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Private (Private, Book 1) [Paperback]

Kate Brian , Julian Peploe
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)

List Price: $9.99
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Book Description

June 27, 2006
Tradition, Honor, Excellence...and secrets so dark they're almost invisible

Fifteen-year-old Reed Brennan wins a scholarship to Easton Academy -- the golden ticket away from her pill-popping mother and run-of-the-mill suburban life. But when she arrives on the beautiful, tradition-steeped campus of Easton, everyone is just a bit more sophisticated, a bit more gorgeous, and a lot wealthier than she ever thought possible. Reed realizes that even though she has been accepted to Easton, Easton has not accepted her. She feels like she's on the outside, looking in.

Until she meets the Billings Girls.

They are the most beautiful, intelligent, and intensely confident girls on campus. And they know it. They hold all the power in a world where power is fleeting but means everything. Reed vows to do whatever it takes to be accepted into their inner circle.

Reed uses every part of herself -- the good, the bad, the beautiful -- to get closer to the Billings Girls. She quickly discovers that inside their secret parties and mountains of attitude, hanging in their designer clothing-packed closets the Billings Girls have skeletons. And they'll do anything to keep their secrets private.


Frequently Bought Together

Private (Private, Book 1) + Invitation Only (Private, Book 2) + Untouchable (Private, Book 3)
Price for all three: $26.57

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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up–Reed Brennan is nervous as she begins her sophomore year as a transfer student at prestigious Easton Academy. All of the other students are richer than she could ever believe, and she immediately finds that she's in way over her head academically. She determines that she'll do anything to keep from flunking out and going back to her dreary home. Reed aspires to be just like the beautiful and brilliant girls who live in the luxurious Billings dorm, but she has little hope of ever being accepted into that elite crowd. Somehow, though, she edges in and barely notices their cruelty because she's so grateful to be tossed the crumbs of their kindness. Although her experiences could have resulted in nine months of insight, the teen doesn't seem to make much progress in understanding herself or the larger world around her. The story has major gaps in plot development and background. Too many elements are left hanging or unexplained, such as why Reed can't empathize at all with her mother's pain-killer addiction following a long-ago accident, her lack of a relationship with her brother, her oddly unemotional loss of virginity, and any sort of character development in the Billings girls. Readers might feel as if they've missed the first 10 minutes of a 30-minute TV show, and the ending is choppy and unsatisfying. Steer readers to Brian's earlier (and better-written) titles.–Susan Riley, Mount Kisco Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"The characters are addictive and Campbell's telling makes it even more fun." ---School Library Journal Audio Review
--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 227 pages
  • Publisher: Simon Pulse; Original edition (June 27, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1416918736
  • ISBN-13: 978-1416918738
  • Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #177,722 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am a total Jersey girl. I grew up in Bergen County, went to Rutgers University, lived in Hoboken for a year (requisite post-college party time) and then moved back to Bergen, got married, and bought a house ten minutes from where I grew up. I graduated from Rutgers with a double major in English and Journalism, worked as an Editor for four years, then decided I liked writing better and struck out on my own. You've been reading my books ever since!

Customer Reviews

I cannot wait to read the next book, Invitation. Little D  |  12 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Fifteen-year-old Reed Brennan has never known a happy childhood. For one, her mother is bitter and nasty who likes to chase her sorrow with pain killers, and rain unhappiness on the entire family. And two, she's never had the money to make a better name for herself. That is, until she's accepted into Easton Academy, a prestigious, private boarding school that houses some of the most privileged and intelligent students in the country. Suddenly, Reed realizes that she's not in Kansas anymore, and is quickly sucked into the gorgeous, sophistication and wealth that surrounds her at Easton. Then she realizes something even more treacherous, just because she's been admitted to Easton, doesn't mean the students have truly accepted her. Then she meets the Billings Girls. The Billings Girls are the most talented, beautiful, intelligent, confident girls on campus. They also hold the power that Reed so badly craves. So when she finds herself being permitted into their little clique, she will do anything they want to be accepted - from stealing to acting like their slave. But soon, amidst all their glamorous, secret parties, and attitude, Reed discovers that the Billings Girls aren't exactly what they seem. In fact, they're completely different than they appear from the outside, giving great use of the phrase "looks can be deceiving." For, the Billings Girls have skeletons in their closets. Skeletons that they will do anything to keep secret, and locked away. In private.

