Maya Van Wagenen

Popular: How a Geek in Pearls Discovered the Secret to Confidence Maya Van Wagenen

Brief Description: "A touchingly honest, candidly hysterical memoir from breakout teen author Maya Van Wagenen Stuck at the bottom of the social ladder at "pretty much the lowest level of people at school who aren't paid to be here," Maya Van Wagenen decided to begin a unique social experiment: spend the school year following a 1950s popularity guide, written by former teen model Betty Cornell. Can curlers, girdles, Vaseline, and a strand of pearls help Maya on her quest to be popular? The real-life results are painful, funny, and include a wonderful and unexpected surprise-meeting and befriending Betty Cornell herself. Told with humor and grace, Maya's journey offers readers of all ages a thoroughly contemporary example of kindness and self-confidence."--Review Quotes: "I was inspired by her journey and made a point of saving a copy of 'Popular' for my sister, who starts middle school this fall. Maybe if I had read it when I was her age, it could have saved me from a world of hurt, or at least put that world in perspective."--Maude Apatow for the "New York Times Book Review" ""Popular "taps into a feeling shared by Bradbury and Bieber enthusiasts alike -- the need to fit in during middle school."--"USA Today" "An interesting and earnest memoir." --"Kirkus Reviews" "While completely appropriate for middle school readers, "Popular "is even more entertaining for adults. Van Wagenen is a uniquely gifted talent with a gem of a first novel" --"VOYA"Review Quotes: A New York Times bestseller! Maya Van Wagenen is a Time magazine Top 16 Most Influential Teen of 2013and a Huffington Post Most Fearless Teen of 2013"I was inspired by her journey and made a point of saving a copy of 'Popular' for my sister, who starts middle school this fall. Maybe if I had read it when I was her age, it could havesaved me from a world of hurt, or at least put that world in perspective."--Maude Apatow for the" New York Times Book Review"""Popular "taps into a feeling shared by Bradbury and Bieber enthusiasts alike--the need tofit in during middle school." --"USA Today""Everyone's happiness project looks different, and I was utterly charmed by Maya VanWagenen's honest, funny, and thought-provoking account of her efforts to become 'popular.'"--Gretchen Rubin, #1 bestselling author of" The Happiness Project" "Geeky and dorky, but never wimpy, Maya Van Wagenen is as powerful and honest as sheis quirky and funny--and startlingly gifted. She's the real deal, folks, a teenage John Greenfor the next generation. Stunning." --Margaret Stohl, bestselling co-author of the Beautiful Creatures series"Maya Van Wagenen's memoir, "Popular," would have been wonderful to read as a kid, andso reassuring to Nerdy Teenage Me. Her year-long experiment in popularity is timeless; theintelligent and humane way she gets to the heart of the matter is uniquely her. Funny, determined, and wry, Van Wagenen has written a wise, heartfelt guide forother kids eager to keep up." --Rachel Hartman, bestselling author of "Seraphina""An interesting and earnest memoir." --"Kirkus Reviews" "While completely appropriate for middle school readers, "Popular "is even more entertainingfor adults. Van Wagenen is a uniquely gifted talent with a gem of a first novel" --"VOYA"Biographical Note: Maya Van Wagenen is sixteen years old. When she was eleven, her family moved to Brownsville, Texas, the setting of "Popular." When not hunched over a desktop writing, Maya enjoys reading, British television, and chocolate. She now lives with her parents and two siblings in rural Georgia. She is a junior in high school . Publisher Marketing: "New York Times "Bestseller A breakout teen author explores the true meaning of popularity and how to survive middle school in this hysterically funny, touchingly honest contemporary memoir. "I was inspired by [Maya's] journey and made a point of saving a copy of 'Popular' for my sister, who starts middle school this fall. Maybe if I had read it when I was her age, it could have saved me from a world of hurt, or at least put that world in perspective." --Maude Apatow, "New York Times Book Review" "Can curlers, girdles, Vaseline, and a strand of pearls help a shy girl become popular?Maya Van Wagenen is about to find out. " Stuck near the bottom of the social ladder at "pretty much the lowest level of people at school who aren't paid to be here," Maya has never been popular. But before starting eighth grade, she decides to begin a unique social experiment: spend the school year following a 1950s popularity guide, written by former teen model Betty Cornell. The real-life results are hilarious, painful, and filled with unexpected surprises. Told with humor and grace, Maya's journey offers readers of all ages a thoroughly contemporary example of kindness and self-confidence, along with a better understanding of what it means to be popular. Review Citations:

School Library Journal 11/01/2014 pg. 65 (EAN 9780141353258, Paperback) - *Starred Review

Kirkus Reviews 04/15/2014 (EAN 9780525426813, Hardcover)

New York Times Book Review 05/11/2014 pg. 20 (EAN 9780525426813, Hardcover)

Voice of Youth Advocates 06/01/2014 (EAN 9780525426813, Hardcover)

Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 06/01/2014 pg. 546 (EAN 9780525426813, Hardcover)

School Library Journal 06/01/2014 pg. 150 (EAN 9780525426813, Hardcover)

Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2014 pg. 195 (EAN 9780525426813, Hardcover)