The New Rules of High School

By Blake Nelson

Book Overview

Max is the consummate high school overachiever. Straight-A student, debate team captain, future editor of the school paper, dutiful Max does what's expected, until the day he inexplicably breaks up with Cindy, his perfect girlfriend. Is their relationship too much to handle on top of everything else? Or is Max just tired of doing everything he's supposed to? As Max begins to question his life, all of the old rules dissolve--and he searches in some very unlikely places for new ones.

"Nelson, it seems, possesses that peculiar and particular ability, granted to only a few--the Judy Blumes and J. D. Salingers of this world--to accurately portray the mysterious inner life of the American teenager."
--Time Out New York

"Fiercely real and really fierce."
--Daniel Handler (aka "Lemony Snicket")

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0142402427
• ISBN13: 9780142402429
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 4.2" x 6.8"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Great read for teens, young people, or just about anyone

I absolutely loved "The New Rules of High School." The wide variety of characters, with contrasting, but unique and very real and developed personalities made this book a must read. The plot is somewhat simple, but so very compelling. This book follows Max through a year of his life, while he struggles to define himself after his breakup with a longtime girlfriend. The story of Max is very believable and readers will be able to easily connect with one or more of the characters in the book. This story is a real page turner and you will not be able to put it down until you have finished it. I loved this book and can not to read more works by this author.

Great read for teens, young people, or just about anyone

I absolutely loved "The New Rules of High School." The wide variety of characters, with contrasting, but unique and very real and developed personalities made this book a must read. The plot is somewhat simple, but so very compelling. This book follows the main character,Max through his senior year of high school. During this he struggles to define himself as an individual after his breakup with a longtime girlfriend. The story of Max is very believable and readers will be able to easily connect with one or more of the characters in the book. Max's struggles throughout the story seem common and are very real. This story is a real page turner and you will not be able to put it down until you have finished it. I loved this book and can not to read more works by this author.

An Honest and Poignant Portrayal of Your Typical High School

Once again, Blake Nelson has blown me away with an accurate portrayal of suburbia and public high school. A big fan of his since reading the book, Girl, I find that Nelson writes from the heart and gives each character in his stories the "breath of life". I related to the characters in the story and found myself often replacing their names with that of my peers. I definitely enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!

high school...

this is my first blake nelson's book and i am not disappointed. As i read through this book, somehow i'm connected. the author really put this book in perspective and i enjoyed it alot. at the beginning of the book, i was a little bored but after i got into the middle part, i couldn't put it down because it just seemed too realistic as if i go to Evergreen high school.overall, i think it is a great book to read but not good for book reports.

Loved it

Max really loves Cindy but when he tries to get her back it doesn't work. And meanwhile all his friends are the freaks of the school, even though he is straight edge. This book is so realistic about teenagers and they way they act and talk and think. It is great!