What do you think?
Rate this book
Mean Girls
You know the story--or do you?
Cady Heron grew up home-schooled in Africa with scientist parents as her teachers, monkeys as her classmates and the African plains as her playground. But when her family moves to the suburbs of Illinois, she finds herself a stranger in a strange land: high school. With no prior research to guide her, Cady's forced to figure out North Shore High all on her own. Suddenly she finds herself sucked into Girl World as a new member of the social elite dubbed "The Plastics." Cady discovers that unlike the wild, Girl World doesn't have any rules--especially when you maybe, possibly, okay definitely, have a giant crush on their ruthless leader's ex-boyfriend. Turns out, life in high school might be even more brutal than a showdown on the Savannah.
Based on the screenplay by Tina Fey, this retelling of the cult classic film includes tons of extra, never-before-seen bonus content.
Cady Heron grew up home-schooled in Africa with scientist parents as her teachers, monkeys as her classmates and the African plains as her playground. But when her family moves to the suburbs of Illinois, she finds herself a stranger in a strange land: high school. With no prior research to guide her, Cady's forced to figure out North Shore High all on her own. Suddenly she finds herself sucked into Girl World as a new member of the social elite dubbed "The Plastics." Cady discovers that unlike the wild, Girl World doesn't have any rules--especially when you maybe, possibly, okay definitely, have a giant crush on their ruthless leader's ex-boyfriend. Turns out, life in high school might be even more brutal than a showdown on the Savannah.
Based on the screenplay by Tina Fey, this retelling of the cult classic film includes tons of extra, never-before-seen bonus content.
283 pages, Hardcover
First published September 12, 2017
107 people are currently reading
2748 people want to read
About the author
Micol Ostow
76 books389 followersMicol Ostow has been writing professionally since 2004, and in that time has written and/or ghostwritten over 40 published works for young readers. She started her reign of terror with Egmont with her novel FAMILY, which Elizabeth Burns named a favorite of 2012 on her School Library Journal-syndicated blog, A Chair, a Fireplace, a Tea Cozy. Micol's graphic novel, SO PUNK ROCK (and Other Ways to Disappoint Your Mother), was named a 2009 Booklist Top Ten Arts Books for Youth Selection, a Booklist Top Ten Religion Books for Youth Selection, and a Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Teens. She received her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Her young adult horror novel, AMITY, will release from Egmont in August 2014, and her first chapter book series, LOUISE TRAPEZE, will debut in Spring 2015 from Random House.
She lives and works in Brooklyn, NY, alongside her Emmy Award-winning husband, their daughter, and a finicky French bulldog. Visit her at www.micolostow.com.
Her young adult horror novel, AMITY, will release from Egmont in August 2014, and her first chapter book series, LOUISE TRAPEZE, will debut in Spring 2015 from Random House.
She lives and works in Brooklyn, NY, alongside her Emmy Award-winning husband, their daughter, and a finicky French bulldog. Visit her at www.micolostow.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
March 4, 2024
I’m not pleased to admit that I picked up Mean Girls with preconceived notions and possibly an internal sigh. Yes, girls can be despicable, particularly during the terrible teens; and sure, for so many students, high school certainly sucks. Both truly important topics, but how many ways can that be covered?
Well.
This book is based on a screenplay, a unique concept for me; mostly certainly nothing I’ve read yet. Oh, and said screenplay was written by Ms. Tina Fey. I am a fan.
Turns out, this tantalizing twist of transition is not the only tweak on a traditional tale. There is, indeed, a new facet of this oft admired gem. Some may say high school is like a jungle, but Cady could quickly squash that simile. Born, raised and home-schooled in Africa by her scientist-parents; the jungle, she understands. However violent and messy it may appear, there are absolute rules. Law of the land, yes; but clearly defined with potential consequences equally easy to assess.
Nothing is apparent or effortlessly understood in this American high school. Well, sure the “no green ink” and absurd requirement to obtain permission to use the restroom; but absolutely absent is any advice about interaction among the species. Cady realizes, of course, that if she wants to fit in, she will need to observe and mimic.
But first, does she want to fit in? If so, with which group? Unsolicited answers are offered up, different questions are asked, and in no time, Cady is in the thick of things. With the support of two obvious outcasts, she attempts to take on typical teen traits and immerse herself in the adolescent atmosphere. Much like a jungle kitten on a muddy, slippery, slope; Cady is soon over her head and seemingly all alone.
