Jackie Whitman, Washington DC’s “It Girl.” She’s drop-dead gorgeous, brilliant and dating the President’s son. Under 24/7 media scrutiny, she never makes a mistake…but there’s a new guy on the scene with all the right moves. Suddenly, being bad has never looked so good. Taylor Cane, blonde bombshell and wild child extraordinaire. She’s the leader of the pack and the glue that binds the four of them together. Reckless adventure is her specialty, flirting with danger her drug of choice, no matter the consequences. Lettie Velasquez, she’s all brains and blind ambition. Her goal: Princeton. Though money and privilege elude her, she’s counting on hard work to pay off one of these days. So long as her heart doesn’t lead her astray. Laura Beth Ballou, poor little rich girl and a real southern belle. She dreams of Julliard and the bright lights of Broadway. She’s sweet as pie…until the new girl in town starts messing with her friends. Capital Girls forever…But when one of them dies in a mysterious accident, their once impenetrable bond is shaken. And as secrets long kept rise to the surface, the future of their friendship hangs in the balance. One thing’s for certain, though: Washington DC will never be the same again.
From School Library Journal
Gr 9 Up-Four Washington, DC, high school students explore the world of politics, friendship, love, and betrayal in this teenage drama. Taylor has died in a car crash, and Jackie, Lettie, and Laura Beth are left to pick up the pieces. Whitney, a "Californian hippie type," comes into town and is searching for information for her mother's gossip column. Jackie (Virgin Queen Bee), the main character, starts off as compassionate and stuck in a dull relationship while trying to cope with the loss of her best friend. Her mother is the president's Chief of Staff, and Jackie is dating the president's son. Lettie (Token Charity Case) is the daughter of the chauffeur of the Paraguayan ambassador to the United States. Laura Beth's (Southern Belle Wannabe) mother is a lush and has myriad political contacts. When Whitney is invited to join their clique, trouble is inevitable. The political climate is well captured, but the consistent use of name brands can be distracting. Readers will enjoy the multiple points of view and story line, but will have trouble sympathizing with the characters as they are not very likable. Reluctant readers will lose interest in the eye-rolling dialogue and predictable twists. Plot holes linger throughout, leaving frustrating questions. The abrupt ending clearly sets up the sequel.-Krista Welz, North Bergen Public Library, NJα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
About the Author
ELLA MONROE is the pseudonym for the Washington, DC based, debut writing duo Marilyn Rauber and Amy Reingold. Maz Rauber is a former reporter who covered national politics—and all its scandals—for the New York Post. The Australian-born writer lives in the DC area with her husband and, on occasion, their two college-aged children. Amy Reingold is a writer, a textile artist, and a classically-trained Cordon Bleu chef. Raised in small-town Illinois, she has lived in London and Hong Kong. But her favorite by far is the nation’s capital, where she and her husband have raised two daughters and assorted pets.
