Title: Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials
Author: Rosalind Wiseman
First published January 5, 2010
282 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780399247965 (ISBN10: 0399247963)
Rating: 3.87
Overview
After a difficult past in middle school, Charlie Healey is eager for a fresh start in high school. However, she quickly realizes that drama is inevitable.
On her first day, she reunites with her former best friend, Will, who is now part of the popular crowd. But when a hazing prank goes too far, Charlie is faced with a tough decision: stand up for what’s right or keep Will’s secret and risk her own guilt.
Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman is a captivating and humorous novel that explores the complexities of friendship, betrayal, and the lengths people will go to fit in.
About the Author
Rosalind Wiseman is an expert in child and teenage behavior, parenting, bullying, social justice, and ethical leadership. She has gained international recognition for her work in these fields.
One of Wiseman’s most well-known publications is Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Realities of Adolescence. This book has been a New York Times Bestseller twice and was adapted into the movie Mean Girls in 2004.
She also wrote Queen Bee Moms and Kingpin Dads in 2006 and is a monthly columnist for Family Circle magazine.
In 1992, Wiseman founded the Empower Program, a national violence-prevention program. Since then, she has worked with tens of thousands of students, educators, parents, counselors, coaches, and administrators to create communities based on the belief that everyone has a responsibility to treat themselves and others with dignity.
She has spoken at various events, including the American School Counselors Association, Capital One, National Education Association, Girl Scouts, Neutrogena, Young Presidents Association, Independent School Associations, and the International Chiefs of Police. Additionally, she has visited countless schools throughout the United States and abroad.
Wiseman has been featured on various media platforms, such as the Today Show, The New York Times, People, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, USA Today, Oprah, Nightline, CNN, Good Morning America, and National Public Radio affiliates throughout the country.
In 2009, Wiseman has planned to release three publications. The first is an updated version of Queen Bees & Wannabes that includes a chapter on younger girls, insights on how technology has impacted social landscapes for kids, and new commentary from girls and boys.
The second publication is The Owning Up Curriculum, a comprehensive social justice program for grades 6-12 that reflects an ever-changing adolescent culture and incorporates new strategies for using media to engage students. Lastly, Wiseman will be releasing a new young adult novel that follows the story of its 14-year-old protagonist, Charlotte Healey, as she navigates the personal and social challenges that come with her freshman year of high school.
Wiseman earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Occidental College. She currently resides in Washington D.C. with her husband and two sons.
Editoral Review
Rosalind Wiseman is a renowned author, educator, and parenting expert, whose work centers on social norms and behavior among young people. Her 2010 novel, Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials, is a compelling and thought-provoking story about a group of high school students navigating complex social dynamics, identity issues, and relationships.
The book is a contemporary young adult novel, written in a candid and engaging style, with a central theme of the importance of self-acceptance and authenticity. The novel is set in an affluent high school, where the main character, Charlie, is starting her sophomore year after a summer of self-discovery and reflection.
She’s determined to leave behind her past as a social outcast and make new friends, but finds herself entangled in a web of drama, secrets, and cliques. Along the way, she befriends her neighbor, Will, who is struggling with his own issues of bullying, absentee parenting, and a desire to break free from his image as a jock.
Together, they navigate the complex terrain of high school society, finding solace in each other and learning important lessons about trust, loyalty, and perseverance. Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials is a timely and relevant novel that speaks directly to the challenges facing teens today, such as peer pressure, social anxiety, and identity development.
Wiseman’s nuanced portrayal of the characters is one of the book’s strengths, as she creates a rich and diverse cast of characters who feel authentic and relatable. The pacing of the plot is well-balanced, with enough action and drama to keep readers engaged, but also enough quiet moments of reflection to allow for character development and introspection.
Wiseman skillfully weaves in important sociocultural themes such as privilege, gender identity, and sexual orientation, without coming off as preachy or heavy-handed. Her understanding of the complexities of social dynamics among teens is evident in her depiction of various cliques and groups, and her message about the importance of self-acceptance and embracing our differences is a powerful one.
One criticism of the book is that some of the characters can come off as stereotypes, such as the mean girls and the jocks. However, this is a minor flaw in an otherwise well-crafted and thoughtful novel.
Wiseman manages to avoid many of the cliches of the young adult genre and instead creates a fresh and original story that will appeal to a wide range of readers. Overall, Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials is a highly recommended novel that speaks to the heart of what it means to navigate the complex world of adolescence.
It’s a savvy and relatable novel that offers guidance and hope to young adults struggling with identity and self-acceptance. Wiseman’s writing is eloquent and engaging, and her message is one that will resonate with readers long after they’ve closed the book.
We give it four out of five stars.
