Pretty Little Devils [Mass Market Paperback]

Nancy Holder (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 3, 2009

Watch out! These babysitters will stab you in the back.

Everything changes for Hazel Stone when she?s noticed by Sylvia, queen bee of their high school?s popular girls, the Pretty Little Devils. Sylvia invites Hazel to one of the group?s famous soirees?held at the site of one of their babysitting jobs. Hazel couldn?t be more thrilled! But what she doesn?t know is that popularity comes with a price. Some people can become jealous of a girl?s newfound status? deadly jealous. One of these babysitting babes is a killer! Hazel has to figure out which one, before they turn their backstabbing ways on her.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up–The four Pretty Little Devils are the most popular young women in their California high school, more so even than the cheerleaders. They are also a little bit naughty; they bend the school rules and get away with it. They have a rigid code for their group, including intervening when one of their own is slipping (e.g., Ellens hairstyle is unacceptable). Hazel has worshiped the PLDs from afar and is surprised and thrilled when they invite her to join them. Soon after her initiation, however, it becomes clear that something is radically wrong when the head cheerleader–the PLDs sworn enemy–turns up dead. This fast-paced read is interlaced with chat-room conversations, blog entries, and text messages. Unfortunately, the dialogue is stilted, the characters are static and stereotypical, and the narrative seems to normalize underage drinking. The plot also fails to ring true: popular kids rarely bring a nobody into the fold. Nevertheless, the gripping suspense may attract R. L. Stine fans looking for another author. An additional purchase for libraries with extensive, well-circulating horror series collections.–Leah Krippner, Harlem High School, Machesney Park, IL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 9-12. Teens who think this is just a chick-lit book will find more than they bargained for. Hazel has looked longingly in the direction of the popular four-girl clique the Pretty Little Devils, but she is amazed when the group's leader, Sylvia, beckons her into the inner circle. Hazel quickly learns that things look different from the inside, where Sylvia rules with both carrots and sticks, even when it comes to the girls' love lives. Some of the narrative is in the form of chat-room discussion and text messaging, but it's the personal blog of "Happy2BMe" that alerts readers that someone is getting pretty angry about the goings-on of the popular set--that and the fact that first animals, then people, start showing up brutally murdered. Holder infuses some of the terror of horror movies (which play a role in the story) into this page-turner while capturing the capriciousness and cruelty of teenage life. The murderer's identity, revealed on the last page, doesn't really square with who's been murdered and how, but the book delivers anyway. A stylish cover (black legs and a devil's tail against a pure red background) entices. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill (September 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159514269X
• ISBN-13: 978-1595142696
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,401,103 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am the New York Times bestelling coauthor of the New York Times bestselling WICKED, CRUSADE, and THE WOLF SPRINGS CHRONICLES series, all written with Debbie Viguié.

The first book in the Wolf Springs Chronicle series is titled UNLEASHED, on sale date 11/22/2011. Our book trailer is showing in select theaters before TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN, and DVD samplers are being handed out, too. We have received wonderful reviews for UNLEASHED. Here are just a few:

Livin' Life Through Books -5 Stars
"A seriously great read! I loved the paranormal world that Kat is suddenly thrust into. Very creepy and was immediately hooked in the beginning. I loved the romance triangle between Kat, Trick, and Justin, and couldn't get enough." - Felicia

Nightly Reading - 5 Stars
"I love the cover of this book. After reading the book in its entirety, I realized just how appropriate the cover really is with the full moon and the woods in the background."

365andMe - 5 Stars
" From the get-go, this young adult werewolf story had me hooked...Bottom line, I can't wait to read book two. This is my first book by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguié. I enjoyed it so much, I'd like to try another series while waiting for book two of the Wolf Springs Chronicles to come out."

"If you love Nightshade, or Kelley Armstrong you will definitely like this book, it has love, betrayal and A LOT of mystery. A great read." -- Siobhan Reads a Lot (blog)

Avid Reading in NV - 5 Stars
"I loved this book from page one, haven't been able to put it down till i just finished it."

Mundie Moms - 4.5 Stars
"This is a classic paranormal read! It's dark, thrilling and one I quickly devoured. I've read a lot of enjoyable wolf books this year, and this one is definitely at the top of my list. Nancy and Debbie's enticing blend of mystery, suspense, passion, love and loyalty made for a story that was hard to put down." - Katie

---

I am also the author of the POSSESSIONS series, for young adults, about a haunted boarding school, where the mean girls are EVIL. The BookKidsBLog says, "Possessions is the novel Stephen King would written if he'd been asked to write Gossip Girl." As I am a HUGE Stephen King fan, this made my head spin around like that poor little girl in The Exorcist.

I have also written some fairy tale retellings as well as tons of what we call "tie-in" books--which are based on TV shows and movies. My tie-ins include HELLBOY, SMALLVILLE, SAVING GRACE, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, ANGEL, and others.

I was born in California and have lived in Germany and Japan. I was a ballet dancer for a while but after an injury I gave that up. I attended the University of Hawaii and graduated from the University of California at San Diego. I am also a faculty member of the Stonecoast MFA in Creative Writing Program, offered through the University of Southern Maine.

