What do you think?
Rate this book
Hacking Harvard
It's the ultimate breaking into the Ivy League.
The
To get one deadbeat, fully unqualified slacker into the most prestigious school in the country.
The
Eric Roth -- the good guy, the voice of reason.
Max Kim -- the player who made the bet in the first place.
Schwartz -- the kid genius already on the inside...of Harvard, that is.
Lexi -- the beauty-queen valedictorian who insists on getting in the game.
The
Use only the most undetectable schemes and techno-brilliant skills. Don't break the Hacker's Code. Don't get distracted. Don't get caught. Take down someone who deserves it.
The
A lot higher than they think.
They've got the players, the plot, and soon -- the prize.
It's go time.
The
To get one deadbeat, fully unqualified slacker into the most prestigious school in the country.
The
Eric Roth -- the good guy, the voice of reason.
Max Kim -- the player who made the bet in the first place.
Schwartz -- the kid genius already on the inside...of Harvard, that is.
Lexi -- the beauty-queen valedictorian who insists on getting in the game.
The
Use only the most undetectable schemes and techno-brilliant skills. Don't break the Hacker's Code. Don't get distracted. Don't get caught. Take down someone who deserves it.
The
A lot higher than they think.
They've got the players, the plot, and soon -- the prize.
It's go time.
320 pages, Paperback
First published September 11, 2007
53 people are currently reading
1,720 people want to read
About the author
Robin Wasserman
120books1,476followersRobin Wasserman is the author of the novels MOTHER DAUGHTER WIDOW WIFE (June 2020) and GIRLS ON FIRE. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Tin House, The Los Angeles Review of Books, and several short story anthologies. A recent MacDowell Colony fellow, she is also the New York Times bestselling author of more than ten novels for young adults and teaches in the low-residency MFA program at Southern New Hampshire University.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
March 13, 2010
Ugh.
You know how some YA literature (or any lit, I guess) can take stereotypes and cliches and make them into something more? Yeah, well, this book utterly failed to do that.
From the overachieving and over-pressuring Asian family, to the socially awkward nerd, this book has a range of ick and badly drawn stereotypes that just left me feeling like I needed to take a shower. Worst of all, for me personally, was the finely drawn Nice Guy(tm) relationship between the sixteen year old College Freshman and Socially Awkward Nerd (who happens to be obsessed with Playboy, go figure) and his dream girl (who was supposed to be brilliant, but instead was drawn as just another fucking stupidly slutty mcslutterson who keeps going after idiot jockboys instead of the loving, caring, "decent" guy who keeps waiting for her) which left me feeling utterly disgusted. The epilogue that wraps up the Nice Guy(tm)'s story states that he ended up turning down an academic career and went to go work at the Playboy Mansion instead made me actually throw this book across the room.
I'm just not down with that kind of bullshit. If I want a fun romp about kids fucking with the academic and college admissions processes, I'll go watch The Perfect Score or Accepted.
You know how some YA literature (or any lit, I guess) can take stereotypes and cliches and make them into something more? Yeah, well, this book utterly failed to do that.
From the overachieving and over-pressuring Asian family, to the socially awkward nerd, this book has a range of ick and badly drawn stereotypes that just left me feeling like I needed to take a shower. Worst of all, for me personally, was the finely drawn Nice Guy(tm) relationship between the sixteen year old College Freshman and Socially Awkward Nerd (who happens to be obsessed with Playboy, go figure) and his dream girl (who was supposed to be brilliant, but instead was drawn as just another fucking stupidly slutty mcslutterson who keeps going after idiot jockboys instead of the loving, caring, "decent" guy who keeps waiting for her) which left me feeling utterly disgusted. The epilogue that wraps up the Nice Guy(tm)'s story states that he ended up turning down an academic career and went to go work at the Playboy Mansion instead made me actually throw this book across the room.
I'm just not down with that kind of bullshit. If I want a fun romp about kids fucking with the academic and college admissions processes, I'll go watch The Perfect Score or Accepted.
December 2, 2014
Introduction:
The book I’ve read today for my book share is called “Hacking Harvard" by Robin Wasserman. This story takes place in modern times in America. The main characters are Eric, Max, Schwarz and Lex (She comes near the end of the book). The main conflict was a bet of a hundred dollars to try to hack Harvard with the worst person in school to try and get into Harvard to prove that the admissions system is not perfect or functional. The team had to find a way to get Clay (a bad student) into Harvard while avoiding other hackers and getting caught. The story ends with Clay going to Harvard happily while the team happily pursues their dreams and gets a lot of money and wins the bet. The theme is that it is not impossible for an unachieved person to get into a good college. As one can see, I think that conflict made this book well developed.
Body Paragraph:
“This isn’t us,� Eric said frantically. “There’s got to be some kind of interference-everything’s working fine.� (Wasserman pg. 245) In the novel “Hacking Harvard� the use of conflict was marvelously developed. Throughout the story there was a lot of conflict especially when Clay had his interview with the admissions officer of Harvard and the ear piece signal in his ear got interfered so that the team couldn’t tell Clay what to do. Luckily, Clay started to improvise while the team searched for the interferer, but when they found the interferer it was Lex (Eric’s friend) and that made huge conflicts between them and the team. In the end, Lex helps the team hack into Harvard even though she wants to learn there and that binds the conflict between her and the team. As one can see, the use of conflict was fantastically developed.
Recommendation:
The book “Hacking Harvard� is very well constructed and I would recommend this book to middle school. First, I would recommend this book to middle school because it is about hacking a high rated college. Second, the Lexile is pretty high so that it’s neither too easy nor hard. Third, the plot would interest every single middle schooler. As one can see, “Hacking Harvard� is considered very exciting because of the plot and conflict.
The book I’ve read today for my book share is called “Hacking Harvard" by Robin Wasserman. This story takes place in modern times in America. The main characters are Eric, Max, Schwarz and Lex (She comes near the end of the book). The main conflict was a bet of a hundred dollars to try to hack Harvard with the worst person in school to try and get into Harvard to prove that the admissions system is not perfect or functional. The team had to find a way to get Clay (a bad student) into Harvard while avoiding other hackers and getting caught. The story ends with Clay going to Harvard happily while the team happily pursues their dreams and gets a lot of money and wins the bet. The theme is that it is not impossible for an unachieved person to get into a good college. As one can see, I think that conflict made this book well developed.
