The Treasure Map of Boys: Noel, Jackson, Finn, Hutch, Gideon--and Me, Ruby Oliver

Oh, Ruby...your shenanigans...!

I have been hooked on this series since The Boyfriend List. Ruby Oliver's high school drama is painted so realistically that any young woman can relate to her. The only difference is that you laugh at all the parts that Ruby wouldn't find funny, and want to cry in all the parts where she feels happy. As someone who had a teen experience similar to what she's going through, I thoroughly appreciate the opportunity to see it from another perspective. If there isn't a follow-up novel, I will be deeply depressed.

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It's the second term of Junior year. Ruby is still in therapy and still has no boyfriend (this is actually her 37th week sans boyfriend--not that she's counting).

Her reputation in the Tate Universe still stinks. And it probably isn't going to get better any time soon.

This term Ruby is also in charge of running a bake sale and, much to her chagrin, playing bodyguard to Noel and matchmaker for Nora (both of which stink). She is defending the rights of pygmy goats (at least one, anyway), dealing with smelly feet, and trying really hard to be a good friend without attracting a boyfriend. But it's really hard to stay in the state of Noboyfriend when Gideon is flirting with her, Jackson is talking to her again, Finn starts blushing around her, and Noel is his usual charming self.

It's all a terrible mess but maybe when it's all over Ruby will be able to see some of the real treasures in her life, even if the boys remain confusing, in The Treasure Map of Boys: Noel, Jackson, Finn, Hutch, Gideon--and Me, Ruby Oliver (2009) by E. Lockhart.

The Treasure Map of Boys is the third book in Lockhart's Ruby Oliver series (preceeded by The Boyfriend List and The Boy Book). The book could stand alone but honestly since they're so short it's worth just reading them all in order.

This book picks up right where the previous book in the serious left off. Ruby is still grappling with her feelings for Noel and what to do about them in order to be a good friend. She also tries to shake things up at Tate with a bake sale that challenges traditional gender roles (and Tate's social order).

As usual Lockhart presents Ruby's story with aplomb and wit. In addition to a charming plot that might not be like the movies but is still pretty awesome, Ruby is a really strong character. Equal parts feminist and non-conformist Ruby is a quirky breath of fresh air.

Her mental health isn't perfect, her love life is a mess, but she handles it all with style (and just a few panic attacks). Ruby Oliver continues to be a joy to read about in The Treasure Map of Boys.

Possible Pairings: Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson, Alice MacLeod, Realist at Last by Susan Juby, Vibes by Amy Kathleen Ryan, The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott, Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee

The Perfect Read For Anyone!!

The Treasure Map of Boys is a excellent book! It is filled with everyday drama but still has that Ruby Oliver touch. Here is a quick summary: Ruby is still seeing her "shrink" and he still has a major crush on Noel. She later finds out her old boyfriend, Jackson broke up with her ex-friend Kim. The book has serious romance, funny friendships, and a lot of heartbreak. I would reccomend this book to anybody who is interested in a book that is made for loving and laughing!!

WHICH BOOK IS THIS?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Is this the second or third book in the bofriend list seris? I read the biyfriend list but i dont know which one to read next. HELP!!!!!

lockhart does it again

amazing, as always. ruby oliver had me from day 1 all the way back in the boyfriend list

More Hilarious Debacles from the Lovable Roo

The Treasure Map of Boys was as hilarious and meticulously plotted as its predecessors, The Boyfriend List and The Boy Book. Once again Ruby Oliver's quirky, hilarious voice shone through to narrate this tale ridden with teenage angst. I don't think anyone captures the high school experience better than E. Lockhart. She is right up there with Meg Cabot and Sarah Dessen.

The Treasure Map of Boys begins after winter break of Roo's junior year. The relative stability Roo established at the end of The Boy Book is soon gone when Ruby finds herself
-running a bake sale when she can't bake
-encouraging Nora to go after Noel when she likes Noel
-dealing with Jackson and Kim having split
-dealing with Jackson's sudden interest in her
-with Nora's college student brother Gideon once more becoming a part of her life.

This time the story centers around Roo's therapy assignment of making a treasure map of the peer relationships in her life and what she wants them to be. Roo makes it a treasure map of all the boys in her life, with surprising and hilarious results. Ruby is a character I love and who feels like a close friend. Whether she's defending animal rights, falling in love, or making good or bad choices I was rooting for her. Once again, Ruby's foot notes added a fresh commentary to the bottom of many of the pages and had me laughing out loud. That is part of Lockhart's gift: she can take serious issues of adolesence and life and make them funny. This book was a joy to read.

fun read

so this is definitely a fun book to read. i was always looking forward to reading it and never felt like i had to force myself to read it. i love all the drama that goes on with her boyfriend(s) and her so-called friends. and her parents are pretty hilarious. i like the setting, which is washington and she lives in a boat house, which is pretty cool.

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Ruby "Roo" Oliver is trying to be good. Since the beginning of the school year she has had a thing for Noel, but her promise not to go after any guy one of her friends is interested in is complicating matters. Nora told Roo she likes Noel and that makes him off-limits.

Although her focus is on Noel, the other guys in her life are sending strange message as well. Jackson is back to his old self, flirting with Roo. Nora's college-age brother, Gideon, somehow seems interested in Roo, and Finn is volunteering to help with the bake sale she is running.

Since Roo's adventures in THE BOY BOOK, she has lost her job at the zoo and is now selling Birkenstocks at a local shoe store. She is still in therapy with Dr. Z, hoping to learn the cause of her panic attacks. As far as family issues, Roo makes a joke about Dr. Z recommending that she should have a dog, more specifically a Great Dane, and her parents take the news seriously when they bring home the giant but lovable Polka-dot.

With all this going on, it's easy to understand Roo's worry that her life will never make sense.

Colorful characters and crazy capers combined with believable high school stress and pressure make E. Lockhart's series a popular read. Roo's adventures offer plenty of laughs as well as a sympathetic voice for the ups and downs of the teen experience.

A hot, new way to depress the heck out of people

This book was so depressing. There was no happy ending, it brought ruby back to where she was in the first book and it made me feel so bad for this girl. Ruby's life already sucked but in this book it gets worse. She loses more friends its just terrible. These books are supposed to be just for fun and a pleasure to read but this book had my heart aching for this girl! If you want to be depressed read this book.

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Ruby needs some lovin'! But from who?

Getting smothered with kind words and confusing signals, Ruby Oliver doesn't know what to think of these boys. One's her ex-boyfriend, one's her secret crush, another is her best friend's brother, and the other is a sweet and gentle soccer player. It should be entertaining to watch as different guys try to catch her attention and own her heart, but for Ruby, it just gives her panic attacks and ex-best friends. I guess that's what you get for being yourself! Caught in the middle of love triangles and exploding science projects, Ruby has had enough. So her therapist tells her to make a treasure map of the relationships that you would like to have. There starts the other half of Ruby's journey through Junior year in high school.

The Treasure Map of Boys is a book that won't get out. of. my. head. It's . unforgettable! Ruby's story is one that has happened many times in real life, I'm sure, but is the first to be put down on paper. That's one of the reasons it's so unique. Author E. Lockhart's writing isn't the most original but it still has it's charm.

Most of the characters were enjoyable to the highest level and I liked reading how Ruby tried to choose between them: which ones she wants as friends and which ones she wants to be more than friends with. It's all realistic but at the same time, a little predictable.

I felt bad that Ruby had so many so-called friends that stood by her, but were never actually true friends. I found them selfish and . just plain mean! I didn't like them at all. But there were a few things that bothered me about Ruby herself. She jumps to unproven conclusions and she never exactly finds out the truth to her thoughts. Other than Ruby being a little feministic, I enjoyed the book enough to recommend it.

Release date: July 2009

Contains:

*inappropriate touching and talk of nudity
*sexual references
*Christians portrayed as 'annoying'
*brief strong language

Never A Dull Moment (Reviewed by TheBookworm)

The Treasure Map of Boys
By E. Lockhart
Pub. Date: July 2009
4 out of 5 stars
PG-13 - Profanity and Inappropriate Sexual Behavior
Recommended

Boys complicate things. but Ruby is so sick of being alone.

Ruby Oliver's reputation has been run into the ground, straggled, and buried several times in the past year. All because of boys. Well. not boys exactly. More like Ruby's relationship with boys. She has been in the state of no boyfriend for a successful 37 weeks hoping it will help cool down the disputes. But now with school starting again, everything she has been working for begins to backfire. Noel is writing her poetry, Jackson is giving frogs, Gideon is helping her cook, and Finn is making her brownies. As her mental health deteriorates and panic attacks occur far more frequently, she is faced with tough choices. Either learn from her mistakes and move on, or fall back into her old mishaps. This time she might not make it out of her slump.

The Treasure Map of Boys never had a dull moment. The crazy situations accurately captured the instability of teens and the awkwardness that ensues because of them. Add the adults portrayed as dim, far-off, and not understanding and real chaos proceeds.

Ruby really needed a hug. It was mind blowing how much guilt and unsureness she could bottle up inside. She made mistakes and it torments her with no remorse. Sadly, her "friends" don't help her plight either. The added notes found in Ruby's cubby hole helped shed some light on the minor character's feelings and thoughts without switching the story's narrator. I found this was majorly beneficial in the book for understanding the characters and their reasoning.

The footnotes were interesting and funny, but cluttered the chapters. The narration, inner thoughts, cubby hole notes, emails, and the like were already present and making the story choppy. It got confusing going between them and the footnotes. If would have been easier to follow along if the footnotes were added in parenthesis or just nixed all together.

I will not be recommending this book to my younger sisters though. If this book is going to be read I suggest it be read by older teens, 14 and up. Why? Because the craziness of the school's students was overdone. By that I mean, not all teens are cussing or making out in school. Not all teens are inappropriately touching each other. Not all teens are careless followers. Not all teens are narcissistic and unforgiving. There are such teens, but it is a much smaller amount then represented in this book. Besides. it's wrong to do such things.

If another book in the Ruby Oliver series is released, I will be checking it out.

Date Reviewed: May 31st, 2009

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