The Luxe by Anna Godbersen [book]

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen [book]

Plot Summary:
Elizabeth and Diana Holland are the toast of society in 19th century Manhattan. They are rich, beautiful and part of one of the most highly respected families. In the beginning of the book introduces Elizabeth;s funeral and then proceeds to recount the time before she died. The sisters' father dies in the beginning revealing that they were not as wealthy as once believed- they are near penniless. In order to make sure that their family is protected Elizabeth is engaged to a playboy, Henry, who later falls for her sister. Elizabeth is the picture of perfection in her beauty and her demeanor, but the only problem is that she is in love with Will, who is a servant in their family that she grew up with. Diana is bold and loves adventure and romance, and her main storyline involves her romance with Henry. Then there is Penelope, who is a socialite friend that is having a small affair with Henry but wants to wed him for herself. Another influential character to the story is another servant named Lina who becomes privy to Elizabeth's love with Will, but she then uses it for her own benefits. Lina was also in love with Will and ends up trading her information to Penelope in order to hopefully climb the social ladder more and gain more attention. In the end of the novel you find out the Elizabeth is not dead, but instead has faked it in order to find her love, Will, in California where he left to. It is interesting to see Henry in the end of the book feeling remorseful because he was the last to see Elizabeth for she dies, when she finally finds out about Henry and Diana's romance.

Critical Evaluation:
This book is written in the third person, so it makes it a little challenging to really become engaged with the characters and fully understand all of their intricacies from an outside perspective. The characters are good, but they all have faults and it is also difficult to chose any one of the characters to truly like. The story is very interesting and keeps the reader guessing and intrigued, but the story line contains a lot of frivolities in that the majority of it is romance, gossip and society.
Reader's Annotation:
In 19th century Manhattan two sisters are the pinnacle of popularity in the social scene, until their father's death reveals that they are not as well off as they thought and now they all must do things that they do not want to in order to survive in this cutthroat society.

Websites to look Into:
http://www.annagodbersen.com/

Awards:

New York Times Bestseller

Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award Nominee

ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults

Similar Books:
"Rumors" by Anna Godbersen
"Envy" by Anna Godbersen
"Splendor" by Anna Godbersen

Booktalking Ideas:
Societal Pressures
Comparisons to other historical romance novels

Genre:
Historical Fiction, Chic Lit

Interest Age:
14+

Challenge Issues:
I really could not think of any significant challenge issues with this book. There is romance, betrayal, and lies but it is all set in a mystery plot in history and nothing is so adverse that I would call it a challenge. It was a light chic lit read that concerned society debutantes and people on the wrong side of the tracks.

Why this Book?
This is a very popular book that can appeal to the crowds that like Gossip Girl and also enjoy books that take place in history of different social classes and how they related.

3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares [book]

3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares [book]

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2009
Hardcover: 336 pages
Language: English
ISBN: 0385736762

Plot Summary:
3 girls are friends in a town that famous for another sisterhood. The girls are heading into high school and about to head off to their own journeys over the summer (they tried to have a bonding article of clothing as well) but with adventures that none of them quite expected. Ama is smart and determined in school, but in an odd chance of fate attends a scholarship program that takes her out of her academic comfort zone and instead has her hiking and learning life in the outdoors along with learning about the teens and life. She is originally from Ghana, following in her sister's footsteps, is a perfectionist and is very used to be good at what she does, so the summer proves to be very hard on her self esteem and in learning that she cannot be good at everything. Jo spends her summer on the beach working and trying to make new friends. She is not as concerned with her old friends in the light of flirting with an older boy and hanging out with cool older girls. Jo has other concerning problems with her parent's divorce and her brother's death, but places her time and effort into keeping the attentions of the older guy that she is into, which only leads to the loss of her job and the realization of what she did have. Polly feels that she is being left by her friends, and and decides that she wants to become something better- a model. She wants to fit in and be noticed, but she is doing it in the wrong ways in trying to change the way that she looks. She deals with an estranged father, and a mother that is not involved and has many problems of her own all while taking modelling coaching and classes. The reason that the book is called 3 willows is because when the girls were young they planted willow pieces of artwork in the woods, leaving a metaphor for growing but staying grounded in the same place and learning about the people that are there for you.

Critical Evaluation:
There are many comparisons between this book and "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" because they were written by the same author, set in the same town, and their are glimpses of some of the characters from the book. I felt that this book was good, but that it was flat when compared with the travelling pants series because the girl's characters and friendship were not as developed or intertwined. If one goes into the book with expectations of more of the sisterhood type books they will be placated, but not if they go into it comparing it to the travelling pants because it is not as well maintained or entertaining. This book does bring up the issue of people leaving behind friendships that they thought might be strong, but it brings them back together in the end which makes for a happier ending.

Reader's Annotation:
A sisterhood of 3 girls in high school is formed before they part ways over the summer, dealing with all of life's tribulations will either bring them closer together or tear them apart.

