The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is a young-adult novel written by American author E. Lockhart. It was published on the 25 March 2008 by Disney-Hyperion.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
First edition
AuthorE. Lockhart
CountryUnited States of America
LanguageEnglish
GenreTeen novel humor fiction
PublisherDisney-Hyperion
Publication date
2008
Media typePrint (hardcover, paperback)
Pages352 pages
ISBN978-0786838196
OCLC182525916

It centers around the main character of Frances 'Frankie' Landau-Banks and her sophomore year at a boarding school, exploring the themes of feminism, class and privilege, and friendship and loyalty.

It won a Michael L. Printz Honor Award in 2009.

Synopsis

The story follows the adventures of Frances 'Frankie' Landau-Banks, a fifteen-year-old sophomore at the prestigious Alabaster Preparatory Academy in Massachusetts. The summer between her freshman and sophomore year, she "fills out in all the right places", and back at school, catches the attention of Matthew Livingston, a senior boy whom she begins dating. She discovers that Matthew is a member of the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds, a secret society on campus responsible for lighthearted pranks and mischief. Frankie's own father was a member when he was in school, and Matthew's closest friends, Alpha and Dean, are also members.

At the same time, she takes a class about cities and learns about secret societies and their functions. Frankie comes to envy the bond between Matthew and his fellow Hounds and wants the same kind of bond. She is put off by Alpha, who seems to be at war with her for Matthew's time. When Alpha goes home for a few days, Frankie creates a fake e-mail address for Alpha and uses it to direct the Order of the Basset Hounds to play a series of pranks. Yet, the final prank—the theft and later return of a guppy statue—goes too far, and Alpha is accused of spearheading the stunt. Frankie confesses what she has done to Matthew, who breaks up with her immediately and goes to the headmaster. Frankie is put on academic probation, as is Alpha. Some people shun Frankie while others think that she is legendary.[1]

Main characters
  • Frankie Landau-Banks – Frankie, the protagonist of this book, is a sophomore girl who is in a growing phase both physically and intellectually. She begins to focus on her independence and desperately wants to resist being defined by anyone but herself, including her boyfriend Matthew Livingston. Along the way Frankie learns to take matters into her own hands when she is unfairly left out of The Basset Hounds. Her solution for this dilemma leads to much trouble and hilarity.
  • Matthew Livingston – Matthew is the confident, wealthy, cool, and older boy who goes from being Frankie's crush to her boyfriend. When we are first introduced to his character he seems to be the perfect knight in shining armor. As a leading member of the all-male secret society of The Basset Hounds, he represents the world Frankie is kept out of and is happy enough to leave her out of his conformist "old boys" club.
  • Alpha – As his name suggests, Alpha sees himself as the lead dog on campus. Because of his confidence and leadership abilities many others also see him this way. Throughout the book he is at odds with Frankie over the attention of his best friend Matthew. When he feels threatened by Frankie he uses his power to make Frankie feel small and unimportant in the group because she is a girl trying to fit in with the all boys group.
  • Zada Landau-Banks – Zada is the older advice giving sister of Frankie. Whenever Frankie has a problem she calls her older sister, who calms her down but also shares with Frankie some of her feminist inclinations.
  • Porter Welsch – Porter is Frankie's ex-boyfriend who is also a part of The Loyal Order of The Basset Hounds. Porter seems to always be in Frankie's way just to antagonize her, but as it turns out Frankie and Porter have something in common because they both reject the conformity that seems to be required by their school.[2]

Reception

Reviews

Common Sense Media notes that the plot and setting works well, however it seems to be grasping for a message that never follows through, concluding that 'readers may feel not quite satisfied'.[3] Kirkus Reviews calls the novel a 'a funny feminist manifesto that will delight' through its use of insightful examinations which 'transcends the chick-lit genre'.[4]

The Guardian praises Lockhart's use of style in her writing to emphasise Frankie's unique outlook and character, as well as the prose style allowing for subtlety with the themes. It notes the novel to be 'surprisingly thought provoking for a range of age groups and worth reading'.[5]

The Horn Book Magazine points to the direct clinically-sounding narration presenting Frankie's struggles in a 'dispassionate and case-study way', which in effect leaves the reader to make up their own mind.[6]

Publishers Weekly praises how Lockhart juggles smart and tantalizing themes while combining 'the pacing of a mystery with writing that realizes settings and characters', noting that the 'exuberant, mischievous story scores its points memorably and lastingly'.[7]

Awards

In 2008 the novel was a Young People's Literature finalist for the National Book Award.[8] It was also a finalist and an Honor Book for the Michael L. Printz Award in 2009.[9]

It received the Cybils Award for Best Young Adult Novel in 2008.[10]

References
  1. "Summary and Study Guide". Book Rags. Book Rags. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  2. "The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks Characters". Shmoop. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  3. Dunnewind, Stephanie. "The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  4. "THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKS". Kirkus Reviews. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  5. "The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart - review". The Guardian. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  6. Gershowitz, Elissa (May–June 2008). "E. Lockhart: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks". The Horn Book Magazine. 84 (3) – via General OneFile.
  7. "The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks". Publishers Weekly. 255 (1): 55. 7 January 2008.
  8. "National Book Awards 2008". National Book Foundation. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  9. "Melina Marchetta Wins 2009 Printz Award". American Library Association. 26 January 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  10. "The 2008 Cybils Winners". Cybils. 14 February 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
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