Gossip Girl Books (by Cecily von Ziegesar)
common sense media says
Addictive high-society fluff with iffy messages.
parents & educators say
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.
Educational value:
This may get some reluctant readers excited about the next installment. Inspired parents and teachers can use this book to talk about the popularity of clique lit -- and how readers are supposed to feel about the rich, mean characters here. See our "Families Can Talk About" section for a few ideas.
Positive role models:
Each character has a role to play. There's the mean one, the earthy one etc., but none are really people you'd want your child to emulate.
Violence:
Not applicable.
Sex:
A naked Blair opens the door to her boyfriend, anticipating their first time; Vanessa and Dan have sex, and Nate confesses he slept with Serena. Some girl-on-girl kissing, and Blair hooks up with an older man.
Language:
Swearing sprinkled throughout, but not abusive.
Consumerism:
Lots: Barneys, Chanel, Tocca, Marc Jacobs, Estee Lauder, Ketel One, Veuve Clicquot, etc.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Lots of cigarette smoking and drinking. Nate smokes pot, and meets a pill popper in rehab.
More on Gossip Girl Books
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Most useful reviews by all members
blairwrocks
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
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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QueenBee123
teen, 17 years old
teen, 17 years old
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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Wintray
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
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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momoffourgirls
adult
adult
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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KittyMae
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
Read with common sense, and you're fine!
THE STORY:
This series follows a bunch of rich teenagers living in New York. There's lots of stereotypes: the perfect girl, her best friend who wants to be queen bee, the wannabe, and a hot guy who is the object of every girl's affections. And who follows all these delightful characters? None other than an anonymous blogger called - what else? - Gossip Girl.
HOW APPROPRIATE?
These are not books to be taken seriously. There are some non-graphic sex scenes, scenes where the main characters smoke, drink and take drugs, and some raunchy behaviour. There's also some girl-on-girl kissing, which is deemed 'experimentation' by those involved. None of the stuff above, however, is mentioned deeply - it's all very soft, light references. In other words, the book doesn't totally focus on risqué behaviour. I think that as long as you read this series with a pinch of common sense and don't try to imitate the characters, these books are fine for the mature twelve year old and above.
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purpel
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
ok for 17 above onaleh
i mean how can anybody read that much stupid stuff if u want stupid stuff read vapmire series marked why this stupid stuff f-inkg sick book
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greenjellybaby
teen, 17 years old
teen, 17 years old
It's good, but not great.
I think the books are good if you have watched the TV series, but you may find it easy to get lost if you haven't. I think that the age rating of 15+ on the back of the books is the right age. I also think that the readers SHOULD NOT but under 14, as they may not realise how stupid some of the things the characters get up to are.
I don't think parents should stop their children from reading this because if they think their children are responible and sensible enough, they won't be worried.
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CommonSenseParent
parent
parent
Great read for middle school (6th grade) and up
My 11-year-old sixth-grader and I have read and loved this. A lot of her peers are now venturing into young adult books, and they all realize that this is gulity pleasure fiction and not to be taken seriously. One of the best books ever written. You should definitely read the whole series. A+
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SophieB93
adult
adult
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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whatacutie
adult
adult
Author is a sick person
I can't believe a woman who is a mother would write such filth for kids!!! I couldn't believe all the sex and drugs etc.
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ucocheer
adult
adult
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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GLAMOROUS_09
adult
adult
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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BookWorm44
parent of 14 year old
parent of 14 year old
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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luvv
teen, 17 years old
teen, 17 years old
Gossip Girl's for Girls
-you can learn from the characters mistakes
-the series is inappropriate but
-very intriguing
-loads of drama
-recommended for girls...i mean teen females
-i personally like the series alot,
-i havent seen the tv series tho
-i think i only like the series because there is tons of drama, lol! nj!
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jburnett711
parent of and 4 , 11 , 14 year old
parent of and 4 , 11 , 14 year old
I personally love the books, however I read them while in college. I would absolutely not want my kids reading these books until they were out of high school! There is really nothing appropriate about them, however, the stories are great- juicy, dramatic, and addictive. Letting your child read these books would be the equivalent of letting them watch Sex and the City, but with high schoolers.
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Serenanotblair
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
I loved the book, i think Serena is a great role model she always is nice to everyone. It has a lot of ;product placement; and makes people wish they could be rich and glamourous like Serena and Blair. Though that is the point of a book to read it and be entertained, not possitive messages.
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