Project (Un)Popular

Project (Un)Popular #1

by Kristen Tracy

Popularity: who has it, who wants it, and who won’t get it is the topic of this story about two middle school friends who want to make the lives of their classmates more equitable, to disastrous results.

Middle school isn’t a popularity contest. It’s a war.

Perry and her best friend, Venice, are excited to be yearbook photographers and tell the story of their school through their art. But that’s before they find out the truth: the spontaneous moments they’re supposed to capture are all faked. Bossy eighth grader Anya gives them a list of the popular kids—her own friends—who Perry and Venice have to take pictures of. And that makes Perry super mad.
Yearbooks should include everybody—even the dorks. But Perry feels totally stuck. Until she starts taking flattering shots of the people on Anya’s list, none of her candids will ever be chosen. Perry can’t sit by and let this happen. But fighting back isn’t going to win her any friends—she might even lose some. Perry has to decide what’s more important: fitting in . . . or standing out.

Genres: Middle Grade, Contemporary, Friendship

336 pages, Hardcover

First published June 14, 2016

Reviews

[ChesLea · Rating 1 out of 5]

ew no please don't make me read this again.

cannot get over the fact that the mom was eating uncooked rice straight from the box.

[Clarabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melissa et son amie Candice ont été sélectionnées pour être les photographes de l'album du collège. Pour ces élèves de sixième, l'opportunité est trop belle pour mettre à l'honneur ceux ou celles qui n'en ont jamais l'occasion. Or, elles se confrontent très vite à la réalité : ce sont toujours les mêmes, toujours les plus populaires, qui ont les faveurs de la rédaction.
Candice veut donc tout révolutionner et trouve en Léo un complice inespéré. Malheureusement Melissa se sent trahie car elle ne supporte pas ce garçon et refuse de lui faire confiance. Ne comprenant plus son amie, Melissa tombe sous la coupe d'Anna, la responsable de l'album qui a décidé de n'inclure que ses amis branchés et les beaux athlètes.
Anna a immédiatement senti que les deux copines ne partageaient plus les mêmes idées et va tirer profit de son antipathie pour Léo pour amadouer Melissa. Commence donc un vrai casse-tête pour l'adolescente, tiraillée entre son amitié avec Candice, sa jalousie, son statut de nouvelle favorite. Tout un dilemme.
Cela peut paraître cruche à lire, mais le fond du problème est vieux comme Hérode : être ou ne pas être populaire, soutenir ou pas ses amis, mentir pour plaire, rentrer dans le moule ou assumer sa différence... encore et toujours les mêmes questions.
Ça se lit comme un teen movie de divertissement (rien que le concept de l'album est très américain, mais nos ados imprégnés de culture pop en saisissent vite les aboutissements). Sympa, pour lecteurs dès 10 ans.
Existe une suite ! (Quand les garçons s'en mêlent)...

[Saleena Longmuir · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this, it looked fun and sweet for a middle school reader; however the author really tried to do too much. There is the angst of transitioning from child to teen; there's the sister away at college; there's the over-protective parents; there's the bullying older student; there's the best friend who has changed; there's the best friend who has a boyfriend; and finally there is the classic "I will turn this nerd into someone cool and fall in love with them" theme. That is A LOT for one book and it gets very jumbled. Sometimes I forgot that the characters were so young, because they acted and talked more like high school than middle school and the "absentee teacher" in an afterschool middle school....well, it is hard to believe given that every middle school I have seen seems to treat the students like bombs about to explode if they aren't watched and monitored every second of the day....it's the high school students who get that kind of leeway most often; and again, it was like the author kept switching from middle school to high school with problems, language, and situational handling of things. Overall, I just don't think this is a great book.

[Ella Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this entertaining, engaging, and realistic book, "Project (Un)popular", by Kristen Tracy it shows a middle school girl who yearns to become popular in the schools rating, but is having trouble. It shows a girl in seventh grade named Perry, who is trying to become popular. But being popular can come with consequences. Throughout this book, it truly shows how real life is and how becoming popular can ruin your friendships with you real friends and even sometimes the people who care about you. This really makes you feel melancholy for Perry, but she is doing it to herself at this point. I love how this plot is so juicy and descriptive that I can play a movie in my head of what Perry is experiencing. Lastly, her friend Venice is always trying to stop her and trying to get back the friends she once had, but sometimes, somethings change views. This book is amazing and such a real page turner that I love and truly would recommend.

[peyton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book. Wow. It wasn’t my overall favorite book and it was a bit dragged out, but it was a great story. Perry Hall and Venice Garcia, best friends, are figuring out the hardships of middle school in Yearbook class, when the president of Yearbook, Anya, is trying to mess with them on the sidelines. Anya is very bossy and there were a few moments that broke my heart but it isn’t even fair to give this book a one-star rating because no author likes to spend a long time working on a book just to get bad reviews. Now I know it’s okay to be opinionated because overall that’s what reviews are for. But it doesn’t have to explain how bad it was, because it was awesome. Derby. Just Derby. There were some parts that made me laugh to myself and some that made me gag. But, if you’re willing to read 300+ pages, go for this book.