Body Paragraph:
“This isn’t us,� Eric said frantically. “There’s got to be some kind of interference-everything’s working fine.� (Wasserman pg. 245) In the novel “Hacking Harvard� the use of conflict was marvelously developed. Throughout the story there was a lot of conflict especially when Clay had his interview with the admissions officer of Harvard and the ear piece signal in his ear got interfered so that the team couldn’t tell Clay what to do. Luckily, Clay started to improvise while the team searched for the interferer, but when they found the interferer it was Lex (Eric’s friend) and that made huge conflicts between them and the team. In the end, Lex helps the team hack into Harvard even though she wants to learn there and that binds the conflict between her and the team. As one can see, the use of conflict was fantastically developed.
Recommendation:
The book “Hacking Harvard� is very well constructed and I would recommend this book to middle school. First, I would recommend this book to middle school because it is about hacking a high rated college. Second, the Lexile is pretty high so that it’s neither too easy nor hard. Third, the plot would interest every single middle schooler. As one can see, “Hacking Harvard� is considered very exciting because of the plot and conflict.
September 4, 2018
I haven't read this book in mega years, but I don't remember enjoying it as much as I did this time around. I highly recommend!!
May 15, 2009
Rating A+
From the beginning I loved Eric, Schwarz (Carl Schwarzbaum), and Max. Their dialogue was snappy, funny, irreverent, perfect. I was surprised this this was written by a chick--chicks usually screw up male characters, but Robin (which, admittedly, is a unisex name) Wasserman did her job well. (Plus, big hint, the narrator isn't a guy... and that revelation was awesome.)
What I really liked about this book, in addition to the characters and their incredibly great dialogue, was the actual plot of this book. The pacing was just right--actually, I read it so fast, that I'm dying to go back and re-read so I can experience it all over again--and the scenarios were so believable (in so much as climbing in a tree to beam the answers to the SATs into the school can be believable).
Also, the idea behind the book is really cool. College admissions are a tricky mistress and the question of whether what college you go to is what can make or break you is an interesting issue. The "About the Author" section says, "Robin Wasserman has always harbored a certain nostalgia for the college applications process... That is, until she began writing this book and remembered what it was really like. She now realizes she would rather have her wisdom teeth removed--without anesthesia--than go through it all again. Which is to say: She feels your pain. Having survived high school, college admissions, and college itself (which proved almost worth all the trouble)..." As someone who's undergrad degree was so flagrantly wasteful (BA in Religious Studies? Hello...) that I gave my diploma away in a white elephant gift exchange, I'm not sure I'm the most reliable person to answer the question, but the question is meaningful none the less.
I recommend this book to every high school student in the United States. High recommendation, right?
From the beginning I loved Eric, Schwarz (Carl Schwarzbaum), and Max. Their dialogue was snappy, funny, irreverent, perfect. I was surprised this this was written by a chick--chicks usually screw up male characters, but Robin (which, admittedly, is a unisex name) Wasserman did her job well. (Plus, big hint, the narrator isn't a guy... and that revelation was awesome.)
What I really liked about this book, in addition to the characters and their incredibly great dialogue, was the actual plot of this book. The pacing was just right--actually, I read it so fast, that I'm dying to go back and re-read so I can experience it all over again--and the scenarios were so believable (in so much as climbing in a tree to beam the answers to the SATs into the school can be believable).
Also, the idea behind the book is really cool. College admissions are a tricky mistress and the question of whether what college you go to is what can make or break you is an interesting issue. The "About the Author" section says, "Robin Wasserman has always harbored a certain nostalgia for the college applications process... That is, until she began writing this book and remembered what it was really like. She now realizes she would rather have her wisdom teeth removed--without anesthesia--than go through it all again. Which is to say: She feels your pain. Having survived high school, college admissions, and college itself (which proved almost worth all the trouble)..." As someone who's undergrad degree was so flagrantly wasteful (BA in Religious Studies? Hello...) that I gave my diploma away in a white elephant gift exchange, I'm not sure I'm the most reliable person to answer the question, but the question is meaningful none the less.
I recommend this book to every high school student in the United States. High recommendation, right?
December 8, 2011
I was going to rate this book a five. I was going to call it the most intelligent thing I've read in a long time. I was going to say that it was amazing and stupendous and hilarious and witty. I was going to recommend it to every single one of my friends for the rest of eternity.
And then something had to happen on the second-to-last page. Something that brought the rating down to a two.
And so I did the only thing I could and added both and took the average. :/
I think Wasserman was going for "realistic" when she wrote that particular line that ruined my rating. I think she was trying to prove a point to all high school seniors and college kids. I understand. But that doesn't mean I have to like it.
What ever happened to happily-ever-afters and rainbows and bunnies and perfection? :(
And okay, so MAYBE one of the reasons I was so affected by that life-changing-sentence was because one of the characters in the book was named Eric. And one of my good friends is named Erich. And maybe it's missing the "h" but the ENTIRE TIME I kept picturing Erich as Eric! (Good-looking, moral, physics genius, etc, etc. Fits the bill.) And so of course I became ridiculously attached to Eric-the-character and THEN when the life-changing-sentence appeared...I was crushed. :/ *sigh* *sighs louder*
*SIIIIGH* :(
This is why I love Twilight. They fall in love, they go through some crazy hardships (but they still stay in love, mind you), they get married, have a baby, and live happily ever after. The end. Is it naive and unrealistic and irresponsible and immature? Maybe. Yeah. But is it also fluffy and sappy and squeal-worthy? Yes. And guess what? I LIKE IT.
And that's my rant. ^_^
P.S. Erich, (and I KNOW you're reading this because I've left you with no choice but to read my review :P), you should join ŷ. :D
And then something had to happen on the second-to-last page. Something that brought the rating down to a two.
