Angels on Sunset Boulevard

Review

Common Sense Media says

Provoking book about social networking gone bad.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this book centers on a fictional social networking Web site. TAP.com organizers also throw parties. At these parties, teens drink a mysterious substance that is "like taking heroin, ecstasy, and acid all at once" -- after which some teens disappear. Some attendees also perform a strange orgy-like ritual in the back room. TAP members are encouraged to keep wish lists on the Web site of expensive products, which are somehow fulfilled -- careful readers will see the dark side of this greed. This is a mature book, and features plenty of harsh language, including "f--k."

  • Positive messages0
    In the end, Taj decided to remain in TAP, even though she knows it's evil.
  • Violence3
    Both Taj and Nick are hurt in "accidents" meant to scare them.
  • Sex3
    There is a special backroom ritual at TAP parties that -- while described vaguely -- seems like an orgy.
  • Language3
    Some swearing, including "f--k."
  • Consumerism3
    Some mention of Red Bull, Palm Treos, Nike, Mel's Diner, In-N-Out Burger. TAP members are encouraged to make wish lists of expensive products -- though careful readers will see the dark side of this greed.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking4
    Characters drink -- and even shoot up with -- TAP, a mysterious substance that was "like taking heroin, ecstasy, and acid all at once."
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What's the story?

The Angels Practice -- or TAP -- is a fictional social networking Web site -- like MySpace.com, but with a serious dark side.

Mysterious organizers throw parties, getting kids to drink -- and even shoot up -- a drug, also called TAP. Some are invited to a back room, where a strange ritual takes place. And ominously, TAP teens begin to disappear.

Cool girl Taj meets rich Nick after Taj's rock star boyfriend disappears on stage. Nick's young stepsister has also disappeared -- and with Taj's help, Nick begins to learn TAP's secrets -- falling for Taj in the process.

Is it any good?

 

This book delivers enough excitement to hook readers: a missing rock star, an unexpected romance between two very different characters -- and of course, at its heart, a mysterious social networking site designed to keep kids striving for fame and material goods. The writing might not always live up to the author's creative ideas, but teen readers will certainly feel the wheels spinning in their brains. Not only will readers try to figure out what TAP is all about, they will puzzle over bigger questions, such as why teens today are so fascinated by fame -- and what tricks big businesses use to keep teens distracted with desire so that "they don't see what's really out there."

In the end, ANGELS ON SUNSET BOULEVARD manages to be both glossy fun and philosophical. Readers won't figure out all of TAP's mysteries by the end, but they are sure to be thinking about its implications long after they've finished reading.

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What families can talk about

Families can talk about this book's fake social networking site. Why is social networking so trendy? Why are teens interested in posting personal pages on MySpace -- or videos on YouTube?

This review was written by Kate Pavao

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This review was written by Kate Pavao
Author:Melissa de la Cruz
Book type:Fiction
Genre:Coming of Age
Publisher:Simon & Schuster
Publication date:March 6, 2007
Number of pages:224
Hardcover price:$15.99
Publisher's recommended age(s):14 - 14
Read aloud:14
Read alone:14
This review was written by Kate Pavao
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

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