Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek (A Memoir)

NewYorkTimesBestsellerPopular:VintageWisdomforaModernGeekisatouchinglyhonest,candidlyhystericalmemoirfrombreakoutteenauthorMayaVanWagenen.'Schoolisthearmpitoflife...andmyschoolisnoexception'Stuckatthebottomofthesocialladderat'prettymuchthelowestlevelofpeopleatschoolwhoaren'tpaidtobehere,'MayaVanWagenendecidedtobeginauniquesocialexperiment:spendtheschoolyearfollowinga1950spopularityguide,writtenbyformerteenmodelBettyCornell.Cancurlers,girdles,Vaseline,andastrandofpearlshelpMayaonherquesttobepopular?Thereal-liferesultsarepainful,funny,andincludeawonderfulandunexpectedsurprise-meetingandbefriendingBettyCornellherself.Toldwithhumourandgrace,Maya'sjourneyoffersreadersofallagesathoroughlycontemporaryexampleofkindnessandself-confidence.'Therealdeal...AteenageJohnGreenforthenextgeneration.Stunning.'MargaretStohl,bestsellingco-authorofthebestsellingBeautifulCreaturesseries'Populariswonderful.Itischarming,touching,entertaining-andbroughtbackalotofmemoriesaboutmyownhighschoolanxieties.Iwillbesavingmycopytogivetomydaughterwhensheisalittleolder'JoElvin,Glamour'Iwasinspiredby[Maya's]journeyandmadeapointofsavingacopyof'Popular'formysister,whostartsmiddleschoolthisfall.MaybeifIhadreaditwhenIwasherage,itcouldhavesavedmefromaworldofhurt,oratleastputthatworldinperspective.'MaudeApatow,NewYorkTimesBookReview'Mademesmile,giggleandquestionwhatmyideaofpopularityreallyis..Amustreadthissummer'GuardianBooksBlog'Honest,funny,andthought-provoking.'GretchenRubin,#1bestsellingauthorofTheHappinessProject'Heryear-longexperimentinpopularityistimeless;theintelligentandhumanewayshegetstotheheartofthematterisuniquelyher.Funny,determined,andwry,VanWagenanhaswrittenawise,heartfeltguideforotherkidseagertokeepup.'RachelHartman,NYTbestsellingauthorofSeraphina'Atalentedwriter,she'sfunny,thoughtfulandself-effacing...Teenswillreadilyidentifywithher'KirkusAbouttheauthor:MayaVanWagenenisfifteenyearsold.Whenshewaseleven,herfamilymovedtoBrownsville,Texas,thesettingofPopular.Whennothunchedoveradesktopwriting,Mayaenjoysreading,BritishTelevision,andchocolate.ShenowliveswithherparentsandtwosiblingsinaruralGeorgia.Sheisasophomoreinhighschoolbutstillsharesaroomwithhersixthgradebrother.Remarkablytheyhavenotyetkilledeachother.