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The Market
When Kate Winthrop stumbles upon the Millbank Social Stock Market (the MSSM), she's horrified to discover that out of the 140 girls in her class, she’s ranked a bleak 71. Determined not to accept her fate as a "junk bond," she and her friends, Dev and Callie, set out to make her the fastest rising stock on the Market - and their plan works. Kate is suddenly embraced by the most popular girl in school and attracts the attention of the hottest boy. But Kate's remarkable stock rise is coupled with a moral descent, till she is in danger of losing her friends and herself in her obsessive run to the top of the market.
Get ready for a bullish ride into the world of popularity in The Market , an irrationally exuberant new offering by the author of The Taker.
Get ready for a bullish ride into the world of popularity in The Market , an irrationally exuberant new offering by the author of The Taker.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2008
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569 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
March 25, 2011
I think I enjoyed this one WAY too much for a 25 year old, sensible mom…but I just couldn’t help myself. I got sucked into the world of High School popularity, comparisons and competition. It made me think back. What would I have been ranked? Would I have been somewhere in the middle like Kate or the leader of the pack like Gretchen or as low as Dev? Wouldn’t you like to know?!?!? HAHAHA
I know, it’s sooo shallow right? But, there was something redeeming in Kate. She could be very stupid at times, but at others I’d be screaming “that’s my girl.” All in all, the author did a good job of letting her characters come across as realistic and relatable. I could see myself in just about all the people she included… from the Mom just trying to fit in and be “someone” in her hometown, to the good girl cheering her friend on and even with the mean girl (a little bit). I absolutely adored Jack and after the ending, I understood Will and felt for him, even though I hate him and his whole crew. When I talked about wanting to scream at Kate it was almost always because of how she was acting around Will, almost always affecting Jack. She really needed to open her eyes and see the big picture. But, didn’t we all at 17? If I had wrote a book about my life in High School, I know people would have been SCREAMING at me as well!!!
“What I was looking at was a ranking.
The Ranking of every girl in the senior Class!
I scrolled down.
And down.
And down. I suddenly wondered if I was even listed.
Until I finally saw my initials. I was right above Hester Schultz.
71 out of 150.”
“A dud’s a dud”, she tossed out. “Like when Coke tried to launch New Coke. You can’t fake quality. It’s like being beautiful-I mean you either are or you aren’t right? You can’t convince people that something is true just by telling them it is.”
4 stars :) I liked it!
I know, it’s sooo shallow right? But, there was something redeeming in Kate. She could be very stupid at times, but at others I’d be screaming “that’s my girl.” All in all, the author did a good job of letting her characters come across as realistic and relatable. I could see myself in just about all the people she included… from the Mom just trying to fit in and be “someone” in her hometown, to the good girl cheering her friend on and even with the mean girl (a little bit). I absolutely adored Jack and after the ending, I understood Will and felt for him, even though I hate him and his whole crew. When I talked about wanting to scream at Kate it was almost always because of how she was acting around Will, almost always affecting Jack. She really needed to open her eyes and see the big picture. But, didn’t we all at 17? If I had wrote a book about my life in High School, I know people would have been SCREAMING at me as well!!!
“What I was looking at was a ranking.
The Ranking of every girl in the senior Class!
I scrolled down.
And down.
And down. I suddenly wondered if I was even listed.
Until I finally saw my initials. I was right above Hester Schultz.
71 out of 150.”
“A dud’s a dud”, she tossed out. “Like when Coke tried to launch New Coke. You can’t fake quality. It’s like being beautiful-I mean you either are or you aren’t right? You can’t convince people that something is true just by telling them it is.”
4 stars :) I liked it!
March 28, 2011
I'm surprised by how much I ended up liking this book. At first, when I began to read it it reminded me of Meg Cabot's own book How To Be Popular. I thought it was okay, so my hopes for this book were not all that high.Yet as the story continued I found myself very much involved in the book and falling into Kate's(aka Kat) world. We know high school to be hard but to place each girl in a marketing system and tamper with their emotions is really one of the best ways to show how high school can be very difficult for a teenage girl, even one who is a senior and only has a few weeks until graduation. At the end,I was pretty much happy with how it ended. Although it was a bit like a Disney ending(not exactly but almost there) it also gave Katie back some power. I thought this book was excellent and those who read it should just remember that people like this are in high school, just because you are not one of them doesn't mean they don't exist, they are there in different shapes, forms, looks, personalities, etc. I rented this book from my library but I would like a copy of my own to read over again.
November 29, 2020
Once upon a time I folded down a whole bunch of corners in this book with every intention to review it, and then I left the book in Canada and changed countries six times in a year (2018 was weird) and these days my copy is still in Canada and I am not, and...it's 2020. It might be a while before I can go visit. And I still have this book marked to be reviewed.
The thing is: the premise of the book is that some girls uncover an elaborate ranking system of the girls in their high school. Kate is distraught to learn that she's firmly middle-of-the-road in the rankings: not plastic enough to be highly rated, not interesting enough to be poorly rated; just somewhere in the forgotten ranks.
I can live with that part of things. What's harder to take is that they don't ever question it. Their concern is not that this ranking exists—their concern is how to game the system, get to the top, and...win the approval of the boys, I guess. If I remember correctly (and I might not), there's a point at which Kate & co. are lectured for this but the boys running the system are not. In other words, they buy into this misogynist crap lock, stock, and barrel, and I was (am) so very very not impressed.
