Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman

Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials Reviews

• 
  Jenn

  I think if maybe I had read this book when I was in high school, I would have liked it more. But now, I was not a fan of the played out drama and blatant disregard to bullying.
  
  Charlie Healey has always been a follower. At her old high school, she followed the mean girls around and basically did anything they said - even if that meant bullying other students. When that basically bites her in the ass, she makes a choice to go to a different school and start over. But because it's high school, the drama still follows.
  
  I had a lot of issues with this book. First off let's talk about the teachers and the principal. Both were told multiple times that students were being harassed - but since it was by the principals son, it was just let go. Then there was the hazing that was happening with lacrosse team that involved running someone off the road and putting them in the hospital - and nothing happened. The principal cared more about a winning team than the safety of his students. And yes, I get that this happens, but the portrayal of it here was just downright disgusting.
  
  Next, let's talk about the "swoonworthy" boys. Both of them were disgusting and non-redeemable. I don't care how cute they are or how you knew one of them from the past. Their actions here spoke volumes and it was just horrible.
  
  The only part I really liked was when Charley finally stood up for herself and began to realize she had a voice. But it just took way too long for someone who is supposed to be smart to come to this realization that I just didn't care by the time it did. Maybe if the author would have focused more on the consequences of actions, this book would have had a more powerful message.
• 
  diana

  Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials is a real catch. The title itself made me want to read this book from the moment I laid eyes on it. And I'm so glad I did! Reading this book is definitely a fun ride. I actually read it for seven hours tops because I couldn't put it down.
  
  The thing I liked most about this book is the characters. They all seem so bubbly and carefree even with all the drama going on around them. I find them all equally interesting. Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials is such a light read with just the right amount of humor, romance, typical highschool drama and more.
  Then there's the main character Charlotte, or as she prefers to be called, Charlie. Charlie is looking for a new start when she decided to transfer to Harmony Falls. After what happened at her last school, she's determined to start over and forget everything that happened in the past. And just as she was adjusting in her new school, she makes an unlikely friend, sees her childhood friend after not seeing him for three years, develops a crush on the hottest guy at school and then learns that one girl she's avoiding from her past is actually in the same school with her. Charlie is a likable character. Yes, sometimes I think she overthinks things and overreacts but for the most part, she's a girl with strong determination and doesn't easily back down. I find her relationship with her brother sweet and admirable. They're open with each other and even if they occasionally seem to dislike one another, you can still see the love.
  But honestly, the character I find most intriguing is Charlie's new-found bff, Sydney. She's a total kick-ass, tough, totally outgoing and with a bucketful of guts. Personally, I would love to be her best friend. She will always have your back and she's not one to back off of a fight even if it's with a guy bigger than her.
  Oh, and how can I forget, Will! I absolutely adore him. How could I not? He's hot, nice and charming. There were subtle hints throughout the book that seemed to me like he kinda likes Charlie too (or maybe I'm just delusional?) and when I was near the last part of the book, I was actually worried that they might not end up together. I wish I could have seen more of their past though since they're childhood bestfriends and such.
  
  Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials is a YA novel mostly about high school drama. You'll see that there's more to it than what one would expect and it holds so much more than meets the eye. It is mostly about accepting one's imperfections and having to deal with them. Also, it is not always about worrying about what other people might think or do, sometimes you just have to have the courage and do the right thing and stand up for others and your friends - real friends.
  
  I surely recommend this book to anyone who has got their eyes on it.
• 
  Nhi Vo

  As much as I like the story line, I have to say the the writing was...not as good. There was too much dialogues, and some characters really lacked personalities and depths.
  I liked the book, really, but why the 2-stars rating?
  Well, it's mainly because of how the story developed. As I was reading it, I felt like I don't know the characters at all. Well, technically, I don't know them because they're fictional, but I definitely don't feel any connection to these characters. I think it's mainly because of the many-dialogues style of writing, and I feel like some parts were rushed.
  Charlie, Sydney, and Nidhi are okay characters, I liked them for being so brave and standing up to the injustices at the school, especially Sydney when she go all "girl-scout" on Tyler. And seriously, the ONLY BOY CHARACTER I like out of the whole book is Micheal (and maybe Charlie's brother, Luke, and the boys in Charlie's newspaper group). The boys on the lacrosse team are downright d*cks (yes, even Will, I don't care how good he became in the end. Seriously, what kind of guy who likes a girl brought her supposedly "bestfriend" to homecoming dance and rubbed it in her face. I don't care if he is clueless. how stupid can a guy get!). Don't even get me started on Tyler! I thought he was going to be that mysterious-bad-boy-who-secretly-has-a-heart but he turns out to be such a pathetic wimp. I wished there had been more parts for Micheal though, like why can't the author set him up with Sydney or Nidhi, he's such a sweetheart. And I hate how the end didn't tell us about whatever happened to Tyler (all it talked about were punishments for Matt and Dylan).
  Well, that's all for my rant. I don't hate the book. I enjoyed it, really. Even though there were moments when I just want to put it down, but my never-ever-give-up-on-a-book rule won't let me do so. Besides, it's a great book about teens dealing with high school problems.
• 
  Faye

  Boys Girls and Other Hazardous Materials is funny, insightful and addicting! I devoured it in one sitting. Rosalind focuses on one of the main problems in high school....hazing and makes the awesome debut Boys Girls and Other Hazardous Materials.
  
  
  When i started reading BGAOHM i was instantly looking back at my high school years(this year being my last year in HS) especially my freshmen year.The Characters are real and honest. I can definitely relate to Charlie, she has a great personally and strong voice. Freshmen year for me was....terrifying. The year after that was...interesting. I too, like Charlie run into a best guy friend. He happen to be older and cute lol(now what are the odds of that).You see! Rosalind knows her teens and after you've gotten to know the characters in this book they will feel like their either your BFF's or worse(mean BOYS?!?) enemies.
  
  
  I enjoyed this book and thought that the characters were great, the story just had depth.Wiseman is awesome, i look forward to more of her books in the future.I think teens will definitely like this book.Once you read it you going to fall in love with it!
• 
  Lauren

  I really wanted to love this novel. I mean Rosalind's Queen Bees and Wannabes was the inspiration behind one of my favorite movies ever Mean Girls. Though, sadly I wasn't starstruck by this novel. Quite the opposite, actually, because I was easily bored by the lackluster and predictable plot that at times seemed like the cliché of all clichés meets an after school special.
  
  The characters were just a total blah. Charlie was the typical "I used to be a follower of the poplars, but now I want to be a leader" type of girl and her love interest was someone who seriously needed to grow a pair and stop acting like an idiot because of peer pressure. Though, if that wasn't enough things to add to my dismay, I hated how these two characters could have been so original and awesome but were instead ran over by unoriginality.
  
  As mentioned above, the plot was the same way. Something that while could have been awesomely amazing was just boring and didn't truly bring anything new to the table. Leaving me to think this novel is going to be run down by all the other incredible upcoming 2010 books like Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers.
  
  Though, I did like some aspects of this novel. Such as some of the secondary characters like Michael, Sydney and Nidha who were funny. Also, the message in this one is something that should always be reiterated simply because of how important it is to not fall into peer pressure and instead become someone who can almost always do the right thing.
  
  In all, while I do see talent in Rosalind ( Seriously, her webiste is awesome because of the fact that she offers advice that a lot of girls (and boys even) could relate too!) , I felt that this novel failed to show it as well as it could have.
  
  Though, as always my review is just one in a million, so if you feel like this is something you would enjoy check it out. I mean others have loved it, just not me unfourantely.
  
