X is for...eXams, AP Classes, and Geeks, Oh My!

Controversial Song of the Day:  "Tested and True" by Secondhand Serenade

For the entire month of April, we'll be participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. Our theme for the month? CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS IN YA. Check out the link above for other awesome blogs participating.

Taken from elanorascorner.blogspot.com

First of all, yes--we totally copped out on the letter "X."

 

With that said, let me tell you something about Quita and me. We both took honor and AP classes in high school; we were both in chorus in middle school; we'd almost cry when we got a "B" on an assignment; our ideas of fun was visiting the guidance office during lunch to look at the college brochures. Were we geeks?

 

Probably.

 

But so are PLENTY of other people in high school. They study for the SATs to get a near perfect score. They play the tuba in band like its running out of style. They run for office in the Student Council Association with the same fervor as a prom queen/king campaign.

 

So where are all the novels about these students? My Project J features a very unconventional leading man. Jonah plays the trumpet, constantly speaks of his love for Harvard University, and tutors his classmates to prepare for the SATs.
 

I have heard plenty a debate about the lack of honor classes mentioned in YA novels, so I scoured the Internet to show some geek pride:

• Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris
• Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
• The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
• The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading by Charity Tahmaseb
• Awkward by Marni Bates

I'll be honest...it took me a while to conjure up this list. Did I leave any novels out? Also, what are your thoughts on including "smart" or "different" characters in your writing?

*BTW, we by no means think that being smart makes you a "geek." We just love the word. :)