¿THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKS ?

To judge or not too judge, that is the question. Often times people say not to judge a book by its cover and give it a chance, yet this concept is pretty tough. As a guy, there are only so many female protagonist novels that one can take, right? Well at least before one begins to unleash pre conceived notions upon the new book. Therefore, even before the first chapter concluded, I was turned off, which was hard to continue reading this novel with all the negative motives driving me.

Nevertheless, I did read a novel entitled The Disreputable history of Frankie Landau-Banks by author E. Lockhart. Having been raised in a household of three sisters and myself being the only boy, I am fully aware of the behaviors of adolescent girls. So in many ways I could relate to the story’s foundations. Yet it never took flight and it was hard to continue reading the book. Giving it the ole college try, I pressed forward and began to understand the world created by Lockhart.

Picture this, a high school with the most privileged children in America, coming from the wealthiest and well known families. The best things that money could buy aren’t a problem. Popularity and networking opportunities are endless. Among there own, without a care on earth, or so this is what I thought initially. One could quickly think, how easy it would’ve been if they would’ve or could’ve experienced this high school atmosphere, not having to prove yourself amongst your peers. However this isn’t the case at Alabaster Preparatory Academy.

Frankie Landau-Banks, a self searching adolescent, goes to great lengths to prove that as a girl she can do what she wants in her male dominated school. Having just had a physical metamorphosis, Frankie is on top of the world. Doing as she pleas, by challenging her mother for freedom and challenging the males at her school to join there secret society (the Loyal Order of the Basset Hound). Once the males deny the right to join, she doesn’t take that as the final answer. After a run in with Matthew Livingston (the popular guy) they soon after begin dating. As a result of the relationship, Frankie becomes popular for the first time in her life, and loves it! In my opinion she will do whatever and put up with whatever to maintain her social standing at her school. Frankie begins to pull off a series of pranks at her school to show the boys she’s not so innocent and can play hard ball too. Frankie begins to slowly lose her first true love and popularity as a result. She then has to re think her initial plans.

Although hard to follow at times in my opinion, this story gives good insight on teen love. Not only for girls, but for guys too! Frankie is more similar to us than it first appears. She finds love, and acceptance from the “cool kids” and this is what she has always yearned for. However when she get this, similar to us, she does whatever she has too to maintain it. She puts up with a crappie boyfriend, just to keep the cool kids around her. She hides how she really feels about situations/comments yet rarely speaks up for herself. Frankie has a strong mind, stubborn almost and has a feminist perspective of life. Yet in these situations with Matthew she pushes those qualities away. This is similar to most adolescents, who in the face of adversity/the popular kids, lose their selves, true opinions and therefore drown in conformity. Furthermore, this book also addresses classism within classism. This concept of categorical hierarchy within a certain class, in this case high class, shows the struggles to prove and find ones self within their own class.

Overall I would recommend this book to young girls to read. This is a good book to introduce concepts of dating to the novice daters in your life. Or even to discover things for yourself about dating and the quest to “prove them wrong”. Now I know your probably thinking, what about the gentlemen? Yes, guys could learn good lessons from this, but I wouldn’t recommend it to them.