HOW NOT TO BE POPULAR

Picking up in the middle of yet another of her ultra-liberal parents’ cross-country moves, it’s obvious that 17-year-old Sugar “Maggie” Dempsey is sick of relocating, especially when this latest move from Oregon to Texas separates her from her best friend and first serious romance. Determined to avoid more painful goodbyes when her parents inevitably move again, Maggie immediately launches “Operation Avoid Friends,” which to some may seem slightly presumptuous. Maggie’s plan includes a wacky wardrobe, ignoring the popular students and joining the geekiest student group possible, which is only for the sake of her college applications. Predictably, Maggie’s plan backfires; her outfits are deemed trendsetting. Despite her best efforts she falls for Jack, who, though her ideological opposite, is irresistible. Maggie and Jack’s relationship rings true, adding an irresistible sincerity to both characters that allows Maggie’s self-discovery and growth to unfold naturally. Thoughtful and fun. (Fiction. YA)