Julia Pearson

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

By E. Lockhart

Realistic Fiction

Just Right

Pg. 84



Right now, the main character, Frankie, has found out about the Bassets, a secret organization at her boarding school. Her boyfriend is a part of it, and I know from the first chapter that Frankie somehow gets to be part of this all male organization and is behind all of the mal-doings. Frankie is now excited about her new year as a sophmore and is meeting new people, like her boyfriend Mathew LIvingston, and all his friends, including Alpha, the legend at their boarding school and the legend of his public school in New York. Frankie just got blown off by Mathew because he has to go somewhere with Alpha. Frankie thinks it has to do with the Bassets, and so she is following him.



The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is a very entertaining book. It has many humerous parts and lovable characters, like the goofy Mathew Livingston and his friends Alpha and Dean, to Frankie who is very relatable. It also explains some interesting concepts, like the panopticon- that everybody confirms to unwritten laws, because they are afraid that someone is watching. Really it is all mental. Apparently, some people designed a jail like this, and the builders rumored that there were guards who could see you when you weren't seeing them, so everybody behaved, even though their wasn't anyone watching them.

There are many themes of this book. One is secrets. it seems like everyone is keeping this secret basset organization away from Frankie, including Mathew. (Mathew is really the leader, though Frankie doesn't know this.) Even Frankie's Dad was part of the Bassets when he went to school here, and Frankie wants to find out what this organization really is. Alpha, Mathew's best friend, is also discussing Frankie behind her back, but Frankie doesn't know why. It is all very mysterious.

My favorite character is Mathew, Frankie's boyfriend. He is really friendly, and really funny. He is nice to everyone, but doesn't really pay attention to those who aren't his friends, which is the one bad thing about him. He is also really smart with words, and is never embarassed by anything he does. he is very sure of who he is, which i like.

My least favorite character is Porter, Frankie's old boyfriend. Porter cheated on Frankie the year before, and so broke up with her. He never said sorry, until he emailed Frankie months later.

I predict that Frankie will somehow get revenge on anyone who underestimates her, because she is very smart and hates it when people try to look out for her. I predict she will become part of the Bassets and cause a whole lot of mischief, and that she and Alpha will become boyfriend and girlfriend.