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The Celebutantes: On the Avenue

(2007, Fiction - Coming of Age, Written by Antonio Pagliarulo)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 14.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Girl clique-type mystery an OK teen beach read.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–18

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Not an issue.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    The novel begins with the murder of a famous magazine editor. Along the way, there is another murder, and a final face-off involving a gun.
  • Sex:

    One sister kisses a movie star she just met. Another had sex with the heir to family's rival.
  • Language:

    Some words like "boobs" and "bulls--t."
  • Consumerism:

    The girls wear designer clothes -- and one sister designs for the Triple Threat fashion label they launch together.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Some drinking, and even the girls smoke cigars.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Celebutantes: On the Avenue

Parents need to know that this novel centers around a murder -- and finding out who did it. Along the way, there's another murder and a face-off with a gun. Both murders are barely described. The triplet sisters who try to solve the crimes smoke cigars, wear designer clothes, and launch a designer fashion label. One sister makes out with a movie star she just met, and another has had a sexual relationship with the heir to a rival family.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the continuing popularity of the girl clique series. Now there are series involving murder mysteries and even rich kid vampires -- what are the limits of the genre? How far can authors push it before readers lose interest? Also, what are some of the genre's trappings (think wealthy kids, designer clothes, bad behavior)? Why is this formula appealing?

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 4.0

    This book was ok. Alot of the f word. Took me a while to finnish it, but it wasnt like the worst book i ever read.

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

    A very pleasant surprise

    I am a big reader, and I especially love books that are "chick lit" or combine elements of fashion with any kind of suspense. My daughter brought this book home from the bookstore and read it in two days. She couldn't stop raving about it, so I picked it up and expected to just sort of breeze through it. Well, I was pleasantly surprised. I laughed a whole lot and the mystery is very well done. There were some parts of the book where the characters talk sex and booze, but ultimately, I think this book is tame when you compare it to the Gossip Girl series, or a lot of other teen girl books. It is a fun read and is very well-written. The author's writing style is quite good. The characters are well-developed. These three sisters named Madison, Park and Lex (a brilliant idea!) might be rich and famous, but they display a lot of good natured affection towards each other, which also makes this a story about the power of sisterhood. My daughter is waiting with baited breath for the sequel, and while I am far removed from my teen years, I will be reading it as well. I recommend this book for smart girls who like fashion, mystery, and humor. As a parent, I hope the author continues to craft similar stories in the near future.

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