Princess Ashley [Hardcover]

Richard Peck (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1987

In her new high school, where her mother has taken a job as counselor, Chelsa experiences joys and sorrows as she makes choices about new friends and learns they are not always what they seem.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up New girl in town Chelsea Olinger hopes to pass unnoticed through her sophomore year at Crestwood High. This proves impossible when wealthy, self-assured Ashley Packard singles Chelsea out as her friend. Flattered by the attention, Chelsea is soon immersed in Ashley's golden world, ignoring her mother's disapproval and even her own uneasy feelings. Only after a senseless tragedy occurs does Chelsea fully realize Ashley's true character and motives, as well as come to understand what friendship really means. The characters, both adult and adolescent, are expertly drawn and totally believable. Peck obviously knows how teenagers think and feel, and this insight enables him to bring his characters vibrantly to life. Especially compelling is Chelsea, a complex girl longing to fit in with the accepted group. Her offbeat friend Pod is a delightful blend of boyish enthusiasm and mature thoughtfulness. A sensitive and insightful view of teenage life that may cause readers to ponder their own search for identity, Peck's newest book is a must for both school and public library collections. Denise A. Anton, Corn Belt Library System, Normal, Ill.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

A newcomer at Crestwood High, Chelsea is perfectly willing to view sophomore year from the sidelines. But she is stunned when out of the blue, beautiful, powerful Ashley Packard handpicks her as a member of the group, a magic circle in a school full of strangers.

Chelsea is charmed and amazed at her sudden insider status, and ignores her mother's warnings about Ashley and the world she rules.

But as senior year draws near, Chelsea becomes disillusioned with her role as follower. Can she stop Ashley's manipulations and avert the tragedy looming ahead? --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (April 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0833518720
• ISBN-13: 978-0833518729
• ASIN: 0385295618
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,627,679 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Richard Peck has written over twenty novels, and in the process has become one of America's most highly respected writers for young adults. A versatile writer, he is beloved by middle graders as well as young adults for his mysteries and coming-of-age novels. He now lives in New York City. In addition to writing, he spends a great deal of time traveling around the country attending speaking engagements at conferences, schools and libraries...Mr. Peck has won a number of major awards for the body of his work, including the Margaret A. Edwards Award from School Library Journal, the National Council of Teachers of English/ALAN Award, and the 1991 Medallion from the University of Southern Mississippi. Virtually every publication and association in the field of children s literature has recommended his books, including Mystery Writers of America which twice gave him their Edgar Allan Poe Award. Dial Books for Young Readers is honored to welcome Richard Peck to its list with Lost in Cyberspace and its sequel The Great Interactive Dream Machine...

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Believable Teens, February 26, 2001

By 

"rumyun" (Indianapolis) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Princess Ashley (Hardcover)

"Princess Ashley" was a believable story about teens, high school cliques, the quest for popularity, and destructive behavior in the guise of fun. Chelsea is a typical teenage girl, flattered out of her mind when the school's head honchoette, Ashley, includes her in the golden inner circle. Ashley's golden boyfriend, Craig, is a youngster dying on the inside for some guidelines in his life and receiving none from his parents or peers. He's in charge and he's a drunk. Chelsea gets in over her head when the golden duo make plans that end in tragedy. Peck's book is a good read and a true-to-life story of what lengths high school kids will go to be cool. No, it's deeper than that. They're desperately trying to be accepted.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Realistic, August 23, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Princess Ashley (Laurel-Leaf Contemporary Fiction) (Turtleback)

This is one of only a few books about high school kids that I really related to when I was in high school myself. The characters are so real and multidimensional. You see how shallow and immature golden girl Ashley really is, yet you also realize she has problems that make you just a little more sympathetic, and you're even drawn by her seeming worldiness and sophistication just enough to understand narrator Chelsea's admiration for her. Didn't we all wish at one time or another that we could be part of the In Crowd? Chelsea herself is a wonderfully realistic teenager, and her character is extremely well developed as we follow her through high school. Her relationship with her mother is very true to life, and progresses believably as Chelsea matures. And Pod is probably the most loveable, interesting high school boy I've ever come across in young adult fiction. This is one of those books that I've saved since I was a teenager and re-read once a year or so. This book in particular is a real blast from my past as it was published when I was in high school and makes references to things that were big then (Molly Ringwald, Sheila E singing "The Glamourous Life"). Though those things may make it a bit dated, the storyline and characters are sure to appeal to young adults today.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Out of Print? Tragedy!, July 6, 2006

By 

S. Dickerson (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: PRINCESS ASHLEY (Laurel-Leaf Contemporary Fiction) (Paperback)

I first read this book when I was in 8th or 9th grade and was enjoying social leperdom at my high school. I think it is one of the most absorbing, accurate fictional accounts of teenage life ever written. In the past 15 or 16 years, I've read this book at least 10 times, and it never gets old. Our herione, Chelsea, is new in town and is in the throes of teenage-itis. She hates her mom, she's trying to dress punk, she's trying to keep her head down at her new school . . . but then beautiful, untouchable Ashley Packard singles her out for friendship, and so begins Chelsea's battle to not lose herself in Ashley's pretentious and even dangerous social world. With some help from her offbeat friend Pod, she may stand a chance of graduating from high school with her integrity intact.

I just love this book - the plot, the characters, the dialogue - a masterpiece from Richard Peck. What a shame it's not in print anymore! I think today's teenage girls need this story just as much, if not more than I did.