Smart Girl

by Sandy Miller

Because the only boy who had asked her out wanted help with his homework, Elizabeth Ellen turns down Bruce Johnson, without giving him a chance to show he is different.

Genres: Young Adult

151 pages

First published November 2, 1982

Reviews

[Jennifer Colin]

This was a go-to book when I was a teen because I was a nerd. :) I've read it quite a few times. It's quite stereotypical and predictable, thinking back on it, but it did serve to give me hope back when I felt like I'd never have a boyfriend.

[Michelle Llewellyn]

Published in 1982-boy times sure have changed! Elizabeth Ellen, the smartest girl in school, resists all attempts by her Mom, best friend Cindy and Lisa the little girl with the Learning Disability (L.D.) whose Mom is a famous hairstylist to get a makeover.
Meanwhile the handsome new boy at school, Bruce Johnson, has started paying attention to her. He even asks her out on a date and E. E. isn't sure what to think. He passed his physics test so he's not dumb, he joined the tutoring club for the L.D. kids at the elementary school so he's not a jerk and every girl wants to date him so he's pretty hot. Then (Oh nos!) E.E. sees Bruce taking OTHER GIRLS out for Cokes at the drugstore including Cindy! Suddenly E.E. realizes she MUST wear the new dress her Mom bought her, get her hair done by Lisa's mom, start wearing makeup, ditch the glasses for contacts and apologize to Bruce for her "rude behavior" towards him.
Gee, will Bruce ask E.E. to go with him to the big fall dance NOW? Guess you'll just have to read it yourself, keeping in mind this book was written in an era WAY before teenage girls had to compete with video games, internet images, and homosexuality just to hold a boy's interest long enough for her to get him to ask her out! Ah, those were the days!

[Cassie]

Re-read it last night as I cleaned out a box of books from my mom's attic. Still like the theme and can relate to much of it, but the writing is not particularly great and EE is not as rounded out, complex or as likable as most characters from contemporary YA I've been reading.

[Tanya]

I think this was my first "teen romance," and I remember loving it because I saw myself as that "smart girl" that the popular boy never noticed...

[Clemmy]

might be silly, but i think it is just so cute and sweet. made me happy, i felt the corners of my mouth turn up when i read the last page

[Jenifer Dale]

Such a cute story. It goes by super quick but definitely worth the read. I especially love how the kid she tutors accidentally spills the beans by being like 'oh yeah she has a crush on a guy name Bruce too. Totally funny how you all have the same name and stuff.'