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The Secret Rites of Social Butterflies
When Maggie starts her senior year of high school at ritzy all-girls Berkley Prep, she hopes to make a few new friends and reinvent herself as a popular girl. Then she's tapped to become a member of the most powerful clique at Berkley, the Revelers. Sure, the Revelers know how to have a good time, but they're deadly serious when it comes to their social cause: collecting the secrets of today's teenagers. At first Maggie is seduced by her new friends' wealth and passion for truth. But when the Revelers start using what they know about others for their own benefit, she starts having second thoughts. Especially when Maggie herself is put at risk...
320 pages, Paperback
First published May 15, 2008
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February 12, 2020
"I wonder if the person who wrote it thinks she's like a female George Washington making a Constitution for all Berkeley Prep girls to follow".
The Secret Rites of Social Butterflies by Lizabeth Zindel
It is not that this is a bad book. Not at all. But it is not right for me.
This is yet another book about..well..mean girls. And what can happen when personal information gets into the wrong hands. It is a colorful cast of characters and they have a "truth wall" where they post everyone's personal secrets.
I just didn't like it all that much. I am burnt out completely on this story line. Don't get me wrong. I LIKE stories like this. It is just that I have read way to many of them.
This book also has an unmistakable YA feeling through it and I kind of grew less involved not more. That isn't to say the writing is bad but I'd have liked it more in my college days I think or perhaps before I had read so many books just like it.
It is also slow moving and I could not see the point of the truth wall. I will confess..I was a bit bored.
I would in fact recommend it to people who love YA, love these types of plots and like to read everything in that genre, (what I call the "mean girl" genre.) I have no doubt there is an audience for this book as the characters were well written and there seems to be a great demand for this type of book. But it was not for me.
The Secret Rites of Social Butterflies by Lizabeth Zindel
It is not that this is a bad book. Not at all. But it is not right for me.
This is yet another book about..well..mean girls. And what can happen when personal information gets into the wrong hands. It is a colorful cast of characters and they have a "truth wall" where they post everyone's personal secrets.
I just didn't like it all that much. I am burnt out completely on this story line. Don't get me wrong. I LIKE stories like this. It is just that I have read way to many of them.
This book also has an unmistakable YA feeling through it and I kind of grew less involved not more. That isn't to say the writing is bad but I'd have liked it more in my college days I think or perhaps before I had read so many books just like it.
It is also slow moving and I could not see the point of the truth wall. I will confess..I was a bit bored.
I would in fact recommend it to people who love YA, love these types of plots and like to read everything in that genre, (what I call the "mean girl" genre.) I have no doubt there is an audience for this book as the characters were well written and there seems to be a great demand for this type of book. But it was not for me.
February 9, 2018
Zindel, Lizabeth The Secret Rites of Social Butterflies; Language: PG 13, Sexual Content: PG, Violence: G;
Maggie Wishnick starts her first day of Senior year at Berkeley Prep and really the only thing she wants is to make some new good friends like the ones she left back at home. She soon meets "The Revelers." They love to party and have fun, but they also find out every secret imaginable that you may have. She joins the Revelers and begins to find out everything about a lot of people. Things go good for a while, she gets a boyfriend, and has lots of fun, but someone finds the "Secret Wall" where all the secrets about everyone are written down then everything turns to chaos. She loses all of her classmates trust, now what will she do?
An okay book. To me it seemed like there was just too much drama. Also it was just too much like the movie Mean Girls a lot of the things about this book seemed to be just like it. But it was a good book.
HS - ADVISABLE Student Reviewer: AN
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2008/...
Maggie Wishnick starts her first day of Senior year at Berkeley Prep and really the only thing she wants is to make some new good friends like the ones she left back at home. She soon meets "The Revelers." They love to party and have fun, but they also find out every secret imaginable that you may have. She joins the Revelers and begins to find out everything about a lot of people. Things go good for a while, she gets a boyfriend, and has lots of fun, but someone finds the "Secret Wall" where all the secrets about everyone are written down then everything turns to chaos. She loses all of her classmates trust, now what will she do?