Websites to look Into:
http://annbrashares.com/

The Author:
Brashares said that the topic for the book (The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants) started with a conversation that she had with her friend in which the friend told her of a summer that her and her friends shared a pair of pants that were eventually lost. She liked the idea that there was something solid (like the pants) in the midst of change.

Similar Books:
"Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" by Ann Brashares
"My Name is Memory" by Ann Brashares

Booktalking Ideas:
Comparing this sisterhood book with that of the "Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants"
Discussing female friendships and bonding

Genre:
Chic Lit, Drama, Fiction

Interest Age:
14+

Challenge Issues:
I could find no really large challenge issues of this book because it deals with girls problems, but none that are overly dramatic. Looking to give up your past to be cool is an issue but I do not think that it could be explained as a challenge issue for someone that is reading it.

Why this Book?
I wanted to add another title by Ann and I thought that this would be a good book that is another continuation to the Travelling Pants novels but that was different and could give another story line for a chic lit book genre.

The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants by Ann Brashares [book]

The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants by Ann Brashares [book]

Publisher: Ember, 2003
Language: English
Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN: 0385730586

Plot Summary:
Four girls have spent their entire lives together; ever since their mothers met when they were all pregnant at the same time. They are all different: Lena is quiet, artistic and beautiful; Bridget is outgoing, athletic, and mildly tormented by the death of her mother; Tibby is a quirky, cynical filmmaker; and Carmen is a Latin, down to earth girl who is very close with her single mother. Before their junior year of high school the 4 girls mysteriously find a magic pair of pants that perfectly fit all of their different body types and they see it as a sign that the pants found them and they were meant for them. They use the pants as a catalyst to remain close as they are going to spend their first summer ever apart.
Bridget is not close with her father or brother, and over summer she decides to go to a soccer camp in Mexico. While their she spends time having fun, running and meeting her a counselor that she pursues actively. Bridget is beautiful and very reckless and she eventually loses her virginity to the counselor, which affects her more than she would have thought. Her summer ends with the counselor telling him that it could have been different and Lena coming to her side for support. Lena is painfully shy and reserved and spends the summer in Greece with her grandparents site seeing and doing her art. She meets a Greek boy and falls in love for the first time, finding heartbreak when she must leave him. Tibby works over the summer, while playing video games with her neighbor and being followed around by an annoying twelve year old girl that adores her. Tibby films the summer, and eventually finds out that the young girl that has been her friend is very ill and she dies affecting Tibby as she has never been affected before. She ends up making the film for and about Baily effectively sharing her beautiful, short time with her. Carmen has a hard time over the summer visiting a father that she is not close with. When she goes to visit she even sees that he is engaged with the woman's two other children living with them. Carmen bonds with her soon to be step brother but faces conflicting emotions about not being a part of a family that she feels that she should be. After battling her inner turmoil and storming home Carmen takes advice from her loving mother and attends her father's wedding. During all of their stories the girls mail the traveling pants to one another righting messages and drawing pictures of their lives apart on the pant that kept them together.

Critical Evaluation:
I think that this book is very well written; in each girl's perspective you are able to empathize with them and see how close their friendships are. They go through experiences that many girls in high school go through and they express them honestly and clearly along with their consequences. The themes of abandonment, friendship, and growing up are all very relevant and clear to young adult readers. The characters were well formed, the  multiple story lines fit well together and I felt that even the characters were very diverse. I think that the storyline could have extended longer, I did feel that it was cut a little short, but there are three more novels to follow, so I felt that that made the difference.

Reader's Annotation:
4 best friends find a pair of magical pants that mysteriously fit them all. They have never lived their lives apart and they find them right before the spend their first summer apart; they use the pants to stay close throughout their lives even though they are apart.

Websites to look Into:
http://annbrashares.com/

The Author:
Brashares said that the topic for the book started with a conversation that she had with her friend in which the friend told her of a summer that her and her friends shared a pair of pants that were eventually lost. She liked the idea that there was something solid (like the pants) in the midst of change.

Awards:

ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Awards

ALA Best Books for Young Adults

Book Sense Book of the Year

Evergreen Young Adult Book Award

Garden State Teen Book Award

Volunteer State Book Award
Young Hoosier Book Award
Young Reader's Choice Award

Similar Books:
"The Second Summer of the Sisterhood" by Ann Brashares
"Girls in Pants" by Ann Brashares
"Forever in Blue" by Ann Brashares

Booktalking Ideas:
Showing scenes from the movie in comparison with the book
Discussing female friendship and life lessons

Genre:
Chic Lit, Fiction, Drama

Interest Age:
14+

Challenge Issues:
Sexuality
I think that Bridget's storyline is the most challenging because she loses her virginity as a junior in high school to a counselor that she is not supposed to be fraternizing with. To combat it I would say that she learns a harsh lesson in the book because it is not as carefree and fun as she expects it be when she gets into it. It also shows how having close friends by your side can help you in situations that you feel you cannot handle alone.

Why this Book?
This is a great book about lasting friendships and female fellowship. I fell in love with all of the characters and could not put these books down. I definitely think that they can be considered chic lit because it is all about girls and their lives apart from one another.