Customer Reviews

Private (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

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

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. =]

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.

Gossip Girl, The A-List, The Clique. We've all heard of them.

For those who are easily intimidated by the covers of those books, which seem to reflect a shallow story line thrown in with a few scandals, I was pleasantly surprised by this series.

Though Private isnt as different as the others, this book is laced with the common essentials.

-A new environment for the leading character
-Who wants attention from the popular group of students who have it all
-Thrown with a secret romance

Familiar? Yet, Kate Brian managed to pull it off with vivid details and a setting of Easton Academy- a notorious boarding school complete with the ivy covered walls and the private campus.

The main character, Reed Brennan, finds herself at Easton with high expectations, but is easily let down when she is lost in the schools high academic curriculum and the unaccepting social crowd.

Of course, until she meets the Billing Girls- The Ruling Class over Easton Academy. These girls have it all, from the biggest and most spacious dorms on the campus, to an automatic spot in any of the Ivy League schools when they graduate. And I ask you, who wouldnt want to be a Billing?

But as soon as Reed steps into their territory, she is greeted with scandal, blackmail, and threats against their secrets. For she knows too much, so she is automatically their property.

This is a very fast paced novel which ends in a deathly cliffhanger, and I cannot wait to read the next book.

I normally don't read stuff like this, but one of the girls in my church's youth group was reading it, and I wanted to get a better idea of what some of my kids were reading. I must say that it was hard to put down! Reed Brennan is a new sophomore student at the prestigious Easton Academy, and she is captivated when she meets the Billings girls, a group of confident, self-assured young women who wear fancy clothes, carry stylish cellphones, and command respect from the rest of the student body.

Reed finds herself becoming obsessed with winning the acceptance of the girls, and unfortunately, she is willing to prostitute herself to doing anything to get their approval (well, almost anything).

In the meantime, she is struggling to keep up academically, as the school is much more rigorous than the public school from which she came.

From a Christian perspective, I am disappointed that there really aren't any characters of high moral fiber in the novel. You will look in vain to find someone who you would want your kids to admire.

But the story is written in an engaging style, and you will get lost in the storyline for a few hours. You will also encounter an occasional four letter word here and there, which may be normal for a young adult book, but it came as something of a shock to me because I am not really well versed in this kind of literature.

But I thought it was a great story, and you will be pining away for the next volume in the series, slated to be released in November 2006.
Rev. Marc Axelrod

Private is basically a series about a sophmore new to a private school who is desperate to associate with some spoiled, rich party kids whose main hobbies include messing with her, and screwing up other peoples' lives. The book is all about how hard she tries to get in with them.

Something that ruined it for me was that Reed Brennan, said desperate girl, is just not likeable. She's whiny, self-centered, and a million other things you don't want your protagonists to be. It's just not enjoyable to read. The characters were flat, slightly unreal. The only character I did like was Taylor, because you could tell she had a little reality in her. However, even she was flat.

Another thing: The plot was so incredibly repetitive! I find where I left off based on what's happening by skimming the book, and I couldn't find it. The same things kept happening, (and it wasn't even that interesting to start with).

But, something about this series is addicting- it could be a guilty pleasure type of read for you, especially for younger girls. And aren't those with potential always worth a try?
-Meggin, [...]

I am a big fan of young adult books, and I found this book to be great entertainment. It described the uncertainty, anxiousness and peer pressure an adolescent experiences when transitioning to a new school - especially one of a more priviledged class than that of the character.

Characters were well dimensioned and real, and the book grabbed my interest from the beginning and kept me guessing throughout- and for my surprise, most of my predictions were cleverly proved wrong by the author.

However, I did feel many ideas (such as the character's family problems) were left a little aside and not provided the attention /details that the reader would have enjoyed...

I really recommend this book. Its interesting. Its witty. Its fun.

I like the fact that Brian is honest about bording school. There is always girls like the Billings and they always make you jump through hops to get with them. It's almost painful to watch Reed go through all this because you feel like you're doing it to. It is an interesting read and I recommend that you all (14+) read this book and continue with this series. I can't wait to see what other secrets Reed discovers while being totured by the Billings girls

I got this because it was free on the Kindle, then realized it was a kid's book. I had a spare hour, so I read it to see what the kids are reading nowadays. It was interesting enough to keep my attention but fantastic enough to be saying, 'yeah, right' to some of the random plot twists that happen in this book. If you're a 12-year old who can suspend disbelief, you'll probably love it.

Parents: this book contains drug dealing, alcoholism, sex, sexual violence (a near-rape), theft, cheating, homophobic slurs and pretty much anything else that goes on in a high-school.

Oddly enough, I both loved and hated this book. There were quite a few things that I didn't like. For example, throughout almost the whole story Noelle calls Reed "glass-licker", and it rubbed me the wrong way. I also disliked how Reed would do anything they asked and barely bat an eye about it. But, the events were interesting and at times suspenseful. I think Reed wanted the perfect life, and felt like The Billings Girls had it. I think there's a lot more to her character that hasn't been revealed in the first book. I think I'll read the next one and see were the story goes.
As for secrets...not sure about that. The only secret Reed discovers become common knowledge within a couple chapters. Maybe it's hinting and future things she discovers.