The thing is: the premise of the book is that some girls uncover an elaborate ranking system of the girls in their high school. Kate is distraught to learn that she's firmly middle-of-the-road in the rankings: not plastic enough to be highly rated, not interesting enough to be poorly rated; just somewhere in the forgotten ranks.
I can live with that part of things. What's harder to take is that they don't ever question it. Their concern is not that this ranking exists—their concern is how to game the system, get to the top, and...win the approval of the boys, I guess. If I remember correctly (and I might not), there's a point at which Kate & co. are lectured for this but the boys running the system are not. In other words, they buy into this misogynist crap lock, stock, and barrel, and I was (am) so very very not impressed.
November 22, 2013
One time I ate 24 pudding cups in a day and I threw up but I didn't regret anything. This book is completely different. I regret so much
July 16, 2008
Year of Pub: 2008
Publisher: Hyperion Press, New York, NY
School Library Journal
( April 01, 2008 ; 1-4231-0013-1 )
Gr 9 Up-During the last six weeks of her senior year, Kate Winthrop finds out she is number 71. She doesn't know what that means until she receives a mysterious instant message that sends her to a Web site, where she finds that it is her ranking (out of 140) in the Millbank Social Stock Market, an underground market allowing insiders to buy and sell investments in Millbank High's female seniors. After freaking out, she tells her friends about the scheme and decides to revamp herself. The girls plan to buy into the market for $500 and then win the $25,000 year-end pool by raising Kate's status from junk bond to blue chip. During her transformation, she almost loses her friends, becomes entangled in a love triangle, and learns that being popular isn't all it's cracked up to be. While Kate has the same thoughts that haunt other teens (and engages in the same underage drinking like many of them) this isn't just another makeover novel. After her revamping, Kate decides that she doesn't want to be in the popular crowd after all. Teens who like Sixteen Candles and Can't Buy Me Love (which Kate watches) will dig this book.-Shannon Seglin, Patrick Henry Library, Vienna, VA Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
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Voice of Youth Advocates
( April 01, 2008 ; 1-4231-0013-1 )
The number seventy-one does not mean much to brainiac Kate until Michael Milken IMs her the URL and password to the Millbank Social Stock Market. Logging on to the site, Kate learns that someone has ranked the 140 girls in her class at Millbank High School in order of social standing. Her number? The dreaded seventy-one. Kate refuses to be a social nobody, so she enlists the help of her two best friends to raise her stock to blue-chip status. With a month to go before graduation Kate is on her way to becoming a late-blooming popular girl, but in her quest for Strong Buy status she endangers the values of her friendships and potential boyfriend. The concept of assigning monetary values to popularity is a strong plot device but the execution falls short of its promise. Kate's book-smarts far overshadow what little wisdom she has regarding other people. In the end, Kate's neglected friends are the ones who reveal the true intentions of Kate's popular new boyfriend. Kate's inability to see anyone in the popular crowd for who he or she really is becomes frustrating because at the same time she is elevating her stock values, her mother is vying for membership in an exclusive Essex County, New Jersey, country club and Kate can clearly see her mother's damaging concern with outward appearances. Despite the book's predictability, readers will want to see the ultimately likeable Kate triumph over the popularity market. --Carlisle Kraft Webber.
Publisher: Hyperion Press, New York, NY
School Library Journal
( April 01, 2008 ; 1-4231-0013-1 )
Gr 9 Up-During the last six weeks of her senior year, Kate Winthrop finds out she is number 71. She doesn't know what that means until she receives a mysterious instant message that sends her to a Web site, where she finds that it is her ranking (out of 140) in the Millbank Social Stock Market, an underground market allowing insiders to buy and sell investments in Millbank High's female seniors. After freaking out, she tells her friends about the scheme and decides to revamp herself. The girls plan to buy into the market for $500 and then win the $25,000 year-end pool by raising Kate's status from junk bond to blue chip. During her transformation, she almost loses her friends, becomes entangled in a love triangle, and learns that being popular isn't all it's cracked up to be. While Kate has the same thoughts that haunt other teens (and engages in the same underage drinking like many of them) this isn't just another makeover novel. After her revamping, Kate decides that she doesn't want to be in the popular crowd after all. Teens who like Sixteen Candles and Can't Buy Me Love (which Kate watches) will dig this book.-Shannon Seglin, Patrick Henry Library, Vienna, VA Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
Back to TopBack to Top
Voice of Youth Advocates
( April 01, 2008 ; 1-4231-0013-1 )
The number seventy-one does not mean much to brainiac Kate until Michael Milken IMs her the URL and password to the Millbank Social Stock Market. Logging on to the site, Kate learns that someone has ranked the 140 girls in her class at Millbank High School in order of social standing. Her number? The dreaded seventy-one. Kate refuses to be a social nobody, so she enlists the help of her two best friends to raise her stock to blue-chip status. With a month to go before graduation Kate is on her way to becoming a late-blooming popular girl, but in her quest for Strong Buy status she endangers the values of her friendships and potential boyfriend. The concept of assigning monetary values to popularity is a strong plot device but the execution falls short of its promise. Kate's book-smarts far overshadow what little wisdom she has regarding other people. In the end, Kate's neglected friends are the ones who reveal the true intentions of Kate's popular new boyfriend. Kate's inability to see anyone in the popular crowd for who he or she really is becomes frustrating because at the same time she is elevating her stock values, her mother is vying for membership in an exclusive Essex County, New Jersey, country club and Kate can clearly see her mother's damaging concern with outward appearances. Despite the book's predictability, readers will want to see the ultimately likeable Kate triumph over the popularity market. --Carlisle Kraft Webber.
