Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
Cara is moving to a new school. At her old one, she was in a clique of twoher and her best friend, Claudia. But when Claudia learns of Caras impending move, she presents Cara with a book shes compiledThe Ladder.
The Ladder, Claudia swears, contains everything Cara will need to crack the popular crowd at her new school. Neither girl had success at their current school, but Claudia is determined that at least one of them must join the popular crowd. What better way than for Cara to reinvent herself at her new school?
Cara really doesnt want to do it, but to humor Claudia, she says she will try. So on her first day at Chrysella Prep, she meets Archer. Hes funny and cute and Cara has an immediate bond with him. But shes afraid he doesnt rate high enough on the Ladder. Hes only a Cubby Crew, and wont help her succeed in cracking the Populazzi. But as her friendship strengthens with Archer, she forgets about the Ladder and just enjoys herself. That is until she throws herself at Archer one day and gets totally rebuffed. Its this rejection that renews her efforts to enter the Populazzi.
Cara eventually reaches the Populazzi radar when her next attempt at a guy, Nate Wetherill, starts him wailing a negative song he wrote about her. Imagine a song written about you rhyming the words succubus and pus. Thats exactly what Cara has to deal with, but the effect is almost instantaneous - shes noticed by the in crowd.
Cara cant believe The Ladder may actually have worked for her. After the disaster of Nate, a good-looking popular guy starts paying attention to Cara, and THE 'it' girl, Trista Camello, is seeking her out.
As with all Cinderella-type stories, you know there are going to be some twists and turns and bumps in the road for Cara. And of course the popular people are never all warm and fuzzy. Youll just have to pick up POPULAZZI for yourself to see what happens to Cara after she becomes one of THEM.
I totally devoured POPULAZZI and did not want to put it down. I loved all of the interactions between Archer and Cara. Hes one of those characters you can picture immediately and just want to hug. Claudia, too, was another great character. She gets to live vicariously through Cara, and is honestly happy for her as positive things begin to happen.
POPULAZZI is Ms. Allens first novel, and I hope it wont be her last. The story was well-written, entertaining, and sometimes brutally honest. But it depicts what really happens in high school the highs and the lows.
Cara is moving to a new school. At her old one, she was in a clique of twoher and her best friend, Claudia. But when Claudia learns of Caras impending move, she presents Cara with a book shes compiledThe Ladder.
The Ladder, Claudia swears, contains everything Cara will need to crack the popular crowd at her new school. Neither girl had success at their current school, but Claudia is determined that at least one of them must join the popular crowd. What better way than for Cara to reinvent herself at her new school?
Cara really doesnt want to do it, but to humor Claudia, she says she will try. So on her first day at Chrysella Prep, she meets Archer. Hes funny and cute and Cara has an immediate bond with him. But shes afraid he doesnt rate high enough on the Ladder. Hes only a Cubby Crew, and wont help her succeed in cracking the Populazzi. But as her friendship strengthens with Archer, she forgets about the Ladder and just enjoys herself. That is until she throws herself at Archer one day and gets totally rebuffed. Its this rejection that renews her efforts to enter the Populazzi.
Cara eventually reaches the Populazzi radar when her next attempt at a guy, Nate Wetherill, starts him wailing a negative song he wrote about her. Imagine a song written about you rhyming the words succubus and pus. Thats exactly what Cara has to deal with, but the effect is almost instantaneous - shes noticed by the in crowd.
Cara cant believe The Ladder may actually have worked for her. After the disaster of Nate, a good-looking popular guy starts paying attention to Cara, and THE 'it' girl, Trista Camello, is seeking her out.
As with all Cinderella-type stories, you know there are going to be some twists and turns and bumps in the road for Cara. And of course the popular people are never all warm and fuzzy. Youll just have to pick up POPULAZZI for yourself to see what happens to Cara after she becomes one of THEM.
I totally devoured POPULAZZI and did not want to put it down. I loved all of the interactions between Archer and Cara. Hes one of those characters you can picture immediately and just want to hug. Claudia, too, was another great character. She gets to live vicariously through Cara, and is honestly happy for her as positive things begin to happen.
POPULAZZI is Ms. Allens first novel, and I hope it wont be her last. The story was well-written, entertaining, and sometimes brutally honest. But it depicts what really happens in high school the highs and the lows.
