Mission (Un)Popular

by Anna Humphrey

Margot Button has a resolution for seventh Be more normal.

Easier said than done. But, if Margot can learn to control her big mouth (and hair), there is hope. The new girl, Em, from New York, needs a friend too, now that the popular girls have decided she’s “weird.” More accurately, Em is “intimidating.” She dresses like a rock star and doesn’t seem to care what anyone thinks of her—especially Sarah J., the most popular girl in the seventh grade. Em has an agenda for change at Manning Middle School and wants Margot on her side. Progress!

So, okay, Em has a flexible relationship with the truth, and her secret campaign to turn the tables on the popular girls may involve bending some laws. But after years of enduring Sarah J.’s bullying, Margot finds it hard to resist. Her approval rating is finally up—and, it really couldn’t hurt to take Sarah down a few notches...could it?

Endearingly imperfect and utterly charming, Margot Button is irresistible in this heartwarming novel about friendship, bullies and the travails of middle school.

Genres: Young Adult, Middle Grade, Fiction, Chick Lit, Friendship, Contemporary, Teen

416 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2011

About the author

Anna Humphrey is the author of Rhymes with Cupid (HarperTeen, 2010), Mission (Un)Popular (Disney/Hyperion Books for Children, 2011), Ruby Goldberg's Bright Idea (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2014) and Clara Humble & the Not-So-Super Powers (OwlKids Books, 2016)—all books for young readers. She lives in Kitchener, Ontario with her husband and kids.

Reviews

[Karen Montalvo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you ever feel the need to change your personality over someone? Mission (Un)Popular is a realistic-fiction and drama story. This is an amazing book because it shows that sometimes you may change your personality for someone which might be a good thing but it can also be a bad thing. Also, it shows that sometimes the people that you think you know well might not always be telling the truth or might be hiding something.
Mission (Un)Popular is about a girl named Margot who's life seems to be falling apart because her best friend is transferring to a new school, she doesn't have many friends, and she gets made fun of. Then, she met Em (a new girl) and Margot's personality changed and she wasn't as scared to speak up for herself anymore. This book mainly takes place in middle school which is important because it shows that the characters are in middle school. Margot wanted to have a better school year but Sarah, the popular girl was always picking or making fun of her, so Em came and became friends with Margot. Then, Margot started to change because Em helped Margot get back at and stand up to Sarah. Mission (Un)Popular is person vs. mind because in the story ***SPOILER ALERT*** when Em was making Sarah's life miserable by making her break up with her boyfriend or turning her friends against her, Margot did feel bad and she wanted to stop Em but didn't. The theme of the book is revenge isn't always worth it because ***SPOILER ALERT*** when Margot was to busy trying to get revenge on Sarah with Em that she lost her two closest friends Erika and Andrew.
The title relates to the book because ***SPOILER ALERT*** Em and Margot's "mission" was to get back at Sarah which caused Sarah not to be popular anymore. For example, when *** SPOILER ALERT*** Em found out that Sarah was spreading rumors and talking behind her friends, Maggie and Joyce's back, Em told told them and they went against her. Then, people started talking less to her and she lost her popularity. Also, a major event that changed Margot was when ***SPOILER ALERT*** Sarah pulled Margot down the stairs and she had to get a cast because it made Margot change her personality towards her and act more harsh towards her.
I was surprised when ***SPOILER ALERT*** Margot, Em, Joyce, Maggie, and Sarah were playing mystery on a spoon and Margot put some floor polish on the spoon by accident while Em noticed but, didn't say anything. Then, when Margot fed her the liquid Em kept forcing Sarah to eat more of the floor polish and when Em stopped, Sarah started throwing up but Em didn't let Margot call the ambulance. That surprised me because I thought that it was really harsh and sketchy of Em to not let Margot call for help when they clearly needed it. My favorite part was when ***SPOILER ALERT*** the two year old triplets started throwing a tantrum at the store for some Dora the Explorer macaroni and cheese because it made me laugh.
I rate Mission (Un)Popular a 5/5 because I really like how the other brings the story together and how it shows that you shouldn't have to change for other people. I would recommend this book to people who like young adult books or to people who like drama (there's a lot of drama). Some people might have learned a lesson or two from this book if you want to know why just read this book.

[Ana María]

Seventh grader Margot Button has enough problems fitting in as-is, what with her tarot card reading mother, the popular girl who hates her, and the fact that she looks different from the rest of her all american family and most of her schoolmates. But when her best friend has to transfer to a different school ,because her mother thinks Margot is a bad influence, life gets even harder. Things start to look up when the new girl at school, a super-confident girl from New York City, takes Margot under her wing.
It is a difficult book to read because in some cases appears more than 3 ideas and for this reason you get confused. I have not finished reading the book but until now I liked it a lot and there are parts where I find my day to day relationship

[Courtenay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a compelling book that had me hooked from "as for the rest, can you get back to me" on page two when I thought I'd find a voice I wanted to keep reading, but I quickly started disliking Margot as she got drawn into the web of Em's lies. I guess that's the whole point. This story felt much more like a YA than an MG, all 401 pages of it.

[Leah Renollet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy how it did end up, although it was not at all what I had expected, and you see how responsible and understanding the main character is. I like the fact that they include that mean girl getting hurt, and that the main character is sorry, even considering what she's done to her.

[Dzura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is so complicated but realistic sound that make me like it.

[Olivia Combs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was my religion in like 6th grade

[ay]

just re read this book from my Youth…. it remains a banger

[Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

2024

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mission (Un)popular by Anna Humphrey is the story of Margot Button, a twelve-year-old Canadian-Indian seventh grader living with her tarot-card reading mother, her stepfather Bald Boring Bryan, and identical triplet half-sisters who are two years old. At the start of the book, Margot's best friend, Erika, learns that she is being sent to Catholic school, and Margot is forced to face the first day of seventh grade alone. Desperate for friendship, she links up with a new girl named Em, who is from New York City and the daughter of a soap opera actress. She also claims to be a model, and makes it her personal mission to make Margot popular. At first, it seems like no big deal. Em teaches Margot how to dress, and encourages her to talk to her crush, Gorgeous George. But as time goes on, Em becomes more and more daring, and Margot gets pulled into schemes that include ignoring Erika, torturing Sarah J., the ringleader of the popular group, sneaking out of the house, and eventually getting seriously injured. Then Margot starts to wonder whether Em has been completely truthful about who she is, and whether she can even be trusted.

This book has everything a tween reader could want - a mysterious, slightly dangerous friend, comeuppance for a nasty bully, romance with cute boys, and honest commentary on family conflicts. The book starts off a bit slow, and gives us a ton of backstory, but once it gets into the main action, the pacing is perfect, and the reader is kept in a steady sense of suspense as the truth about Em slowly and deliciously unfolds. Margot's Indian culture, which she inherits from her dad, isn't really the central focus of the book, but there are still enough references to her race to strongly establish her identity as a character. A few weeks ago, one of the list-servs I follow mentioned a need for more books featuring characters of color that are not explicitly about racial issues, and Mission (Un)popular definitely fits that bill.

There are a lot of books about middle school out there, but this is one of the few I've read that so perfectly bridges the gap between middle grade and YA. The book isn't as explicit as some of the YA books being written for older teens, but it's also more sophisticated than a lot of school stories and friendship stories written for third through sixth graders. Fans of Lisi Harrison's Clique series, and Lauren Myracle's Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, and Thirteen Plus One, will also enjoy Margot's tumultuous seventh grade year. The events of Mission (Un)popular are far more dramatic than the lives of most seventh-graders I have known, but I think the drama is exactly what will appeal to that age group.

[Blythe Penland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was really good. Margot is a very realistic character. It took me a while to realize that the book was set in Canada. I bought this book at a Books a Million last summer. I really liked Em's fashion sense, too. Most of the time, Margot's life made me feel depressed. I mean, she never knew her father and people ask if she's adopted, because she doesn't look like the rest of her family. Also, having a step-dad that she didn't want plus the triplet half-sisters must have been awful. Margot's character is also a down side; being nosy and always saying the wrong thing at the wrong time and whatnot. It was so sad when Erika (her best friend) had been forcefully moved to Sacred Heart (the religious private school) by her mother. Margot's best friend was ripped away from her. Her only friend. Then Em moves to Canada from New York and befriends Margot, but Em is a bad influence. And it really is odd that they had already met at that self-esteem class. Em lies to Margot about her father and about a lot of other things. She has a plan to make herself and Margot get popular. In the process, they have a party, take down Sarah J. a peg, and unfriend Mike, Amir, & Andrew. One of my least favorite parts was when Em & Margot played Mystery on a Spoon and Margot forgot to meet up with Erika; then Erika came to Margot's house and Em slammed the door in her face. On another note, it was so weird when Margot was talking to George in Em's bathroom and she told him how she felt about him. Even I could tell that George did not feel the same about her. Then, when Em and George were dating; ugh, that backstabbing traitor! Even more awful was when Maggie, Joyce, Em, Sarah J., and Margot were working on a school project at Em's house & then they played Mystery on a Spoon where Margot wanted revenge on Sarah J. for pushing her down the stairs (causing her to break a leg and an arm). She accidentally gave Sarah J. furniture polish -which was poisonous-. Margot called 911 against Em's wishes, Sarah got hospitalized but was okay after lots of throwing up, Em moved back to New York, and most of the school hated Margot. The ending was nice, though. Margot & Erika became somewhat friends again. I really liked this book, and I recommend it to depressed teens.

[Once · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but was surprised at some of the things the unpopular girls did to the popular girls to make themselves more popular. I've never seen the movie "Mean Girls", but imagine it was something like this book.

It has been a while since I was in 7th grade, but I could relate to Margot within the first few pages of this book. She is a very real character, with lots of emotions, just like your typical 13 year old girl. She is not popular and wants more than anything to be popular--what 13 year old wouldn't want to be popular, right? She finds out within the first few days of school that her best friend would not be joining her in 7th grade...what in the world was she going to do? Margot was heartbroken and lost, but the friends vowed to do what they could to stay best friends. That changed pretty quickly, and that's one thing I was pretty surprised about-that they didn't fight harder for their (so-called) best friendship. There was a misunderstanding when Erika came to Margot's house and her new friend, Em, slammed the door on her face. Rather than chasing after her best friend or even trying to make amends, Margot just lets her go...since she has this shiny new friend who could possibly give her everything she wants out of life, or at least out of 7th grade.

I was surprised at some of the things Em did or encouraged Margot to do in order to increase their popularity level. Some were slightly innocent, but others were life threatening and really hard to read. It was sort of nice to see the underdogs becoming more popular as the book went on, but I didn't like the way they went about it-cheating, lying and hurting others.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Margot was my favorite, followed by her free-spirited, Tarot card reader mother and her husband. Em was an interesting character, as was Sarah, and in the end they weren't so different. The best part of this book was that it had a happy ending, which makes me happy. :)

review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2011...

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margot Button is starting seventh grade determined to avoid the social pitfalls she's practically thrown herself into during elementary school. She just needs to keep her big mouth shut and find the right hair product to tame her wild mane. But things get off to a bad start even before the first day when she finds out her best friend is going to another school, she won't be getting any new school clothes, and she's going to have to babysit (for free!) her triplet sisters every day. There's also some weirdness with her friend Andrew who's acting like he wants to be more than a friend, and mean girl Sarah J. keeps bringing up last year's debacle--Margot's attempted shoplifting of a glazed ham--which has earned Margot the moniker of "Hamburglar." A brash new girl from New York City may help Margot out of the social morass, or her schemes may just land Margot into even more trouble instead of getting her closer to Gorgeous George, her longtime crush.

Plenty of tween girls who feel socially and physically awkward will sympathize with Margot's plight. Even as Margot tries to fit in, she can't help but dig herself into even deeper trouble, especially through her frequently thoughtless comments and actions, which are usually hilariously funny. Her family situation--a free-spirited mother, a well-meaning but out-of-touch stepfather, and hugely cute triplet sisters--screams, and delivers, social humiliation. Margot is also a girl of color--her father, long out of the picture, is Indian--, and Margot frequently notes that she's one of the few non-Caucasians at her school. Humphrey mentions economic realities, too, that will ring true with many readers who can't afford all the latest fashions and gadgets. Margot's relationships with her best friend Erika, her new friend Emily, and her nemesis Sarah are well drawn and realistic, as is the awkwardness of a boy who's always been a friend and now wants to be more. Overall, this is a great read for middle grades and is recommended for ages 10 and up.

[Karen Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margot Button is going to the 7th grade and so far not the best start. Her best friend gets sent to Catholic school, she doesn't have new clothes because her step dad didn't let her, no eyebrows, new improvised bands, a new nickname "Hamburglar", and having to babysit the triplet sisters 5 days a week. But something finally good happened, a Em moved from New York and the popular girls think she's weird so Margot is trying to become friends with her but this Em dresses like a rockstar and doesn't really care about what people think of her. So Em wants Margot on her side when Em takes down Sarah ( the most popular girl in the school) and it's very hard to resist so she's in but along the way her best friend is upset with her and Margot has to save their family's shop.

I picked up this book because I thought the title was really interesting and I really hate how people are divided into popular and non popular so I wanted to read the side of a person that is non popular that gets herself into a lot of trouble. Also when I read that Em wanted to take down the most popular girl I wanted to read how she would plan this out.

I finished this book because I really liked the friendships in this book, the dialog, and how they planned to take down the most popular girl because that would be EXTREMELY hard and I wanted to know how she survived without her best friend because I could never live without my best friend!

I would recommend this book to readers of Girl Wonder because it is really similar and this book is basically a book meant for girls and they are both about their "social levels" and their troubles in school and Mission (un) popular is a really good book and I really couldn't believe that this book was based on the author well expect for the shoplifting part. B

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Margot is determined to start the new school year out right, but already her teacher hates her, her best friend has transferred to another school, and she’s assigned to the same class as her long-time nemesis, Sarah, who still likes to remind her about the “ham incident”. Things aren’t going so hot at home, either: her step-dad is annoying and her mother is completely preoccupied with her new blonde-haired, blue-eyed triplet half-siblings. Luckily, Margot makes fast friends with the cool new girl, Em, so things are starting to look up. But Em may not have Margot’s best interests at heart and she’s got lots of mysteries of her own…
As someone who works with junior high students, I can say Humphrey is pitch-perfect here with the voices and attitudes of her characters, to the point it’s almost painful to read. You feel for Margot and all the struggles she’s going through. (The eyebrow incident was particularly cringe-worthy.) The character interactions make the book – Humphrey really seems to get into the heads of catty tween/teen girls. Sarah is a true-life villain and there’s just enough vulnerability to Em to make the reader slightly sympathetic.
My only criticism would be that I felt like the storyline with Em tied up a little too quickly, but this is definitely going to be a recommendation to my students.
[Pre-pub E-galley]

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

To analyze the title, I think that the reason that it is called "mission (un)popular" is becuse when Margot, and her new friend Em decide to go up against the populars, they think they are becoming "Unpopular" This has an opposite effect.

This book was very see through. To explain; once I knew the characters, and got a feel for the book, I could see the plot. As if I had read the outline before I even started. This a very dissapointing thing to come from an author who I am not too familar with. Now I might refrain from her works.

Now for the characters.

I hated them.

To explain this, I will just say that they were not very nice. The protagonist was stuipid, rude, and disrespectful. As well as the friend who was supposed to be "modeling" those traits .(<------ If you still end of reading this [book], the "modeling" part is pretty funny) The mean girl (Most popular) was mean. The best friend was mean. The goody too-shoes private school girl was mean. The boy friend was mean. The class clown jerk was mean.

IT WAS ALL TOO MEAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

For the most part though, after I got over the characaters, the fact that I could see where everything was going, and that there weren't that many twists, ruined it for me.

I really wouldn't recommend this book.

[Reading Vacation · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mission (Un)Popular is all about fitting in – tween style. While I normally love books about typical tween struggles, I was not entirely sold this time. Let me tell you why.

Things start off great with main character Margot who is facing some common tween issues. She is self-conscience about her appearance, moody, and sad that her best friend is changing schools. To top that all off, she has been the victim of bullying at the hands of Sarah and the popular kids. I like that she is pretty much an average girl.

Enter Em, the new girl from New York. Em is into acting tough, flexing the truth, and putting others down. She is the kind of girl I avoid at all costs. The thing is, Em latches onto Margot because Margot is an easy target. From there, the story becomes a mess of pranks and excessive bullying on all sides.

While I appreciate that bullying is being addressed in this book, I don’t care for the way it is handled. Margot learns that being popular isn’t everything, but I am not so sure what Em learns.

RATING

2 Not For Me

COVER COMMENTS

Looks like Em is passing a note to Margot. I like how (un) is in a different font. Cute cover.

[Sammy L · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "Mission (Un) Popular," written by Anna Humphrey, Margot Button hopes that she will fit in more in and be more popular in seventh grade, than she was in sixth. This becomes more difficult when best, and only friend moves to a different school because her parents think Margot is a bad influence on her. Also, Margot has a new nickname, "Hamburglar," given by the popular kids at school, after she steals a ham over a dare. Then, a new girl named Em comes to school from New York, and to her surprise befriends her and gives her new clothes and good hair advice. She thinks everything is going great until she realizes that Em is not the person she thought she was and that she, herself is changing in ways she didn't expect. I can relate to this book because I am in junior high, too. I thought that this book was a fun read and I would reccomend it to other junior high kids. Anna Humphrey is also the author of "Rhymes with Cupid" and hopefully will come out with more books.


ACADEMIC HONESTY--By pasting this statement, I am indicating that I read the book, and the information on this page is accurate.

[Rad · Rating 3 out of 5]

1. I think this novel could EASILY have been half as long.
2. There was closure where I didn't want closure (Erika) and no closure where I really needed it (Em, the English teacher, and Sarah J. Do you honestly think Margot and Sarah J. won't ever be at each other's throats again?)
3. The title is misleading. At the very least it misled ME.
4. I don't care what anyone else says. If your BEST FRIEND's name is Erika, you do not continually refer to her as Erika-with-a-k. For one, that would get old pretty quick, and Margot and Erika were supposed to have been friends since first grade. And for two, there aren't any other Erikas/Ericas in the book! And three, Erika with a K is not uncommon anymore!

I did think the book had its good points. The relationship between Em and Margot was nicely set up and very complicated. Margot's struggles with Sarah J. were compelling and drove the plot forward. I think Humphrey captured the chaos of triplet toddlers well.

And I finished it. Which is WAY more than I can say for some other books.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mission (Un) Popular is a familiar tale of life in middle school these days. It is an honest portrait of daily life at age 13. This would be a great book for discussion, especially for mother-daughter book clubs. It deals with the many life lessons we all learn at 13, most of the time the hard way. What I liked most about the book is how realistic the main character Margot is. She is honest and smart, but easily influenced by her peers.Margot has always wanted to be popular, and now that she has joined forces with the new girl Em, it looks like she may get that wish. The problem is, now she has to decide what she is willing to do in order to stay that way. Her story absolutely illustrates the old saying "Be careful what you wish for, you just may get it." An absorbing read!

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be released in June 2011

Didn't love it-but it wasn't terrible either. Margot was likable and unique enough-she had so many things making her different its a wonder she doesn't feel like she fits in. At the beginning of her 7th grade year Margot is determined to be popular and to clear her name from last year's humiliations. But what with her stepfather losing his job, her hippie Tarot-reading mother, two-year-old triplet sisters, and a best friend heading off to private school this will not be easy.

Luckily Margot meets Em, who just moved to town from New York City! Maybe her quest for popularity will not be as impossible as it seems.

[Pattie Cowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi, as you all see from above, my name is Emma, but just like Emily in the story, I like to be called Em. If you like this book, follow along in my reviws or request me as a goodreads or nook color friend.Now to the reveiw.
Mission (un) popular was a cute comedy that you can realate to in real life. Although it has mild curseing(after all they ARE seventh graders) Im sure ages 10 and up would be fine with it. You may not want to read it if you get grossed out easely since someone has describing barf at the end.
hugs
Em

[Amber Alexander · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I could relate to the main character and i could relate to the events happening. But the ending kind of had me on an edge. Like "what happens next???!!" Great book. Just wish it had more of an ending. Like did Erica finally forgive her? What about the new girl Erica met?? what about the kids at school? and so on.... If anyone knows about a sequel to this book please let me know because a sequel like this book definitely deserves a reading. Overall, great book. Just wish it had a little more closing that's all.

[ShellyP2020 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this book was different in a good way because it showed how this girl had different feelings of how she showed herself also because how she had to adapt to life at school. Margot (the main character) also found a new friend and they face many many problems that they try to work out together. There was also lots of different things that wouldn't happen to any ordinary person. I thought this book would just be about people wanting to be popular, but it was also more.

[Nita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won an advanced copy of this book. Great young adult read. Reminded me of what it is like going through middle school or high school being on the not so popular side of things while still wanting to be popular. It is like Mean Girls but from the other side of the fence. Love the Margot diary-like notes throughout.

[Joanna Karaplis]

I know the author, so I won't rate the book. I will, however, say that I really enjoyed it. The main character, almost-thirteen-year-old Margot, is sympathetic and believable. The conflict builds nicely and is resolved believably. I definitely cared about the characters. I don't read much middle grade fiction, and this was a nice change from my usual fare.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

i think the main reason i liked this book was because it was SOOO relate-able! its pretty much about a little nerdy kid that wants to be popular, so this new girl comes in and gets herself and Margot (the main character) noticed. the book was hilarious and true cause kids these days act just like the characters in the book!

PS. not saying i'm a nerd!! kinda came out wrong :)

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good tween angst book dealing with typical middle school girl issues. Complete with mean girls, meaning of real friends, & importance of family. Not my usual choice of reading material, but great for girl's around middle school age.

[Ananya Kumaresh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book that a lot of middle schoolers should read because it was an interesting plot line of friendships, forgiveness, family, school, and so much more...I recommend this book to any middle schooler!

[Zj · Rating 5 out of 5]

mission unpopular started out pretty well in the beginning but
as soon as erika had to change schools and em came into margaret's
life, things started to get out of hand. All in all, i enjoyed
the story very much

[Rukhshar Baig · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book ending was totally different.. I assumed that the ending would be like Andrew and Margot would be dating and even Sarah would also become friend with Margot. But all in all the book was good to read only once