Pretty Little Liars

Pretty Little Liars:

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard, ISBN 0-06-088730-3, Harper Teen 2006

Plot Summary:

The novel concerns what happens to four girls after their friend, Alison, disappears. The story takes place in a small town in Pennsylvania. One night after a sleepover, the girls find their friend missing. The story then jumps three years into the future and the girls are now in 10th grade. Alison has been presumed dead. The girls find themselves coping in different ways, and none of them have stayed close since the disappearance. Aria, known as the artistic friend, unknowingly begins a relationship with the new high school English teacher. Hanna, who struggles with her weight, has taken Alison’s place as the most popular girl in school but battles with an eating disorder and occasionally shoplifts. Emily shines at sports and is beginning a relationship with the new girl at school, a secret she hides from everyone. Spencer excels in school work but gets caught up in a flirtation with her older sister’s boyfriend. The girls begin to receive mysterious clues from someone who goes only by A who knows all their secrets, most of which only Alison knew. The girls begin to question what happened the night of Alison’s disappearance and whether or not she’s really dead.

Critical Evaluation:

Though dealing with the disappearance of a friend can be heady, the characters in the book are far more concerned with superficial problems. This can be the case with teenagers, but even the presence of a cyber stalker is not enough to keep the girls from discussing clothes and romantic relationships ad nauseum. The language seems a bit dumbed down, which is unfortunate, especially given that one of the characters is supposed to be the smartest girl in school.

The overall tone of the book is mysterious, but since this is the first in a series, none of the mysteries are solved, and one in particular is only referenced as “The Jenna Thing,” a code name the girls have devised. The reader does not know what “The Jenna Thing” is and there is no insight from the characters as to why this event seems to haunt them. Some of the plot progression feels unrealistic. When the girls start getting threatening messages from a stranger who wants to expose them and their families to public embarrassment, the idea of telling the police or even their parents never comes up. Another problem is the actual characterization of the main characters. One is smart, one is pretty, one is athletic, and one is artistic. Putting each girl into such a specific box only enforces stereotypes. This book is an easy read and has gained a following among teenage girls, but it’s hard to imagine most outside that demographic would find much enjoyment in it.

Reader’s Annotation:

They thought their secrets were buried with their friend. Who is A and how does she know everything about them?

Information about the Author:

From the author’s website:

For as long as she can remember, Sara Shepard has been writing. However, when she was young she also wanted to be a soap opera star, a designer for LEGO, a filmmaker, a claymation artist, a geneticist, and a fashion magazine editor when she grew up. She and her sister have been creating joint artistic and written projects for years, except they’re pretty sure they’re the only ones who find them funny.

She got her MFA at Brooklyn College and now lives outside Philadelphia, PA with her husband and dogs. Her first adult novel is called The Visibles/ All The Things We Didn’t Say.

Sara’s bestselling young adult series, Pretty Little Liars, is loosely based on her experiences growing up on Philadelphia’s Main Line…although luckily she never had any serious stalkers. The series has also inspired the ABC Family television series of the same name.

Genre:

Fiction, Teen Fiction, Romance, Mystery

Curriculum Ties:

Friendship, Coping, Eating disorders, Cyberbullying

Challenge Issues:

The book could be challenged for dealing with teenagers and their romantic relationships with older men as well as talk of bulimia and shoplifting.

Creating a Defense:

• Make sure you have thorough knowledge of the library’s selection policy as well as a copy on hand. Your insight as well as pointing out specific portions of the policy will be helpful in discussion with the patron.
• Always have the library Bill of Rights close to show the patron your library’s commitment to providing all kinds of information.
• Have some reveiws on hand, both good and bad, from respected sources like YALSA or Amazon so both you and the patron can gain an understanding of both sides of the issue.
• Make sure you’re familiar with the books that might be challenged. Be prepared to discuss the book’s intended audience, its educational significance, purpose, and also some alternative titles to read.
• Don’t get defensive. The librarian can’t take the challenge personally and either party getting upset will cause the discussion to devolve into a fight.
• LISTEN. Even if you don’t agree with the patron, their views are as valid as yours and should be respected.

Reading Level:

Grades 9-12

Booktalking Ideas:

How would you cope if a friend went missing?  Have you ever felt cyberbullied? Do you ever feel like you bully people?

Why is the material included?

I’m an avid fan of the show, so I thought I’d take a look at the source material. 

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