  Grade: D
• 
  Carla

  When I realised that Wiseman was writing a book for teens, I was immensely excited. I mean, this is the woman was the inspiration behind the movie Mean Girls, which resonated with teens everywhere. I expected this book to be a smart witty insight into the mind of a teenager and one which captures the heart of teenagers and portrays them unlike any other. I really really wanted to love this book, but I was left with a bitter aftertaste.
  
  I found the characters to be rather two dimensional, and there was never anything about them that really stood out to me as a reader. I even had to read the summary again to remind myself what the characters were called. Charlie in particular didn't have many redeeming aspects to her character, she was plain in all senses of the word. The plotline was unimpressive and rather lacklustre and full of cliches that should've worked, but just didn't capture my attention.
  
  One thing that did resonate with me was the message it projects to its readers. Peer Pressure is something that affects nearly every teenager, whether to stay out past curfew, to smoke behind the bike shed or even to loose your virginity. I'm glad this was incorporated into the novel. I think if the characters had been more life like and relateable and the plotline was woven into something beleivable and rivetting, I would've loved this book. But don't take my word for it, try it yourself.
• 
  Myranda

  I love this book...I can't put it down I just bought it yesterday and im already on the ninetenth chapter!
• 
  M.M.

  Book Review:
  Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman
  
  Often people will make choices that they regret later on in life and wished they did something to prevent the problem from increasing. Rosalind Wiseman novel, Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials, portrays the development and maturity of a teenage girl and the struggle the protagonist faces while making hard decisions
  
  At first when I read the title, it sounded very cliché. Who wouldn’t think it’s cliché? It was pretty cliche though. What I liked about the book is the “good plot”. What I mean by that is the romantic parts of the book. So here is the scoop on Charlie’s first day of school she is reconnected with her old best friend, Will. Now that he is back he has gotten much more handsomer as well as a varsity athlete. But later on she has this crush, Tyler, and it takes a turn from there. Throughout the book there are mixed feelings, broken hearts, and a tiny bit of betrayal.
  
  The book isn’t just romantic and all but there somethings the book lacks. This book lacked unpredictable events. There wasn't a big twist but mini ones. For example Charlie's friend, Sydney, found out her "crush" had a girlfriend and that he was on a 'break'. It wasn't dramatic unless it had the effect on the reader. Some parts I just wanted to scream in joy other parts. I wanted to cry so much. I felt as if the "antagonist" broke my heart. This book made me feel quite emotional but sadly there wasn’t a big twist which I wished there was.
  
  I guess in a way the book “influenced” me because I can relate to it. Charlie had a hard time confronting a teacher about something that bothered her and she couldn’t keep it bottled up inside. The same thing happened to me. At first I was confused about telling a teacher or not. I would always think negative and think a teacher would blow me off but later on I trusted the teachers. Whenever I had a problem I would go up to the teacher I felt most comfortable with and would tell them the things that bothered me and the teacher would help me solve the problem or give advice. In Charlie’s case the teachers weren’t trustable so she had to look closely at who she could trust.
  
  What I really liked about the protagonist, Charlie, is that she has developed throughout the book by standing up for herself and her friends. So when a pair of popular girls becomes her friend. She starts to feel uncomfortable with the things they do. These girls are downright evil and will do anything to get a boy’s attention even if it means to bully a poor innocent girl and then not take the blame for it. For example they went on a school trip they met a pair of guys and asked them to come to the hotel room. So when they guys came over Charlie’s friend, Nidhi, felt very uncomfortable because they girls were violating the school rules. The girls made fun of her for not relaxing. Lauren even said the most rudest thing ever. She told Nidhi to go make a bomb in the bathroom and to “relax”. I mean let’s be serious here, why in the world would she say that? Doesn’t she know she that “what goes around comes around”?. Everyone started to laugh except Charlie and when the bullying increased Charlie didn’t tell the teachers, because she didn’t want to be a snitch which caused her to get all the blame even though she didn’t say anything. Still Charlie should have told a teacher about the girls’ behavior and bullying. She starts to hate them but doesn’t show any sign on it until later on in the book.
  
  Overall I was somewhat disappointed in this book. It just that it had this really romantic plot but then it just ruined by this “bullying” conflict. I mean there is nothing wrong with writing about a book about bullying, but if you have a great plot why need to add something that has nothing to do with the protagonist? I would recommend this book to those people who like chiches, predictable essential moments, and minimal plot twists. Also those who like conflicts that don’t really revolve around the protagonist. So if you are ‘those people’ then go right ahead and have a “good read”.
• 
  Mel

  I’m not quite sure what I was expecting from this book really. I suppose with a title like Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials, I wasn’t going to be getting a deeply philosophical novel about the trials and tribulations of young teenagers these days, but I was at least expecting something wittier by the author whose previous work became the basis for the movie Mean Girls.
  
  Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials is about Charlie Healey who, after suffering a terrible mean girl past, manages to transfer to a new high school. She sees Harmony Falls as the beginning of a whole new life, but on her first day, she runs into Will, her ex-best friend who had moved away. Will now hangs out with the “cool crowd” but Charlie doesn't understand their power until an innocent delivery guy falls victim to a near-deadly hazing prank. She has to now decide whether to turn in her very best friend or live with the guilt of knowing what he did.
  
  Let me just start by saying that I’m sure there will be other readers out there who will love this novel; it’s just unfortunate that I wasn’t one of them. I didn’t feel at all connected to the story or to the characters. Charlie feels one-dimensional to the point that it seems, to me, that all she cares about are boys. I know nothing of her personal life and her “terrible mean girl” past, while cruel and hurtful, isn’t all that earth-shattering. It seems like all the girls in this story are only interested in boys.
  
  I think the summary could have been a lot better. The novel also shows Charlie making new friends and I think it would have been nice if they got a mention. To that point, the summary says that Will is Charlie’s best friend but I didn’t see that chemistry present in the story. Granted, he moved away and they were separated for a while but all I got was of Charlie flirting with Will. They certainly don’t seem like best friends, or even ex-best friends to me.
  
  The one credit I will give is that this novel is realistic fiction. I can see the hazing happening in schools, the cruel mean “cool” crowd; the teachers who choose to turn a blind eye. In that aspect, this novel shines. Unfortunately, it didn’t do much of anything else for me. 2.5 stars from me.
• 
  Karla Mae (Reads and Thoughts)

  
  Best friends turn to "frenemies".
  
  This is what Charlie experienced with her supposed to be bestfriends. After what happened to their friendship, she couldn't wait over to start High School and transfer to Harmony Falls where she plans to reboot her life.
  
  Starting a new life at a new school seems to be exciting and nerve-wracking for Charlie, but on her very first day she'll learn that you simply cannot outrun the past. Now, faced with people from her past such as a bestfriend turned into hunk and a girl she terribly got wronged, she learns that running from the past would do no good for you, she learns how to blend the old with the new and make life out of it. She meet boys, joined the newspaper staff and makes some real girlfriends but amidst it all, she would still face many challenges such as jerky varsity boys and a prank that definitely got wrong...
  
  Okay! So, this is really one hilarious read for me.
  
  Charlie was very engaging to listen to. Her character was pretty real and pretty absorbing as well, as I start reading it, i suddenly felt like i know her yes. I know its kinda weird. I really liked her character. Her determination to do things and how she copes up when her past suddenly come running toward her. I also enjoyed seeing her grew up as the story progress. Her two girlfriends, Sydney and Nidhi really did a great job in keeping Charlie's trains of thinking. They are both pretty smart and sassy. They are always there to keep Charlie happy and supports her all the way.
  
  I'm really a fan of bestfriends turned love relationships, that's why I really do loved Will and Charlie's relationship in here. Their love story is very believable and they're just simply perfect. The doubts and insecurities of both the characters gives more push to the story. I find their story so interesting at I actually find myself grinning at times when they are together.
  
  It was a light and very fun read though it touches on deeper parts of life. It was pretty amazing to read stories like this concerning what most teens experiences these days. I pretty much liked it.
  
  I could say that I'm definitely at a good start with Wiseman's stories.:)
• 
  Chris

  If you had the opportunity to start fresh, to make yourself over as someone new, what would you change and who would you be? All those bad memories you hold onto, the mistakes and humiliations and guilts that haunt you: gone. Do you think you could pull it off, or would you slip right back into your old habits and make yourself over as the same old person?
  
  That’s what Charlie (Charlotte) faces: she found herself inadvertently a mean girl in middle school because she valued her popular place with her cool frenemies and the social status they gave her more than she valued standing up for what was right, but after eighth grade she got accepted to a neighboring high school and hopes to start over as someone she can respect. Now she’s faced with the challenge of making new friends and reshaping herself from scratch—except the past keeps poking its ugly head into her new world and she sees herself beginning to slide down that slippery slope to meanness in her attempts to fit in and thrive. Will she find the courage and strength to be someone different so she can pull off her transformation? And will she be able to attract the right kind of guy in the process (because there’s no shortage of appealing guys to choose from at her new school)? Once you start this one, you'll keep reading to the end until you find out.
• 
  Sahar

  1. The interesting part in the book was when I started to realize what was really going on. It took me a few minutes to actually put together the puzzle pieces together. Usually, you'd think that a girl would do such mean things, but this is not the case.
  
  2. I liked how there was a small switch with boys' and girls' roles. I also liked the drama that occurs between so many people at so many different times and how justice prevailed and in the end, good was brought back together again, which happens in most books.
  
  3. I wouldn't really recommend this book to others since its plot is so common. This is just about your everyday high school drama.
• 
  Jillian B

  This was the first book I had read by Wiseman and wasn’t quite sure what to expect. What I got in this book was a fun story about discovering who you are, correcting mistakes, and standing up and doing what’s right. A great story of friendship. This book is really your typical high school drama full of peer pressure, friendship, and kicking away the normal to fit in. There are hunderds and hundreds of books like this, but for some reason, this was different. Many people hated
  this book, but i for one, like it :)
• 
  talia

  I really liked this book. The characters all seemed realistic, and the events seemed to fit perfectly together to create a wonderfully engaging book. I wish it had had a bit more romance though. Judging from the cover, I'd definitely expected that to play a larger role than it actually did.
  
  I'm going to high school next year, so all the hazing stuff kinda freaks me out. I hope my district high school isn't like this!
• 
  Maricela

  I really don't know where to begin my review. All I have to say is that I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me a lot about my school years.
• 
  Beth Hughes

  I picked this book up after finishing one of Rosalind Wiseman's nonfiction books: QUEEN BEES AND WANNABES (which was made into the movie MEAN GIRLS). This was her first work of fiction, and it was really entertaining and easy to read.
  
  BG&OHM is about a high school freshman named Charlotte (Charlie, for short) who is attending a new school in Harmony Falls. The reader finds out early on that she has opted to go here, instead of her town's school, because of some friendships that went awry at the end of eighth grade. (Think Regina George and company, and you get the idea.) Charlie meets Sydney on the first day of school, and they are fast friends. She also bumps into Will, her former next-door neighbor and best friend growing up who has recently moved back to the area. A slew of high school shenanigans ensue that involve boys, girls, parties, sports, social climbing, the school newspaper, some lax hazing, a whole lot of courage, and even some romance. Wiseman develops Charlie's character well, and the reader watches on as Charlie the Freshman decides whether to do the right thing when her time comes.
  
  While this book is clearly written for high school students (even though it is strongly endorsed by Tina Fey!), it is entertaining from beginning to end. Because of the research Wiseman has done for her works of non-fiction, she is well aware of what goes on in Girl World. The result is a realistic high school experience (and a PG version to boot--which is refreshing for a YA novel!) and a realistic protagonist in Charlie.
  