Because Mean Girls plays out from pivoting point-of-views, the whole picture emerges as if puzzle pieces are studied, sorted then clicked into place, perfectly.
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
Well.
This book is based on a screenplay, a unique concept for me; mostly certainly nothing I’ve read yet. Oh, and said screenplay was written by Ms. Tina Fey. I am a fan.
Turns out, this tantalizing twist of transition is not the only tweak on a traditional tale. There is, indeed, a new facet of this oft admired gem. Some may say high school is like a jungle, but Cady could quickly squash that simile. Born, raised and home-schooled in Africa by her scientist-parents; the jungle, she understands. However violent and messy it may appear, there are absolute rules. Law of the land, yes; but clearly defined with potential consequences equally easy to assess.
Nothing is apparent or effortlessly understood in this American high school. Well, sure the “no green ink” and absurd requirement to obtain permission to use the restroom; but absolutely absent is any advice about interaction among the species. Cady realizes, of course, that if she wants to fit in, she will need to observe and mimic.
But first, does she want to fit in? If so, with which group? Unsolicited answers are offered up, different questions are asked, and in no time, Cady is in the thick of things. With the support of two obvious outcasts, she attempts to take on typical teen traits and immerse herself in the adolescent atmosphere. Much like a jungle kitten on a muddy, slippery, slope; Cady is soon over her head and seemingly all alone.
Because Mean Girls plays out from pivoting point-of-views, the whole picture emerges as if puzzle pieces are studied, sorted then clicked into place, perfectly.
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
Read
August 21, 2018Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
Here’s the thing. I’m not going to bother rating this book because it truly serves no purpose except for that of a Mean Girls completionist. While this wasn’t a screenplay, it was very little more – and often the lack of additional words/direction/emphasis/info/whatehaveyou would leave a Mean Girls virgin missing out on the joke. As for me? I got this from the library, but am 100% guaranteed to be buying a paper copy. It’s a sickness.
As for any of you so called “friends” who knew this existed and didn’t bother filling me in????
Here’s the thing. I’m not going to bother rating this book because it truly serves no purpose except for that of a Mean Girls completionist. While this wasn’t a screenplay, it was very little more – and often the lack of additional words/direction/emphasis/info/whatehaveyou would leave a Mean Girls virgin missing out on the joke. As for me? I got this from the library, but am 100% guaranteed to be buying a paper copy. It’s a sickness.
As for any of you so called “friends” who knew this existed and didn’t bother filling me in????
May 15, 2021
It’s the scripted copy of the movie “Mean Girls”.Oh man,I was 6 back then.I watched the movie and it totally got me hooked with Lindsay,Rachel and Amanda.It is filled with entertainment and relatable to everyone.
If you’re from Africa, why are you white?
It was such a memorable journey back to my childhood💕
If you’re from Africa, why are you white?
It was such a memorable journey back to my childhood💕
May 23, 2018
So, I saw the film for the first time almost fourteen years ago and have been a fan ever since. With the recent surfacing of the soundtrack of its Broadway adaptation, I was very well persuaded to read the book.
This was a perfect novelization of the screenplay, and I have to admit though, there were a few minor touch ups here and there. The whole time while reading this the movie was playing in my mind so it was a fun experience reading Mean Girls with more details.
October 9, 2025
[Update: This is the ninth time I've read/listened to this book AND I'M TIRED OF IT. I merely do it as a tradition every year to commemorate October 3rd, but I'm starting to feel forced to do it. I'm sick of it, but I do want to get to the tenth time. But at the same time, I don't have the time to read something that I already know by heart. I don't like uneven numbers, so I'll just read it one more time next year and this tradition will be OVER for good, just so that the final count is 10 and not 9.]
Mean Girls is my all-time favorite movie, so of course I had to read the novelization of the film.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and reading it once a year is a tradition for me. I've read it 7 times already, it's just ridiculous, but so what?
The story is not like a regular story, it's a cool story, lol.
It's so fetch!
Mean Girls is my all-time favorite movie, so of course I had to read the novelization of the film.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and reading it once a year is a tradition for me. I've read it 7 times already, it's just ridiculous, but so what?
The story is not like a regular story, it's a cool story, lol.
It's so fetch!
June 9, 2017
As someone who has a serious obsession with this movie - like I'm talking about knowing every single line in the movie obsessed - I found this book was a weird combination of being enjoyable and not enjoyable all in one.
