The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

 
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Pranks and Secret Societies, oh my!
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5.0
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Reader reviewed by the book muncher

According to the back cover, Frankie Landau-Banks as a freshman in high school was a slightly geeky girl in the Debate Club. But when she comes back the next year, nobody recognizes her because now she fills out her shirt. And that grabs the attention of a certain senior boy named Matthew Livingston, who soon becomes Frankies boyfriend.

But Frankie isnt content. Matthew often acts distant and doesnt treat her like an intelligent human being. So one day when he cancels their date, she follows him and discovers that hes a member of an all-male secret society. Frankie wants in, but theres no way she can without him Matthew out that she lied to him. Frankie knows she has the brains to get in, so she creates a false email account through which she directs the secret society into performing various pranks.

Although these pranks have the desired effect of reforming some of the schools practices, no one seems to understand the significance, and whenever Frankie tries to explain it, people write her off as thinking too hard. And of course, the pranks cant last forever. Someone has to step up and take the blame.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks was an incredible novel and one that I wont forget for a long time because it provided a lot of food for thought. It got me thinking about concepts I never wouldve thought of before. Frankies character is a mad genius and a work of art by E. Lockhart. I dont think Ive ever read a novel with such an amazing and unique character as Frankie is. It was kind of strange how fast Frankie thought, but that is just part of her character. The ending was only slightly surprising, but then it was foreshadowed.

I highly recommend this novel to everyone, and it has become one of my favorites. Those who like secret societies such as the one in Secret Society Girl by Diana Peterfreund will enjoy reading about the Loyal Order of the Basset Hound. Readers who like the boarding school setting will also enjoy this novel. I look forward to reading more novels by E. Lockhart, and all of you should look forward to when this novel comes out on the 25th of March.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com/
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Power to the girls!
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Reader reviewed by cieli

The Disreputable History Of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart is an amazing novel who's main character is a strong willed, sharp tounged  girl who will do anything to prove that she is as good a the guys. When the males at her school have a secret club she decides that it's very sexist of them to assume that only males can pull pranks and actually get away with it. She proves to all teens that read this story that gender does not specify who you are. Just because your a boy doesnt mean you can't like the color pink, just beacause your a girl does not mean that you can't play football. Frankie is a role model for all females by proving that girls are just as good as guys!
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Awesome Novel!
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Reader reviewed by ambeen

This is the first book I have read from E. Lockhart and I absolutely loved it. Lockhart is able to fully capture the emotions and thoughts of a teenage girl. Frankie was a very accurate depiction of fifteen year old girl, minus the whole boarding school secret society.

The secret society at Alabaster, the prep school Frankie attends, was an absorbing theme within the book. It was pure genius. It made me wish my school had a secret society that I would soon be tapped to join!

The books and articles Frankie was reading for her class that helped contribute to her role in the secret society are definitely something I think Ill be checking out. Not only was THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKS entertaining, it was informing, making me want to go out and seek more information on secret societies.

I really hope E. Lockhart writes a sequel for this novel. It was just so good. I cant say enough good things about it. I will definitely be checking out more of Lockharts novels. THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKS has secured her a place as one of my new favorite authors.
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A hillarious secret society adventure.
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Reader reviewed by Tasha

