The book, which began as a project for Greven's third grade class, offers simple, specific advice to help boys of all ages "win victory" with girls. Greven also cites "statistics" drawn from his observations at recess.
The author's age, however, does not prevent him from covering the hot topics of dating. The first full chapter, ominously titled "The Facts of Life," is devoted to the idea that "Life is hard, move on!"
As the book progresses, Greven leaves no stone unturned as he gives advice about "pretty," "regular," "wild," "talkative" and "shy" girls as well as the one type of boy he believes all girls adore -- the smart one.
"If you are the smartest kid in the class, you are like a magnet and girls are the metal," writes Greven.
Greven also provides his opinion of crushes -- "A crush is like a love disease. It can drive you mad" -- and talking to girls -- "Get the girl's phone number (if your mom lets you call girls)" -- two views that are both astute and entertaining.
Greven's novel, though advertised for boys "from eight to 80," never allows the reader to forget that its author is still in elementary school. Throughout the book, Greven walks this line, defining dating as "going to dinner together without your parents coming along," and as an activity for older kids. Similarly, he advises that boys wait until middle school before trying to get a girl to love them.
"Otherwise, you have to hold on to her for a long time and that would be very hard," he warns.
In recent interviews, the young stud has even admitted he does not have a girlfriend.
Unfortunately, Greven's age does prevent him from realizing the sensitivity of his subject matter. The Guardian recently printed an article addressing Greven's introduction and treatment of "pretty" girls. Greven defines pretty girls as girls with "big earrings, fancy dresses and all the jewelry," and later describes them as "cars that need a lot of oil." He consoles boys, though, with the prospect of "regular girls," who are the "best choice for most boys."
"About 73 percent of regular girls ditch boys; 98 percent of pretty girls ditch boys," Greven states in the first chapter.
These generalizations of the definition of "pretty," and how "pretty" girls interact with boys differently than "regular" girls, show how gender stereotypes are introduced to children at a young age. Moreover, they demonstrate the need for more careful guidance from the public and media.
Still, Greven's navet, or lack thereof, does not make the book completely disagreeable. The most entertaining section -- "Chapter 7: Success!" -- is framed around the philosophy, "If you do win victory with a girl, don't cheer in front of her." The silly illustrations and Greven's third-grade charm make the section both endearing and hilarious, while still conveying surprisingly helpful and universal tips.
These days, few would reprimand Greven for cheering in public. After having his third-grade writings sold in the school book fair, where they became bestsellers, Greven appeared on the "Ellen DeGeneres Show" and DeGeneres gave Greven a deal with a publisher. Greven has now been asked to write three more books: "How to Talk to Moms," "How to Talk to Dads" and "How to Talk to Santa."
Yet Greven is no typical child star. He donated money from his publishing deal to the charitable organization "Stand Up To Cancer." Both his book and his actions prove Greven's insight despite his age.
"How to Talk to Girls" is a witty and enlightening guide to crushes, conversation and "winning victory" from the unbiased eyes of a third grader. While it may not be as in-depth as Cosmopolitan, and its treatment of gender stereotypes occasionally flirts with fire, it does offer casual advice for specific situations while skipping the preachy optimism of the dating genre. In fact, with "How to Talk to Girls," the "Age of Self-Help" claims another victim -- elementary school.
