"I can definitely see why my freshmen girls race through these novels." — Miss Remmers
From Barnes and Noble.com...
"Everyone has something to hide—especially high school juniors Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna.
But they've all kept an even bigger secret since their friend Alison vanished.
How do I know? Because I know everything about the bad girls they were and the naughty girls they are now. And guess what? I'm telling."
Why I read this: I sat down and watched the first episode of the television show last summer but after the whole teacher/student scene I decided not to watch the rest. Now I'm wishing I had. I thought I'd give the series another chance by reading the book as my students request it on a daily basis.
Plot: I can see why this is such a popular book with my freshman. The plot is fast moving and the hook grabs readers from before the page number one (something many readers need in order to move forward). Uniquely, "the hook" didn't let up through out the novel. Each character had a different story line and a different secret that no one else knew. This variation in narration, I think, aided the novels' level of suspense and kept the reader "hooked." The level of deceit only rose throughout the novel and, of course, the mysterious "A" was forever elusive.
Characters: While I can't say any of the characters were exactly likable, I can say that they are definitely addicting to read about. Each character definitely had their own personality and identity. Shepard did a fantastic job of making each character hate-able but relatable at the same time; as a reader I saw the flaws in each of their actions but at the same time I could see where they were coming from.
Cover: Cute, different, eye-catching, and perfect for the story line.
Final Thoughts: I will definitely continue reading this series not only to find out who "A" is, but to find out how the girls deal with their "issues." I can definitely see why my freshmen girls race through these novels.
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 8/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 8/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Overall: 96/100 A
To the FTC, with love: Purchased