Alphas (by Lisi Harrison)

Uber-famous billionaire Shira Brazille has founded an academy to help 100 girls cultivate their exceptional talents in various fields including dance, theater, science, and medicine. The Alpha Academy on Alpha Island has it all: cutting-edge technology, every comfort, extraordinary instructors, and five cute boys -- the "off-limits" sons of Shira Brazille. It's a dream come true, but it's also an intense contest to see which one of the 100 will rise to the top of the class and be crowned the Alpha and awarded the life she's always dreamed. Three girls from the Jackie O house hope to find their way into the spotlight, but each has a long way to go, especially Charlie who had to break up with Shira's son Darwin as the price for admission to the academy.

Lisi Harrison's ALPHAS will beat many readers' expectations. Most will likely look for a continuance of the Clique series and though there is one character carryover, this novel is fresh, fun, and nowhere near as catty or brand obsessed. Instead, the focus is on the development and learning of 100 exceptionally bright and talented girls.

Harrison does a very good job of getting readers to care about these high-achieving girls (not just the boy-crazy and clothes-obsessed kind) while sucking them into the mystery of Alpha Academy's founder, Shira. She gives a general uneasy feeling about the island and its creator even though everything outwardly is very cool and benevolent. Teens will really like this quick read and look forward to he next in the series.