Rachel Simmons

When I first heard Rosalind Wiseman was writing a young adult novel, I was impressed. Many readers know her as the bestselling author of Queen Bees and Wannabes, which became the film Mean Girls. Making the jump from non-fiction to fiction feels – to me, anyway – like trying to throw a ball with my left hand.

I wondered if she could cross the tracks and really do it. The answer is yes.

In Boys, Girls & Other Hazardous Materials, Rosalind has written a witty, authentic book about starting high school: the bumpy, funny-twenty-years-from-now transition away from middle school pettiness into an exciting, if scary world of new experiences and choices. Rosalind is pitch perfect in the voice of Charlie Healey, a smart, occasionally sarcastic and endearingly vulnerable fourteen year old.

Charlie is new to Harmony Falls, a seemingly idyllic, ironically named, overprivileged hamlet. Hopeful that she can leave behind her cruelties as an eighth grade popular girl, she is relieved to get a fresh start. When she runs into an old friend, Will, she is drawn into his high status world on the lacrosse team. As she learns about the hazing habits of the team’s seniors, she is forced to choose between her loyalty to her friends and her own values.

That’s right: this isn’t just another “mean girl” book. Rosalind’s taking on boys this time: readers get an up-close look at the hazing, masculinity pressures and code of silence that dominate boys’ social hierarchies.

Rosalind has said this book spills all the secrets about badly behaved kids and adults that she’s been told over the years.  No doubt she’s dishing some real dirt here, and knowing that makes it an even juicier read.

There are lots of ways to reach and teach young people. As readers know, I’m often invited by schools to be the assembly speaker and talk about bullying. At times, I struggle with my medium. Standing up there and telling kids about their lives can feel didactic.

Rosalind has written characters who make smart, ethical decisions in a way that doesn’t feel cheesy or forced – and so has found a way to educate and entertain at the same time. While I thought the book’s climax was over too quickly after its page-turning build-up, this is an undeniably impressive debut that is as much an example of moral leadership as it is a good read. Don’t be put off by the cover, either: it’s not an accurate picture of what this book is really about.

Rosalind recently announced that she’s hitting the road for a Girl World tour, where she’ll run mother-daughter workshops in ten cities around the country, including St. Louis this Wednesday. Get a complete list of cities she’s visiting here. Don’t miss the opportunity to get a dose of Rosalind’s funny, spot-on and strategy-rich presentation.

It’s so easy to find examples in the popular culture of destructive messaging for girls. Here, finally, is a rare gift: this book is a much needed antidote to destructive fiction like The Clique series. Get it for every girl you know.

Bookmark & Share!