How NOT to be Popular

© 2008, Delacorte Press

Sugar Magnolia Dempsey (Maggie – for short) is a child of two free-spirited hippies who have moved from place to place Maggie’s entire life.  Although Maggie has inherited some of her parents’ appreciation for living an organic, natural lifestyle, she doesn’t understand why that includes uprooting her life everytime she starts to fit in.  Her parents’ latest move take Maggie from her home in Portland, Oregon and move her into Austin, Texas.  Leaving behind her best friend, and even worse, her boyfriend, her first true love.  The thought of starting over only to have to leave again is too painful for Maggie to deal with, so she decides at her new school she will do anything possible to keep from making any friends.  She dresses in outrageous clothing from her father’s thrift store, she sits alone at lunch, she verbally accosts the popular girls, and despite all her efforts, people still want to befriend her, or at least get to know her better.  After all her efforts to not be popular, suddenly Maggie is the most talked about girl at school.  The students love her for being “real,” even though Maggie feels anything but real.  She is even nominated for Homecoming Queen.  Maggie doesn’t want any of this attention, nor does she want to date the young Republican type boy who is showing an awful lot of interest in her, but the more she pushes these people away, the more it hurts.  If she was trying to avoid the hurt by not making any friends at all, why does she feel so much emotion when she hasn’t even left yet?  And what happens if this is the place Maggie’s parents decide to settle in for good, will there be anyone left by the end who will want to be Maggie’s friend?

A funny, charming story, Maggie is the kind of character who everyone can love (and it’s clear why she has always been popular). A must-read for any kid who has every had any doubts about what it truly means to fit in, and wonders if popularity is the solution to any of life’s problems.

Appropriate for ages 12+