Cara has never been one of those girls: confident, self-possessed, and always ready with the perfect thing to say. A girl at the very... read full description
reviews
Jan 05, 2011
Danny
rated it: 
This was so much fun! It was the perfect story from a girl that was always invisible, who hated High School and the social rules that makes some people the super popular ones while the other ones are the outcast nobody cares to notice.
When Cara moves to a new school, she and her friend Claudia plan to chance the invisibility for Cara and make her popular. This is their chance to start new, to finally be someone!
First, find a boyfriend who is down but not at the bottom of the More...
When Cara moves to a new school, she and her friend Claudia plan to chance the invisibility for Cara and make her popular. This is their chance to start new, to finally be someone!
First, find a boyfriend who is down but not at the bottom of the More...
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Jul 12, 2011
Meredith
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So, I have this problem with my TBR pile. Basically, it's so big, it could eat me. Usually it's this big pile on the floor of my bedroom or on my desk. One day, I was looking for a new book to read and picked up the first one I saw sitting on the top of my TBR pile. Populazzi. It looked all right, and I thought I might as well try it. So I did, and I loved it!
When Cara moves to a new school, she jumps (ok maybe, she gets a little push from her BFF) at the chance to start over. To get More...
When Cara moves to a new school, she jumps (ok maybe, she gets a little push from her BFF) at the chance to start over. To get More...
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Feb 15, 2012
Lizzie
rated it: 
This book is an amazing book. It always keeps you interested and the story line is so unique.There was teen drama and family drama. This book is more of a girl book because it is told by a girl. This girl goes through many adventures and obstacles through out this book. I felt that this book was heart warming and touching. It was exciting in the middle of the book, and then it became touching.
This book is about Cara. Cara is ready to make a change in her high school year. For her jun More...
This book is about Cara. Cara is ready to make a change in her high school year. For her jun More...
Dec 28, 2011
Missy
rated it:
I have to admit that I've known about this book for a while. I put it off because, well, it's a YA. I didn't want my bonus children to catch me reading a YA novel!
But since I had heard so many wonderful things about Populazzi, I thought it would be good for me to broaden my reading genres. I am so glad that I did! I could not put the book down. I went to sleep wondering what would happen to Cara and her Ladder Climb.
I know that she is in high school. I know that teen dating More...
But since I had heard so many wonderful things about Populazzi, I thought it would be good for me to broaden my reading genres. I am so glad that I did! I could not put the book down. I went to sleep wondering what would happen to Cara and her Ladder Climb.
I know that she is in high school. I know that teen dating More...
Dec 24, 2011
Totallydazzled
rated it: 
To me Populazzi felt like a Disney movie with it's cliche plots of love, friendship and drama. I had very different expectations of the book. I did like some of the funny conversations between the characters, but overall it was like watching another version of Mean Girls.
I really liked how Cara was in the first couple of chapters, but she changed to much and to many times for my liking. My fave character was definitely Archer, who's the sweet, funny and down to earth guy we all love More...
I really liked how Cara was in the first couple of chapters, but she changed to much and to many times for my liking. My fave character was definitely Archer, who's the sweet, funny and down to earth guy we all love More...
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Sep 28, 2011
Reading
rated it: 
As I began reading, I was hoping that this wasn't going to be the usual teen drama---the nice, normal girl meets a great guy but because she wants to be popular she treats him like dirt. Then she discovers that being "that girl" isn't so great after all. I am happy to say that "Populazzi" did not fall into that mold exactly. Cara Leonard is a nice, normal girl and she does meet a great guy but she doesn't treat him like dirt or use him and then dump him. In fact, she would ha
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Sep 19, 2011
Kari
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When you think of high school, there’s a good chance you probably think of the popularity ladder. What rung were you on? Did you step up and down or were you on the highest step? What if you had a chance to be where ever on that ladder you wanted?
Well Cara has that chance. She is starting a new school her junior year. So she and her best friend make a plan to get Cara at the top of that ladder as a Populazzi, the most beloved in the school. But you can’t just start there. You have to s More...
Well Cara has that chance. She is starting a new school her junior year. So she and her best friend make a plan to get Cara at the top of that ladder as a Populazzi, the most beloved in the school. But you can’t just start there. You have to s More...