Frankie Landau-Banks is not your typical teenager. She seems more interested in participating in debates than painting her toes. After an amazing summer where she transformed for a duckling to a swan she is ready to return to Alabaster, the boarding school she calls home for most of the year. Alabaster used to be a male only school, but they allow girls to come as well. Even though girls are allowed at Alabaster now there is still a strong male dominance. Especially concerning a famous secret society, The Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds, who are infamous for their scandalous pranks. Frankie has only briefly heard of this rumored society from conversation her dad has had, as he was an alum of Alabaster and supposed member of the Order. Shortly after school begins Frankie captures the heart after the gorgeous, much sought after Matthew Livingston. She is soon his girlfriend and invited into his inner circle of friends. While she loves being apart of this group of guys she realizes that they are all apart of the Order and are keeping it a secret from her. With ambition and some super sleuthing skills, Frankie listens in on a couple of meetings and learns that Matthew and is right-hand man Alpha are the current, so-called Kings of the Order. Whenever tries to lure information out of Matthew-and o, does she try- he either acts like he is clueless or just plain ignores her. This infuriates Frankie in more than one way. First of all, she doesnt think her boyfriend should be keeping secrets from her and second of all she doesnt think its fair that the Order only allows male members. Being the type of girl that she is Frankie finds a devious way into the Order and makes sure that her name will go down in history. She devises many pranks and lets her message ring clear, but how is she getting away with it and how long can she make it last? Along her hilarious journey she realizes many things, not only about herself, but about how she should be treated.

When picking up this book I had high expectations, because it was written by the amazing E. Lockhart. Let me tell you, this book did not disappoint. In fact I think this is E. Lockharts best book to date. Frankies character was original and I felt like I instantly connected with her. I too have a lot of views that Frankie has, such as why do guys have different standards than girls and so forth. The way Frankie stood up for herself was great. I wish I could do as good a job as she could! Also the book was fall on the floor funny. I was laughing at all the pranks that got pulled and just the words that came out of Frankies mouth. The setting was also really neat. I could actually picture myself sitting in the cafeteria eating the wilted vegetables, and walking on the grass where it deliberately says No Walking on the Grass! I definitely think that this is a must read for anyone looking for a truly humorous, honest, and all around great book!
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Terrific!
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Reader reviewed by Rin

Frankie used to be that dorky girl with frizzy hair. Now, she's not.

In fact, she's managed to attract one of the most sought of seniors at their boarding school.

At first, Frankie is content with her life. That is, until she finds out her boyfriend is part of a secret society that girls aren't allowed in.

From there, things get interesting.

Frankie impersonates the group leader online, and effectively takes over the group and directs the group members to fufill certain pranks.

This book is hilarious and snarky and a joy to read. Pick it up asap! It truly is one not to be missed.
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Infiltrating the All-Male Secret Society
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Reader reviewed by Stephanie

The summer before her sophomore year at the esteemed Alabaster Prep boarding school, Frankie Bunny Rabbit Landau-Banks grows into an attractive young woman. With her new physique comes male attention in the form of Matthew Livingston, the handsome and self-assured senior Frankies had her eye on for a while; admittance into his enviable group of friends&and not much else, she soon begins to realize. For everyone only knows her as Matthews Girl, and if she even tries to make a semi-intelligent comment or argument, no one seems to really hear her.

So Frankie decides to take things into her own hands. There is a secret society at school, The Loyal Order of the Basset Hound, that stands for camaraderie, disorder, pranking&and masculinity, for it is an all-male club. Frankies ultra-WASPy father was a proud basset hound, and so, now, are Matthew and his best friend, Alpha (correlation to his pack status totally intentional). But lately the Loyal Order of the Basset Hound has been slipping a bit in terms of the quality of prankstership. I mean, seriously, sticking forks in the grassy quad? How lamer can you get?

When Alpha leaves campus for a few days before Halloween, members of the Loyal Order of the Basset Hound begin to receive emails from the mysterious [email protected], instructing them of what they have to do in order to carry out delightfully roguish pranks. Soon the whole school is in a stir over the social activism of the Basset Hounds pranks; students laudor just laughat the pranks, while the faculty is worried about these students mode of expression for their dissatisfaction in, say, cafeteria food.

Alpha gallantly accepts credit for being TheAlphaDog, the mastermind of the recent great pranks, but when TheAlphaDogs identity is compromised and they must reveal who they are, who is it really? And what are the consequences for that student for usurping the brotherly bond that is the Loyal Order?

E. Lockhart takes us through a delectable romp of the secret lives of boarding school students in a lively novel that combines feminism, teenage boys, and a hearty dose of pranking.
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E. Lockhart is Brilliant
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4.0
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Reader reviewed by Vanessa

Summary: Frankie Landau-Banks has always just been Bunny Rabbit. Known as harmless and adorable to the people around her. She attends Alabaster, a boarding school that her dad thinks more of a way of making connections for after you graduate rather than for its magnificent education system. Frankie comes back for her sophomore year a new woman... she is prettier and has grown boobs. Of course, big man on campus Matthew Livingston notices this when he stumbles on her having fallen over her bike. They begin a relationship. But this relationship is not ordinary. Matthew is keeping secrets from her. The loyalty he has with the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds is greater than a 2-month-old relationship. Since Matthew doesn't seem to want to tell Frankie about this secret society, Frankie tries to find out herself. And what she does after that is more than any other Basset has ever done (which have all been males, by the way). Frankie has always been underestimated and in this way she thinks to prove to everybody what she is capable of. However, what happens when things get more complicated?
My Thoughts (may contain spoilers): Great book! I mean, it took me around 60 or 70 pages to really get into it. But then on it was nonstop action. It made me laugh (once) even though it's not supposed to. I really didn't like Matthew much. He was so ugh, acting as though he didn't remember her from freshman year, etc. I wished something happened with Alpha. However, this book kept me on the edge of my seat as I was reading. Frankie is really something and I admire her character. I think I'll start using neglected positives from now on, haha.

Reposted at whatvanessareads.wordpress.com
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Okay, I guess.
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4.0
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4.0
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Reader reviewed by GirlwiththeBraids

Alabaster Prep is a widely-known boarding school with rich kids roaming the halls. Alabaster students dont give a second thought to the mysterious all-male society, the Basset Hounds. Some of them dont even know who they are. Then a mildy geeky, curvaceous young woman, Frankie Landau-Banks, wants to take the Basset Hounds farther than just quiet beer parties and lame pumpkin pranks. But she cant become a member because, obviously, she is a girl and her boyfriend would certainly not let her join (though he, himself, is a member). In a world of goofballs and wannabes, Frankie must show the Bassets how its done.

The story itself was original and fun. The writing was phenomenal and put other books to shame. I tried really hard, though, to like Frankie, the main character, but I didnt not achieve my goal. The only character I did like was looked down upon by everyone else in the book. Once I got to the middle, I was a little drawn away from it. There was a lot of feminism.

The quirky pranks were hilarious so I got a kick out of reading it. I also learned a lot of new words that I will try to remember in the future and use in my everyday vocabulary. Though I had a lot of back-and-forth admiration for this book, it is definitely worth checking out at your local library.

(Another left-down, but there are some sexual references within the pages of this book.)
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Don't judge a book by it's cover
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Reader reviewed by WilowRaven

YA Fiction.
I very much enjoyed this book. The protagonist, Frankie
is smart, funny and constantly underestimated by her family, friends
and especially her popular new boyfriend. Frankie is a student at
Alabaster Preparatory Academy and her boyfriend is part of a "Good Old
Boys" club called The Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds. Frankie knows
she will never truly belong to this group but she is determined to
discover their secrets and make her own mark in life - by beating the
boys at their own game. Lockhart makes some interesting correlations
between Alabaster and The Panopticon.

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A reputable book
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4.0
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4.0
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Reader reviewed by mearley

Frankie is a sophomore at an elite New England boarding school.  While dating a senior, she realizes that even though he likes her, his first priority is to be with his friends.  Feeling left out, Frankie follows Matthew one night and eavesdrops on a meeting of a secret society--no girls allowed.  Desperately wanting Matthew to respect her on the same level he respects his "brothers," Frankie starts secretly manipulating the secret society.

Told by a detached yet informed narrator, advanced readers will find this novel a nice change of pace from typical YA books.  I really enjoyed Frankie's manipulation of language and the complexity of her character.  On the other hand, her desperate need for acceptance by the boys began to annoy me.  (But maybe that's what will make readers relate to her.  Many high school girls feel the same way...)

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