snchard's review against another edition
3.0
Very decent boarding school secret society nonsense. The tone reminded me a lot of The Chocolate War, and I liked that the book was fairly realistic regarding the causes and consequences of Frankie's actions. The sophomore/senior relationship started bordering on gross a couple times, but I was very pleased that Frankie kept her common sense, for the most part. Somewhat fluffy, but also calls into question some of the societal norms that other middle/YA books don't.
ana_chelidze's review against another edition
5.0
OMG EFFING AMAZING I HAVE NO WORDS TO EXPRESS HOW MUCH I LOVE FRANKIE....AHHH
First of all, Frankie is a babe AND super smart without being an unrealistic character.
Second, this is all going down at an elite pretentious boarding school.
Third, they start the book by saying Frankie will probably become head of the CIA or a criminal mastermind.
I just...AHHHH.
One thing I hated? She totally should have ended up with Alpha.
First of all, Frankie is a babe AND super smart without being an unrealistic character.
Second, this is all going down at an elite pretentious boarding school.
Third, they start the book by saying Frankie will probably become head of the CIA or a criminal mastermind.
I just...AHHHH.
One thing I hated? She totally should have ended up with Alpha.
fictionalkate's review against another edition
5.0
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is a fun story bringing together ideas of gender equality and growing up. Trust me - the blurb on the back of the book does not do this novel justice! Frankie is an engaging and crafty heroine who is not to be underestimated.
Returning to her prestigious boarding school for her sophomore year of high school, things are different for Frankie. Boys who previously ignored her now take a double take and she managed to start a relationship with one of the hottest guys in school. But for all the differences there are many things which stay the same. Frankie is sick of being treated as "bunny rabbit" - a child who cute and adorable but not to be concerned with the complexities of life. When Frankie gains knowledge of a secret all-male society on campus (a secret society her boyfriend just happens to be a member of), she also gets the opportunity to show them all that she's not a meek little rabbit. She's just as smart (possibly even smarter) than any of the members in the secret society and when it comes to pranks - she's a genius!
One of the things I liked most about this book was Frankie is a realistic and modern kick-arse heroine who shows you don't need a bow and arrow or any bloodshed to hold your own against the world. She's more intelligent than anyone gives her credit for and whilst there might be some moral issues (as well as legal ramifications) with what she does, there is a level of brilliance to it all too. Frankie questions the roles of males and females in society in a way which is anything but boring. This is a book with a strong feminist hero without the negative connotations which often go along with the feminist label.
In addition to the commentary regarding gender and social structure - this book is a lot of fun. The pranks and their ramifications are hilarious. Some of the ideas are ingenious yet at the same time realistic. These are antics you can imagine actually happening. I couldn't wait to see what Frankie was going to come up with next and I was never disappointed. The pranks kept getting better and better.
After reading The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, I can understand why it was award nominated. This book is exciting and interesting with an empowered heroine who is both authentic and different from other fictional characters. It is a fun and compelling read and a must for anyone who enjoys well written, interesting fiction which is just a little bit different from most contemporary reads.
Thanks to Allen & Unwin for the review copy.
Returning to her prestigious boarding school for her sophomore year of high school, things are different for Frankie. Boys who previously ignored her now take a double take and she managed to start a relationship with one of the hottest guys in school. But for all the differences there are many things which stay the same. Frankie is sick of being treated as "bunny rabbit" - a child who cute and adorable but not to be concerned with the complexities of life. When Frankie gains knowledge of a secret all-male society on campus (a secret society her boyfriend just happens to be a member of), she also gets the opportunity to show them all that she's not a meek little rabbit. She's just as smart (possibly even smarter) than any of the members in the secret society and when it comes to pranks - she's a genius!
One of the things I liked most about this book was Frankie is a realistic and modern kick-arse heroine who shows you don't need a bow and arrow or any bloodshed to hold your own against the world. She's more intelligent than anyone gives her credit for and whilst there might be some moral issues (as well as legal ramifications) with what she does, there is a level of brilliance to it all too. Frankie questions the roles of males and females in society in a way which is anything but boring. This is a book with a strong feminist hero without the negative connotations which often go along with the feminist label.
In addition to the commentary regarding gender and social structure - this book is a lot of fun. The pranks and their ramifications are hilarious. Some of the ideas are ingenious yet at the same time realistic. These are antics you can imagine actually happening. I couldn't wait to see what Frankie was going to come up with next and I was never disappointed. The pranks kept getting better and better.
After reading The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, I can understand why it was award nominated. This book is exciting and interesting with an empowered heroine who is both authentic and different from other fictional characters. It is a fun and compelling read and a must for anyone who enjoys well written, interesting fiction which is just a little bit different from most contemporary reads.
Thanks to Allen & Unwin for the review copy.
_pickle_'s review against another edition
3.0
This is an effectively written book about not falling neatly into place. I needed a palate cleanser—to say nothing of something to get me back into reading again—and this occasionally charming story worked well in that role. It was also the first YA book I've read (in the past few years, at least) that felt like it had the substance and merits of a 'normal' book. Lockhart writes with wit and without condescension or that saccharinity/over emotional edge that I dislike about other YA books I've read.