Aug 28, 2011
Keri (The Book Heroine)
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We have all been there in one way or another. Who couldn't agree with the desire to be a part of the popular crowd and have thought of antics that would get us there? I recall the days sitting in my group of friends, looking over my shoulder toward the large group of "populazzi". Rumors circulated around them, glares shot in their direction, and hopes of belonging floated beyond. Although I never wanted to be the most popular, I did want to be that girl that everyone smiled about and s
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Aug 07, 2011
Brandy
rated it:
How far woudl you go to claw your way to the top of the popularity ladder?
Cara has always been on the bottom of that social ladder, but she has always wanted to be THAT girl - the Supreme Poppulazi that calls the shots and is the most popular. When she moves to a new school her Junior year, she realizes this is her chance to change her social standing in school. When her best friend Claudia gives her the plan to make it happen, Cara is unsure but decides to embrace it.
As Ca More...
Cara has always been on the bottom of that social ladder, but she has always wanted to be THAT girl - the Supreme Poppulazi that calls the shots and is the most popular. When she moves to a new school her Junior year, she realizes this is her chance to change her social standing in school. When her best friend Claudia gives her the plan to make it happen, Cara is unsure but decides to embrace it.
As Ca More...
Apr 18, 2011
Kelly
rated it:
Cara is moving to a new school. At her old one, she and her best friend Claudia were outcasts. (In kindergarten, Cara had an accident and then Claudia had one out of solidarity. And so for the rest of their school lives there, they were freaks.) But now she can be anyone. And Claudia has a plan for Cara: become popular. She even details how to work her way up the popularity caste system. (Date someone on each level until she’s finally the most popular girl.) And it even WORKS. But can y
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Mar 05, 2011
cecilia
rated it:
I don't know what it is, but I seriously love to see the many ways high school cliques can be described - and let me tell you, some of the nicknames are really clever! Populazzi was no different, but this nice thing is that Elise Allen kept it pretty simple with 4 types: Happy Hopeless, Cubby Crew, DangerZone, and Populazzi (with a Supreme Populazzi in charge).
Cara is the typical new girl in a new school who can basically re-invent herself and work her way up to Populazzi glory. S More...
Cara is the typical new girl in a new school who can basically re-invent herself and work her way up to Populazzi glory. S More...
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Mar 01, 2011
Karla
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The Book: POPULAZZI
The Author: Elise Allen
The Publisher: Harcourt Books (an Imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
Release Date: August 1, 2011
Summary:
Cara Leonard has lived her entire school life at the bottom of the social pyramid. Ever since The Incident that happened the first day of kindergarten, her only friend has been her partner in crime, Claudia. But, when her family moves to a new town about an hour away, Cara has More...
The Author: Elise Allen
The Publisher: Harcourt Books (an Imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
Release Date: August 1, 2011
Summary:
Cara Leonard has lived her entire school life at the bottom of the social pyramid. Ever since The Incident that happened the first day of kindergarten, her only friend has been her partner in crime, Claudia. But, when her family moves to a new town about an hour away, Cara has More...
Feb 20, 2011
ivette
rated it:
This is the story of a girl Cara Leonard that because of an incident in her childhood which brought her to be rejected throughout her school life, but allowed her to meet her best friend, always did want to be part of the popular girls. but her chance comes when she has to change schools, so her best friend Claudia hatches a plan "the ladder", which is governed by a basic principle: relationships, having a boyfriend is not well positioned on the scale social will get you to another tha
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Jan 24, 2011
Esther
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http://readersdialogue.blogspot.com/2011...
I love love love this book! I sat down to read it and didn't stop for three and half hours straight, and was surprised to look up and find so much time had passed. The story is so gripping and compelling that I was totally swept along with it and I was completely immersed in Cara's world.
Cara is such a likable character. She's flawed - tremendously - and at times I wanted to slap her and scream at her to wake up and see what's going on, More...
I love love love this book! I sat down to read it and didn't stop for three and half hours straight, and was surprised to look up and find so much time had passed. The story is so gripping and compelling that I was totally swept along with it and I was completely immersed in Cara's world.
Cara is such a likable character. She's flawed - tremendously - and at times I wanted to slap her and scream at her to wake up and see what's going on, More...
Jan 16, 2011
Kate
rated it:
Humorous and poignant, young adult chick lit
Sixteen-year-old Cara Leonard and her best friend, Claudia, have always longed to be part of the most popular clique in high school, the Populazzi, the polished, charismatic, gorgeous teenagers at the top of what Claudia calls the “Popularity Tower.” But the Populazzi are as out of reach to Cara and Claudia as the stars since they became consigned to the lower reaches of the Tower forever from the day that Cara involuntarily wet her pants i More...
