Mundie Moms

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Book Review: Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer

Publisher: Balzar and Bray
Release Date: June 26, 2012
Source: Purchased
Purchase from: amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound
Sneak Peek: Chapter One Excerpt
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - I loved it!

Synopsis: Gigi, Bea, and Neerja are best friends and total overachievers. Even if they aren't the most popular girls in school, they aren't too worried. They know their real lives will begin once they get to their Ivy League colleges. There will be ivy, and there will be cute guys in the libraries (hopefully with English accents)! But when an unexpected event shows them they're missing out on the full high school experience, it's time to come out of the honors lounge and into the spotlight. They make a pact: They will each take on their greatest challenge—and they will totally rock it.
Gigi decides to run for student rep, but she'll have to get over her fear of public speaking—and go head-to-head with gorgeous California Will. Bea used to be one of the best skiers around, until she was derailed. It could be time for her to take the plunge again. And Neerja loves the drama club but has always stayed behind the scenes—until now.

I’m always on the lookout for books I want my girls to read. They’re in 4th and 2nd grade now, but I know how fast years will pass and before long, they’ll be glancing through my shelves for reading material. And Smart Girls Get What They Want is a book I definitely want them to read.

These characters hit such a personal note with me and I know that my high school self would’ve fit in easily with Bea, Neerja and Gigi. I, too, could hardly wait to get through high school and go to a good college. But much like the three of them, I had a wonderful group of friends who kept me a little more balanced with after-school activities that didn’t include reading ahead in AP English.

Oh, how I loved their story! The girls, especially the protagonist Gigi, were so very real. She’s surrounded by smart women: her absentee, scientific mother who is off saving the world, one atom at a time and her French speaking grandmother who lends a sweetness to key moments in the story. And then there are her equally intelligent friends, Neerja and Bea. The girls are taught a lesson by Neerja’s older sister who excels academically, but not socially, in high school. After finding her yearbook, the girls realize that they want a different high school experience. So they get out of their Honors-Roll-Advance-Placement mindset and challenge themselves to be more plugged into the social aspects of high school by running for student government, trying out for a play and joining the ski club.

There are moments in the story that made me smile so much. Sarah focuses on the permanent bonds of friendship and it's such a good reminder to us all to treasure those relationships. I loved that, no matter what, the girls stuck together even as they embraced their new adventures.

As for romance, well, over-achievers usually don’t have room for that or do they? Again, Sarah gives us these perfectly plausible scenarios – a long-time crush, the boy next door, a new boy who suddenly everyone wants and the dumb jock who manages to get into AP classes. I felt like I knew them all. I won’t spoil it for you, but I will say that the girls, in the end, use their brains and choose well, but first, they all learn some very important lessons. The sweetest moments occur between Gigi and Mike, the jock. His insights into the teenage boy mind are spot-on perfect. I just adored him and how he would call Gigi out on her geekish-awkward tendencies. Every geek girl needs a Mike in her life.

If you were that girl, that studious, quiet girl who people (outside your classes) may not have noticed, you will love this story. If you weren’t that girl, you will love the glimpse inside the life of a high school over-achiever. I’m not sure which one of these girls my daughters will be, but I know this, I’m saving Smart Girls Know What They Want for them to read because it’s a story that may just open their eyes to not being so single focused in high school and to not label people so quickly.

6 comments:

  1. This looks like such a cute book with a strong, positive message. Definitely one to add to my TBR pile!

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    1. Could be a good one for your photo series too, since you are looking for more contemporaries!

      We really enjoyed this book as well, for many of the same reasons as you. True, things got wrapped up a little too tidy at the end, but that was forgivable considering how great the rest was. A very sweet, true to life story focused on friendship -- something we don't necessarily see a lot of in the “hot market” right now.

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    2. The Real Fauxtographer - I think you'll enjoy it and yes, the message is very positive.

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    3. Stephanie Ingrid Sarah Kristan - I don't mind a tidy wrap-up. Life is messy and even in life, things do work out more often than not. Or at least there's a 50-50 chance of things working out. My observations and musings, of course. LOL.

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  2. I love that this book is so good you are saving it for your daughters when they are older. Awesome and that says a lot. Sounds like a great book!
    ~Jess

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    1. DMS - I do have a stash of books that I really want them to read. My oldest (the 9.5 year old) is a fan of contemps (she adores Lauren Myracle's Love Ya Bunches series amongst others). I can see her loving this book. When you're in the mood for the subject matter, I think you'll enjoy it, too. It's well executed for sure.

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