Private

By Animal Planet and James Buckley

Book Overview

A teen from a humble background struggles to find her place at an elite boarding school in this first book of the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Private series.

Tradition. Honor. Excellence... And secrets so dark they're almost invisible.

Fifteen-year-old Reed Brennan wins a scholarship to Easton Academy--the golden ticket away from her pill-popping mother and run-of-the-mill suburban life. But when she arrives on the beautiful, tradition-steeped campus of Easton, everyone is just a bit more sophisticated, a bit more gorgeous, and a lot wealthier than she ever thought possible. Reed realizes that, even though she has been accepted to Easton, Easton has not accepted her. She feels like she's on the outside looking in.

Until she meets the Billings Girls.

They are the most beautiful, intelligent, and intensely confident girls on campus. And they know it. They hold all the power in a world where power is fleeting but means everything. Reed vows to do whatever it takes to be accepted into their inner circle.

Reed uses every part of herself--the good, the bad, the beautiful--to get closer to the Billings Girls. She quickly discovers that inside their secret parties, under mountains of attitude, hanging in their designer clothing-packed closets, the Billings Girls have skeletons. And they'll do anything to keep their secrets private.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416918736
• ISBN13: 9781416918738
• Release Date: July 2006
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.59 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 14 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 9 to 12

Customer Reviews

Not Another Teen Series !

When I saw this at the bookstore, I honestly thought to myself, "Oh, great. Another story about snobby rich girls." However enjoyable these plots may be, I wanted something different. I totally underestimated this book at first glance. Boy was I wrong. Sure, this book has the usual teen angst & pressure to fit in, but it also has something else...mystery. Now, for all of you reading this, you're probably thinking "*yawn*...

An interesting twist to the world of teenage novels

Gossip Girl, The A-List, The Clique. We've all heard of them. For those who are easily intimidated by the covers of those books, which seem to reflect a shallow story line thrown in with a few scandals, I was pleasantly surprised by this series. Though Private isnt as different as the others, this book is laced with the common essentials. -A new environment for the leading character -Who wants attention from the popular...

Interesting Tale of a Teen Determined to Become Popular

I normally don't read stuff like this, but one of the girls in my church's youth group was reading it, and I wanted to get a better idea of what some of my kids were reading. I must say that it was hard to put down! Reed Brennan is a new sophomore student at the prestigious Easton Academy, and she is captivated when she meets the Billings girls, a group of confident, self-assured young women who wear fancy clothes, carry stylish...

As addicting as hot chocolate on a cold, winters day.

Fifteen-year-old Reed Brennan has never known a happy childhood. For one, her mother is bitter and nasty who likes to chase her sorrow with pain killers, and rain unhappiness on the entire family. And two, she's never had the money to make a better name for herself. That is, until she's accepted into Easton Academy, a prestigious, private boarding school that houses some of the most privileged and intelligent students in the...

If you liked Prep and The It Girl series...

then you'll definitely love this! I don't want to spoiler the book. The basic plot is similar to Prep & it girl (and if from the same company as it girl, Alloy). Poor girl gets scholarsip to exclusive east coast boarding school, meets cute guys and b*tchy friends. However i liked this book better than prep and it girl! where lee is whiny and insipid, reed at least gives herself a chance. she's more similar to jenny (but...