“A juicy, elegant, absolutely flawless thriller with a twist. It's the diverse Gossip Girl we’ve been waiting for!” ―Tiffany D. Jackson, New York Times best-selling author of Grown and White Smoke “Explosive.” ―Entertainment Weekly All it takes is one spark to start a blaze. At Foxham Prep, a posh private school for the children of DC’s elite, a single rumor has the power to ruin a life. Nobody knows that better than Bryn. She used to have it all―the perfect boyfriend, a bright future in politics, and even popularity thanks to her best friend, cheer captain Cora. Then one mistake sparked a scandal that burned it all to the ground. Now it's the start of a new school year and the spotlight has shifted: It’s geeky Georgie, newly hot after a summer makeover, whose name is on everyone's lips. When a rumor ignites, Georgie rockets up the school's social hierarchy, pitting her and Cora against each other. It grants her Foxham stardom . . . but it also makes her a target. As the rumors grow and morph, blazing like wildfire through the school’s social media, all three girls’ lives begin to unravel. But one person close to the drama has the power to stop the gossip in its tracks. The question is―do they even want to? From Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra, authors of the Tiny Pretty Things duology (now a Netflix series), comes another edge-of-your-seat social thriller perfect for fans of We Were Liars and Cruel Summer . Gr 10 Up-Rumors, lies, games, and the truth all culminate in a rich story of teenage drama at an elite Washington, D.C., prep school. Told in alternating narratives, the story provides readers a glimpse into the social hierarchy as the characters attempt to rise in their status and figure out where they belong. Bryn, once the most popular girl in school, is now a pariah after running a red light and injuring her ex-boyfriend and his friends. Georgie, after attending weight loss camp over the summer is working through her self-perception and her sudden rise in popularity. Cora is dealing with the aftermath of a rumor that her boyfriend is cheating on her with Georgie and is trying to be as perfect as her twin sister appears to be. As the rumors about George and Cora's boyfriend build, it eventually reaches a tipping point where all characters must decide how to deal with the consequences of their choices. Sexual assault, online bullying, and body dysmorphia are all prevalent and not shied away from, making this book best suited to older teen readers. VERDICT Clayton and Charaipotra deliver another great young adult read full of drama and intrigue. Give this one to fans of Tiny Pretty Things, Pretty Little Liars, and other high drama realistic fiction reads.-Ashley Leffelα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. "A juicy, elegant, absolutely flawless thriller with a twist. It's the diverse Gossip Girl we've been waiting for!"― Tiffany D. Jackson, New York Times best-selling author of Grown and White Smoke Explosive. ― Entertainment Weekly Perfectionism, parental pressure, and the desire for popularity are issues at the heart of this story featuring a diverse cast of characters. Despite the gossipy tone and fast pace, serious issues are explored. An emotional and engaging drama full of twists and turns. ― Kirkus Told through narrative chapters, text message chains, emails, and letters that capture the nuances of each of these varied voices, the story winds through numerous twists and turns that will keep readers glued to the page as the girls try to figure out if they can stop the rumors from taking everything they love and desire―and if that’s even what they want. After all, with attention comes popularity, and the stakes are high enough that these students might sacrifice everything in order to achieve high-school celebrity status. A fast-paced thrill ride. ― Stephanie Cohen, Booklist Trickery and pettiness abound in this gripping, Gossip Girl–leaning novel told in the three teens’ alternating voices. Evaluating the role social media can play in conflict, this page-turner by previous collaborators Clayton and Charaipotra (the Tiny Pretty Things series) keenly addresses the ways that damaging information can affect individuals based on intersections of beauty, gender, race, and other factors of privilege. ― Publisher's Weekly Dhonielle Clayton is the New York Times best-selling author of the Belles series, The Mirror: Shattered Midnight , and the coauthor of Blackout and the Tiny Pretty Things duology, now a Netflix original series. She hails from the Washington, DC, suburbs on the Maryland side. She taught secondary school for several years, and is a former elementary and middle school librarian. She is COO of the non-profit We Need Diverse Books, and president of Cake Creative, an IP story kitchen dedicated to diverse representation. She’s an avid traveler, and always on th