Teaser: Everyone has secrets, but what happens when a mysterious person starts blackmailing you about your secrets.
Plot Summary: In Rosewood, Pennsylvania, Allison is the most popular 7th grade girl and the one that holds all her best friends secrets. One day Allison mysteriously disappears and her four friends, Spencer, Hanna, Aria, and Emily are somewhat glad that their secrets are save, until they begin receiving messages talking about their secrets from someone known as "A". Its been three years later and the four friends have drifted apart, but they are brought back together when Allison's body is found and they realize that someone out there knows their dirty little secrets.
Critical Evaluation: This book really delves deep into the world of elite privileged high schooler's lives. I knew right away that bad things were going to happen when I read about the four girls' secrets. They were too juicy to be kept secret. I liked how Shepard portrayed the characters. She left them vulnerable and they are not as perfect as they want everyone to think they are. This was a real page turner and I could not put this book down until I was finished. I loved how each chapter was from the perspective of one of the four main characters. I kept earning to find out who the mysterious "A" was, but I did not find out as this is the first book in the series. At least Shepard knows how to keep the reader hanging and wanting more!
Critical Evaluation: This book really delves deep into the world of elite privileged high schooler's lives. I knew right away that bad things were going to happen when I read about the four girls' secrets. They were too juicy to be kept secret. I liked how Shepard portrayed the characters. She left them vulnerable and they are not as perfect as they want everyone to think they are. This was a real page turner and I could not put this book down until I was finished. I loved how each chapter was from the perspective of one of the four main characters. I kept earning to find out who the mysterious "A" was, but I did not find out as this is the first book in the series. At least Shepard knows how to keep the reader hanging and wanting more!
Author Information: By looking in the back of the book Pretty Little Liars and by looking at her website, http://sarashepardbooks.com/bio.php, I learned that Sara Shepard graduated from New York University and earned a MFA in Creative Writing from Brooklyn College. She now lives with her husband and three dogs near Philadelphia, PA. The Pretty Little Liars series is somewhat based on her upbringing in Philadelphia's Main Line. She has also written adult novels including This Visibles and All the Things We Didn't Say.
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Curriculum Ties: N/A
Booktalking Ideas: Talk about the consequences of keeping secrets.
Reading Level/Interest Age: 14+
Challenge Issues: If this book was challenged I would go to, ALA's Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library Materials.
Why included? I was recommended this book by a classmate from this class and it is also a popular ABC Family television show.
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