Kate Brian never ceases to amaze me regarding the creativity and imagination that she uses to weave remarkable, enjoyable stories. And that creativity and imagination is certainly not lost on PRIVATE. The fact that Brian combines privilege, power, mysteries, and money together to create this exhilarating new novel is only the icing on the cake. Reed is an intriguing character, whose cravings for something beyond her boring suburban life are impeccably described, leaving a taste in the readers mouth that indicates exactly how much Reed wants to be one of the "It" girls; while the supporting characters around her - Noelle, Ariana, Taylor, Kiran, and the at-times adorable Thomas - make the story that much more exciting and enjoyable, while at the same time presenting a very "real" vibe that brings the characters to life. PRIVATE will send readers racing to the closest bookstore, in an attempt to learn about the secret world that the over-privileged inhabit; while at the same time craving an invitation of their own. As addicting as hot chocolate on a cold, winters day.

Erika Sorocco

Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Not Another Teen Series ! March 27, 2007
By Danix15
Format:Paperback
When I saw this at the bookstore, I honestly thought to myself, "Oh, great. Another story about snobby rich girls." However enjoyable these plots may be, I wanted something different. I totally underestimated this book at first glance.

Boy was I wrong.

Sure, this book has the usual teen angst & pressure to fit in, but it also has something else...mystery. Now, for all of you reading this, you're probably thinking "*yawn* If I wanted mystery, I'd go read some Nancy Drew." Well, don't think that way! This is a great series, & each book ends in a cliff-hanger. Take it from someone who's read all those other books, such as THE CLIQUE, GOSSIP GIRL, & THE A-LIST; this is def. worth a read! Just make sure to hold onto your couch...there are shockers ahead!

The only downside to these books?

You have to wait a few months to find out the conclusion of the newest twist.

So, go ahead. Add this to your cart. I promise you won't be disappointed. =]
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Un-put-down-able!!! January 30, 2007
Format:Paperback
Is that a word? If not,then this book will create it. I knew the moment I picked it up in the store that it would be a keeper. Reed Brennen is a typical girl like any other. She has the typical teen needs and qualities like fitting in with the masses and the sometimes dangerous desires of acceptance from a particularly dangerous group. It was amazing to me what lurkes in the mind of little girls. As a writer I appreciate the fact that K. Brian utilized poetic license and created a world in which we all live in and identify with. I am a writer and educator and I sympathize with the troubles that face these students.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars good book
I enjoyed this book, definitely for a teen audience. Everyone has their opinion, but I really like this book. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Cassandra
2.0 out of 5 stars Trite with no depth
Started off promising, went nowhere, and I found the main characters need to be part of the in crowd at any cost or humiliation just plain dumb.
Published 5 months ago by PAS
4.0 out of 5 stars These books are fun!
All of the books in this series are quick reads, but that doesn't stop you from getting sucked in right away. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Sarah Marie Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars great read for teen girls
I myself loves this book. If you are a mother looking for a book to read be careful though. Even though this book is exelent i must advise you there are quite a bit of swear words... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Shannon Rowland
5.0 out of 5 stars best series ever
i read the whole series 2x and plan on readimg it again. the author is an absolute genious with new subplots about every 4 books and amazing surprises. Read more
Published 10 months ago by lyl
2.0 out of 5 stars Ariana And Reed
I was walking through the book store searching for the first Private novel when i came across the prequel and since the first novel wasnt available i read that instead. Read more
Published 20 months ago by juan gomez
4.0 out of 5 stars Not your average girl clique story
I know it's a little late in the game, but Private deserves a good mention. Private is the story of Reed Brennan, a girl from Pennsylvania with a pain killer using mother and no... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Jasmine Jones
3.0 out of 5 stars Not So Very Private!
Kate Brian's premiere novel, "Private," starts off a series of books based around Reed Brennan, a 15 year old girl from Croton, Pennsylvania, who goes to a private expensive... Read more
Published on May 19, 2011 by Sylviastel
5.0 out of 5 stars love it best of series
i have read the whole series and this book is the best of them all. the plot continues through out the series reeds life is continually beinhg threatend all because that boy that... Read more
Published on February 1, 2011
1.0 out of 5 stars Private
A time waster that's a waste of time! Thin plot, poorly developed characters, extremely abrupt, loose, and unsatisfying ending all contributed to this being one of the worst books... Read more
Published on August 22, 2010 by John J. Steffen
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What is this?
I think it's a new cover for the first book. Looks like a re-release to coincide with the web series being produced.
Mar 14, 2010 by K. Cleary |  See all 2 posts
Ariana...
You're not the only one! I adored this book! I plan on getting a copy of invitation only in the future, but it's really difficult because where I live I have a really long way to find a bookstore with NEW books! :)
Apr 22, 2008 by Lizzy, the biggest book lover known to... |  See all 4 posts
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