And so I did the only thing I could and added both and took the average. :/
I think Wasserman was going for "realistic" when she wrote that particular line that ruined my rating. I think she was trying to prove a point to all high school seniors and college kids. I understand. But that doesn't mean I have to like it.
What ever happened to happily-ever-afters and rainbows and bunnies and perfection? :(
And okay, so MAYBE one of the reasons I was so affected by that life-changing-sentence was because one of the characters in the book was named Eric. And one of my good friends is named Erich. And maybe it's missing the "h" but the ENTIRE TIME I kept picturing Erich as Eric! (Good-looking, moral, physics genius, etc, etc. Fits the bill.) And so of course I became ridiculously attached to Eric-the-character and THEN when the life-changing-sentence appeared...I was crushed. :/ *sigh* *sighs louder*
*SIIIIGH* :(
This is why I love Twilight. They fall in love, they go through some crazy hardships (but they still stay in love, mind you), they get married, have a baby, and live happily ever after. The end. Is it naive and unrealistic and irresponsible and immature? Maybe. Yeah. But is it also fluffy and sappy and squeal-worthy? Yes. And guess what? I LIKE IT.
And that's my rant. ^_^
P.S. Erich, (and I KNOW you're reading this because I've left you with no choice but to read my review :P), you should join ŷ. :D
January 2, 2010
I read this book because I enjoyed Wasserman's "Skinned".
The basic premise of this story is a bunch of teenaged genius hackers make a bet that they can get a slacker accepted into Harvard.
Sounds like an interesting plot, so I'm not sure how Wasserman was able to make this so singularly uninteresting.
First of all, the characters are awful - the dialogue made me cringe, especially Schwarz, who apparently lacks the ability to use contractions. I'm not sure if that's supposed to make him sound like a genius, but he just sounds like a badly programmed robot.
Eric is so sanctimonious you just want to slap him, and Max is so slimy you wonder why anyone is friends with him.
The switching of narrators in different chapters is confusing and annoying - sometimes it would take a paragraph or two to figure out who was talking.
The ending is unsatisfying. Yeah, they get the slacker accepted into Harvard and win the bet (surprise!) but there's no cohesion of purpose. Supposedly they were doing this to expose flaws in the acceptance system of the Ivy Leagues, but the book just kind of ends...with no clear resolution.
The basic premise of this story is a bunch of teenaged genius hackers make a bet that they can get a slacker accepted into Harvard.
Sounds like an interesting plot, so I'm not sure how Wasserman was able to make this so singularly uninteresting.
First of all, the characters are awful - the dialogue made me cringe, especially Schwarz, who apparently lacks the ability to use contractions. I'm not sure if that's supposed to make him sound like a genius, but he just sounds like a badly programmed robot.
Eric is so sanctimonious you just want to slap him, and Max is so slimy you wonder why anyone is friends with him.
The switching of narrators in different chapters is confusing and annoying - sometimes it would take a paragraph or two to figure out who was talking.
The ending is unsatisfying. Yeah, they get the slacker accepted into Harvard and win the bet (surprise!) but there's no cohesion of purpose. Supposedly they were doing this to expose flaws in the acceptance system of the Ivy Leagues, but the book just kind of ends...with no clear resolution.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2010
My friend was reading the book...I asked to read the back and I instantly wanted my own copy! The plot captivated my attention mostly because I thought I could relate to it. I was a Bostonian High School Sophomore already obsessed with college. When I got my copy, I jumped into the book immediately...but the first few pages confused the hell outta me! I was seriously thinking about putting it down but as I kept reading, things very slowly fell into place, and then it started to pick up! There were definately some funny parts, supprising parts and cute high school romance moments that I enjoyed. The characters were a little bit cliche (The Asian overachievers, the 16 year old playboy obsessed geek, etc), but overall I liked it. I lent the book to my friend who goes to Boston College, and he really likes it. But yeah, it's one of those books where you have to read it twice to get the full effect, it's a little hard to understand, but I would lend it to anyone who wants a little pick me up :)
March 9, 2008
I really enjoyed the one seven deadly sins book I read by Robin Wasserman, so I was thrilled to find Hacking Harvard. The characters are a bunch, and entertain you slightly when you read it, but it definitely wasn't a book that I remembered. The plot line was a little scattered in my opinion, and seemed extremely familiar. I wouldn't suggest this book to people who like to read books once and get everything. This is one of those books that you have to re-read at least three times, in my opinion, to get just about everything you need. It's fast paced in some areas, and very, very, very dragged out in others. But, it was like watching a foreign movie. You really had no idea what was going on, but it sure was damn entertaining.
May 5, 2009
Extremely cheesy. It makes me wonder; 'Don't authors realize it when this happens to their books?' The characters were incredibly linear and just generally uninteresting, and at times annoying. What could have been a good scene always ended in a predictable way. I wish someone else could have taken this plot and created a genuinely interesting novel about a hacker's experience in Harvard. One that is not as ridiculous.
January 18, 2023
What is a hack, you ask?
Most people think it's a joke, a prank, a cheat. Not to these three boys, though.
To Eric, Max, and Schwartz, though, a hack is something more. It's a statement, a carefully planned way to make a splash in the world.
And now, they're set to make the biggest, most meaningful hack yet, with stakes higher than they know; get the looser bully of their school into Harvard.
Eric has set the rules; no cheating. Play by the rules. No telling anyone. Nobody breaks the rules, and nobody ends up in jail.
The plan is set into motion. Along the way, though, not everything goes to plan, and almost all of Eric's rules are broken. Can the three survive the flames and come out free, and still friends?
Not gonna lie, I didn't click with any of the characters. The plot was great, but I just got annoyed by the characters and their constant stupid mistakes. Overall, it's not for me, but I can't say it won't be for someone else!
Most people think it's a joke, a prank, a cheat. Not to these three boys, though.
To Eric, Max, and Schwartz, though, a hack is something more. It's a statement, a carefully planned way to make a splash in the world.
And now, they're set to make the biggest, most meaningful hack yet, with stakes higher than they know; get the looser bully of their school into Harvard.
