This month's YA study has us discussing one of OPPL's most popular subgenres: rich girl scandal lit. Join us Wednesday, January 20th at 2:30 pm to discuss the rise of Gossip Girl and its imitators.
Remember, this month we're going to start posting to the comments section of the blog in place of using the cards. So go ahead and comment on this post (with your Google ID), including:
Your Name:
Book Title:
Brief Summary:
Comments on Appeal:
Who Would I Recommend It To:
Go ahead and keep it short (within what could be shared in our two-minute time frame), just as you have been on the paper notecards.
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Nancy
ReplyDeleteTitle: The Luxe, by Anna Godbersen
Brief Summary: Elizabeth Holland, a sweet and proper beauty of old-money society in 19th century New York City, is betrothed to one man, though furtively loves another(of the wrong class); Henry Schoonmaker, a debauched playboy who must marry Elizabeth or be disinherited; Diana Holland, Elizabeth’s wild younger sister who is in love with her fiancé; and gorgeous Penelope Hayes, a member of the nouveau riche who will stop at nothing to win Henry’s affections. Lots of historical details, much about fashion, class struggles, the overwhelming power of love and family tragedy and responsibility, with the standard measure mean girl/nice girl stuff, too
Comments on Appeal: it's well-written, so would likely appeal to anyone interested in the genre, even those not so interested
Recommend to: Gossip Girl devotees, those who appreciate fashion, and to those interested in historical fiction.
Title: Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
ReplyDeleteBrief Summary: Four former friends, whose other friend Alison disappeared mysteriously three years earlier, are gradually drawn back together when they all start getting messages from someone who's clearly watching them. The narrative perspective shifts between each of the four very different characters living varying dramas in their wealthy Pennsylvania community.
Comments on Appeal: The writing was engaging, but the characters were so disconnected from each other it was difficult to care. Sets up lots of backstory for the continuation of a long series.
Recommend to: Girls who like Gossip Girl or Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and don't mind a little mystery. Someone looking to start a series.
Rashmi
ReplyDeleteTitle: The Dating Game: a novel by Natalie Standiford
Brief Summary: Holly, Madison and Lina, best friends and sophomores, are students at a magnet school in an affluent California town. As part of their project for their health class titled “Interpersonal Human Development,” they create a blog. The purpose of their online quizzes is to determine whether boys are more sex crazy than girls. They also act as matchmakers. Holly hates it when everyone calls her a “Boobmeister”. Madison tries to go out with Sean Benedetto, a popular guy, while Lina wants her health class teacher, Dan, to fall in love with her. This is the first book in a series.
Comments on Appeal: The characters are three dimensional and well-developed. The dialogues are quite funny. There are discussions of sex, but not an actual sex scene. There are also portrayals of underage drinking and smoking cigarettes and marijuana. All of these topics are treated as normal teenage activities, so some parents may find this objectionable.
Recommend to: High school girls who like reading Ttyl, Gossip Girl, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, etc.
Alan
ReplyDeleteTitle: ttyl
Author: Myracle, Lauren
Brief Summary:
The first day of 10th grade for friends Maddie (mad maddie), Angela (SnowAngel), and Zoe (zoegirl) is filled with laughs, heartaches, harmony, and fighting. The drama of this life is related entirely in text message as these bff's try to remain avowed bff's. Maddie befriends the mean girls & exposes herself at a party, Zoe flirts with religion and a cute young math teacher, and Angela has boy trouble. Does she ever. They have a falling out, and then when they truly need each other the most the self-termed "winsome threesome" reconnect in the end, promising to be best friends for...ever.
Thoughts on Appeal:
Told entirely in text message, this may be tough on anyone not IM'ing or texting. In other words, in 2004, this was perfect for teens.
Who I Would Reccomend this to:
Teens, anyone wanting to relate to the joys, fears, heartbreaks, and angst of high school girls told in (mostly) natural language--text msg--by an author who has real feeling for them.
Monica
ReplyDeleteTitle: Alphas
Author: Lisi Harrison
Brief Summary: Skye Hamilton is asked to join the ultra-exclusive boarding school where only Alpha girls are eligible to attend. The competition to be on top is tougher here than enywhere, and it only takes one false move to be kicked out forever.
Thoughts on Appeal: The references in this book are ultra-current and feel so much of-the-moment that they'll be outdated in 2 years. Fan's of Harrison's Clique series may want to check out this spinoff series as long as they don't mind the stakes being raised to a fantasy scenario (as opposed to a more realistic school setting).
Who I would recommend this too: Fans of the Clique and ultra mean girl fluff.
Title: The It Girl
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Cecily von Ziegesar
Brief Summary: Jenny Humphrey leaves Manhattan to attend Waverly Academy, an exclusive private school in upstate New York. Jenny is willing and able to do anything to reserve status as the new It Girl. Spinoff of the popular Gossip Girl series.
Thoughts on Appeal: Fans of GG might also like this series, although the boarding school setting becomes more about social climbing and less about Manhattan glitz and sophistication. Fans of scandalous, fast moving paperbacks would certainly give this a try.
Who I would recommend this to: high school reluctant reader girls who aren't offended by smut, GG fans
Title: Savvy Girl
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Lynn Messina
Brief Summary: 17 year girl obtains a summer internship at her favorite magazine, Savvy. She develops a friendship with the top fashion editor and is treated to a world wind summer of parties and galas. Too much fun almost loses her the position of teen editor of the new teen section of the magazine, but everything works out in the end.
Comments on Appeal: Teen girls who are interested in the fashion and journalism world. For the teen who wants a teen story that takes place outside a high school setting.
Irene said:
ReplyDeleteTitle: The Au Pairs
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Summary: Mara, Eliza and Jacqui will get $10,000 each for a two month au pair stint in the Hamptons. How hard can it be to take care of four children? Slather them with sun screen during the day and then the au pairs can party all night on their stiletto heels. No such luck. The girls didn't like each other at the beginning, but they formed a strong friendship dealing with the four most difficult children.
Appeal: Teen girls who love Dolce Gabana dresses, Vuitton and Herme's bags, and Gisele like bodies will love this book. Name dropping in every other sentence. Close friendship between girls stressed which makes this one of the best summers in their young lives.