Sign in with FacebookWendy Darling's Reviews > Babe in Boyland
Babe in Boyland
by Jody Gehrman (Goodreads Author)
by Jody Gehrman (Goodreads Author)
Wendy Darling's review
bookshelves: young-adult, read-2011, realistic-fiction, hilarious, brain-candy, ebook-egalley, 2011-favorites, 2011-publication
Jun 23, 11
bookshelves: young-adult, read-2011, realistic-fiction, hilarious, brain-candy, ebook-egalley, 2011-favorites, 2011-publication
Read on June 17, 2011
3.5 stars It's pretty much impossible to read this book and not smile throughout most of it. Impossible, I say! I've never read this author before, but the quirky cover appealed to my sense of humor and the premise reminded me a of A Different Twist, one of those Scholastic paperbacks I really liked in grade school.
Have you ever wondered why guys don't call back when they say they will? Natalie has, so she decides to go undercover at a boys' prep school for some inside info for her newspaper story on how the other half thinks. She cuts her hair, puts on a school uniform, applies some fake stubble, and throws herself right into the project. How hard can it be to figure out what makes boys tick, right?
The set-up and many of the details are obviously far-fetched and silly (and have been used in many stories before this one), so you're going to have to just run with them if you're going to read this book. It's not hard to leave your analytical brain at the door, though, as I was hooked from the very beginning by the breezy tone and fast-moving plot. I loved Natalie's smart and funny voice as well as her sly observations about the world around her.
*************************************************************
I'm going to write a book someday called The Devil Wears His-and-Her Gap Cardigans.
Promnesia (when perfectly sane people forget about everything except spray tans, strapless dresses, and dyed-to-match pumps), Brazilaphobia (fear of overly zealous hair removal), etc.
*************************************************************
My personal favorite, however, is the brief and appropriate nod to My Fair Lady during the transformation scene with Nat's friends. "By George, I think you've got it." Love love love!
There are really great girl-girl friendships and cute boys, as well as some interesting revelations that come to Nat about friends (and trolls) hiding in unexpected places. I also liked the author's depiction of the natural exuberance in the way girls interact with each other, and the way Nat comes to appreciate both the opposite sex as well as her own pleasure in being a girl.
This is a super cute book that is a lot of fun to read. I highly recommend it for the next time you want a fast and fluffy, uncomplicated but not shallow book. It's something we can all use from time to time.
This review also appears in The Midnight Garden.
Have you ever wondered why guys don't call back when they say they will? Natalie has, so she decides to go undercover at a boys' prep school for some inside info for her newspaper story on how the other half thinks. She cuts her hair, puts on a school uniform, applies some fake stubble, and throws herself right into the project. How hard can it be to figure out what makes boys tick, right?
The set-up and many of the details are obviously far-fetched and silly (and have been used in many stories before this one), so you're going to have to just run with them if you're going to read this book. It's not hard to leave your analytical brain at the door, though, as I was hooked from the very beginning by the breezy tone and fast-moving plot. I loved Natalie's smart and funny voice as well as her sly observations about the world around her.
*************************************************************
I'm going to write a book someday called The Devil Wears His-and-Her Gap Cardigans.
Promnesia (when perfectly sane people forget about everything except spray tans, strapless dresses, and dyed-to-match pumps), Brazilaphobia (fear of overly zealous hair removal), etc.
*************************************************************
My personal favorite, however, is the brief and appropriate nod to My Fair Lady during the transformation scene with Nat's friends. "By George, I think you've got it." Love love love!
There are really great girl-girl friendships and cute boys, as well as some interesting revelations that come to Nat about friends (and trolls) hiding in unexpected places. I also liked the author's depiction of the natural exuberance in the way girls interact with each other, and the way Nat comes to appreciate both the opposite sex as well as her own pleasure in being a girl.
This is a super cute book that is a lot of fun to read. I highly recommend it for the next time you want a fast and fluffy, uncomplicated but not shallow book. It's something we can all use from time to time.
This review also appears in The Midnight Garden.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read Babe in Boyland.
sign in »
Comments (showing 1-29 of 29) (29 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Brooke
(new)
-
rated it 5 stars
Jun 17, 2011 03:51am
This is my next one to read (after Saving June). I look forward to your full review!! :D
reply
|
flag
*
I saw this book a month or so ago and was smitten with the cover, but the premise did turn me away. It can be so hit or miss. But this has convinced me to add it to my list!
I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did, Jessica-Robyn and Sandy! It was exactly the kind of light-hearted read I was looking for.Catie, I think this premise has made the rounds in a few movies and books. ;) I haven't seen the one you referenced, though, was it any good?
And hah, that's a pretty ambiguous "hmm" Jenna!
Hah hah, that trailer is awesome, Catie! So 80s. I can safely say that there is no flashing in this book. The tone is actually not as sarcastic or cynical about the differences between boys and girls as you might think, and more on the sharp-eyed and quick-witted side. I like how sincerely Nat comes across, without being too saccharine or too obvious.
It sounds like a fun book! I read a ton of fantasies with cross dressing girls (on quests, in armies, as pirates) but I don't think that I've ever read a contemporary YA with that theme!
Ah yes, cross-dressing girl pirates. After hearing you and Cassi rave about Bloody Jack, I really have to check it out one of these days! I think it's kind of fun when girls do this in books, just as long as the whole tone of the book goes along with that. Silliness usually ensues. :D
I shall add my vote to the Bloody Jack series recommendation. It's awesome. At least the first four that I have read are.
You know how sometimes guys write from the perspective of girls and totally miss the mark? Well, L. A. Meyer is not like that. I think when I read it the first time I was amazed by how I could not tell that it had been written by a man. Of course, I read it when I was much younger and I didn't read stuff as closely as I do now but still, Jacky's hijinks are awesome. If you like it, I totally recommend Cat Royal by Julia Golding to you.
Also, if you are an audiobook fan, then you must get the audios narrated by Katherine Kellgren. It's really one of the greatest audiobook performances I've ever listened to!
Nafiza wrote: "You know how sometimes guys write from the perspective of girls and totally miss the mark?"Yes, I do and I'm glad I'm not the only one who is amazed when it's done well. Thanks for the other recommendation, too!
I've heard you guys praise the audiobook for Jacky, Catie...I understand there's music, which seems really appropriate.
I updated my review for this, btw, with my favorite little bit that I forgot to include the first time. There's a quick little wink at My Fair Lady during the makeover scene, which I thought was awesome. :)
Really fun and simple cover concept, that really hit the mark for me. So cute and funny at the same time.:)
On a completely unrelated note, thank you SO MUCH for mentioning "A Different Twist" in this review. I've been trying to remember the name of that book for years now.
You're welcome, Shari! I take it you read A Different Twist back in the day, too. I had to hunt down a secondhand copy for myself for old time's sake, it still holds up pretty well.I'm so glad you enjoyed this, Laura. I thought it was super fun. :)
As a Brazilian, I really appreciated the term Brazilaphobia. I almost snorted my soda on my keyboard when I read that. I'm adding this book to my TBR pile.
Thanks for the rec Wendy! As usual you have the best ones!
OH, and the summary reminds me of that great 80's movie: Just One of the Guys. I used to love that film.
Hah, I liked that term too, VA. The book is full of funny terminology like that. It's very cute, I hope you enjoy it!
