Gr 7 Up—Super-studious sophomore Gigi Dubois dreams of getting into an Ivy League college and leaving the high school grind behind. But when she and her equally driven BFFs Bea and Neerja sneak a peek at a yearbook belonging to Neerja's academic overachieving sister and realize that nobody in her graduating class knew who she was, they realize, they're missing out. Gigi vows that it will be her "personal mission to ensure, unlike Parad, we got everything we deserved from high school." Bea joins the ski team, Neerja steps up in drama club and pursues the gorgeous (but vapid) boy she has been crushing on, and Gigi, who is terrified of public speaking, decides to run for student rep in order to battle an unfair accusation of cheating on a chemistry test. However, things don't go as planned. Gigi's opponent in the election is a handsome new boy, Will, who seems to be interested in her, but she has to sort out her feelings about hottie Mike, whom she blames for the cheating fiasco but also finds unexpectedly appealing. Gigi is a quirky, smart, endearing character with a wry sense of humor, and her strong friendship with Bea and Neerja is one of the high points of the book. The lively depictions of supporting characters and the Massachusetts setting are well done. A great read to recommend to Meg Cabot fans.—Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ
Brainiac Gigi Dubois and her best friends Bea and Neerja believe that serious studying will make their dreams come true come college. That’s what Neerja’s older sister, Parad, did—and she got into Princeton. But when they find Parad’s hidden high school yearbook—which has barely been signed—they realize that good grades don’t equal happiness. “Shouldn’t the kids at the top feel on top?” Gigi wonders. They vow to make names for themselves during their sophomore year. Gigi gets accused of cheating in chemistry class and runs for student office. She also tries out for the play and signs up for ski team—just to support her besties. The spot-on teenage characters—including cute boys like new student Will from California and “Man Clan” Mike—keep the book energized and romantic, buoying an often-wispy plot. In her YA debut, adult author Strohmeyer (Kindred Spirits) excels at exploring the bonds of friendship and the complications of teenagers’ lives. Smart readers will find a heroine in girly, intellectual Gigi—all the while winking at her nerdy jokes. Ages 13–up. Agent: Heather Schroder, ICM. (July)
Sarah Strohmeyer gets what readers want: a fresh, funny book full of likable characters, drama, and plenty of romance that kept me turning pages until late into the night.
What a refreshingly realistic story about accomplished, ambitious and unapologetically intelligent teen girls! Full of wry observations about high school politics and drama, Smart Girls Get What They Want is for any reader still figuring out who you want to be.
Sex and the City meets Pride and Prejudice in this funny, smart and heart-warming book. Brainy babes, unite! This book is for you.
High school sophomore Gigi and her two best friends, Neerja and Bea, are straight-A, honors students who cannot wait to be Ivy Leaguers. They realize, though, that nobody in their school knows who they are, just like Neerja's overachiever older sister who they idolize. The difference is the girls set out to try new things, even if it takes them out of their comfort zones. For Gigi, who is terrified of public speaking and not into sports, this means trying out for the school play, joining the ski team, and running for student government. Slowly, the trio meets new people, gets closer to some great and not-so-great guys, and learns that there is more to high school than just good grades. Gigi's voice is fun and the descriptions of her school assignments, homework, and extracurricular schedules are relatable to driven teens. The story has a stream-of-consciousness feel, which includes over one hundred pages of set up before the three friends decide to jump into more school activities, though it is not a chore to read. This realistic novel, with touches of humor, is a welcome addition to bookshelves heavy in dark, edgy, and paranormal tales. Fans of YA novels told in a similar style, like Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman (Putnam, 2010/VOYA August 2010), will enjoy this one as well. Reviewer: Deena Lipomi
What smart girls like Gigi, Neerja and Bea want is smart boys, although they're hard to find. After following in Neerja's sister Parad's Ivy League–bound footsteps for years, the friends stumble upon Parad's signature-less yearbook, making them think that maybe studying isn't everything. Gigi, who rocks Latin and chemistry, narrates this clever, Glee-like romp through sophomore year. The only relationship on her Facebook page is with Petunia, her basset hound. Her social nonexistence is epitomized by the girls she sits between in homeroom, who ignore her while they pass a phone back and forth across her. Her take on their account of a Halloween party prompts the question, "Where is a deus ex machina when you need one?" When Gigi is accused of cheating on the AP Chemistry midterm along with Mike, a Man Clan wannabe who calls her "Einstein," the girls launch into action. Gigi finds herself running for student rep against Will, the new guy from California she's fallen for who's unafraid to use the word "metaphor" in conversation. Neerja tries out for the lead in Romeo and Juliet and Bea convinces Gigi to join the ski team with her, all in the name of establishing their cred. The author of The Cinderella Pact (2006) shows a humorist's ear for the cadence of teen language in this smart foray into teen literature. (Fiction. 12-17)