Eric has set the rules; no cheating. Play by the rules. No telling anyone. Nobody breaks the rules, and nobody ends up in jail.
The plan is set into motion. Along the way, though, not everything goes to plan, and almost all of Eric's rules are broken. Can the three survive the flames and come out free, and still friends?
Not gonna lie, I didn't click with any of the characters. The plot was great, but I just got annoyed by the characters and their constant stupid mistakes. Overall, it's not for me, but I can't say it won't be for someone else!
December 21, 2011
So I read this because Myra told me about it and I have to say, what a disappointment. Really. I didn't see Erich very much in this book but I'm glad that I didn't. I feel like I wasted my time reading this if that was what the ending was like. I cannot believe that happened!!! It was all wonderful until two pages before the end, no warning, not even an explanation. Eric just died in my mind. The worst part: what does that say about people in general? I don't want to give away any more of this pathetic ending but it leaves little hope for people and characters. *sigh* It reminds me of "The End", the last book in the Series of Unfortunate Events. Now that book was pure torture; it was terrible in its entirety. This, though, was good all the way through and then ending on such a low note. I just can't believe it. =(((((((
December 24, 2023
Robin Wasserman, if you don’t want to hear an (unfortunately) very negative review of your book, please skip past this.
My rating: ⭐️1.25
This book kinda sucked. I was so disappointed in it. I picked this book up at my school library, thinking it would be an interesting, fast-paced novel with bits of math and science woven in. Boy, was I disappointed. I tried so hard for the first few chapters to pretend that it was a good book, but it just got worse and worse. Let me just list some pros and cons for you.
CONS:
Let’s get the negatives out of the way first.
- EXTREMELY inappropriate.
- multiple swear words on almost every page. Usually when there are just a few swear words in a book, such as in The Great Gatsby, I can try to ignore them and enjoy the story. But in this book, the swearing was just too much and was very distracting. It was not even relevant to the plot for much of the book.
- the characters were all very stupid. I understand that the main characters are high school boys, who typically aren’t the brightest creatures on earth, but they could’ve looked at the “experiment� somewhat rationally.
- the characters were all huge liars.
- Alexandra Talese. I was so disappointed. I expected� well, “the little miss perfect valedictorian� the back of the book described her as. But someone who lied and cheated her way through middle school and high school didn’t earn my admiration.
- Lex and Eric’s relationship (in the bad part of the relationship). I would first like to acknowledge that, yes, their relationship was entirely built on lies, and they probably both had a right to be angry at each other. But they kept their stupid, petty fight going for so long, it wasn’t even interesting anymore.
- talking about having s*x. Yes, this book mentioned the topic. It mentioned the fact that one of the Admissions Officers, Samuel Atherton III (who is married), was having an affair with the dean (also married). And the main characters recorded them having s*x. It was so messed up, I thought about not even including it in this review.
- Schwarz drove me CRAZY! Why couldn’t he just say no to all the people who were constantly pushing him around? And why was he so obsessed with Stephanie, who constantly treated him like dirt and couldn’t care less about him, as long as she had a date for the parties she wanted to go to? Schwarz kind of acted like a big baby and I hated it.
PROS:
- okay, I’ll admit, there were a couple funny-ish scenes. That’s one of the factors that got me to pick up the book in the first place.
- the “disclaimer� at the end of the book was also somewhat funny.
- in the good parts of their relationship, Lex and Eric were very cute together.
But that’s about it. I think this is the lowest rating I’ve ever given a book, which makes me kind of sad. And although I rarely ever say this, I say it to you now: don’t read this book.
My rating: ⭐️1.25
This book kinda sucked. I was so disappointed in it. I picked this book up at my school library, thinking it would be an interesting, fast-paced novel with bits of math and science woven in. Boy, was I disappointed. I tried so hard for the first few chapters to pretend that it was a good book, but it just got worse and worse. Let me just list some pros and cons for you.
CONS:
Let’s get the negatives out of the way first.
- EXTREMELY inappropriate.
- multiple swear words on almost every page. Usually when there are just a few swear words in a book, such as in The Great Gatsby, I can try to ignore them and enjoy the story. But in this book, the swearing was just too much and was very distracting. It was not even relevant to the plot for much of the book.
- the characters were all very stupid. I understand that the main characters are high school boys, who typically aren’t the brightest creatures on earth, but they could’ve looked at the “experiment� somewhat rationally.
- the characters were all huge liars.
- Alexandra Talese. I was so disappointed. I expected� well, “the little miss perfect valedictorian� the back of the book described her as. But someone who lied and cheated her way through middle school and high school didn’t earn my admiration.
- Lex and Eric’s relationship (in the bad part of the relationship). I would first like to acknowledge that, yes, their relationship was entirely built on lies, and they probably both had a right to be angry at each other. But they kept their stupid, petty fight going for so long, it wasn’t even interesting anymore.
- talking about having s*x. Yes, this book mentioned the topic. It mentioned the fact that one of the Admissions Officers, Samuel Atherton III (who is married), was having an affair with the dean (also married). And the main characters recorded them having s*x. It was so messed up, I thought about not even including it in this review.
- Schwarz drove me CRAZY! Why couldn’t he just say no to all the people who were constantly pushing him around? And why was he so obsessed with Stephanie, who constantly treated him like dirt and couldn’t care less about him, as long as she had a date for the parties she wanted to go to? Schwarz kind of acted like a big baby and I hated it.
PROS:
- okay, I’ll admit, there were a couple funny-ish scenes. That’s one of the factors that got me to pick up the book in the first place.
- the “disclaimer� at the end of the book was also somewhat funny.
- in the good parts of their relationship, Lex and Eric were very cute together.
But that’s about it. I think this is the lowest rating I’ve ever given a book, which makes me kind of sad. And although I rarely ever say this, I say it to you now: don’t read this book.
January 29, 2008
The title says it all. Sort of. It’s about two groups of guys who makes a bet: that they can get the senior class’s worst student ever into Harvard—by hacking into their system and getting them to Admit rather than Deny. The prize? Twenty five thousand dollars. The downfall of it all? Each team has tricks up their sleeves, and no one’s giving up the few thousand grand without a fight.
