 | 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. |
The It Girl
- By Cecily von Ziegesar
- Genre: Coming of Age
Common Sense Media says
Same bad-girl 'tude in Gossip Girl spinoff.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this spinoff of the Gossip Girl series has many of the same controversial elements as her first series. Characters are materialistic and manipulative, and they drink, smoke pot, swear, and engage in some sexual acts (there's even a relationship between a student and a teacher).
What's the story?
Jenny Humphrey is back and she's going to boarding school. When this character from the Gossip Girl series heads to an exclusive co-ed institution in upstate New York, she immediately lands both in the room of the school's most popular pair -- and in a world of trouble.
Rumors follow her, and when she gets trapped in a late-night scandal, she could be expelled. Meanwhile her roommates have their own struggles: Callie tries to navigate her troubled relationship, and Brett gets involved with a young, rich faculty member. And of course there's the requisite flirting, bribing, partying, and pranking rounding this novel out.
Is it any good?
Say what you will about the Gossip Girl books: They're pretty trashy, but at least they're fun. This first installment of a spinoff series recycles the same material, only it's set in a new location, and -- believe it or not -- lacks the depth.
Some teens may get sucked in by the labels, the parties, the romance -- including the disturbing romance between Brett and the Disciplinary Committee advisor (he whisks her away to his family's mansion -- in an airplane! -- serves her wine and asks her to tell him all about herself). But this book doesn't have much to offer.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why the publisher created a spin-off series. What does it mean that the book was created by Cecily von Ziegesar -- not written by her? They also may want to talk to their kids about the number of brand names mentioned here. The cover model's clothes are even advertised on the inside flap. Are you supposed to envy these rich kids enough to want to be like them -- even dress like them?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
Its a great book, if you are under 15 I recommend it-only if your that mature.
i think that this book is really good. i'm 13 and I love it! I think that all the sexual content/drugs(it talks about ecstasy but thats about it)/cigarettes are inappropriate, but if you are mature enough to know that 'everything they're doing is bad and i am never going to do this as long as i live because they're not role models' then u should be o.k.
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AGE
The It Girl
I like how Jenny trys to leave her Upper East Side life and trys to start with a new slate . Jenny was always my favorite Gossip Girl character and didn't like how people judged her by her breast size. I have no clue what the books moral is but I still think it's really good!It made me LMAO.
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AGE
Inappropriate for anyone under 15, Maybe mature 14 year olds.
I'm 14 and I didn't notice the back that said "15+" until I really got into the book. It's definitely inappropriate although I instantly became addicted. I would not reccomend it to my younger sister, although I would to one of my friends.
It's like The Clique, only the girls are meaner on a new level of drugs and alcohol. Unless you are mature enough to understand what the girls in the story are doing is wrong, than you should not read this book.
Between the student-teacher affair and the "E incident" this book is completely atrocious - but I loved every moment of it anyway!
Filled with labels, most girls would probably look to buy some of these brands. I know plenty of people online who obsess over books like this (namely The Clique) and act just like the main characters. It disgusts me, but I am mature enough to not act like characters.
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AGE
Great book for teens!
Great book! I laughed a lot! I am a teen, and do not do anything of the things mentionned in the book, but found it very entertaining. It's FICTION!!
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AGE
Very addictive! Twas Amazing!
If you like the Gossip Girl series, you'll love this one and vice versa! I love this series and the books in it just get better. Although I wouldn't recommend in to any pre-teens, and it would only be suitable for 13 / 14 year olds who are very mature - other wise, it would give them a bit of a wake up call - although it is very over the top with how dramatic it is!
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AGE
I LOVED THIS BOOK!
These books (in the it girl series) are all AMAZING. These are my favorite books of all time. As for the teacher-student thing with Brett, it ends badly and it turns out he was a sketchy character anyway so it shows that the relationship was negative. Also about the rich/ materialistic thing, the main character, Jenny isn't rich. She's still got lots of friends and is quite happy, so is it really so horrible? Plus there's no actual sex scenes and I found these books cleaner than the Gossip Girl books which I also enjoyed, although not as much. These books are very very good and I highly reccomend them.
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AGE
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. You should definitely read the whole series. A+
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AGE
Perfect for Older Teens 15+ :)
I love it, I am a teen and i dont drink or have a boyfriend, but the thing is that these things happen out there and parents shouldn't ignore this because it can make it worse for the kids, you have to be honest with them and teach them right from wrong or else they wont know how to deal with situations like these. i like this book because it doesnt make says it how it is and i love the scandal i would definetly recommend this to any teen and also to lovers of Gossip Girl!!
:P xoxoxoxoxox
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AGE
Teenage Trash.
This book is aweful, as well as the Gossip Girl books. It's for teenage girls who like to daydream about guys. and things that are totally unrealistic. It's an aweful book and an overall stupid story. Don't read this book before bed; it's not worth loosing sleep.
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| Author: | Cecily von Ziegesar |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Coming of Age |
| Publisher: | Little, Brown and Company |
| Publication date: | January 6, 2006 |
| Number of pages: | 272 |
| Paperback price: | $9.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 15 - 15 |
| Read aloud: | 15 |
| Read alone: | 15 |
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