Babe in Boyland by Jodi Gehrman Published by Dial (2.17.2011)
Genres: Chick Lit, Contemporary, Young Adult
Format: Hardcover, 292 pages
Source: Library
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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 thoughts
Natalie kind of annoyed me at first. She was shallow and complicated and cared too much about what other people thought about her. As the story went on, though, she earned my respect. She got in touch with her masculine side and found out that boys and girls aren’t quite as different as they think they are. I loved how she saw everyone in a different light when she took a step back and saw it all as an outsider.
I didn’t care much for Chloe, she seemed rather bitchy and duplicitous. I did really like Darcy (she has pink hair!), playful and understanding, and Emilio, sexy and mysterious with a sensitive side. Summer is snide and standoffish, so of course she induces hatred in the reader – she certainly did in me. There were a couple times I wanted to clock her in the mouth.
This book really highlights the quote, “Men are from Mars and women are from Venus.” It was a light and cute read and I enjoyed it.
I want to die. I seriously want to die. I just said “pinch a loaf” to the cutest guy I’ve ever seen.
I thought the main chasm was between men and women. Now that Chloe’s pissed off at me for trying to protect her, I’m starting to wonder. Maybe all human beings are destined to misunderstand each other, regardless of our chromosomes.
So true! I really don’t think that has anything to do with gender.
Overall rating: 3.5/5 starfish
I read this book last year (if I remember right). I like it, but I’m a big fan of books (and movies and TV shows) about people pretending to be someone else. I watched She’s The Man and it was kinda meh, with a few funny scenes thrown in. I’m not a big fan of Amanda Bynes either.
Girl Got Game sounds interesting! The only manga like this that I have read (only the first few volumes) is Hana Kimi. I like the drama more. But I usually have trouble with reading shujo manga, so maybe that’s the reason.
Do you know of any book where a guy pretends to be a girl? Because I’d love to read a book like that.
Sorry for the longish comment :)
I never watched She’s the Man because I don’t like Amanda Bynes either, haha. I think I’ve read Hana Kimi before, but don’t remember it.
W Juliet is another one similar, it’s shoujo too… but there’s a guy dressed as a girl and a girl dressed as a guy :)
Other than that, the only guy dressed as girl story I can think of is the movie Sorority Boys with Barry Watson >.<