Summer and the City
Carrie finds herself in New York City in fun, racy prequel.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this is a YA prequel to Sex and the City, so expect what you see in the show: lots of drinking, smoking, and sex talk. Carrie has a relationship with a recently divorced man while she is still 17, and later loses her virginity to another man on her 18th birthday. Even so, there are some good messages here: Carrie doesn't always make the best decisions but she is a relatable character -- and ultimately, she finds her voice and goes after what she wants, which is to be a writer in New York. Like the popular show, the book models good female friendships as Carrie, Miranda, and Samantha together try to figure out how to become the women they want to be.
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What's the Story?
Carrie is in New York City doing a summer writing course before starting her freshman year at Brown. When she meets Samantha, she is introduced to an arty and glamorous life in the city, and even begins a relationship with a famous playwright. She stumbles some, but makes friends, meets some of the city's most famous artists, and starts to feel like \"my life is starting to take off here... And if all these other people can make it in New York why can't I?\" But she still has a lot to figure out about relationships, what's real -- and how to find her own true voice.
Is It Any Good?
The plot is fun enough, but it's the conversations -- especially between the book's familiar protagonists -- that really shine. Fans of the show will certainly see many of the same winning elements of the show here: There's lot of glamorous parties and fashion, plenty of smoking -- and provoking conversations between Carrie and her friends, mostly about sex and relationships. The other part that's the same: The characters are flawed. Carrie especially acts badly at times and readers will wonder if she's truly gaining confidence, or just getting a big head, as she is occasionally accused.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the audience for this book. Does it seem more like its targeting teen or adult readers? Can you think of other books that are trying to reach both girls and women? What would publishers be interested in selling crossover books?
The book ends with the introduction of the final friend in Carrie's friend foursome, Charlotte, so readers can probably expect another sequel. Would you be interested in finding out what happens next? What do you think that is?
Book Details
- Author: Candace Bushnell
- Genre: Coming of Age
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Balzer + Bray
- Publication date: April 26, 2011
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 14
- Number of pages: 416
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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For kids who love summer reading
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