Dear Joshua,
I know you. You're an upstanding guy. But I also know you're a guy and probably could use some help in the romance department, not to mention the gender issue department. This is why you should read "The Disreputable History of Frankie Landaue-Banks" by E. Lockhart. This National Book Award finalist is a funny and engaging read that I read in about a day and a half. It's easy to get through, has some awesome pranking material, and offers a little lesson in love on top of that.
Frankie is a sophomore at a boarding school on the East Coast and she has "blossomed" from her freshmen year. "She gained four inches and twenty pounds all in the right places." So she's a hot tamale and now, all of a sudden, everyone is noticing her, including the super hot Senior Matthew Livingston.
She and Matthew start dating and he's kind of a jerk. Here's where gender roles come in: he likes it when she needs him, he likes to do things for her, he doesn't open up to her, etc. Frankie doesn't like this so she follows him one day after he's blown her off for his friends (again) and finds out he's in some secret all boy society that pulls lame pranks on the school. Long story short, she infiltrates the group and organizes a plethora of pranks worthy of getting certain people in deep trouble.
What I want to discuss with you, little brother, is the gender and romance stuff. You know me, I am independent and can fend for myself quite easily. This is what you need to know about most girls: we can do things on our own. Frankie is sick and tired of being looked at as a little girl, defenseless and in need of help. So she does something about it. I would have to say that if any girl you ever date acts the way Frankie does because of you, then you deserve it. Matthew leaves her all the time in favor of his friends. Every once in a while is fine. You know Les (Readers note: Les is my husband) goes off with his friends, that's cool. But he never blows me off to be with them. When you make plans, keep them. Unless of course you end up having knee surgery the day before Halloween and end up having to stay home by yourself (good luck with that!).
I say gender and romance together because they do go together. A man is expected to do certain things for his lady and the lady is expected to do other things for her man. Frankie does not like this. Hence infiltrating an all guys secret society without letting her identity be known. But it's ok to let down societies gender roles and do your own thing. For example, Les does more laundry than I do. Do I object? Haha. And one more important thing about gender that you cannot escape: when guys get even, they do it overtly. Girls, however, are covert. Always. Remember. That. It may save your face someday if you cross a girlfriend.
Your big sister,
Paige
