Customer Reviews

Prep (Junior Library Guild Selection)

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is great for ppl of all ages. It gives you a look at what's underneath the preppy private-school world. It takes you to a place of parties, drugs, casual, sex, and gangs. Nick is trying to change his old habbits after a bad accident with one of his friends. Yet still in this crazy world he manages to fall for his best friend. And when her brother becomes a gang target he finds himself in the middle of it all. Jake Coburn creates a world full of lies, drama, danger, and suspense. Although it was short, it is a book that will leave you in thought. It Makes you think about the lives of the privileged while also creating a dramatic Manhatten theme.

Not since the early novels of Jay McInerney and Bret Easton-Ellis has anyone been able to capture the way New York preys on its young. Though his subjects are younger, these writers are Coburn's peers, and he out does them. Their books, like this one, are smart, pacy and witty, but this book has something more: heart. Jake Coburn has done more than make over-privileged new york city prep school kids seem interesting, he has made them human.

Oh, and don't worry that it is aimed at young adults. Though its admirable clarity makes it accessible to younger readers, this is a book that can, and should, be enjoyed by anyone interested in contemporary fiction.

Having grown up and attended one of the NYC private schools, this book was like a trip down memory lane. Jake Coburn's writing makes the reader feel as if they are actually right there alongside the main characters. One of the better books that I have read this year. Highly recommend PREP to those who grew up in NYC or to those who want to see what a modern day Holden Caulfield would be like. A must read.

Jake Coburn's debut novel is the kind of book that you don't want to end. It's written in a glimmering, realistic style, with sharp insight into the minds of high school students struggling to fit into a world filled with both love and violence. The narrative unfolds at a fast clip which kept me turning the pages. Even though this story is a specific love letter to the beauty and the grit of adolesence in New York City, the experiences of his characters are so real and true that they feel universal. Coburn's debut shines.

Although the book is targeted for a teen audience, a friend recommended it to me and I loved it. Coburn's dialogue is real and his prose is engaging. This debut effort is clever, mixing shocking scenes with witty and sharp banter. With America's new found obsession with wealthy youngster (MTV's Rich Girls and those hotel girls), this book hits home and shows the side of New York's previlieged youths that their parents and publicists have been hiding. I recommend this book to older teens (although its not too racy, it does have your standard sex, drugs and gang violence) and adults who are interested in the sexy subculture of rich teens. I only hope that Coburn continues on his exciting path and I can't wait for the next one!

"Prep", the debut novel by young and talented new author Jake Coburn was a sheer joy to read!! I read it cover to cover in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. The dialogue is well conceived and extremely well written. This is not one of those books that pretends to know how teenagers talk to each other, they actually DO talk like this. Coburn's original writing style really makes the protagonists, Nick and Kris, come to life inside and outside the book. The characters get in your head to the point where you wonder what Nick's "cynical-but-sensitive-yet-tough" reaction would be to situations in your own life. Coburn shows great promise with this work, however if I can make one criticism, it was too short!!! I can't wait for his next book...

New York's prep school teens seem to have everything --- money, nice homes and promising futures. PREP exposes the seamy underside --- brutal gangs in designer clothes, drugs, beatings and more. The story follows Nick, formerly the famous Thet who tagged the city with his graffiti signature of DOA. Nick thinks he has left the whole street rep thing behind him two years ago, but is drawn in again to help a friend.

It is always disconcerting to read about Caucasians trying to talk like African-American hip-hop stars, but it illustrates one of the points of the book --- no one is who they seem. Nick himself has layers and secrets. One secret is that he is in love with his best friend Kris and wants to tell her.

Jake Coburn's plot of THE OUTSIDERS meets A SEPARATE PEACE and CATCHER IN THE RYE is compelling, but at times his characters get in the way. They are the least believable when they try to have deep conversations. Why are the main characters always off writing or dropping book titles? Coburn may be trying to demonstrate that some of his characters do more than just party. New writers sometimes have a tendency to tell, not show, and that is the case here at times. Or perhaps the author is too close to the subject, as his bio explains that PREP is based on his teenage life in New York City.

Character problems aside, the plot is fast-paced and the descriptions of city life are vivid. PREP is interesting reading, even for those who live outside of New York.

--- Reviewed by Amy Alessio

Prep is the most entertaining book I?ve read in a long time. Coburn invites us into a community not often discussed, and takes us for a surprising ride full of edgy themes, mysterious character development, and compelling language.

A nice break from novels that try too hard to reflect pop culture, Prep made me wish I was back in high school.

I recommend Prep for readers of all ages who enjoy adventuresome and emotional reading. I recommend Prep especially for readers who wish to remember how exciting it was, or could have been, when we were teenagers who just wanted to live our lives.

Coburn's Prep offers a spell-binding window into the life of priveldged and yet troubled youths in Manhattan - a truly exciting read. It is startling that Coburn is able to paint such a realistic and delicate portrayal in his first novel. I look forward to reading his next work...

I loved Prep. It was such a page-turner--the story is thrilling as well as moving. It vividly portrays a culture in New York City that is unbelievable but absolutely real. The character development is so engaging and enjoyable. From the beginning, I was very attached to the characters in the book. They were everything from charming to terrifying, and I felt filled with compassion at times, despair or even disgust at others. Throughout the book, the happenings inspire everything from laughter and delight to feelings of grief and horror. Coburn is an elegant writer, and leads the reader through the peculiars of a disturbing culture while seamlessly weaving universal coming-of-age themes throughout. I was totally rapt in this interplay, and I savored reading the book, was sorry to see it end. I know I will continue to think about it for a long time. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.