I live in San Diego with my wonderful daughter, Belle, our sweet Corgis Panda and Tater, and our three cats, David, McGee, and Kittnen Snow Vampire. I love to travel and watch STARGATE SG-1, CHUCK, DR.WHO, TEEN WOLF, and CASTLE.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Deliciously Spooky High School Drama, February 1, 2006

By 

Teenreads.com (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pretty Little Devils

Hazel Stone, who is just starting her junior year in high school, is desperate to make new friends. Tired of the default group she's a part of, Hazel wants to be a member of the Pretty Little Devils, which consists of perfect popular girls. To her surprise, Sylvia Orly, the leader of the PLDs, agrees, and soon Hazel is inducted into the group, which subsists on secret parties during babysitting jobs, horror movies, and practical jokes.

Meanwhile, Hazel has eyes on Matty Vardeman --- but so does Breona Wu, the head cheerleader and Sylvia's mortal enemy. Lucky for Hazel, he chooses the newly "damned" PLD instead of the cheerleader. Unfortunately this makes Breona extremely angry, and she and Hazel begin getting into fights in class.

Sounds like typical high school drama. Well, it is --- until things turn sinister. All of the PLDs, including low-key Carolyn, shy Ellen and giggly Megan, start receiving strange phone calls and text messages referring to them as "bad babysitter[s]" and threatening to kill them. None of the girls know who's responsible. Before long, students are being killed and suspicions are falling on the PLDs. The end result of this tumultuous year for Hazel and her friends is somewhat unexpected.

PRETTY LITTLE DEVILS is told through secret PLD chat room transcripts, a personal blog from the anonymous killer, and standard chapters. The novel is clever, full of personality and deliciously spooky. This wholly enjoyable book will be easy to devour in one sitting because you won't want to put it down!

--- Reviewed by Hannah Gomez

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Copy cat of "Pretty Little Liars" and "Mean Girls", July 9, 2010

By 

Books Obsession "Ashley" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pretty Little Devils (Mass Market Paperback)

It's junior year for Hazel and she wishes more than anything to be in a popular clique - more specifically, the Pretty Little Devils (PLD's). They're the queen bees of the school, whom everyone adores. So after Sylvia, their "leader" invites Hazel to one of their parties, she quickly agrees. Soon, Hazel is one of them and feels on top of the world. But trouble is brewing for this group of babysitters...they begin getting creepy phone calls, anonymous text messages, and emails from someone out to get them. As people around them start turning up dead, Hazel's not sure she wants to be a PLD anymore. Is her life worth the popularity?

This book immediately made me think of the "Pretty Little Liars" series by Sara Shepard; with an anonymous person sending threatening texts to the most popular girls in school. Not to mention the title of the book...heh. I was pretty disappointed with the book. After reading the summary that immediately got me hooked, and all of the 5 star reviews about it online, I was surprised that I didn't really like the book. I think that the writing was weak and not very descriptive. Most of the time, the character's dialogue seemed artificial - either forced, or not how teenagers their age would normally talk. Also, the texting lingo was annoying; not all teenagers type like "C U L8R" like the author made it seem. In fact, I don't know anyone who types like that - it just takes longer to decipher the message. The book was written through normal chapters, the PLD's chat room - when they would type very annoyingly - and through short blog posts written by the killer.

I'll admit though that the author did a great job keeping up suspense throughout the book! I was never quite certain who the killer could be, and it kept me on the edge of my toes - not knowing what would happen next. The ending was...interesting. Very unexpected. It's not until the last page that you find out who the real murderer was throughout the whole book; and even though it was a twist, it didn't make any sense. The author didn't include a motive for the character or anything so I'm still left pretty confused.

Unfortunately, none of the characters in the book were likable. It was sad seeing how the PLD's defined friendship, because it wasn't accurate. Throughout the whole book, all Hazel was concerned with was fitting in, being liked, and what others thought about her. She had no problem turning her back on her old friends to join the PLD's instead. That shows a lot about her character, and she didn't change, either but instead just got worse as the book continued. The PLD's did a whole lot of underage drinking, not just at their parties, and the author didn't make it seem like a bad thing. Usually authors are trying to persuade their teen readers to not fall into peer pressure and drink, by having some type of bad consequence follow up. Nope, not here. Instead, it just made the PLD's look even more "cool". From the way the PLD's were portrayed - as unreachable and perfect from the eyes of the other highschool students - I found it strange how they randomly asked Hazel to join their group. She was a nobody beforehand, sort of like in the movie Mean Girls. What made them choose her to join the group that all of the other girls at school were dying to join? No pun intended.

I really tried my best to enjoy this book and get into it, but I simply couldn't. Maybe it just wasn't for me. Give it a shot if you want; it's a good suspense novel but nothing more.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing suspense, January 21, 2007

By 

BL (MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pretty Little Devils (Mass Market Paperback)

I just finsihed it and whoa, it's amazing. I bought it thinking it would be like the clique or gossip girls but it's more of a murder mystery/ thriller / definately suspenseful. I started it yesterday and finished it this morning. I stayed up till midnight reading it and then I had to sleep with a night light! lol
I definately recommend this book. It starts off weird but once you get to know the characters you won't be able to put it down.