Sixteen-year-old Cara Leonard and her best friend, Claudia, have always longed to be part of the most popular clique in high school, the Populazzi, the polished, charismatic, gorgeous teenagers at the top of what Claudia calls the “Popularity Tower.” But the Populazzi are as out of reach to Cara and Claudia as the stars since they became consigned to the lower reaches of the Tower forever from the day that Cara involuntarily wet her pants i More...
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Jan 06, 2011
Jim
rated it:
Note - I read this book via NetGalley. Thanks to the publishers Harcourt children's Books for providing it to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Cara Leonard has always wanted to be one of the in crowd. One of the Populazzi. But when people remember you wetting your pants on the first day of kindergarten, it's hard to reinvent yourself. At least until you move across the city of Philadelphia. With a clean slate, and help from her oldest friend Claudia, Cara sets out to climb t More...
Cara Leonard has always wanted to be one of the in crowd. One of the Populazzi. But when people remember you wetting your pants on the first day of kindergarten, it's hard to reinvent yourself. At least until you move across the city of Philadelphia. With a clean slate, and help from her oldest friend Claudia, Cara sets out to climb t More...
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Dec 11, 2010
Jaime
rated it:
(This review refers to an Advanced Reader Copy of this title)
Populazzi is a finely-crafted odyssey through the minefield of adolescent society. It begins with its protagonist, Cara Leonard--innocent and unsure of herself, but tired of being invisible--starting fresh in her junior year of high school in a new town. With constant exhortation from lifelong friend Claudia on surefire methods of climbing the social ladder, Cara sets out on an experiment to reinvent herself, rung by rung. Sh More...
Populazzi is a finely-crafted odyssey through the minefield of adolescent society. It begins with its protagonist, Cara Leonard--innocent and unsure of herself, but tired of being invisible--starting fresh in her junior year of high school in a new town. With constant exhortation from lifelong friend Claudia on surefire methods of climbing the social ladder, Cara sets out on an experiment to reinvent herself, rung by rung. Sh More...
Dec 02, 2011
Milka
rated it:
Once again, book I only picked up because of its cover. And I thought that this would be a nice light read to add to the more demanding readings needed for my uni course. And I was right about that; Populazzi is definitely a nice, light read, but I promise that it will keep you interested.
I really liked Cara at the beginning of the novel. When she met Archer I started to hope that she would leave the whole ladder thing and just spend time with him. But since there were like 250 pages More...
I really liked Cara at the beginning of the novel. When she met Archer I started to hope that she would leave the whole ladder thing and just spend time with him. But since there were like 250 pages More...
Oct 24, 2011
Katy Book Corner
rated it:
I thought this was a really cute book. It was a bit long an a bit cliche, but I thought it was a delightful read.
I thought I was going to find Cara annoying, as I often find these girly characters that have these self-serving notions to climb higher in the social ladder. And even though Cara made her fair share of mistakes, I found myself only getting mad at her a few times. And I didn't find her annoying at all and found I actually liked her very much.
I really liked the begi More...
I thought I was going to find Cara annoying, as I often find these girly characters that have these self-serving notions to climb higher in the social ladder. And even though Cara made her fair share of mistakes, I found myself only getting mad at her a few times. And I didn't find her annoying at all and found I actually liked her very much.
I really liked the begi More...
Oct 16, 2011
Larissa
rated it:
Ah, you know those books/movies with have moments so embarrassing that you almost can't read/watch? Populazzi had a ton of those moments. But they were amazing. I was cringing and laughing at nearly every page.
Sure, Populazzi is a bit shallow at first glance. Cara's goal for the school year at her new school is to climb the social ladder - by dating guys from each rung. Pretty shallow, right? But despite that, there's something so utterly relatable about it, not to mention the lesso More...
Sure, Populazzi is a bit shallow at first glance. Cara's goal for the school year at her new school is to climb the social ladder - by dating guys from each rung. Pretty shallow, right? But despite that, there's something so utterly relatable about it, not to mention the lesso More...
Sep 19, 2011
Mary Grace
rated it:
Who wouldn't want to be popular in high school? Who wouldn't want to be known and adored by the people around you? Who wouldn't want to the "the one" that everyone envies and look up to?
Welcome to the world of Cara. Cara had the same desire, to be the Supreme Populazzi, or the "it girl" that people admire. She was at the bottom of the social ladder. And when her parents decided to move, this is Cara's chance to reinvent herself and try to be a populazzi which she More...
