Title: New Girl
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Harlequin Teen
PUB date: Jan 31, 1012
ISBN: 9780373210428
Author: Paige Harbison
As soon as we touched, it felt like an electrical current ran through me. I remembered the touch of the boy on the stairs the night before and wondered if this was him. I glanced sideways, not wanting to make it obvious that I was looking at him…pg 42
Being the New Girl at school can be difficult, especially when the school rules includes school uniforms, no interdorm visitations between boys and girls, no social networking sites, and no cell phones. “It was like prison, without visitors.” Pg 17 Unfortunately, being the new girl is the least of Callie’s worries. Upon arrival at the prestigious Manderly Academy, Callie realizes that her spot became available due to the mysterious disappearance of Becca Normandy, an extremely popular student at the Academy. She’s immediately compared to Becca, especially by her new roommate, Dana. Callie places the final nail in her social coffin when she gravitates towards Max Holloway, who just happens to be Becca’s ex-boyfriend.
The New Girl covers many of the social situations teens experience including the pressure to fit in and belong. Once thing I found interesting was the alternating point of view, from the infamous Becca Normandy to the new girl Callie. Plot points are slowly revealed as Becca tells her story, and when the two stories intertwine, the mystery is finally solved … or is it?
This book will definitely appeal to teens because it has all the right ingredients for a YA bestseller: realistic teen drama, forbidden love, and a mystery that keeps you turning pages. Due to mature content, I recommend this book for teens and adult readers.
