Geek Magnet

Publishers Weekly

On the surface, Scott's (ANon-Blonde Cheerleader in Love, also due this month) novel sounds familiar: smart good-girl KJ is too decent to brush off the socially inept or "unsavory guys" who glom onto her, even though they make it hard for KJ's crush, basketball star Cameron Richardson, to notice her. But when she takes up the job of stage manager for the school's production of Grease, popular Tama, playing the lead role of Sandy, gives KJ some strategic advice: tell the losers to get lost, and go for the guy she wants-and Tama even offers to talk up KJ to her buddy Cameron. Scott shores up this obvious plot in several ways. First, she frames the novel in five "acts," lightly inviting readers to measure her characters against the good/bad stereotypes poked at in Grease. More substantially, she gives KJ an alcoholic father, supplying an insightful foundation for KJ's personality and grounding her story realistically. The result: a genuinely moving heroine and a far stronger story than the cliché-ridden cover art would suggest. Ages 12-up. (May)

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KLIATT - Aimee Cole

Drama is big in the life of KJ Miller. But she also seems to have attracted every geek in school for the past year, while working as stage manager for the yearly school musical. KJ desperately wants to escape the unwanted attention of these geeks and join the popular crowd. Tama Gold makes it happen for her during this year's play. Tama instructs KJ on how to be mean to the undesirables and how to catch the eye of Cameron, the boy KJ always wanted to notice her. KJ's newfound confidence brings both the good and the bad, however. She now has the guts to tell off the geek who constantly leers at her, but also brushes off unpopular yet sweet Fred. She can now tell her struggling alcoholic father that he needs to deal with his problems. But in taking on this new assertive approach, KJ doesn't realize that she's developing problems of her own when it comes to recognizing true friendship and loyalty. Readers will recognize the many-sided issues related to popularity and courage as they are addressed in this clever story about a play that is itself a play. Reviewer: Aimee Cole

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up- KJ is a girl with problems. All of the boys she likes-those who are cool and suave-don't seem to know she exists, but the geeky guys-theater types, intellectuals, nonhotties-are attracted to her. Since she is nice to them, they hang around and won't leave her alone. When she lands the coveted position as stage manager for the school production of Grease , popular girls befriend her, and, in turn, popular boys. With guidance from a new "friend," she alienates her old acquaintances and best friend in trade for a cute guy. KJ's other problems-an alcoholic father and an unstable home situation-enter into the story, adding a bit of depth to KJ's character and allowing for the final friendship showdown. Written in a chatty, chick-lit style, complete with realistic teen-speak, the book will appeal to older readers. Though there's not much sense of place (other than high school), and the secondary characters are thin, the play's the thing, and this story will appeal to readers who enjoy a funny romance and friendship novel, and will be nice filler for collections that can never have enough "pink" books.-Angela J. Reynolds, Annapolis Valley Regional Library, Bridgetown, NS, Canada

Kirkus Reviews

KJ Miller just can't say no to geeks, which makes her a magnet for Washington High's least desirable bachelors, who range from nerdy to creepy. However, when KJ realizes that her geek-magnet status is repelling her longtime crush, Cameron Richardson, she becomes determined to dump the undesirables. As stage manager of her school's production of Grease, KJ finds her answer in sassy and popular cast member Tama Gold, who takes a vested interest in helping KJ ditch the geeks and attract Cameron. Under Tama's tutelage, KJ slowly sheds her warm, sweet personality and consequently the geeks, but as she surveys the fallout of her actions she wonders if Cameron is worth it. The arrangement of the narrative into a classic five-act arc provides structural interest, but the development of the dramatis personae leaves something to be desired. In general, KJ's character seems flat and naive, except when dealing with her family and its attempts to cope with her father's alcoholism. Predictable, but with a few speed bumps to keep it interesting. (Fiction. YA)