Seventeen-year-old Gem loves movies, her feminist mom, and Dodgy, her coworker in a video store (at least she thinks she loves Dodgy). &nbs...
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Apr 14, 2008
Cathy
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This has lots of overlaps with Beige, both have no show, former drug addicted fathers. But Gem is totally different from Beige. Her two best friends and her have paired up against the "barcodes," but Lo and Mira seem to be leaving her out. Gem comes up with the idea to make an Andy Warholish film over the summer, but Lo starts exercizing weird control over it and Mira takes her boyfriend. Gem is left coming to terms with the end of their friendship, making the film she wants to mak
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Jun 14, 2009
Adam
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The narrator character of this book is so sweet, trapped in a three-girl friendship that she's growing out of because high school is finishing and she's smarter and less self-destructive than the other two.
While I was reading Notes, I felt nostalgic for old high-school friends I'd lost touch with, and almost reactivated my Facebook account to track them down. Almost.
The thing about personal trajectories is that they're personal, and it was lovely to read about Gem's tra More...
While I was reading Notes, I felt nostalgic for old high-school friends I'd lost touch with, and almost reactivated my Facebook account to track them down. Almost.
The thing about personal trajectories is that they're personal, and it was lovely to read about Gem's tra More...
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May 13, 2011
Carly
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‘Me, Lo and Mira were like the good things that come in threes: wishes, kings, backup singers.’
What an opening. The first line of this book’s blurb was enough to have me flying through the pages at lightning speed. From the outset I was optimistic about Notes from the Teenage Underground. The premise is great, the narrator instantly likeable, and I can never resist a novel that focuses on teenagers who don’t quite fit in with their peers.
I’m pleased to say that the book d More...
What an opening. The first line of this book’s blurb was enough to have me flying through the pages at lightning speed. From the outset I was optimistic about Notes from the Teenage Underground. The premise is great, the narrator instantly likeable, and I can never resist a novel that focuses on teenagers who don’t quite fit in with their peers.
I’m pleased to say that the book d More...
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Jan 29, 2009
I think this book had many meanings which i though were brilliant although I don't think they are all obvious meanings I think it has different meanings for all. I loved this book and i don't really know why so I am having trouble writing this Review and giving it a rating to be completly honest.
But I do believe most people will like it especially if you fit into one of the following catergories:
-You like to be different and stand out.
-You don't care what people think or More...
But I do believe most people will like it especially if you fit into one of the following catergories:
-You like to be different and stand out.
-You don't care what people think or More...
Mar 17, 2009
Andrea
rated it: 
I really enjoyed this book...I thought the characters developed well and I empathised with Gem from the start...teenage agnst who can forget it! I also liked the fact that the boy she fancys, Roger/Dodgy, is not the stud muffin of the school but someone she has something in common with...very refreshing and realistic.
One last point was the fact that although it was clearly set in Oz the author hasn't made a big point of highlighting the cultural differences rather I feel the book wor More...
One last point was the fact that although it was clearly set in Oz the author hasn't made a big point of highlighting the cultural differences rather I feel the book wor More...
Jul 16, 2010
Elissa
rated it: 
I read Howell's second book first, but this was still a great follow-up! An original story, awesome pop culture references from art and film and feminism--exactly the type of book I would have loved as a teen! On top of that, the dialogue is interesting, the characters quirky and yet layered, and the themes in the book are carefully and thoughtfully drawn. I especially like the exploration of the "three girl movie" structure, and Gem's reflections on the power struggles found in a
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Nov 14, 2010
Clover (Fluttering Butterflies)
rated it:
YAY for this book. It was this book, Notes From the Teenage Underground by Simmone Howell that first inspired me to begin my Awesome Women series of posts. But I've been so nervous about writing this review that it's taken me months to put into words how much I adored this book.
Our main character is Gem, short for Germaine Greer the feminist writer that Gem's hippy mom named her after. Together with her besties, Mira and Lo, they've formed this circle of non-conformity. And to cement i More...
Our main character is Gem, short for Germaine Greer the feminist writer that Gem's hippy mom named her after. Together with her besties, Mira and Lo, they've formed this circle of non-conformity. And to cement i More...
May 10, 2008
Jennifer
rated it:
Reviewed by Jocelyn Pearce for TeensReadToo.com
NOTES FROM THE TEENAGE UNDERGROUND is a fantastic debut novel! It starts out with three best friends, Gem, Lo, and Mira, trying to come up with ideas for their summer project. The summer before was their Satan Summer; they dabbled in all things occult. The summer project has a theme, goals, and guides. This year, they want to do something spectacular; it could be their last summer project--who knows what the future will bring?
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NOTES FROM THE TEENAGE UNDERGROUND is a fantastic debut novel! It starts out with three best friends, Gem, Lo, and Mira, trying to come up with ideas for their summer project. The summer before was their Satan Summer; they dabbled in all things occult. The summer project has a theme, goals, and guides. This year, they want to do something spectacular; it could be their last summer project--who knows what the future will bring?
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Jul 06, 2007
Kitsuchi
rated it:
I might've liked this one better if it wasn't just the main character, Gem, who was the likable one in the three-way friendship. Lo was too being different for the sake of being different, the most subversive, but not for any real reason. Mira was kind of a ditz. It was hard to tell what Gem really had in common with either of them, which I suppose is half the point. If M or F? focused on the strength of a friendship, Notes from the Teenage Underground showed the breakdown. Gem's strongest rel
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Dec 26, 2007
Patrick
rated it:
Set in Melbourne, Australia, this new novels spins on the axis of an oft-told story about a friendship between a small group of girls falling apart. But the edges — and edginess — of the story kick back any cliché. Gem, Mira, and Lo set themselves apart from others by their dress, their interests, but mostly their commitment to the Ug project. Ug is short for underground, and their holiday project is to create an underground film, similar to Warhol's sixties cinema experiments. While hipsters in
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Apr 20, 2011
Danielle
rated it:
I'd give this 3.5 stars if I could. I tried hard not to compare it to Everything Beautiful but I found some parts of the storyline hard to relate to as I'm not a film buff and I got distracted while I was reading the filmy stuff although I found it fascinating. The 3-girl set up was outstanding as believable conflict and I found myself cringing and being so thankful that I wasn't a teenager anymore. Girls can be so bitchy and this was done in a very believable way. I could really relate to Gem (
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May 18, 2010
LauraW
rated it:
I am not very literate when it comes to film - I mostly like them funny and sugary, so the film part of this book sort of passed me by. Luckily, there is a lot more to the book than just that. Specifically, there are some very interesting characters. I guess the plot isn't terribly unusual, but there are quite a few interesting people in the story and that makes it for me. Interesting read.
Jul 11, 2009
Lindy
rated it:
Simone writes for the clever and savvy young adult, a refreshing alternative to pumped out bubble fiction.
The characters each have a unique wit which enables the author to reference some cool and edgy litterary and film classics. Rich and colorful and sometimes shady, like delicously aromatic plum pudding made by grandma.
The characters each have a unique wit which enables the author to reference some cool and edgy litterary and film classics. Rich and colorful and sometimes shady, like delicously aromatic plum pudding made by grandma.
Jul 20, 2009
Emma
rated it:
One of my favourites in Australian YA Fiction.
Loved this book. Wrapping up 1960's Andy Warhol culture into an Australian Highschool theme was sheer brilliance. Different, and just what I needed.
Refreshing is a good word for it too. Culturally refreshing.
Loved this book. Wrapping up 1960's Andy Warhol culture into an Australian Highschool theme was sheer brilliance. Different, and just what I needed.
Refreshing is a good word for it too. Culturally refreshing.
Apr 06, 2009
Erika
rated it:
A good novel about friendship gone awry. Howell is not well known in the United States but this is a solid novel about three friends who grow apart.
Oct 29, 2010
Alice
rated it:
MMM was a bit strange and good as well, was funny, heartbreaking and also romantic, all in all a good book, ill give it 3 stars.
Jan 18, 2009
Leanne
rated it:
Easy to read and entertaining. Not something that I would read a second time but certainly not a bad book.
Aug 28, 2011
Holly
rated it:
REVIEW TBC...
INTRO ;; Notes from the Teenage Underground is a wonderfully unique Aussie YA novel that I struggled to connect with at first but eventually found myself flying through to the end.
SUMMARY ;; Gem Gordon wants to make an impact in her final years of high school and with her two best friends - Lo and Mira, she decides to put together an underground film over the holidays.
CLOSER ;; I loved how much this reminded me of the crazy antics from my film-mak More...
INTRO ;; Notes from the Teenage Underground is a wonderfully unique Aussie YA novel that I struggled to connect with at first but eventually found myself flying through to the end.
SUMMARY ;; Gem Gordon wants to make an impact in her final years of high school and with her two best friends - Lo and Mira, she decides to put together an underground film over the holidays.
CLOSER ;; I loved how much this reminded me of the crazy antics from my film-mak More...
Apr 20, 2009
Rachel
rated it:
Very interesting. Has a nice surreal quality. But there is a lot that goes on and not all of it is resolved. Note some content may not be suitable for all readers.
Jan 30, 2012
Mandee
rated it:
This was such a brilliant story, it took me back to high school. I absolutely love Gem, her mother and father and I definitely volunteer to be her friend.
Jul 17, 2011
Crystal
rated it:
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a page turner, and I breezed through it. It's a coming of artistic age story, which was relevant to me at the time.
Jul 01, 2008
Alyssa
rated it:
twas an very good book about a girl really finding her true artistic self
Aug 30, 2007
Angela
rated it:
I wish I had been more like Gem (main character) when I was in highschool.
Feb 12, 2012
