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The Celebutantes: On the Avenue
- By Antonio Pagliarulo
- Genre: Coming of Age
Common Sense Media says
Girl clique-type mystery an OK teen beach read.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
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.
What's the story?
Three New York socialite triplets -- the cleverly named Park, Lexington, and Madison Hamilton -- find themselves suspects when a fashion magazine editor with dirt on their family is killed. Together, they try to solve the murder, hoping to clear their names. They also try to find a mystical diamond connected to their family that was also stolen that night. Oh, and they launch a fashion label, too.
Is it any good?
There's plenty to keep readers going: three beautiful rich triplets, a movie star, a cute family rival, murders, the launch of the Hamilton sisters' fashion line, and a missing diamond fabled to "forever protect and preserve the eminent expanse of Fifth -- from Central Park right down to Washington Square. Shoppers would always feel at home, and the world's greatest retailers would flourish and expand."
The author certainly had fun writing this book, and readers will have fun, too, if they are willing to overlook the formulaic writing (such as the scripted protagonists, who boil down to the good girl, the sensible one, and the wild child).
What 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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AGE
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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AGE
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.
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| Author: | Antonio Pagliarulo |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Coming of Age |
| Publisher: | Delacorte Press |
| Publication date: | May 22, 2007 |
| Number of pages: | 352 |
| Paperback price: | $9.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 14 - 14 |
| Read aloud: | 14 |
| Read alone: | 14 |
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