The Rites and Wrongs of Janice Wills by Joanna PearsonGoodreads - YA - July 1st 2011 by Arthur A. Levine BooksFor anyone who's ever survived a rite of passage or performed a mating dance at Prom...
The Japanese hold a Mogi ceremony for young women coming of age. Latina teenagers get quinceaneras. And Janice Wills of Melva, NC... has to compete in the Miss Livermush pageant.
Janice loves anthropology--the study of human cultures--and her observations help her identify useful rules in the chaotic world of high school. For instance: Dancing is an effective mating ritual--but only if you're good at it; Hot Theatre Guys will never speak to Unremarkable Smart Girls like Janice and her best friend, Margo; and a Beautiful Rich Girl will always win Melva's annual Miss Livermush pageant.
But when a Hot Theatre Guy named Jimmy Denton takes an interest in Janice, all her scientific certainties explode. For the first time, she has to be part of the culture that she's always observed; and all the charts in the world can't prove how tough--and how sweet--real participation and a real romance can be.
Funny, biting, and full of wisdom, this marks the debut of a writer to watch.
I am not generally a fan of Contemporary YA, but this book just sounds adorable! I love smart-girl protagonists - especially ones who use their brains to examine the craziness that is high school. And isn't the cover just the cutest thing?
Sounds great! A nice breezy summer read :)
ReplyDeleteCheck out our WoW, and while your there don't miss out on a couple of great giveaways and events HERE, and HERE!!
Smarty pants & theater guys - I'm there!
ReplyDeleteOur WOW pick is at BookSake.
Oooh sounds good! Great pick!
ReplyDeleteWaiting on Wednesday (32)
This was my WoW pick last week - can't wait to get my hands on it.
ReplyDeleteSally.
http://theelifylop.blogspot.com/2011/06/waiting-on-wednesday-24.html
Sounds cute. I'll have to check it out!
ReplyDeleteMy WoW: http://yalitwit.blogspot.com/2011/06/www-8-and-waiting-on-wednesday-june.html
I dont read a lot of contemporary either - but this does sound good!
ReplyDeleteI read and reviewed this one on my blog. I can tell you that it was a great read :) and that the smart girl observing on her classmates provided lots and lots of humor. I hope you enjoy it when it's released!
ReplyDelete-Christina Reads YA