Parents' Guide to

The Upper Class

By Kate Pavao, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Good friendship tale, but sex, drugs, labels, too.

Book Hobson Brown, Caroline Says, Taylor Materne Coming of Age 2007
The Upper Class Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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What's the Story?

Laine is from old-money Connecticut. Loud Nikki wears gold jewelry, glittery eye shadow, and swears like a sailor. The girls -- roommates at an expensive boarding school -- don't immediately bond; in fact Laine doesn't even tell Nikki that she's being targeted by the school's alpha girl, who wants her to drop out. But their troubled pasts and struggles to find themselves eventually bring them together.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1):

You've heard the story before: Two opposites form an unlikely friendship at a posh boarding school; what makes this story unique is that its characters seem very vivid -- and vulnerable. They both have deep family issues, and encounter new problems as well: Nikki falls for a bad boy, who gets expelled, and Laine's eating disorder threatens her field hockey scholarship -- and future college career.

Their prep school setting feels equally real. The authors went to boarding school together, and it's clear that they loved it, warts and all. Don't be fooled by the book's cheap packaging or its formulaic set-up. Readers will be truly moved by both girls' stories -- and appreciate their growing friendship.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about other movies and books about boarding school kids. What is it about the idea of kids living at school that intrigues us so much? What are some of the similarities you see between this book and other media in the genre (think: cliques, harassment, class differences, etc.)? How realistic are these portrayals?

Book Details

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