If
you're already tired of the sentimental holiday books that often come
out this time of year, try E. Lockhart's The
Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks.
It is witty, bittersweet, authentic, and anything but sappy.
Frankie
Landau-Banks starts her sophomore year with flair, or so it seems.
When she returns to her prestigious boarding school with a great
figure and a sharp tongue, she attracts one of the most popular
seniors on campus, and she enjoys entering his glamorous and carefree
social sphere.
Despite
this, Frankie feels unsatisfied. Her family and friends value her
simplicity and charm, but she feels like there is a deeper part in
her nature that they don't see or understand. So Frankie sets out, in
her own way, to show them that she should not be underestimated.
Enter
the Basset Hounds. When Frankie discovers that her boyfriend is
involved with The Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds, the school's
all-male secret society, Frankie's angst has a target. She decides to
infiltrate, and without the boys knowing her identity, she leads them
through a series of complicated pranks.
s
her schemes escalate, she moves from simply flexing her muscles to
protesting the world that she feels has pushed her out because she
does not fit the “old boy” mold. But how long can she
keep this secret, and can she hold on to her power if her identity
comes out?
There
is a little bit of PG-13 material in this one — references to
minor characters drinking, using drugs, and being sexually active,
although our protagonist doesn't participate herself. These
activities aren't portrayed as glamorous, or even desirable. Frankie
even finds the party with alcohol that she attends incredibly boring.
I
can't honestly say that I liked Frankie. She is more calculating than
I care to be, especially in her social interactions. I also agreed
with Frankie's sister that Frankie should forget about the Bassets
and build something better on her own terms. She clearly has the mind
and the skill to do so.
But
I think any feminist (or any human, for that matter) can relate to
Frankie's struggle to come to terms with a world where her options
and acceptable identities are dictated by her gender. Lockhart
captures the heartbreaks and complex emotions in a way that rang true
to my own coming-of-age feelings.
It
took me some time to get into the narrator's voice, but by the end, I
understood how perfectly it fit the story. The writing in the last
chapter is stunning. The ending is discouraging, hopeful,
heartbreaking, courageous, and above all else, authentic. Frankie
looks honestly at the decisions she's made, celebrates what she has
gained, mourns what she has lost, and moves forward purposefully.
All
in all, The
Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
is a witty exploration of finding your role in society. Frankie asks
many of the big questions in adolescent life: Is it better to speak
out and suffer the consequences, or squeeze yourself into a role you
don't fit in and enjoy the benefits? Is it really rebellion if it
reinforces your dominant place in the social structure? Where do
these social forces that influence your behavior come from, anyway?
And how does personal growth influence your relationships with the
people you love if they appreciated you for being someone else?
Read
this book if...
You
love word play. Lockhart weaves the concept of a “neglected
positive” (“gruntled” instead of “disgruntled,”
“ept” instead of just “inept,” and so on)
throughout her text.
You
love creative forms of protest, or even just a good prank. Frankie
pulls some impressive ones.
You've
wanted something out of life that doesn't fit into the role society
expects of you.
Erin
Cowles is a mother of two, living in the Washington D.C. suburbs.
Before motherhood, she used her masters in library and information
science in a law firm library. Now she uses it to find good books for
her family at her local public library. She teaches part time for a
SAT prep company, where she enjoys the challenge of making rather
dull subject matter interesting and making college a reality for her
students. During women's history month, she profiles Mormon women
that inspire her at ldswomenshistory.blogspot.com.
Erin
currently serves as a counselor in her ward's primary
presidency.