An okay book. To me it seemed like there was just too much drama. Also it was just too much like the movie Mean Girls a lot of the things about this book seemed to be just like it. But it was a good book.
HS - ADVISABLE Student Reviewer: AN
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2008/...
May 12, 2008
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
Maggie Wishnick has moved from a small town in New Jersey to the Big Apple and is about to start as a senior at the prestigious Berkley Prep. On her first day, she meets Anne Marie, who is smart and friendly, but not one of the powerful girls of Berkley. Those girls would be Victoria, Lexi, and Sydney. But those three treat Maggie as if she is invisible.
After hearing about a secret, invitation-only party being given by Victoria on the gym bus, Maggie crashes the party. Not only does she meet Connor, a super hot boy, but she also saves the day when the cops come to trash the party and Victoria, Lexi, and Sydney need a place to hide out.
After that fateful night, the three popular girls embrace Maggie, much to her surprise. After a pledge week for Maggie, she is accepted into their tight group, that they've named the Revelers. The girls help Maggie capture Connor's attention, and learn how to be more fashionable and popular.
But the girls have secrets. And not just secrets of their own. But secrets on everyone they go to school with. And on one fateful night, all of the secrets are revealed, and Maggie is on the outside once again.
Each chapter of the book begins with interesting facts on the life cycle and migration pattern of butterflies, reminiscent of Sue Monk Kidd's THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES. And for those wanting more information, the references are listed for more details.
The story of the new girl wanting to join in with the popular girls and then something bad happening has been told before, but Ms. Zindel gives the story more excitement and depth. The reader gets a hint that all is not as it seems, especially with Victoria, but Ms. Zindel keeps all the details hidden until the night of the party when the secrets are revealed to all. The story moves along quickly, keeping the reader engrossed. Though you may think that you are supposed to find Victoria, Lexi, and Sydney to be the evil ones, there really are no truly mean and evil characters that other stories seem to include. They may not be as innocent and righteous as Maggie, but they do have some good qualities.
This is the first story I've read by Ms. Zindel, but growing up, I was a fan of her father's work. I'm pleased to say that she has become an author on her own abilities, and I will definitely be checking out GIRL OF THE MOMENT next. For an entertaining read of life of the rich private school set, this is a great book to pick up!
Maggie Wishnick has moved from a small town in New Jersey to the Big Apple and is about to start as a senior at the prestigious Berkley Prep. On her first day, she meets Anne Marie, who is smart and friendly, but not one of the powerful girls of Berkley. Those girls would be Victoria, Lexi, and Sydney. But those three treat Maggie as if she is invisible.
After hearing about a secret, invitation-only party being given by Victoria on the gym bus, Maggie crashes the party. Not only does she meet Connor, a super hot boy, but she also saves the day when the cops come to trash the party and Victoria, Lexi, and Sydney need a place to hide out.
After that fateful night, the three popular girls embrace Maggie, much to her surprise. After a pledge week for Maggie, she is accepted into their tight group, that they've named the Revelers. The girls help Maggie capture Connor's attention, and learn how to be more fashionable and popular.
But the girls have secrets. And not just secrets of their own. But secrets on everyone they go to school with. And on one fateful night, all of the secrets are revealed, and Maggie is on the outside once again.
Each chapter of the book begins with interesting facts on the life cycle and migration pattern of butterflies, reminiscent of Sue Monk Kidd's THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES. And for those wanting more information, the references are listed for more details.
The story of the new girl wanting to join in with the popular girls and then something bad happening has been told before, but Ms. Zindel gives the story more excitement and depth. The reader gets a hint that all is not as it seems, especially with Victoria, but Ms. Zindel keeps all the details hidden until the night of the party when the secrets are revealed to all. The story moves along quickly, keeping the reader engrossed. Though you may think that you are supposed to find Victoria, Lexi, and Sydney to be the evil ones, there really are no truly mean and evil characters that other stories seem to include. They may not be as innocent and righteous as Maggie, but they do have some good qualities.