The idea is cool. The concepts behind it as well. The book mentions all this angst about getting accepted or rejected into the school, and I really agree with that. Being able to get into college, graduate from college, or even be admitted in an Ivy League shouldn’t matter all that much or take over someone’s life. There are thousands of applicants every year and they can only select some—so what happens to those who don’t get in? It’s like a slap in the face. You’ve worked so hard, and you know you can get in, but you don’t anyway. Being valedictorian doesn’t guarantee success, neither does participating in all those extracurricular activities. I mean, it sort of matters, but if you think about it, what if everyone gets good grades and joins teams? Harvard will still reject some and accept some. What makes these people so different?
This book is about how far some people will go to get in Harvard. It’s very confusing at first, because I’m still not sure what happened in the first chapter, and the narration isn’t the best technique either. Point of view is always shifting from Lex’s 1st person and then moving onto third person, so you never know what to expect. I do, however, like the twists and turns. Especially when Lex proves out to be working against Eric’s team, which I kind of suspected in the first place.
It’s not the best book I’ve read, but after I finished it, it’s made me think a lot about college and what I want. I’ve never been a Harvard person, which might come as a surprise, because how many people do you know who can honestly say they don’t want to go to Harvard? Not many. I’m still an Ivy League dreamer—Columbia or Princeton—even though I know it’s a lost cause. It’s like the high school admissions thing. I took the Stuyvesant test, even though I knew I wouldn’t get in? Why? Because my mom wanted me to, because I liked the idea of belonging to a school of everyone’s dreams. I didn’t get in. I didn’t even get accepted into Brooklyn Tech. People care too much about getting rejected by their dream school that they think they’re failures, or not good enough. And the same will happen in college. I’ll get rejected by Ivy Leagues and end up somewhere (out-of-state, hopefully) and who’s to say it won’t turn out to be the best thing that’s ever happened to me?
Now that is the whole message of the book. One I’ve already learned, but liked to be reminded again, especially since, two years from now, I’ll be writing essays and smarting interviews to try to get into a good college.
The idea is cool. The concepts behind it as well. The book mentions all this angst about getting accepted or rejected into the school, and I really agree with that. Being able to get into college, graduate from college, or even be admitted in an Ivy League shouldn’t matter all that much or take over someone’s life. There are thousands of applicants every year and they can only select some—so what happens to those who don’t get in? It’s like a slap in the face. You’ve worked so hard, and you know you can get in, but you don’t anyway. Being valedictorian doesn’t guarantee success, neither does participating in all those extracurricular activities. I mean, it sort of matters, but if you think about it, what if everyone gets good grades and joins teams? Harvard will still reject some and accept some. What makes these people so different?
This book is about how far some people will go to get in Harvard. It’s very confusing at first, because I’m still not sure what happened in the first chapter, and the narration isn’t the best technique either. Point of view is always shifting from Lex’s 1st person and then moving onto third person, so you never know what to expect. I do, however, like the twists and turns. Especially when Lex proves out to be working against Eric’s team, which I kind of suspected in the first place.
It’s not the best book I’ve read, but after I finished it, it’s made me think a lot about college and what I want. I’ve never been a Harvard person, which might come as a surprise, because how many people do you know who can honestly say they don’t want to go to Harvard? Not many. I’m still an Ivy League dreamer—Columbia or Princeton—even though I know it’s a lost cause. It’s like the high school admissions thing. I took the Stuyvesant test, even though I knew I wouldn’t get in? Why? Because my mom wanted me to, because I liked the idea of belonging to a school of everyone’s dreams. I didn’t get in. I didn’t even get accepted into Brooklyn Tech. People care too much about getting rejected by their dream school that they think they’re failures, or not good enough. And the same will happen in college. I’ll get rejected by Ivy Leagues and end up somewhere (out-of-state, hopefully) and who’s to say it won’t turn out to be the best thing that’s ever happened to me?
Now that is the whole message of the book. One I’ve already learned, but liked to be reminded again, especially since, two years from now, I’ll be writing essays and smarting interviews to try to get into a good college.
July 30, 2014
Let me tell you about this book and how it affected me profoundly from when I first read it in eighth grade to my last days as a senior.
Ok, when I first read this a few years back, I thought, "Hey, this is a pretty good book." I did not fully appreciate this book yet. Then I picked it up again sometime in my sophomore year and realized, I can identify with a lot of this stuff. From Lex trying to be the perfect student to Max trying to prove that he can be successful in his own way, I identified with some trait of each character. Why? Because they were real. They were written as real, honest-to-God people who had massive flaws and dreams. Did they swear a lot? Well, yeah. So did the people in my school. Were there stereotypes? Yes, because, believe it or not, some stereotypes actually exist. Did plot seem plausible? Well, no, because I doubt that could ever happen ever, but I don't read for normal stories, I read for excitement and action.
Anyway, senior year rolled around and I picked up the book again. And I realized: Holy crap, all this stuff is happening to me. Not the whole hacking into an Ivy League school, but the stress of a massive test, creating the perfect person on paper, and, most of all, waiting for that final decision.
*Spoilers beyond this point* Another great example of how this book is so fantastically great to relate to: The ending. My God, the ending. The fact that Lex DID NOT get into Harvard made this book gold for me. She was perfect, she did everything, and she still didn't get in. This hit home for me when I didn't get into my first choice. Because, like Lex, I did get that razor-thin envelope. And it hurt. Then there was the page before when she said it didn't all matter, but it does, even a little bit. And she doesn't sugarcoat that. Her reaction is so raw and real and something a ton of people can relate to. I really appreciated that.
And the last section, the last few paragraphs about why she told this story, is just the best. She acknowledges that not everything worked out. Lex says she knows the system was broken, but she went with it. Why? Because it was the only way she knew how. So this story was about the time she didn't follow the system and how the system was shattered. We'd all like to see that every once in a while, right?
I get that this book isn't everyone's cup of tea because of the language or the content in general, but this was one of the realest, rawest books in my life and it is probably to this day the one I best relate to. I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone, and particularly to those in their senior year of high school.
