Cabot, Meg. How to be popular.

CABOT, Meg. How to be popular. Read by Kate Reinders. 5 cds. 5.5 hrs. Listening Library. 2006. 0-7393-3778-5. $45.00. Vinyl; plot, author, reader notes. JS

From the KLIATT review of the book, July 2006: "Steph, funny and wholesome, is notorious at her school for once spilling a drink all over the most popular girl. Time has passed and she's fed up with being the butt of all jokes. When Steph comes across a book called How to Be Popular, she quickly sets out to change her reputation and present a new self. She makes huge strides in what she thinks is the right direction, which causes her to question what she is doing. In the process of becoming popular, she learns about herself and what she actually values, bringing the novel to a satisfying end."

Narrator Reinders's fully voiced reading, with just the right tone for each character, makes the listener feel present with Stephanie as she carefully plots her way into popularity while the A-Crowd watches in disbelief. Stephanie's grandfather is spunky, yet loving; her mother is audibly exhausted and stubborn; her best friend Jason is believably stumped by and frustrated with Stephanie's new behavior; and Lauren, her longtime nemesis, is pitch-perfect in her arrogance while oozing adoration and composure when around Mark Finley, the boy with whom Stephanie thinks she is in love. The most wonderfully portrayed moments are those when Stephanie begins to realize who she really loves, as she desperately argues with herself over her unexplained feelings. The only parts of the audio that seem off are when the action and dialog don't clearly transition into portions of the book from which Stephanie is reading. But listeners will easily forgive this as they enjoy Stephanie and her self-discovery.

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

Stephanie Squicciarini, Teen Svcs. Libn., Fairport PL, Fairport, NY