a few gentle lessons in coping with her/his gifts, this book is a good call. It's also good for the average tween who might be more like Emily than Millicent, and help him/her develop compassion for somebody who can't help the way her/his brain works. I'm a bit too grown up to appreciate it now, but when I was Millicent's age, this book would have been a great comfort to me. Recommended for tween library collections.
February 1, 2016
I read this book largely because it is referenced by editor Cheryl Klein in her insightful book Second Sight: An Editor's Talks on Writing, Revising, and Publishing Books for Children and Young Adults. Included in Cheryl's book is the query letter that Yee sent pitching Millicent. The hook for Millicent is that she is literally a girl genius - she's skipped massively ahead at school and has been the subject of TV specials and newspaper articles on account of her high IQ. Where Millicent is lacking is in the sociability stakes - at 11 she is yet to have a real friend. And this is the premise for the book, Millicent finds 'a true friend' but hides her genius in order not to freak out the friend and in a bid to keep her. While I enjoyed this book, I found Millicent a difficult character to like. I think her social ineptness was supposed to be funny but I found it annoying. But perhaps this gripe is merely a reflection of how well Yee did in painting her as a character.
I am about to begin post-graduate study on depictions of menstruation in juvenile fiction and there was a refreshingly honest account by Millicent's friend Emily about getting her first period (p132). Although it wasn't laugh out loud funny, I did grin to myself when I read Millicent's response...
Was I supposed to congratulate her or tell her I was sorry? I don't suppose there's a Hallmark card for this sort of thing. I mean, what would it read? "A standing ovation for your first ovulation?"
I am about to begin post-graduate study on depictions of menstruation in juvenile fiction and there was a refreshingly honest account by Millicent's friend Emily about getting her first period (p132). Although it wasn't laugh out loud funny, I did grin to myself when I read Millicent's response...
Was I supposed to congratulate her or tell her I was sorry? I don't suppose there's a Hallmark card for this sort of thing. I mean, what would it read? "A standing ovation for your first ovulation?"
January 27, 2012
Millicent Min, Girl Genius, is the debut novel of Lisa Yee. It is the story of an 11 year old girl who is finishing her junior year of high school. She decides to take a college course over the summer and also ends up tutoring a boy named Stanford, whom she has known her whole life and does not like. She doesn't have any friends until a new girl moves in the neighborhood named Emily. Millicent hides her genius from Emily because she thinks that Emily will not want to be her friend if she knows she is a genius. Also, Millicent's mother signs her up for volleyball to try and help Millicent feel more like a kid, something that Millicent feels is not needed. Thus ensues the very interesting summer of Millicent Min.
Lisa Yee did a great job on her debut novel. Writing about an 11 year old in high school would see impossible to make realistic, but I feel that Lisa did a great job of bringing life to Millicent Min. The reader begins to see that being a genius may not be all its cracked up to be.
I recommend this book for kids of all ages. It can help them see through the eyes of someone who is "different" and maybe gleen a better understanding that being different can be okay.
Lisa Yee did a great job on her debut novel. Writing about an 11 year old in high school would see impossible to make realistic, but I feel that Lisa did a great job of bringing life to Millicent Min. The reader begins to see that being a genius may not be all its cracked up to be.
I recommend this book for kids of all ages. It can help them see through the eyes of someone who is "different" and maybe gleen a better understanding that being different can be okay.
May 30, 2013
Millicent Min, Girl Genius
By Lisa Yee
272 Pages
Realistic Fiction
Read May 2013
Even though Millicent Min is just eleven years old, she is in high school and doing a college poetry class. One day, her parents make her join a volleyball team. Since she has never been athletic and isn’t very social, Millicent is worried. Emily, a girl on the team, wants to be friends with her, but Emily doesn’t know the truth about Millicent’s I.Q. Before Emily is invited to Millicent’s house, all of Millicent’s trophies and awards are hidden. Millicent believes that if Emily learns about her smartness, Emily won’t like Millicent. But is Millicent right? And will she get caught in her own web of lies?
I liked Millicent Min, Girl Genius. The story was good and the plot was intriguing. However, the story had some contradictions with real life. Usually, a school won’t let a student skip grades unless they are socially mature enough. Also, I don’t think that her parents would’ve let her skip so many grades just to be lonely. Even though these aspects would have been different in real life, the book was good. It felt like the author could write well from a gifted child’s point of view. Millicent Min, Girl Genius was a good read.
By Lisa Yee
272 Pages
Realistic Fiction
Read May 2013
Even though Millicent Min is just eleven years old, she is in high school and doing a college poetry class. One day, her parents make her join a volleyball team. Since she has never been athletic and isn’t very social, Millicent is worried. Emily, a girl on the team, wants to be friends with her, but Emily doesn’t know the truth about Millicent’s I.Q. Before Emily is invited to Millicent’s house, all of Millicent’s trophies and awards are hidden. Millicent believes that if Emily learns about her smartness, Emily won’t like Millicent. But is Millicent right? And will she get caught in her own web of lies?
