Before the Blog (4): Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern

Some of you already know this, but I've started a weekly meme called "Before the Blog". In short, it's a place to review books you read and loved before you began blogging about them. Basically, you choose a book each week, then answer the following three questions,and post your review.   Then you can add your post to the little Mr. Linky widget below, and voila!


Why did you choose this book? 
When did you read this book?
Who would you recommend this book to?

For more info, see my 1st BtB post by clicking this LINK.  The book I chose this week is hilarious and one I wish was around when I was in high school.

Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Publication Date: September 29th, 2009

Why did you choose this book?  I loved it so much.  It's a quick read, perfect for a rainy day when you need a few good laughs.  It's light and heartwarming.  A favorite of mine.

When did you read this book?  October, 2010

Who would you recommend this book to?  Teens who are having trouble embracing who they are.  Older YA readers who remember all too well the pains of high school, no matter what their social status was.  Anyone who wants to laugh.

It’s Jessie’s sophomore year of high school. A self-professed “mathelete,” she isn’t sure where she belongs. Her two best friends have transformed themselves into punks and one of them is going after her longtime crush. Her beloved older brother will soon leave for college (and in the meantime has shaved his mohawk and started dating . . . the prom princess!) . . .

Things are changing fast. Jessie needs new friends. And her quest is a hilarious tour through high-school clique-dom, with a surprising stop along the way—the Dungeons and Dragons crowd, who out-nerd everyone. Will hanging out with them make her a nerd, too? And could she really be crushing on a guy with too-short pants and too-white gym shoes?      

If you go into the wild nerd yonder, can you ever come back?

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I originally chose Into the Wild Nerd Yonder because I was drawn to the cover.  I was previewing books for the YA section at my daughter's school book fair and I thought that between the title and the cover art, this could be hot seller for girls.  I'm so glad that I decided to read it because although I decided it was inappropriate for 6th graders, I found a new favorite and an author who I will read forever (other books include Get Well Soon and the newly released Don't Stop Now).

Julie Halpern is so witty and spot-on when in comes to life inside the walls of the average high school.  She nailed it when describing the social hierarchies and fickle moods of the average teenager.  I laughed so many times remember back to my high school years.  This is a great coming of age story as well.  I wish I would have been able to embrace my nerdom and wear it as proudly as the nerds in this book did (I was a total closet nerd- you know, the kind that acts dumber than she is so she's not classified as a nerd).  I loved the ending and well, everything about this book!  If you like a few good laughs and a great story, read this!

My Rating: ★ ★ ★★ ★ 

Grade Level Recommendation:  A friend of the protagonist gets an STD and it's not just mentioned in passing.  There's a good bit of language and a lot of very high school situations.  I would say this is a high school book.  Ages 14+ (9th grade+).