Helpful Score: 1
I wish this book had existed when I was in middle school, because it would've easily been one of my favorites. GEEK MAGNET is cute and heartfelt enough to excuse its predictable plot and occasionally stilted writing.
KJ is an easily relatable protagonist, with her unwanted geek posse, familial worries, and subsequent growth into a bigger and better person. The thing is, she's not a bad person to start with, and neither is Tama a straight-up antagonist: Tama's lessons in "getting mean" have some merit to them, and the balance between right and wrong is well done in this story.
GEEK MAGNET also takes a step further beyond a simple story of high school friendship, love, and popularity with its frank portrayal of KJ's father's problems. Alcoholism is not a topic I've come across often in middle-grade literature, and again, I appreciated how Kieran Scott balanced this book's contents so that it wasn't pure froth or agonizingly serious.
More experienced readers will probably be forced to fault this novel for its blatant predictability and somewhat stilted dialogue. However, this is a good one for tween girls: it combines a strong protagonist, down-to-earth high school problems, and a cute romance for an appealing read.
KJ is an easily relatable protagonist, with her unwanted geek posse, familial worries, and subsequent growth into a bigger and better person. The thing is, she's not a bad person to start with, and neither is Tama a straight-up antagonist: Tama's lessons in "getting mean" have some merit to them, and the balance between right and wrong is well done in this story.
GEEK MAGNET also takes a step further beyond a simple story of high school friendship, love, and popularity with its frank portrayal of KJ's father's problems. Alcoholism is not a topic I've come across often in middle-grade literature, and again, I appreciated how Kieran Scott balanced this book's contents so that it wasn't pure froth or agonizingly serious.
More experienced readers will probably be forced to fault this novel for its blatant predictability and somewhat stilted dialogue. However, this is a good one for tween girls: it combines a strong protagonist, down-to-earth high school problems, and a cute romance for an appealing read.
Reviewed by Taylor Rector for TeensReadToo.com
A girl loved by geeks. How can you not love a character that is loved by people who secretly drive her insane?
KJ Miller is a nice girl. She's nice to everyone. She doesn't have a mean bone in her body.
Until she meets Tama Gold. And becomes friends with her. The popular girl. The girl who teaches her how to "stand up" for herself. Or, basically, more or less, teaches her how to be mean!
KJ finally gets the chance to go out with her wildly popular crush and realizes something. But what exactly?
Is Tama really her friend?
And is her crush really her crush?
GEEK MAGNET is definitely the 2008 summer must-read! I adored KJ right from the first page. There are serious issues in this book, but they are portrayed in the most fabulous way. Funny! A book everyone should read this summer!
A girl loved by geeks. How can you not love a character that is loved by people who secretly drive her insane?
KJ Miller is a nice girl. She's nice to everyone. She doesn't have a mean bone in her body.
Until she meets Tama Gold. And becomes friends with her. The popular girl. The girl who teaches her how to "stand up" for herself. Or, basically, more or less, teaches her how to be mean!
KJ finally gets the chance to go out with her wildly popular crush and realizes something. But what exactly?
Is Tama really her friend?
And is her crush really her crush?
GEEK MAGNET is definitely the 2008 summer must-read! I adored KJ right from the first page. There are serious issues in this book, but they are portrayed in the most fabulous way. Funny! A book everyone should read this summer!
