How a Geek in Pearls Discovered the Secret to Confidence

As a middle school librarian, I would recommend this book to any student. It teaches a number of great lessons in a humorous and poignant way. I will use this title for one of my book groups this year.

A sweet, saccharine story from a junior high girl's perspective. Devoid of the issues that would give this depth and teeth (such as socio-economic or race issues, etc.), but perhaps that is precisely intended for young girls. Some of the tips may be defunct, but there are nuggets of good advice. The true point? Finding confidence in oneself, and that is pretty timeless and appropriate for a junior high girl.

What a brilliant writer (I would say for a 15 year old but it doesn't matter her age)! This book should inspire many young girls growing up today. Maya should be very proud of her growth and her ability to transform that story into a fun dialog that can help others! I look forward to the movie!

Predictable easy read.
SPOILER: The secret to being popular is... Be nice to everybody, and just be yourself.
Perfect if you've got a reluctant reader required to read a non-fiction book.
~~Mom of three teen girls

This review appears on Happy Indulgence at happyindulgencebooks.com

Popular is an incredible, hilarious, and achingly honest and emotional memoir about popularity. It asks and answers, what is the definition of being popular? Is it to have the most friends, be the most respected and known at school, is it to be the prettiest or the one that is best at sports?

Maya Van Wagenen’s journey is a real life social experiment and she’s written her day to day accounts of following a vintage guide to popularity - Betty Cornell’s Teenage Popularity Guide. Each chapter, she follows a different part of the Guide, and slowly works her way up to the major changes she’ll have to make. It’s sprinkled with charming photos of her and her family, and Maya’s honesty, wit and bravery shines through her words and her photos.

At the start, Maya is an insecure teenager at the bottom of her schools’ social ladder. She feels fat and ugly and gets teased and bullied by countless people at school. Seeing her transformation into a confident, self-assured girl who makes a mark on her peers was extraordinary. From changing her hair everyday, to wearing vintage 1950s gear to school, to sitting at different tables dominated by the different subgroups at school, nothing is out of bounds in her quest for popularity. No matter how embarrassing it is, Maya is to be admired for her bravery and devotion to Betty Cornell’s advice.

The glimpses of the rough neighbourhood on the Mexican border that Maya lived in were fascinating, as a world so different from mine. Mexican drug lords making a deal? No problem. Pregnant teens and gangster members at her school? Sure. The school under threat from an armed assailant? Just another walk in the park.

This book made me laugh (Hobbit monologue anyone), it made me cry, and it made me root for Maya and hope for the best. I absolutely LOVED this book for the inspirational message behind it. It helps us understand that things are never what we perceive them to be and if we take time to find out about the wonderful people around us, we will be rewarded with the same respect and consideration too.

Maya’s journey was an inspirational one, and her achievement of being a published author at 15 is amazing. Her memoir hits home that no matter how impossible the task is, if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything.

For anyone who ever felt unsure of themselves, this book is for you.

Being kind friendly and inclusive can be used to make you popular. Many politicians do it. But the motive behind displaying these traits is one of the measures of a person. Being inclusive is a responsibility and a core value in a democratic society. Many have given their lives to protect this value. To offer true kindness and friendship beyond politeness is a virtue that is hard to achieve. Appearing to offer kindness and friendship in a sociology experiment might make a good book. If you google a bit further into the background of this book you find that well connected friends and relatives were encouraging of this talented young writers aspirations for turning her anthropological observations into a book. While she was involved with the experiment she sent chapters off for review. From reading the press about the book It appears she has not kept in touch with the people she profiled. Turning your pen on your friends is nothing new for writers but one hopes this young writer gets a chance to mature in style and substance without her early work haunting her.

Part of the book had me wondering-why if she called herself Mexican-until she got to a border town with a high school of mostly Mexicans-did she then say she wasn't Mexican when asked. Wouldn't she have been more popular by continuing to say she was, AND learn Spanish.
Also, the vintage book advised to keep up to date with your dress style, but she decided to dress as a fifties type. There are so many cute conservative/conventional outfits for teens without looking dated or too much like an older lady.
I also wondered, as her parents had been documentary makers, if they had a hand in her "experiment."
Near the end, she went from school cafeteria table to table without an invite. People like to congregate with like-minded people. That's okay. What isn't is putting people down to make yourself look or feel better. And I suppose that's what a lot of the so-called popular students seemed to be doing. However, what she achieved by doing this I don't really know. She knew she was leaving and had very little to lose really.
Not all the book was questionable, but I found my interest waning and had constant questioning. Not least-why push yourself on people who aren't interested? Find someone who is-and maybe that's what she eventually figured out, but I'm not sure really.

I bought this book after seeing an online interview with the author (Kathy and Hoda?) - I was curious, so I downloaded the Kindle sample and was smitten. This girl can write! This is a fun book - I read it in a night - and enjoyed it so much. I can't wait to see what the future holds for author Maya Van Wagenen - I am pretty sure this is the first of many great books she will write. Looking forward to her next book. Oh, and in the meantime, I might just have to read Betty Cornell's original book that inspired Maya. :-)

So, I kept thinking that this book has to be fiction. For one thing, the quality of the writing just doesn't seem to match with a seventh-grader writer. Which is, of course, a compliment to Van Wagenen, but it's also rather more...quirky than I'd imagine from any teen. Honestly, it reminded me of the first few Princess Diaries books, where Cabot was determined to mark Mia as "not like other girls," and thus made his uninterested in all the popular things of the era.

While Van Wagenen's message that being outgoing and confident re major components of popularity, both of which are admirable traits, I worry some about the messages this book conveys. To start, Van Wagenen's first step towards being popular is...losing weight. That is not very comforting. While she does make a point to show she is eating healthy, the frequent mentions of Betty Cornell's weight management tips really irked me. What a message. You, too can be popular, and we're going to start with a diet!

I honestly keep jumping between three and four stars, in my head. While I may not have liked this book overly much, I am sure that plenty of teens not only loved, but needed this. Van Wagenen makes a good point in showing that everyone in her school thought they weren't popular, and that self-imposed identities can divide us. But she's just so...goody-goody. I could see that turning a lot of people off.

It's pretty likely you can find a copy of this at your local library to check out, rather than purchase a copy. If you're thinking of this as a gift, do be careful. Not only as regards the messages around food, but also the idea of giving someone a book on how to be liked by others. That right there could be a fight. Approach with caution.

I can't recall the last time I've willingly picked up a memoir. Something about this interesting premise, combined with a really gorgeous cover, had me picking this up at the library one day. I'd seen a few people with this book but had never heard any opinions about it so I was completely going in blind. And I loved it.

Maya writes so honestly about her experience and I love how even in the darkest moments, times she must have hated living through, she was able to put a positive spin on them while writing. Her humor and wit truly carry the book because even something as novel as old advice taken literally in the modern day wouldn't be able to interest me if there wasn't good writing to accompany it. I think that Maya is going to grow into a fine writer-she's only fifteen! While I can't wait to see what else she might come up with, I wouldn't mind her trying more social experiments so we can read about her antics.

Something that was also fun was the communication between Betty Cornell and Maya. I bet the former never thought her popularity guide would be put to use sixty years after it'd been published! I loved hearing about the two reaching out to one another. It was another glimpse into what has changed in the modern world as well as what has essentially remained the same about society . . and high school.

What I really loved about Popular was its overall message. Maya is an average girl and while she perhaps didn't achieve the kind of popularity that is perpetuated in the media as well as in the halls of a high school, she learns that most people personally have different ideas of what popularity is. Did she manage to achieve what the 1950s popularity guide was trying to train her for? Well, you'll need to pick up this teen's memoir to find out.

This was a quick, fun read that I really wouldn't mind picking up again! I highly recommend it.

2015 Rating System: 5

I really enjoyed this book. I spend every moment since opening the book reading it. It was that good. It was also a let down in some ways as well. I was hoping it would make me really cry. I did shed a few tears, but after a YouTuber I follow talked about it, I was expecting a bit more. But hey, I have to take it for what it's worth.

The book is written in a series of diary entries, but there is enough dialogue to make it feel like a book. I generally hate non-fiction and find it extremely boring. Maya's book is far from that. It's real life, but it's entertaining. There are a few surprises as well. There's a death, a school lock down, and drug wars going on on the other side of the boarder. You also get to look forward to finding out "how to be popular" through Maya's experience and through the tips of the 1950's book she uses as a guide.

Why some of the practices are a bit shallow, like doing hair and makeup and dressing a certain way, others apply to anyone. The most meaningful chapter to me was the one where Maya had to break out of her shell and sit with everyone in the cafeteria. I especially enjoyed the reaction she got from the popular kids.

I moved around a lot when I was in school, and I learned to adapt pretty easily, but I never considered myself popular. I used the term "floater", which basically meant I hung out with everyone. I was in the marching band (as a flag girl), theater, would have been in choir but it conflicted with band as theater, youth group, FCCLA, FCA, and I was an honors student who loved to hang out with friends in the library (and play chess). One time I got kicked off of the guidance office for having too many people come in to hang out with me. For the most part, I was comfortable around everyone except the most popular people. It wasn't until after high school while I was in the Navy that I realize "cool" people actually liked me.

