The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

Goodreads Says:    Frankie Landau-Banks at age 14:
Debate Club.
Her father’s “bunny rabbit.”
A mildly geeky girl attending a highly competitive boarding school.

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 15:
A knockout figure.
A sharp tongue.
A chip on her shoulder.
And a gorgeous new senior boyfriend: the supremely goofy, word-obsessed Matthew Livingston.

Frankie Laundau-Banks.
No longer the kind of girl to take “no” for an answer.
Especially when “no” means she’s excluded from her boyfriend’s all-male secret society.
Not when her ex boyfriend shows up in the strangest of places.
Not when she knows she’s smarter than any of them.
When she knows Matthew’s lying to her.
And when there are so many, many pranks to be done.

Frankie Landau-Banks, at age 16:
Possibly a criminal mastermind.

This is the story of how she got that way.

My Thoughts:

-    This would have been a fun story if it hadn't been for the feminist message. I don't think this book's agenda came across quite like it was supposed to.

-    I didn't like Frankie, but I also didn't hate her. She is clever, strong, and fun, but she is also insecure and needy. It was hard to figure her out sometimes. 

-    Why did the feminist message bug me? Well, Frankie's whole goal was to be one of the guys. She wanted to be equal to them by getting their approval. She pouted and threw a fit when Matthew didn't think she was clever and brilliant. Yes, I think equality is important, but I also believe that women and men are built and wired differently. We each have our own strengths and weaknesses, and it is these differences that should be embraced and praised. Women and men compliment each other, and we are equal, but not the same. Frankie was not okay being a strong woman. She wanted to be a strong member of the guy's brotherhood. Even in the end, she was seeking approval from Matthew and Alpha. It wasn't until Alpha approved of her cleverness that she was happy. Why should her self worth be based on what a guy thinks of her? I wish Frankie had gotten a group of girls and outwitted the guys. That would have been much more satisfying. Instead she was constantly seeking approval and recognition from the boys.

-    I didn't like any of the guys. Matthew was shallow, lame, and a complete tool. Alpha had major control and ego issues.

-    There is a part in the book where the narrator gives the reader an English lesson on prefixes, and it is awful! It brings the story to a complete standstill for this explanation, and it is so annoying. Plus it feels like that part lasts forever! 

-    Overall, the book kept me interested enough to continue reading, but in the end, I felt disappointed and bugged. I think the whole thing is kinda shallow.