Gossip Girl

Cecily von Ziegesar. 2002. New York: Warner Books. 199 pages. ISBN 0-316-91033-3

Plot Annotation: Serena is back at her posh Manhattan school after a year in boarding school. What did she do there and why was she kicked out? Did she sleep with every boy? Did she have an abortion? Did she have a baby? Is she a sex fiend? A drug addict? No one knows, because no one will talk to her. Growing up in the ultimate plush lifestyle of New York’s upper crust, girl’s are mean and boys are fickle. These teens have everything they could want, so why aren’t they happy?

Critical Evaluation: This book and series are the ultimate chick lit, in its most classic form. It’s an easy read with short chapters punctuated by blogs from “gossip girl.” It’s petty and trashy and so much fun! “Serena’s the girl every boy wants and every girl wants to be.” And she’s still a nice person! Not so, everyone around her. These teens drink, swear and have sex unabashedly. Gossip Girl is bound to be appealing to many older teen girls.

Reader’s Annotation: These girls have everything that money can buy. Who wouldn’t want to read about their lives?



About the author: Cecily von Ziegesar is the American author of young adult novels; her most popular series being Gossip Girls. Gossip Girl is her first novel, and was on the New York Times Best Sellers list in 2002. von Zegesar grew up in Manhattan and attended a small private girl’s school on the Upper East Side, which formed the basis for the all-girls’ school featured in the book. She definitely comes from the world in which she writes.

von Ziegesar graduated from Colby College and worked in Budapest for a local radio station for a year. She then studied creative writing at the University of Arizona, but didn’t graduate. She also lived briefly in London where she worked for a publishing company. She currently lives in Brooklyn. Learn more about Gossip Girls at http://www.gossipgirl.net/

Genre: chick lit

Curriculum ties: N/A

Booktalking ideas: “Enter the scandalous world inhabited by the city’s most fabulous crowd. A world of jealousy, betrayal, [and] unlimited funds…” (from back cover).

Reading Level/Interest Age: Grades 9 and up.

Challenge issues: The characters drink like fish. There is sexual content. I don’t think this book would be welcome in a school library. To defend it for a public library, I would point to its popularity.

Why included: The Gossip Girl series is very popular. While not award-winning, I think that they would be good draws for reluctant readers.