The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

Another book about a misfit at a US boarding school. Frankie, our heroine, is sharp, possibly a criminal mastermind, and an ugly duckling turned pretty. At her school–Alabaster Prep–she gets in with a group of older boys and starts to undermine their secret prank society by outdoing them all, with (un)predictably disastrous consequences. This book is so much fun; adults and adolescents alike will love it. 

Over the course of two years, Frankie grows from a girl who gets lost in the background to one who gets so frustrated by being dismissed and underestimated by the boys at her school that she takes matters into her own hands, wreaking mischievous havoc to create change. I love how this book showcases the stubborn gender inequities of high school in hilarious yet profound ways. It’s got a little bit of everything: friendship, romance, rebellion, heartache—and excellent pranks. Grrrl Power!

The first time I read this book, I thought: I need to give this to my daughter. My daughter, at the time, wasn’t born. And she’s still not quite old enough for it, but I can’t wait for her to read it. Frankie is a smart and fun character and someone I love to hang out with. This book is full of wit. My copy is worn from the rereads.

This book has to be among my top 5 favorite YA books in any category. I love a mystery, I love a main character bucking the system, I love a boarding school book (get ready to notice a theme here), and I love a strong teenage girl who likes herself. I remember talking to my agent about Eliza, the main character in my book, and saying that I wanted to write a character who was not trying to fix herself and please other people, someone comfortable in her own skin. Frankie is cool, smart, intrepid, and not easily dissuaded. You’ll… show more.