  What could have been better (again, through the eyes of a reader who is decades older than Wiseman's target audience) would have been to start the conflict earlier in the story so that it could get fleshed out more gradually. Instead, the first half of the novel is devoted to character development that might have been even better had it happened over the course of the conflict rather than beforehand. (There's a lot of waiting for the main story to start.) A high school reader, however, might not care nor even notice this, since the characters are funny and their experiences have a solid blend of levity and grit. For me, though, it felt like all of the action is toward the end and, like so many other novels I've read as of late, it wraps up in a neat bow in the last 15 pages.
  
  Overall though, this was an enjoyable, easy read that anyone who enjoys YA reads or the MEAN GIRLS franchise will thoroughly enjoy! Four stars for a YA novel from an elderly person is pretty darn good.
• 
  Okopops

  This book was so captivating as soon I read the title I knew it would be amazing, Just kidding. It was pretty mediocre don't get me wrong it was a good book but it felt kind of plain. It was never boring tho so thats good.
  If you are looking for a suuper romantic book which I assume most people who were drawn into this title are (unjustifiably or not). I would say move on or check out Ali Novak or Jenny han even Jeniffer echols has some very good rom-com books but if u want a book mostly about friendship and over coming adverse social standard and an unfair school system of favoritism then you better get reading I mean there is a fair bit of romance. But mostly just crushes and short flings.
  
  SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!! SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
  So the ending was a major disappointment I was expecting the author to elaborate Will and Charlie's relationship instead all we get is ONE kiss that isn't even refined into a proper relationship. tbh there were quite a lot of filers throughout the book and i found myself just skimming through some parts mostly at the beginning presentations. (which is a total contradiction of my earlier statements but whatever)
• 
  KappaBooks

  I'm pleasantly surprised by this book. Yes, it was very much written in 2010 ao there were parts that haven’t aged well and I had to get used to that, but it was actually a solid YA contemporary about friendship and hazing. The plot on the summary doesn't kick in until much later and the writing was clunky, but it wasn't terrible in any sense of the world.
  
  I buddy read this with a friend who remembered this being an accurate depiction of high school, and I have to agree, especially considering what most YA books in the late 2000s were like (see, Gossip Girl and all those teen dramas)
• 
  Jay

  This was a really good book to read while I’m recovering from being sick. The plot and characters aren’t really demanding, but are enough to keep my attention. Nidhi was probably my favorite character, as she really seemed to be the best role model, while still feeling pretty realistic for a high school freshman. The story covered bullying and peer pressure pretty well. I really liked how the variety of adults were portrayed. The teacher asking the class what they wanted from their teacher was so great. I was really impressed with how he handled that and the list he accumulated.
• 
  Lynette

  "In middle school, Charlotte was one of the "mean girls", but lately her inner conscience has been begging her to turn over a new leaf. She goes as far as transferring schools to start high school as a new person, one who is kind and accepting. Unfortunately, people from her former life keep reappearing and forcing her to confront who she used to be." (Annotation created for my booklist "25 Books about Teens and Bullying)
• 
  Melanie

  3.5 stars
  After writing my review I now see the beauty of this book and will give it 4 stars.
  
  I was really excited to read this book and I was not disappointed.
  
  I really enjoyed how real it was. Especially being a freshman. All the excitement of new friends, new start, crushes, appearances, trust issues, hazing, harassment, sexism, etc. To be honest it took awhile for the hazing events to get started, but it wasn't bad! I was building up perfectly.
  But I found myself saying, when is this delivery guy going to be attacked? Not that I am violent, but I was waiting for the summary to actually take place.
  I liked how the story went through Charlie's adjustment with her new school and the drama. I felt like a high school freshman again, which wasn't bad because I loved my freshman year.
  Everything was so real! I can't stress it enough. Nothing was overdone. It might seem that way, but in reality things do get out of hand and Wiseman handles it very well so it's not so unbelievable.
  
