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Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek | Maya Van Wagenen
New York Times BestsellerA breakout teen author explores the true meaning of popularity and how to survive middle school in this hysterically funny, touchingly honest contemporary memoir.I was inspired by [Maya's] journey and made a point of saving a copy of Popular for my sister, who starts middle school this fall. Maybe if I had read it when I was her age, it could have saved me from a world of hurt, or at least put that world in perspective. Maude Apatow,New York Times Book ReviewCan curlers, girdles, Vaseline, and a strand of pearls help a shy girl become popular?Maya Van Wagenen is about to find out.Stuck near the bottom of the social ladder at pretty much the lowest level of people at school who arent paid to be here, Maya has never been popular. But before starting eighth grade, she decides to begin a unique social experiment: spend the school year following a 1950s popularity guide, written by former teen model Betty Cornell.The real-life results are hilarious, painful, and filled with unexpected surprises. Told with humor and grace, Mayas journey offers readers of all ages a thoroughly contemporary example of kindness and self-confidence, along with a better understanding of what it means to be popular.
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Sharpeipup
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The book within the tagged book!

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Eggs
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Pickpick

Memoir - Maya wants to be popular ! She finds a book from 1950s that she will try to emulate. She définitely gets attention by donning pearls, wearing skirts, using good posture and being friendly to others. Social experiment yields revelation…Maybe being “popular” is more about being your best self

#Pantone2023 @Clwojick
#20in4Readathon Day 3 @Andrew65

Andrew65 Sounds interesting. Well done 👏👏👏 11mo
Eggs @Andrew65 thanks 🙏🏻 11mo
53 likes2 comments
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tjwill
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Pickpick

This is a memoir written by a modern teenager, Maya, who tries to be popular in the craziest ways. She finds a book from the 1950s, written for teenage girls on how to become popular. She tries girdles, pearls, diets, and joining new activities. Maya writes with a sense of humor about herself, and she gains self-confidence through her experiment. I recommend for middle and high school girls especially.
#Nonfiction #YAWednesday

BookBabe Fun! Thanks for sharing. #Stacked! 6y
TheFunkyBookworm This is a fun one- I read it a few years ago but forgot about it! My girls would love this! 🎉💜 6y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick This makes me think about that 90s song Popular by Nada Surf! 6y
66 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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AngieAvers
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I really enjoyed this book. I tend to like memoirs so it isn't surprising. Toss in that fact that it refers to a vintage book written about social advice and I was sold. Maya is a good writer for one so young. I'd love to meet her or then woman whose book affected her so greatly, Betty Cornell. I hope some of our kids will read Maya's book.

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Mindyrecycles
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I would never in a million years have picked this up on my own, but it's my book club's selection and darn if it isn't rather charming. #bookclub

65 likes4 stack adds
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night_shift
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Mehso-so

Nothing earth-shattering here.. a quick, fluff read. I can see this though being a good book for middle school age kids trying to figure all this same stuff out. For the life of me, I can't figure why my job banned this book from their fairs. It's 100% wholesome!

#YA #successfulfluffread #fluff

Megabooks I don't remember it that well, but I've read it. 7y
LeahBergen That is some truly bizarre censorship, isn't it? 🤔 7y
night_shift @LeahBergen you're not kidding! I'm baffled! 7y
23 likes1 stack add4 comments
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night_shift
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Yeah, this is definitely fluff. I always have this feeling when reading YA.. did I really think like that? Was everybody really that over-dramatic? I'd like to think not, but I dunno. Perhaps I blocked the whole lot of it lol
As a result, I can't really read any YA unless it's got a fantasy element. Being over-dramatic because a demon has possessed your sister seems pretty reasonable, comparably.

emilyhaldi 😂 7y
28 likes1 comment
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night_shift

I don't have a picture of this book because we were going to sell it at work, but it got banned last second and we had to immediately ship it back due to "mature content". So now, of course, I need to find a copy to read at work ??

#banned #nopicture

LeahBergen And now I want to read it, too! 7y
Brenley Wait. What? How did it get banned? 7y
22 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Ancchy
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Highly recommend

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Mtlbibliophile

“Betty Cornell says, 'Try telling your parents how much you love them. Let them know you appreciate all they do for you.'"

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TreyaTheT-Rex
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A beautiful true story for any young person struggling socially (all of us). Maya's story will make you laugh and cry and will teach you amazing things

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TreyaTheT-Rex

I just started this book, but can't wait to see what magic is in store. I love the young author already and can only imagine what trials she will face at school! #booktober #setinaschool

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bellebookish
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"Remember the girl in pearls"

bellebookish Not my best picture but I like what it represents ❤️ 8y
2 likes1 comment
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Creadnorthey
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Cute and fun, sometimes close to heartbreaking but never tears you asunder, leaving you with a cool fresh satisfied feeling like gum before its lost any of its flavor.

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Creadnorthey

I‘m the protagonist in my own story, facing every challenge with grace and wit.

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Emily92Bibliophile
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 A wonderful memoir! I wish I had this book when I was in middle school

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Katiedabookworm
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This book was amazing, and I don't normally like non-fiction books.

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thepinupchick
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Pickpick

While maybe not intended for a 21 year old, this would be great for a preteen to young high school age kid. I know I would have loved it at 14, but it still spoked to me as a young adult. #YA #memoir

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Rich63
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Pickpick

This book had me laughing out loud during parts. It also had me in absolute tears. One of the most entertaining books I have read in a very long time.

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FoldedPagesDistillery
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Pickpick

Adored this memoir! Maya finds a 50s teen popularity guide and follows its out dated advice to see if it works. This is not only hilarious, but it's brave! Maya's ultimate discovery is a better definition of popularity, which is useful for all ages. I am impressed Maya wrote this at such a young age

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TiaReadsTooMuch
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This was a fun and entertaining read full of advice that was sometimes good and sometimes downright silly. Very good book for middle/high school girls.