The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

As an avid book lover, I confess to there being many, many books that have come through my life and given me great joy. But of the hundreds of books I've read in my life, this book has touched me in a special way that only a few special stories ever have. I first read this book about six years ago, and to this day it holds a very special place in my heart. I know that it will forever be one of those books that no matter how many times I read it, I will be able to open it up to any page and just sink my teeth into it like it's brand-new to me. It's that good, and I love it that much.

What do I love about it? Well, first of all I love Frankie. She is a wonderful character that I identified with quite easily. The book's plot is clever as well, and the subtle, dry humor encased in the writing compels you to continue reading. The conclusion, to me, is perfect and I wouldn't want it any other way. The story speaks to me and in all probability always will. Once I read this book for the first time, I knew that I would love it forever. As a freshman in college now, I proudly profess my love for this book. I also love the book's boldness and brazen originality. It is in no way similar to other books aimed at the teenage girl demographic. It is a million times better. The plot is different, the heroine is different, and it is wonderful. It's bold and unafraid, and you would never hear anyone describe it as "cliche." No, in a world where it seems more and more books are simply rewritten copies of others, this book stands out on its own and does a darn good job of it.

No matter your age, if you want to read a quickly moving story starring a heroine infinitely more interesting than the heroines of most teen girl books, choose this one. You won't be disappointed.

One of the first reasons I loved this book is because it doesn't follow the typical `girl pines over the popular boy, girl gets the popular boy, girl gets jilted by the popular boy' format. Don't get me wrong. That is exactly what happens. But the refreshing part of the story is that Frankie never loses herself in her boyfriend. She starts to on several occasions, but she always reminds herself that she is not defined by her beau. I think this quote from the book (page 103) does a perfect job of summarizing: `They [girls] are so focused on their boyfriends that they don't remember they had a life at all before their romances, so they don't become upset that the boyfriend isn't interested.'

I think this book is a great way for girls to learn that they should not lose themselves in the boys that they will inevitably have crushes on. Frankie gets the guy and still has her own life. Refreshing.

I had a lot of fun reading this book. And for those that don't know, this book has been nominated for and won a ton of awards. I'm not sure if I agree with all that, but I did enjoy what I read.

I guess when you compare the plot of this novel to the plots of other young adult novels that are out there right now, it was unique and really original. It was fun reading about a strong female heroine and Frankie was a great puppet master, but I wish she would have had less remorse for the things she did. Because I really didn't think her pranks were all that bad. Yeah, the one kid might have gotten expelled, but I think the way the teachers and the headmaster acted was a bit extreme. They were just some harmless pranks. No one got injured and no property was vandalized, so really, what was the harm? And I think that was probably the reason that the book failed to connect with me like it could have.

It's a great book for feminists and people who like to laugh. And it's a hard review to write, because everything was good, fun, and entertaining, but wasn't great. I really want to sit here and rave about it like everyone else has, but the fact of the matter is, it's been about three days since I finished it and I'm having a hard time remembering what I read.

The pranks were fun, and the plot was fun but it really didn't stop me in my tracks like it did so many others. It was a fast read though, and if you are looking for something quick and enjoyable, this would fit the bill perfectly. The writing was great though. And this is the second book by E. Lockhart that I have read, and I have enjoyed them so far. I will continue to read them, in the hopes that one will completely blow me away. But it hasn't happened yet.

Up until right now, I couldn't get the title of this book right in my mind. I always left out a word or spelled a name wrong...searching for this book anywhere took me awhile. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks could have an even longer name and I would still read it! The name works with the story and I'm finally able to recite it from memory.

Frankie is a wonderful narrator with a strong voice. I enjoyed her story. Her humor and her outlook had me wanting to read more...another page turner for me. Frankie just wanted to be treated as an equal throughout the story and to be part of something she thought she had a right and wanted to be included in.

Frankie's story isn't just good for teenagers. I was also questioning and thinking about things in my life I could change to be like Frankie. She's only 15 years old, but she could be a role model for any woman at any age. Frankie is very inspiring and the courage and strive she showed during her story is commendable.

I loved much of the talk of secret societies, this book pretty much revolves around them, or one in particular. The talk of even a popular secret society movie had me smile. E. Lockhart's writing style is just gorgeous and all the little details she adds regarding language and panopticon (the dictionary helped me here) enhanced the story.

I'm now an E. Lockart FAN! I will be checking out her other novels probably starting with The Boyfriend List because I already own it. I'm hoping her other novels are just as fantastic if not better than The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks.