Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Personalized picks at your fingertips

Get the mobile app on iOS and Android

Parents' Guide to

So Not the Drama

By Kate Pavao, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Packed high school tale raises race, class, identity issues.

So Not the Drama Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1 ):

This kickoff to a new series is so thick, it's hard to wade through. The perspective and storylines change constantly, which can be overwhelming for young readers, though all of these characters and plot points will certainly give the author plenty of room to grow her series.

On the plus side, the dialogue, diary entries, and IM exchanges have a lively and authentic feel. ("Come on now. We girls. No one knows more about me than you," Mina tells Lizzie.) And there's plenty to think about -- from race and class issues to the politics of the high school lunchroom. The author even includes a readers' group discussion guide.

Book Details

  • Author: Paula Chase
  • Genre: Coming of Age
  • Book type: Fiction
  • Publisher: Dafina Books
  • Publication date: February 27, 2007
  • Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 14
  • Number of pages: 288
  • 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.

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