<p>"In The Overachievers, journalist Alexandra Robbins delivers a poignant, funny, riveting narrative that explores how our high-stakes educational culture has spiraled out of control. During the year of her ten-year reunion, Robbins returns to her high school, where she follows:</p>
<pre><code>* Taylor, perceived as The Popular Girl, a varsity captain whose ambition threatens her popular status
AP Frank, perceived as The Workhorse, who combats horrifying parental pressure
The Stealth Overachiever, a mystery junior who flies under the radar
Sam, perceived as The Teachers Pet, who frets that his years of overachieving will be wasted if he doesnt attend a name-brand college
C.J., perceived as The Flirt, who feels second-tier when compared with her high-achieving classmates
Julie, perceived as The Superstar, an athletic and academic standout whos terrified shes making the wrong choices
Audrey, perceived as The Perfectionist, who battles illness and fatigue in her quest to be the best
Pete, perceived as The Meathead, who is determined not to get caught up in the frenzy, and
Ryland, perceived as The Slacker, for whom school pressure becomes his downfall"
</code></pre>
<p>This book is absolutely fantastic. I could not put it down. If anyone else has read it, tell me what you thought. I think it is really frightening what we (society) have done to our teens and young adults. It is truly out of control. I actually feel that by going to boarding school, my kids were able to escape from much of the pressure the kids at Whitman High experienced, especially in terms of extra-curriculars and lack of sleep.<br>
I happen to like Robbins’ writing style and believe she thoroughly researches her books. Pledged was her last book, in case any of you read it.</p>
<p>A must-read for all parents of “high achievers”.</p>
<p>I enjoyed reading it and got caught up in Sam & AP Frank’s stories. I did wind up skimming through most of Robbins’ commentary on college admissions (I think we’ve heard it all here at one time or another). I’d say that many of the students in my daughter’s IB program were similar to the overachievers in the book. However, the kids in her “inner circle” of friends led active social lives and never let school get in the way of having fun.</p>
<p>I don’t know if I’d blame “society” for the pressures on these kids. Other than AP Frank, most of their ambition seemed self imposed.</p>
<p>It’s self-imposed because of all the rankings and the fear that you aren’t “ok” if you don’t get into a prestigious college. The kid at the end who loved Connecticut college as his No. 2 choice…the parents and the GC said it wasn’t good enough since it was a “safety”. The fear of not taking enough AP classes- even in subjects you hate. The things the Harvard dean was saying about how kids get to college after spending years planning for their pre-med or pre-law major and suddenly discover that they hate the subjects they have to take in college. I think it was Julie (in the book) who said that it isn’t just being on a treadmill that you can’t get off- it’s cranking it up to full speed and you can’t get off!</p>
<p>That’s why I am less than overwhelmed by the stats sheets of some kids. Many what seem like normal above average kids could do the same if they wanted that insane level of commitment. I think a kid that gets a 1300 SAT taking it once without any prep is probably as “smart” as some kid who takes all the APs and studies for months for the test.</p>
<p>I haven’t read it, but my D knows some of the kids in this book. She has met the author too. The author came to her college and followed them (D’s social group) around for a while to gather material for the book. D herself is not depicted or quoted but several of her friends are. She has read the book and says that, while it is factually correct, it sensationalizes any negative stuff to make issues sound significantly worse than they really are.</p>
<p>barrons, I agree. My son refuses to prep for standardized tests. Unfortunately, we were told that the adcoms ASSUME extensive prep at certain socio-economic levels.<br>
I don’t think Robbins sensationalizes things at all in the book. It is presented very factually with direct quotes from all the kids. If anything, she underplays things. I know some girls who were shadowed by her for “Pledged” and they said she was completely accurate and didn’t miss a thing.</p>
<p>Some of the kids actually featured in the book disagree with you. They say she makes them sound much more stressed out and unhappy than they really are.</p>
<p>Well, maybe you should read it and see what you think. The focus was mainly on the high school kids (with some visits to college kids- mainly AP Frank). The high school kids were directly quoted and gave what certainly appears to be honest input about their stress level and the many things they were juggling. Everything Robbins says certainly has lots of back up from various college deans and adcoms.</p>
<p>I really enjoy Alexandra Robbins writing style. I loved Pledged and this book - I could not put it down. I can’t wait for her next one (have no idea what it’s going to be but I hope it’s in the same vein). </p>
<p>It sounded pretty realistic to me and I was in tears at AP Frank’s family situation. I cheered when I read who the “Stealth” student was (don’t want to give it away here!).</p>
<p>I am personally very familiar with Walt Whitman HS, have close friends whose kids are there still, and my strong sense from what they have told me is that Robbins was not off the mark in her description of the culture and environment there . Unfortunately, Whitman is far from an exceptional case. She could have done her research at plenty of other schools (including ours) and written virtually the same book on the insanity that goes on at ultra competitive high schools in geographically overrepresented regions.</p>
<p>I still haven’t managed to find this book anywhere, despite living only a few miles from where the novel takes place and attending Whitman’s biggest high school rival.</p>
<p>My friends (at Whitman, my school, and otherwise) and I hardly see student instances like those in the story though. Or maybe this super-competitive-ness has become such a norm that we don’t realize how similar the descriptions in the book are to our own lives, but I doubt that. :)</p>