This is the first story I've read by Ms. Zindel, but growing up, I was a fan of her father's work. I'm pleased to say that she has become an author on her own abilities, and I will definitely be checking out GIRL OF THE MOMENT next. For an entertaining read of life of the rich private school set, this is a great book to pick up!
January 25, 2009
Maggie has just started the ritzy Berkeley Prep as a senior, and she's hoping to make a few friends and avoid social ignominy. But she never expects to be welcomed into the most exclusive clique at Berkeley--and she never imagined that the clique is actually a secret society called the Revelers.
The Revelers have a mission: to document what life is like for today's teenagers so future generations can learn from the past. To that end, once a week, each Reveler must bring three Truths about a member of their class or the staff of their school, and write it on the Wall, a secret monument to their high school experience.
At first, the Wall seems like a fascinating social project. But as Maggie begins to bring Truths to the Wall, she begins to suspect that the Revelers have an ulterior motive in their quest for truth. How far is she willing to go to stay friends with the in crowd? And can she get out, even if she wants to?
The best thing I can say about this book is that it's better than Gossip Girl. There's a lot of brand-name dropping, but it's got more heart and personality than Gossip Girl--not that it's difficult. But the Upper East Side prep school setting, plus the clique of wealthy popular girls definitely bring Gossip Girl to mind.
The trouble with this book is that it's just very formulaic. It strives to be original and shocking and interesting--even places hints throughout the story that imply that something vastly more interesting is going to come together or be revealed--and then falls flat.
The big shocking events of the ending, quite simply, aren't shocking. It's fairly easy to predict the outcome, knowing what you do about the players and the way the first page hints at disaster. I spent the book hoping Zindel was going to surprise me with a slightly less predictable end, but she didn't.
Maggie is a sometimes engaging, mostly Mary-Sue-esque protagonist, who really doesn't seem to retain her personality--the brash, confident girl of the earlier pages melts into someone clingy and desperate for popularity, but it's not a realistic character arc. She just exists to tell Zindel's story, but she's not believable as a character herself.
I spent the whole book waiting for the book to impress me, and it never did.
The Revelers have a mission: to document what life is like for today's teenagers so future generations can learn from the past. To that end, once a week, each Reveler must bring three Truths about a member of their class or the staff of their school, and write it on the Wall, a secret monument to their high school experience.
At first, the Wall seems like a fascinating social project. But as Maggie begins to bring Truths to the Wall, she begins to suspect that the Revelers have an ulterior motive in their quest for truth. How far is she willing to go to stay friends with the in crowd? And can she get out, even if she wants to?
The best thing I can say about this book is that it's better than Gossip Girl. There's a lot of brand-name dropping, but it's got more heart and personality than Gossip Girl--not that it's difficult. But the Upper East Side prep school setting, plus the clique of wealthy popular girls definitely bring Gossip Girl to mind.
The trouble with this book is that it's just very formulaic. It strives to be original and shocking and interesting--even places hints throughout the story that imply that something vastly more interesting is going to come together or be revealed--and then falls flat.
The big shocking events of the ending, quite simply, aren't shocking. It's fairly easy to predict the outcome, knowing what you do about the players and the way the first page hints at disaster. I spent the book hoping Zindel was going to surprise me with a slightly less predictable end, but she didn't.
Maggie is a sometimes engaging, mostly Mary-Sue-esque protagonist, who really doesn't seem to retain her personality--the brash, confident girl of the earlier pages melts into someone clingy and desperate for popularity, but it's not a realistic character arc. She just exists to tell Zindel's story, but she's not believable as a character herself.
I spent the whole book waiting for the book to impress me, and it never did.
January 28, 2009
This novel in a word: Endearing.
It reminded me of Mean Girl in a way, especially at the end. You remember the Burn Book in which Regina George talked smack about all of her classmates? What is present here, instead of a book, is a wall where the girls who constitute the Revelers write truths—that is, deep, dark secrets—about themselves, the other girls in their class, and their teachers. When the Wall is found during a party, there’s a shower of mollusks signaling the arrival of Armageddon. People get hurt, people get mad, and the Revelers get in trouble with their parents and the school officials.
I liked this one. It had a lot of layers, which is something I appreciate in any novel. Aside from the friendships she maintained with the Revelers and Anne Marie (a girl from their school), there was also a great familial subplot that deals with the deterioration of Maggie’s parents’ marriage. I thought this was perhaps the best part of the novel, if only because it was the most relatable.
The writing was also quite good (except for a few interjection dumps, like, ".... Crap. Shoot. Dang."), which allowed for the message to came across strongly. I especially liked this part at the end where her Philosophy professor makes me draw a line between the discovery of the Wall and Schrödinger’s cat experiment. Fascinating stuff, not to mention intelligent. The ending could’ve probably been stronger if it drawn out more and we got to see a little bit more of the aftermath of the Revelers’ social demise, but this wasn’t a must, so I’m chill with it.
Recommended, but not before books such as Prep, The Adoration of Jenna Fox, Paper Towns, etc.
It reminded me of Mean Girl in a way, especially at the end. You remember the Burn Book in which Regina George talked smack about all of her classmates? What is present here, instead of a book, is a wall where the girls who constitute the Revelers write truths—that is, deep, dark secrets—about themselves, the other girls in their class, and their teachers. When the Wall is found during a party, there’s a shower of mollusks signaling the arrival of Armageddon. People get hurt, people get mad, and the Revelers get in trouble with their parents and the school officials.
I liked this one. It had a lot of layers, which is something I appreciate in any novel. Aside from the friendships she maintained with the Revelers and Anne Marie (a girl from their school), there was also a great familial subplot that deals with the deterioration of Maggie’s parents’ marriage. I thought this was perhaps the best part of the novel, if only because it was the most relatable.
The writing was also quite good (except for a few interjection dumps, like, ".... Crap. Shoot. Dang."), which allowed for the message to came across strongly. I especially liked this part at the end where her Philosophy professor makes me draw a line between the discovery of the Wall and Schrödinger’s cat experiment. Fascinating stuff, not to mention intelligent. The ending could’ve probably been stronger if it drawn out more and we got to see a little bit more of the aftermath of the Revelers’ social demise, but this wasn’t a must, so I’m chill with it.
Recommended, but not before books such as Prep, The Adoration of Jenna Fox, Paper Towns, etc.
June 5, 2010
I liked the book. It was okay. Something that really bothered me was how similar it was to Mean Girls. The story is pretty much the same. Burn Book= The Wall, Maggie = Cady, stories about teachers and students. It was just a little too similar to it in my opinion. I would have given it too stars except that there were some things that made it more real for me than the movie. Getting Maggie's perspective was better than that of Lindsey Lohan. I also really liked the fact that Maggie actually tried to repent for the things she added to the Wall and is trying to be friends with Anne Marie after she loses the Golden Wreath and tries to kill herself. Victoria was a really mean girl and very shallow and sad because she wants to focus on other people's lives so she can feel better about herself and her life.
oh and something else i that i really liked were the facts about butterflies beginning of each chapter.
oh and something else i that i really liked were the facts about butterflies beginning of each chapter.
February 15, 2013
I couldn't put this book down, and at the same time, I had a sick feeling the whole time I read it. It reminded me of the feeling I had when I watched "Mean Girls"...you know how it is going to end, but you are not sure how it is going to unfold. The whole time, you are encouraging the character to do the right thing, but you know what the inevitable consequences are. I loved the book, even though I felt kind of cheap after reading it, like any good chick-flick.
October 31, 2021
In all honesty I really love this book. It was a fun and sometimes kinda cliche drama and I was okay with that. The book was a fun time that let some teen drama shine though. Some things do fall flat and that’s okay.
O.G review: While it’s a cheesy teen novel in every right I kinda absolutely love it in a weird way. The novel can sometimes be described as a novel you find by accident and I’m glad I did. Maggie was an interesting character all about and while the writing was a bit odd at times it’s a good story that holds up even more now.
O.G review: While it’s a cheesy teen novel in every right I kinda absolutely love it in a weird way. The novel can sometimes be described as a novel you find by accident and I’m glad I did. Maggie was an interesting character all about and while the writing was a bit odd at times it’s a good story that holds up even more now.
September 23, 2021
While it’s a cheesy teen novel in every right I kinda absolutely love it in a weird way. The novel can sometimes be described as a novel you find by accident and I’m glad I did. Maggie was an interesting character all about and while the writing was a bit odd at times it’s a good story that holds up even more now.
February 26, 2012
Paul Zindel's daughter, Lizabeth, has written a decent first novel. Though I found the plot predictable, the characters are well-drawn and reflect the snooty high school girl very well. Maggie's conflicted needs to both belong and do what's right is a common dilemma for high school students around the country. Does she make all the right choices? No, but she does try to redeem herself in the end.
Book Talk: When Maggie has to transfer to a new school in New York City during her senior year, she is bummed. Her grandfather softens the blow by agreeing to pay for her to attend the exclusive Berkely Prep, an all girls college prep high school in New York City. At first, Maggie has trouble making friends, but when she crashes the biggest party of the school year, she becomes friends with the exclusive circle of popular girls. Victoria, Lexi and Sydney have it all. They are rich and popular and everyone wants to be in their circle. Maggie gets caught up in the want to be rich, popular and sophisticated just like they are, so when they invite her to be a part of their secret society, the Revelers, she jumps at the chance. At first, it's all good, but later, it be comes clear that these girls aren't the nicest girls around. They have weekley meetings where they write hurtful or embarrassing gossip about their classmates - and themselves on a wall in a secret room at Victoria's house. Maggie has some misgivings about it, but she really needs to fit in, so she goes along with it. Later, she's asked to do more things to prove her friendship and Maggie gets more and more disillusioned. When things all come crashing down, Maggie will try to find a way to redeem herself.
Book Talk: When Maggie has to transfer to a new school in New York City during her senior year, she is bummed. Her grandfather softens the blow by agreeing to pay for her to attend the exclusive Berkely Prep, an all girls college prep high school in New York City. At first, Maggie has trouble making friends, but when she crashes the biggest party of the school year, she becomes friends with the exclusive circle of popular girls. Victoria, Lexi and Sydney have it all. They are rich and popular and everyone wants to be in their circle. Maggie gets caught up in the want to be rich, popular and sophisticated just like they are, so when they invite her to be a part of their secret society, the Revelers, she jumps at the chance. At first, it's all good, but later, it be comes clear that these girls aren't the nicest girls around. They have weekley meetings where they write hurtful or embarrassing gossip about their classmates - and themselves on a wall in a secret room at Victoria's house. Maggie has some misgivings about it, but she really needs to fit in, so she goes along with it. Later, she's asked to do more things to prove her friendship and Maggie gets more and more disillusioned. When things all come crashing down, Maggie will try to find a way to redeem herself.
