 | 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. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Gossip Girl Books
- By Cecily von Ziegesar
- Genre: Coming of Age
Common Sense Media says
Addictive high-society fluff with iffy messages.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that characters in these addicting guilty pleasures drink, smoke, do drugs, throw parties, and have sex. Their party lifestyle is glamorized (and their own parents are permissive about their drinking); sex is not graphic, but it isn't always equated with love, either. Also, brand names run throughout, from high-end clothing designers to skin products to alcohol brands. They are definitely fun books -- but for grounded teens who aren't going to be swayed by the bad behavior here.
What's the story?
Manhattan's young, rich, and beautiful throw parties, fall in love, and stress about getting into Ivy League colleges -- all while wearing designer clothes. Their comings and goings are recorded by a secret spy within their fold on GossipGirl.net. The 13 books in the series follow mean-girl Blair, earthy Serena, stoner Nate, edgy Dan and Vanessa, cute Jenny (and others in their circle). Beyond fancy vacations and charity events, they get glam in other ways: Serena models for a hot designer and Dan publishes a poem in The New Yorker. And then there are the inevitable romances: Nate and Blair. Dan and Serena. Nate and Jenny. Dan and Vanessa. You get the picture.
Is it any good?
This is really superficial stuff, but it's no wonder it's such a hit. These rich kids' designer lives are the stuff we've all fantasized about. It's just as easy to relish the high moments (Serena hooks up with a rock star; Dan and Vanessa finally get it on) as it is the disasters (Blair dates her Yale interviewer, only to find out he's the married father of one of her classmates; Nate gets busted trying to buy pot in Central Park). While none of the characters are particularly noble, it's fun watching them throw fabulous benefits (complete with Kate Spade gift bags!) or jet off to a tropical island for the holidays.
The author expertly weaves their various storylines together for maximum energy. But do your kids -- the ones you trust not to take this world too seriously -- really have to read the whole series? (Probably just one or two will do.) The GossipGirl.net interludes are the perfect device, because they remind sophisticated readers of their place in the whole mess: We are not these characters. We are not their friends. We are simply gawkers.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the popularity of the series and why teens seem to find it so appealing. What do books like these do for their readers? Are they simply guilty
pleasures, or do they have lessons to teach? How are you supposed to
feel about the rich characters -- envy them, hate them, feel sorry for
them?Also, how does it compare to the popular television show? If you were a parent, would you be more concerned about the books or the TV show? Both or neither?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
ah-freakin-mazing
really good book series! plots are fun and do invlove sex, drugs, and alcohol but its not like if i read it in a book im going to honestly think,"hey, nate archibald smokes pot all the time so i should too!" parents should give their kids more credit and let them make their own desicions about what books to read. Its their life!
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AGE
Authors sick little fantasy, filled with drugs, sex and stereotypes
I read these books in middle school, my mom saw the books lying around and decided to read them. She found them filled with sex, drugs, drinking, stereotypes etc. and told me this was just the authors twisted fantasy that she was living through her books. I saw them from her point of view, and I agree. It's just stupid, and I can't believe I wasted my time on this. As long as you know that none of this is in any way real, your fine.
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AGE
Loving it.
I love it. If you go in the mind of the caracter you will see that they are vunerable but they hide their feelings behind the partying,drinks and brands.Teens will love it but adults don t understand it. It a real fashion and a good moral role model and it s great..
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AGE
even tho these books have a lot of negative stuff, i love them, i started reading them in the 7th grade and im ready for the new one, "i will always love you" to come out in november. if u have a problem with these books then just dont read them or let ur kids read them. but go ahead and let ur kids read fairy tales with magic and blood and a bunch of stuff thats not okay even tho eveyone says it is :)
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AGE
Banned from local High School library
I couldn't believe when my daughter (15) came home from school with 4 of these books. After reading the first chapter I was appalled to say the least that such books would be available in our high school!!! Ages 13 and up!!! All I had to do was go to the school and show them to administration... The looks on their faces were priceless!!! I really was anticipating having to go to the superintendent and other school officials!! I can't believe a librarian would purchase them for a school.... Local City/Town library - yes I can understand.... But in a school -------- If you are a parent/guardian, pick up one of these books and read it!!
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AGE
Read it, loved it, but not for the faint of heart.
I have read this book and all i can say is "Don't hate it until you've tried it" My child has a 12.9 reading level at only 13. She has to have book that are a lot harder then what the other seventh graders are reading so i've learned to let her pick out her own books but look over them before allowing her to read them. I think that this is a good book but intented for 15 and up.
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AGE
I love it...
I love this book series. It's highly addicting and I could seriously read two books a day. Yes, some of the content should only be read by high school kids but it also informs us how to act and how not to act. When it comes to language, I mean really we're gonna hear it all eventually anyway. We know the effects of drugs and driking and also the consequences that come with doing them (Nate does pot and gets arrested and has to go to rehab where he meets a girl that pops pills and almost DIES) this alone makes me not want to do drugs. In these books characters have sex, and they get their hearts broken. Also, it's exciting to read about these rich teens who go on these weekend get aways to St. Barts(which by the way is an excellent place to vacation). And also when it's talking about designers like Ralph Lauren, DKNY, or Marc Jacobs it's only informing teens of fashion, 17 magazine does the exact same thing, i promise. So in conclusion these books rock, and I hope von Ziegesar keeps em coming!=D
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AGE
Cannot believe it
I was appaled that someone would write this for kids. Even if they had an adult to discuss the issues with them it is still more than they can handle. If you let you kids even if they are teens read these books then you have a seriously mental issue. I would label you as a bad parent. These books are just wrong they should be classified as adult only. If you let your kids read them its like your saying its okay to do the stuff that they do in the book.Your kid will usally do what you tell them is not cool they will have a kid at school tell them its cool to do that stuff so they will do.If you let your kids read these you might as well let them watch porn.The show is the same way.
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| Author: | Cecily von Ziegesar |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Coming of Age |
| Publisher: | Little, Brown and Company |
| Publication date: | August 9, 2005 |
| Number of pages: | 199 |
| Paperback price: | $9.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 15 - 17 |
| Read aloud: | 15 |
| Read alone: | 15 |
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