  I was skeptical about some things, but I think I was just upset and ignorant that they were so true. Most high school male athletes are cocky and jerks. We all dealt with those. They are just feeding the stereotypes. Then there was the whole school thing. I went to a high school that didn't much care for spirit, tradition, etc and the school seemed more university to me, but then as I thought more there were schools with a lot of pride and competition.
  The only thing not totally true or at lest died down was the class separation. Sure, upperclassmen don't like underclassmen and their immature cockiness, but there is not a total divide that is intense and intimidating mentioned- at least not when I was in high school.
  
  But the biggest realism was the adult situation. There are parents that spoil the crap out of their children and it is sickening. There are schools that cover up that kind of mess.
  For example: I remember the incident in Ohio where these boys from the football team gang raped a girl at this party and the school and mostly everyone in the small town was trying to hide it because they were star athletes and had a bright future. I was told that one of the rapist's mother, who was a lawyer, threatened the girl not to press charges. The boys were charged 2 years of jail or prison whatever it was. But what was more infuriating was that the news reporter from CNN gave pity on the boys and said that there bright future was ruined.
  I might get the facts wrong, but the point is that people can think and do unimaginable things that are clearly wrong. Like Wiseman says, "they see what they want to see."
  But there are still adult that you can trust and will find anyway to help.
  
  
  Anyway, let me talk about the main characters
  Charlie was exquisite! She was so funny with her cluelessness and down to earth. She wasn't a weak and dumb heroine I usually read about. She knew her mistakes and found her voice. She took action when it seemed like the outcome would be her against the world.
  Will. I feel like that name is a stereotype for boys in books that are sweet, cute, and all around good guy. He had his ups and downs which was great! He didn't seem perfect or like the fantasy boy. He was confused and did what guys usually did think with their ego (haha got you).
  
  For the other characters like Charlie's friends Nidhi, Michael, and Sydney. They were all very likable! They were good friends.
  The antagonists Matt, Dylan, and Tyler were one dimensional. I mean they were the stereotypical arrogant jocks. I mean they weren't badly written- not at all. I just wish they explained more how they became so horrible instead of saying that they felt powerful, because no one would punish them greatly. We just had to hate them and I wish Wiseman gave us that doubt, something to like. But that was the point we weren't suppose to like or pity them at all.
  
  What surprised me was that some characters seemed to be important and main secondary characters weren't. You barely see most of them. Which was bad and good.
  I thought that this one faculty member was going to be significant and helpful, but I was wrong! I was pretty much wrong about most things! I loved it! It wasn't a predictable story. Okay yes I guess how things will happen in the end was, but the events leading up wasn't, which kept me reading and didn't make me roll my eyes like "oh how original. Not!" Or "of course that would happen or this is going to happen. Yawn."
  
  I loved that the romance was barely there. It wasn't even a substory! It was mostly about doing the right thing even when you stand alone and a freshman standing up against older people. Then it was about friendship.
  I was so satisfied. To be honest I have been reading way too many romances and was so glad this gave me a break from it.
  
  The conclusion wasn't satisfying to me. I mean we found out what happened to two of the boys and there is a bit of redemption, but it seemed like some got away with their crap and by "they" I mean the adults. And you don't really know if the boys learned their lesson....
  I still liked the ending though. It was cute but not so lasting or memorable.
  
  What was also refreshing was the comeback of IMing!
• 
  Stefanie

  This was not at all the book I expected; right off there was jokes about eating disorders and not only once, but you turn the page and there’s another one again. This shouldn’t be allowed in books, especially books targeted for a young adult audience. That’s all I have to say about this book.
• 
  Faye

  Well, I kind of think that this would be a so-so book before I read it and just wanted to see if I can prove myself correct but after finishing it, I think it was better than that. Not brilliantly made but this book being a reality-based fiction seems much more okay than the other books I’ve read on the same genre.
  