[Katherine ʚїɞ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so awesome! I always go into this authors books with very low expectations, as most authors cannot capture the middle school thing very well.
Well, Kristen Tracey captures it perfectly!
Now I’m not sure how realistic it is for a middle school to have a whole yearbook team, and for them to have that much control over the yearbook, but oh well.
I do have a small complaint. The font is veryyyyy tiny. And, at the end of the book, it leaves you confused. It’s not a very full closing. I’m assuming she got many complaints about this and that’s why there is a 2nd book. I’m for sure going to be reading it.
Anyway, that you for reading my review! Follow for more awesome reviews too!

[Jeff Raymond · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book in a YA series about a girl fighting the popular kids via the Yearbook Club, this book seems to take forever to blast off, and then once it gets good it ends almost as quickly as it gets there. I didn't find this quite appealing enough to seek out the sequel when it came out earlier this year, but others might find this a lot more endearing, especially those in the intended age group.

[Nicolle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would only recommend this book if you are in 4th-6th grade. The book's main character is immature and annoying, but her character is consistent with the character of someone her age. Because of the lack of an exciting plot, the length of the book is unnecessary and dragged out. Overall, this book was a pain to finish.

[Jenny Ashby · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am on a roll of books that are just not very great and that is not a good roll to be on. Storylines were dropped or put on hold indefinitely (because this is going to be a series) and Perry is not a winning protagonist. She is quick to sell out her friend but never has a conversation with said friend about what is bothering her. Because it is obviously a series, the "ending" did not even try to tie things up. Another chapter could've come right there without missing a beat.

[Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. I found it hidden at the bottom of the bookshelf in my school library. I was so excited, because I was running out of books to read in that library. I began reading it and I got really into it. I loved that they were photographers and BFFs.
I loved this book so much!

[Ciera Legue · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was ok, this book really reminded me of when i was in middle grade but i don't like how for maoirty of the book perry changed to be like one of those popular kid followers doing everything anya says. i am reading the next one as i felt this one ended on a bit of a cliffhanger.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

My middle schoolers will love this.

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought that this book was SUPER boring. When I started to read it it was ok. At the end I felt like I just wanted to give up!!!

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay! Some really funny one-liners.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

It would have been a lot better if I had read when I was younger. It was a little boring.

[Kimber Strumski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was pretty good. It definitely wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read, but it wasn’t bad by any means.
-K💖

[Scarlet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two young photographers try to fight drama at their school and make an unpopular student popular.

[Darci · Rating 2 out of 5]

2½

[Omarahichianis]

this book talk about two best friends that work in the yearbook and one day Venice that is one of them make a friendship with a jerk and Anya doesn't like him at all and one day one girl told Anya that the jerk just wanna destroy everything and Anya just wanna don't want Venice and the jerk toughener because the girl that told Anya show her and she was trying to talk with Venice but she couldn't say nothing because the girl told her not to...

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

When 6th graders (and BFFs) Perry and Venice were accepted into the yearbook class as photographers, they were so excited about all their pictures appearing in the yearbook. Yet all their really great action shots are rejected by 8th grade editor Anya. Why? They don’t feature the popular kids.

Now Perry and Venice have a list of who to photograph and when and where. It turns out that most of the supposedly candid shots…aren’t. They’re posed to make the popular kids look great. Naturally, Perry and Venice are upset and want all kids to be equally featured in the yearbook. But Anya won’t accept pics of any nerdy kids. How can these two 6th graders fight back?

Then Anya takes advantage of Perry’s insecurity and starts to befriend her and asks her to spy on Venice’s friend, Leo. Meanwhile, Venice and Leo are hanging out together a lot which makes Perry angry and jealous. Also, Venice and Leo are secretly plotting against Anya to figure out how to get everyone featured in the yearbook.

Not surprisingly, Perry likes the attention she’s getting from Anya and believes the flattering statements that Anya tells her. Soon though Perry feels the squeeze from being pulled in opposite directions: Anya and popularity on one side…her BFF Venice and Leo on the other side (along with the other uncool students).

Battle lines are clearly drawn when both sides want a different 6th grader to be featured in the new yearbook section titled, “What’s Hot.” Does Perry side with the choice presented by Anya or her BFF? Everything is shifting for Perry and she’s at a loss as to what to do. Even her older sister tells her she has to figure it out for herself.

Tweens will love this story full of humor, drama, heart and, of course, middle school awkwardness. Fans of Raina Telgemeier’s books might enjoy this one too.

