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Private (Private, Bk 1)
Private - Private, Bk 1
Author: Kate Brian
Tradition, Honor, Excellence... and secrets so dark they're almost invisible — Fifteen-year-old Reed Brennan wins a scholarship to Easton Academy -- the golden ticket away from her pill-popping mother and run-of-the-mill suburban life. But when she arrives on the beautiful, tradition-steeped campus of Easton, everyone is just...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9781416918738
ISBN-10: 1416918736
Publication Date: 6/27/2006
Pages: 240
Reading Level: Young Adult
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 79

4 stars, based on 79 ratings
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

bluestar avatar reviewed Private (Private, Bk 1) on + 89 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
Private series titles in order:
1. Private
2. Invitation Only
3. Untouchable
4. Confessions
5. Inner Circle
reviewed Private (Private, Bk 1) on + 7 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Reed Brennan is nervous as she begins her sophomore year as a transfer student at prestigious Easton Academy. All of the other students are richer than she could ever believe, and she immediately finds that she's in way over her head academically. She determines that she'll do anything to keep from flunking out and going back to her dreary home. Reed aspires to be just like the beautiful and brilliant girls who live in the luxurious Billings dorm, but she has little hope of ever being accepted into that elite crowd. Somehow, though, she edges in and barely notices their cruelty because she's so grateful to be tossed the crumbs of their kindness. Although her experiences could have resulted in nine months of insight, the teen doesn't seem to make much progress in understanding herself or the larger world around her. The story has major gaps in plot development and background. Too many elements are left hanging or unexplained, such as why Reed can't empathize at all with her mother's pain-killer addiction following a long-ago accident, her lack of a relationship with her brother, her oddly unemotional loss of virginity, and any sort of character development in the Billings girls.
reviewed Private (Private, Bk 1) on + 169 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I would not recommend this book for preteens. I found the content inappropriate for a middle school student. Premarital sex, drugs and alcohol - all just "normal" parts of life in this book. I'd prefer for my child to read about positive characters, not back-stabbing and cheating.
reviewed Private (Private, Bk 1) on + 19 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I REALLY like this series, but personally like the second book better than the first...
skywriter319 avatar reviewed Private (Private, Bk 1) on + 784 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A new series emerges out of a world already full of Gossip Girls, A-lists, and Cliques. Sophomore Reed Brennan has been accepted into the prestigious Easton Academy on scholarship. Getting out of her depressing hometown and her emotionally abusive mother's grasp is liberating for Reed, but it is not too long before she once again feels like retreating into her usual antisocial loner shell. The only bright spot in her life is the bad boy Thomas Pearsonâtotally wrong but dangerously attractive and attentive to her.

Then she meets the Billings girls. They are beautiful, brilliant, and the bestâ¦and there are only four of them who really matter: Noelle, Ariana, Kiran, and Taylor. Reed thinks that she'll be set if she can only become one of them, and so takes every opportunity to suck up to them. Sure, some of the things they make her do, such as stealing a test, make her think twice, but Reed knows that without the Billings girls, she'd simply be another sophomore nobody at Easton.

However, the Billings girls and Thomas don't get along. In the meantime, Thomas has secrets of his own, too, and Reed fluctuates from desperately wanting to be part of the Billings girls to hating them for having a sickening power over everyone. Can Reed love Thomas, please the Billings girls, AND stay true to herself all at once? That seems like an impossible mountain to climb.

There is really nothing that has already been written in Private. Thomas is the stereotypical guy we hate to love, and Noelle is your average two-faced perfect villainess. There will certainly be room in this world for Private and its fans, though.
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shmook08 avatar reviewed Private (Private, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
The book started off very slow and every questioned if I was going to finish the book. The book turned out very good in the end so I am going to read the second book to see if this series gets any better. Reed is just a spine less girl who takes crap from everyone.
reviewed Private (Private, Bk 1) on
This book was absolutely amazing. I love the way Brian wrote this story. Can't wait for the next one!
JustSoMeAMS avatar reviewed Private (Private, Bk 1) on
Private series titles in order:
1. Private
2. Invitation Only
3. Untouchable
4. Confessions
5. Inner Circle
6. Paradise Lost

These books are great books for girls that love books about relationships and scandals and drama. I easily fell in love with the main character, Reed, and going through her journey at the rich boarding school, just trying to fit in.


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