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How Not To Be Popular
Maddie tries to be nice to everyone. Even weird, chicken-obsessed Tahlia.
BUT she’d way prefer to hang out with the cool K-girls at school. The only problem is that they don’t seem interested in her, at least not until Year 6 camp. That’s when Maddie has a decision to make: how far will she go to be popular?
Will she be able to live with the guilt when she finally has everything she’s been hoping for?
Follow Maddie’s hilarious antics with chickens, secrets and undies in the latest adventure at Kangaroo Valley Public School.
BUT she’d way prefer to hang out with the cool K-girls at school. The only problem is that they don’t seem interested in her, at least not until Year 6 camp. That’s when Maddie has a decision to make: how far will she go to be popular?
Will she be able to live with the guilt when she finally has everything she’s been hoping for?
Follow Maddie’s hilarious antics with chickens, secrets and undies in the latest adventure at Kangaroo Valley Public School.
- GenresMiddle GradeChildrens
194 pages, Paperback
Published March 15, 2019
26 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Cecily Anne Paterson
23 books126 followersCecily Anne Paterson is the author of eight novels for young teen girls, as well as an award-winning memoir for adults.
Her first novel Invisible, was a semifinalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards in 2014, and 'Charlie Franks is A-OK' won the CALEB Award in 2017.
Cecily writes 'brave-hearted fiction', hitting some serious issues, but in an age-appropriate, clean, and helpful way, and always with a hopeful ending.
Cecily grew up in Pakistan, where she went to boarding school in the Himalayan mountains, and now lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband, four children and a cuddly dog.
Her first novel Invisible, was a semifinalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards in 2014, and 'Charlie Franks is A-OK' won the CALEB Award in 2017.
Cecily writes 'brave-hearted fiction', hitting some serious issues, but in an age-appropriate, clean, and helpful way, and always with a hopeful ending.
Cecily grew up in Pakistan, where she went to boarding school in the Himalayan mountains, and now lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband, four children and a cuddly dog.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 2, 2019
My thoughts in a nutshell
This is a perfect middle-grade children book. I would read to my non-existent child.
The story is about…
Skip over this point if you don't like the sneak peek.
Maddie wants to be a popular kid so she hangs out with cool girls. They aren't too friendly with her. They called themselves to 'K girls' because all girls have K in their name, but Maddie hasn't. Maddie tries to do everything to fit in the group. She accepted to do a mean prank but in the end, she learns a very important lesson.
What impressed me the most 😊
I love the valuable lesson. Maybe everybody knows that feeling when you want to be a part of a community and you just not fit in the group. You attempt to do everything to fit in, and soon you realize that it will be better if you let it go, and find real friends. It is a very good choice to let our children learn how to handle this situation early in their life. How Not To Be Popular helps them to understand.
I like the writing style! It is an Australian novel and I understood it perfectly. The context is child-friendly. If you have a younger child do not worry, he/she will understand clearly.
I love Maddie. She is such an amazing protagonist. She has a strong character development. I adored it so much! Thalia is a shy little girl but she has a reason why she is so diffident.
We should be kind to each other because we don't know what the other people are struggling with.
Make a conclusion
I gave it 4.5 stars because I would have loved to see some drawings. It would be perfect!
I recommend it to everybody! I'm serious. If you have kids read this one for them. If you like children book then it is for you.
Atmosphere collage aka. how did I imagine the book vibes?
*ARC generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
February 21, 2019
Main character Maddie is desperate to be part of the cool kids gang at school, and for a while it seems like she is - well, almost. But when her supposed friends ask her to do something she knows isn't right, she knows she's going to have some tough choices to make.
This is a great book for middle to upper primary readers tackling some familiar themes (bullying and friendship etc) without lurching into cliche. I would have loved a book like this when I was at school (and yes, I did have pet chickens...)
This is a great book for middle to upper primary readers tackling some familiar themes (bullying and friendship etc) without lurching into cliche. I would have loved a book like this when I was at school (and yes, I did have pet chickens...)
March 19, 2019
This wonderful little book is set in Australia in Kangaroo Valley. Never having any experience with Australia, I enjoyed looking up terms like doona, Nutbush City Limits and Wollongong. I also learned that a child in school who is year six, is 11 or 12, like grade six in the U.S. The voice of the book is a girl named Maddie. Maddie has a keen desire to hang out with the populars, not the ordinaries and definitely not Tahlia. Why does Tahlia like those chickens so much anyway. Maybe Maddie can open her heart one day and find out. The populars or K-Girls the call themselves, are okay with Maddie hanging around them, but she is never included in the elite little group. The K-Girls because all their names begin with the letter, K further excludes an M-Girl like Maddie. This doesn’t deter her struggle to gain their approval. The desire to be popular prompts Maddie do do things her upbringing tells her conscience not to do. She makes her mistakes and suffers the consequences. Her true character shines through as this coming of age story unfolds.
I hate to label books as gender books, but this is definitely a good read for 4-6 grade girls struggling with identity
The Australian writing was most enjoyable.
I hate to label books as gender books, but this is definitely a good read for 4-6 grade girls struggling with identity
The Australian writing was most enjoyable.
February 21, 2019
Maddie wants to be popular, and so she hangs out with the popular girls, even though she finds, in the 6th grade, that she isn't quite fitting in, because they have decided to call themselves the K-Girls, and there is no K in Maddie's name.
So, she thinks the way to get back into their good graces is to pull a mean prank on one of the ordinary, non popular girls, Tahlia. But this only makes things worse, because now the mean girls, I mean the popular girs have something to hold over Maddie, and she feels miserable that she pulled the prank.
But, she also learns that they aren't really her friends. Not if they want to do her harm.
It is so hard when you want to be in a group that doesn't want you. And there is nothing wrong with being weird, like Tahlia, who loves chickens and lives with her grandfather because she does.
This is a delightful story of how to navigate and fail, and try again to get through sixth grade, when the K-Girls don't have your back.
And although this is Australian, the words that are different from American words, can be figured out in context.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
So, she thinks the way to get back into their good graces is to pull a mean prank on one of the ordinary, non popular girls, Tahlia. But this only makes things worse, because now the mean girls, I mean the popular girs have something to hold over Maddie, and she feels miserable that she pulled the prank.
But, she also learns that they aren't really her friends. Not if they want to do her harm.
It is so hard when you want to be in a group that doesn't want you. And there is nothing wrong with being weird, like Tahlia, who loves chickens and lives with her grandfather because she does.
This is a delightful story of how to navigate and fail, and try again to get through sixth grade, when the K-Girls don't have your back.
And although this is Australian, the words that are different from American words, can be figured out in context.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
February 19, 2019
A really good, engaging read with a valuable lesson to be learned about kindness. I loved the characters and it was well-written. I'm definitely going to be reading more from this author.
November 26, 2019
I really liked this one. I think that someone dealing with bully "friends" should read this. It would help kids understand and not feel like they have to act a certain way. I liked Maddie and was glad she realized what was going on.
CA
CA
January 14, 2020
Maddie considers herself part of the popular girls at her school but when they dare her to do something mean to another girl - and she does it, she suddenly finds herself wondering whether being popular is more important than being kind.
October 16, 2021
This chapter book is another installment in the popular adventures at Kangaroo Valley Public School, but you don't have to have read any of the others to appreciate it. It's a stand-alone story.
Maddie wants to be one of the cool kids and hang out with the K-girls. The Grade 6 camp provides the perfect opportunity, but friendship comes at a cost. The K-girls want her to do something that could upset one of the 'not so popular girls' Tahlia. Maddie makes a choice that has consequences and she has to choose which path she will take next.
I really enjoyed this story. It deals with issues like peer pressure and bullying, but in a very real, non-preachy way. Things aren't always easy for Maddie, and we see her grapple with her choices. Although there are some deep topics in this book, it's still a lot of fun. Maddie is an engaging character and we want to cheer for her. I also felt for Tahlia, and found myself thinking about her. There would be a lot of kids like her who are misunderstood because they're a bit 'different'. It's so easy to judge someone without knowing their back stories, and adults could also learn a few lessons from this book. The writing is also really good and the story moves along at a good clip.
This is a fun book, but also one that would be a great discussion starter. Highly recommended for readers round the 10-12 age.
Maddie wants to be one of the cool kids and hang out with the K-girls. The Grade 6 camp provides the perfect opportunity, but friendship comes at a cost. The K-girls want her to do something that could upset one of the 'not so popular girls' Tahlia. Maddie makes a choice that has consequences and she has to choose which path she will take next.
I really enjoyed this story. It deals with issues like peer pressure and bullying, but in a very real, non-preachy way. Things aren't always easy for Maddie, and we see her grapple with her choices. Although there are some deep topics in this book, it's still a lot of fun. Maddie is an engaging character and we want to cheer for her. I also felt for Tahlia, and found myself thinking about her. There would be a lot of kids like her who are misunderstood because they're a bit 'different'. It's so easy to judge someone without knowing their back stories, and adults could also learn a few lessons from this book. The writing is also really good and the story moves along at a good clip.
This is a fun book, but also one that would be a great discussion starter. Highly recommended for readers round the 10-12 age.
February 5, 2021
Sometimes trying too hard can make things worse. Maddie is in the final year of primary school and would love to win the Leadership Award. She sets out to be the best, most considerate, greatest year six girl ever.
Year six is the best. School camp should be so much fun. Maddie finds it complex and a real challenge and she’s not happy with herself at all. Friendships turn out to way more complex than she thought and she is torn between what she thinks she wants and what she knows is right.
Can Maddie sort this?
I loved the complexities that are addressed in the book. They are experienced by all kids and the pain familiar to most young readers. A great read.
Recommended for 8+ The themes warrant discussion.
Year six is the best. School camp should be so much fun. Maddie finds it complex and a real challenge and she’s not happy with herself at all. Friendships turn out to way more complex than she thought and she is torn between what she thinks she wants and what she knows is right.
Can Maddie sort this?
I loved the complexities that are addressed in the book. They are experienced by all kids and the pain familiar to most young readers. A great read.
Recommended for 8+ The themes warrant discussion.
March 20, 2019
This book begins with Maddie, somewhat of a goody-goody, looking forward to a school weekend camping trip. Maddie is desperate to join the group of popular girls, and not be stuck with the regular ordinary girls in her class. The popular girls are not really interested in Maddie, only in how they can use her to their benefit, and Maddie is coerced to pull a prank that causes her guilt and remorse for the rest of the novel. The book follows the girls through the rest of the school year and we see Maddie following after the popular girls, desperately trying to be cool herself, and often ignoring the girls attempts to get rid of her or be downright mean to her.
The portrayal of the mean-girl behavior and the shy, doubting Maddie brought me right back to my girlhood. I found that it was incredibly realistic. I think that girls in middle school would enjoy this book and could probably relate to Maddie's desire to be cooler than she was and her guilt over bad choices. I think this book would also be great for discussions between parents and children. Maddie often misinterprets mean girl behavior or gives the popular girls the benefit of the doubt, when an adult reading the book can clearly see the deliberate behavior. Maddie is often manipulated by the mean girls to do risky things they wouldn't do themselves because they know Maddie wants to be a part of the group. Maddie also learns empathy for a classmate who has a very hard and sad home life, which is also good for beginning a discussion between parent and child readers.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, found it to be realistic, and helpful for discussing with children how to navigate friendships and relationships.
Special thanks to NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.
The portrayal of the mean-girl behavior and the shy, doubting Maddie brought me right back to my girlhood. I found that it was incredibly realistic. I think that girls in middle school would enjoy this book and could probably relate to Maddie's desire to be cooler than she was and her guilt over bad choices. I think this book would also be great for discussions between parents and children. Maddie often misinterprets mean girl behavior or gives the popular girls the benefit of the doubt, when an adult reading the book can clearly see the deliberate behavior. Maddie is often manipulated by the mean girls to do risky things they wouldn't do themselves because they know Maddie wants to be a part of the group. Maddie also learns empathy for a classmate who has a very hard and sad home life, which is also good for beginning a discussion between parent and child readers.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, found it to be realistic, and helpful for discussing with children how to navigate friendships and relationships.
Special thanks to NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.
May 3, 2019
How Not to be Popular by Cecily Patterson is a fun middle grade morality story that’s all about doing the right thing, even when it’s hard.
Maddie is in her final year at Kangaroo Valley School. That means the chance to be voted Girl Leader of the school at the end of the year—something she’s always wanted. She’ll have to be popular to be voted Girl Leader, but that shouldn’t be a problem. She’s in the popular crowd in Year Six, not one of the ordinaries, and certainly not strange. Not like Tahlia, who wears funny clothes and plays with chickens.
But things start going wrong after the school camp at the beginning of the year.
Maddie does something she knows was wrong. What does she do about her friends, and about Tahlia? How does she reconcile her need to be popular with what she knows is right?
Yes, How Not to Be Popular is a middle grade morality tale about the importance of being a good friend and telling the truth. But it’s not at all preachy, nor is it predictable (as middle grade fiction can be). Maddie tells her own story (in first person point of view), and that saves it from any possible preachiness.
Instead, we’re inside Maddie’s head as she struggles with the consequences of her actions and her conflicting goals: to do right, and to be popular.
And things don’t always go according to plan. How Not to Be Popular is a fun story with a serious message. But that message is presented in such a way that I’m sure it will keep pre-teen girls engaged and reading … and will hopefully give them cause to consider whether it’s better to be kind or to be popular. Recommended.
Thanks to Wombat Books and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
Maddie is in her final year at Kangaroo Valley School. That means the chance to be voted Girl Leader of the school at the end of the year—something she’s always wanted. She’ll have to be popular to be voted Girl Leader, but that shouldn’t be a problem. She’s in the popular crowd in Year Six, not one of the ordinaries, and certainly not strange. Not like Tahlia, who wears funny clothes and plays with chickens.
But things start going wrong after the school camp at the beginning of the year.
Maddie does something she knows was wrong. What does she do about her friends, and about Tahlia? How does she reconcile her need to be popular with what she knows is right?
Yes, How Not to Be Popular is a middle grade morality tale about the importance of being a good friend and telling the truth. But it’s not at all preachy, nor is it predictable (as middle grade fiction can be). Maddie tells her own story (in first person point of view), and that saves it from any possible preachiness.
Instead, we’re inside Maddie’s head as she struggles with the consequences of her actions and her conflicting goals: to do right, and to be popular.
And things don’t always go according to plan. How Not to Be Popular is a fun story with a serious message. But that message is presented in such a way that I’m sure it will keep pre-teen girls engaged and reading … and will hopefully give them cause to consider whether it’s better to be kind or to be popular. Recommended.
Thanks to Wombat Books and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
March 15, 2019
Yet another wonderful story by Cecily. Truly enjoyable and relatable. My Favorite thing about the book is when Maddie took responsibility for her actions. What I liked most is that in this book Maddie only took responsibility for the part she played in bullying Tahlia - whilst most books tend to see the main character confessing and reporting such action by others, there was much integrity in Maddie's choice to admit what she had done. This sort of reminds readers that we're the ones who choose what to do or what not to do. No one else can be blamed for our choices. I also like that the book ended with the K Girls hugging and saying they'd miss everyone, since this in a sense leaves readers wondering if they'd realise how their actions affect others (maybe there'd be a sequel...hopeful)
Though the book is written for a younger audience it does apply to any age group as its lesson in my opinion is about choices made and consequences. I cherish the fact also that though Maddie thought confessing would cost her the award she badly wanted in the end her choice to admit her wrong is what got her the award. This is applicable to many many people who are facing tough situations and reminds that honesty is what truly reaps rewards and that facing consequences is honourable.
Though the book is written for a younger audience it does apply to any age group as its lesson in my opinion is about choices made and consequences. I cherish the fact also that though Maddie thought confessing would cost her the award she badly wanted in the end her choice to admit her wrong is what got her the award. This is applicable to many many people who are facing tough situations and reminds that honesty is what truly reaps rewards and that facing consequences is honourable.
May 28, 2019
I found this book to be both wonderful and refreshing. “How Not to be Popular” had main themes around friendship and growing up.
I loved that the book was set in Australia as I have an interest in the Australian lifestyle, generally.
I like to read books that are aimed at girls of middle school age as they bring back many favourable memories for me, reading-wise.
“How Not to be Popular” centred on a girl named Maddie who wanted to be popular but never quite fitted in. The booked explored issues of bullying and of behaving in a certain manner because others expect it of you even though it will cause distress. It contained a poignant lesson to take away about kindness.
I loved “How Not to be Popular” by Cecily Anne Paterson and found it to be an extremely worthwhile read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wombat Books for the complimentary ARC. This is my honest and totally voluntary opinion.
I loved that the book was set in Australia as I have an interest in the Australian lifestyle, generally.
I like to read books that are aimed at girls of middle school age as they bring back many favourable memories for me, reading-wise.
“How Not to be Popular” centred on a girl named Maddie who wanted to be popular but never quite fitted in. The booked explored issues of bullying and of behaving in a certain manner because others expect it of you even though it will cause distress. It contained a poignant lesson to take away about kindness.
I loved “How Not to be Popular” by Cecily Anne Paterson and found it to be an extremely worthwhile read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wombat Books for the complimentary ARC. This is my honest and totally voluntary opinion.
March 20, 2019
i was reading this at work this morning - I work in a school library - and when the teacher librarian asked me what I thought, I told him we should buy a copy for the library.
This new offering from Cecily Paterson brings another great protagonist, Maddie, in another excellent book for the middle-schoolers. I especially like the description of Maddie's younger sister's hair, early in the book, reading this passage aloud to my adult daughter, who has similar hair.
Maddie is a likeable character who makes some not-so-likeable decisions. I particularly like that the story carries the message, not the other way around. This is a book kids will read and enjoy, and learn from along the way.
If you haven't read any of Paterson's books before, or the kids in your life haven't, I would highly recommend any of them, and this one is as good as any to start with.
This new offering from Cecily Paterson brings another great protagonist, Maddie, in another excellent book for the middle-schoolers. I especially like the description of Maddie's younger sister's hair, early in the book, reading this passage aloud to my adult daughter, who has similar hair.
Maddie is a likeable character who makes some not-so-likeable decisions. I particularly like that the story carries the message, not the other way around. This is a book kids will read and enjoy, and learn from along the way.
If you haven't read any of Paterson's books before, or the kids in your life haven't, I would highly recommend any of them, and this one is as good as any to start with.
March 21, 2019
ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.
This was seriously Middle Grade, maybe suitable for 8-10 year old kids. I am definitely not the target audience for this book.
Like, I read Princess Diaries when I was 13 and I think that had more mature content than this. Honestly, not my typical read as an adult but it should be an enjoyable read for kids.
I will try to review this from a kid's perspective.
This was pretty much reminiscent of the Mean girls/popularity drama that we all went through. But there are some great lessons for children on how to navigate that path with empathy, and how eventually that actually doesn't matter in life.
Also, how you shouldn't judge people on looks, something that we still keep doing even as adults.
This was seriously Middle Grade, maybe suitable for 8-10 year old kids. I am definitely not the target audience for this book.
Like, I read Princess Diaries when I was 13 and I think that had more mature content than this. Honestly, not my typical read as an adult but it should be an enjoyable read for kids.
I will try to review this from a kid's perspective.
This was pretty much reminiscent of the Mean girls/popularity drama that we all went through. But there are some great lessons for children on how to navigate that path with empathy, and how eventually that actually doesn't matter in life.
Also, how you shouldn't judge people on looks, something that we still keep doing even as adults.
March 13, 2019
Maddie is excited. It’s year Six and she wants to be chosen at the end of the year as The Girl Leader of the school. Her plan is to be friendly, help everybody and be popular. But things doesn’t turn out as she expected. While trying to Ben popular and fit with her friends, she did something wrong. But keep it secret it’s been hard and Maddie is feeling less popular by the day. She will realise what really matters in life, how your true friends are. A very special story, perfect for children and young teen and for their parents, in order to better understand our children
March 20, 2019
Cecily Anne Patterson has another winner. I loved this book. She weaves in lessons on how to be a friend, how to do what's right and how it's more important to be true to yourself than to have your friends like you. Ms. Patterson definitely has her finger on the pulse of the young people. She knows just how to set the stage for life lessons. Well done! I received an advance copy for my honest review.
March 9, 2019
I really enjoyed this book and really got into the characters. There were times I just wanted to shake Maddie and tell her "Don't do that" because I knew what the outcome was going to be and didn't want to see her crushed. It was very realistic for a sixth grade point of view and the pressures of trying to fit in and be popular.
March 15, 2019
As soon as I had to break from reading this book I wanted to go back so I could find out what Maddie would do next and what would happen to her. A tense read where you really get inside the mind of Maddie and wonder what the outcome will be for her and what she will learn from being in year 6. Highly recommended!
March 19, 2019
I love this story. Everything from amazing, chicken obsessed Tahlia to the popular girls and even the small little Year 2’s and 3’s. Cecily Anne Paterson really creates a story you don’t want to put down. A must read for any girl and honestly anyone. The books brought so many twists I never saw coming, truly an amazing book.
April 22, 2019
Review by Patrick (aged 9):
I thought it was a great book and I suggest it to young readers. The worst part was when the K and M girls let Madison down, that was really bad. The best part was wen Taliha and Madison went shopping for dresses for the year six formal/ dinner. When Madison gets the leadership award it was good, but surprising.
I thought it was a great book and I suggest it to young readers. The worst part was when the K and M girls let Madison down, that was really bad. The best part was wen Taliha and Madison went shopping for dresses for the year six formal/ dinner. When Madison gets the leadership award it was good, but surprising.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. I think Cecily has a great understanding of a younger middle grade reader and the struggles that comes in the social hierarchies at school, especially in a school that's so small you have no real choice but to get along with everyone. I like the development of Maddie's opinions and feelings over time and it felt like a natural progression.
February 26, 2019
This book is amazing! It is very exciting and suitable for kids. It is a must read.
Read
February 14, 2021This book was absolutely brilliant.
Want to read
April 2, 2021goood i like its good
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews