The Ashleys #1: There's a New Name in School

Book review by Terreece Clarke, Common Sense Media
The Ashleys #1: There's a New Name in School Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 11+

Standard clique book with same mean-girl behavior.

Melissa de la Cruz Contemporary Fiction 2008
Rate book

Parents say

age 10+

Based on 3 reviews

Kids say

age 10+

Based on 11 reviews

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate book

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that it's all about the $2000 purses and $900 sweaters here. When they aren't shopping, the characters are scheming to get to the top of the social ladder or scheming to stay there. Parents are either absent, turning a blind eye, or trying to buy acceptance like their middle schoolers. The book is not as mean or racy as others in this genre, but it's far from sweet.

Community Reviews

CommonSenseParent
CommonSenseParent Adult
November 25, 2010
age 8+

Excellent, well-written read for 3rd grade and up

The Ashleys is a well-written guilty pleasure novel that is an enjoyable and entertaining read for 3rd 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+

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
beeb
beeb Adult
June 2, 2010
age 10+

just a book

i think this book exagerates the issues you may face in highschool to show how teens may feel. every girl that reads this takes one charicter they feel most like them nad sympathises with them the whole book. this is just a novel nad noone actually take it seriusly. if anyone actually does tke this book seriusly they are pretty dumb. obvs. its not based on a true storey and noone actually like fendi and all those things nomore..i think that the charicters in this book are not very good role models. but iots just reading material since when does anyone actually use a charicter from a book as a role model but this book however is educational. it shows that all of them had feelings, meaning even the meanest of people may only be looking for a few real friends

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much consumerism
Educational value
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

There is a reigning clique in Miss Gamble's Preparatory School for Girls. The Ashleys are perfect at being perfect. The right clothes, hair, friends, the right name: Ashley. When Lauren gets an extreme makeover in time for 7th grade she decides that the Ashleys' reign should come to an end.

Is It Any Good?

While full of name brands and catty behavior, this book isn't as cruel and risqué as other clique books -- and thankfully, this light diversion is also a fast-paced read. Popular author Melissa de la Cruz makes her characters easy to relate to and root for, despite their cattiness. Readers will want Lauren Page to overcome her awkward past, but most likely will cringe when she starts to imitate the bad behavior of the Ashleys, like ditching her old "uncool" friends.

Pretty girls say and do mean things, and parental figures are usually nowhere to be found, so there's plenty to talk about with tweens/teens for parents who allow some guilty-pleasure reading now and then. At least the sexual content is dialed down a few notches here. Now that the Gossip Girl books are also a TV show, you'd almost call this book refreshing. Almost.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about peer pressure, materialism, and self-acceptance. Do you feel pressure to act a certain way around your friends? Why is it more important to be yourself?

Book Details

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate