The Rise and Fall of a 10th Grade Social Climber [Paperback]

Lauren Mechling (Author), Laura Moser (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 30, 2005

After the collapse of her parents’ marriage, Mimi Schulman leaves her mother in Houston to look after her befuddled photographer father in New York. Too preoccupied with family problems to think much about her new life, Mimi’s first hour at The Baldwin School—an institution where teachers offer psychoanalysis in lieu of grades and students hold cocktail parties in the bathroom between classes—leaves her spinning.

When Sam, her childhood best friend, bets her she can’t befriend the “cool girls,” Mimi accepts the challenge, only to discover that social climbing in New York is no easy task. Fitting in with the blond, all-American popular girls back in Texas was nothing compared to joining Baldwin’s clique of raccoon-eyed waifs.

Rubbing shoulders with the offspring of diplomats and celebrities, all with secrets and dysfunctions that put her own domestic worries to shame, Mimi finds herself in one bizarre situation to the next—a fake-ID deli, a topless bar, a jacuzzi in Trump Tower—and in the position of winning a bet that threatens to make her lose sight of herself.

A coming-of-age story about friendship and betrayal, about brutal honesty and its consequences, The Rise and Fall of a 10th-Grade Social Climber is a novel with heart and a wicked sense of humor.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up–Mimi Schulman, 15, relocates from Houston to Manhattan the summer before her sophomore year. She rekindles an old relationship with her childhood friend, Sam, and bets him that she will infiltrate the "Coolie" group and win their favor. She promises to keep a diary of this endeavor. Chaos ensues when Mimi betrays her friends new and old and she must ultimately seek redemption from her peers. Though the theme of finding acceptance and fitting in is catchy and contemporary, the characters behave more like stereotypical wealthy people at least twice their age with no consciences. The plot also lacks a key element–Mimi's journal is essentially her undoing, but readers are privy to only very select portions of it. Too little time is spent on revealing some of its secrets and too much concentration is given to vapid details of early-morning cocktails and Hamptons excursions. Fans of Cecily von Ziegesar's "Gossip Girl" series (Little, Brown) who are looking for an edgier read may enjoy this book, but, laced as it is with excessive drinking and adult language, it would most likely appeal to older teens.–Jennifer Feigelman, Plattekill Public Library, Modena, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 9-12. After her parents separate, Mimi Shulman, a former New Yorker transplanted to Texas, returns to the Big Apple to live with her sweet, clueless dad. Enrolled at the exclusive, trendy Baldwin School, she makes a bet with a longtime friend that she will get the coolest girls in tenth grade to accept her. Much to everyone's surprise, the Coolies take Mimi in, and she records their secrets and her true feelings for them in a diary. Over time, she begins to grow fond of them, and so when the diary (which contains unflattering pictures) is leaked on the Internet, she suffers not only the humiliation of being exposed but also genuine regret for her actions. Readers who have seen the movie Mean Girls will notice the strong similarities in the descriptions of high-school girls' cliques. It's the detail, though, that makes this an irresistible read: clothing, parties, music, trends are all captured to perfection, although these specifics will date quickly. Get this on your shelves now, while it's sure to please. Debbie Carton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 290 pages
• Publisher: Graphia (May 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618555196
• ISBN-13: 978-0618555192
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,693,740 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Completely Realistic, May 7, 2006

By 

Patricia Ann Herrera (houston, texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Rise and Fall of a 10th Grade Social Climber (Paperback)

The characters came alive. I thought they were very very realistic. I especially loved the ending.
The thoughts of Mimi are so funny, so real and her doubts and ego go across the board to every one's own insecurities.
Mimi is so lovable and just like the rest of us stumbling around trying to find her way.
I have a 16 year old God daughter, who was reflected in each one of the characters.
Highly recommend this to every one, every age.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review by Susannah 14 years old, May 8, 2005

By 

Susannah Gilbert "Susie" (Brooklyn, NY, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rise and Fall of a 10th Grade Social Climber (Paperback)

I read this book and found it fascinating! I would recommend this book to all teenagers. This book is different from most teen fiction because most teen fiction books have unrealistic endings or the main character has amazing good luck. In this book, the reader can relate to the character. This book was also suspenseful. I could not put it down, it was a page-turner. It influenced and inspired me for my first year in high school. Like any girl entering a new school, I was worried who I would hang out with. I am more comfortable and not as nervous now that I have read this book.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars looooved it..., August 10, 2006

By 

Claire Nicolay (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rise and Fall of a 10th Grade Social Climber (Paperback)

I graduated from highschool quite a while ago, but this book was a very, very fun read. Mimi has that perfect mix of insecurity and confidence that creates an engaging main character, and allows for the development of poignant relationships with the people surrounding her. By the fifth page, I wanted to meet her. By the last page, I wanted to be her friend. I highly recommend this book!