Beautiful World

June 29, 2009
In this debut YA, Hollings adds to the Mean Girls
subgenre by introducing Amelia Warner, a master backstabber and experienced liar, whose academic father can't afford the A-list life she desperately wants. Chapters alternate between the viewpoints of conniving Amelia (actual name: Ann), nouveau riche Courtney Moore (Amelia's wealthy target) and Amelia's brother, Zach, whose main appeal appears to be his looks. The plot basically revolves around Amelia piling lie upon lie in order to further dupe and con sweet-natured Courtney into inviting Amelia to stay at her spacious Manhattan apartment and buying Amelia everything from a Cartier watch to cocktails at the Carlyle Hotel. None of the characters is especially sympathetic—not even Courtney who is frustratingly gullible—and Amelia's lies are haphazard rather than clever. Hollings's prose does the usual name-dropping for every article of clothing mentioned and top-tier restaurant and club visited, giving the book the air of a manual for social climbers like Amelia. It's easy to envision readers Googling everything from Harry's Bar in Rome to Cohiba cigars to polish their own repartee. Ages 14–up.

July 1, 2009
Grades 7-10 Amelia and her brother Zach might seem like trust-fund babies, but in reality theyre flat broke, posing as twins to angle their way into New York society life by way of the naive, nouveau-riche Courtney. But Courtneys old-money friend, Piper, has her suspicions about Amelia. This first in a new chick-lit series will appeal to the genres typical readership with its constant name-dropping, but the added intrigue of Amelia and Zachs complex web of lies sets it apart. The notable absence of sex and foul language makes it appropriate for a wider readership than many similar titles.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)