Book review: Lockhart's latest is a real 'Treasure' for teens

July 9, 12:47 PMSeattle Books ExaminerDanielle Dreger-Babbitt

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Need something witty, charming, and somewhat stimulating to read while you soak up some Seattle sun?  If so, you'll want to read The Treasure Map of Boys by E. Lockhart.

 Ruby Oliver, a junior at Tate Prep in Seattle, is in her 37th week of NoBoyfriend a semi-lonely land of no potential love interest.  It’s been that way since last year’s incident with the boyfriend when she lost her best friends, her boyfriend, her dignity, and the respect of her fellow classmates. But the last half-year hasn’t been a total loss- she’s made some progress in her therapy sessions with Dr. Z., she has a pretty sweet internship at the Woodland Park Zoo (where she’s defending the rights off pygmy goats), and she’s running the school bake sale with the help of her friends Nora and Meghan.  Her family has adopted a new raw diet and a Great Dane.  She thought she had put all the boy drama behind her.  She was wrong. 

Her Chemistry lab partner Noel is writing her funny notes, which would be great if Nora hadn’t been crushing on him since the beginning of the year.  Jackson, the boy who broke her heart sophomore year, is giving her frogs again and acting suspiciously sweet.  Gideon, Nora’s hot, older brother is helping her fry donuts.  Then there’s Finn, the ex-boyfriend of one of her ex-best friends, who is making her brownies and most definitely flirting. 

Once again Ruby is struggling to keep her friendships intact and the boys at bay.  It’s a good thing Dr. Z had her draw a treasure map of interpersonal relationships because she could use a little guidance. 

E. Lockhart has created another funny, strong heroine in The Treasure Map of Boys, the third novel in the Ruby Oliver series.  She has the social anxieties of a teenage girl down to a science.  Ruby might not be as savvy as Frankie Landau-Banks (of last year’s The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks which was a 2009 Printz honor book and earned Lockhart a 2008 National Book Award nomination), but she is fiercely independent, strong-willed, and unintentionally funny.  She’s the type of girl you’d want to be friends with in high school.

Like The Boyfriend List and The Boy Book, The Treasure Map of Boys is engaging from start to finish  and contains Lockhart's trademark lists and footnotes.  It ends with enough unresolved issues that the reader is grateful there will be fourth one in 2010.  It may not be as strong as the first, but it is still a fantastic read for anyone over thirteen’s summer reading list, and since Lockhart grew up in Seattle she has the city down pat.  It is refreshing to see little shout-outs to local favorites B&O, Bailey/Coy Books, and the Woodland Park Zoo.  Although Ruby briefly talks about the events of last year that led her to become a social pariah, I suggest you read The Boyfriend List and The Boy Book first.    

Add this book to your summer reading list.  You won’t regret it.

Note:  The Treasure Map of Boys will be released Tuesday, July 28th.