Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that Reed obsesses over a clique of popular girls who can sometimes be quite mean: They pressure her to steal a test, break up with her boyfriend, and spike a teacher's drink; later they even conspire to have another girl thrown out for cheating. Also, Reed's boyfriend -- whom she loses her virginity to -- drinks, deals drugs, and pushes her down in a rage. There is also some swearing and mean talk, along with a little label name-dropping.
Families can talk about the appeal of this book. In recent years there have been a number of "clique lit" series, including books about teen vampires and others involving murder mysteries. Regardless of the backdrop, they almost all feature materialistic girls who act cruelly to one another. Are these books simply escape, or do they promote dangerous values? Do they impact the way girls treat one another -- or themselves? For more ideas, read our discussion guide.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Kate Pavao
This series starter has a lot of the trapping of the clique lit genre: An elite boarding school, a group of beautiful and popular girls, and lots of mean talk and pranks. It also has another common trapping: The debut sets up a lot of intrigue, but nothing is resolved (and it's unclear what lessons the protagonist has actually learned).
What sets this book a little apart is that protagonist Reed is a realistic and sympathetic character. Blue-collar Reed can't wait to escape her boring hometown and her abusive, addicted mother. But she's flawed, too -- when Thomas accuses her of using him, he's right. And she uses the popular Billings Girls to a certain degree as well, though she's not driven by materialism, but rather a deep longing to belong.
In the end, readers will connect with Reed -- and all the drama she finds at Easton Academy, from discovering that her boyfriend is the school drug dealer to suspecting that the Billings Girls helped get someone expelled. Teens taking a break from required reading will likely find enough fun here to have them RSVPing for the next installment, Invitation Only.
From The Book
A tear squeezed out and it was like a wake-up call. No. This was not acceptable. I was not a weakling. I had made a choice. I was not going to call my father and beg him to come back for me. There was nothing in Croton for me. Nothing worth sticking around for, anyway. I knew this. I just had to focus on it. I stared into the darkness, at the lights in the windows of the other dorms, and told myself that I belonged here. I forced myself to believe it.
Plot Summary:
When Reed transfers to Easton Academy, she wants to escape her old life, including an abusive, addicted mother. Usually a loner, Reed soon earns attention from two sources: A clique of the school's most popular girls, and a handsome bad boy. But each pressures her to make a choice -- and Reed is not sure she who she can really trust, if anyone.
Related Books:
More Clique Series:
The Invasion of the Boy Snatchers: A Clique Novel by Lisi Harrison
The It Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar
Pretty Little Liars #1 by Sara Shepard
The Celebutantes: On the Avenue by Antonio Pagliarulo
The It Chicks by Tia Williams
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Sexual ContentReed loses her virginity and also sneaks around to be with her boyfriend. |
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ViolenceAt a party, Thomas holds Reed down against her will -- then pushes her to the ground in anger. |
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LanguageSome swearing and mean talk. |
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Social BehaviorReed strives to be popular, even though the girls in the top clique are not kind to her. |
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CommercialismA sprinkling: Mercedes, Kerastase hair products, Abercrombie, Coke, Lucky Charms |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoThomas deals drugs, other characters drink; Reed's mother is an addict, as are Thomas' parents. |
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