Ok, when I first read this a few years back, I thought, "Hey, this is a pretty good book." I did not fully appreciate this book yet. Then I picked it up again sometime in my sophomore year and realized, I can identify with a lot of this stuff. From Lex trying to be the perfect student to Max trying to prove that he can be successful in his own way, I identified with some trait of each character. Why? Because they were real. They were written as real, honest-to-God people who had massive flaws and dreams. Did they swear a lot? Well, yeah. So did the people in my school. Were there stereotypes? Yes, because, believe it or not, some stereotypes actually exist. Did plot seem plausible? Well, no, because I doubt that could ever happen ever, but I don't read for normal stories, I read for excitement and action.
Anyway, senior year rolled around and I picked up the book again. And I realized: Holy crap, all this stuff is happening to me. Not the whole hacking into an Ivy League school, but the stress of a massive test, creating the perfect person on paper, and, most of all, waiting for that final decision.
*Spoilers beyond this point* Another great example of how this book is so fantastically great to relate to: The ending. My God, the ending. The fact that Lex DID NOT get into Harvard made this book gold for me. She was perfect, she did everything, and she still didn't get in. This hit home for me when I didn't get into my first choice. Because, like Lex, I did get that razor-thin envelope. And it hurt. Then there was the page before when she said it didn't all matter, but it does, even a little bit. And she doesn't sugarcoat that. Her reaction is so raw and real and something a ton of people can relate to. I really appreciated that.
And the last section, the last few paragraphs about why she told this story, is just the best. She acknowledges that not everything worked out. Lex says she knows the system was broken, but she went with it. Why? Because it was the only way she knew how. So this story was about the time she didn't follow the system and how the system was shattered. We'd all like to see that every once in a while, right?
I get that this book isn't everyone's cup of tea because of the language or the content in general, but this was one of the realest, rawest books in my life and it is probably to this day the one I best relate to. I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone, and particularly to those in their senior year of high school.
Read
November 13, 2009Deception seems to be one of the main keys in Robin Wasserman’s Hacking Harvard. Robin does an extremely good job at giving the characters human like qualities that allow the reader to relate to the character and feel like they are an actual person. The ample variety of vocabulary blended with the vivid dialog makes this book a very interesting read.
Three friends, Eric, Max and Scharz take on the ultimate challenge; taking the class screw up and trying to breech the system and get him into the prestigious Ivy league school, Harvard. The trio found pleasure out of pulling off small pranks then one day Max came up with a new scheme, a new mission too good to be referred to as just another prank, he decided that they were going to get a complete slacker admitted into Harvard to prove the depravity of college admissions.
Max’s parents and two older sisters all graduated from Harvard so clearly Max was supposed to be the next one. “You go to Harvard, or you go it alone (41)�. Max is under a lot of pressure to live up to his family name. This seems to be his inspiration to breech Harvard, even though the trio tackles the challenge it’s Max who is the one who wants to succeed more than anyone.
Hacking Harvard is a thrilling novel that combines many interesting aspects any novel needs to be phenomenal. That book is something that should never be skimmed through because the beauty lies in the detailed writing. Robin sparks curiosity early and reader will feel like curious George while reading. Hacking Harvard is an A plus selection for anyone reader for a book that will take them on an adventure of a lifetime.
Three friends, Eric, Max and Scharz take on the ultimate challenge; taking the class screw up and trying to breech the system and get him into the prestigious Ivy league school, Harvard. The trio found pleasure out of pulling off small pranks then one day Max came up with a new scheme, a new mission too good to be referred to as just another prank, he decided that they were going to get a complete slacker admitted into Harvard to prove the depravity of college admissions.
Max’s parents and two older sisters all graduated from Harvard so clearly Max was supposed to be the next one. “You go to Harvard, or you go it alone (41)�. Max is under a lot of pressure to live up to his family name. This seems to be his inspiration to breech Harvard, even though the trio tackles the challenge it’s Max who is the one who wants to succeed more than anyone.
Hacking Harvard is a thrilling novel that combines many interesting aspects any novel needs to be phenomenal. That book is something that should never be skimmed through because the beauty lies in the detailed writing. Robin sparks curiosity early and reader will feel like curious George while reading. Hacking Harvard is an A plus selection for anyone reader for a book that will take them on an adventure of a lifetime.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2011
Hacking Harvard is what I thought a very informational book in the terms of college. I did not think the story was as strong as it could have been for it was very far fetched, so it is understandable why I did not consider this book for the story. The story was ok do not get me wrong it just is not as equal to the story who focus around the story. I thought the book jumped back and forth between fiction and non-fiction, so the story was not as compelling and interesting as it could be. The non-fiction part if you were able to catch was very interesting for she was giving her experiences in the college application process and I thought gave some good information. To sum it up it was a good book I did enjoy it and hope you understand that it was not meant entirely for its story. Those looking for what type of genre it is more a Informational book with maybe a tiny bit of Science if there is any. Hope that this review was helpful and enjoyed it.
December 2, 2019
Well, it took me 6 MONTHS to read one book, but I did it!! And man, you would think I’d start to hate the book after so long, but no. I genuinely loved this entire journey I went on with the characters.
YES. This book does play into stereotypes. However, it does it in such a clever and artful way turns the concept of stereotypes on its head and ultimately makes these stereotypes somehow seem paradoxically unique.
On top of that, this book has a really great message. The writing is intelligent, and the book is a lot more intelligent than a lot of receivers are giving it credit for.
Every time a (protagonist) character did something that fell into a stereotype, it was so absolutely endearing, and it just made me really care for these characters.
Towards the end, I even got somewhat emotional. Saying goodbye to these characters is heartfelt, because I feel like I’ve watched them grow. I feel like a proud mom.
Looks can be deceiving. Give this book a chance.
YES. This book does play into stereotypes. However, it does it in such a clever and artful way turns the concept of stereotypes on its head and ultimately makes these stereotypes somehow seem paradoxically unique.