It's not often that we get a film to book adaptation, but this is exactly what this is. 90% of the lines are a copy paste of the film, and the 10% that aren't are slight variations of the lines in the film. The rest of the book is filler text explanations of what you would visually see in the movie. Although there were some additional things added such as text message exchanges, announcements from the school and random diary entries, along with different perspectives, I finished this book feeling like I had just watched the film, and I kind of wished I had just watched the film as I almost feel as if this book lessened my overall enjoyment of these characters.
Talking about characters, the book doesn't quite get them right. They're saying the words that we expect and know Regina, Gretchen, Karen, Cady, Janis, Damian et al. say, but they don't feel like themselves. Everyone seemed to be written incredibly stupid, incredibly shallow and incredibly simple to the point that all the characters felt two dimensional in a three dimensional world. They all had very similar voices even when reading in different perspectives. I felt like the author was attempting to show different sides to them that a film does not have time for - almost giving added reasoning to their behaviours and decisions - but rather than feeling like I can excuse their behaviours now that I understand better, I hated them all more.
I also felt like this had more of a middle grade vibe to it in terms of the writing style. Like the characters, the writing was incredibly simple and wasn't anything spectacular. It was an easy and quick read, but that was it really. If it wasn't for the more mature language every once and awhile through the direct movie quotes, I feel like a 10 year old could easily ready this and be satisfied. Not so much for a 23 year old unfortunately.
I guess my biggest question in regards to this book is why now? Why so long after the film? Mean Girls released in 2004, and 13 years later they decide to release a book? Although I love this film so much and will always feel like it's relevant to me, is anyone who loves this film when it released actually going to still be interested enough to read a book that doesn't really bring anything new to the table? Will teenagers today gravitate towards this looking for a fresh, fun read? I don't think so.
Although I'm glad I read this, I probably won't ever be reading it again, and I'm very grateful that I managed to pick up an arc of this at BEA this year as opposed to buying a finished copy because I definitely don't need to have a copy in my collection.
It's not often that we get a film to book adaptation, but this is exactly what this is. 90% of the lines are a copy paste of the film, and the 10% that aren't are slight variations of the lines in the film. The rest of the book is filler text explanations of what you would visually see in the movie. Although there were some additional things added such as text message exchanges, announcements from the school and random diary entries, along with different perspectives, I finished this book feeling like I had just watched the film, and I kind of wished I had just watched the film as I almost feel as if this book lessened my overall enjoyment of these characters.
Talking about characters, the book doesn't quite get them right. They're saying the words that we expect and know Regina, Gretchen, Karen, Cady, Janis, Damian et al. say, but they don't feel like themselves. Everyone seemed to be written incredibly stupid, incredibly shallow and incredibly simple to the point that all the characters felt two dimensional in a three dimensional world. They all had very similar voices even when reading in different perspectives. I felt like the author was attempting to show different sides to them that a film does not have time for - almost giving added reasoning to their behaviours and decisions - but rather than feeling like I can excuse their behaviours now that I understand better, I hated them all more.
I also felt like this had more of a middle grade vibe to it in terms of the writing style. Like the characters, the writing was incredibly simple and wasn't anything spectacular. It was an easy and quick read, but that was it really. If it wasn't for the more mature language every once and awhile through the direct movie quotes, I feel like a 10 year old could easily ready this and be satisfied. Not so much for a 23 year old unfortunately.
I guess my biggest question in regards to this book is why now? Why so long after the film? Mean Girls released in 2004, and 13 years later they decide to release a book? Although I love this film so much and will always feel like it's relevant to me, is anyone who loves this film when it released actually going to still be interested enough to read a book that doesn't really bring anything new to the table? Will teenagers today gravitate towards this looking for a fresh, fun read? I don't think so.
Although I'm glad I read this, I probably won't ever be reading it again, and I'm very grateful that I managed to pick up an arc of this at BEA this year as opposed to buying a finished copy because I definitely don't need to have a copy in my collection.
October 2, 2017
Got an ARC from BookCon and at first I wasn’t expecting the book to based on the movie 😂 (I’m slow) but a book about mean girls , this book isn’t a script , and I don’t know if it’s only in the arc but some parts were cut out, overall it was a fun read and if you’d seen the movie over a 100 times like me then you can almost just picture scenes of the movie ♥️💙
“Four for you Glen Coco, You GO Glen Coco!”- Damian
“Four for you Glen Coco, You GO Glen Coco!”- Damian
December 24, 2018
Literally a word for word recreation of the movie. Not sure where the “original” content was. Only bright side is that some parts were told through other characters perspectives.