**HOWEVER…be prepared to be disappointed because the big conflict over the What’s Hot section is NOT resolved at the end. Tension ratchets up excitedly to the big climax and then…the story ends. That’s a big disappointment.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author has captured quite accurately what middle grades are like these days. While previous generations may have contended with image, fitting in, popularity, and sabotage in high school, in today's world, those issues seem to arise during middle grades. Sixth grader Perry Hall loves taking photographs and is thrilled to become one of the yearbook photographers along with her best friend Venice. They have visions of snapping action shots and candid images of their classmates in order to capture the middle grade experience. But to their dismay, the photos that are taken and selected for use in the yearbook are staged and designed to insure the popularity of the photo editor, Anya, a bossy control freak who is completely disinterested in giving any space in the memory book to those she considers beneath her or to be nerds. Instead, she wants to feature those who are cool or popular. Disenchanted with what she insists they do, the two friends decide to mount a campaign to make Derby Esposito, a sweet but nerdy classmate, popular. But Perry's growing jealousy over Venice's involvement with Leo, another yearbook staffer, and her dislike of him as well as her own insecurity lead her into a messy, dishonest temporary alliance with Anya. The book is filled with humor, intrigue, brief appearances from Perry's older sister, and plenty of insight into the drama that seeps through the halls of many middle schools today. Although this is frothy stuff for the most part, the book itself tackles some important questions about what exactly makes one person popular and another not and who establishes a school's social order, questions well worth considering during a class discussion. It is also interesting to consider why few challenge the social order. I have to say I loved Perry's cat, Mitten Man, and smiled every time he was referenced.

[TJL · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh my God.

First of all: Perry is a gigantic, whiny brat.

And before someone decides to get snippy and tell me that she's an eleven year-old, of course she's a brat, don't even go there- I've met plenty of eleven year-olds and none of them have ever whined and kvetched like Perry did.

And boy-howdy she did whine and kvetch. Holy Christ, the entire book is a whine-fest from this girl. "Waaah Venice is spending time with a BOY instead of ME!" "Waaaah my sister's telling me things I don't want to hear!" "Waaaah my parents are rightfully upset with me because I put a HUGE project off for a teacher who grades really hard against students until the last minute!"

Second of all: There was just so much unnecessary filler in this book. I swear it didn't need to have so much crammed in here, because not a lot of it contributed to the plot. And what was there was dull mixed with irritating (see: Perry is a whiny brat), and the thing is, a lot of it was repetitive. "Ooh, I'm angry at Venice for hanging with Leo!" "Ooh, I hate Leo!" "Ooh, Anya's being mean/paranoid again!"

OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

Did not like this one.

[Charlotte Bradford · Rating 1 out of 5]

As I said before, I had high expectations for this book. It should have been about fighting back from the "popular" eighth grade girls. Instead, it was about getting the "nerds" into the yearbook. This is a horrible message for young girls going into middle school, and even girls in the later years of elementary school. It sets a bad example, along with the quite boring plot line. There was no climax, only a slight rising action and falling action.
I don't recommend this book to anyone, this book was possibly one of the most boring books that I have ever read.
I do have some feedback to the author, though. If you were to re-write this book, try to add a better message. Less labels and stereotypes, more about self-discovery and how to stay true to your self. This is a big problem in the world, and the message this book sends dose not help change that.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a delightful read for a middle schooler. Main character Perry is a 6th grade photographer on the yearbook staff. She and her photographer friend, Venice, quickly discover that the editor intends to only print photos of the popular people, so they set out to change that. Perry is funny with a Woody Allen-esque running internal commentary. She is beset by the challenges of middle school academic and social demands, is coached by her older sister Piper who studied psychology in college, and maternally monitored by well-meaning parents. This could happen to anyone!

[Kelly Sierra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more. It wasn't a bad read; however, if I hadn't known the actual grade that the main character was in I would have guessed this was taking place in high school, right before college, not 6th, 7th and 8th graders trying to find their voice.... It just seemed too mature and that causes the authenticity of the story to be thrown out the window.

Still gave it a 3 because overall it was a good read.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. It wasn't a 4 star, more like a 3.5 but overall it wasn't boring. I liked how it focused on Yearbook. I always wondered what people do in Yearbook and how it's made. I think this book could have had a little more action in the beginning but the end was definitely exciting. My favorite character is Derby because he doesn't really care what other people say. He is himself. Derby loves theater like me. I really hope that he makes an appearance in the Yearbook.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unpopular it was.
This book was lacking a better formed character- Perry was she autistic? There were times some tics or habits were mentioned, but then nothing more. I loved the idea, but the story should have been better.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent middle grade fiction novel. Although it is nothing noteworthy I've no doubt for many readers the 'tween protagonist's struggle between fitting in and doing the "right thing" will resonate.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was a good book overall, but I didn't like the ending. This is just my personal thought so don't take it to seriously.

[Blu S · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good but it could of added a bit more detail about like why the girl was adding popular people instead of the lower class