Review: Gossip Girl books
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Parents should know that characters in these books drink, smoke, do drugs, throw parties, and have sex. Their party lifestyle is glamorized (and their own parents are permissive about their drinking); sex is not graphic, but it isn't always equated with love, either. Also, brand names run throughout, from high-end clothing designers to skin products to alcohol brands.
Families who decide to let their teens read these books might want to talk about the popularity of the series. What do books like these do for their readers? Are they simply guilty pleasures, or do they have lessons to teach? How are you supposed to feel about the rich characters -- envy them, hate them, feel sorry for them? What do you think of all the materialism? Does it make you want labels, or make you think they're shallow?
What Parents Should Know
Parents should know that characters in these books drink,
smoke, do drugs, throw parties, and have sex. Their party
lifestyle is glamorized (and their own parents are permissive
about their drinking); sex is not graphic, but it isn't always
equated with love, either. Also, brand names run throughout,
from high-end clothing designers to skin products to alcohol
brands.
Families who decide to let their teens read these books might want to talk about the popularity of the series. What do books like these do for their readers? Are they simply guilty pleasures, or do they have lessons to teach? How are you supposed to feel about the rich characters -- envy them, hate them, feel sorry for them? What do you think of all the materialism? Does it make you want labels, or make you think they're shallow?
Common Sense Media Review
This is really superficial stuff, but it's no wonder it's
such a hit. These rich kids' designer lives are the stuff we've
all fantasized about. It's just as easy to relish the high
moments (Serena hooks up with a rock star, Dan and Vanessa
finally get it on) as it is the disasters (Blair dates her Yale
interviewer, only to find out he's the married father of one of
her classmates, Nate gets busted trying to buy pot in Central
Park).
The GossipGirl.net interludes are the perfect device, because they remind readers of our place in the whole mess: We are not these characters. We are not their friends. We are simply gawkers.
While none of the characters are particularly noble, it's fun watching them throw fabulous benefits (complete with Kate Spade gift bags!) or jet off to a tropical island for the holidays. The author expertly weaves their various storylines together for maximum energy. But do your kids really have to read the whole series? Probably just one or two will do. They're really fairly similar, except for the fabulous outfits, of course.
From
Because I'm Worth It:
Here on the Upper East Side we all know the cure for the
drearies: one of Jedediah Angel's crazy-sexy party dresses, a
pair of black satin Manolos, the new "Ready or Not" red
lipstick you can only get at Bendel's, a good Brazilian bikini
wax, and a generous slathering of Estèe Lauder
self-tanner, in case your St. Barts tan left over from
Christmas Break has finally faded. Most of us are
second-semester seniors --
at last. Our college applications are in and our
schedules are light, with a double free period every day during
which we can catch a Fashion Week runway show or head back to a
friend's penthouse apartment to drink skinny lattes, smoke
cigarettes, and help pick out the evening's screw-homework
party outfit.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