June 12, 2017
"That is so fetch.
Regina whirled to Gretchen. Gretchen, stop trying to make fetch happen. It's not going to happen she snapped, deadly serious."
To be honest, I haven't seen this movie since it came out and I'm not even certain that I've seen all of it. But once I learned they were turning it into a novel, I had to get my hands of this bitchiness.
Growing up, we all went to school with a Regina. We witnessed, we lived, and maybe we sampled all the evil that was dished out by one person. Who knows, maybe you were the Regina. Just remember, your hair..... sooo cute!
All Cady Heron knows is Africa. This is her home, where she was raised and where she learned to live and grow. All of a sudden an offer that her family can't refuse rips her from the comfort of home and homeschooling. Now like every red-blooded teenager, she has to spend the remainder of her high school years inside of a high school with other normal teenagers.
Entering a strange land for the first time can over extremely overwhelming and Cady finds herself comparing high school life to survival on the Savannah Desert. Things don't seem that much different after all.
Cady quickly becomes friends with Janis and Damian. They fill her in on all the different cliques that fill their High School and at the top of the food chain clique are the Plastics. They are high school royalty and anyone would die to get close to them, but getting to be a part of their group is not an easy feat. Something different happens that first week of school and Regina (Head Plastic) saves Cady from being humiliated by one of the Jocks. This begins Cady's spiral to be one of the Plastics.
Damian and Janis are excited that Cady was selected to be the chosen one and they come up with a plan to bring down the Plastics. Little by little, they tear down the walls that are surrounding Regina and hit her where it hurts with her friends, her weight, and even her boyfriend. The plan slowly starts to come together, but not before taking Cady down with the Plastics.
This was a great novelization of a movie. Most times these fail to get the entire story across, but this one did a fantastic job. It was a great starter book for when I was sick. I can't remember most of the movie but some of the most iconic scenes stick out at me and were dead on. Now I know what I might be up to this weekend!
Thanks, BEA 17 NYC and Owlcrate!!!
Regina whirled to Gretchen. Gretchen, stop trying to make fetch happen. It's not going to happen she snapped, deadly serious."
To be honest, I haven't seen this movie since it came out and I'm not even certain that I've seen all of it. But once I learned they were turning it into a novel, I had to get my hands of this bitchiness.
Growing up, we all went to school with a Regina. We witnessed, we lived, and maybe we sampled all the evil that was dished out by one person. Who knows, maybe you were the Regina. Just remember, your hair..... sooo cute!
All Cady Heron knows is Africa. This is her home, where she was raised and where she learned to live and grow. All of a sudden an offer that her family can't refuse rips her from the comfort of home and homeschooling. Now like every red-blooded teenager, she has to spend the remainder of her high school years inside of a high school with other normal teenagers.
Entering a strange land for the first time can over extremely overwhelming and Cady finds herself comparing high school life to survival on the Savannah Desert. Things don't seem that much different after all.
Cady quickly becomes friends with Janis and Damian. They fill her in on all the different cliques that fill their High School and at the top of the food chain clique are the Plastics. They are high school royalty and anyone would die to get close to them, but getting to be a part of their group is not an easy feat. Something different happens that first week of school and Regina (Head Plastic) saves Cady from being humiliated by one of the Jocks. This begins Cady's spiral to be one of the Plastics.
Damian and Janis are excited that Cady was selected to be the chosen one and they come up with a plan to bring down the Plastics. Little by little, they tear down the walls that are surrounding Regina and hit her where it hurts with her friends, her weight, and even her boyfriend. The plan slowly starts to come together, but not before taking Cady down with the Plastics.
This was a great novelization of a movie. Most times these fail to get the entire story across, but this one did a fantastic job. It was a great starter book for when I was sick. I can't remember most of the movie but some of the most iconic scenes stick out at me and were dead on. Now I know what I might be up to this weekend!
Thanks, BEA 17 NYC and Owlcrate!!!
August 18, 2017
Uh... 2.5 stars? Here's the thing - this is exactly like the movie, word for word, so it isn't rocket science what happens. I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I started this but I wasn't expecting to read a play by play of the movie. It honestly felt like someone took the time to hand write exactly what happened in the movie scene by scene.