In Maya's case, she's not a floater, she is an outcast. She's in choir, but feels kind of like I did around the most popular people. Throughout the book she learns to really step out of her shell and meet new people in a way that I always wished I did but never had the guts to. Not only that, but she does it wearing girdles on her "quadruple" bum and Vaseline on her eyes. It's hard enough to try to get others to accept you when you are in clothes you like. Doing what she did was super ballsy. I honestly don't think I could have dressed like that. I was an education major for a while and was dressed more professionally than the teachers I was observing, so I know a little about how she must have felt, but as a student it would have been even more embarrassing.

Part of this book made me think of the MTV show called MADE, where teens have a dream to be something, like homecoming queen, and these professionals come in and train them to achieve their dream. Those kids had a difficult time with trainers backing them. Maya did it all with just a book.

Now I will say, Maya has an awesome family dynamic. They aren't without their struggles, but they really love each other and you can tell through the pictures inside of the book and through her writing. I really enjoyed the mom, who was getting up early every morning to do Maya's hair, or was taking her clothes shopping at the thrift store.

Maya and her dad's relationship when it came to her crush on Ethan was pretty comical. I also loved Maya's favorite teacher. We all need supporters like that. Oh, and the fortune cookie thing, now that was just spooky accurate. Throw away the 8 ball and order some Chinese takeout.

Her best friend Kenzie was pretty realistic. I don't think Maya sugarcoated any of her negative reactions. I liked the other students as well. They were flawed but came around in the end.

So what really surprised me? The writing! It was really hard to believe a 15 year old wrote it. There were a few words I had to think about for a second, and I'm a summa cum laude graduate. Either Maya is extremely intelligent (her maturity level supports this), or she had a really good editor who wanted the writing to appeal to an older audience. Either way, Maya did an excellent job. The entries way perfect in length and quality of content. Everything was nice and concise.

As far as usefulness goes, this book is a wonderful addition to anyone's collection. It a read-once-and-shelve book for me, but I want to hold onto it and let my future kids read it. Maya is an inspiration, not only due to her experiment with popularity but also because she wrote a book at 15. It's a best seller! I wish I were that talented. I'm sure she has no issue with popularity now!

Anyway, if you want to try out something a bit different, I highly recommend that you read this book.

Spoiler. I cried when her teacher died, when she was talking about her deceased sister, and when she realized her friend might only think she's beautiful because of his autism (plus a few random moments).

In a social experiment with a difference, teenager Maya van Wagenen decides to take the advice from a self-help book for teens to become popular written 60 years ago, apply it to the modern world, and write about her experiences. For the entirety of the eight grade Maya documents her feelings and the reactions of people whilst asking the question – is it possible to go from social outcast and the bottom of the popularity ladder to being the top of the social scale by following advice from a bygone era?

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this book nearly as much as I did. Maya writes so honestly about her life, her family and the reactions of people in her small town as she embarks on her crazy adventure. I liked how Maya decided to tackle this project – breaking the popularity guide by former teen model Betty Cornell down into manageable parts – starting with the most achievable and slowly building up to the more challenging sections. She wrestles with girdles, replaces eye make-up with vaseline and puts herself firmly out of her comfort zone on her journey to do whatever Betty says.

The journey is gradual and believable. Maya doesn’t just wake up one day, become 1950′s version of a queen bee. Rather, she painstakingly follows Betty’s advice no matter how humiliating or hard. She’s dignified in her approach to her project no matter what obstacles are in her path.

Maya writes with humour and intelligence well beyond her years. Her story is well-written and relatable for readers of all ages. I loved reading about her journey following Betty’s advice but what sets this book apart is how honest and candid Maya is about her family. Her closeness to her parents and siblings is a beautiful thing. The family photos and anecdotes were just as important to the story as Maya’s journey to popularity.

It is clear to see why Time Magazine named Maya as one of the most influential teens of 2013. Her decision to transform herself into a woman best suited to the 1950′s may seem ridiculous but Maya achieved what she set out to do. She had a goal to do something out of her comfort zone no matter what others thought of her and, with the support of her family, – she managed to see it though to the end. She’s brave and took the risk of following Betty’s advice and changed her outlook on life in the process.

Popular may not be the kind of book I read a lot of but I’m glad I decided to give Maya’s book a go. It’s funny and inspiring, entertaining and intelligent. There are things from Maya’s story I think everyone can learn from and I definitely look forward to seeing what she writes in the future.

Betty Cornel wrote Teenage Popularity Guide in 1951, which focused on becoming popular, wearing the right clothes and makeup, and how to be good hostess. 60 – something years later, can any of what she wrote still be useful? Maya Van Wagenen, a teenager struggling to get through middle and high school (and also an aspiring writer) thought she might put this book to good use. As a teenager, all I wanted was to be popular, or at least accepted, – and honestly, nothing else really mattered. I’m not sure if this book would’ve been helpful – but Ms Maya puts it to the test:

“It was written by a former teen model who promised that, with a little hard work, poise, polish, and popularity were easily attainable for anyone.

Anyone?

I almost laughed.

That was when my mom had the idea – an amazing, terrifying, once-in-a-lifetime idea. ‘Maya, you should follow the advice this year, in 8th grade, and write about what happens.’”

510IUhDewyL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_So she accepts her Mom’s challenge. Each month during her 8th grade year, she would take on a new challenge. These challenges were taken from Cornel’s chapters, including her advice on hair, skin, makeup, clothes, earning money, positive attitude, being a good hostess, and modeling tricks. They’re all equally ambitious, taking Maya out of her comfort zone. She’s brave for taking on this project, for sharing her experience, and most importantly daring herself to do this.

In this year-long project, she learned lessons about herself, and in writing about her experiences she is honest and daring. Trying new things can be scary and intimidating, but also fun. In the process of trying all of Betty’s advice, she made many more new friends, and even at the end of the year when she found out she might be changing schools she continued to make an effort at making new friends – and spending time with the others. She tries new styles, colors, makeup, and every day makes an effort. Making an effort – not only with her appearance, but with friends and people.

I’m not in high school anymore – and thank God for that! But there’s advice that Betty and Maya give that I think I can benefit from. I enjoyed reading about her experiences, and took the advice to heart about making an effort. Even if you’re as beyond the teenage years as I am, this is still a good read. If only I could be as brave as Maya!

Maya Van Wagenen, who wrote this book when she was about 15, presents a thoughtful, mostly light read, with heart. Without telling her schoolmates what she is doing, she begins following tips from Betty Cornell's Teenage Popularity Guide --which was published in the 1950s. (Note: that book has been republished in a special edition,thanks to this book.) As one might imagine, the popularity tips are a mix of outdated (skirts and hosiery for school) and evergreen (stand up straight; Include everyone.) Maya sounds like a down-to-earth gal at a pretty tough school. She has a great sense of humor and a good head on her shoulders. I love that her mother helped her shop at thrift stores for many of her outfits, both for the economy, and where else can you find below-the-knee skirts and "Pilgrim" shoes?

I would recommend this to teens 14-16 or a bit older. The language is somewhat crude or slang-y at times (not anything out of the ordinary for mid-teens) and there are several instances of discussions of body parts-- mostly bosoms (or lackthereof.) Maya has a great attitude, and although she doesn't really find popularity by following Betty Cornell's advice, she does have the last laugh by publishing a great book, and she gets to correspond with Betty Cornell, to boot. You go, girl!
About me: I'm a middle school/high school librarian
How I got this book: ordered for the library

Maci's Review: Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek by Maya Van Wagenen is the story of when Maya decided to take on the task of seeing if advice from the 1950's is still relevant today in being popular. Maya loves writing but has never really been popular and so when her mom suggested doing a writing project with a popularity book from the 1950's as a writing experiment Maya decides to give it a go. Along the way of learning about what it means to be popular Maya discovers herself and what makes her happy. This is a really good book about self-discovery, and what it really means to be popular (it is also really funny). The best part of this story is that it is true! As someone who is really shy I really liked this book and it taught me a lot about being more open to other people. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a funny coming of age story.

Zoe's Review: This book is truly great. It is amazing what it's about and who has written it. I could go on about how amazing it is that the person who wrote this and got it published is in high school when she got her book published. But if I do that I am failing her by overlooking the fact of what she did was amazing. She spent her eighth grade year learning first hand what popularity is and how it really affects the social ladder. She did not sacrifice her year or regret it. NO, she embraced it and with her social experiment was able to prove a cultural myth about popularity, but I'll let you read it to find that part out. Throughout the book, the narrator and author, Maya Van Wagenen creates a relatable narrative of her eighth grade year. It is a fast and easy read that is a really good coming of age story along with just helping someone see that coming out of their bubble might not be the end of the world. I am definitely going to take her advice and there where times in the book when I felt proud of myself because I recognized that I had acted like her; I hope to do more of that. I see lots of room for improvement for me and everyone who reads this. The first step is to read it and I would definitely recommend this to everyone.