June 26, 2010
This was a fairly well done, interesting teen read. The plot revolves around Kate, who discovers that the whole social hierarchy of her high school life is based on The Market. The Market ranks every girl in senior year, and the girls are treated like stocks that can be bought, sold, and traded. When Kate finds out that she's number 71 out of 140, she's horrified. With her friends Callie and Dev, she comes up with a plan to undermine the market and make her way to the top. Unfortuneately, doing so mean giving up a lot of things ...
Although a classic, cliché-ed teen novel, it was still captivating enough to make it a good read. This is not one I'd read over and over however. I give it a 3 out of 5.
Although a classic, cliché-ed teen novel, it was still captivating enough to make it a good read. This is not one I'd read over and over however. I give it a 3 out of 5.
August 14, 2012
I picked this book up because I found the stock market thing on the synopsis original, and I wanted to try something new. The Market did not disappoint me. I absolutely loved it! And it is just so dang easy to connect with the characters, and this book was amazing. If you are reading this review and have decided to give this book a try, be aware that there is a struggle between two guys, and Kate and her friend Dev. It doesn't bother you, but if you like straight-forward novels, this book isn't for you. But as for everyone else, I strongly suggest that you read it.
May 3, 2010
Kate Winthrop exists at Millbank High School. She isn't on the lowest rung of the social ladder, but definately isn't at the top either. The story begins with Kate attending a party put on by the Proud Crowd, the A-listers of the school. An invitation showed up in her locker and even though she was reluctant to go since she doesn't run in those circles, her two best friends, Callie and Dev, insist she go so she can tell them all about what happens. The party isn't a fun experience for her though. Gretchen, the queen bee of the school, lets her know with catty remarks that she was never supposed to be there. She also calls her 71 and Kate becomes curious about the refernce.
One night at home while on the computer, Kate gets the answer to her question about 71. She receives an IM giving her a website leading her to the Millbank Social Stock Market. The MSSM is a ranking of all 141 girls in the senior class at Millbank High. Kate learns that she is ranked number 71. After filling in Callie and Dev about the stock market, they device a plan to increase Kate's value. In order to enter the market, you have to put in $500. At the end of the school year, the person with the largest portfolio, wins the pot which would be about $25,000.
After developing a business plan, Dev, Kate, and Callie, begin to implement the changes to her wardrobe, hair, and other daily behaviors. Throughout the ups and downs of the market, Kate learns about friendship, love, and the importance of popularity.
J.M. Steele, author of The Taker, has written another relevant novel about the pressures of high school. The unique angle to this story is the stock market element. It would be a great way to connect literature to an economics class.
One night at home while on the computer, Kate gets the answer to her question about 71. She receives an IM giving her a website leading her to the Millbank Social Stock Market. The MSSM is a ranking of all 141 girls in the senior class at Millbank High. Kate learns that she is ranked number 71. After filling in Callie and Dev about the stock market, they device a plan to increase Kate's value. In order to enter the market, you have to put in $500. At the end of the school year, the person with the largest portfolio, wins the pot which would be about $25,000.
After developing a business plan, Dev, Kate, and Callie, begin to implement the changes to her wardrobe, hair, and other daily behaviors. Throughout the ups and downs of the market, Kate learns about friendship, love, and the importance of popularity.
J.M. Steele, author of The Taker, has written another relevant novel about the pressures of high school. The unique angle to this story is the stock market element. It would be a great way to connect literature to an economics class.
August 17, 2012
First of all, I haven't read this book in quite a while, so forgive me if my memory is blurry.
SPOILER ALERT!
Kate is a highschool girl who happens to stumble upon an online list of the "market values" of all the girls in her school. When she finds herself a bleak 71 (or 72, I forget) she is determined to raise her status. With the help of her friends, she raises herself to the top 5 and like any unpopular girl turn popular, she becomes obsessed with being #1 and being popular.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay... I was a bit disappointed with this book. I thought it would be different, but in the end, it turned out to be another book about an ugly or plain Jane girl turn popular and pretty, then she regrets it and goes back to her old self. She loses some friends along the way, regains them later and all is well. Plus, I'm pretty sure she always gets the guy in the end, no matter what.
Truth be told, I wasn't planning to read this book. I looked it up on Goodreads first and after reading the description, I felt no need to read the actual book. The description gave away too much. But I did read the book and semi- enjoyed it and semi-regretted it.
All in all, I'd give this book a 3.5, but as I've mentioned in another review, Goodreads doesn't allow half stars so I went with 3 stars.
SPOILER ALERT!
Kate is a highschool girl who happens to stumble upon an online list of the "market values" of all the girls in her school. When she finds herself a bleak 71 (or 72, I forget) she is determined to raise her status. With the help of her friends, she raises herself to the top 5 and like any unpopular girl turn popular, she becomes obsessed with being #1 and being popular.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay... I was a bit disappointed with this book. I thought it would be different, but in the end, it turned out to be another book about an ugly or plain Jane girl turn popular and pretty, then she regrets it and goes back to her old self. She loses some friends along the way, regains them later and all is well. Plus, I'm pretty sure she always gets the guy in the end, no matter what.
Truth be told, I wasn't planning to read this book. I looked it up on Goodreads first and after reading the description, I felt no need to read the actual book. The description gave away too much. But I did read the book and semi- enjoyed it and semi-regretted it.
All in all, I'd give this book a 3.5, but as I've mentioned in another review, Goodreads doesn't allow half stars so I went with 3 stars.
December 29, 2013
This book followed Kate, on her rise to the top of the social ladder. In her senior year, after four years of being unnoticed, she begins to find the number '71' plastered in various parts of her life. That number leads her to find the Market, a website that ranks the 140 senior girls of her high school, and Kate is horrified to learn she is #71. Her and her friends devise a plan to get to the top.
I've never read a book with this plot before, and I was excited to start it. It proved to be just another high school novel though. Predictable plot twists, naive characters, lots of obsessing over boys. The only part that surprised me was the end. It was a bad feeling of surprise though, and I was a bit disappointed. The fact that the end was out of the norm was a good addition though, and I appreciate it for that.
There were a few little things that borderline offended me. More than once the author used 'retarded' (page 241 for example) and also 'schizo' (page 242) as a derogatory.
I wouldn't go out of my way to read this, but I recommend it if it sounds really creative to you, as it did to me.
I've never read a book with this plot before, and I was excited to start it. It proved to be just another high school novel though. Predictable plot twists, naive characters, lots of obsessing over boys. The only part that surprised me was the end. It was a bad feeling of surprise though, and I was a bit disappointed. The fact that the end was out of the norm was a good addition though, and I appreciate it for that.
There were a few little things that borderline offended me. More than once the author used 'retarded' (page 241 for example) and also 'schizo' (page 242) as a derogatory.
I wouldn't go out of my way to read this, but I recommend it if it sounds really creative to you, as it did to me.
December 13, 2012
'The Market' has to be one of J.M. Steele best books. At 336 pages, this young-adult book was actually a really quick read. Centered around high school senior Kate Winthrop, this novel tells the tale of high school popularity on steroids. When Kate accidentally comes across her school's "social stock market" and realized that she's ranked 71 out of 140 girls in the senior class (a junk bond), she sets out to rise through the ranks and become a blue-chip stock with her too best friend Dev and Callie. When she soon finds herself ranked 2/140, second only to the most popular girl in the school-Gretchen Tanner-things begin to go horribly wrong. I really enjoyed reading 'The Market'. It was a crazy take on the everyday trails of high school popularity. I couldn't stop reading!
April 8, 2010
This book wasn't the best that I've read, but it's not the worst either. I don't evem know what to say about it. It's your typical "Girl's unhappy with her social standing, Girl fixes her problem and climbs the social ladder, Girl falls on her butt, loses friends, and becomes a psycho b****, story ends." The ending sucked to me. She lost her friend, Dev. She ended up even lower on the market than before, and she lost out on all the graduation activities. Uber dumb in my opinion. I only read this because I'm in the 'Battle of the Books'. One of the stupid ones...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2008
I liked this book sooooo much.Someone creates a stock market ranking every girl in the senior class from 1 to 140.When Kate Winthrop finds out she is number 71 on the list she freaks out.Her and her friends Dev,Callie creates a plan to push her to the top and make alot of money.Somewhere along the book their plans take a different lead and their friendship is tested.Kate learns the difference between whats fake and whats real,who her true friends are, and the diffence between love and lust.
December 24, 2015
This book deserves a 5 because although it can seem like a childish plot it was humorous in a good way and very uplifting.
February 25, 2024
The Market J.M. Steele
(Bookspine QC, Feb. 24, 2024)
P. 13 - So far, so good!
P. 36 - FL is complaining about her life, not knowing it's as good as life gets. But I can still remember being her age, and longing for freedom and money, and my crush liking me back. I mean, her hs job is a dream come true to me, though. 😭
P. 57 - It's turning out to be a realistic kind of queen bee-unpopular girl trope, but I'm here for it. Also the part where she feels small because all she has is brains and a good heart, I want to shake her shoulders and yell, "But that's all you need!! :C"
P. 70 - I'm really enjoying this now. If this plot was made into a movie and the casting and acting was great, this would be a comfort movie for me. The characters are intelligent and aren't cringe.
P. 90 - Weeerk ⭐💅
P. 113 - Idk about Will, but for now I'm Team Jack. Plays guitar, reads, and can hold his own against book thieves? Zamn.
P. 147 - Zaaaaamn. HS me would've been all over this book. I'm 25 now and I'm STILL all over this. 🤣 Hahahaha I'm excited where this will all lead. Again, the moments feel real, not at all cringe and fake, which I really appreciate. ^^ 👍
P. 157 - JAAAACK 😍😭🤭
P. 170 - I keep waiting for the moment I'll be torn between Will and Jack, but it's still not coming. Team Jack all the way 😭
P. 192 - Am I disappointed with Kate? Yes. But do I understand her? Also yes. As for Michael Milken, my guess is it's Will.
P. 205 - Disappointed again with Kate, but the only real victim here is Mr. Walsh. 🤣 Dev kinda got what's due to her. That makes it even between her and Katie. 🤣
P. 216 - Katie or Cady? At this point I'm just here for how things are gonna end. Cliché or somehow original? Cringey or real?
P. 222 - Okay, Cady (I mean, Katie) is officially pissing me off with the stupid, remorseless questions. And I think Callie and Jack are my fave characters in this book.
P. 235 - What the heck kind of a dream is being a successful social climber? Sheesh, Katie's mom. What happened to you? Who bullied you in high school?
P. 244 - Will is soooo SUS, sister.
DONE. That was soooo good. I'd totally recommend it to a high schooler (or any age, really) who needs to learn a thing or two about caring too much about being popular with both the boys and other girls. I love the ending. It did finish in an original way. No unrealistic crap, just sitting with the consequences of all wrong choices made, and finally realizing the important things in life, only after experiencing the loss of them.
(Bookspine QC, Feb. 24, 2024)
P. 13 - So far, so good!
P. 36 - FL is complaining about her life, not knowing it's as good as life gets. But I can still remember being her age, and longing for freedom and money, and my crush liking me back. I mean, her hs job is a dream come true to me, though. 😭
P. 57 - It's turning out to be a realistic kind of queen bee-unpopular girl trope, but I'm here for it. Also the part where she feels small because all she has is brains and a good heart, I want to shake her shoulders and yell, "But that's all you need!! :C"
P. 70 - I'm really enjoying this now. If this plot was made into a movie and the casting and acting was great, this would be a comfort movie for me. The characters are intelligent and aren't cringe.
P. 90 - Weeerk ⭐💅
P. 113 - Idk about Will, but for now I'm Team Jack. Plays guitar, reads, and can hold his own against book thieves? Zamn.
P. 147 - Zaaaaamn. HS me would've been all over this book. I'm 25 now and I'm STILL all over this. 🤣 Hahahaha I'm excited where this will all lead. Again, the moments feel real, not at all cringe and fake, which I really appreciate. ^^ 👍
P. 157 - JAAAACK 😍😭🤭
P. 170 - I keep waiting for the moment I'll be torn between Will and Jack, but it's still not coming. Team Jack all the way 😭
P. 192 - Am I disappointed with Kate? Yes. But do I understand her? Also yes. As for Michael Milken, my guess is it's Will.
P. 205 - Disappointed again with Kate, but the only real victim here is Mr. Walsh. 🤣 Dev kinda got what's due to her. That makes it even between her and Katie. 🤣
P. 216 - Katie or Cady? At this point I'm just here for how things are gonna end. Cliché or somehow original? Cringey or real?
P. 222 - Okay, Cady (I mean, Katie) is officially pissing me off with the stupid, remorseless questions. And I think Callie and Jack are my fave characters in this book.
P. 235 - What the heck kind of a dream is being a successful social climber? Sheesh, Katie's mom. What happened to you? Who bullied you in high school?
P. 244 - Will is soooo SUS, sister.
DONE. That was soooo good. I'd totally recommend it to a high schooler (or any age, really) who needs to learn a thing or two about caring too much about being popular with both the boys and other girls. I love the ending. It did finish in an original way. No unrealistic crap, just sitting with the consequences of all wrong choices made, and finally realizing the important things in life, only after experiencing the loss of them.
July 1, 2021
How far would you go for ________??
Friendship is on the line because of their business plan. At first, it just went well as they have expected. But it turns out for worse. Kate Winthrop just changed. I admit that it's what Dev wanted but she didn't expected it either. Callie's right. Problems will come after their so-called social experiment.
Ranked at 71, Kate wanted to be part of Blue Chip and not just any junk bond. I just hate that it turns into an obsession.
Anyway, it's a lesson learned for all of them.
Buy low, sell high. Hahah
Financial Market comes into play. That's why I kinda find it interesting.
NO MORE GAMES.
#themarket #jmsteele #bookreview
Friendship is on the line because of their business plan. At first, it just went well as they have expected. But it turns out for worse. Kate Winthrop just changed. I admit that it's what Dev wanted but she didn't expected it either. Callie's right. Problems will come after their so-called social experiment.
Ranked at 71, Kate wanted to be part of Blue Chip and not just any junk bond. I just hate that it turns into an obsession.
Anyway, it's a lesson learned for all of them.
Buy low, sell high. Hahah
Financial Market comes into play. That's why I kinda find it interesting.
NO MORE GAMES.
#themarket #jmsteele #bookreview
February 26, 2021
This book is so good!! For me it drew some comparisons to Mean Girls which I really enjoyed! Even though it was released back in 2008 it still handles topic that are still relevant today! Also the ending left me totally shocked (in the best way possible!)
July 10, 2017
It's as if someone watched Mean Girls and ripped off the general plot, except the author wasn't talented enough to make it remotely captivating or believable. Lots of eye rolling over here.
July 25, 2019
An intriguing look on popularity and how it affects people.
October 19, 2020
This one was ... something else.
I found it very interesting and defintiely brough back way too many high school memories
but the over all story was great!
I found it very interesting and defintiely brough back way too many high school memories
but the over all story was great!
June 17, 2024
I enjoyed the econ part of this I’m not sure what that says about me?! Hahaha the little romance part was meh.
June 18, 2014
The Market is in short, a lot of fun. Armed with an intriguing and unique plot as well as Katie, a protagonist that is easy to understand and relate to, it would have been difficult for me not to have become absorbed with this novel. The whole concept of having a stock market ranking girls based on popularity and physicality is terrible but I have to be honest in saying that it made for a highly entertaining novel. I found the concept to be different; a fresh way of addressing the topic of popularity and striving towards it in a new and interesting way.
The Market like I mentioned above is a fun book but it addresses many topics serious in nature such as a longing to fit in, not feeling good enough and so on. It manages to cover a lot of ground all the while keeping you intrigued and in suspense the whole way through.
Now, I hate, no, loathe economics yet somehow The Market was able to take similar concepts that I'd been forced to study in the past and made them entertaining. The plot for this book was great! I guess you could say that it was predictable in some areas although I spent the majority of the time while reading being so wrapped up in the happenings that were occurring in the present that I didn't think too far down the road as to what was possibly going to unfold next. Even though I predicted a few small occurrences, many parts of this book did take me by surprise.
Character wise, I really liked Kate. I think that many people will be able to recognize many different parts of themselves within her. Although I never would have gone to the extremes that Kate did, I still found myself sympathizing and being able to comprehend her actions and desires. We've all at one point and time in our lives desired to fit in and be accepted by our peers. It's a part of growing up, yearning to be well liked and wanted etc. That's what made Kate so appealing to me, the fact that she was just a girl like everyone else with similar desires and wants that we've all at one point and yearned for.
Overall: I really enjoyed The Market. Like I had assumed prior to reading it, the concept makes for a very interesting and overall highly enjoyable read. You won't be able to put it down once you've become absorbed in Kate's world.
The Market like I mentioned above is a fun book but it addresses many topics serious in nature such as a longing to fit in, not feeling good enough and so on. It manages to cover a lot of ground all the while keeping you intrigued and in suspense the whole way through.
Now, I hate, no, loathe economics yet somehow The Market was able to take similar concepts that I'd been forced to study in the past and made them entertaining. The plot for this book was great! I guess you could say that it was predictable in some areas although I spent the majority of the time while reading being so wrapped up in the happenings that were occurring in the present that I didn't think too far down the road as to what was possibly going to unfold next. Even though I predicted a few small occurrences, many parts of this book did take me by surprise.
Character wise, I really liked Kate. I think that many people will be able to recognize many different parts of themselves within her. Although I never would have gone to the extremes that Kate did, I still found myself sympathizing and being able to comprehend her actions and desires. We've all at one point and time in our lives desired to fit in and be accepted by our peers. It's a part of growing up, yearning to be well liked and wanted etc. That's what made Kate so appealing to me, the fact that she was just a girl like everyone else with similar desires and wants that we've all at one point and yearned for.
Overall: I really enjoyed The Market. Like I had assumed prior to reading it, the concept makes for a very interesting and overall highly enjoyable read. You won't be able to put it down once you've become absorbed in Kate's world.
August 12, 2012
I'm not going to lie - I have a soft spot in my hard for all chick lit books - especially those about high school. But, that wasn't the sole reason I continued to read The Market well past the first few chapters.
While many YA books about high school are oh-so-cliche, the concept of this novel really did draw me in and compelled me to read it through and give it a chance. Yes, the concept is shallow - but it's also a concept that, given the chance, I'm sure every average teenage girl would carry out in the real world - and I can assure you there are definitely some girls who have tried.
The book is an easy read, and rah-rah people can act all pretentious and hate on it's content and similarity to other books about popularity, but the fact of the matter is that it's a YA book aimed at teenage girls: it's unreasonable to expect it to be earth shattering. It met it's criteria for a simple Sunday evening time buster.
Favourite two parts of the book?
1. Kat/Kate/Katie was real.
She was relatable. She didn't have any delusions that the boy really does love her and always will. The author voiced all her concerns - the same ones that you, as the reader, was thinking. It was a good portrayal of her character and made you not hate her: which is an extremely difficult thing to come by when reading YA novels, trust me, I know.
2. The ending was real.
She didn't end up with the perfect-boy-of-her-dreams-who-makes-a-mistake-but-is-forgiven. She didn't end up with his best-friend-who-sticks-around-and-was-there-the-whole-time-you-just-didn't-know-it. It wasn't predictable in that annoying YA way, which made it perfect.
Yes, I evidently like books that are real. Which is ironic, considering the opinion that a large majority of people have of YA books - which is that they're fiction stretched to the limit of being ridiculous.
This really was a good book. And I liked it and became attached to it much more than I expected.
While many YA books about high school are oh-so-cliche, the concept of this novel really did draw me in and compelled me to read it through and give it a chance. Yes, the concept is shallow - but it's also a concept that, given the chance, I'm sure every average teenage girl would carry out in the real world - and I can assure you there are definitely some girls who have tried.
The book is an easy read, and rah-rah people can act all pretentious and hate on it's content and similarity to other books about popularity, but the fact of the matter is that it's a YA book aimed at teenage girls: it's unreasonable to expect it to be earth shattering. It met it's criteria for a simple Sunday evening time buster.
Favourite two parts of the book?
1. Kat/Kate/Katie was real.
She was relatable. She didn't have any delusions that the boy really does love her and always will. The author voiced all her concerns - the same ones that you, as the reader, was thinking. It was a good portrayal of her character and made you not hate her: which is an extremely difficult thing to come by when reading YA novels, trust me, I know.
2. The ending was real.
She didn't end up with the perfect-boy-of-her-dreams-who-makes-a-mistake-but-is-forgiven. She didn't end up with his best-friend-who-sticks-around-and-was-there-the-whole-time-you-just-didn't-know-it. It wasn't predictable in that annoying YA way, which made it perfect.
Yes, I evidently like books that are real. Which is ironic, considering the opinion that a large majority of people have of YA books - which is that they're fiction stretched to the limit of being ridiculous.
This really was a good book. And I liked it and became attached to it much more than I expected.
July 14, 2009
Rating B+
Review I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The plot was strong, the characters interesting, the writing fun to read, and the ending was meaningful in a way that didn't make you feel like you'd wasted your time reading the book.
The plot was a little twist on the classic YA theme of social climbing, but using the stock market index as a motif (set within the context of Kate learning about economics in school) was a fresh twist on this idea. Also, the "twist" about how things happened kind of surprised me; granted, I figured it out before Kate did, but it wasn't straight off the bat that I knew how all the pieces fit together.
Beyond the fact that Kate was a little bit more a slow learner than I was, she was a good character. At the end of the book there is a lot of stuff dealing with forgiveness (as most books about social climbing and popularity likely have), but Kate was strong, she didn't just forgive the popular people for the sake of being popular. She had empathy, but wasn't a weepy mealy-mouthed loser either. I really liked her. I really liked the guys that were critical to the story and the Queen Bee of the poular click was really nicely drawn as well. I liked Kate's friends a good deal, but one of the friends (Callie) didn't get quite as much attention, and I'd have liked to have gotten to know her a bit better. Other than that, no complaints on the characterization front.
This was a good, solid read that I'll probably keep on my shelf, waiting to find just the right person to loan it to. (And I'll probably pick up the other book by J.M. Steele.)
Recommendation Fans of YA literature that uses loser-to-winner social status as a common theme, likes to read about first love (and its ensuing confusion) are likely to enjoy this book.
Review I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The plot was strong, the characters interesting, the writing fun to read, and the ending was meaningful in a way that didn't make you feel like you'd wasted your time reading the book.
The plot was a little twist on the classic YA theme of social climbing, but using the stock market index as a motif (set within the context of Kate learning about economics in school) was a fresh twist on this idea. Also, the "twist" about how things happened kind of surprised me; granted, I figured it out before Kate did, but it wasn't straight off the bat that I knew how all the pieces fit together.
Beyond the fact that Kate was a little bit more a slow learner than I was, she was a good character. At the end of the book there is a lot of stuff dealing with forgiveness (as most books about social climbing and popularity likely have), but Kate was strong, she didn't just forgive the popular people for the sake of being popular. She had empathy, but wasn't a weepy mealy-mouthed loser either. I really liked her. I really liked the guys that were critical to the story and the Queen Bee of the poular click was really nicely drawn as well. I liked Kate's friends a good deal, but one of the friends (Callie) didn't get quite as much attention, and I'd have liked to have gotten to know her a bit better. Other than that, no complaints on the characterization front.
This was a good, solid read that I'll probably keep on my shelf, waiting to find just the right person to loan it to. (And I'll probably pick up the other book by J.M. Steele.)
Recommendation Fans of YA literature that uses loser-to-winner social status as a common theme, likes to read about first love (and its ensuing confusion) are likely to enjoy this book.
June 1, 2008
Kate Winthrop is an average teenage girl. She has her two best friends, is four weeks away from graduation, and is perfectly happy with her life as it is. And then, at a party she has no business attending, she overhears someone mockingly call her "Seventy-One." Next thing she knows, she's gotten a mysterious IM with a link to the Millbank Market, a stock-market-esque website that rates the "stock" of each of the 140 girls in Millbank's graduating class. Kate is #71.
At first, Kate is crushed to discover that she's not even in the top 70. But then, she and her friends concoct a plan: they'll invest in her stock, and then give her a makeover so that her "value" shoots up--and then they'll make a killing.
It's a great idea--at first. But as the social experiment progresses, Kate and her friends get so wrapped up in it that they begin to forget the things that are really important. Will becoming a hot commodity make Kate forget all the things she really cares about?
This book gets two stars because the concept is so much fun. It's a great and silly idea, and with the right execution, this could have been a great book.
Unfortunately, the writing is terrible. The voice is cheesy and over-the-top. Kate, and all of her friends--all of the characters--are cliches. The plot is so predictable that I could cheerfully have bet my life savings on the direction it would take and not had to worry. The parts of the book which actually could have been interesting are introduced as a plot point and then completely ignored. There were a hundred ways to make this novel meaningful, interesting, powerful and entertaining all at once--and instead, JM Steele chose to make it a predictable, shallow cliche.
This book is a definite sell.
At first, Kate is crushed to discover that she's not even in the top 70. But then, she and her friends concoct a plan: they'll invest in her stock, and then give her a makeover so that her "value" shoots up--and then they'll make a killing.
It's a great idea--at first. But as the social experiment progresses, Kate and her friends get so wrapped up in it that they begin to forget the things that are really important. Will becoming a hot commodity make Kate forget all the things she really cares about?
This book gets two stars because the concept is so much fun. It's a great and silly idea, and with the right execution, this could have been a great book.
Unfortunately, the writing is terrible. The voice is cheesy and over-the-top. Kate, and all of her friends--all of the characters--are cliches. The plot is so predictable that I could cheerfully have bet my life savings on the direction it would take and not had to worry. The parts of the book which actually could have been interesting are introduced as a plot point and then completely ignored. There were a hundred ways to make this novel meaningful, interesting, powerful and entertaining all at once--and instead, JM Steele chose to make it a predictable, shallow cliche.
This book is a definite sell.
August 5, 2011
STEELE, J. M. The Market. 288p. Hyperion. Apr. 2008. RTE $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-0013-3. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up--During the last six weeks of her senior year, Kate Winthrop finds out she is number 71. She doesn't know what that means until she receives a mysterious instant message that sends her to a Web site, where she finds that it is her ranking (out of 140) in the Millbank Social Stock Market, an underground market allowing insiders to buy and sell investments in Millbank High's female seniors. After freaking out, she tells her friends about the scheme and decides to revamp herself. The girls plan to buy into the market for $500 and then win the $25,000 year-end pool by raising Kate's status from junk bond to blue chip. During her transformation, she almost loses her friends, becomes entangled in a love triangle, and learns that being popular isn't all it's cracked up to be. While Kate has the same thoughts that haunt other teens (and engages in the same underage drinking like many of them) this isn't just another makeover novel. After her revamping, Kate decides that she doesn't want to be in the popular crowd after all. Teens who like Sixteen Candles and Can't Buy Me Love (which Kate watches) will dig this book.--Shannon Seglin, Patrick Henry Library, Vienna, VA
Source Citation
Seglin, Shannon. "Steele, J. M. The Market." School Library Journal Apr. 2008: 150. General Reference Center GOLD. Web. 5 Aug. 2011.
Gr 9 Up--During the last six weeks of her senior year, Kate Winthrop finds out she is number 71. She doesn't know what that means until she receives a mysterious instant message that sends her to a Web site, where she finds that it is her ranking (out of 140) in the Millbank Social Stock Market, an underground market allowing insiders to buy and sell investments in Millbank High's female seniors. After freaking out, she tells her friends about the scheme and decides to revamp herself. The girls plan to buy into the market for $500 and then win the $25,000 year-end pool by raising Kate's status from junk bond to blue chip. During her transformation, she almost loses her friends, becomes entangled in a love triangle, and learns that being popular isn't all it's cracked up to be. While Kate has the same thoughts that haunt other teens (and engages in the same underage drinking like many of them) this isn't just another makeover novel. After her revamping, Kate decides that she doesn't want to be in the popular crowd after all. Teens who like Sixteen Candles and Can't Buy Me Love (which Kate watches) will dig this book.--Shannon Seglin, Patrick Henry Library, Vienna, VA
Source Citation
Seglin, Shannon. "Steele, J. M. The Market." School Library Journal Apr. 2008: 150. General Reference Center GOLD. Web. 5 Aug. 2011.
December 9, 2012
I think this book is mostly for girls. I learned that later on in the middle of the book when my sister told me but I was already halfway done and couldn't stop then. So I finished it and I thought this book was very good. I recommend this book for all the girls in my advisory. In this book, a girl named Kate Winthrop goes to this popular girl's party named Gretchen. Later on she finds out there is a website that is set up like a stock market. But instead of investing in companies, it rates the 140 girls in her senior class in her school, Millbank High. She is ranked 71 out of the whole senior class and is horrified. She knew she wasn't popular but didn't think she was that bad either. So she sets out on a journey with her friends to bring her to the top of her game. But she goes way to far and things get in the way of their friendship. Will she be able to repair the gap in the hole of their friendship with her two best friends?
I feel like this book teaches you a lesson about friendship and not caring so much about popularity. In this book Kate gets so caught up in being popular that she takes a chance on breaking her friendship with her best friend, Dev and Callie. This book taught me that lesson and I think it will teach everybody that. It made me think that a lot of people want to be popular and never talk to their old friends. I care about my friends more than I care about popularity. I love this book and I hope you guys read it!!
I feel like this book teaches you a lesson about friendship and not caring so much about popularity. In this book Kate gets so caught up in being popular that she takes a chance on breaking her friendship with her best friend, Dev and Callie. This book taught me that lesson and I think it will teach everybody that. It made me think that a lot of people want to be popular and never talk to their old friends. I care about my friends more than I care about popularity. I love this book and I hope you guys read it!!
March 9, 2011
This book was a simple story of a girl named Kate. She lived in a small town, and is a senior at MHS. Though she is pretty, she is one of the girls who always fades into the background, until she discovers the list. She finds out about "the list" one night when she went to a party that she thought she had been invited to. When turning to leave, someone called after her "71!". Perplexed, she thought about it, but mostly ignored it. That is, until she got a mysterious IM with a link to "the market". The market was like a stalk market that the guys in the senior class had created, which ranked all of the girls. Enraged, she and her friends Dev (number 121) and Cassie (number 11)set out to ruin "the Market" once and for all. This story reminded me of The movie Mean Girls. I mean, a pretty girl who was shy with nice friends, who then goes on to become popular and let greed come to her head? Just a LITTLE similar (use sarcasm for that last sentence). Anyway, even though the stories were both alike, the ending was nice, if not a little too dramatic. But anyway, this book wasn't TOO awful, and this story would definitely be a good read for those who love to read about "girl drame".
March 31, 2016
At first i didn't seem so interested in "the market" until i started getting more into the book. I continued reading it, and started to understand everything going on. Kate (the main character) gets the thought of popularity suck in her head, that her and her friends take it to another level. Its crazy how everything adds up in the end and how everything falls together because of one simple plan, to become popular. I would tell everyone to read this book if i could, It has love, and drama. The author did such a good job, in making you feel like you, personality are in the story to, and that you are apart of everything that's going on. Basically like you have back stage tickets to a concert. The book has a twist to it, but one thing that i hated was how it ended, i felt like it left me off the cliff, i wanted there to be more and i wanted to know what happened with everyone, i really wish it had a better ending but other than that this was a really good book and i would recommend it 100 times if i could!!
September 24, 2009
It was pretty early on when I realized I wasn’t going to like this book. It opens with our main character Kate (Kat, Katie) at a party. She has a huge crush on a guy named Will and when he actually comes over to talk to her she is SO excited. He is totally wasted and for some reason she thinks that’s totally sexy. I guess I like my guys sober. I kept reading, but after 100 pages or so I sort of skimmed through the rest. Overall it was just kind of boring for me and not really that original. Unpopular girl goes through makeover and rises to the top of the high school food chain. Turns out things aren’t as they seem and she discovers who her real friends are and finds true love in the guy who was there all along. Blah blah blah. Maybe I’m being a little harsh, but I really think in the hands of another author this could have been a cute story.
J.M. Steele is actually a pseudonym for two NY “entertainment industry professionals” (whatever that means).
J.M. Steele is actually a pseudonym for two NY “entertainment industry professionals” (whatever that means).
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