March 5, 2015
Well, this one wins the cheesy award! I kept rolling my eyes at the dialogue between the rich girls and the parents and the teachers. Cheesy, cheesy, cheesy! I expected more from Paul Zindel's daughter. But, I guess if this is published for 5th graders, than it might be okay. But, with the main characters being high school seniors, I imagine that the target audience is high school and junior high students. I think PHS students would be bored with this book.[return][return]Maggie moves to NYC her senior year and her grandpa pays for her to attend an elite prep school. She's adopted into a secret society of 3 rich girls and learns their secrets. The girls eavesdrop and find out secrets about their friends, teachers, and parents. The secrets are written onto a wall in a Central Park townhouse and are usually used in minor cases of blackmail. Maggie is fascinated to be part of the rich crew, but finds out that the girls are shallow and mean. Duh. I mean, really, I've never read this kind of plot in a young adult chick lit book before![return][return]I think you can tell I wasn't very entertained. The conversation about "social networking sites" was hilarious. And Maggie's mother acting all concerned about talking about their problems. It was very after-school special-ish. Ugh. Not my type of book!
June 5, 2011
A cautionary tale of the price of popularity and the difference between gossip and truth. Maggie moves from New Jersey to Manhattan with her mother after the divorce, and her grandfather pays for her to attend a posh private school for her senior year. Maggie can't break into any of the long-established cliques, and is completely excluded until she crashes the back-to-school bash thrown by the most popular girl. The party is raided by the police, and Maggie rescues the three most popular girls by hiding them at the home of one of her mother's friends. Maggie is invited into the group: The Revelers, and she is at first thrilled to be a part of the very wealthy group. They take her shopping, shower her with expensive gifts, and take her to their penthouse apartments and vacation beach homes. But there is a dark side to the Revelers -- they collect "truths" about all of the people at their school and write them down. Maggie realizes how dangerous secrets can be in the wrong hands, and how they can be used against people, but the other girls insist these are not just gossip -- they are truths about life. What is the line between truth and gossip, and how much power is in popularity? Something to read and consider before heading off to high school. Realistic fiction, 8th grade and up.
August 21, 2008
Abby refreshed my memory, this is basically ripping off Mean Girls but it a rich NYC version.
I think it is interesting that boys do not play the total central role in this story, it is power, and control. The girls are smart, sophisticated and much more concerned with their own academic, athletic, and creative success, and future then in how they are perceived by boys. Although there is a romance. These girls are not arm candy, nor are they nice girls but I do think they are realistic and multidimensional, (in a rich, connected way). I liked the dialog between the 4 girls the most.
There is a lot of discussion about truth, freedom of speech, and power. There are a few subplots that are not developed, nor well examined. Overall I think this was an interesting book, worth a read with more depth then your average rich mean girl’s story.
I think it is interesting that boys do not play the total central role in this story, it is power, and control. The girls are smart, sophisticated and much more concerned with their own academic, athletic, and creative success, and future then in how they are perceived by boys. Although there is a romance. These girls are not arm candy, nor are they nice girls but I do think they are realistic and multidimensional, (in a rich, connected way). I liked the dialog between the 4 girls the most.
There is a lot of discussion about truth, freedom of speech, and power. There are a few subplots that are not developed, nor well examined. Overall I think this was an interesting book, worth a read with more depth then your average rich mean girl’s story.
September 15, 2008
I read the beginning set up, a bit of the middle and the end--which was more than enough to get the gist.
This is a lot like a Gossip Girls/Clique book, and like them it will become rapidly dated by its constant dropping of brand names and personalities.
Zindel tries to raise the tone by giving this a moral, and it works up to a point. It deepens things only by a fraction, because it is so obvious in its morality, and because her characterizations are so shallow. And the quotations about butterflies is a gimmick, one that is so useless, that Zindel doesn't even to bother to discuss it on her gushy "thanks" page, it just gets some fine print on the copyright section.
Like the girls it portrays, an attempt at substance that is really a thin veneer on one more rich-girls-at-school piece of mind candy.
This is a lot like a Gossip Girls/Clique book, and like them it will become rapidly dated by its constant dropping of brand names and personalities.