Popular is the real life, geek to chic tale of one Maya van Wagenen. Right before the start of her last year of middle school, Maya finds a popularity guide from 1951 tucked away in a closet. Knowing she has trouble making friends and is an aspiring writer, her mother encourages her to give the advice a try and write about her experiences. Of course, mother knows best, and Maya now has her first published book and she found out what it means to popular. Although it did take on a different definition than she expected it would at the start.

I absolutely adored Popular. I knew it was going to be fun, but I didn't expect it to make me cry! Seriously. Maya's story is so touching, and I felt like I was right there with her at the end. I just could not contain my emotions at her discoveries about herself and those around her. Each month of the school year, Maya would employ the advice given by Betty Cornell in her guide on how to become popular. She starts with the easy stuff first, changing her hair and eating habits. Soon she's trying out makeup, wearing pantyhose and a girdle, then finally she expands her social circle. Yes, some of Betty's tips were completely outdated, but Maya follows it all with grace and humor, despite some negative reactions from her classmates. But she was no longer invisible; people knew who she was, and slowly, but surely Maya noticed others making changes in their own relationships.

I don't want to give too much away. Popular is one book that you really need to experience for yourself. Maya is a wonderful narrator, and I loved how upfront and honest she was about her experiment and her life. No matter how embarrassing or personal, Maya lets us in on every step of her journey from quiet geek to the life of the party (or the 8th grad prom!). There are moments where her journey hits some extremely awkward and even sad moments that feel straight out of fiction, but this is her real life! I'm so happy that I decided to pick up Popular, and definitely think you should too if you're into quirky Non-Fiction, or even Contemporary YA.

What does it mean to be popular in this day and age? That’s what teenaged Maya Van Wagenen wants to know, and she looks for the answer in a most unlikely place: a 1950s-era thrift store find called Betty Cornell’s Teen-Age Popularity Guide.

Embarking on a year-long experiment to follow Cornell’s advice about beauty, fashion, and social skills, Maya boldly navigates the middle school halls with the aid of some pretty old-fashioned implements like rag curlers and girdles. Not surprisingly, some areas of the guide (health and hygiene) translate smoother into modern society than others (clothing and dating), and the reactions she gets from her peers aren’t always the most desirable. Still, Maya perseveres, and her documentation of her trials and tribulations is at once articulate, funny, and endearing.

Through all of her experiences, Maya is pleasantly surprised to find that some things haven’t changed very much at all since the 1950s. At the end of the day, kindness goes a long way, and Maya is most successful in her quest for popularity when she is trying to break out of her shy shell and meet as many people at her school as she can.

Popular is a thoughtful and winning memoir from a real-life teenager who is definitely going places in the literary world (though probably without the girdle), and it wouldn’t be surprising if it became required reading for middle and high schoolers across the board.

This review originally appeared on abookandahug.com

There are certain books that get engraved into people's minds. These kind of books are impossible to forget. This book made me feel this way. This book is a non-fiction book. It is an autobiography of a girl going through middle school, and she is at the bottom of the social ladder at her school. She decides to change her social status and become popular, when she finds a popularity guide from the 1950s. This book was written by a former model, Betty Cornell. Maya decides to follow the tips from this guide, no matter how ridiculous and absurd they might seem.

I think that the best part of this book was the reactions she got from people and how the reactions varied. It made me wonder if anyone from my middle school would be willing to do this as a social experiment. It was fascinating to see her grow from a shy and introverted middle schooler, to a bold and open individual. It is interesting how some people can connect to Popular on a personal level, while others might dismiss it as an ordinary contemporary book.

Reading from Maya's point of view was refreshing because she was close to my age when she wrote this book. Even though there are many books written from the point of view of middle schoolers, they are deeply exaggerated since they were written by someone who was much older. It felt better knowing that she was a real person. It was heartwarming to watch her grow in confidence. Even though I have never met her before, I felt that I learned a lot about her as a person by reading her book. Popular also gave me hope and inspiration as an aspiring writer.

Even though I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I can't guarantee that everyone will. I believe that this book was geared towards girls, but that's just my personal opinion.

What touched me the most was the fact that Maya went through this journey and documented her experience so that other girl (or boys) wouldn't have painful and awkward situations in middle school.

