Art Geeks and Prom Queens - Alyson Noel

Title : Art Geeks and Prom Queens
Author : Alyson Noel
Publisher : St.Martin's Press
Publication Date : September 1st 2005
Format : Paperback, 240pages
Synopsis : click here
Review :

You Reap What You Sow

Rio Jones is a new kid from New York. She's got her mother's look and height. Basically, she is a gorgeous girl. But somehow she doesn't aware of  it. She starts to hang out with Jas and Mason and for some reasons, she got detention and her mother told her not to hang out with them anymore. Then she meets Kristi, a popular girl who seems to have lots of friends. Kristi told her that in order to be one of her friends, Rio needs to follow some rules, which most of it are ridiculous. It was a new thing for Rio. She used to have two best friends and they did not seem to have any rules to follow.

I enjoyed reading this, although at some points I found myself shaking my head in disbelief. Like seriously? *Rolling eyes* I am not fond of Rio. She is very easily influenced by anything and she acts like she's living in a fairy tale, which a bit annoying. I wish she finds the courage to say 'No' but no, she just goes with Kristi's plans and rules.

Lessons to be learned :
1. Just be yourself. Don't pretend smoking if you just want to look cool. Trust me, you will look ridiculous by then. Especially when you ended coughing,etc. Your friends won't tell you that you are such a cool person, but instead they will call you a liar for lying that you can smoke. So, just be yourself.
2. Don't think too much about how people will react towards you. Instead put yourself first.
3. Don't get overconfident. It will just do more harm than good.
4. Don't pretend to be someone else or like things that you actually hate just because you are desperately want to join the popular groups. Back to point no.1, just be yourself.
5. Don't befriend with someone who think that you eating your entire lunch is gross.
6. When someone you know give you a cocaine, tell yourself that (s)he isn't your friends and say 'No'.
7. Don't play with someone's heart because it's not a toy.

"Zane seems really nice?"
"Really? You think so?"
"Well, yeah."

"Well, that's nice. 'Cause we broke up.'


"I guess I kind of blew that, huh?"
"You didn't know."

"Well, Monique seemed really nice. Or did you break up, too?

"No, we didn't break up, we're still together." pg.64

When I was reading this, I was like,'Geez, what the hell is wrong with Rio?? Is she out of her mind?
That's not kind of a joke at all. I don't know why she said that in the first place. *sigh* She tries to be funny but it turned out so bitter and odd.

When she befriend with Kristi and her groups, she admits that everyone starts to know her and call her name. But is it really worth it? Like when you make over yourself thoroughly, do you really want it? I mean, yes, maybe people will start admire you but what about yourself? Do you like it? Do you make it for yourself or just to please people? For me, my opinion is more about important than others. Their opinions are important as well, but when you look at yourself in the mirror and you find it charming while your friends tell the opposite, don't change any of it. People have a different style and point of view. You can follow them, but it doesn't mean that you have to follow their words all the time. You know, you have to love yourself first before someone else can love you. 

When I finally get that this book involves bullying, I can't help but sigh. I'm quite aware that bullying happens a lot at school where jocks, popular crowds try to gain power and control over another students. When they ask you to join their groups but you resist, you will just be their new enemy. If you are not a tough person, they will see you as easy target and try to attack and humiliate you. If you can't defend yourself better, then you will just be a particular victim that get bullied repeatedly over time. I learned this from the book I read for my thesis, Nineteen Minutes.

The only way to prevent and stop it is to talk openly about it. Find someone you trust to share this thing. You can talk to your parents about it. Don't ever think that they don't care. Children are their pearls, they will listen and help you get through your problems.