Book: Art Geeks and Prom Queens
Author: Alyson Noel
Pages: 226
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Reviewed by: Kat (Age 20)
Amazon.com Price: $4.51
Purchase: Here

Art Geeks and Prom Queens centers on 16-year-old Rio Jones, a NYC native who has relocated to sunny and laid back Newport Beach in Southern California. Rio feels instantly out of place in the O.C scene when she arrives late and overdressed on her first day of school. Things end up going pretty well, however, when she is befriended by two 'art geeks' - the gorgeous Jas and his friend Mason.

Eventually Rio finds herself invited to join the three most popular girls in the junior year, lead by the beautiful, rich and icy cheerleader Kristi. Their clique is strictly exclusive and like many clubs, it has strict rules. Rules about who you socialize with and who you don't (IE: Art geeks), what you wear but the most important and deadly rule: Never cross Kristi...

I absolutely loved this novel! In fact, on an average weekday the only recreational reading I allow myself is while I work out on my treadmill, I generally hop of the treadmill as soon as I complete my twenty-minute workout. While reading Art Geeks and Prom Queens I found myself doubling and even tripling my work out sessions just so I could keep reading!

Alyson Noel is a brilliant author who really captures the essence of her lead character and all the highs and lows of being a teenage girl in a world of superficiality and backstabbing drama queens.

The novel is written in first person from Rio's perspective. As she becomes more popular and more influenced by the cattiness of popularity you can actually spot - in her narration - the gradual change in her reasoning and thinking. It's brilliant.

The book is also deliciously funny. I was snorting with laughter from page one until page two-hundred and twenty-six!

There are some great lessons to be learned from the book regarding being popular and being true to yourself though I must point out that it does include offensive language, sexual content and some drug use. If it were a film it would most likely have a PG-13 rating and I wouldn't describe it as suitable reading for some of Portrait's younger readers; definitely geared toward older teens.

Art Geeks and Prom Queens is a must read!