Popular is about a girl named Maya Van Wagenen who discovers a Popularity Guide, later using it as an experiment to popularity. I feel that any anybody can relate to this book because everyone shares ups and downs. Some aspects that people can relate to in the book are, her interest in choir, language arts, and trying new and unique things. This book made me question the true definition of popularity and what it truly means. I also feel that almost eveyone has their own view on popularity.

In the book Maya was very self conscious about her physical appearances, but showed true bravery and courage by trying something new every single month. In the book she worked on her, hair, makeup, clothing, popular attitudes..etc. She worked on each one for a month and then wrote it down in her journal of the results and personal reflections. She was not afraid to wear pearls, pilgrim shoes, and vintage clothing to school even though she looked different than every one else. Maya is also known to be very shy around new people and even people she has known her whole life. Maya's best friend in this book is Kenzie. Kenzie is known to be very opinionated and likes to be alone. I feel like this book was straight forward and very entertaining.

Originally I had no plans to review this book for my blog, it was one of those I wanted to read "just because." However, a few pages into September, and I realized that I really should review it. There is a lot of talk about this book, and a lot of different reviews. Anything from praise to the young author whom in the middle of a town with violence, drugs, and gangs, decided to go against the norm to people saying that the book is " emotionally manipulative" or a "publicity stunt" to get famous. I lean more toward the first statement, but there are elements in this book that does scream the later. So here we go...........

Something that bothered me right off the bat, was the fact that Maya's dad seemed to body shame the entire family. You can tell that the way her dad talks about the family being fat, has affected Maya, stating she doesn't want to have to sign her name as: Maya "Fat" Van Wagenen. She then went on to say that her dad would be excited that she wants to go on a diet and lose weight. Which, some cringe at the fact that a middle schooler is dieting, but the so-called "diet" isn't as extreme as girls go on today. It's more common sense than anything. However, Betty's book does make statements saying that 'There's no hope for you,' if you cannot go through lunch (or dinner) without sweets, and encourages to 'Keep your chin up and weight down.' While Betty's book was written over fifty years ago, these are the comments along with Maya's experiences that people have a hard time with regarding her dieting.

I find it hard to believe this is all Maya's words and experiences, her words just seem far too sweet. I'm sure during editing there was stuff added and taken away, but for her to live in a town with violence, drug dealers, and gangs, you would expect more of a resistance but everything seemed to be as smooth as silk. There was very little "raw" emotion other than in March regarding Mr. Lawrence and in May regarding her sister. There was one point where she felt like she wanted to "die" because she forgot her best friend's birthday. Other than those instances everything was sweet, and it did become sicking after awhile.

Throughout the book Maya decided to add some of her own tips, accurately named "Maya's Popularity Tips." I honestly have to no idea if she was trying to be funny, or if it was the editor's idea, but the tips are really foolish. There were only two that could be taken seriously and those were 1. Regarding pot hiding in shoes and 2. Final tip. The first was one is actually a great tip depending on where you live, and could save you some problems.

Again, Betty's book was written over fifty years ago, some of the ideas and/or suggestions can sound down right absurd like: "Pretty hair can always overcome the handicap of a not so pretty face." However, one thing that I could get on board with, and tried after reading that month, was Betty's hair washing regime.

At the start of the book, it was said to be Maya's moms idea to follow the suggestions in this book. But later, she states several times that it was she who decided to do this experiment because she wanted to gain popularity in life. I found it hard to sallow that she wants to "Earn the trust, admiration, and approval of people who she's tried to avoid all her life." So I'm confused as to why she really decided to this in the first place. Was it really because her mom thought it would be fun? Or was it because she truly wanted to gain popularity in life?

If you are looking for a book with raw emotions a realistic point of view or a life lesson. This isn't the book for you. It was an okay read, but nothing that would inspire or make you cry. Maybe laugh though between the (little bit) of humor injected and just the plain absurdness of the entire book.

Maya is one of the most inspirational and brave young authors I've read in the past year.
From the very beginning she reminded me of myself back in middle school (though I didn't have even half of her bravery till the end of high school). Her writing is extremely thoughtful, honest and just downright amazing for a fifteen year old girl. I've been writing independently for seven years now and don't even believe I will ever reach her level. Her story is funny. Her family is lovable and touching and her experiences make you cringe from embarrassment but at the same time cheer for everything to work out for her.
I just wish this book was around when I was in middle school; it would've saved me a lot of grief and time. But I have the book now and I intend for any future children of mine to read it as well. If you're a parent with a child in middle school, or even high school, then I highly recommend for you and your child to read Maya's incredible story.

This author is an incredibly insightful 8th grader - that's right, an 8th grader telling it like it really is. She tackles the tough subjects: a favorite teacher dying of cancer, a quirky autistic sister, losing a sibling, and being popular in middle school. I felt her pain as she struggled with unpopularity and cheered her on as she diligently spent time studying and learning what it really means to be popular. I love how she really lived this project - she even was in contact with the author of the vintage popularity book. This book should be required reading for every girl growing up. Those kids in her middle school were so lucky - I would have jumped at the chance to be friends with Maya! We need more Mayas in the world! :)

Popular is such a great story about seeing what it takes to be popular in the final year of middle school. The idea is so cute, and I love reading any book written a journal structure. Maya's love for her family, and the overall quirkiness of her family kept me smiling while reading Popular. I just could not put this book down for wondering just what it takes to be popular in a middle school setting, and I was quite surprised by the results on one of Maya's last days in the lunchroom. I highly suggest Popular to anyone who loves a cute YA novel, and I think every middle schooler could benefit from the touching sentiments in Maya's journal entries while laughing about their own connections to her middle school experience.

This is a sweet, funny and heart-felt memoir written by an 8th grade girl about her attempt to become popular and the important things she learns along the way. It took a little longer than I like for the story to suck me in, but once it did I was absolutely hooked. I would have loved to read this when I was in middle school. I highly recommend it, especially for 6th - 9th grade readers as well as adults who enjoy YA literature.

A hilarious, heartbreaking book about "social outcast" Maya Van Wagenen who conducts an experiment by following the antiquated advice of a 60-year-old book on how to be popular. The book recently won a YALSA award for best young adult nonfiction - very well deserved. The author didn't become "popular" in the high school sense but the experiment gave her self-confidence and she lost her fear of the invisible social hierarchy that dominates American school life. The heartbreaking part was the violence, bullying, racism, incompetent teaching and law enforcement thuggery that she casually accepts as the "normal" background of public school life.

Popular, a memoir – Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek. Maya Van Wagenen.

Maya Van Wagenen has traced the angst of middle school-aged girls; she traced it as she lived it, and linked it to a book from the 1950s that her dad found in a thrift store: Betty Cornell’s Teenage Popularity Guide. Maya literally lived her life week-by-week, chapter-by-chapter, based on tips from a book her grandmother might have read!

What develops is Maya’s confidence and, luckily, she shares her journey. It’s a great read for someone who cares to remember that awkward stage of life, and for anyone who wants to learn how to survive it!

This is a great book. Her prose is so mature...witty, crisp, insightful. Her teacher was right...she will be a famous author! And I can't wait to see what her first novel is like. Maya has great courage...the chapter on popularity and what she did to achieve it was jaw-dropping to me. Brave girl! Also a really sweet and intelligent girl! The university that gets her will be lucky. Kudos to her family on doing such a good job. Write on, Maya!

I loved this book. how can Maya Van Wagenen be only 16? She is so smart, so kind, and such an engaging writer. Her story about being a shy, unpopular nerd who decides to spend 8th grade doing a thoughtful "social experiment" to become popular is interesting, sweet and funny. And although I am 58, I also found it inspirational. My only regret is that I don't have any girls age 11-17 to give this wonderful book to. No, I lied...I have another regret: that this book wasn't around when I was 11-17.

Read this one for book club, but felt too old for this book. I'm not really into being popular, as I am more of an independent introvert, but there was some sage advice about being kind to all kinds people (even the "popular" ones!). While i am impressedthis book was written by a teenagee, I feel like this book is better suited to teens and pre-teens, though anyone who is looking to make more friends will find lessons to learn in here.

This book is delightful and amazing in that its author was only 15 when she wrote it. Using a 1950s popularity guide as her compass, author Maya Van Wagenen navigates her 8th grade year and learns a lot about herself and others. I just bought the original book on Kindle--it is back in print thanks to Maya's memoir. I am curious to read it, being vintage 1950s myself.

A funny, witty story based on real events about a junior high school girl who accepts the challenge to follow beauty and popularity advice from a 1950's book. The main character is fun, smart, and easy to sympathize with as she faces the very real challenges of being a junior high school nobody. The book is mainly her journey about how she learns to reach out and to befriend the friendless and popular alike.

I read this fantastic book in one sitting, I could not put it down! Such timeless lessons throughout. This young author has maturity and insight beyond her years. The book has humor and the glimpses into her journey are relate-able to young people and adults alike. I truly think that every adolescent should read this book.

