
Family movie night? There's an app for that
Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.
Nothing
By Andrea Beach,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Funny, irreverent look at everyday teen dramas.
Add your rating
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?
High school sophomore Charlotte wants to write a book about how NOTHING ever happens in her and best friend Frankie's regular, everyday suburban lives. Not yet old enough to drive, and also not yet burdened with having to figure out what to do after high school, they're bursting with impatience for something, anything, to happen. And they're both fed up with young adult books that aren't realistic and rehash the same old themes time and again. So Charlotte starts documenting all the little things that happen over the course of a day, a month, a school year. It doesn't take long for her to see that these things add up to more than nothing.
Is It Any Good?
This YA debut from veteran kids' book author Annie Barrows takes an irreverent, funny look at teens impatient for their lives to go somewhere and to do something, anything. Particularly satisfying in Nothing are Charlotte and Frankie's snappy dialogue and Charlotte's believable, relatable, diary-like documentation of sophomore year. The story may be full of the everyday, but for 15-year-olds, that includes a heaping serving of teen drama with a dash of angst on the side. These girls live easy lives free from financial worry or any kind of hardship, and from some perspectives that in itself may seem as unrealistic as they find the rest of YA literature. But the girls are engaging characters, and teens will enjoy watching their friendship unfold.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the friendship of Charlotte and Frankie. What makes it work? Is it realistic? How long do you think it will last? Why?
Is the strong language in Nothing realistic? Is it OK in books, movies, and TV aimed at teens?
What would a realistic book about your life be like? Would it be like this one? Would anything happen?
Book Details
- Author: Annie Barrows
- Genre: Friendship
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , High School
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Greenwillow Books
- Publication date: September 5, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 17
- Number of pages: 224
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: September 3, 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
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