Edition: Hardcover, 304 pages
Author(s): Jody Gehrman
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: February 17,2011
Source: Bought from Barnes & Noble
Buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
The Summary
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When high school junior Natalie--or Dr. Aphrodite, as she calls herself when writing the relationship column for her school paper--is accused of knowing nothing about guys and giving girls bad relationship advice, she decides to investigate what guys really think and want.But the guys in her class won't give her straight or serious answers. The only solution? Disguising herself as a guy and spending a week at Underwood Academy, the private all-boy boarding school in town. There she learns a lot about guys and girls in ways she never expected--especially when she falls for her dreamy roommate, Emilio. How can she show him she likes him without blowing her cover
My Opinion
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Babe in Boyland is sugary sweet. Now that isn't an insult, not at all. I enjoyed the book immensely. Natalie is a great protagonist and the supporting cast is funny and sweet as well. It also has a message of acceptance within it which I think is important for teens to read. And with the way the book presents it, the reader doesn't feel preached to, which is so important!
This cross-dressing, undercover concept is adapted from William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (if you've never read the play, go do it because it is hilarious), but please don't compare it to Amanda Byne's movie She's the Man, because Gerhman puts a decidedly original twist on it. Natalie is a "love guru" for her school newspaper, but in order to get the real scoop on what boys think she goes under cover at Underwood Academy. Unfortunately, she is unprepared for the land of boys. Because of this the contrasts between girls and boys are seen very clearly, and that is what is so charming about the book.
Gerhman doesn't shy away from the realities of the bathroom at an all-boys school or what Natalie must do to get the "right" boy walk down. Through this switch Gerhman also allows readers to see how different people are when in the presence of their potential love interest. This is seen clearly through the interaction of Natalie's best friend Chloe and Chloe's crush, big-man-on-campus Josh. Natalie is able to learn about both sides of the male/female dynamic through this undercover mission.
Of course it wouldn't be a complete comedy of errors without the lead falling in love, and then having to go through an elaborate plan to stop from being discovered. Natalie, as Nat, is a great voice to narrate this ridiculous voyage from girl to boy to girl/boy? When you read it you'll see what I mean!
This cross-dressing, undercover concept is adapted from William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (if you've never read the play, go do it because it is hilarious), but please don't compare it to Amanda Byne's movie She's the Man, because Gerhman puts a decidedly original twist on it. Natalie is a "love guru" for her school newspaper, but in order to get the real scoop on what boys think she goes under cover at Underwood Academy. Unfortunately, she is unprepared for the land of boys. Because of this the contrasts between girls and boys are seen very clearly, and that is what is so charming about the book.
Gerhman doesn't shy away from the realities of the bathroom at an all-boys school or what Natalie must do to get the "right" boy walk down. Through this switch Gerhman also allows readers to see how different people are when in the presence of their potential love interest. This is seen clearly through the interaction of Natalie's best friend Chloe and Chloe's crush, big-man-on-campus Josh. Natalie is able to learn about both sides of the male/female dynamic through this undercover mission.
Of course it wouldn't be a complete comedy of errors without the lead falling in love, and then having to go through an elaborate plan to stop from being discovered. Natalie, as Nat, is a great voice to narrate this ridiculous voyage from girl to boy to girl/boy? When you read it you'll see what I mean!
Final Rating
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Book Cover: 4/5Book Title: 4/5
Plot: 8.5/10
Characters: 9/10
Writing: 8.5/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 43/50: B
This is another one I have in my TBR pile, I should bump it up now. It sounds really cute and your review has made me want to read it even more.
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