Haters

Reader reviewed by Megan

From the fist day at her new Southern California high school, Pasquala Rumalda Quintana de Archuleta ("Paski") learns that the popular students may be diverse in ethnicity but are alike in their cruelty. While Paski tries to concentrate on mountain biking and not thinking too much about ultra-hot Chris Cabrera, she is troubled by the beautiful and wicked Jessica Nguyen. Her at Aliso Niguel High, money is everything and the Haters rule.

I loved this book it was very hard to put down. I loved all the characters but in weird ways there were written very well and could understand and relate to them. I loved Paski 's dad how he was so goofy and weird all at the same time. This book has a great lesson and great ending. I would definettly reccomend this book.

Reader reviewed by Vivien

I would like to come clean before I start my review. I only read the first 4 chapters of the book. I didn't stop because of laziness or because it was hard to read (not hard to read at all. I would say it is about 5th grade level reading comprehension). I stopped reading because of the ridiculous portrayal of the "typical Orange County students." I am a senior at Aliso Niguel High School and I've been attending for 4 years. Her portrait of students at Aliso is biased and naive.

Rodriguez may as well be one of the viewers of television programs such as "The O.C." who believe that Orange County consists of people like that. Of course there are the rich and self-centered, ignorant teenagers. However, Rodriguez tends to focus only on them. It is an unfair portrayal and prejudice against Orange County kids. We are not all like that.

Also, the character of "Mr. Big." She hasn't got us fooled. Those of us who actually do attend the high school know who she is referring to. She could not be more wrong. The man that she bases her character on (whether she actually met him is unsure) is a self-less, caring man who will do anything to help his students succeed. Even if her "Mr. Big" and the real teacher was as she claimed "a coincidence," what does that say about teachers at Aliso Niguel? Because she tends to focus more on the scandal between "Mr. Big" and the students in the book, she is showing bias by failing to focus on the moral teachers.

Honestly, even Rodriguez had chosen a different school to pick on, I don't think I could finish the book because her writing level suits that of a fifth-grader rather than "young adult." Her character analysis is shallow and inconsistent. The main character Paksi is disappointing as a heroine of the book. Her views are skewed and she tends to - as the author does - believe that the popular, rich crowd rules the school. It could not be more untrue.

Before Rodriguez writes anymore books, I would that wish she will open her eyes to the high school system and accept that certain stereotypes are not always true. A student does not have to be rich or stuck-up to be popular. Popularity is in the eyes of the beholders.

Reader reviewed by Rin

16 year old Paski's life turns upside down when her somewhat strange dad gets a film deal for his comics.

She moves from Taos, casual and comfy to money and prestige seeking Orange County. One might think that her mexican roots would cause her to be discriminated against, but instead it's her lack of expensive goods. She's also attracted to one of the most "popular and famous" girls in Orange County, Jessica's boyfriend.

Then, at a party she's invited to (and been warned by a new friend not to go to), she injests a date-rape drug and is pushed into a pool, causing her rival Jessica's boyfriend to save her.

The rest of the book consists of Paski and her main attraction getting together, Paski recieving visions of Jessica's demise (Paski's family has a history of visions an d such) and Paski's getting used to her new environment.

I thought this book was okay. It's nothing special. If you have to read this I'd get it from the library because it's not worth 20 bucks.

Reader reviewed by Yasmeen

When Pasquala Rumalda Quintana de Archuleta ( Paski for short)'s dad comes home from his visit in Cali, she just knows things are going to change. He tells he that he landed a movie deal for his comics and he has already enrolled her in a new school, Aliso Niguel High. When they get to Cali and Paski starts school, she learns that the haters rule the school and there's nothing you can do about it. Through a series of events, Paski learns about being true to herself and learnig who her real friends are.

Reader reviewed by Bria

This book was great. The Hispanic background of the main character added to the greatness of the book. In most books all the characters are white and their is not diversity but in this novel their are people of all different races and backgrounds and it made it truly unique. I hope their is a sequel because the world created in this novel should be revisited again. this is a great book and if you are looking for something unique this book is for you.

Reader reviewed by Sara

Pasquala has just moved to a new town, school, and life with her cartoonist father. She soon finds that money rules her new life and instantly misses the normality of her old regular life. Things heat up when she meets the hot Chris Cabrera - who just happens to be dating the most influential and dangerous girl at her new school, Jessica Nguyen. Soon Paski learns that "the popular students may be diverse in ethnicity but are alike in their cruelty".

I thought this book was pretty good. It was not my favorite, but I also enjoyed most of it. I didn't really like the way Paski told her story, or Paski. I didn't like how she feared and worshipped the evil Jessica so much. I like heroine's who have flaws, but are strong as well. She only seemed weak. None of the characters seemed that developed. I would rather read a the Private series by Kate Brian or the Gossip Girls books. There isn't very much explicit content in this book, but it would probably be most suitable for high school and up.

Reader reviewed by Amber

Haters is a nice story about how you can overcome hate with kindness and that it is never okay to sink down to the level of your enemies. Paski, a biker gal who loves her small New Mexico town, is suddenly uprooted and moved to the sunny beaches of L.A. when her father lands a great new job. While its a great opportunity for her dad to get rich as a cartoonist, Paski is upset that shell have to leave behind her best girlfriends and her new boyfriend.

Paskis psychic grandmother warns her that life in SoCal will not be easy, but that Paski will be able to get through it, if she just uses her gift. Her psychic gift, that is. See, Paski sometimes has visions and while she cant control them, they always come true.

When Paski and her father arrive in California, Paski finds that all is not as perfect as the manicured lawns and glamorous mansions would lead her to believe. The kids at her school have serious attitude problems, and it seems like money is everything in their shallow world. Luckily, Paski knows that there are more important things in life than who is best dressed. But she cant help but feel a need to fit in and be accepted into the popular crowd at school. Along with her problems at school, Paski has been having some very scary visions that she feels are her responsibility to stop from coming true.

While Paski is a very believable character, and she always stays true to herself, the ending of the story seemed a little picturesque for me. The ending tries to make everything perfect, which life never is. And the last couple of chapters leave a lot of loose ends regarding Paski and her conflict with Jessica Nguyen, the richest and most popular girl at school. Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez does a great job of portraying Paskis spunky character, but some of the supporting characters are a little one-dimensional. Overall, I think this is a good coming-of-age story that Hispanic teens would especially enjoy.