Prada and Prejudice [Paperback]

Mandy Hubbard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 11, 2009

To impress the popular girls on a high school trip to London, klutzy Callie buys real Prada heels. But trying them on, she trips?conks her head?and wakes up in the year 1815!

There Callie meets Emily, who takes her in, mistaking her for a long-lost friend. As she spends time with Emily?s family, Callie warms to them?particularly to Emily?s cousin Alex, a hottie and a duke, if a tad arrogant.

But can Callie save Emily from a dire engagement, and win Alex?s heart, before her time in the past is up?

More Cabot than Ibbotson, Prada and Prejudice is a high-concept romantic comedy about finding friendship and love in the past in order to have happiness in the present.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-10–Fifteen-year-old Callie's class trip to England is, like most things in her life, remarkably unremarkable. Ever since she was overheard making a derogatory remark about cheerleaders by one of the most popular girls in school, Callie has been permanently on the D list. To her misery and embarrassment, she has been ditched by her class-trip buddy, leaving her stranded at their London hotel. A scheme to join fellow classmates on a surreptitious trip to a hot club leads to her tripping spectacularly over her new Prada heels. Upon waking from her blackout, Callie discovers that she has been transported to Regency England and is now the long-lost American friend of Emily, a well-to-do teenager. True to her character, she makes a series of faux pas with the titled gentry, earning her the disapproval of a matriarch and a dashing 19-year-old duke. Although her adjustment to an 1815 lifestyle is rough, she begins to appreciate her friendship with Emily and her surprising budding romance with the duke. Callie's perpetual awkwardness, chronic foot-in-mouth syndrome, spiritedness, and openness make her genuinely likable. Endearingly funny episodes involving a Heart and Soul pianoforte duet and a CPR rescue in front of an astonished crowd are contrasted with Callie's determination to rescue Emily from an engagement to a suitor 30 years her senior. Although some aspects of the book and character traits are stock and predictable, this is a fun and charming read, sure to be popular with fans of humor and romance.–Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA
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Review

"...a fun and charming read, sure to be popular with fans of humor and romance." --School Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 270 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill (June 11, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595142606
• ISBN-13: 978-1595142603
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #783,715 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mandy Hubbard is the author of PRADA & PREJUDICE, YOU WISH, and RIPPLE, as well as BUT I LOVE HIM (written under the psuedonym Amanda Grace). In 2012, her releases include IN TOO DEEP (February, written as Amanda Grace) and DANGEROUS BOY (August). She lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and daughter.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Debut!!, June 11, 2009

By 

Cindy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prada and Prejudice (Paperback)

On her class trip, clumsy outcast Callie buys a pair of swank Prada shoes in order to fit in. She ends up tripping over her feet and landing in Austen-era England. There, a case of mistaken identity gets her taken in by the Duke of Harksbury, and then the fun begins as she navigates this new world, all the while falling for the hot Duke.

This is one of those books you'll hate to put down, because every chapter is so much fun. You'll find yourself rooting for the awkward Callie as she eventually grows more confident in herself. You'll drool for the sexy duke Alex, and when Callie finally does find her "footing", you'll cheer for her! Based very loosely on Pride and Prejudice, this humorous teen time-travel romance is the perfect escape.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Story Siren Reviews, June 16, 2009

By 

The Story Siren "Kristi" (Indiana) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Prada and Prejudice (Paperback)

And the "Feast of Awesome" continues! Total Deb pun there! If I had describe Prada and Prejudice in one word it would be: cute! It was such a cute read! I'd even say that middle grade readers would enjoy this one.

I love the whole regency period and often wish I'd magically land in the era myself, so this novel was right up my alley. Callie was a very 21st century character so having her wake up in the 1800's was rather comical! I would have liked to gotten to know her 21st century character a little bit more, but I couldn't definitely see a change in her, from the brief time I'd seen her in her "own world."

The writing flowed nicely and was very charming. P&P was a very quick read for me, due to a combination of it being only 270 pages and from being very entertaining. This is a must read for Jane Austen Junkies!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Jane Austen meets fun chick lit..., February 2, 2011

By 

dcbooklover (washington, dc) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Prada and Prejudice (Paperback)

This is a light, fun young adult twist on Pride and Prejudice. In it, Callie is a 15-year-old sophomore on a class trip to England during summer vacation. Callie is not enjoying her trip as much as she hoped, as the "A-list" girls are ignoring her and she is left pretty much to herself. A known klutz, Callie falls and bumps her head outside of a Prada shoe store, where she has just purchased a pair of 3-inch heels (hoping to impress the A-listers). When Callie regains her senses, she somehow has been transported to 1815 Regency England. After a fortuitous mistake causes her to be mixed up with an American guest in a duke's home, Callie takes residence and struggles to integrate into 1815 English customs. The restrictions and expectations of women during that time period are particularly hard for Callie to swallow and Callie becomes embroiled in an effort to save a young woman she befriends from an unwanted engagement. During this time, Callie also gets to know the young duke, Alex. At first, Callie thinks he is an arrogant, controlling jerk. Over time, she realizes that first impressions cannot always be trusted, and the duke may be much more than he at first appears to be.

Overall, this is an enjoyable and credible modern twist on the classic. It has creative plot parallels to the original book. In addition, Callie's character development is interesting and relatable. Anyone who likes Jane Austen should like this version of the story, although readers expecting something deep or intellectual will be disappointed.