Lucky: An It Girl Novel

Reviewed by Karma Barry (age 13) for Reader Views (1/08) Cecily von Ziegesar has a brilliant writing style that shows some of the true nature of teen girls, no matter how sweet, soft, sensitive or shy. In "Lucky," Cecily von Ziegesar takes some average teenagers and some who are above the norm in looks and behavior and weaves a brilliant story with lots of laughs, some pouts, and plenty of entertainment. Cecily von Ziegesar uses an interesting array of words and designer names. She also uses amusing descriptions for characters by using other words for clothing or hair. Even in some of the most pouty or exciting places, the author made me smile with another good crack. I would suggest "Lucky" for other teenagers of higher intellect who might enjoy reading a book with the classic teen blunders and idiocy, both when sober and drunk, in relationships or out; others with my strange sense of humor will enjoy the teenage kindness of girls in a boarding school. I think I'm lucky not being in a school of that kind! I think that Cecily von Ziegesar should, and could, continue this great series. For other readers, just picking up the book makes you curious! Careful, though, curiosity killed the cat! After a barn burns to the ground in the midst of a wild party, it becomes that much more difficult to watch your back with all the gossip. And with Dean Marymount looking at a select few students, things can become vicious when the rumor spreads that he's looking to expel someone. Someone's got to go, but justice his harsher than we thought in "Lucky."

After the fire at the barn, the school is in an uproar trying to figure out the culprits of who started it. As readers of this addicting series already know, ever since Tinsley Carmichael came back to school she has had it in for Jenny. Jenny wasn't the one who started the fire, but that doesn't mean anything as far as Tinsley is concerned. Bret and Kara have rumors flying about them! What will they do to stop them? The boys are getting into the usual amount of trouble. Will they help stop the rumors of who started the fire? Or fuel them? This weekend the prospective students are in town, meaning those already attending the school have to be on good behavior. But do they really know what that is? And does one of the new students have a dirty little secret? LUCKY is the fifth book in the IT GIRL series, and should be read in order. I wouldn't want to let you ruin such an addictive series by reading them out of order! Reviewed by: Taylor Rector

A well written fast read, like all the previous "It Girl" books. They are not just for teens. I am over 50 and all my friends who read these books love them. They are just plain fun and take us back to the difficulties we faced in our high school days.

I loved every second of this book! We start finally start see Jenny take initiative and become stronger! Tinsley is her usual bitch, and callie is, of course, always going to be jealous. But this book surpassed all the books in my opinion. This is one of my favorite series because not only does it show a girl trying to fit in somewhere where she clearly does not belong, but it makes other girls realize if they are really gaining anything or losing by trying so hard ot be somewhere that they are not accustomed to. I love Jenny and i am glad that the writer began to give her obstacles to overcome. She is finally finding herself and that is an obstacle in itself. I also think that Easy is TOTALLY in love with Jenny(even when he was with Callie). I hope this book was as enjoyable to you as it was to me.

It has been six long weeks since Sophomore Jenny Humphrey waved goodbye to Constance Billard and the concrete jungle of Manhattan, New York to brave the wilds of Upstate New York, and the new life that awaited her at the posh Waverly Academy. During those six weeks, however, things have not exactly been a big ball of fun. Quite the opposite, in fact. Jenny has experienced enough drama in those six weeks than most people experience in a lifetime. She instantly made the wrong impression on It Girl Tinsley Carmichael. Promptly found herself in a relationship with the sweet Kentucky-bred Easy Walsh, and then had her heart broken by the same guy in question. Has found herself in a flip-flop friendship with her roommate, Callie Vernon. Managed to form a true bond with the flame-haired Brett Messerschmidt. And now, has claimed the heart of Waverly's most eligible freshman, Julian McCafferty. But nothing could have prepared her for what's to come. Since the party at Miller farm, which ended up burning down a barn, Dean Marymount refuses to believe that the fire was an accident and is out for blood. The Waverly Campus is full of speculations of who could be the pyro-maniac, and Jenny, unfortunately, seems to be the name on everyone's lips. Sure, she saw Callie and Easy in a compromising position in the barn right before the place went up in flames, but she certainly wouldn't do something as dangerous as burning the place down. But that's what Tinsley would like you to believe. Ever since Jenny managed to steal Julian away from her - unknowingly, of course - Tinsley is determined to get the chesty tenth-grader off-campus, and Callie is more than willing to assist in executing their little plan. That is, if she can remove herself from Easy's side for more than five seconds at a time. Jenny knows that she has to defend herself to the best of her ability, and believes that you have to fight fire with fire. But she's too sweet to point the finger at anyone, no matter how much she'd like to. She simply wants to clear her name and move on. But Tinsley's not having it. And when you're playing with fire...someone is bound to get burned. Since I turned the last page of UNFORGETTABLE, I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Cecily von Ziegesar's LUCKY; and, I must say, I am pleasantly surprised. LUCKY far exceeded my expectations, and has only made me more eager to read the next release. While the previous IT GIRL books seemed to revolve mainly around one character, LUCKY was slightly different in that it gave each potential It Girl - Tinsley, Jenny, Callie, and Brett - an equal bit of spotlight. No one character dominates LUCKY; and, instead, each female protagonist works with one another to build up a remarkable storyline. The conflicting feelings both Brett Messerschmidt and Kara Whalen are experiencing regarding their newfound "relationship," bring a slight bit of vulnerability and confusion in each character that makes them seem more human; while Callie