I took my 11 y/o daughter & she said it is very much like the book. We both enjoyed it. It does a great job bringing about the developmental crises that blossoming adolescents are faced with. While the language, as some suggest, and the crude humor, might be a bit much, it is never the less realistic amongst that age group. This reality can serve as a talking point that parents can begin to have to with their young adolescents regarding issues such as self esteem, body image, sexuality, friends, academics, etc.