I loved this book. I am so impressed that a young girl would put herself through this experience and then write about it. It was impossible to put down. A must read for anyone, any age who was ever shy, lacked confidence, or wanted to understand what makes someone popular (about 99% of the population, I would guess). It is well written and timeless. I literally felt transported back to my jr. high days as I turned each page and read about her personal experiences. I will hang on to this book for my 7 year old to read when she is old enough to really deal with these situations, probably a lot sooner than I would like.

Very eloquently written story about real teenage social "status". Many times I was transported back in time to my own middle school years. In fact, much of the advice still translates to my life as an adult. This book is perfect for anyone, of any age who has ever felt uncomfortable in their own skin. It is a reminder that inner beauty is the most important quality.

My book club of older women chose this book because we all are raising teenagers. I wanted to like it. I got to about Chapter 3 and wanted to throw it against the wall. My problem: I admire teens who forge their own paths rather than try to fit in. So Maya's quest to go from unnoticed and mistreated to fitting in and popular, by using a 1950s book on popularity as her guide, struck me as lame to begin with. For sure, Maya has an engaging writer's voice and great skill at organizing her book. The prose were high quality, especially for a teen! So I know she's an author to watch. I will just warn adults who think about reading this book, you may end up bored and annoyed like me. Do you really want to go on a journey with a teen trying to break the code of being popular? Ugh. Give me the geeks and rebels any day!

Popular is simply an amazing book. The fact that it is a true story is remarkable and makes it much more memorable. Maya’s journey to popularity is so entertaining, and even if the reader isn't a "social outcast", this book would be great for anyone. I love how Maya includes photos of herself and her family, it really makes readers feel as if they were really there, standing right next Maya. From her peaks to her pitfalls, Maya is a lovable person you'll never forget. Proving her school's "social ladder" wrong, Maya shows the world that anybody can be popular. Funny, charming, and true in every way, Popular is a must-read.

One of the things I like most about this book is that it's written by a young woman (8th grade) who demonstrates how contemplative young people can be. She has many words of wisdom, which were well earned after her social experiment. Throughout the book, she makes you chuckle and shed a few tears with her well chosen words.

I'm beyond impressed at how eloquently this story is told by such a young author. I loved every page and can't wait to see her career unfold! I truly felt, at times, unsure if the entire story were a story rather than autobiography. I wanted it to be true but it unfolded in such a fabulous way, that I thought perhaps it was fiction. I'm still not sure. And that, to me, is fantastic writing! Cheers to you Maya Van Wagenen!

Although I'm grown and middle school is far behind me, I found this book very poignant and not just for middle schoolers. I loved accompanying Maya on her journey through eighth grade and wish I had had her perspective when I was her age. The lessons she learned though can be applied to any time of life. I found Maya's writing highly insightful and can't wait to read more from this amazing author. I highly recommend this book to everyone. My husband is a middle school administrator and he will be reading this as well.

An absolute inspiration! I have been standing straighter since the first hour I started reading it.
My daughters devoured the book! Once they started reading it they didn't stop until they finished it.
I recommend this book as a "must read" for all teenage girls and for all women (no matter our age, we all still want to be popular.)
I can't wait to see what this young author writes next!

This book is a down to earth, true story of what all of us go through in life; especially when we were in middle and high school. There are lots of laughs from the author's pure honesty because we've all been through that experience at some point. Great job Maya Van Wagenen!

I loved this book. The fact that it was true made it even better. This book was relatable to every teen girl, (who doesn't want to be popular). Showed, kindness and persistence lead to greater things. A Must Read

I gave both this and the original book by Betty Cornell to my granddaughter. She read through it in no time and pronounced it "good". I hope it will ease her into her teenage years with some grooming and manners sticking in her ming.

This book gets you laughing out loud, blinking back tears, and nodding in agreement to Maya Van Wagenen's amazing memoir: Popular. (I would recommend this book for typically older children since there are few inappropriate references.) i.e. swearing, talking about different body parts, etc.

Such a cute,fun and refreshing book! I felt like I was sitting at the lunch room tables with her! Definitely have felt everything Maya experienced and wrote about so wonderfully. Highly recommend this for an enjoying, easy read.

I think Maya was very courageous for doing this experiment I would never have had the guts to even try something like this in middle school. I think every young girl should read this book. Great message!

One of the most boring pieces of crap that I have ever tried to read. This is not about applying the popularity techniques of the 1950s. It is about the uninteresting reflections of a boring teenager.

I'm sorry but this books description is really similar and along the same plot lines to "Going Vintage" by Lindsay Leavitt

http://www.the store.com/Going-Vintage-Lindsey-Leavitt-ebook/dp/B00BHDBM06/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1398802157&sr=1-1&keywords=going+vintage