Review: Guys Against the Girls by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Title: Guys Against the Girls Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted Publication Date: December 3, 2012
Synopsis:
There's trouble at Hat City Middle School! This first volume in an exciting new series by the author of the popular Sisters 8 series introduces readers to the six guys and six girls who make up a special class at Hat City Middle School. When a substitute teacher says something she shouldn't, the girls are outraged. Then their regular teacher makes matters worse, and everyone is outraged. Soon the guys and girls are facing off about everything, but will it end in victory or disaster? Told in alternating first-person plural viewpoints, GUYS AGAINST THE GIRLS is as original in its execution as any middle-grade novel out there today.

~My Thoughts~
Things are about to get out of hand for the 6th grade advanced math class at Hat City Middle School. When a substitute teacher makes a comment that boys are better at math than girls, the girls are furious. Thinking their regular teacher will put an end to the nonsense, the girls are shocked when she makes the same statement. The boys think it is funny, until the teacher claims that girls are better at other things. This, of course, sets the boys against the girls and they are soon battling over everything imaginable. But what happens when things get out of hand? 

Guys Against the Girls is a fun and engaging story about one of the most common questions: who's better, boys or girls? This is a question that everyone has wondered, and probably in many different variations. Who is a better athlete? Who is smarter? Or my personal favorite, who is stronger? That one is always sure to create a stir, especially in my house where there is a constant battle between who had it worse, me giving birth or my husband having back surgery. But you get the idea. This is one of the oldest questions in history, and there is absolutely no way to answer it.
But that doesn't stop those students from battling it out, and nothing is going to go unchallenged. There are competitions in sports, cooking, math, reading and anything else they can think of. The story is told in alternating views, each chapter switching from the boys to the girls. This allows us to hear both sides equally and see what each is feeling towards the other. What I found interesting was that even though they were pinned against each other, both sides seemed to have the same ideas and feelings, showing that we might not be that different after all.
Of course this story is mostly fun, but there is also a lesson to be learned hidden between these pages. While a small amount of competition is healthy, going overboard is not. Feelings are hurt and relationships can be damaged without even realizing it while it happens. The author has done an amazing job of working this lesson into the story without you even realizing it until after you have finished reading. 
Overall, this was a great read, perfect for younger kids and teens who may have their own competitive streak in them. The characters are entertaining, as well as their many face-offs. I highly recommend this book to kids of all ages and parents/teachers who might be dealing with this very same dilemma.

For more about Lauren Baratz-Logsted and Guys Against the Girls, please visit her website here.


~Purchase~
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~You can now also purchase Robbie Knightley, Book #2 in the Hat City Middle School Series. Read them both together!~ 
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*I received this book for free in exchange of my honest review. This did not influence my opinion in any way and all views and opinions expressed are 100% my own.