Zindel tries to raise the tone by giving this a moral, and it works up to a point. It deepens things only by a fraction, because it is so obvious in its morality, and because her characterizations are so shallow. And the quotations about butterflies is a gimmick, one that is so useless, that Zindel doesn't even to bother to discuss it on her gushy "thanks" page, it just gets some fine print on the copyright section.
Like the girls it portrays, an attempt at substance that is really a thin veneer on one more rich-girls-at-school piece of mind candy.
April 28, 2013
I particularly enjoyed this book. I've read it three times (first in 7th grade), and maybe it's just the fact that it's a typical mean girls-esque teenage chick story. Although, I would like to point out that this book was published before the movie Mean Girls was even made, so i don't think it "ripped off of" Mean Girls, if anything-- vice versa. Regardless, this book is cheesy, yes, and not entirely thrilling. But in the end, it's a super easy read and very easy going--enjoyable. I can't lie, I liked hearing about the ritzy Hamptons and new york socialites. If you're a young female, read it. It's also nice because it explores the topics of cliques, lies, and betrayal. Some lessons can be learned, but I honestly just like this book for the pure lax factor.
July 14, 2009
This book was basically Mean Girls in novel form, with changes in obvious comparisons- instead of the burn book, they had the wall. I was hopeful that the symbolism of the monarch butterfly to Maggie, the main character, would be something that could carry over to the classroom, but it never came around like I hoped it would.
I would not use this in the classroom because it is so girl-centered. It might be good for girl book groups though, since it addresses the choice of friends theme. I think middle-school students would like it better than high-school, because some of the events are quite unrealistic.
I would not use this in the classroom because it is so girl-centered. It might be good for girl book groups though, since it addresses the choice of friends theme. I think middle-school students would like it better than high-school, because some of the events are quite unrealistic.
September 11, 2009
i wanted to love this more. i really did. it's not that i didn't like maggie. i did. i wanted more of maggie, i guess. less victoria, less lexi, less everyone else.
i wanted more of grandpa jack, and why the pressures of normal teenage life - or not "normal" - are so hard. because that resonated with me more than anything. i went to a crazy intense all-girls high school, and i wanted more. we didn't have to come up with 'The Wall' to deal with our issues, or have serious mental health issues.
i wish there was more. i want more maggie. and i want to see the full fall out of everything - i wasn't satisfied with the ending, completely.
well written though.
i wanted more of grandpa jack, and why the pressures of normal teenage life - or not "normal" - are so hard. because that resonated with me more than anything. i went to a crazy intense all-girls high school, and i wanted more. we didn't have to come up with 'The Wall' to deal with our issues, or have serious mental health issues.
i wish there was more. i want more maggie. and i want to see the full fall out of everything - i wasn't satisfied with the ending, completely.
well written though.
February 8, 2021
It was an OK book, but there could also be a lesson learned as well. Maggie moved to NYC for senior year and she's trying badly to try to fit in with the popular kids she starts to try to empress them by doing thing she usually wouldn't do. and the truth is girls are Mean. This book had a good story line but its not a book I would choose again because it just got a little boring and I lost interest in the middle to end that's why I chose the three star rating. if I were to change the book to make it better I would probably put some more drama throughout the book so the readers don't get bored in my opinion.
September 29, 2009
This book is about a girl named Maggie who moves to New York City and starts at Berkly Prep as a senior. What a year.
1)I got into reading this book, because I was browsing a section of the library, looking for a book, and came across this one instead.
4) The author wants us to know never do anything you don't feel right doing.
6) This book remonds me of 'The Clique' series by Lisi Harrison
9)I think that this book would be more intresting if there was more to the ending, or if they had a sequel.
1)I got into reading this book, because I was browsing a section of the library, looking for a book, and came across this one instead.
4) The author wants us to know never do anything you don't feel right doing.
6) This book remonds me of 'The Clique' series by Lisi Harrison
9)I think that this book would be more intresting if there was more to the ending, or if they had a sequel.
