Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn [Library Binding]

Sarah Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 3, 2008

"Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn" answers the question every girl wants answered: what do teenage boys really think about? Through the eyes of a mystery narrator, we enter the mind of Gideon Rayburn, an average teenage boy from suburban Washington, who's been plunged into an extraordinary and very raucous world. He stumbles through a wild junior year at Midvale Academy, a prestigious boarding school in northeastern Connecticut. Aided by his debauched and rebellious roommates, and an extremely efficient marijuana inhalation system, Gideon will learn everything there is to know about the elusive, complex girls of Midvale.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up This book is earthy and crude, but intensely honest. A nameless girl at Midvale Academy suddenly and inexplicably finds herself inside the head of 15-year-old Gideon, a new student at the Connecticut prep school. Hearing his thoughts gives her a unique understanding of how the mind of an intelligent but hormone-ruled boy works. Gid's wealthy, handsome, and popular roommates, Cullen and Nicholas, attempt to help him adjust, pointing out the hottest girls. Recognizing that he is limited in his coolness factor, they pick a girl who's not the top of the heap and bet on whether Gideon will be able to have sex with her before Halloween. The lucky girl is Molly McGarry. It's a shame, Gideon thinks, because although she is cute and smart, she's not his first pick; he's set his sights on beautiful, oozing-with-sexuality Pilar Benitez-Jones, who has indicated that she'll take him on, any time, any place. But a bet's a bet, and Gideon is excited about fulfilling the terms since he's still a virgin. The conceit sometimes makes it difficult to tell who's actually thinking, Gid or the girl, but if readers can get past this issue, the story works on many levels. There's a tremendous amount of pot smoking, drinking, and sneaking out at night, making the story most appropriate for older teens. The humor, well-developed characters, and fast-moving plot make the book deserving of shelf space, and teens will enjoy figuring out the identity of the narrator, who is revealed at the end. Susan Riley, Mount Kisco Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 9-12. "Everything you've ever wondered about what guys think (and feared about what they want), I'm going to tell you," says the anonymous narrator. And she does--every kind, gentle, anxious, sordid, crazy, vindictive, sexy thought that goes through 15-year-old Gideon Rayburn's head is channeled through the narrator's pen, a fellow student at Midvale, a Massachusetts prep school. We never learn her identity, only that she is one of the beautiful girls about whom Gid fantasizes. The mysterious voice is a clever device and part of the book's charm, but it's also part of its problem. It's easy to forget that Gid's brain is running through a female filter, so when that female viewpoint appears, usually in a funny comment at male expense, it can be jarring. Still, the book will be an easy sell. Gid is the kind of truly nice guy most girls want guys to be: sensitive, funny, and a bit lusty. And average nice guys will relate to Gid's worries about popularity and girls. Lots of fun and food for thought. Frances Bradburn
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Library Binding: 289 pages
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1435236505
• ISBN-13: 978-1435236509
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,520,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I live in Los Angeles. My book is funny.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars whip-smart, hilarious, and right-on, May 6, 2006

By 

judy holliday "judy" (lawrenceville, nj) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn (Hardcover)

reading this book is like being on a joy ride - hijaking the psyche of the boy you were crushed out on at school. or should have been crushed out on. gideon is hilarious, and sarah miller is a genius. i've already loaned this book to my best friend.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars inside the mind of sarah miller, May 10, 2006

By 

Jennifer Doyle (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn (Hardcover)

The premise of this novel grabbed me: the narrator is a girl who knows everything that the title character Gideon is thinking. It's a creative and funny way to explore the simple fact that, really, most of the time girls are ahead of boys in knowing what the really want! It's kindof like "Being John Malkovitch" - except here Malkovitch is a teenage boy who finds himself at a prep school surrounded by boys and girls way cooler (and richer) than he is. And the girl inside his head is a mystery - someone in his world, but who? Miller pulls no punches, she gets right up in there, taking on the awful years of sorting out how and where we fit in the world. Not only do I recommend this book to teens, I recommend it to grown-ups looking for a smart and funny read. It'll take you back (and make you glad you don't have to GO back!).

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING!!!, June 25, 2006

By 

Franny Dear (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn (Hardcover)

I really loved this book. The characters are well developed and very realistic. Gideon isn't perfect but that is what makes him so lovable. Sarah Miller truly captures the spirit of being a teenager in this day and age. Her narrator has a funny, refreshingly sarcastic sense of humor but still maintains a carefully hopeful attitude throughout the book. It is a light, fun read that will have you looking forward to the next book the talented Ms. Miller puts out.