Thousands applied.
One hundred got in.
Only one will win.
At OCD the losers are tormented. At Alpha Academy, they're sent home. Skye Hamilton has scored an invitation to the ultra-exclusive Alphas-only boarding school where beta is spelled LBR . What happens when the country's best, brightest, and hawtest begin clawing and scratching their way to the top?
This is the first book book in a new series from the author of The Clique. One of the main characters carry over and I hadn't read that series yet so I wasn't sure what to expect. It has an interesting concept but it's not unique. This is the Survivor of boarding schools. You don't want to get voted off the island.
Shira Brazille is an eccentric billionaire who founded an exclusive boarding school on a private island. Her intention is to nurture the next generation of gifted writers, dancers, musicians and inventors. She has selected one hundred special girls who will be eliminated one at a time for any reason. The winner will be the last person left and all of her dreams will come true.
Most of the characters were spoiled rich girls who were used to getting whatever they wanted. They are suppose to be exceptional young women but many of them are extremely shallow and not very likable. While I realize they are teens who are interested in boys, clothes, phones, etc., I expected more from the best of the best. Would they really squander away such a rare opportunity just to chase boys? Skye is a dancer who is known for her unique moves and her connection with boys. Allie is there because she mistakenly received another girl's invitation and decided to impersonate the famous singer. Charlie received a last minute invitation with the condition that she leave her boyfriend of many years, founder Shira's son. Do any of them have what it takes to make it to the end? And is Shira really as altruistic as she claims or does she have another motive?
The time period of the story had me confused. While there are current social references Alpha Island is very futuristic hi-tech. There are holograms that are so realistic it's sometimes impossible to tell them from the humans. Other gadgets like the students aPods (phones) and their own Personal Alpha Planes seem common here.
Some of the issues that bothered me may have been more about my perspective as a parent rather than a reader's of the same age. It's been more than a few years since I was a teenager so "Ohmuhgud!", 'hawt" and the arrogant attitudes can grate on my nerves. But I do like a fun story and although this book wasn't quite what I hoped, the rest of the series may be. The rather abrupt ending leaves you with a cliffhanger to be resolved in book #2 coming in April 2010.
Thank you to Little, Brown & Company for a review copy of this book.
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Release date: 8/25/09
Pages: 272
Price/format: $9.99/paperback
Type: YA fiction
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Great review. Sounds like one I'll pass on.
ReplyDeleteI tried to read The Clique for my children's lit class this semester and I couldn't get into it. The characters were so annoying and they really had no reason to be so mean and snobby other than that's how the author wanted them to be. I didn't make it far in the book at all.
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