October 3, 2022
I mean this was literally just the movie but the script put into a book. Nothing new happened and tit was just straight up the movie quotes but in a book. I listened to the audiobook and ofc I liked it a lot because I love the movie but it’s not a groundbreaking novel
June 27, 2017
This book is exactly what you assume it is! It's the Mean Girls script, but with a few more prose. It says there's deleted scenes included in the book, but I only noticed two short "scenes" that weren't in the film, so don't expect too much new material. I watched the film right before reading this, and I think that was a mistake, as I did get a little bored halfway through because I knew what was going to happen word for word. But still, this is a good adaptation of the movie; is adaption the right word to use here? If you're a huge fan of the film, you'll find something to enjoy! There are cute text messages and emails scattered throughout the novel, which was a grool aspect to add. 4/5 stars!
February 11, 2021
A star for every ten hatecrimes
Want to read
October 8, 2024this is a book??
July 8, 2018
You know what IS fetch? Novelizations of famous movies that hold super true to the film and yet have additions that make it even funnier. Mean Girls: A Novel is an incredibly true-to-film book adaptation of the famous film that'll make you feel like you're living in the world of Cady Heron and Regina George the entire time. With alternating points of view so you can be in the mind of Cady, Regina, Janis, Damien, Aaron and even Gretchen and Karen, this is a must-read book for lovers of the movie.
Okay, so if you don't know the plot of Mean Girls I'm going to break it down for you, but also where have you been the last decade? Cady Heron recently moved to Chicago after living in Africa with her parents who are research zoologists. Now she's headed to public school for the first time ever, and it's going to be crazy. With an eye for how everything relates to the animal kingdom, Cady falls face-first into high school, meets outsiders Damien and Janis, and then the Plastics, three girls too perfect to be messed with. But that's what Cady ends up doing as she falls in with them. Of course, it all centers around a boy because this is high school and realistic but it's also about finding yourself and friendship and the rules of feminism and the Sahara and all that jazz.
The plot of the book is literally identical to the movie. Your favorite quotes are still included and are just as funny on the page when you can imagine them being said on film. If you liked the movie, you'll like the book. There were little additions in the book though like "Mrs George's To-Do List" or deleted emails from Aaron to Cady or journal entries from Gretchen that didn't change the plot but kind of enriched the characters and helped the book be more than just a prose version of the script. Of course, it's also nice to be in the mind of the characters and hearing their POV on every issue instead of the movie overview.
Okay, so if you don't know the plot of Mean Girls I'm going to break it down for you, but also where have you been the last decade? Cady Heron recently moved to Chicago after living in Africa with her parents who are research zoologists. Now she's headed to public school for the first time ever, and it's going to be crazy. With an eye for how everything relates to the animal kingdom, Cady falls face-first into high school, meets outsiders Damien and Janis, and then the Plastics, three girls too perfect to be messed with. But that's what Cady ends up doing as she falls in with them. Of course, it all centers around a boy because this is high school and realistic but it's also about finding yourself and friendship and the rules of feminism and the Sahara and all that jazz.
The plot of the book is literally identical to the movie. Your favorite quotes are still included and are just as funny on the page when you can imagine them being said on film. If you liked the movie, you'll like the book. There were little additions in the book though like "Mrs George's To-Do List" or deleted emails from Aaron to Cady or journal entries from Gretchen that didn't change the plot but kind of enriched the characters and helped the book be more than just a prose version of the script. Of course, it's also nice to be in the mind of the characters and hearing their POV on every issue instead of the movie overview.
December 20, 2020
Should I write a review for this book? No. Will I do it? Yes.
The good:
- This is a great novelization. Many people expect something different or different points of view. Even extra details but no and I think that is why some people feel betrayed but not even on the synopsis it is mentioned that this will be something new.
- The movie piece by piece. You not only get the iconic scenes and quotes but you also get to read chapters as if they were said by them. I mean, when we get to read the wreck of Gretchen, it is not Cady who describes but her.
- You get images and notes that help you to get into the story.
- If you listen to the soundtrack while reading, your experience will be better.
The bad:
- Probably is just me but some of the “cursing words” are changed and that takes the impact out of the scene.
The good:
- This is a great novelization. Many people expect something different or different points of view. Even extra details but no and I think that is why some people feel betrayed but not even on the synopsis it is mentioned that this will be something new.
- The movie piece by piece. You not only get the iconic scenes and quotes but you also get to read chapters as if they were said by them. I mean, when we get to read the wreck of Gretchen, it is not Cady who describes but her.
- You get images and notes that help you to get into the story.
- If you listen to the soundtrack while reading, your experience will be better.
The bad:
- Probably is just me but some of the “cursing words” are changed and that takes the impact out of the scene.
March 28, 2019
seen the movie to this
August 26, 2017
This is precisely what it looks like. It is the move Mean Girls but in written form, and for the most part it stays within this criteria. Occasionally it will provide some little bit of extra knowledge or funny inclusion--Glenn Coco being nominated to the student committee, for example--but by and large, it's pretty much just a reproduction of the movie shot per shot. I enjoy it but I fucking love Mean Girls and watched that shit religiously growing up.
If you are a fan of the movie, you'll probably like the book too.
If you are a fan of the movie, you'll probably like the book too.
January 11, 2019
If you've seen the movie countless times (like me), you'll recognize that for the most part, the book follows worse for word. There's a few extra segments which make it more entertaining, and reading in various POVs made it refreshing.
May 11, 2023
This book was actually pretty good NGL. I still prefer the movie though. But I prefer anyone who has watched the actual movie to read this book if they want.
November 24, 2017
Because I am a huge fan of the movie Mean Girls, I was elated when I found out that there was a novel retelling being released. Mean Girls is that film that all teenage girls need to see for its morals on standing out versus fitting in, and I'm very glad that the readers of the teen world now have a book from which they can receive the same messages.
It came as no surprise to me that I loved this book, as well! It is extremely similar to the movie and I did not really note any obvious differences. However, for once I would recommend watching the movie first as this is a book based on it; not the other way around.
If you don't know the story of the legendary Mean Girls, it follows a girl named Cady Heron as she goes from being homeschooled in Africa to attending public school in the US. When she first starts school in the US, she is a bit standoffish and uneducated about the social norms. When the popular, feared group of Plastics encounter Cady, they decide to reel her into their group. Will Cady be comfortable with this, and if so, will it change her for worse?
I have always adored the sweet and intuitive character of Cady. Characters like her are the reason why I am constantly sucked back into YA fiction books and chick flicks like these. Although it definitely wasn't right for the Plastics to manipulate her to change herself for their approval, we all know that this is what inspires her to grow and develop. Without a problem, an effective story cannot exist, and ultimately, this part of the story is what enamours millions.
Reading this book was just like rewatching the movie in my head- I could easily picture each and every scene, and what was especially awesome is that readers get to see the POVs of more than just Cady. In many ways, this novel seems much more personal than the movie as readers glimpse into the lives of every main character. Those who have not seen the movie may get confused between all the POVs- which is why I recommend watching it first- but those who have will gain a deeper understanding of each character and be able to distinguish them based on prior knowledge.
All in all, I was incredibly happy to have been able to experience the classic story of Mean Girls in written form. I believe that the movie will always be a legacy in the teenage culture, and adding a book into the mix helps make the story and its amazing morals live on for even longer. So, if you're in love with the movie, then what are you waiting for? ;)
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Indigo Books & Music Inc. in exchange for an honest review.*
It came as no surprise to me that I loved this book, as well! It is extremely similar to the movie and I did not really note any obvious differences. However, for once I would recommend watching the movie first as this is a book based on it; not the other way around.
If you don't know the story of the legendary Mean Girls, it follows a girl named Cady Heron as she goes from being homeschooled in Africa to attending public school in the US. When she first starts school in the US, she is a bit standoffish and uneducated about the social norms. When the popular, feared group of Plastics encounter Cady, they decide to reel her into their group. Will Cady be comfortable with this, and if so, will it change her for worse?
I have always adored the sweet and intuitive character of Cady. Characters like her are the reason why I am constantly sucked back into YA fiction books and chick flicks like these. Although it definitely wasn't right for the Plastics to manipulate her to change herself for their approval, we all know that this is what inspires her to grow and develop. Without a problem, an effective story cannot exist, and ultimately, this part of the story is what enamours millions.
Reading this book was just like rewatching the movie in my head- I could easily picture each and every scene, and what was especially awesome is that readers get to see the POVs of more than just Cady. In many ways, this novel seems much more personal than the movie as readers glimpse into the lives of every main character. Those who have not seen the movie may get confused between all the POVs- which is why I recommend watching it first- but those who have will gain a deeper understanding of each character and be able to distinguish them based on prior knowledge.