I liked Millicent Min, Girl Genius. The story was good and the plot was intriguing. However, the story had some contradictions with real life. Usually, a school won’t let a student skip grades unless they are socially mature enough. Also, I don’t think that her parents would’ve let her skip so many grades just to be lonely. Even though these aspects would have been different in real life, the book was good. It felt like the author could write well from a gifted child’s point of view. Millicent Min, Girl Genius was a good read.
November 5, 2009
Last Friday as I was flying from Denver to Omaha I looked down at the snow covered landscape and saw a little farm house. I wondered if someone in that farm house might be looking up at that exact moment at the jet stream in the sky and wondering if someone was looking down at them--:-) It's all about point of view. Which is what this look at the summer from Millicent Min's perspective is all about. Fun. Still, I think I like Emily best…what’s not to like about a “big boned” girl who likes black jelly beans? I did like that Millicent Min's grandma once left her grandpa at a gas station and drove off because she thought he was asleep in the back seat. (See, Lindsey, you're not the only one this has happened to :)
My favorite quotes from the book:
"What my parents kept failing to understand was how happy I was when I was alone with my books. There was no pressure to perform or be cute, and books never disappoint—unless, of course, you’ve chosen a bad one. But then you can always put it down and pick up another one without repercussions."
and
"It’s more work to be mean than to be nice."
My favorite quotes from the book:
"What my parents kept failing to understand was how happy I was when I was alone with my books. There was no pressure to perform or be cute, and books never disappoint—unless, of course, you’ve chosen a bad one. But then you can always put it down and pick up another one without repercussions."
and
"It’s more work to be mean than to be nice."
May 24, 2016
4 Platypires for Millicent Min, Girl Genius
I heard about the author from some blog about featuring books for Asian Pacific Heritage Month. Luckily my library had an audio version of Millicent Min.
At first I was kinda put off by Millicent because she really did come up as stuck up and really naive. But being an 11 year old ,genius ,high school student does come with a few issues. I just took it that she really didn't learn to socialize.
As the story unfolded, Millicent did show she had more layers to her personality. Even though it was hard for her to grasp that she was lacking emotionally. I did grow to like her a lot and truly enjoyed this story.
I would recommend this for those looking for a light read.
I heard about the author from some blog about featuring books for Asian Pacific Heritage Month. Luckily my library had an audio version of Millicent Min.
At first I was kinda put off by Millicent because she really did come up as stuck up and really naive. But being an 11 year old ,genius ,high school student does come with a few issues. I just took it that she really didn't learn to socialize.
As the story unfolded, Millicent did show she had more layers to her personality. Even though it was hard for her to grasp that she was lacking emotionally. I did grow to like her a lot and truly enjoyed this story.
I would recommend this for those looking for a light read.
May 14, 2016
This is a classic book that I didn't get a chance to read until now. Kudos to Lisa Yee for making a strong Asian American protagonist. I like how you're able to follow her journey of being smart in certain parts of her life but needing improvement in other areas.
I did take out one star because sometimes Millicent is just too intelligent (even for me). I loved seeing the supporting characters, particularly the grandma. A great read that is realistic in dealing with feelings that arise during the teen years.
I did take out one star because sometimes Millicent is just too intelligent (even for me). I loved seeing the supporting characters, particularly the grandma. A great read that is realistic in dealing with feelings that arise during the teen years.
August 13, 2009
First book in the trilogy continued in Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time and So Totally Emily Ebers. The three books offer three charcters' different points of view on the same events in the same summer, but the family issues experienced by each character are unique so kids will want to read all three. Girls should read this one first.
January 1, 2011
Millicent Min was a fast and funny read. Somehow, I could relate to the girl genius. I liked how she was so smart and yet so clueless. She changed so much by the end of the book. I can't believe it was the author's first book.
July 10, 2011
So, I got this book for free from B&N YEARS ago and I didn't read it for a few months because I thought it would be kind of dumb. In some parts it was, but I'm glad I read it. It wasn't a waste of time.
May 3, 2015
Funny and sweet. I wish this book had been around for me to read when I was about 10 years old. It might have helped me take myself less seriously, although I probably wouldn't have deigned to read anything that wasn't a survival novel set in the woods, the tundra, or on the mean streets.
November 5, 2015
Millicent Min, as you can tell from the title is a girl genius and this book shows her life and obstacles she faced. Academics come very easily to Millicent, but she struggles greatly with her social life and circle. In the end she has only two friends....
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