On top of that, this book has a really great message. The writing is intelligent, and the book is a lot more intelligent than a lot of receivers are giving it credit for.
Every time a (protagonist) character did something that fell into a stereotype, it was so absolutely endearing, and it just made me really care for these characters.
Towards the end, I even got somewhat emotional. Saying goodbye to these characters is heartfelt, because I feel like I’ve watched them grow. I feel like a proud mom.
Looks can be deceiving. Give this book a chance.
September 12, 2009
Just finished last night.
It was really interesting, really. I suppose it is kinda creative, but I'm sure the plot has been thought up of before.
But I just love the characters, they feel like REAL people. Well geniuses, of course.
There's not much to explain. The plot is really the title. "Hacking Harvard", not much to it I know. But yet it ran for three hundred some pages...
Oh and there are those high school romance things in there too. It kinda made me gag...a bit >___>
Eccckkk.
The ending sucked like hell. It just tummmbled in, seriously. Like for 350 pages or so, it was all about hacking and getting through it all, and then all of a sudden, in the last chapter of like not even ten pages, it became an epilogue. And not a particularily good one.
But Clay is a really peculiar person :))) I like him!
It was really interesting, really. I suppose it is kinda creative, but I'm sure the plot has been thought up of before.
But I just love the characters, they feel like REAL people. Well geniuses, of course.
There's not much to explain. The plot is really the title. "Hacking Harvard", not much to it I know. But yet it ran for three hundred some pages...
Oh and there are those high school romance things in there too. It kinda made me gag...a bit >___>
Eccckkk.
The ending sucked like hell. It just tummmbled in, seriously. Like for 350 pages or so, it was all about hacking and getting through it all, and then all of a sudden, in the last chapter of like not even ten pages, it became an epilogue. And not a particularily good one.
But Clay is a really peculiar person :))) I like him!
December 19, 2010
This doesn’t qualify as a spy/suspense novel � not when one of the most climactic scenes is a college admissions interview. But there’s still a lot of high-tech espionage and underhanded secret-agent mystery.
More important, this doesn’t qualify as an especially good novel. It’s too unbelievable, and too many of the characters are annoying. Eric’s “Mr. Angry Man� moments with Max are probably the toughest to take. But they’re not much worse than the not-quite-lovers spats between Eric and Lex.
I didn’t like the first person “who’s talking here?� interludes either. Once I recognized the pattern, the voice-camouflage became one more annoyance.
It’s probably not worth debating whether the emotions are any more outlandish than the plot contrivances. Through it all, the mystery keeps chugging along, steady enough to get me to the final page.
More important, this doesn’t qualify as an especially good novel. It’s too unbelievable, and too many of the characters are annoying. Eric’s “Mr. Angry Man� moments with Max are probably the toughest to take. But they’re not much worse than the not-quite-lovers spats between Eric and Lex.
I didn’t like the first person “who’s talking here?� interludes either. Once I recognized the pattern, the voice-camouflage became one more annoyance.
It’s probably not worth debating whether the emotions are any more outlandish than the plot contrivances. Through it all, the mystery keeps chugging along, steady enough to get me to the final page.
May 22, 2012
This was a well crafted book and was very intellectually written. Not in the sense that it used big words and made you feel dumb, but the intelligent characters had a higher thinking level that gave the reader a better connection. This was a really good book because the writing style worked harmoniously with the interesting story line to create a new style of books that I wish I could read more of. The beginning was really confusing because I new it was setting the scene for the rest of the book so I just kind of skimmed it and went back later. The point of view was interesting. It was told by a girl who seemed to have nothing to do with the hack but somehow seemed to end up a major part of it in the end. She herself admits, though, that it isn't her story to tell. The characters are well developed, each somehow connected to Harvard and having a past that effects their decisions.
October 18, 2012
Hacking Harvard is about a perfect kid and his friends decide to get a random slacker into the best school in the country after a challenge from a group of rival hackers. At the beginning of the book a bet is made to see what group of kids are better hackers. They end up hacking the system and getting the slacker into Harvard.The kids think they have outsmarted the system . When Harvard finds out about the hacking the risks turned out to be more then the reward. This book is a good example to the saying cheaters never win. At the end of the book though none of the main characters got admitted and even though they were so set on Harvard they had to go with something else. This book even though the characters had amazing intelligence was written so a high school student could easily understand what is happening. The author's style especially at the end makes it a thrilling story.
August 28, 2010
Hacking Harvard has a very twisted moral story. It's like you know it has a good message but the good message is hidden behind all these bad illegal things. It's a very funny novel full of twists that just make you say "I knew it!" The story is about a kid who loves a good bet and he makes the stupidest bet you could think of. It's going to be impossible and the stakes are to high. He bet his rivals that he could get a drop out failed student into Harvard. The book gets even more hilarious as he pulls his friends into it. The book is written in a unique way so you get the story from everyones point of view. Plus, what I said before, it does have a pretty moving message at the end. You just have to dig deep into the text to understand it. In over all I'd read this book again and again.
March 19, 2008
A team of friends who enjoy pulling elaborate stunts (flooding the prom with soap suds, moving an entire classroom to the roof overnight) get pulled into a bet that they can get an unlikely candidate into Harvard, without hacking the computer system to do it.
It was a bit hard to follow at first, with too many characters to sort out, but I found the subject engrossing enough to keep going, and it all became clear after about 30 pages.
It was a bit hard to follow at first, with too many characters to sort out, but I found the subject engrossing enough to keep going, and it all became clear after about 30 pages.
December 17, 2015
This was great! I know these characters because they were all my friends in high school - Lex, Eric, Max; their interactions and personalities were those of the nerds I spent all my time with. The fear of the SATs, the admissions process, outlined and mocked perfectly.
The plot was beautifully ridiculous, bets and sabotage and wild ideas. Fun to read and funny.
The plot was beautifully ridiculous, bets and sabotage and wild ideas. Fun to read and funny.
October 11, 2009
I couldn't even finish this book. . . The writing style is just not my type. It is not very flowing and it didn't make much sense to me. I do NOT recommend this book to people who like more mature writing style.
