A cautionary tale of the price of popularity and the difference between gossip and truth. Maggie moves from New Jersey to Manhattan with her mother after the divorce, and her grandfather pays for her to attend a posh private school for her senior year. Maggie can't break into any of the long-established cliques, and is completely excluded until she crashes the back-to-school bash thrown by the most popular girl. The party is raided by the police, and Maggie rescues the three most popular girls by hiding them at the home of one of her mother's friends. Maggie is invited into the group: The Revelers, and she is at first thrilled to be a part of the very wealthy group. They take her shopping, shower her with expensive gifts, and take her to their penthouse apartments and vacation beach homes. But there is a dark side to the Revelers -- they collect "truths" about all of the people at their school and write them down. Maggie realizes how dangerous secrets can be in the wrong hands, and how they can be used against people, but the other girls insist these are not just gossip -- they are truths about life. What is the line between truth and gossip, and how much power is in popularity? Something to read and consider before heading off to high school. Realistic fiction, 8th grade and up. ( )

A cautionary tale of the price of popularity and the difference between gossip and truth. Maggie moves from New Jersey to Manhattan with her mother after the divorce, and her grandfather pays for her to attend a posh private school for her senior year. Maggie can't break into any of the long-established cliques, and is completely excluded until she crashes the back-to-school bash thrown by the most popular girl. The party is raided by the police, and Maggie rescues the three most popular girls by hiding them at the home of one of her mother's friends. Maggie is invited into the group: The Revelers, and she is at first thrilled to be a part of the very wealthy group. They take her shopping, shower her with expensive gifts, and take her to their penthouse apartments and vacation beach homes. But there is a dark side to the Revelers -- they collect "truths" about all of the people at their school and write them down. Maggie realizes how dangerous secrets can be in the wrong hands, and how they can be used against people, but the other girls insist these are not just gossip -- they are truths about life. What is the line between truth and gossip, and how much power is in popularity? Something to read and consider before heading off to high school. Realistic fiction, 8th grade and up. ( )

A cautionary tale of the price of popularity and the difference between gossip and truth. Maggie moves from New Jersey to Manhattan with her mother after the divorce, and her grandfather pays for her to attend a posh private school for her senior year. Maggie can't break into any of the long-established cliques, and is completely excluded until she crashes the back-to-school bash thrown by the most popular girl. The party is raided by the police, and Maggie rescues the three most popular girls by hiding them at the home of one of her mother's friends. Maggie is invited into the group: The Revelers, and she is at first thrilled to be a part of the very wealthy group. They take her shopping, shower her with expensive gifts, and take her to their penthouse apartments and vacation beach homes. But there is a dark side to the Revelers -- they collect "truths" about all of the people at their school and write them down. Maggie realizes how dangerous secrets can be in the wrong hands, and how they can be used against people, but the other girls insist these are not just gossip -- they are truths about life. What is the line between truth and gossip, and how much power is in popularity? Something to read and consider before heading off to high school. Realistic fiction, 8th grade and up. ( )

Maggie moved to NYC with her mom when her parents separated. 3 girls are part of a group they call the “Revelers,” & they ask Maggie to join after she helps them out. They have these giant sheets of paper called, “The Wall,” where they write secrets about themselves & everyone in their private school. Of course, it gets found out, feelings are hurt, etc., & Maggie tries to make amends with the people about whom she really cares.

I enjoyed reading it, & looked forward to getting back to it. However, I bought it with the intention of giving it to my older niece. (I like to read stuff before handing it off to kids.) There’s some bad language, & girls are making out with their boyfriends, etc. It’s about 4 high school seniors. However, my niece is currently in middle school.

Like I said, I enjoyed it. It was a quick read. However, it’s not for my niece – at least not until she’s in high school - maybe college!

Paul Zindel's daughter, Lizabeth, has written a decent first novel. Though I found the plot predictable, the characters are well-drawn and reflect the snooty high school girl very well. Maggie's conflicted needs to both belong and do what's right is a common dilemma for high school students around the country. Does she make all the right choices? No, but she does try to redeem herself in the end. ( )