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April 1, 2011
Everyone knows that high-school senior Hamilton Best throws the best and most exclusive parties. Suddenly someone is beating her to the punch by posting anonymous guest lists to her own party. This queen of popularity is certain it's one of her clique and that she's plotting her downfall. Who could it be? Olivia, chosen back in kindergarten, but now tired of always being second in charge; Nordica, a meek underclassman rescued by Hamilton; Zelda, a freak who's tolerated because of her association with Hamilton; or bitchy Shelly, the only one to become a member on her own accord? Alternating chapters reveal their true feelings for and conspiracies toward Hamilton. Readers may wonder why five such antagonistic girls would even remain friends, especially when Hamilton's loner boyfriend, Alex, comes between them. (Hamilton thinks he's grown distant, Zelda has a crush on him, Olivia refuses his stealthy advances and Shelly's ready to steal him out from under Hamilton.) Even their dialogue sounds stilted at times ("From where does this sudden sense of altruism spring?"). But readers who stick around for the second part of this debut, narrated by Alex, will discover the girls' shocking true identities, how Hamilton is indeed overthrown and Alex's mysterious role in it all. An interesting ending makes the inconsistent path worth the ride. (Fiction. YA)

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