The book makes thought provoking comments about privilege, accepting, or rejecting, the roles other people try and (often subconsciously) place you in, and yes, growing up. The book is short yet still finds time to develop a story and build likeable (that is to say, human (which is to say, flawed)) characters.
A nice book, all in all. Not nice in a tea cosy, damning with feint praise, but actually nice.
The book makes thought provoking comments about privilege, accepting, or rejecting, the roles other people try and (often subconsciously) place you in, and yes, growing up. The book is short yet still finds time to develop a story and build likeable (that is to say, human (which is to say, flawed)) characters.
A nice book, all in all. Not nice in a tea cosy, damning with feint praise, but actually nice.
sophie_hboff's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. This book was fantastic. With a strong heroine, humour, and amazing and original pranks, this book is great. E. Lockhart is a fantastic author!
jacinta_m_carter's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
whittneyshea's review against another edition
4.0
A wonderfully maniacal and moving tale of a girl who refuses to be anywhere but on top of the game.
owoityra's review against another edition
3.0
It was a really interesting, quirky book...lots of detail and thought, I guess. The story was nice, and it was interesting seeing how Frankie developed throughout the book. However, the ending seemed rushed (maybe because I got through it so quickly) and I felt it could've been a bit better. Towards the end it seemed like she'd become an almost...unlikeable character. SO the end was a bit of a disappointment, but as a whole it was definitely unlike things I've read before!
book_nut's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the book. I liked Frankie; I thought she was an honest contradiction: a smart girl who is also a needy girl. I liked the feminist overtones. But I really liked the narrator and voice; I felt like I was reading a defense of Frankie Landau-Banks, and, for the most part, it hit it smack on the head. I also LOVED the neglected positives; every time one popped up I'd chuckle. Felt a lot like a hipper, contemporary Wodehouse novel.
12/2014 - Still good. Not as enthralled as I was before, but it's still good.
12/2014 - Still good. Not as enthralled as I was before, but it's still good.
ajsterkel's review against another edition
3.0
Frankie’s new boyfriend is a member of the all-male secret society that is responsible for pulling the biggest pranks in school history. Frankie desperately wants to know what happens during the society’s secret meetings, but every time she asks, her boyfriend lies to her. What he doesn’t know is that Frankie is controlling the society. She’s the one coming up with the pranks and pulling all the strings. She can make her boyfriend and his friends do whatever she wants just by sending an email.
Frankie is a great character. I can’t say that I understand her or relate to her, but she’s fascinating to read about. She’s power-hungry and ambitious. She doesn’t want to be a nice, sweet, sensitive girl who does whatever her boyfriend asks. Frankie is obsessive and refuses to be underestimated. She has goals, and she’ll do whatever it takes to achieve them, even if it means manipulating people. She’s far from your typical YA heroine. So, if you read a lot of YA, Frankie is a refreshing change.
I like the detached way that this story is written. The third-person narrator examines Frankie’s behavior and shows how much calculation she puts into every decision. The book is almost written like a cautionary tale or an old-school children’s book, but it’s not preachy or heavy-handed. The writing style creates a mysterious tone. It made me keep reading because I needed to know what Frankie did to get herself into so much trouble.
I do have one big criticism of the book. It’s marketed as YA, but I think a lot of YA readers would find it juvenile. Some aspects of the story seem more middle grade than YA. I had a hard time staying interested in the plot because I couldn’t force myself to care about high school pranks. I didn’t even care about pranks when I was in high school. The story wasn’t interesting to me, but kids and younger teens would probably love the suspense, mystery, and humor.
Frankie is a wonderful character, but I wish the book had more going on in the plot. It mostly focuses on pranks, so I’d recommend this book to younger readers, but older readers may want to skip it.
Frankie is a great character. I can’t say that I understand her or relate to her, but she’s fascinating to read about. She’s power-hungry and ambitious. She doesn’t want to be a nice, sweet, sensitive girl who does whatever her boyfriend asks. Frankie is obsessive and refuses to be underestimated. She has goals, and she’ll do whatever it takes to achieve them, even if it means manipulating people. She’s far from your typical YA heroine. So, if you read a lot of YA, Frankie is a refreshing change.
I like the detached way that this story is written. The third-person narrator examines Frankie’s behavior and shows how much calculation she puts into every decision. The book is almost written like a cautionary tale or an old-school children’s book, but it’s not preachy or heavy-handed. The writing style creates a mysterious tone. It made me keep reading because I needed to know what Frankie did to get herself into so much trouble.
I do have one big criticism of the book. It’s marketed as YA, but I think a lot of YA readers would find it juvenile. Some aspects of the story seem more middle grade than YA. I had a hard time staying interested in the plot because I couldn’t force myself to care about high school pranks. I didn’t even care about pranks when I was in high school. The story wasn’t interesting to me, but kids and younger teens would probably love the suspense, mystery, and humor.
Frankie is a wonderful character, but I wish the book had more going on in the plot. It mostly focuses on pranks, so I’d recommend this book to younger readers, but older readers may want to skip it.