Author:
von Ziegesar, Cecily
Title:
Gossip Girl
Publisher & Date:
Little, Brown & Co., 2002
Recommended Age Range:
13 and up
Plot Summary:
Annoyingly addictive novel about the drama of being a wealthy, privileged teenager in New York City. The plot is set in motion when the stunning Serena van der Woodsen returns to the exclusive Constance Billard School for Girls after being kicked out of boarding school. Her homecoming sets the social life of New York’s teenaged elite in a tizzy as old flames and old jealousies rise again to meet her. As she struggles with how her friendships have changed since she left, Serena befriends a new group of teens that show her a little different side of the city, and a little different side of her old friends.
Reader Appeal:
This book would appeal to girls who are eager to read ahead, enjoy series novels, enjoy “Sex and the City,” follow the exploits of Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan., or who are outsiders who secretly want to change the popular kids.
Literary Merit:
This book has about the same level of literary merit as the Sweet Valley High series or less, given its frequent mention of designer clothing and trinkets. While that is arguably the reality of the fictional teens portrayed in the novel and real teenagers in general, the novel’s convenient product placement advertisements seem rather insidious. If you can overlook that, it is a fun, entertaining read that keeps your attention for the length of time it takes for the heroine of the story to possibly hook up with the sensitive, quiet poet, and save his sister from being raped.