  First, I did quite like the plot with Charlie or Charlotte transferring to another school because she wants a change from being friends or rather frenemies with two of the girls she’s been closest to (who are BTW, the bitches of her former school) in middle school then later finding out that her childhood friend Will is back in town and is studying in the same school she enrolled in. I think that it was kinda realistic that other girls do experience the same kind of things like being mean when they really don’t want to just because of peer pressure. We all know, I guess many teens are afraid to stand up for themselves early in a friendship because they wouldn’t want to be alienated, and later on they wouldn’t because they begin to be too scared to move out of the comfort zones they have known.
  
  The story revolved around Charlie adapting to her new life in high school, her befriending a very pretty girl she was jealous at the early phase of their friendship then begun to genuinely like when her new friend turned down a guy because Charlie had a crush on that guy and she was encouraging Charlie on him (I totally believe in her motto: friends before guys); then trying to make amends to a girl, Nidhi, a Muslim girl, that her former friends brutally spread vicious things about just because the girl try to voice out her opinion about letting some boys over in their room in one of their trips. It also showed Charlie adapting on how to behave in front of a boy you like; then also how to retain a friendship with the boy you have known forever.
  
  Honestly, when I finished the book, I didn’t go all “yay, this was so amazing!” I wasn’t like that at all. But I did appreciate the author’s perspective on presenting the facts about high school life and how vicious or badly it could be especially if one would just go with the flow even if he/she is seeing terrible things in front of his/her nose. I also liked the way the author inserted Nidhi and Charlie’s column about being writers in their school paper where they just presented the facts and let the readers decide for themselves about voicing out your opinions about stuff like hazing and other stuff. I think that the author did an amazing job on presenting a story with adapting to high school since I know a person couldn’t just say “oh, it’s no biggie” because it usually is because on that part, you’re trying to be more independent and at the same time to be responsible on your actions. Then the hazing part where Will have to do some terrible things (like using a fire extinguisher to a poor guy them dumping that guy on a road even if he broke his leg) just because he wanted to be accepted in the lacrosse varsity so badly, it presented a view of how teenagers sometimes feel that they should just turn around, be blind and do nothing and just hope it would stop especially if they didn’t know who among the adults they know are trustworthy and could be told with the things they know about. It was really realistic at that point, at least for me.
  
  I would like to recommend this book to those teenagers who are undergoing a situation where they are having afflicting thoughts about what to do and not to do, also to those who still suck up to their mean friends about the horrible things they do. I’d like to advise you something, if you wouldn’t stand up for yourself, one way or another there will come a time that you will look to the mirror and wonder who the hell is the image you’re seeing because the girl/the boy you’re seeing right now would probably long gone and replaced with a replica of those of your so-called friends. I know it’s hard to make new friends and all but I do think that it’s impossible for you to have new ones that would influence you better.
  
  I’m not trying to go all Dr. Phil to those who would read this review; I just hate it when someone wouldn’t want to stand up for themselves even if they strongly know that they should because they’re very scared to change the status quo. I’m also not saying that I’m a very good role model at that or something but I know I will try. Actually, there’s a time that I did. Believe me, you are better of without them. I, for one, would rather be a loner than stick with girls trying to spread vicious rumors with someone just because she wouldn’t suck up to them and bully those who wouldn’t follow them.
  
  It’s okay to be friendly and all, just be careful to choose those who you would hang out with because 90% chance is that you would act like them if you stay around with them. You probably know the saying “birds with the same feather flock together.” It’s cliché, but totally true (and I didn’t realized that I’ve just wrote a very extensive review on this book, didn’t expect it because I think the story was okay, but I think the lessons in it were great and very applicable in reality).
  
• 
  Riyosha

  For being the best high school novel.
• 
  Samantha Tun

  The exciting part (climate) didn't actually start till near the end. There was a lot of stuff in the beginning. Overall the ending was my favorite!!
• 
  Jessica

  3.5 stars
  Slow start, but this book is surprisingly deep.