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

Lockhart, E. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. Hyperion. 2009. ISBN-13: 978-0786838196

As a teacher, I cringe a little bit when I think of the potential this book has for inciting a prank-war at your school. Not only does this book glorify these elaborate pranks because of their insightful nature, but it adds to the mystique of adolescents joining an exclusive gang for prestige and power. By the point at the end of the book where they discuss Frankie getting expelled, I felt like I was back in high-school and bitching about the principal breaking up our impromptu whiffle-ball tournaments at lunch or cracking down so heavily on the idea of a single senior prank day, that the few that did do something were prevented from walking on stage at graduation. Now, as an adult I see myself trying to keep students out of mischief to avoid any potential harm to themselves, their classmates, or the school facility. I think this book laughs in the face of the authorities in the school setting, and builds up administrators as being no-nonsense sticklers for rules to maximize the academic output of their institutions. It really made me laugh at myself for taking things so seriously at my school. I’m not sure if that proves my other point as absurdly disconnected or very “surdly connected”…

Regardless of the possible upheaval of the school power structure, I think this book is a great resource for kids that feel like they struggle to fit into a social group where everyone is naturally cool and accepted except them. It shows that even one of the coolest, smartest, and most creative protagonists in YA Literature still struggles with the concept of whether she really fits in or not. Everyone in this book seems to live some sort of double or triple life to nurture and balance their standings in different social, academic, and personal relationships. The point seems to be that everyone struggles with their own identity at that age, and most of what you think you know about people is only them acting certain ways to impress you (and everyone else) right back. It is ok to search for your place in society, because even though you rarely find an exact fit, you almost always end up understanding yourself better through the process.