Welcome to the world of Cara. Cara had the same desire, to be the Supreme Populazzi, or the "it girl" that people admire. She was at the bottom of the social ladder. And when her parents decided to move, this is Cara's chance to reinvent herself and try to be a populazzi which she More...
Jan 08, 2011
AJPattz
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I really enjoyed reading this book. This is the story of Cara, a new student at a new school, who is convinced by her best friend Claudia to climb the ladder of the Populazzi at her new school and become the Supreme Populazzi. What I liked most about this book was that the characters were very well fleshed out. Each group and rung of the ladder was very close to how high school society really is. There's always those few who don't care and you know it. Then there's the groups that band together
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Jan 05, 2011
Mikky
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Aug 09, 2011
Christina (A Reader of Fictions)
rated it:
Ever since an unfortunate pants-peeing incident in kindergarten, Cara and Claudia have been best friends and social outcasts. They would love to be among the populazzi, the highest social tier in high school, but know that they have no chance of overcoming the social stigma of being a pants-wetter. When Cara's family moves to another Philadelphia suburb, Claudia informs her that this is her chance to ascend the social ladder, using her as-yet unpatented method, aptly known as The Ladder. All Car
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May 06, 2011
Jackie
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Populazzi was such a fast read for me. I really got caught up in Cara’s life and the decisions she was making. Cara starts her junior year at a new school. Her best friend Claudia has devised a plan for Cara to follow to the letter. This plan called, The Ladder, will propel Cara from a nobody to the Supreme Populazzi at her new school. At her old school, Cara and Claudia had an unfortunate accident that followed them all the way from Kindergarten. With Cara’s new chance to start over, Clau
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Dec 21, 2010
Lisa
rated it:
Populazzi is a fun, cute read. It’s about Cara whose friend Claudia is convinced she has the perfect plan to help make Cara the most popular girl in her new school. The novel progresses through Cara’s climb through the social ladder and how she changes the higher she climbs.
Allen does a great job at making her characters realistic. They whole time you knew exactly who these characters were and what they were feeling. You could relate to every one of them and probably even name t More...
Allen does a great job at making her characters realistic. They whole time you knew exactly who these characters were and what they were feeling. You could relate to every one of them and probably even name t More...
Nov 29, 2010
Mari
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Aug 13, 2011
melissa1lbr
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Things I Liked:
I really enjoyed the way Cara changed over the book. While she made some stupid mistakes, I was glad they were glaringly obvious to her (well, sometimes). I think they were the kinds of things people who are generally good do when they don't stop to think about consequences. The characters felt and acted like real teens. And the story, while a bit predictable, was interesting and totally made me remember (somewhat reluctantly) my own insecure high school feelings. Defini More...
I really enjoyed the way Cara changed over the book. While she made some stupid mistakes, I was glad they were glaringly obvious to her (well, sometimes). I think they were the kinds of things people who are generally good do when they don't stop to think about consequences. The characters felt and acted like real teens. And the story, while a bit predictable, was interesting and totally made me remember (somewhat reluctantly) my own insecure high school feelings. Defini More...
Feb 24, 2011
Siobhan (Totally Bookalicious)
rated it:
Big thank you to Elise Allen for contacting me about the ebook arc on NetGalley. This is my first ever ebook that I read from start to finished. Usually I get really sore heads and thankfully I didn't with the software NetGalley use.
Populazzi is a funny story about a girl called Cara journey up the Popular Ladder in her new high school. Cara, is really likeable. She is cute and even though she is is flawed as a character she is still great to read about. Her best friend is Cla More...
Dec 07, 2011
Erin
rated it:
Populazzi
By Elise Allen
Warning—this novel makes Mean Girls look like child’s play! Cara and Claudia have always dreamed about being at the top of the popularity food chain, but have been the krill devoured by the social killer whales at their school since kindergarten. When Cara moves to a new high school, she decides to take full advantage of her anonymity, bag an acceptable boyfriend, and use his status to climb, rung by precious rung, to the top. She will live the dream for both More...
By Elise Allen
Warning—this novel makes Mean Girls look like child’s play! Cara and Claudia have always dreamed about being at the top of the popularity food chain, but have been the krill devoured by the social killer whales at their school since kindergarten. When Cara moves to a new high school, she decides to take full advantage of her anonymity, bag an acceptable boyfriend, and use his status to climb, rung by precious rung, to the top. She will live the dream for both More...
