Great book, a must-read if you are a teacher, parent, student, or anyone who works with children. Opens up your eyes to why certain cliques hold certain behaviors and how society influences the way "geeks" are viewed. I enjoyed the personal examples used in the book, and the suggestions at the end on how to encourage acceptance wherever you are.

I only got 12% through the book, so no rating, but I was leaning towards 3 stars.

I believe the author's theory, that often those who are different and shunned in high school, later blossom. They become the entrepreneurs, the business leaders, the creative and successful artists. What stopped me from reading further is the descriptions of the social lives of the teens Robbins studied. It reminded me of all that is bad about high school, and since I was once somewhat an outsider, and I have two sons (10th and 8th grade) that could be grouped into one of the categories the book lists, I just don't need to read anymore.

Still, it seems well researched, and yay, for quirk theory!

Started off interesting but just became too repetitive and lost momentum. I felt like the author was stretching the content to fill the book. Could not finish.

This book really was fascinating. I liked to read about each of the characters and their own story/ progression/ challenges. It was interesting how she showed how people judge others and try to categorize them into some group and give them a label - even as adults.

There were so many interesting points discussed. I had never thought about there being cliques among teachers at a school. That was disturbing on a few different levels. I have to say though - the teacher who brought the cd to give her students was so immature. (I don't want to spoil anything but you know who I'm talking about if you've read the book.)
She was always so surprised to be getting in trouble. "But the students love me!" I think she was a little too relatable to the students?

I liked the part at the end that talked about different things to do to address bullying and encouraging students to reach out to one another.

There was a lot of language. F bombs galore. I guess the author was just trying to capture the language of High schoolers. Oh and sex.

There was a lot of the book that I didn't agree with though. I feel like she didn't take into account what happens to kids who have a strong relationship with their parents and family. And who are deeply religious. I think that gives people (kids and adults) the self esteem they need by having a solid anchor. They aren't seeking another group or yearning to be accepted by someone they think is popular. She briefly mentions Christian or religious kids as a fringe group but nothing more.

All in all - an interesting one-time read.

An interesting read!

A very interesting book. It made me quite happy that I didn't go to high school in America XD I don't think I ever fully realized how many of your passions could make you unpopular (I still have trouble believing that kids were teased for being singers/songwriters... not because I think the book lied, but because it's such a ridicoulous concept).
I liked the way the author used the personal stories of the main "characters" to talk about much larger issues, and I appreciated the advice at the end of the book.
The ending of the personal stories felt a little too... good. Everyone was able to finish the year in a much better place than where they started? It's hard to believe it would work every time.

I related to this because I was an outcast in school BUT I did find it hard to get through this book.