Title: Populazzi
Author: Elise Allen
Source: Review Copy
Genre: Young Adult
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Harcourt Children’s Books (August 1, 2011)
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
My Thoughts:
Normally I wouldn’t have picked this book up because it seems like it’s aimed at teens. I love YA but I usually stay away from books that revolve around school like because I don’t really seem to connect. But Populazzi I picked because it’s written by Elise Allen who is a 2011 Debutante.
Cara is a teenager who is a nobody in school. The fact that she peed in school when she was a kid followed her as she grew up and stopped her from climbing the social ladder. But when she changes school she decides to start with a clean plate. Her best friend Claudia, makes a plan for Cara to climb the ladder and thus become popular in her new school. The plan is to start dating guys starting at the middle level and then gradually climb up and date the most popular guy and hence become the Populazzi.
It’s actually a pretty predictable plot. It started off very interesting and funny. I was engrossed until her first two boyfriends, Archer Jain and Nate. But after that it just seems like a drag. It’s a pretty believable story though. I can totally see teenagers relating to it. In spite of the topic of the book, the author has tried to maintain a sense of right and wrong throughout the book. Cara definitely knows the difference but still goes with the flow.
It is also probably one of the very few books with an Indian American as one of the important characters. So that was kind of refreshing. The writing was free-flowing which helped but I can’t deny that I was a little disappointed in the book. But I liked the writing so I will definitely pick up her next book if the premise interests me.
I seem to be in the minority as the reviews on Goodreads are very good.
Book-Shelved 
I might give this one a pass – have read too many books with similar storylines.
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So how is this supposed to make her more popular? This plot seems terribly silly.
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It is silly but believable in that weird, twisted teenage kind of way.
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Now having an Indian American sounds good. 🙂 Those lips remind me of Priyanka Chopra 🙂 Not my kind of book though.
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Never noticed that, but now that you mention it I have to agree with you 🙂
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I think as we get older and more distant from high school, this stuff is hard to relate to, but I imagine girls in high school would understand this and relate to it.
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Doesn’t sound like anything terribly unique, but it’s good to know it’s realistic — and something teens could relate to! Like you, I’m finding it harder and harder to get into books set in high school as I get older… I just don’t connect to the characters as much.
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Thanks for the read! I appreciate your thoughts, even if it wasn’t your cup of tea. I’m especially glad you liked the writing, and would check out another title.
All the best,
Elise
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