August 24, 2016
I seriously had so much fun while reading this. Three teenage guys--who are hilarious--hacking into Harvard? The most fun I've ever had while reading a book.
And I seriously cannot get over Lex adn Eric.
And I seriously cannot get over Lex adn Eric.
March 16, 2011
I couldn't get through this book for some reason. The characters were not ones I could relate to and the plot seemed unrealistic. Just not my type of book, I guess.
July 21, 2015
4/5 stars
this was a pretty light, fun read - nothing extraordinary. the first two chapters made me think it was going to be horrible, but it turned out to be an interesting read.
this was a pretty light, fun read - nothing extraordinary. the first two chapters made me think it was going to be horrible, but it turned out to be an interesting read.
December 11, 2024
I'm excited to share my experience with all of you out there who might be navigating the sometimes tumultuous waters of cryptocurrency investments. What I went through is a reminder of how crucial it is to stay vigilant and informed in this fast-paced digital world. My journey began with a seemingly golden opportunity—I was introduced to a cryptocurrency trading platform that promised astonishingly high returns. Like many others enticed by dreams of financial prosperity, I approached the venture with high hopes and a willing spirit. With an initial investment of USD 300,000, I couldn't help but let my imagination run wild with the possibilities. At first, everything seemed to be working according to plan. I was able to withdraw a modest profit, which fueled my belief in the platform’s legitimacy. The thrill of seeing my investment grow spurred me on, and it felt like I was well on my way to achieving financial freedom. However, little did I know, I was walking a tightrope over a deep ravine with little safety net. After months of trading, the promise of easy gains lulled my caution to sleep. I had made a staggering profit of $1,000,000 USD—a sum that seemed unreal. When it came time to withdraw my funds, however, I was met with a gut-wrenching surprise. The platform made excuse after excuse, promising outcomes that never came. It became painfully clear that the riches I had envisioned were nothing but a mirage. That’s when the despair truly set in. The dreams I had built up crashed down, leaving behind a sense of emptiness and regret. However, just when hope seems lost, I came across Cyber Constable Intelligence. Their reputation as a reputable recovery service intrigued me, and I decided to take a chance. With their expert counsel and persistent efforts, they guided me through the steps of investigating the scam and seeking the recovery of my lost funds. Today, I sit here, wiser but more alert, with a tale both cautionary and enlightening. While the recovery process has not been without its challenges, I am thankful for the assistance I’ve received. It reminds me that in the world of crypto, while fortunes can change in the blink of an eye, so too can relationships and trust. To all my fellow adventurers in cryptocurrency and those considering entering this world: educate yourself, be skeptical of promises too good to be true, and always assess the risks before diving in. Sometimes the allure of quick profits can overshadow the diligence needed to safeguard your assets. if you are a victim of a crypto or bitcoin scam. i advise you to contact Cyber Constable Intelligence
Cyber Constable Intelligence Info:
Website info; (www) cyberconstableintelligence com
Cyber Constable Intelligence Info:
Website info; (www) cyberconstableintelligence com
May 22, 2018
Hacking Harvard is a very interesting book. The reader takes a journey through a dangerous hack. The story is very interesting and attention-getting throughout the book. The author, Robin Wasserman does a great job writing the book like creating accurate dialogue and interesting strategies used to hack Harvard.
It all began with a bet. The goal is to get a high school slacker into an Ivy league school. The main characters Eric, Max, and Schwartz work through the tough requirements needed for the perfect Harvard student. Max started the bet but persuades friends to help him because he believes in their ability to win the bet. Eric and Schwartz have a plan and considering Schwartz is a genius who is already in Harvard at sixteen years old the hack seems very possible. Hacking Clay, a deadbeat teenage bully into Harvard soon seems harder than the team expected. They face many obstacles, like achieving an amazing SAT score or getting through the interview process while avoiding other hackers sabotaging the team's plan. Although the process soon seems to fall apart the three realize the stakes are too high for them to fail.
Hacking Harvard is a good book that has great dialogue and interesting plans for the hack. The author voiced the stress of college very well. One character explains getting into college is the most important part of anyone's life and getting into a good one is optimal. This character explained the rejection and the incredibly hard chance of getting into ivy league schools. Also, dialogue between the friends was funny and realistic. For example, Max throwing shade at Eric and Schwartz claiming, “Sorry my friends, but even child prodigies are wrong sometimes and this is your time.� The author also explains the unique techniques used in the plan very well. Like with the giving Clay a small earpiece to use while taking the SAT so the team could communicate answers to him. When this plan fails they have a backup plan to climb a tree and shoot a laser at the correct answers. Overall the author writes a stellar book and it is a good read for boys and girls. Overall this book is a 7.1 out of 10.
It all began with a bet. The goal is to get a high school slacker into an Ivy league school. The main characters Eric, Max, and Schwartz work through the tough requirements needed for the perfect Harvard student. Max started the bet but persuades friends to help him because he believes in their ability to win the bet. Eric and Schwartz have a plan and considering Schwartz is a genius who is already in Harvard at sixteen years old the hack seems very possible. Hacking Clay, a deadbeat teenage bully into Harvard soon seems harder than the team expected. They face many obstacles, like achieving an amazing SAT score or getting through the interview process while avoiding other hackers sabotaging the team's plan. Although the process soon seems to fall apart the three realize the stakes are too high for them to fail.
Hacking Harvard is a good book that has great dialogue and interesting plans for the hack. The author voiced the stress of college very well. One character explains getting into college is the most important part of anyone's life and getting into a good one is optimal. This character explained the rejection and the incredibly hard chance of getting into ivy league schools. Also, dialogue between the friends was funny and realistic. For example, Max throwing shade at Eric and Schwartz claiming, “Sorry my friends, but even child prodigies are wrong sometimes and this is your time.� The author also explains the unique techniques used in the plan very well. Like with the giving Clay a small earpiece to use while taking the SAT so the team could communicate answers to him. When this plan fails they have a backup plan to climb a tree and shoot a laser at the correct answers. Overall the author writes a stellar book and it is a good read for boys and girls. Overall this book is a 7.1 out of 10.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.