Gert Garibaldi's Rants and Raves: One Butt Cheek at a Time
By Terreece Clarke,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Hilarious high school angst with frank sex talk.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
Gert has some issues. She is traumatized by high school but must spend her days trying to navigate the awkwardness, the popular kids, the insane teachers, crushes, and dating. Her crush Lucas doesn't really know she's into him, her best friend Adam keeps dragging her out on dates with his crush Tim, her eyebrows are bushy, and her parents are old. All she can really do is rant and rave about the despair that is high school -- and she does it well.
Is It Any Good?
Gert's voice is very honest, real, and hilarious; Amber Kizer captures the feelings of being a 15-year-old girl with remarkable accuracy and compassion. And readers will believe Gert's transformation from an angsty teen into a girl becoming comfortable with herself. The pace is terrific and the ending, though great, will leave readers wanting more. They will be delighted to know that this book is part of a planned series.
Readers will enjoy and commiserate with Gert's laments over being the third wheel on her best friend's dates and her parents' general cluelessness. They will understand her rants over boys, hypocritical teachers, and the effort of trying to fit into a world in which some kids seem to have gotten a guide book and others are left to fend for themselves. Parents will sympathize and remember what it was like to be 15; the awkwardness that gives way to self-awareness. Teens and parents will find much to discuss, and what better way to bridge the tough topics than through this frank and witty read.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the frank sex talk here. Did it seem realistic -- or did it push the envelope a bit? How concerned should parents be about the sexual material in YA books?
What do you think about the book's title? Is it crass -- or is appropriate given the book's content? What would you have called it?
Book Details
- Author: Amber Kizer
- Genre: Humor
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Delacorte Press
- Publication date: October 9, 2007
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 14
- Number of pages: 304
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Coming-of-Age Books
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate