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How to Rock #1
How To Rock Braces and Glasses
In the story, an eighth-grade Queen Bee, after finding herself dropped into Loserland, realizes that it’s time to reap the bad karma she’s sown.
Gorgeous, uber-harsh, and uber-stylish, Kacey Simon is the undisputed social dictator of Marquette Middle School. That is, until an eye infection and a visit to the dentist leave her with coke-bottle glasses, a mouth full of metal, and... a littttthsp! Dissed and dismissed by her popular friends, Kacey is forced to hang out with a boy who wears skinny jeans and jams in his own band. But as she adjusts to life as a loser, she's surprised to find that Skinny Jeans is kind of hot and his band is pretty cool. Suddenly, hitting rock-bottom feels oddly uplifting. Could rocking braces and glasses be the best thing to ever happen to her?
In this hilarious reversal of the cool crowd versus the nerd herd, a popular girl finds herself in Loserville and realizes it's about time she paid back all the bad karma she built up as Queen Bee.
Gorgeous, uber-harsh, and uber-stylish, Kacey Simon is the undisputed social dictator of Marquette Middle School. That is, until an eye infection and a visit to the dentist leave her with coke-bottle glasses, a mouth full of metal, and... a littttthsp! Dissed and dismissed by her popular friends, Kacey is forced to hang out with a boy who wears skinny jeans and jams in his own band. But as she adjusts to life as a loser, she's surprised to find that Skinny Jeans is kind of hot and his band is pretty cool. Suddenly, hitting rock-bottom feels oddly uplifting. Could rocking braces and glasses be the best thing to ever happen to her?
In this hilarious reversal of the cool crowd versus the nerd herd, a popular girl finds herself in Loserville and realizes it's about time she paid back all the bad karma she built up as Queen Bee.
352 pages
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
December 23, 2011
When I was at the bookstore trying to pick out what to read next, i stumbled upon the amazing teen-clique book. It caught my attention because of the title. Both of which I have:). Since this is not w typical book for me I was very pleasantly surprised by the realness of this book. How to Rock Braces and Glasses is extremely dry humored, and a must read. Especially, if you have both glasses and braces:).
November 19, 2023
The main character is every girl I hate, but the rest of the book is good.
August 2, 2011
Reviewed by Rusty Key Writer: Becca Worthington
Recommended for: Girls, ages 9-12
One Word Summary: Off-Key
The entire time I was reading How to Rock Braces and Glasses, I couldn’t help thinking that it would make a much better movie than a book. After all, a gimmicky and formulaic plot with cookie-cutter stereotypical characters tends to reek of Hollywood, and not always in a bad way. So it came as very little surprise to discover after finishing the book that it is being launched and marketed alongside a sitcom by the same name starring Cymphonique on Nickelodeon this upcoming September.
Super-cool, mega-popular, and eternally harsh Kacey Simon is Queen Bee of Marquette Middle School. As lead in the school musical, social director of the hallways, and host of the school channel advice show, “Simon Says,” she dishes out insult after insult to all of her fellow classmates—both friend and foe alike—in the name of “brutal honesty.” But when an allergic reaction to her new contacts lands her with a pair of glasses, and then a roller skating accident leads to a dentist visit that results in braces, her image is irreparably damaged almost overnight.
Without her looks to keep her on top, Kacey quickly sinks to the bottom of the social pool. Her cool best friends drop her like a bad habit, even making fun of her to her face, and the director decides that a metal mouth with a lisp may no longer be the best choice for the lead role and kicks her out of the play. At first she is humiliated and downtrodden, but when the opportunity comes to join a new band, she decides to take her fading fame into her own hands and show the school exactly how to rock braces and glasses.
Granted, I was not a cool kid. My bangs were too big, my perm a few years too late, my clothes always a couple seasons behind. And like the other 98 percent of kids just like me, I dreaded being at the blunt end of the looks or comments of one of the “cool kids.” That being said, I was intrigued to read a middle grade book from the point of view of a pre-teen meanie, particularly a book that sets out to “un-cool” them, excited to see if they could make me relate or (gasp) sympathize. And I must say it didn’t.
Negative though it sounds, there should be something satisfactory in seeing a “cool kid” get their comeuppance, especially when they learn their lesson and become a better person as a result, and this book hits the necessary beats that lead up to a stand-and-applaud monologue moment of change… but it does so by plodding along methodically through a series of requisite and utterly unsurprising plot points. Similarly, one can’t deny that it’s admirable to tell a modern morality tale that middle schoolers can relate to… but that admiration is diminished when the tale is a staggeringly superficial one. In short, all the benefits of this book—cute boys, intriguing premise, zippy dialogue—don’t change the fact that it is written from the viewpoint of a self-proclaimed jerk who doesn’t change nearly as much as she needs to over the course of the story.
I wish that I had liked this book more. As popcorn lit, it’s infinitely better written that many of its counterparts, giving less page time to brand name clothing and more real estate to the actual thoughts and interactions of pre-teen girls. But in the end, the protagonist never sufficiently makes amends for all the damage that she did while she was cool, and the moral of the story is significantly weakened by this huge lapse.
As far as learning How to Rock Braces and Glasses, here’s to hoping the TV show rocks a little harder than the book does.
For more reviews from The Rusty Key, visit us at www.therustykey.com
Recommended for: Girls, ages 9-12
One Word Summary: Off-Key
The entire time I was reading How to Rock Braces and Glasses, I couldn’t help thinking that it would make a much better movie than a book. After all, a gimmicky and formulaic plot with cookie-cutter stereotypical characters tends to reek of Hollywood, and not always in a bad way. So it came as very little surprise to discover after finishing the book that it is being launched and marketed alongside a sitcom by the same name starring Cymphonique on Nickelodeon this upcoming September.
Super-cool, mega-popular, and eternally harsh Kacey Simon is Queen Bee of Marquette Middle School. As lead in the school musical, social director of the hallways, and host of the school channel advice show, “Simon Says,” she dishes out insult after insult to all of her fellow classmates—both friend and foe alike—in the name of “brutal honesty.” But when an allergic reaction to her new contacts lands her with a pair of glasses, and then a roller skating accident leads to a dentist visit that results in braces, her image is irreparably damaged almost overnight.
Without her looks to keep her on top, Kacey quickly sinks to the bottom of the social pool. Her cool best friends drop her like a bad habit, even making fun of her to her face, and the director decides that a metal mouth with a lisp may no longer be the best choice for the lead role and kicks her out of the play. At first she is humiliated and downtrodden, but when the opportunity comes to join a new band, she decides to take her fading fame into her own hands and show the school exactly how to rock braces and glasses.
Granted, I was not a cool kid. My bangs were too big, my perm a few years too late, my clothes always a couple seasons behind. And like the other 98 percent of kids just like me, I dreaded being at the blunt end of the looks or comments of one of the “cool kids.” That being said, I was intrigued to read a middle grade book from the point of view of a pre-teen meanie, particularly a book that sets out to “un-cool” them, excited to see if they could make me relate or (gasp) sympathize. And I must say it didn’t.
Negative though it sounds, there should be something satisfactory in seeing a “cool kid” get their comeuppance, especially when they learn their lesson and become a better person as a result, and this book hits the necessary beats that lead up to a stand-and-applaud monologue moment of change… but it does so by plodding along methodically through a series of requisite and utterly unsurprising plot points. Similarly, one can’t deny that it’s admirable to tell a modern morality tale that middle schoolers can relate to… but that admiration is diminished when the tale is a staggeringly superficial one. In short, all the benefits of this book—cute boys, intriguing premise, zippy dialogue—don’t change the fact that it is written from the viewpoint of a self-proclaimed jerk who doesn’t change nearly as much as she needs to over the course of the story.
I wish that I had liked this book more. As popcorn lit, it’s infinitely better written that many of its counterparts, giving less page time to brand name clothing and more real estate to the actual thoughts and interactions of pre-teen girls. But in the end, the protagonist never sufficiently makes amends for all the damage that she did while she was cool, and the moral of the story is significantly weakened by this huge lapse.
As far as learning How to Rock Braces and Glasses, here’s to hoping the TV show rocks a little harder than the book does.
For more reviews from The Rusty Key, visit us at www.therustykey.com
June 14, 2011
Since this IS an ARC I can't really use the summary on the back of the book because they may change it for the original! And Goodreads doesn't really give you much to get to know the book from. I'm going to TRY to summarize this for you better. BUT I am terrible at it. So... brace yourself.
Kacey Simon is one popular, snobbish, amazingly pretty girl that all of us girls would KILL to be. She's also sometimes a little TO honest. Suddenly, all of that changes when she gets an eye infection and has to wear hideous glasses and then get braces. On top of it all her braces give her a littthsp! Now, she has to give up her star roll, her "reporting career",and her friends.. who she then realizes weren't really that good of friends from the start. Kacey has to learn who her true friends are and if being popular is really all it's "cracked up to be" in How to Rock Braces and Glasses by Meg Haston.
Oh. My. GOODNESS. This book was SPECTACULAR! My mom got me this ARC when she wast at the BEA conference! She got LOADS of ARCs! Now, if you have been reading this blog for a while you know that I'm not the biggest fan of contemporary. Especially, when the main form of it isn't romance. 'Cause ya know... I love my contemporary romance. ;) This book literally blew my mind.
Kacey was one of the main characters that you really didn't like at the beginning and then all of a sudden, BAM! you love her and have sympathy towards her. You could really tell how she changed as a person thoroughly through this book. She had choices where I literally had to set the book down and take a deep breath to keep from screaming, "DON'T DO IT!" That's a good thing in my book. I want to be involved. And you should be.
I'm not the skinny jeans rock band type.. but MAN I love Zander. He was so sweet and understanding! When everyone thought that Kacey's glasses and braces were a huge turn off, he didn't mind. Now, THAT'S an awesome guy!
I only have ONE piece of criticism and that was that the ending came a little too fast. About the last three pages everything got resolved. I wish it would have been a little less rushed and there was more time to fix everything. I do think, though that it ended so fast because there will be a second book. So HOORAY! There's a second book!
I was utterly blown away with this book. I usually don't like contemporary especially when it isn't contemporary romance. I absolutely can not wait for the next book! I give this book 5 out of 5 diva crowns! This book comes out on September 5th 2011! So you better get it! It is a book that you HAVE to get!
Kacey Simon is one popular, snobbish, amazingly pretty girl that all of us girls would KILL to be. She's also sometimes a little TO honest. Suddenly, all of that changes when she gets an eye infection and has to wear hideous glasses and then get braces. On top of it all her braces give her a littthsp! Now, she has to give up her star roll, her "reporting career",and her friends.. who she then realizes weren't really that good of friends from the start. Kacey has to learn who her true friends are and if being popular is really all it's "cracked up to be" in How to Rock Braces and Glasses by Meg Haston.
Oh. My. GOODNESS. This book was SPECTACULAR! My mom got me this ARC when she wast at the BEA conference! She got LOADS of ARCs! Now, if you have been reading this blog for a while you know that I'm not the biggest fan of contemporary. Especially, when the main form of it isn't romance. 'Cause ya know... I love my contemporary romance. ;) This book literally blew my mind.
Kacey was one of the main characters that you really didn't like at the beginning and then all of a sudden, BAM! you love her and have sympathy towards her. You could really tell how she changed as a person thoroughly through this book. She had choices where I literally had to set the book down and take a deep breath to keep from screaming, "DON'T DO IT!" That's a good thing in my book. I want to be involved. And you should be.
I'm not the skinny jeans rock band type.. but MAN I love Zander. He was so sweet and understanding! When everyone thought that Kacey's glasses and braces were a huge turn off, he didn't mind. Now, THAT'S an awesome guy!
I only have ONE piece of criticism and that was that the ending came a little too fast. About the last three pages everything got resolved. I wish it would have been a little less rushed and there was more time to fix everything. I do think, though that it ended so fast because there will be a second book. So HOORAY! There's a second book!
I was utterly blown away with this book. I usually don't like contemporary especially when it isn't contemporary romance. I absolutely can not wait for the next book! I give this book 5 out of 5 diva crowns! This book comes out on September 5th 2011! So you better get it! It is a book that you HAVE to get!
April 18, 2014
Kacey Simon is one of the most popular girls in school, until she's in glasses, braces, and a lisp. Her friends dump her and she's left to find her way back up. But is popularity everything? And as a journalist, is the truth always better?
The truth may hurt, but it was always better to know. Always.
Kacey is a "journalist" and does her weekly segment of Simon Says, where she gives advice. However, her advice isn't the nice, helpful advice people need. It's mean and as a result, some are scared of her. Kacey is a hard character to like initially because she's rude without realizing it. She can't see the effects of her "help," that there are consequences to being honest, and that sometimes, there are better ways to tell people things.
In the bright light, I saw myself for what I really was. Not an honest, hard-hitting journalist, but a mean girl who spoke her mind. And hurt everyone she'd ever cared about in the process.
What I liked most about How To Rock Braces and Glasses was Kacey's growth as a character. With help from her ex-friend from elementary school and the new kid in school, she begins to understand that what she's been doing all along isn't what she intended. Towards the end, she realizes just how mean she's been, and changes. There are ways to be honest without being mean.
I was sort of bothered by how everyone acted in this book. I mean, having glasses and braces isn't the worst thing in the world. Why would you ditch someone because of that? When I was in middle school, nearly all the popular kids had glasses. This book wasn't written that long ago. Also, the characters make such a big deal over what everyone wears and whatnot. Their clothes might even be more fashionable than most of mine LOL. And these kids are in seventh grade, so why are they doing gigs?? I've never seen or heard of anything like that. The same goes for these broadcast things they do. Their middle school is sure advanced... And maybe I'm the only one who has a problem with this, considering kids do this all the time now apparently, BUT WHY ARE MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS KISSING?
Overall, I think How To Rock Braces and Glasses was a good read, because it tells you that it's okay to be yourself, but there's a lot I found unrealistic in terms of what goes on in middle school (because WHAT IS THIS).
The truth may hurt, but it was always better to know. Always.
Kacey is a "journalist" and does her weekly segment of Simon Says, where she gives advice. However, her advice isn't the nice, helpful advice people need. It's mean and as a result, some are scared of her. Kacey is a hard character to like initially because she's rude without realizing it. She can't see the effects of her "help," that there are consequences to being honest, and that sometimes, there are better ways to tell people things.
In the bright light, I saw myself for what I really was. Not an honest, hard-hitting journalist, but a mean girl who spoke her mind. And hurt everyone she'd ever cared about in the process.
What I liked most about How To Rock Braces and Glasses was Kacey's growth as a character. With help from her ex-friend from elementary school and the new kid in school, she begins to understand that what she's been doing all along isn't what she intended. Towards the end, she realizes just how mean she's been, and changes. There are ways to be honest without being mean.
I was sort of bothered by how everyone acted in this book. I mean, having glasses and braces isn't the worst thing in the world. Why would you ditch someone because of that? When I was in middle school, nearly all the popular kids had glasses. This book wasn't written that long ago. Also, the characters make such a big deal over what everyone wears and whatnot. Their clothes might even be more fashionable than most of mine LOL. And these kids are in seventh grade, so why are they doing gigs?? I've never seen or heard of anything like that. The same goes for these broadcast things they do. Their middle school is sure advanced... And maybe I'm the only one who has a problem with this, considering kids do this all the time now apparently, BUT WHY ARE MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS KISSING?
Overall, I think How To Rock Braces and Glasses was a good read, because it tells you that it's okay to be yourself, but there's a lot I found unrealistic in terms of what goes on in middle school (because WHAT IS THIS).
October 23, 2011
I received this as an ARC at ALA and was excited to read it because it appeared geared to MS girls. The story is a mean-girl gets a dose of her own medicine and becomes a better person story and I just read it will also be a (or is currently) a new sitcom on Nick.
**Spoilers below***
There are several things about the novel that don't ring true to me and I feel it would have been better if the novel had been set in a high school. The middle school has a full blown TV station, newspaper and produces a spring musical. There appears to be no faculty supervision for either the TV station or the newspaper, with Kaycee flaying students with vishously biting comments every week and the newspaper printing constant jabs at her newly aquired lisp from her braces. I'm sorry, I have a hard time believing that even 20 years ago a faculty would allow this type of behavior and in today's school with a constant emphasis on bullying this just doesn't fly.
The one teacher, "Sean", who is the drama/government teacher appears to be a mean girl in disguise. After observing Kaycee's lisp at rehearsal for the spring play the teacher calls her mother for a conference. Kaycee grumbles she is now being checked up on and must wear her glasses in class because now her teacher knows, Kaycee is humiliated in class and the students in the class continually mock her for her lisp. At the end of the day the teacher has her come to the counselor's office and "due to what he witnessed as rehearsal and in the classroom today" fires Kaycee from the play. Really? A teacher allows the mean girls in class to publicly mock another student and then rewards said student by giving her the lead in the play? I think not.
The end is wrapped up in a nice bow in the last few pages and the stage is set for a sequel. Chick lit is very popular in my middle school and this book will see a lot of circulation but for me the novel is as disingenuine as the mean girls the plot revolves around.
**Spoilers below***
There are several things about the novel that don't ring true to me and I feel it would have been better if the novel had been set in a high school. The middle school has a full blown TV station, newspaper and produces a spring musical. There appears to be no faculty supervision for either the TV station or the newspaper, with Kaycee flaying students with vishously biting comments every week and the newspaper printing constant jabs at her newly aquired lisp from her braces. I'm sorry, I have a hard time believing that even 20 years ago a faculty would allow this type of behavior and in today's school with a constant emphasis on bullying this just doesn't fly.
The one teacher, "Sean", who is the drama/government teacher appears to be a mean girl in disguise. After observing Kaycee's lisp at rehearsal for the spring play the teacher calls her mother for a conference. Kaycee grumbles she is now being checked up on and must wear her glasses in class because now her teacher knows, Kaycee is humiliated in class and the students in the class continually mock her for her lisp. At the end of the day the teacher has her come to the counselor's office and "due to what he witnessed as rehearsal and in the classroom today" fires Kaycee from the play. Really? A teacher allows the mean girls in class to publicly mock another student and then rewards said student by giving her the lead in the play? I think not.
The end is wrapped up in a nice bow in the last few pages and the stage is set for a sequel. Chick lit is very popular in my middle school and this book will see a lot of circulation but for me the novel is as disingenuine as the mean girls the plot revolves around.
March 7, 2015
Well, I did not expect to be rating this book 4.5 stars but I'm going against my better judgment and saying: Yes, OK, I'll admit. This book was pretty good.
But I'm not saying it was perfect, there were a few things in this book that screamed "TWO STAR REVIEW!!" Including, but not limited to: The extreme contrasting mental and chronological ages of the damned characters. Seriously, when I first started the book I was certain these kids were 16 years old, but NO! They were only just coming out of their twelvie stages (excuse the cliche) I do realise that many 12/13 year olds are too sophisticated for their own good these days, but to be quite frank...it just didn't suit.
1. The school had it's own tv show, with a full studio, makeup and design and four cameras AND a green screen?
2. Gravity. Enough said right?
3. Sean. How can he even be classified as a teacher? He'd feel more at home in a Mean Girls movie. As one of them.
But overall, the way Haston handled the situation of the plot-line was close to incredible. I loved how she tied in the loss of Kacey's Dad (FYI most bullies become bullies for a reason) Admittedly, it probably helps that this author is a therapist.
So anyway yes, I do wish to read the sequel, because though I tried to remain nonchalant towards this book, I was drawn in; and now I find myself interested in how the relationships between Kacey and her so-called mates plays out.
THITH IS MITH FOULDTH, THIGNING OFF.
But I'm not saying it was perfect, there were a few things in this book that screamed "TWO STAR REVIEW!!" Including, but not limited to: The extreme contrasting mental and chronological ages of the damned characters. Seriously, when I first started the book I was certain these kids were 16 years old, but NO! They were only just coming out of their twelvie stages (excuse the cliche) I do realise that many 12/13 year olds are too sophisticated for their own good these days, but to be quite frank...it just didn't suit.
1. The school had it's own tv show, with a full studio, makeup and design and four cameras AND a green screen?
2. Gravity. Enough said right?
3. Sean. How can he even be classified as a teacher? He'd feel more at home in a Mean Girls movie. As one of them.
But overall, the way Haston handled the situation of the plot-line was close to incredible. I loved how she tied in the loss of Kacey's Dad (FYI most bullies become bullies for a reason) Admittedly, it probably helps that this author is a therapist.
So anyway yes, I do wish to read the sequel, because though I tried to remain nonchalant towards this book, I was drawn in; and now I find myself interested in how the relationships between Kacey and her so-called mates plays out.
THITH IS MITH FOULDTH, THIGNING OFF.
September 8, 2023
Very funny and the best choice to get you out of a reading slump. Loved it !!
September 14, 2022
I bought this book when I was about nine or ten years old but I never got around to reading it. I felt like picking it up now to see what my tastes were like back then. No shade to this book, it’s just really meant for pre-teens and teens, it’s just so cliquey and immature if I’m being honest. My ten year old self would have loved this and the drama, but at nineteen I’d have to say it’s a no from me. Sorry.
Also, losing your quote on quote “best friends” just because you got braces and glasses, seriously? What kind of example is this for younger girls. Thinking they need to fit a certain standard to have friends and be likable. I’m sorry what?
Also, losing your quote on quote “best friends” just because you got braces and glasses, seriously? What kind of example is this for younger girls. Thinking they need to fit a certain standard to have friends and be likable. I’m sorry what?
May 6, 2018
This book is refreshing. So many YA novels are about a kind and nice girl who is rejected by her mean friend, or comes to realize that her friend is mean. For this Meg Haston book, that is not the case.
Kacey Simon is a popular seventh grader at Marquette Middle schooler. Self proclaimed queen bee, she has her own segment on the school news channel, and a group stylish friends to boot.
But Kacey has no filter. She gives her unwanted and sometimes rude opinion to anyone and everyone she wants to give her advice to, 24/7. When an eye infection and a trip to the dentist give her ugly glasses and some braces that very cause her to have lisp, Kacey almost immediately looses her popularity and essentially hits rock bottom. At this bottom she gets reconnected with her ex BFF Paige, who tries help her get her clique back, but also teaches her a thing or two about being a good friend. Kacey also gets to be part of a band called Gravity, a member of which is a boy named Zander. When she ditches her lisp and leaves her glasses in the dust, Kacey gets her friends back. But from her experience, she knows more about kindness and that honesty isn’t always the best policy. It’s nice to see Kacey’s evolution, and her view is way more interesting than most books I have read.
Kacey Simon is a popular seventh grader at Marquette Middle schooler. Self proclaimed queen bee, she has her own segment on the school news channel, and a group stylish friends to boot.
But Kacey has no filter. She gives her unwanted and sometimes rude opinion to anyone and everyone she wants to give her advice to, 24/7. When an eye infection and a trip to the dentist give her ugly glasses and some braces that very cause her to have lisp, Kacey almost immediately looses her popularity and essentially hits rock bottom. At this bottom she gets reconnected with her ex BFF Paige, who tries help her get her clique back, but also teaches her a thing or two about being a good friend. Kacey also gets to be part of a band called Gravity, a member of which is a boy named Zander. When she ditches her lisp and leaves her glasses in the dust, Kacey gets her friends back. But from her experience, she knows more about kindness and that honesty isn’t always the best policy. It’s nice to see Kacey’s evolution, and her view is way more interesting than most books I have read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2014
Middle school. It sucked, didn’t it? And for Kacey Simon, head Queen Bee at Marquette Middle School, middle school is about to suck big time.
In Meg Haston’s How to Rock Braces and Glasses, Kacey Simon and her coterie of mean girls rule the halls of Marquette. However, it is Kacey who is the Alpha and she won’t let you forget it. She’s got the lead in Marquette’s production of “Guys and Dolls” where her co-star is the school hottie, Quinn. She’s a budding journalist and has her own show at her school’s television network news program. On her show Kacey doles out unforgiving advice to Marquette’s lowly peons not blessed to be as cool as her. In other words, Kacey Simon is a bitch on wheels.
However, Kacey’s life takes a tragic turn when an eye infection due to some messed-up contacts requires her to wear glasses and some wayward wisdom teeth call for braces.
Glasses and braces, you ask? What’s the big deal about glasses and braces? Lots of kids (and adults) wear glasses and braces. It’s hardly a big calamity to be overcome.
Yet, for our young protagonist, glasses and braces are a one-way street to loserdom, and soon Kacey’s friends Molly, Liv and Nessa reject her. Due to a braces-induced lisp, Kacey loses her coveted lead in “Guys and Dolls” and her news segment is put on hold. And it doesn’t help that a video of Kacey and all her lisping glory goes viral and Molly is now Marquette’s new “It Girl.” That skank even takes over the lead in “Guys and Dolls.” The nerve!
Well, Kacey refuses to be usurped and is hell-bent on retaining her Queen Bee status no matter the consequences. To do this, Kacey recruits her old friend Paige, who she threw under the bus back in fifth grade. For some odd reason, Paige doesn’t hold a grudge against Kacey and using political campaigning skills that would make Karl Rove blush, comes up with some schemes to make sure Kacey reaches the upper echelon of popularity.
At the same time, Kacey befriends a fellow student and musician named Zander. Even though Kacey had derisively coined Zander with the nickname “Skinny Jeans” due to his choice of trousers, he introduces her to cool local music venues and vintage vinyl record stores. Zander also invites Kacey to sing lead in his band. And even though Kacey’s former bestie Molly has a major crush on Zander, Kacey finds herself drawn to this rock and roll rebel.
Throughout this ordeal, Kacey wonders if she will be a loser forever or will she grasp the golden ring of popularity that is so rightly hers. Will she realize she’s a mean girl and needs to change or will she claim her snotty remarks are just her way of “keeping it real?” And will she ever get rid of those pesky glasses, braces and that horrific lisp?
To be honest I didn’t care if Kacey got her comeuppance, regained her Queen Girl status or learned a lesson worthy of one of those old “After School Specials” I watched when I was her age. I found Kacey a loathsome character—shallow, malicious, rude and spoiled. However, I did get an idea of how “Chicks on the Right” got their start.
I don’t expect characters to be perfect and to make the best decisions. In fact, I prefer that they don’t. It makes for more interesting reading. But I do expect a bit more nuance and dimension; Haston doesn’t seem capable of doing this. For a brief moment, I thought Haston was writing a parody of a middle school mean girl, but parody seems something beyond Haston’s skill set.
Furthermore, I found a lot of the plot points and other characters totally unrealistic. First off, braces are pretty much a rite of passage for most kids, especially those from upper middle class families like Kacey’s. Also, glasses are downright fashionable these days so I couldn’t imagine a kid being teased. Even I didn’t get teased when I started wearing glasses as a middle-schooler, and this was back in the stone age.
And though some teasing of Kacey seemed a bit realistic, I couldn’t imagine Molly, Nessa and Liv abandoning her completely even though she’s kind of snotty towards them at times. And I was also perplexed on how Paige was so willing to help Kacey regain her popularity after being rejected so cruelly. I think it would be more realistic if Paige held a grudge and refused to help her traitorous former friend.
I was also befuddled by the lack of adult guidance towards Kacey and her friends. I counted around only two adults in this book. One was Kacey’s mother who rarely called Kacey out on her odious behavior. Instead, Kacey’s mom kept coddling her special snowflake and convincing her that everyone else wants to emulate her. I guess Kacey’s mom wanted to be a “cool mom.” The other adult was a teacher called Sean who’s pretty much just a cardboard cutout. With bullying such a pressing topic today you would think someone would try to discipline Kacey about her foul behavior towards her peers. Perhaps Marquette Middle School is just another “Lord of the Flies” but one with smart phones, fruity lip gloss, and skinny jeans.
According to How to Rock Braces and Glasses’ book jacket a sequel was slated to come out in 2012 and the book was made into a short-lived TV show for Nickelodeon. Needless to say, I won’t be reading the sequel or I’m glad the TV show was cancelled. There are countless books (and TV programs) that show young people in an honest and compelling way. How to Rock Braces and Glasses did not do this. In fact, it sucked.
Or as a lisping Kacey Simon would say, “It thucked.”
Originally Published at the Book Self
http://thebookselfblog.wordpress.com/...
In Meg Haston’s How to Rock Braces and Glasses, Kacey Simon and her coterie of mean girls rule the halls of Marquette. However, it is Kacey who is the Alpha and she won’t let you forget it. She’s got the lead in Marquette’s production of “Guys and Dolls” where her co-star is the school hottie, Quinn. She’s a budding journalist and has her own show at her school’s television network news program. On her show Kacey doles out unforgiving advice to Marquette’s lowly peons not blessed to be as cool as her. In other words, Kacey Simon is a bitch on wheels.
However, Kacey’s life takes a tragic turn when an eye infection due to some messed-up contacts requires her to wear glasses and some wayward wisdom teeth call for braces.
Glasses and braces, you ask? What’s the big deal about glasses and braces? Lots of kids (and adults) wear glasses and braces. It’s hardly a big calamity to be overcome.
Yet, for our young protagonist, glasses and braces are a one-way street to loserdom, and soon Kacey’s friends Molly, Liv and Nessa reject her. Due to a braces-induced lisp, Kacey loses her coveted lead in “Guys and Dolls” and her news segment is put on hold. And it doesn’t help that a video of Kacey and all her lisping glory goes viral and Molly is now Marquette’s new “It Girl.” That skank even takes over the lead in “Guys and Dolls.” The nerve!
Well, Kacey refuses to be usurped and is hell-bent on retaining her Queen Bee status no matter the consequences. To do this, Kacey recruits her old friend Paige, who she threw under the bus back in fifth grade. For some odd reason, Paige doesn’t hold a grudge against Kacey and using political campaigning skills that would make Karl Rove blush, comes up with some schemes to make sure Kacey reaches the upper echelon of popularity.
At the same time, Kacey befriends a fellow student and musician named Zander. Even though Kacey had derisively coined Zander with the nickname “Skinny Jeans” due to his choice of trousers, he introduces her to cool local music venues and vintage vinyl record stores. Zander also invites Kacey to sing lead in his band. And even though Kacey’s former bestie Molly has a major crush on Zander, Kacey finds herself drawn to this rock and roll rebel.
Throughout this ordeal, Kacey wonders if she will be a loser forever or will she grasp the golden ring of popularity that is so rightly hers. Will she realize she’s a mean girl and needs to change or will she claim her snotty remarks are just her way of “keeping it real?” And will she ever get rid of those pesky glasses, braces and that horrific lisp?
To be honest I didn’t care if Kacey got her comeuppance, regained her Queen Girl status or learned a lesson worthy of one of those old “After School Specials” I watched when I was her age. I found Kacey a loathsome character—shallow, malicious, rude and spoiled. However, I did get an idea of how “Chicks on the Right” got their start.
I don’t expect characters to be perfect and to make the best decisions. In fact, I prefer that they don’t. It makes for more interesting reading. But I do expect a bit more nuance and dimension; Haston doesn’t seem capable of doing this. For a brief moment, I thought Haston was writing a parody of a middle school mean girl, but parody seems something beyond Haston’s skill set.
Furthermore, I found a lot of the plot points and other characters totally unrealistic. First off, braces are pretty much a rite of passage for most kids, especially those from upper middle class families like Kacey’s. Also, glasses are downright fashionable these days so I couldn’t imagine a kid being teased. Even I didn’t get teased when I started wearing glasses as a middle-schooler, and this was back in the stone age.
And though some teasing of Kacey seemed a bit realistic, I couldn’t imagine Molly, Nessa and Liv abandoning her completely even though she’s kind of snotty towards them at times. And I was also perplexed on how Paige was so willing to help Kacey regain her popularity after being rejected so cruelly. I think it would be more realistic if Paige held a grudge and refused to help her traitorous former friend.
I was also befuddled by the lack of adult guidance towards Kacey and her friends. I counted around only two adults in this book. One was Kacey’s mother who rarely called Kacey out on her odious behavior. Instead, Kacey’s mom kept coddling her special snowflake and convincing her that everyone else wants to emulate her. I guess Kacey’s mom wanted to be a “cool mom.” The other adult was a teacher called Sean who’s pretty much just a cardboard cutout. With bullying such a pressing topic today you would think someone would try to discipline Kacey about her foul behavior towards her peers. Perhaps Marquette Middle School is just another “Lord of the Flies” but one with smart phones, fruity lip gloss, and skinny jeans.
According to How to Rock Braces and Glasses’ book jacket a sequel was slated to come out in 2012 and the book was made into a short-lived TV show for Nickelodeon. Needless to say, I won’t be reading the sequel or I’m glad the TV show was cancelled. There are countless books (and TV programs) that show young people in an honest and compelling way. How to Rock Braces and Glasses did not do this. In fact, it sucked.
Or as a lisping Kacey Simon would say, “It thucked.”
Originally Published at the Book Self
http://thebookselfblog.wordpress.com/...
March 10, 2025
This is a book I read when I was in middle school - the target demographic - and I remember loving it. So, I decided to pick it up almost a decade later.
It’s cute, but I don’t think it actually teaches anything to kids. Sure they kind of learn to choose meaningful relationships over superficial ones, and how to be able to laugh at themselves and hold themselves accountable, but like it’s all surface level, which I guess they’re middle schoolers so sure.
Casey is insufferable for most of the book so that doesn’t bode well as the main character.
Overall, though like maybe middle school me read more into it so it’s best written for that perspective.
It’s cute, but I don’t think it actually teaches anything to kids. Sure they kind of learn to choose meaningful relationships over superficial ones, and how to be able to laugh at themselves and hold themselves accountable, but like it’s all surface level, which I guess they’re middle schoolers so sure.
Casey is insufferable for most of the book so that doesn’t bode well as the main character.
Overall, though like maybe middle school me read more into it so it’s best written for that perspective.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2016
Kacey Simon, the protagonist in Meg Haston’s How to Rock Braces and Glasses, is the queen bee of her social group, and of her entire middle school. As the host of her own television show on her school’s network, she gives harsh, to the point advice to her classmates on everything from fashion to dating, which makes her the most famous - and possibly the most hated - person in her class. Kacey’s reputation takes a hit, though. when she develops an eye infection and learns she must wear glasses. Things go from bad to worse when she also ends up getting braces. Before long, hardly anyone is speaking to Kacey, and the friends she has always treated as minions abandon her to pursue their own greatness. It will take the ingenuity and kind honesty of an old friend to help Kacey get her life back.
My biggest problem with this book was my relationship with the main character. Generally speaking, I don’t think it’s fair to judge a book based on whether I personally like a character or agree with her actions. Kacey is obviously a “mean girl” and though I’m not crazy about “mean girl” characters, I can usually relate to them, especially when they are first-person narrators and I am privy to all their thoughts. My issue with Kacey, though, is that I couldn’t find anything that any reader might like about her. She’s mean and shallow, and for most of the book, almost until the very end, not much else. She becomes interesting at certain points, but I really wonder how many tween readers would stick with the book long enough to see that happen.
Another issue that constantly stuck in the back of my mind was the assumption that braces and glasses are such destructive forces in a middle school student’s life. I knew lots of kids in middle school who wore glasses, braces, or both, and they were in all cliques across the board. Kids get teased for those kinds of things on sitcoms and in series fiction, but I don’t think it rings very true for real kids in real life. Middle school kids can be cruel about a lot of things, but I’ve never seen a situation where braces and glasses created such a problem for one kid.
Finally, I was completely confused by the lack of adults in this book. I think there may have been one teacher involved in the plot, but because he was called by his first name, I thought he was a student until almost the end of the book. The students in Kacey’s middle school seem to exist in this vacuum where they make the rules and they’re free to do whatever they want. This may have been a device to make it possible for Kacey to be so consistently mean, but it didn’t work for me, and I suspect it won’t work for most readers.
How to Rock Braces and Glasses has been adapted for TV, and will premiere with the title How to Rock on Nickelodeon in Spring 2012. I think Kacey might be a little easier to stomach at a distance, so perhaps portraying her in a humorous light on television will work better than trying to sell tween readers on her repugnant personality in print. There are so many middle school stories out there that take on the issue of popularity in a thoughtful and up-to-date way instead of falling back on stereotypes and inaccurate misconceptions about adolescence. I’d recommend checking out Nerd Girls, Mission Unpopular, and Fake Me A Match for easier to swallow protagonists tackling the same issues.
My biggest problem with this book was my relationship with the main character. Generally speaking, I don’t think it’s fair to judge a book based on whether I personally like a character or agree with her actions. Kacey is obviously a “mean girl” and though I’m not crazy about “mean girl” characters, I can usually relate to them, especially when they are first-person narrators and I am privy to all their thoughts. My issue with Kacey, though, is that I couldn’t find anything that any reader might like about her. She’s mean and shallow, and for most of the book, almost until the very end, not much else. She becomes interesting at certain points, but I really wonder how many tween readers would stick with the book long enough to see that happen.
Another issue that constantly stuck in the back of my mind was the assumption that braces and glasses are such destructive forces in a middle school student’s life. I knew lots of kids in middle school who wore glasses, braces, or both, and they were in all cliques across the board. Kids get teased for those kinds of things on sitcoms and in series fiction, but I don’t think it rings very true for real kids in real life. Middle school kids can be cruel about a lot of things, but I’ve never seen a situation where braces and glasses created such a problem for one kid.
Finally, I was completely confused by the lack of adults in this book. I think there may have been one teacher involved in the plot, but because he was called by his first name, I thought he was a student until almost the end of the book. The students in Kacey’s middle school seem to exist in this vacuum where they make the rules and they’re free to do whatever they want. This may have been a device to make it possible for Kacey to be so consistently mean, but it didn’t work for me, and I suspect it won’t work for most readers.
How to Rock Braces and Glasses has been adapted for TV, and will premiere with the title How to Rock on Nickelodeon in Spring 2012. I think Kacey might be a little easier to stomach at a distance, so perhaps portraying her in a humorous light on television will work better than trying to sell tween readers on her repugnant personality in print. There are so many middle school stories out there that take on the issue of popularity in a thoughtful and up-to-date way instead of falling back on stereotypes and inaccurate misconceptions about adolescence. I’d recommend checking out Nerd Girls, Mission Unpopular, and Fake Me A Match for easier to swallow protagonists tackling the same issues.
March 7, 2012
A mouthful of a title, pun intended, but a fabulous book. Most of us have gone through embarrassing moments in our school lives where we ended up at the bottom of the food chain, tormented for the very things that would make our teeth straight and protected walls from our bumbling. So, as one who had to deal with both of these things, I found it satisfying that Kacey had to go through the trials, especially as she was originally a Queen Bee and a rather blunt, sometimes harsh, one at that!
Of course, what fun would the adventure be without a love interest and a witty ex-childhood friend to liven up the personality packed story? I found that I could figure out exactly who each of the characters was in my own school experience and that made the book all the more realistic to me. Also, Kacey’s desire to always tell the truth exactly as it is, is something that is sure to get readers thinking. Is it really best to tell the whole truth every time? Or is there room for gray area? Maybe even for a few little white lies?
In the end, How to Rock Braces and Glasses gives most bookworms the revenge they’ve been seeking, or at least the satisfaction of knowing that they aren’t alone in their “loser” status. With an entertaining cast, a strong and unyielding (but young) lead, and the intricate workings of a school social ladder, this was a book that I found myself laughing at, plotting with, and looking forward to find out what turn Kacey’s life would take next.
Of course, what fun would the adventure be without a love interest and a witty ex-childhood friend to liven up the personality packed story? I found that I could figure out exactly who each of the characters was in my own school experience and that made the book all the more realistic to me. Also, Kacey’s desire to always tell the truth exactly as it is, is something that is sure to get readers thinking. Is it really best to tell the whole truth every time? Or is there room for gray area? Maybe even for a few little white lies?
In the end, How to Rock Braces and Glasses gives most bookworms the revenge they’ve been seeking, or at least the satisfaction of knowing that they aren’t alone in their “loser” status. With an entertaining cast, a strong and unyielding (but young) lead, and the intricate workings of a school social ladder, this was a book that I found myself laughing at, plotting with, and looking forward to find out what turn Kacey’s life would take next.
June 16, 2012
So many of the books that I read have been recommended to me by friends, or other bloggers, or I've seen reviews of the books on other blogs, or on Goodreads. But this one I saw on the library's recently ordered page, and I loved the title, so I put it on hold immediately.
It's definitely a younger YA title, since the characters are in Grade 7. Kacey Simon is the most popular girl in her middle school, until an eye infection results in her getting glasses and a chipped molar results in her dentist deciding that she should get braces. Suddenly, all of her friends ditch her and she ends up hanging out with some kids that she previously would have scoffed at. Along the way, she learns that she wasn't a very nice person and her "honesty" towards other people was actually pretty mean.
As a former braces-wearing, glasses-sporting teen, I enjoyed most of the aspects of this book. It was a cute, fun read with a good story, and excellent morals. Kacey is spunky and loveable, and there's a really cute love story that accompanies the main plot. For a quick, feel-good read, I'd recommend this one for sure!
Review also posted at: http://writergrrlreads.blogspot.ca/20...
It's definitely a younger YA title, since the characters are in Grade 7. Kacey Simon is the most popular girl in her middle school, until an eye infection results in her getting glasses and a chipped molar results in her dentist deciding that she should get braces. Suddenly, all of her friends ditch her and she ends up hanging out with some kids that she previously would have scoffed at. Along the way, she learns that she wasn't a very nice person and her "honesty" towards other people was actually pretty mean.
As a former braces-wearing, glasses-sporting teen, I enjoyed most of the aspects of this book. It was a cute, fun read with a good story, and excellent morals. Kacey is spunky and loveable, and there's a really cute love story that accompanies the main plot. For a quick, feel-good read, I'd recommend this one for sure!
Review also posted at: http://writergrrlreads.blogspot.ca/20...
December 6, 2014
One of the most horrible, unsympathetic narrators I've ever encountered. (I think maybe I only finished this because I kept hoping something awful would happen to her.) The supporting characters aren't much better, either.
I should note that I didn't actually read this, I listened to the audiobook, and I think that the reader's voice made everything more annoying than it would have otherwise been. However, I'm pretty sure that I would've hated it anyway.
Also. ALSO. No self-respecting record store would store their vinyl in stacks. Come on. Maybe a tween, the audience at which this is aimed, wouldn't know that, but still.
I could go on, but the last thing I'm going to say is that apparently these kids (who are all uber-rich without seeming to be aware of it) go to school in the most well-funded district in the world. My college didn't even have a TV station; these kids' middle school does.
I should note that I didn't actually read this, I listened to the audiobook, and I think that the reader's voice made everything more annoying than it would have otherwise been. However, I'm pretty sure that I would've hated it anyway.
Also. ALSO. No self-respecting record store would store their vinyl in stacks. Come on. Maybe a tween, the audience at which this is aimed, wouldn't know that, but still.
I could go on, but the last thing I'm going to say is that apparently these kids (who are all uber-rich without seeming to be aware of it) go to school in the most well-funded district in the world. My college didn't even have a TV station; these kids' middle school does.
April 22, 2021
The main character, Kacey Simons, is really popular, has her own show, and almost has the "boy of her dreams." Until one day, OH NO!! She's cursed with braces and glasses. Her popularity drops by a lot and then she uses her new-found-sort-of-not-really-kind-of friends to regain her status as a world class b**ch You might be able to tell that I didn't like this book. The main character is arrogant and refuses to believe that anything she does is wrong, and believes in telling the truth, the really ugly horrible truths that sometimes, people just don't want to hear. However the supporting characters were enjoyable enough, although the authour seemed really focused on sole points of them and there wasn't really any depth to their characters. For instance Vanessa [Nessa] likes french stuff, that's basically the only thing we really know about her, the rest of the supporting characters are only really developed to this point. I won't be reading the sequel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2017
This book it too awesome. Stop reading the stupid reveiw. Your wasting time that you could be reading this book. If you are still reading this STOP. NOW. Go buy the book and read it. Oh my gosh stop reading this youre wasting you time
May 7, 2012
‘How to Rock- Braces and Glasses’
‘How to Rock- Braces and Glasses’ by Meg Haston 324pages long. The novel is based a young adult, who is on top of the popular charts to hit rock bottom. To meet some rockin’ people at the bottom, joining the ‘Gravity’ and to help out a true friend; Kacey Simon finds out the truth of her ex-friends, but to slam out with her friends. As Kacey going through getting braces and glasses can suck at times. But, through those glasses you can see who are your friends and not. Each of the characters is to go through the plot, other characters, and the point on the novel. Some people just wait for the plot to play out; this is a whole different type of ‘Cinderella’.
The plot starts off was Kacey Simon as the most popular girl in Marquette Middle School. Her super popular friends Molly Knight, Liv Parrillo, and Vanessa (Nessa) Beckett always had her back, for everything. Boys, fashion, parties, whatever! The four of them did everything together but thanks to Kacey’s purple eye contacts she needs glasses for a short time. She had a show on the school’s news show called “Simon Says”, she was important to the play she was also in; everything was important to her. With a simple mistake Kacey had to have braces over that she didn’t wear her glasses to Molly’s skate party. With whom she calls “Skinny Jeans” or Zander Jarvis is a band member to Gravity. Her best friend Molly is head over heels for this guy. Hiding from her friends the first day back to school of her braces and glasses, with a little outburst cost her whole life as a popular down the toilet. Hitting rock bottom, but hitting the bottom isn’t that bad. Trying to regain her ex-friends; by using a girl who wants to be class president again…Paige Greene. Plus, using ‘Gravity 4’ or Zander to get Molly to like her again. She uses people to get what she wants. After getting to know the band and Paige; she soon didn’t want to be with her ex-friends. But, it was too late. She had quite the band and dumped Paige for her Super Popular friends. With the Hugest gig that ‘Gravity 4’ will have no Kacey to help them out. So Zander takes it into his own hands by singing one of Kacey’s favorite songs “Go Your Own Way- Fleetwood Mac”. Messing up in the wrong key cost them the gig but, Kacey couldn’t stand to see her friends go through it. She got up on stage and helps them. To win ‘Gravity 4’ back and Paige. But to lose the Preps than her true friends. The characters are in this of one reason only…MUSIC!
The characters are realist on people we would see in High School or Middle School. The main Character- Kacey Simon is the really stuck up girl who only cares for her looks, who she hangs with, and what rank she is. Once she hit rock bottom she finds that true friends never pale on their friends. By the time she had what she wanted to be back into the Preps she soon wants to not be and be with her true friends? Molly Knight- Being the second prettiest girl at Marquette Middle School wit that she fell head over heels for Zander Jarvis to add on to that she only wanted to be Kacey’s friend because she was super popular with that when Kacey hit rock bottom, she was the new prettiest girl in the school. Zander Jarvis- A guitarist/singer in ‘Gravity 4’, best of friends with Kevin Cho, Nelson Lund, and The Beat, plus seems to have a little crush on Kacey Simon. Paige Greene- Super smart, wants to be the re-elective as class president, plans out how to get Kacey back into a Prep, and is Kacey’s best friend. Liv Parrillo and Vanessa (Nessa) Beckett- Molly’s what I like to call Prep Roborts, listen to the highest one standing, and into only fashion and them-selves. Kevin Cho, Nelson Lund, and The Beat- Kevin the bass guitar, Nelson the keyboard, and The Beat as the drums. Kevin is the woman wiser who thinks he can get any girl in the school; Nelson is the shy yet the nerdy/geeky guy who is into videogames and music. The Beat in the one who is in for the music and that’s it. Quinn Wilder- The guy who thinks his all that and into girls, plays, and sports…plus Molly as well. Each character is very well described on that they have their own thoughts out on school and music. The characters are all into music and what are the outlooks in their Middle School and High School Life. With crushes, friends, music, and fun will all is play out in this story. Telling that Kacey is the main character shows that this book is based on her point of view.
Kacey’s Point of View on the novel is all about her and the people she comes in contact with. This can cause some problems…okay a lot of problems. Kacey is all about her and how to be fashionable, who to be with, and most of all how to look. She’s all on the newest style and with that she is the top Prep at Marquette Middle School. She’s telling at nerds are nerds and that they are the most superior ones in their school. But, once she hits rock bottom she finds out being popular was as important as she thought it would be. With the help of Paige Greene, the two girls agree to get Kacey back on top and of Kacey get Paige re-elective as class president. Joining ‘Gravity 4’ helped Kacey out with Molly wanting to be Zander’s girlfriend. She soon has feeling towards Zander and told him that she was going to quite the band. In shock Zander stop talking to her. She was happy to be back with her Preps but, deep down inside she missed ‘Gravity 4’ and hanging out with Paige. She never told anyone but, she really did. On her point of view was telling and showing her feelings, what she thought of others, and of who really did matter. Her point of view was important to the story. Wonder if it was under Zander’s point of view? Who knows? ‘How to Rock- Braces and Glasses’ shows that this fairy tale isn’t as big as one thinks.
‘How to Rock- Braces and Glasses’ is based on a young adult, who is on top of the popular charts to hit rock bottom. To meet some rockin’ people at the bottom, joining the ‘Gravity’ and to help out a true friend; Kacey Simon finds out the truth of her ex-friends, but to slam out with her friends. As Kacey going through getting braces and glasses can suck at times. But, through those glasses you can see who are your friends and not. Each of the characters is to go through the plot, other characters, and the point on the novel. This is a whole different type of ‘Cinderella’.
‘How to Rock- Braces and Glasses’ by Meg Haston 324pages long. The novel is based a young adult, who is on top of the popular charts to hit rock bottom. To meet some rockin’ people at the bottom, joining the ‘Gravity’ and to help out a true friend; Kacey Simon finds out the truth of her ex-friends, but to slam out with her friends. As Kacey going through getting braces and glasses can suck at times. But, through those glasses you can see who are your friends and not. Each of the characters is to go through the plot, other characters, and the point on the novel. Some people just wait for the plot to play out; this is a whole different type of ‘Cinderella’.
The plot starts off was Kacey Simon as the most popular girl in Marquette Middle School. Her super popular friends Molly Knight, Liv Parrillo, and Vanessa (Nessa) Beckett always had her back, for everything. Boys, fashion, parties, whatever! The four of them did everything together but thanks to Kacey’s purple eye contacts she needs glasses for a short time. She had a show on the school’s news show called “Simon Says”, she was important to the play she was also in; everything was important to her. With a simple mistake Kacey had to have braces over that she didn’t wear her glasses to Molly’s skate party. With whom she calls “Skinny Jeans” or Zander Jarvis is a band member to Gravity. Her best friend Molly is head over heels for this guy. Hiding from her friends the first day back to school of her braces and glasses, with a little outburst cost her whole life as a popular down the toilet. Hitting rock bottom, but hitting the bottom isn’t that bad. Trying to regain her ex-friends; by using a girl who wants to be class president again…Paige Greene. Plus, using ‘Gravity 4’ or Zander to get Molly to like her again. She uses people to get what she wants. After getting to know the band and Paige; she soon didn’t want to be with her ex-friends. But, it was too late. She had quite the band and dumped Paige for her Super Popular friends. With the Hugest gig that ‘Gravity 4’ will have no Kacey to help them out. So Zander takes it into his own hands by singing one of Kacey’s favorite songs “Go Your Own Way- Fleetwood Mac”. Messing up in the wrong key cost them the gig but, Kacey couldn’t stand to see her friends go through it. She got up on stage and helps them. To win ‘Gravity 4’ back and Paige. But to lose the Preps than her true friends. The characters are in this of one reason only…MUSIC!
The characters are realist on people we would see in High School or Middle School. The main Character- Kacey Simon is the really stuck up girl who only cares for her looks, who she hangs with, and what rank she is. Once she hit rock bottom she finds that true friends never pale on their friends. By the time she had what she wanted to be back into the Preps she soon wants to not be and be with her true friends? Molly Knight- Being the second prettiest girl at Marquette Middle School wit that she fell head over heels for Zander Jarvis to add on to that she only wanted to be Kacey’s friend because she was super popular with that when Kacey hit rock bottom, she was the new prettiest girl in the school. Zander Jarvis- A guitarist/singer in ‘Gravity 4’, best of friends with Kevin Cho, Nelson Lund, and The Beat, plus seems to have a little crush on Kacey Simon. Paige Greene- Super smart, wants to be the re-elective as class president, plans out how to get Kacey back into a Prep, and is Kacey’s best friend. Liv Parrillo and Vanessa (Nessa) Beckett- Molly’s what I like to call Prep Roborts, listen to the highest one standing, and into only fashion and them-selves. Kevin Cho, Nelson Lund, and The Beat- Kevin the bass guitar, Nelson the keyboard, and The Beat as the drums. Kevin is the woman wiser who thinks he can get any girl in the school; Nelson is the shy yet the nerdy/geeky guy who is into videogames and music. The Beat in the one who is in for the music and that’s it. Quinn Wilder- The guy who thinks his all that and into girls, plays, and sports…plus Molly as well. Each character is very well described on that they have their own thoughts out on school and music. The characters are all into music and what are the outlooks in their Middle School and High School Life. With crushes, friends, music, and fun will all is play out in this story. Telling that Kacey is the main character shows that this book is based on her point of view.
Kacey’s Point of View on the novel is all about her and the people she comes in contact with. This can cause some problems…okay a lot of problems. Kacey is all about her and how to be fashionable, who to be with, and most of all how to look. She’s all on the newest style and with that she is the top Prep at Marquette Middle School. She’s telling at nerds are nerds and that they are the most superior ones in their school. But, once she hits rock bottom she finds out being popular was as important as she thought it would be. With the help of Paige Greene, the two girls agree to get Kacey back on top and of Kacey get Paige re-elective as class president. Joining ‘Gravity 4’ helped Kacey out with Molly wanting to be Zander’s girlfriend. She soon has feeling towards Zander and told him that she was going to quite the band. In shock Zander stop talking to her. She was happy to be back with her Preps but, deep down inside she missed ‘Gravity 4’ and hanging out with Paige. She never told anyone but, she really did. On her point of view was telling and showing her feelings, what she thought of others, and of who really did matter. Her point of view was important to the story. Wonder if it was under Zander’s point of view? Who knows? ‘How to Rock- Braces and Glasses’ shows that this fairy tale isn’t as big as one thinks.
‘How to Rock- Braces and Glasses’ is based on a young adult, who is on top of the popular charts to hit rock bottom. To meet some rockin’ people at the bottom, joining the ‘Gravity’ and to help out a true friend; Kacey Simon finds out the truth of her ex-friends, but to slam out with her friends. As Kacey going through getting braces and glasses can suck at times. But, through those glasses you can see who are your friends and not. Each of the characters is to go through the plot, other characters, and the point on the novel. This is a whole different type of ‘Cinderella’.
May 18, 2018
There seem to be more books about boy bullies than girl bullying. And even though female adolescent bullying is different, what I loved about this novel is that it does NOT follow the expected plot—mean girl becomes a loser and is disrespected and insulted by her former friends; the nerds support her, and she sees the light and changes, dropping the popular kids forever. Neither is it the opposite. But, like middle school, it is somewhere in between; the story is nuanced as is adolescence.
Kacey is a bully. She does not see herself s a bully or even as a mean girl; she sees herself as honest, as knowing what everyone should say, do, and wear, and she is just there to help them or help them get real. "The truth may hurt, but it's always better to know"(189). Her world as school leader falls apart when an eye infection leaves her with glasses and new braces leave her—a school news reporter and star of the musical—with a lisp. Her best friends drop her and cyber bully her and while an old friend offers to help, it is to receive help herself having decided in fifth grade that she was embarrassed to be seen with Kacey (which is not how Kacey remembers the end of the friendship). And the cute nerd seems to be dating her former best friend. Kacey reclaims her popularity, but takes responsibility for herself and her past actions.
Kacey is a bully. She does not see herself s a bully or even as a mean girl; she sees herself as honest, as knowing what everyone should say, do, and wear, and she is just there to help them or help them get real. "The truth may hurt, but it's always better to know"(189). Her world as school leader falls apart when an eye infection leaves her with glasses and new braces leave her—a school news reporter and star of the musical—with a lisp. Her best friends drop her and cyber bully her and while an old friend offers to help, it is to receive help herself having decided in fifth grade that she was embarrassed to be seen with Kacey (which is not how Kacey remembers the end of the friendship). And the cute nerd seems to be dating her former best friend. Kacey reclaims her popularity, but takes responsibility for herself and her past actions.
January 21, 2019
I read this book years ago, before I even knew they'd made a Nickelodeon show about it.
So this is one of those rare MG stories where the main character is a popular person. Every MG these days, especially the 2010-2015 era, seems to be a social outcast. I don't know which i'd prefer to hear from, since I hated this character for about 75% of the book, but continued reading because I wanted to see how she'd changed.
What I liked:
I love books about girls in bands.
The scene, my favorite, where Kacey uses her school's news channel to end her show, apologize, and take the time to realize who she's hurt in the past.
What i didn't like:
A question I had in the beginning was: who makes fun of braces and glasses in this day and age? When I was in middle school and elementary school, all the cool kids had braces.
But the actual making-fun-of-it part is brief.
It was obvious that Molly was an author favorite, even though she ended up being one of the worst characters in the story. She was manipulative, talked about Kacey behind her back, but yet Kacey kept listing all these "she's so cool" things about her.
Most of the events in the book seemed unlikely to take place in a middle school. It would be more realistic in high school.
So this is one of those rare MG stories where the main character is a popular person. Every MG these days, especially the 2010-2015 era, seems to be a social outcast. I don't know which i'd prefer to hear from, since I hated this character for about 75% of the book, but continued reading because I wanted to see how she'd changed.
What I liked:
I love books about girls in bands.
The scene, my favorite, where Kacey uses her school's news channel to end her show, apologize, and take the time to realize who she's hurt in the past.
What i didn't like:
A question I had in the beginning was: who makes fun of braces and glasses in this day and age? When I was in middle school and elementary school, all the cool kids had braces.
But the actual making-fun-of-it part is brief.
It was obvious that Molly was an author favorite, even though she ended up being one of the worst characters in the story. She was manipulative, talked about Kacey behind her back, but yet Kacey kept listing all these "she's so cool" things about her.
Most of the events in the book seemed unlikely to take place in a middle school. It would be more realistic in high school.
November 4, 2019
The book “How to Rock braces and glasses” by Meg Haston was very informative and inspiring in so many ways. Meg Hoston the author, is someone who experienced both braces and glasses during her teenage years. And from that she was able to write a book that would relate to many individuals. The book focuses on a girl known as Kacy Simon which was my favorite character, due to her bravery and her struggle with getting used to her new braces and glasses. Kacy was extremely uncomfortable and even insecure about it. However in the book, she later on overcomes the obstacle of wearing them and is able to be confident and happy while doing so. This book fully encourages people while still developing the theme to be happy with them self’s despite appearance. My favorite part was Kacy and her friends being able to adjust to the new change in her, and they did this in a very impressive way. This book was a book that I could fully relate to because I did used to were both braces and glasses, and was not very used to them. But eventually I was able to adjust to them. Furthermore the author was able to use comedy and still be able to inform the reader of how to deal with certain obstacles such as this. I would suggest this book to teenage audiences and people who struggle with insecurities. The book offers a good laugh to the reader while also teaching them valuable lessons.
January 11, 2024
3.5/5
Cute and entertaining story! I wasn’t sure how much I would like it due to the younger age range of the characters, but I wanted to give it a go anyway. Overall, their ages didn’t really bother me. This story definitely is fun for anyone to read! The setting definitely reminded me of my time school at that age and the types of classmates you dealt with.
The characters were ok. Kasey had a little character development, but nothing major. I will say the characters did read more as high school level (perhaps freshmen?) rather than 12 year olds.
Cute and entertaining story! I wasn’t sure how much I would like it due to the younger age range of the characters, but I wanted to give it a go anyway. Overall, their ages didn’t really bother me. This story definitely is fun for anyone to read! The setting definitely reminded me of my time school at that age and the types of classmates you dealt with.
The characters were ok. Kasey had a little character development, but nothing major. I will say the characters did read more as high school level (perhaps freshmen?) rather than 12 year olds.
August 6, 2018
This was a light chick lit for teens book that I absolutely adored. Yes, the setting has flaws since no middle school would allow a gossip newscaster nor have a full news broadcast, musical, and newspaper. Well, okay, somewhere there is an amazing middle school like this, but that is beside the point. A mean girl who gets a taste of her own medicine makes a fantastic book, and chick lit is meant to have a touch of fantasy. Enjoy this book if you love light, funny, teen romances and drama.
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July 16, 2019Teen Reader: The title is not as explanatory as you might think. This is Kasey's story about learning that who she is doesn't depend on two features on her face. This book is definitely different and I did not expect what happened whatsoever. At first, the story was a bit too slow and as a reader, I wasn't actively engaged enough to care. There's a lot more in the full review on the Reading Tub website.
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April 15, 2021DNFed at 50 pages.
The book was just too juvenile for me. I didn't realize it was about middle schoolers. Also, I didn't care for how the main character acts like getting braces and glasses is the end of the world. As someone who has had both of those things, I don't think it's that big of a deal. I've had my glasses since I was five, and I find it kind of offensive when she said they were ugly.
The book was just too juvenile for me. I didn't realize it was about middle schoolers. Also, I didn't care for how the main character acts like getting braces and glasses is the end of the world. As someone who has had both of those things, I don't think it's that big of a deal. I've had my glasses since I was five, and I find it kind of offensive when she said they were ugly.
June 20, 2017
I liked this book because it really makes you look at the "mean girl" from a different perspective... hers! It is very frustrating at times but everything work out at the end , well almost everything, guess I'll have to read the next book to see if Kacey ends up with Znader or Quinn.
Ps: #teamzander #gorockeremo
Ps: #teamzander #gorockeremo
December 6, 2017
I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The beginning was a little rocky because I absolutely hated the protagonist at the time, but as it went on it got pretty interesting. However there was a point where it got a little boring before it reached the final falling action. Overall it was a really good read and I am definitely getting the sequel!
September 7, 2025
I loved this book! Kacey was such an amazing MC. I adored her character arc so much. The supporting characters were unmatched. (Hello, Paige!)
The author did an excellent job of keeping me wanting to turn the page. It was fresh, fun and surprisingly gripping. I was on the edge of my seat many times while reading.
Superb! 10/10
The author did an excellent job of keeping me wanting to turn the page. It was fresh, fun and surprisingly gripping. I was on the edge of my seat many times while reading.
Superb! 10/10
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