The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

E. Lockhart, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, Disney Hyperion Books, 2008, ISBN 978-0-7868-3819-6

Plot Summary*
This novel spins the tale of Frankie Landau-Banks, a smart, sassy fifteen year old who infiltrates her boyfriend's all-male secret society at their elite boarding school. Her freshman year, Frankie was an awkward, angular girl with frizzy brown hair who got by socially by hanging onto her older sister’s coattails. By sophomore year, she's a knock-out with one of the hottest guys at school, Matthew Livingston, flirting with her. They become an item, but Matthew keeps secrets from her, specifically about the all-male society that he leads, the same one that Frankie’s father belonged to eons ago. Frankie refuses to be excluded. She takes matters into her own hands and finds a way to covertly mastermind the secret society leading to the Canned Beet Rebellion and the abduction of the Guppy.This is a terrifically funny girl-power novel that might just stir up the reader's inner longing for rebellion.

*No spoilers here. We learn of Frankie’s infiltration of the Society of the Basset Hounds on the first page of the novel.

Critical Evaluation
For those who worry that all contemporary YA novelists litter their novels with LOL and TTYL to remain relevant, have no fear. The character of Frankie Landau-Bates is a P.G. Wodehouse reader and word-loving nerd with a terrific vocabulary that she regularly twists and subverts to make her own stamp on the world. One of her favorite tricks from Wodehouse is to create “neglected positives” by taking a word such as “impugn” or “disgruntled” and use the root without the prefix. For example, if earlier on a rainy day, one was feeling “disgruntled” she might feel “gruntled” once the sun comes out and so on and so forth. Frankie is smart and wordy, and she’s got the ability to pull the whole school into her (covert) operations. If she’s smarter than all of the boys in the secret society, shouldn’t they let her in? Keeping up with Frankie and her master-minding schemes and word-games are much of the fun of this novel.

Reader’s Annotation
Frankie’s father was part of an elite all male secret society at his private boarding school, and now it’s Frankie’s boyfriend who leads the very same secret all male Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds. Haven’t times changed? Frankie decides to take matters into her own hands.

Information about the Author
On the author’s website, we learn “I am the author of three Ruby Oliver books: The Boyfriend List , The Boy Book, and The Treasure Map of Boys — plus a fourth, Real Live Boyfriends,  that comes out December 28, 2010. Other books: Fly on the Wall, Dramarama, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks and How to Be Bad.
Disreputable History was a Printz Award honor book, a finalist for the National Book Award, and recipient of the Cybils Award for best young adult novel.

My books have been translated into 10 foreign languages. Or maybe more. I have a doctorate in English Literature from Columbia University and have taught composition, literature and creative writing courses at Columbia, Barnard and NYU. I have given guest lectures on writing for children at places which include Hamline University, VT College, and Kindling Words.”

Genre
Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties
N/A

Booktalking Ideas
Read aloud selections from Frankie’s confession to the headmaster and board of directors of her private boarding school to being the mastermind behind the recent activities of the Loyal Order of the Basset Hound. (From the first and second page of the novel.)

Reading Level
14+

Challenge Issues
N/A

Why Included?
I included this because it came recommended from a trusted source, was a National Book Award finalist, a Printz Award winner, and seemed like a fun read.