The full title of the book by Alexandra Robbins is The Geeks Shall Inherit The Earth: Popularity, Quirk Theroy and Why Outsiders Thrive After High School. A huge amount of material to cover is a small book. It is a quick read and sometimes a bit too simplified but a good book for parents, educators, and adults in general.
Robbins uses the case study as the general structure for the book. By examining each of the parts, she wants to call attention to fact that there are numerous "types" in schools the fall in some way out of the "norm." she points out that being in the most "popular" group does not exclude a person from humiliation and bullying. It takes on a different form but in general kids can be unkind to one another.
There are the stereotypes and many typical descriptions that sometimes are too funny on TV sitcoms but in real life the humor is missing. Some are creative, shy kids who are more loners and less social than others. She notes that many of these could also be doing very well in class work which adds another problem of the being the smart kid. There are numerous examples of adult intervention that added to the problem and some times was the problem.
If you are interested in a introduction to a variety of teenage types, this book is a start. The moral of the storybis that all the various types will make it and many do quite well as a result if the challenges and problem solving. Not that she recommends bad things happening to kids. There is much in the book that calls atention to some of the little things that can be harmful and hurtful.
We continue to concerned with bullying. We will continue to stress that all students deserve a safe and healthy learning environment. As students, parents and adults we need to be aware and do our part to protect each other.
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