The Clueless Girl's Guide to Being a Genius

by Janice Repka

Aphrodite Wigglesmith is a thirteen-year-old prodigy. After a fast track through Harvard, she's back at her old middle school to teach remedial math and prove a bold theory: anyone can be a genius with the right instruction. Enter Mindy, a ditzy baton twirler who knows more about hair roots than square roots. What could she possibly learn from such a frumpy nerd, except maybe what not to wear? But somewhere between studying and shopping, the two girls start to become friends. They're an unlikely pair, but in this uproarious middle-grade comedy, wacky is the norm and anything is possible - just like middle school.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, Humor, Young Adult, Novels

224 pages, Hardcover

First published August 18, 2011

About the author

In addition to her writing career, Janice Repka has been a teacher and a lawyer. Her first book, The Stupendous Dodgeball Fiasco, won the Nebraska Golden Sower Award and was a Junior Library Guild Selection. She has a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania as well as Master's degrees in English and Creative Writing from McNeese State University. She is a mother of four and a teaches writing among her many other pursuits.

Reviews

[Baker · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is about two opposites who find a way to get along. At first, you would no think they would get along but they do even though they kind of hide their friendship. The author uses a lot of action to keep the reader interested. This book really didn´t fit me but I think that someone who really wants an easy read and likes to read about friendship would really like this book.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

At thirteen, math prodigy Aphrodite Wigglesmith has already completed her college education at Harvard. Now Harvard has sent her to teach remedial math at a public middle school to try and prove her theory that anyone can be good at math, given the proper type of instruction. Mindy Loft, whose best talent is baton twirling, is a student in Professor Wigglesmith's math class, but she doubts she will be able to learn anything from the dowdy and nerdy Aphrodite. Over time, though, the girls realize they have more in common than meets the eye. Aphrodite teaches Mindy and her classmates how to solve math problems, and in turn, Mindy helps Aphrodite decode the world of middle school fashion and dating.

This book is definitely not a serious one, and it requires some suspension of disbelief. The entire story is predicated on an impossibility - that a middle schooler would teach middle school - and readers who get hung up on that fact will have a harder time enjoying the story. Those who can get past that, however, will enjoy this unique tale of an unlikely friendship and two interesting young teens. This book deals with the same issues as many tween novels - fights between friends, feeling put down by cruel classmates, being unfairly dismissed by clueless adults - but it does so with a new twist. The tone of the story is also really distinctive. The text almost pokes fun at itself, and many familiar aspects of middle school are exaggerated for the sake of humor.

The Clueless Girl's Guide to Being a Genius will appeal to both girls and boys who have enjoyed The Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman by Ben H. Winters, Schooled by Gordon Korman, The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander, and The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger.

[Addison Children's Services · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aphrodite is a genius. At 13 she is completing her doctorate at Havard when she takes time out to teach remedial math at her own middle school. She is trying to prove that anyone can be a math wiz. (And she does prove this, although I still have serious reservations about the premise.) Meanwhile, Aphrodite makes friends for the first time with a girl her own age and learns to be a 13 year-old. After the first day the 13 year-old substitute teacher did a great job of teaching and maintaining order in the remedial classroom. Definitely fiction.

[Kathy Temean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Besides being a wonderful story, this book is hysterical - so much fun. I know it is a middle grade book, but adults will love it, too. Need a laugh - get this book.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was a kid, I read this over and over. Especially on Thanksgiving because I coincidentally read it on two Thanksgivings in a row. I liked this book as a kid because I was like Aphrodite Wigglesmith: a really smart kid who needed to learn more social skills. However, I liked this book less as I matured.

I like the two main characters, at least in a vacuum. Aphrodite, despite her name, is a teenager who fast-tracked through college and is now teaching remedial math to kids her age. Mindy is a ditzy baton twirler who is less mean than you think. I especially like their names, which are just outlandish enough for the tone and fitting for the characters. However, there are many problems and bad tropes with this book.

It seems like Aphrodite needs to learn way more than Mindy, despite the author’s intentions. Mindy is nice, and outwardly not a mean girl, but her behavior towards Aphrodite could be read as pushy and toxic. This book is less funny than it thinks it is, and it is full of bad teen book tropes. This book was fun, but now it isn’t my jam.

[Mala Ashok · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a classic, beauty meets brains story. Aphrodite Wigglesmith is a Math Genius who at 13 graduates from Harvard. She tries to get a teaching position but her age is a deterrent. She ends up, being hired at her Middle School, to teach Math to a remedial class. She is firmly of the opinion that anyone can learn Math even a "bonehead," and sets out to prove it. One of the students in her class is Mindy who is a champion Baton Twirler. An unlikely friendship ensues and this middle school novel is a bunch of laughs. At the same time it is somewhat poignant. A great gift for the Tween on your gift list.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up, because Aww.... The mean girl is barely visible, the boys are individuals, and it's full of heart. A LFL find that surprised me, 3.5 stars rounded up because I needed something sweet today.

Oh, and I love the idea of having a tattoo on the top of the head, in the middle of a bald spot. Especially a four-leaf clover.

[Rebecca Romancky · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was light and fluffy, the kind of book you read when you want to read but you really don't want to think too much. Did I enjoy it? Sure. But do I also have a problem not keeping my copy? Also sure. I will say that my 11 year old read it first and also really enjoyed it, so there's that.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love love this book! I read it over and over again! It is one of my favorites!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for pre-teens. Hard to believe that this cute book revolves around them learning math, but it works well.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this sm as a preteen

[Lisa Nocita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Syrupy sweet and utterly predictable, The Clueless Girl's Guide to Being a Genius, is the tale of a thirteen year old prodigy, who, having completed her master's degree at Harvard, has returned to her former middle school to pursue research on a theory she has that anyone, no everyone, can be a math wiz. Not a math whiz, but a math wiz. I guess short for wizard. So, Aphrodite "Dytee" Wigglesworth (one of the worst character names ever!)takes on teaching a group of her less nimble minded eighth grade peers in remedial math culminating with an appearance in the Great Math Showdown as the proverbial underdogs who have a lot of heart if questionable talent meanwhile making exceptional and unprecedented gains in their state assessment scores. (Is the author a teacher?! Because, really, she does make some very good observations about education amongst all the glib banter.) If it sounds preposterous, it is. But despite it preposterous premise, if you can get past that it is a story about friendship, believing in yourself, and having the courage to be yourself even when you are not absolutely sure who that is. Character development is shallow and there's not much action. It's fit for a Disney Channel movie aimed for 9-12 year olds. Fifth and sixth grade girls may find a certain appeal in this novel.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Clueless Girl's Guide to Being a Genius is about main characters Aphrodite Wigglesmith and Mindy Loft. Aphrodite is the Harvard grad. at the age of thirteen who decides to teach remedial math at her former middle school. Mindy's main ambition in life is to twirl her way to a win at the Twirlcrazy Grand Championships. Written in alternating chapters between the beauty and the brains this story is more about friendship and how it is important to not judge by exteriors. A middle grade story with a refreshing moral and a very light easy read.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was surprisingly cute! I received an advance reader's copy from a local bookstore and almost did not read this one due to the demeaning title. As an adult with many college courses on gender (roles, disparity, portrayal in media), the cover completely turned me off. However, I read everything I can and this was just sitting in my living room, so I picked it up, and I was happily surprised. The two main characters are fun and well-formed. Highly recommended for girls ages 8-12. Unfortunately, many of the chapters will not appeal to boys.

[Dawn Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a really cute children's book, or perfect pick-me-up for any age if you've just read a depressing book. It's heartfelt, sweet, and very funny, and I empathized a lot with the school-oriented girl, like a lot.
My only issue is that Aphrodite is the one who's amazing at school and lacking in fashion sense when the other girl who cares more about her looks and knows how to dress should be the one named after the goddess of love. This bugged be the entire time I read it, but I was more amused than anything else.

[Becky Shattuck · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best part about this book is how the author didn't write all the kids as stereotypes. It also had a good friendship theme.

It just wasn't a very good story. A lot of it is ridiculous, and all of it is predictable (of course the baton competitor would have her competition date changed to the same date as the math competition!). Even the math isn't any good. For example, the amazing math the teenage genius does is quickly calculating the wind speed before she throws a baton in the air. What?

[Aryanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool book! There was a missed comma on page 37, paragraph 3. It says: "Hermy laughed so hard squash came out of his nose." There is no comma between "hard" and "squash", so what this is saying is that Hermy laughed, and then HARD squash came out of his nose. If the sentence was like this: "Hermy laughed so hard, squash came out of his nose." then that would mean he laughed really hard, which made squash come out of his nose.

[Ellen Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly, this is a very good book, with an interesting set of characters, a believable plot, and themes of true friendship, overcoming challenges, learning to be comfortable as you, and improving your weak points. Once again, I learnt not to judge a book by its cover. I seriously thought that this would be a silly young-adult novel like Dork Diaries, but it was way better. I am glad I read it.

[Emma Xoxo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It showed that people can be math wiz's and they shouldn't be treated like "boneheads". I'm not sure what happened to Aphrodite could really happen in real life, but it was very nice to read about. The classes determination without Ms.Wigglesmith really amazed me and made me emotional. I rate this book 5 stars. ***** . -Signing off, Emma XoXo

[Sonia and Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

(this review tells you about the book so if you do not want to know just don't read)
this book is about two girls who are thirteen and one graduated Harvard and is now teach a remedial math class and the other girl is in the class and is bad at math. So the genius has a theory that anyone can become a math genius and she proves this right in this book.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you struggle with math? Or maybe another subject in school? This book does a great job of showing that even smart kids need a little extra (or just different) help sometimes. It also shows that being a genius in one thing doesn't mean you don't have a lot to learn about something else.

[Joelle Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally loved this book. And I think lots of ten and eleven year old girls would find it really fun. Maybe even a bit older. It's a great premise and a quick read with fun characters. I will be looking for more by this author.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun middle school girl read. I recommend it.

[None]

Janis is a topnotch m-g author. it is a surprising rarity, surprising it is a rarity. we have ALWAYS been hungry for m-g books, ever since i started in the biz in '83. the one constant.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a fun, fast, light read. It didn't take itself too seriously and I could pick it up and put it down when I needed.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the fact that this is tween lit with a moral you can see coming a mile away, I rather liked it. 3.5

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

for middle school girls

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Janice Repka has taught at Point Park.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly, I liked Mindy's chapters better than Dytee's. I don't like that nickname by the way. I won't spoil the book, but the ending was sweet.

[Maryellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute kids book, something light to read when I was indisposed. No surprises, but definitely likeable characters.