Picked up this book while browsing the library. I wasn't sure what to expect and found the book to be mediocre and underwhelming. There is a mix of storytelling focusing on various teenagers and then analysis. Neither of which was particularly memorable.

I don't normally add my book reviews to FB, but in this case, I feel like this is book that needs the attention. If you are a teacher, work in a school, or have or know any children that are going to grow up into teenagers, you need to read this book. Alexandra Robbins is a great author and makes non-fiction books an easy read. This book follows several students who below to different "groups" and how these groups affect individuals as well as the schools they go to. It is scary to think how narrow our definition of "normal" is. I really enjoyed the personal stories and I was impressed that there was a section specifically to address "what can be done". Most books tend to either be missing or gloss over this component. As a parent, I think this was an important book to read but if I were a teacher, teenager or school administrator I would consider it even more important.

It was a good read and interesting, but I found the title a bit misleading. I thought the book would focus more on the success geeks encounter after graduation and why they are so successful. The book touched on this slightly, but mostly focused on experiences of students still in high school and how they can come to appreciate themselves for who they are.

I have read all of Alexandra Robbins' books, and while some might find her subject areas cliched, I really enjoy the individual stories. I find myself growing attached to each person and their plights. It does successfully make you rethink how you view people who are "different" than you.

This book was really interesting to me at the beginning but by the end I found myself just skipping through to read the updates on each of the case study people. It also made me think back to high school & I guess I'm lucky that I don't remember feeling like I was part of any of the extreme groups!

Great book, very informative. Makes me see my teens differently and helped me understand some of their behaviors.

I loved this book and its message...I'm a sucker for a good story about an underdog and would love to know how their lives turn out :) Somewhat troubled, but fascinated, by the unfortunately true picture it paints of some educators.

I am not big on non-fiction, but this one was actually pretty interesting. I enjoyed reading about the different students and "hearing" their stories. When it got technical about things, my eyes glazed over a bit, but luckily those technical parts weren't too long and soon enough I was reading about those kiddos again:). I sure hope they were successful in their adult lives!

I read this book in preparation to co-lead a middle school/high school staff book discussion. I am not a huge fan of nonfiction but appreciated Robbins' approach to writing about a subject that, after a while, might appear dry. Robbins follows 6 members of the "cafeteria fringe," social outcasts who are struggling to find their place on the outskirts of popularity. Through their stories, she pieces together a picture of the "losers," "geeks," "nerds," "stoners" and more who never feel like they quite fit in. In between their narratives, Robbins discusses how these outcasts actually possess the qualities that most adults strive for and wind up being more successful adults than the populars.

I thought Robbins' hypothesis was interesting and can certainly see the connection between the qualities outcasts possess (creativity, organization, academic ability, in touch with emotions, etc.) and the likelihood that they will be successful adults.

Robbins gives each of the 6 fringe members a challenge to help them come out of their shells and encourage connection with people. I was not wowed by what she asked them to do but it does seem as thought the challenges had positive impacts on the participants. I would have liked to see more of a "where are they now" kind of thing or perhaps some interviews with adults who could give testimony to the "fringe theory" that she describes.

I look forward to discussing this with educators. Robbins makes some accusations arguing that, frequently, teachers are part of the problem. It will be interesting to get their take on this subject.

A good read for parents and teachers . . .