Nonfiction Navigators discussion

One cannot help but geek out over The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth. This nonfiction novel, written by New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Robbins, investigates high school cliques in their rawest form. Robbins exposes the secret to popularity, the importance of remaining loyal to one’s true character, the motives behind bullying and excluding students, and the depth of the concept that is “cafeteria fringe”.

Robbins’ novel follows the day-to-day lives of several different students across the country. Each is part of a different social group, but each manages to feel like an outsider in their circle of acquaintances. The problems of the video game geek are not all that different from ones of the popular girl. Though difficult to tolerate at times, each teenager is relatable and evokes delight, pity, and even heartache from readers.

For those who don’t enjoy the overwhelming flood of facts that many nonfiction novels contain, Robbins’ writing style offers relief. Unlike traditional nonfiction novels, she matches standard historical events and statistics with an equal amount of quotes. The experiences of the students and teachers she interviews read more like a coming-of-age fiction story than anything else.

Though the reading level is a simple one, Robbins’ book is truly a novel for almost all age groups. Quotes and viewpoints gathered range from new middle schoolers to experienced teachers. While it may seem like only current high school students can relate to the content, Robbins discusses the history of the notions of popularity and cliques that have been prevalent in schools for decades and are most likely nothing new to the reader. Though Robbins’ book is filled with the vernacular of middle schoolers and high schoolers, she provides helpful descriptions of newly formed social groups and recently invented terminology for those who have been out of high school for several years.

The formula of Robbins’ novel is a unique one. Along with raising awareness of the harmful effects of social exclusion and stereotyping, she goes above and beyond her duty as an author by including several pages of tips for students, parents, and teachers. These tips, if followed properly, can potentially put an end to many of the issues brought up in The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth.

Overall, Robbins’ novel is a fresh take on problems that have, for decades, been briefly discussed and eventually swept under the rug. The insight Robbins provides through the experiences of each student gives the reader a better understanding of the severity of labelling and the importance of staying true to yourself.