The Treasure Map of Boys: Noel, Jackson, Finn, Hutch, Gideon--and Me, Ruby Oliver (Ruby Oliver Quartet) [Hardcover]

E. Lockhart (Author)

Book Description

Series: Ruby Oliver Quartet | Publication Date: July 28, 2009

Ruby is back at Tate Prep, and it’s her thirty-seventh week in the state of Noboyfriend. Her panic attacks are bad, her love life is even worse, and what’s more:

Noel is writing her notes, Jackson is giving her frogs, Gideon is helping her cook, and Finn is making her brownies. Rumors are flying, and Ruby’s already-sucky reputation is heading downhill.

Not only that, she’s also: running a bake sale, learning the secrets of heavymetal therapy, encountering some seriously smelly feet, defending the rights of pygmy goats, and bodyguarding Noel from unwanted advances.

In this companion novel to The Boyfriend List and The Boy Book, Ruby struggles to secure some sort of mental health, to understand what constitutes a real friendship, and to find true love—if such a thing exists.


From the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6–9—Readers who missed The Boyfriend List (2005) and The Boy Book (2006, both Delacorte) will have no trouble keeping up, but they might still feel compelled to go back and read them. Sixteen-year-old Ruby brings readers up to speed on her dramatic history, in which a love triangle, a misplaced boyfriend list, and a dented reputation have left her almost friendless (aka a "roly poly," to use her coined term for a social pariah) and in therapy. The book chronicles her continuing social dilemmas, including ambiguous signals from former boyfriend Jackson, growing conflict over would-be boyfriend Noel, a lost job, a new pet, and panic attacks. Sessions with therapist Dr. Z punctuate the narrative, providing an opportunity for Ruby—and readers—to reflect on herself and her peers and unpack her feelings and fears. And despite her obvious insecurities, Ruby is funny—very funny. She expresses herself in a manner both self-deprecating and precocious, with a quirky use of language and an appreciation for the absurd that is thoroughly endearing. A definite purchase if you have the first two in the series; if you don't, consider getting all three for reluctant readers and lovers of chick-lit.—Emma Burkhart, Springside School, Philadelphia, PA END --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Ruby Oliver from The Boyfriend List (2005) and The Boy Book (2006) is back, with pretty much as many problems as she had heretofore. She lives in “noboyfriend” land (not many girlfriends, either); her shrink is both the source and object of questions; and perhaps most troubling, she can never quite figure out what to do or how to do it. Written in the same fast and funny voice as the previous books (don’t forget to read the footnotes), this third installment neatly incorporates backstory so new readers will quickly feel up to speed. Heartbreak was never so much fun. Grades 9-12. --Ilene Cooper --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (July 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385904371
• ISBN-13: 978-0385904377
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,512,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I write novels for teenagers. They're largely comical. I love my job.
My books: Fly on the Wall, The Boyfriend List, The Boy Book, Dramarama, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, How to Be Bad,The Treasure Map of Boys and Real Live Boyfriends.
Visit me at www.emilylockhart.com.
Or come read the blog at www.theboyfriendlist.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ruby Oliver is back and better than ever, July 28, 2009

By 

Khy - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Treasure Map of Boys: Noel, Jackson, Finn, Hutch, Gideon--and Me, Ruby Oliver (Ruby Oliver Quartet) (Hardcover)

I didn't realize how much I missed Ruby Oliver until I started reading this third book in the series. I haven't read The Boyfriend List or The Boy Book in nearly a year, but as soon as I picked this one up, I was instantly sucked back into Ruby's crazy, "Ag" filled world.

Ruby's strong voice and writing style are once again present in this book. Her footnotes, her notes at the beginning of the chapters, and uncommonly used words are all back and make Roo as entertaining as ever. The best part about Roo in this book is that she finally learns to grow. She still has her panic attacks, and freaks out over boys, but by the end, she really learns some lessons she needed to learn in order to make herself a better person. It got a little preachy when she went over all the things she had learned throughout the book, but it still showed that she is finally growing up.

There was a bunch of little things happening in the book along the way, so there was a lot of build up to the events of the end, which was kind of annoying, but it's worth it. The ending events show Roo's development extremely well, and I was actually proud of Roo for a certain event. But I can't tell you what that is. ;)

Fans of the first two books shouldn't be disappointed in the third installment, because The Treasure Map of Boys is absolutely spankin'.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rock it out Ruby!, September 10, 2009

By 

Heather (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Treasure Map of Boys: Noel, Jackson, Finn, Hutch, Gideon--and Me, Ruby Oliver (Ruby Oliver Quartet) (Hardcover)

What can I say? Ruby Oliver has dazzled me yet again. She is the voice of the female species, or at least, the better half of it.

It seems dear Roo can never catch a break. Just when she has finally gotten a handle on her panic attacks, formed a new group of friends, and has begun an enjoyable internship at the city zoo, it's all turned on its feet.

Roo gets fired
Jackson sends her a frog laden with meaning
Noel is flirting and sending her notes
Gideon sits with his thigh touching hers
Nora is ignoring her once again
And Roo has just met Doctor Z's fungi footed boyfriend.
Could things get any more complicated?

The answer is yes, yes they can. The Treasure Chest of Boys does not disappoint. Filled with bake sale stand offs, emulsions of the kitchen variety, hair band therapy, goat correspondence, Operation Sophomore Love, bodyguard duty and more, we are once again transported into the quirky, neurotic mind of our beloved Ruby Oliver. I'm sad that it is coming to an end, but I am anxiously waiting to read about Roo's next and last adventure.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars E. Lockhart never disappoints, August 15, 2009

By 

YA book lover - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Treasure Map of Boys: Noel, Jackson, Finn, Hutch, Gideon--and Me, Ruby Oliver (Ruby Oliver Quartet) (Hardcover)

"The Treasure Map of Boys" is the third book about Ruby Oliver, a 16-year old girl unsure of what and who she wants in her life. Ruby's life is messy and stressful as she tries to figure out how to deal with her overbearing parents, ex-boyfriend, potential boyfriends, her on and off friends, and undeserved scandalous reputation.

Once again, E. Lockhart doesn't disappoint. Her knowledge of the inner works of a teenage girl's mind is profound and portrayal of Ruby's is extremely realistic. My only complaint is that in spite of a lot of self-examination and sessions with her shrink, Ruby still seems to be stuck in the same place where she was in the beginning of "The Boyfriend List," I personally would have liked to see more growth in her. However it did not stop me from thoroughly enjoying this clever book.

I will be anxiously awaiting the fourth and last book about Ruby or anything else written by E. Lockhart for that matter.