 | 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. |
Perfect: Pretty Little Liars #3
- By Sara Shepard
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Common Sense Media says
Mystery overshadowed by mean-girl vibe, shopping.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this third installment in the Pretty Little Liars series stays on the "mean girl clique" gravy train. Sex, lies, murder, betrayal, cattiness, and shopping are recurring themes; teens drink and smoke. One high school student has an affair with her teacher; another is bulimic. The mystery is about the death of a seventh-grade girl found under a slab of concrete in her back yard.
What's the story?
Four ex-BFFs have typical privileged-girl problems and one more serious problem: the murder of the leader of their disbanded clique in the 7th grade is still unsolved. Ali was the meanest of them all and many admit they are happy she's gone. But did they have a hand in her death? It seems someone thinks so -- a mysterious "A" is stalking the girls that are left, exposing their deepest secrets to the world.
Is it any good?
PERFECT is the third installment in the Pretty Little Liars series. Set against a backdrop of luxury and privilege, this novel has typical mean girls and their problems. Hanna's bulimic, Aria's having an affair with her teacher, Spencer's having flashbacks that make her look nuts, and Emily's having trouble coming to terms with being a lesbian.
The book had potential, the cliffhanger ending was great, and the scary omnipotence of the mysterious character called "A" could have been unnerving. Instead, "A" comes off as annoying and the book is so full of name brands that it detracts from the rest of the story. Many teen girls will love the drama and fashion of the book, while parents will probably roll their eyes and worry about the bad behavior and materialism on display.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about commercialism. Does material wealth make you happy? Why is there so much emphasis on branding in this book? Does it help or hurt the story? What are the repercussions for behaving the way the characters do? What involvement do the characters' parents have? For more ideas, read our discussion guide.
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
A Complete page turner! Very Intriguing!
I read this book in two days! I couldn't stop! You think it's a snotty girl, kind of trashy book, but it was really more of a mystery than anything! The whole second book is a mystery about what had really happened in the first book. It can get kind of confusing, though, so make sure you pay attention to the details!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
good for 12 andup
love this book! it doesnt have many bad sceans in it.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Love This Dirty Little Book
It's such a good book, but it has some really inappropriate stuff in it!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
A real eye-opener!
I know what you're thinking educational?! But, hear me out. There are many references to old english literature in this book. It also opened my eyes to teen gayness and just how far bullying can go,so parents my review is great for mature 12 year olds and anyone older than 12! I also REALLY enjoyed the series.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Tweens can handle it
I am 14 and i read this book when i was 11. I absouloutly fell in love with the whole series. It is not just what some people would call gossipy and cliquy but it is also well writen, the characters come to life, and it is also mysterious, suspensful, and keeps you thinking. All in all i think if kids know not to do the things in this book it is ok.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
13+
My daughter loves this book. We read it together. There some excpilt parts, however they are not graphic. This is a guilty pleasure novel that I think that if you are 12 and up and mature enough, you will enjoy this book.I love this website, but I do find that sometimes they exagerate all the bad things in a text, tv show, etc. I approve of this book.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Positive Messages Can Be Found
The positive message I recieved by reading this book is it shows how no teenager is perfect and they can't be the best all the time. Yes, sex, alcohal, and drugs are VERY bad, no disagreement there but when it comes to their normal teenager lives they show how not everyone is perfect and they are all going to learn from their mistakes. They also seem to get into a lot of trouble and they find out what they did ruined their lives. So I do think kids learn that you shouldn't do those things because they know the results of it and how badly it effects your life. Overall I liked it but I wouldn't reccomend it to kids under 14.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Get over it!
Oh puh-lease! I am thirteen and I read this one when I was twelve. Yeah, some parts are kinda bad, and a bit awkward. Get over it! If you think it is too inappropriate than set the book down and go read The Little Engine That Could. These books are great! I can read one in a day. I am currently on the tenth book and I hope she keeps writing. Just get over it.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Excellent, well-written read for 6th grade and up
Perfect is a well-written guilty pleasure novel that is an enjoyable and entertaining read for 6th grade and up. Kids will enjoy the fun details of the wealthy and privileged. Your children should be smart enough to realize that this is guilty pleasure fiction and should not be taken seriously. A+
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Author: | Sara Shepard |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Publisher: | HarperTeen |
| Publication date: | August 21, 2007 |
| Number of pages: | 320 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 14 - 14 |
| Read aloud: | 14 |
| Read alone: | 14 |
Review It
Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already read it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