June 22, 2010
My favorite author's daughter writes about stuff very few people can relate to...hmmmm. I felt like I was watching "The Hills" or one of those other stupid shows. I couldn't really relate to or care for any of the characters. The mothers were completely out of touch with their kids. Are kids truly that controlling and mean? Maybe. Although few people live the lives of these girls, it might be appealing to read about how conniving and back-stabbing they are on pages instead of watching it upfold on TV.
January 22, 2009
This is a wonderful portrayal of the fear/angst/needs of teen-age girls and their desperate need to be part of the "in" group and the social snobbishness of that group. There is excellent characterization. Maggie is used to show how hard it is to be different and to stand up for values. Her experiences show the dangers of gossip, and she shows great courage to do what is right. It is a quick read, entertaining, and captures teen-age essence.
September 27, 2011
I liked this book. It was a cute read, but I've never been a huge fan of the blacmailing, secret society type novels.
This book was enjoyable to read. I wasn't bored, but ti didn't have that "wow factor." There was nothing that stopped me in my tracks and said "I love this book."
For a more indepth review. Check out http://danicapage.blogspot.com/2011/0....
~Danica Page
This book was enjoyable to read. I wasn't bored, but ti didn't have that "wow factor." There was nothing that stopped me in my tracks and said "I love this book."
For a more indepth review. Check out http://danicapage.blogspot.com/2011/0....
~Danica Page
December 28, 2012
I feel like I've heard this all before...oh wait, is this a bad knock-off of one of my favorite movies?...yep, that's right! Book meet your vastly superior twin, Mean Girls.
The main character goes from being an awkward teen with Tourette-like qualities ("Shit. Plop. Suck. Poop. Blow") to making very complex observations and sounding more like 40. There was just so much going (Cheating! Spying! Attempted Suicide! Oh my!) that nothing really got explored or went deeper.
The main character goes from being an awkward teen with Tourette-like qualities ("Shit. Plop. Suck. Poop. Blow") to making very complex observations and sounding more like 40. There was just so much going (Cheating! Spying! Attempted Suicide! Oh my!) that nothing really got explored or went deeper.
August 18, 2011
This was a rip off of Mean Girls. Which would make me think that I would love it. However, I've read other "prep school" type bully girls books that I liked better-Prep, Schooled, How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls etc. However, this was a very quick read and even though I thought it was a rip off...it was entertaining.
March 17, 2012
I just grabbed this book on a whim and what did i get? A slow developing plot and a main character who doesn't stay true to herself. Needless to say, i got bored during the past 6 or so pages and skipped to the end. It was expected, the ending i mean. So, sorry Zindel. I particularly did not enjoy the story.
January 18, 2016
I felt like this book was similar to mean girls. Instead of a burn book, it was the wall. Basically from the moment you learn about it, you know something is going to go wrong. I liked that afterwards, she ripped the wall posters up and still maintained her friendship with Sydney (or Lexi I forget, they merge together) and Anne Marie. This was a pretty fun read overall.
December 19, 2016
This was an interesting book. It really dived into the world of teenage girls trying to find themselves. As people we go through so much; we all have our own struggles. This booked showed us that. The main character struggled with fitting in, not being okay with her status in the social realm, changing herself just to make friends.
August 13, 2009
I liked this book because it had a nice ending. things didn't end up perfect and I thought that was good, because in books like this everything is always perfect and they lived happily ever after... but not with this one! She learned a great lesson here
August 20, 2009
Not bad, but reminded me of Rhymes With Witches with a slightly better ending. Also, a lot of things seemed to be conveniently glossed over or left out (such as where Maggie did end up getting all the money for her designer outfits) which was irritating.
July 20, 2012
More 3.5 stars, I think. You could see the train wreck coming in this plot from a mile away, and yet did that make the journey any less fun? The answer is no. Two for two, Miss Poor Author Who Is Continually Overshadowed By Her Father's Name In All The Blurbs Even Though I've Never Read His Stuff!
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