Nerdlandia

by Gary Soto

A hip, funny, Latino rendition of Grease, this play features three cool muchachos who come to the aid of Martin, a chicano nerd who loves a beautiful, popular girl, Ceci, from afar.With the help of his friends, Martin changes his miage and impresses Ceci and her friends, without letting on who he is. This is a problem for Ceci, because, in the meantime, she's transformed herself into a Chicana nert to win the heard of her secret love--Martin. A totally modern, totally cool tale of teenage romance.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Drama, Plays

88 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Gary Soto is the author of eleven poetry collections for adults, most notably New and Selected Poems, a 1995 finalist for both the Los Angeles Times Book Award and the National Book Award. His poems have appeared in many literary magazines, including Ploughshares, Michigan Quarterly, Poetry International, and Poetry, which has honored him with the Bess Hokin Prize and the Levinson Award and by featuring him in the interview series Poets in Person. He has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Guggenheim Foundation. For ITVS, he produced the film “The Pool Party,” which received the 1993 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Film Excellence. In 1997, because of his advocacy for reading, he was featured as NBC’s Person-of-the-Week. In 1999, he received the Literature Award from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, the Author-Illustrator Civil Rights Award from the National Education Association, and the PEN Center West Book Award for Petty Crimes. He divides his time between Berkeley, California and his hometown of Fresno.

Reviews

[Marisol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute play!

[Sarah Sheffield · Rating 3 out of 5]

It waa cute but the ending just kinda flopped for me.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short play (85 pages/5 Scenes) that puts a humorous Latino/Latina spin on a romantic "Grease" storyline. The nerd, Martin, falls in love with the tough girl, Ceci. At the same time, she falls in love with him. Neither is aware of the other's crush, and both think that they need to change in order for the other to be interested.

"Kids everywhere will see themselves in these humorous, wonderful characters, and Gary Soto's urban dialogue sets the scene in a Los Angeles neighborhood that kids around the counter will love to bring to life." (back cover)

[angrykitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

i taught this book and just found it to be great. it's one of the few books that i had multiple kids coming up to ask me where they could get a copy. if you like the movie grease, this would be a really fun read for you.

[Olivia Cornwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute and short read. It was tiring flipping to the list of Spanish words at the back to find out what the characters said, and usually I would find out the word isn't on the list. I liked how the characters 'interacted' with the audience. A fun drama.

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soto deals with ideas of image as a teenager through this witty play. Incorporates Spanish in the play with his Hispanic characters, creatively intertwining the language throughout using slang and key words. Excellent resource for discussing image, audience, utilize during reader's theatre.

[Mrs. Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this play about how opposites sometimes attract. The characters sometimes felt a little stereotypical and a bit cheesy, but it was a good read. The message at the end was a positive one about being who you are. I would recommend Nerdlandia to students who want to try reading a play.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute, semi-Grease-y play. I would love to have my students perform this.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's like West Side Story for East LA. I have to give this play props because for many of my students it was the first book they'd ever actually finished!

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young adult play

[Nelly Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nerdlandia is a great book i read the whole thing in two days it's that great it's all about romance that how i like them always about romance a great part o fare lives.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Era mas o menos bueno.

[Dejah Burson]

i think this book is soo good i read like 5 times

[Maricela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute play-

[Patrick Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly, but amusing... for kids.

[Patti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading to check out for next year for 7th graders

[Zefora Mendoza · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nerd is in love with a popualar girl in school. He decides to change his look to get her attention, but she becomes a nerd to imppress him too. Both dont recognize each other.

[Katy Agramon]

Awesome book!!!! read in in my ninth grade

[Julie Mcintyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick but delightful. The problem for me with reading Soto's YA books is that he always leaves me wanting more!

[Saralyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.0*

Cute, sweet and to the point.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

cheese-o-rama

[Symonne Hickman]

Nerdlandia by Gary Soto. This book is about a nerdy boy who likes this popular girl and they try to go out but the popular girls friends say that they should not go out. I like this book because i like to read plays about highschool. One funny part was when she was talking to her friends and was calling them names. I would reccomend this book to a person who likes to read plays.

[Lilly]

Awesome!!!!!