Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman
Release Date: February 17, 2011
Publisher: Dial
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 304
Source: ARC/pitch accepted from author
Interest: Author
Challenge: None
Buy the Book: Amazon
When high school junior Natalie--or Dr. Aphrodite, as she calls herself when writing the relationship column for her school paper--is accused of knowing nothing about guys and giving girls bad relationship advice, she decides to investigate what guys really think and want. But the guys in her class won't give her straight or serious answers. The only solution? Disguising herself as a guy and spending a week at Underwood Academy, the private all-boy boarding school in town. There she learns a lot about guys and girls in ways she never expected--especially when she falls for her dreamy roommate, Emilio. How can she show him she likes him without blowing her cover?
This book was HILARIOUS! So many laugh-out-loud moments... and such a feel good novel. I could read it again right now! Despite being a novel full of humor and witty one liners there is also an important underlying message, that not only teens but all readers can appreciate.
If you haven't read Jody's Triple Shot Bettys books I'd recommend you pick those up as well. I love Jody's characters and her depictions of friendship. That's something that I can always expect when picking up her novels... and Babe in Boyland was no exception.
Natalie is a fantastic character and one that you can't help but relate to and admire. She's witty and sarcastic... I loved her. And the dynamic between her and her two friends was refreshing! Her two best friends couldn't be more different, yet Jody seamed their friendship together perfectly and realistically.
The story was a little predictable... I mean, you know with a crazy concoction like a girl posing as a guy isn't going to end as well as the MC is hoping... and the love interest isn't too hard to guess, but I know you'll be rooting for Natalie and her boy, like I was!
The backdrop of the high school theater was another element of the story that rocked! I loved how the two worlds came together and how Natalie was able to do most of her observations there. (And how HILARIOUS was that closet scene... so glad I was reading at home because I lost it!)
Babe in Boyland is a feel good, hilarious read with a great message. Just be yourself.