Prom Night

by Amy L. Best

Best shows us that, while the prom is often trivialized, most kids take the prom seriously. The prom is a space where kids work through their understanding of authority, social class, gender norms, and multicultural schooling. Proms are more than just pictures and puffed sleeves--they are a mythic part of youth culture and, for better or worse, will always be a night to remember.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sociology

243 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Rants and Bants]

I think this is the same book my friend had to read a couple of semesters back in college...I kid you not. I just can't take anything Prom-related seriously. I don't know why it's forced onto people. It's a night where you spend a bunch of money to dress up (ew), go to school (ew), be surrounded by awful people, and listen to crappy music. What is the big deal? I never went to Prom, actually any school dance. And I am PROUD for not doing it, despite how many people decided to jump on my case about it like it was any of their business. You couldn't pay me. You couldn't pay me enough. Maybe part of it is my introverted nature, but the other part is really just that I already had to go to school 5 days a week, why would I want to do anymore...that, and I don't like being surrounded by idiots. Why is Prom shoved down our throats? Beats the hell out of me.

[DeBora Rachelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book portrays prom as being so negative — it leads me to think this author had such a bad time at her own prom that she wants everybody to feel the same way about prom as she does. Another thing I found odd is the author is constantly saying a “white girl” said this and an “African American” said that. WT? What difference does the color of your skin make? The author is trying to make prom into some tremendous agonizing annoying event. When in fact it’s simply prom - a dance where teens start to transition to adulthood and say goodbye to their high school friends and celebrate that they made it. This book was such rubbish.