Reviewer: Lori Graham
Title: The Debs
Author: Susan McBride
Publisher: Delacorte Press
ISBN-13: 978-0-385-73519-3
Release Date: August 2008
Genre/Sub-genre: YA/Romance
Publisher’s Age/Grade Recommendation: Young adult
OUAR’s Age/Grade Recommendation: Senior in High School-College Freshman
Year/Setting: Current/Houston
Overall rating: 3.5
Sexual Content Rating: A mix of Sensual and Sexual
Language (Profanity) Content Rating: Mild
Violent Content Rating: None
Susan's Website: susanmcbride.com
To be the crème of Houston Society, a young girl wants to be a part of the Glass Slipper Club. To be one of the ten girls nominated into the Club each you, the debutantes must be in good standing academically and must demonstrate high morals. They will need to go through training much the same as finishing school and meet as a group each month, with the finale a Rosebud Ball at the end of the school year. These girls must be a descendant of the original women who founded the Club and their parents must be in a position of making a "nice" donation to the Club’s Foundation.
There are three girls who have been friends forever and are very close—Laura Bell, Michelle Mackenzie and Ginger Fore. Each of them is a descendant and are in the running for the Glass Slipper Club. However, they are also up against Jo-Lynn Bidwill, a former beauty queen. Jo-Lynn is doing everything within her power to keep them out because she just doesn’t feel that they are up to the same standards. Laura is a size fourteen; "Mac" is a bookworm and a bit of a geek while Ginger isn’t a raving beauty with her freckles and red hair.
Susan McBride takes a good look at the lives that teen girls face. So much of their self esteem is built off the perception other people have them. They spend a lot of time trying to measure up or change what they are to fit in. The Debs takes a look at accepting who you are and the trials that these girls face.
I love the book Susan has created. It is a mixture of reality and fiction and truly a piece that even a grown woman can relate to as they remember their own teenage trials. The emotions that play out through the joy to the angst to the anger to the frustration and so much more. It is a book of great emotional overtures.
My hesitation with the book is that I would struggle with my own teenage daughter reading the book. There are sexual exploits which are rather commonplace as well as alcohol being used. While I know teenagers face these choices, they aren’t choices that I would like my teenager to embrace. Therefore, I would say this book is really geared for a senior or possibly college freshman. If the reader is younger, it would make a good discussion piece for a mother/daughter lunch. 
Lori
Question or comment regarding the review or the book? Click here and let Lori know.
Top
Reviews
Featured Reviews
Archived Reviews