How to Fight, Lie and Cry Your Way to Popularity (and a Prom Date): Lousy Life Lessons from 50 Teen Movies

In this sardonic gift book, Roddy extracts the implicit messages behind such popular teen movies as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (“To jumpstart a better relationship with your dad, let your best friend cost him millions in property damage”) and Clueless (“A smart, sensitive guy will eventually fall for a ditzy, self-serving girl as long as she promises to be a little nicer to people—and is ridiculously hot”). With film synopses, quotes, movie stills, and quizzes, the book provides a crash course for readers who aren’t familiar with all of the films, most of which are from the 1980s onward. Roddy’s spicy commentary also gives teens food for thought about subliminal media messages. Ages 14–up. (Dec.)