All in all, I was incredibly happy to have been able to experience the classic story of Mean Girls in written form. I believe that the movie will always be a legacy in the teenage culture, and adding a book into the mix helps make the story and its amazing morals live on for even longer. So, if you're in love with the movie, then what are you waiting for? ;)
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Indigo Books & Music Inc. in exchange for an honest review.*
December 3, 2024
Every teen girl should read this!!!
March 28, 2020
Seguro que en el momento parecía una buena idea.
Esto demuestra que el que una película tenga un "voice-over" no justifica extender ese voice-over a lo largo de un libro que se hace más pesado que una vaca en brazos. Terminarlo ha sido un auténtico logro del que no me creía capaz. Supongo que a la autora le habrá ocurrido lo mismo, porque hacia el final se iba haciendo más y más pesado.
En serio, como película es genial, pero la novelización sobraba.
Edit.: Acabo de echar un vistazo a las demás novelas de la autora. Dan ganas de dejarle un comentario de "si te están obligando a escribir, parpadea dos veces".
Esto demuestra que el que una película tenga un "voice-over" no justifica extender ese voice-over a lo largo de un libro que se hace más pesado que una vaca en brazos. Terminarlo ha sido un auténtico logro del que no me creía capaz. Supongo que a la autora le habrá ocurrido lo mismo, porque hacia el final se iba haciendo más y más pesado.
En serio, como película es genial, pero la novelización sobraba.
Edit.: Acabo de echar un vistazo a las demás novelas de la autora. Dan ganas de dejarle un comentario de "si te están obligando a escribir, parpadea dos veces".
October 11, 2017
I'm a little confused.
The summary for this book promises us a fresh retelling of the Mean Girls movie, with different points of view that will "prove there is another side to every story". But, this was quite literally a word-for-word novelization of the movie. Yes, we had different POVs, but in my opinion they added nothing to the story, and every voice sounded exactly like Cady's anyway.
I didn't hate this, because I still love the movie and it was like rewatching it for the hundredth time, but I just don't understand why this book exists.
The summary for this book promises us a fresh retelling of the Mean Girls movie, with different points of view that will "prove there is another side to every story". But, this was quite literally a word-for-word novelization of the movie. Yes, we had different POVs, but in my opinion they added nothing to the story, and every voice sounded exactly like Cady's anyway.
I didn't hate this, because I still love the movie and it was like rewatching it for the hundredth time, but I just don't understand why this book exists.
October 6, 2017
ok, so I read about 3/4 of this, and decided that was enough waisted time. So I DNF-ed it, and am here to tell you that this is a completely unnessesary book adaptasjon of a delightfully funny, sassy modern cult classic. I absolutely love this movie, but the book was basically the movie repeated as a sloooow boring read. it did not add anything worthwhile to the story. Just watch the movie instead ! I will :)
September 24, 2017
Obviously, I love the movie - I mean, it's a cult classic!
But the thing is, I expected this book to somehow be more, maybe take things a slightly different route, or delve further into the characters' lives...
What it actually is, is just the movie script written as a novel...
But the thing is, I expected this book to somehow be more, maybe take things a slightly different route, or delve further into the characters' lives...
What it actually is, is just the movie script written as a novel...
dnf
January 11, 2018it's literally the movie. there's absolutely no reason for this book to exist. just watch the movie.
December 3, 2018
Just like the amazing movie with a few supplemental scenes thanks to the added perspectives of Regina, Gretchen, Aaron, Janis, and Damian.
October 2, 2017
This review appeared first on
Arctic Books
Huge thanks to my friends from Scholastic Inc. for approving an e-galley of this title for me via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This did not, in any way, affect my overall opinion of the book and/or the story.
Mean Girls is one of the most glorious movies out there that has survived the years that has passed. Albeit there are thousands of movies that tried to follow in it’s footsteps, there will never be a movie as iconic as Mean Girls. And to see an actual novelization of the movie, especially now, is exciting because through this book, long-time fans of the movie can finally relive the fun experience of getting to know the people that makes up North Shore. Today, I’m so glad to finally be able to share with you my thoughts on this novel.
Since I’m a huge fan of the movie, it was nice for me to get the chance to witness the story unfold through a novelized version of the original Mean Girls story that was told in multiple points of view. Albeit there were scenes and other instances when I had a hard time trying to actually determine who was telling the story because each of the characters’ voices sounded similar. Without actual indication, it would be hard and confusing to identify who’s who. But, since I’ve already watched the movie plenty of times, I know who’s probably telling the story. I did appreciate the multiple POVs, though, because it somehow gave a little depth to the whole story.
I like the fast-paced writing, and the impressive transitioning that the author used to tell Cady Heron’s story. I’m easily impressed with books that I usually read in just a few hours (or days), and I’m not the type of reader or reviewer who’s extremely keen on details, or whatever. As long as I’m entertained, for me, the book ultimately did it’s job. In the case of Mean Girls, I laughed, cringed, and was also able to relive the fun and laughable times that I went through when I first watched the movie. I think it’s needless to say that for that reason alone, I felt delighted to have been able to read this novel.
On a negative note, though, this book is literally the entire movie turned into a novel without any addition of extra scenes, or whatever. I mean, I actually assumed for this to be just that, but for some reason, I was expecting for this to offer something new. Maybe an addition of a twist, or something? I don’t know, the author might have her hands tied due to some legalities that might hinder her from adding anything, but yeah, that’s just me. I did appreciate the addition of story fillers such as text messages between characters, Mrs. George’s to-do list, excerpts from a Wilderness Journal, Student Activity Committee Minutes, and lots more! Also, based on the e-galley that I read, there’s going to be a map of the North Shore Cafeteria which I’m actually quite excited for.
“All in all, this Mean Girls novelization is a fairly accurate depiction of the original film from 2004. For hardcore fans of the movie, this will be a sure hit because it perfectly depicts all the iconic scenes that patrons surely loved in the movie. But for those who are looking for a fresh, new read, I’m afraid this might not be the book you’re looking for. The addition of extra ~stuff is well appreciated, though, and overall, I enjoyed reading this book from Micol Ostow.”
Huge thanks to my friends from Scholastic Inc. for approving an e-galley of this title for me via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This did not, in any way, affect my overall opinion of the book and/or the story.
Mean Girls is one of the most glorious movies out there that has survived the years that has passed. Albeit there are thousands of movies that tried to follow in it’s footsteps, there will never be a movie as iconic as Mean Girls. And to see an actual novelization of the movie, especially now, is exciting because through this book, long-time fans of the movie can finally relive the fun experience of getting to know the people that makes up North Shore. Today, I’m so glad to finally be able to share with you my thoughts on this novel.
Since I’m a huge fan of the movie, it was nice for me to get the chance to witness the story unfold through a novelized version of the original Mean Girls story that was told in multiple points of view. Albeit there were scenes and other instances when I had a hard time trying to actually determine who was telling the story because each of the characters’ voices sounded similar. Without actual indication, it would be hard and confusing to identify who’s who. But, since I’ve already watched the movie plenty of times, I know who’s probably telling the story. I did appreciate the multiple POVs, though, because it somehow gave a little depth to the whole story.
I like the fast-paced writing, and the impressive transitioning that the author used to tell Cady Heron’s story. I’m easily impressed with books that I usually read in just a few hours (or days), and I’m not the type of reader or reviewer who’s extremely keen on details, or whatever. As long as I’m entertained, for me, the book ultimately did it’s job. In the case of Mean Girls, I laughed, cringed, and was also able to relive the fun and laughable times that I went through when I first watched the movie. I think it’s needless to say that for that reason alone, I felt delighted to have been able to read this novel.
On a negative note, though, this book is literally the entire movie turned into a novel without any addition of extra scenes, or whatever. I mean, I actually assumed for this to be just that, but for some reason, I was expecting for this to offer something new. Maybe an addition of a twist, or something? I don’t know, the author might have her hands tied due to some legalities that might hinder her from adding anything, but yeah, that’s just me. I did appreciate the addition of story fillers such as text messages between characters, Mrs. George’s to-do list, excerpts from a Wilderness Journal, Student Activity Committee Minutes, and lots more! Also, based on the e-galley that I read, there’s going to be a map of the North Shore Cafeteria which I’m actually quite excited for.
“All in all, this Mean Girls novelization is a fairly accurate depiction of the original film from 2004. For hardcore fans of the movie, this will be a sure hit because it perfectly depicts all the iconic scenes that patrons surely loved in the movie. But for those who are looking for a fresh, new read, I’m afraid this might not be the book you’re looking for. The addition of extra ~stuff is well appreciated, though, and overall, I enjoyed reading this book from Micol Ostow.”
Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews