Awkward [Paperback]

Marni Bates (Author)

Book Description

Release date: January 1, 2012

Mackenzie Wellesley has spent her life avoiding the spotlight. At Smith High, she's the awkward junior people only notice when they need help with homework. Until she sends a burly football player flying with her massive backpack and makes a disastrous - not to mention unwelcome - attempt at CPR. Before the day is out, the whole fiasco explodes on YouTube. And then the strangest thing happens. Suddenly, Mackenzie is an Internet sensation, with four million hits and counting. Sucked into a whirlwind of rock stars, paparazzi, and free designer clothes, she even catches the eye of the most popular guy at school. And that's when life gets really interesting...

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: K-Teen; 1 edition (January 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758269374
• ISBN-13: 978-0758269379
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #211,999 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Marni Bates alternates her time between her home in Ashland, OR and Lewis & Clark College. When not studying or writing, she can be found rollerblading, bargaining at garage sales, and watching copious amounts of TV--strictly for artistic inspiration, of course.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Funny and sweet! January 12, 2012

By Truly Bookish

Format:Kindle Edition

One of my bookish resolutions for this year is to read more contemporary books and I'm so happy I started with Awkward. This book is funny, sweet and highly entertaining. In other words, it's my type of contemporary YA book.

Mackenzie is a girl with issues. Her father cheated on her mother when Mackenzie was a kid and she blames herself for the divorce and her dad's subsequent abandonment. As a result, she does not trust men, rely on anyone or allow others to pay her way. Ever. Because of an embarrassing and traumatic childhood incident, Mackenzie goes through great lengths to not attract attention in school, to be invisible.

Mackenzie's character is, as the title of the book implies, very awkward but she is also very funny. She does not really filter her thoughts, says whatever comes to mind and when she gets nervous, she babbles random facts. Her faux pas are cringe worthy and funny at the same time, especially the entire incident that gets her on YouTube.

While fame propels Mackenzie into unfamiliar situations, she tries to handle them with grace and sometimes fails (with hilarious results) but that's a part of the beauty of this book. I love that Mackenzie is a smart girl that prioritizes her grades and her relationship with her family and friends even after she becomes famous.

While Awkward is about an ordinary girl who sky rockets to fame overnight, it's also about self-esteem, perception and about Mackenzie getting over her hang-ups stemming from her father leaving the family. There is also a sweet, well developed romance in the book that I absolutely love.

While I thought some of the secondary characters, especially Mackenzie's friend Corey, were a bit cliché, it did not take away from the story. Awkward is a funny and modern contemporary romance that will appeal to both teens and adults. While the book appears to be a standalone novel, Invisible, a book set in the same world as Awkward is scheduled to be released next year. I'm looking forward to it.

Content: Mild profanity, kissing and underage drinking.

My Rating: Really Good!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars INSPIRING January 17, 2012

By mary levie

Format:Paperback

I read it cover to cover in a day and a half. Without giving away to much detail the first half of the book you just wanted to jump in the pages and give Mackenzie a big hug and kiss. The last half of the book truly felt like you were there in the moment. The writer was amazing with getting you captured in the experience. I truly believe its a great inspiring book for any teenage girl that is feeling geeky, book smart and part of the un noticed scene in high school. Definitely teaches to be yourself and don't give a toot what people think of you or how they react during certain situations. What a great read. HIGHLY would recommend.......Fast easy reading.......

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun, light-hearted read January 12, 2012

By Alycia

Format:Paperback

A fun, light-hearted read. Mackenzie is a little bit awkward, but thats okay because she has some awesome friends and a great future ahead of her. But when she accidentally hits a football player with her backpack hard enough to make him fall over (and then gives him cpr) her life changes. Someone recorded the incident and then put it up on Youtube and now Mackenzie is a hit and the butt of a million jokes.

I think what I liked most about this story is that the reactions were honest and felt real. Mack is smart, funny, and oblivious at times. She has a crush on Patrick, a very popular boy who doesn't notice her until she becomes famous. Mack fails to notice Logan, the popular boy that she is tutoring, who happens to be more than a little interested in her. The hijinks that occur during the book had me laughing out loud.

The only time I felt the book veered a little too far into unrealistic is when Mack is hanging with the rockstar group, but who am I to say that wouldn't happen. In all, the book is very enjoyable and doesn't become cheesy. The romance is sweet and slow building, and I loved the way Mack deals with being famous (especially for something that is embarrassing). I highly recommend.