The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

For my Young Adult Literature class, we read a book entitled The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. Frankie herself is a teenage girl attempting to be a feminist, but at the same time, appease her super popular, super hot boyfriend, Matthew.

Without giving too much away, the thing I love about this novel is that it tells a realistic story about a teenage feminist. Frankie believes in her feminist ideals of standing up to societal norms by being outspoken about her beliefs and fighting Matthew's oppressive actions. You can really see her feminist roots in the fact that she wants to be EQUAL to her boyfriend and all of his friends and wants to be included in their stupid, all male club, the Basset Hounds. (sorry if this seems like a weak summary, but I do not want to give too much of this phenomenal book away).

Even though Frankie frequently shows these feminist ideals, Frankie is always in conflict with herself about how being a feminist will impact her social life. She's scared that if she is outspoken, intelligent, and cunning, Matthew will break-up with her and she will no longer be allowed to sit at the "popular kids table."

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book AGAIN not trying to give too much of the story away:

"The problem was that to them - to Uncle Ben and her mother, and maybe even to Uncle Paul, Frankie was Bunny Rabbit. Not a person with intelligence, a sense of direction, and the ability to use a cell phone. Not a person who could solve a problem. Not even a person who could walk fifteen blocks all by herself without getting run over by a car. To them, she was Bunny Rabbit. Innocent. In need of protecting, Inconsequential."

[in response to Matthew asking Frankie out] "There isn't a girl at Alabaster who'd say no. He's Matthew Livingston. So the alpha guy had prior claim, but he backed off when Matthew got hold of you."
"You're making me sound like a piece of meat."

[when Frankie decides to go out with the boys because Matthew asked her too...this quote shows the conflicting thoughts of what feminism really is] "Frankie found her friend's attitude infuriating. By opting out of what the boys were doing in favor of a typically feminist pursuit, Trish had closed the door...she could open the door again. But another summer spent making crumbles in the kitchen, and the boys would stop asking her to come out. Instead, they'd expect warm dessert to be waiting for them on their return."

[Matthew gives Frankie her t-shirt. Her sister's reaction] "But wearing his t-shirt is like wearing a sign that says Property of Matthew Livingston on your breasts....It's like a dog peeing on a hydrant. He's marking you with his scent."

These are just a couple of the points where Frankie is conflicted by a crush on Matthew, yet still wants to remain true to herself. I would definitely recommend this book. Sometimes, I am afraid I am not a feminist because of some of my actions. Frankie, however, shows me that being a feminist is not so black and white and that being a feminist can have a number of conflicting ideals. Frankie helped to reaffirm that just because I may like my boyfriend to open a door for me, that does not make any less of a feminist. I love how realistic The Disreputable History of Frankie-Landau Banks is, especially for a female college student like myself!