The media furor surrounding Curtis Sittenfeld's debut novel was difficult to miss. Every literary review raved about it, promising huge things for this author. A tale of a teenager at boarding school written for adults seemed like a great idea. Many chicklit fanatics began their reading lives the same way, from the tales of girls at boarding schools as young readers graduating to tales of 'high school high jinks' as they became teenagers. How many of us spent our lunchtimes swapping our latest Sweet Valley books?! So would this book transport me back to those carefree days? I certainly hoped so.
Prep tells the story of Lee. At 14 she decides that the only school she could possibly attend is the prestigious Ault School. From a family that can't afford the exhorbitant fees for her to attend as a boarder, Lee works and achieves a scholarship. The story begins when Lee's father drops her off to begin the academic year as a freshman. She arrives imagining the school will be straight out of the brochure... quickly she comes to realise that school prospectuses are about as realistic and accurate as most holiday brochures and house details!
Initially Lee finds Ault bewildering - the pupils seem to obey a whole set of social rules that exist only within the stone walls surrounding the school campus. She doesn't know how to act or behave around these people, or how to get them to accept and like her. Slowly she adapts to her surroundings though as events unravel she starts to wonder what the cost of acceptance, and of academic excellence, truly is.
The mini storylines of school life are a fascinating insight into the world of high-money elite boarding education. However, whilst they make the book an enjoyable read I found myself wondering a number of times whether they were not just a little bit overdone. The characters unfortunately suffer the same fate. In trying to create this environment of intrigue, and a society that lives seperate to the rest of the world, some of the characters feel hugely artificial. That said, both the characters and the plot are interesting and keep the reader gripped throughout.
What may have been classic chicklit sadly falls short of meeting all the standard requirements. This isn't the lighthearted, any time, any place I hoped for from it. However, 'Prep' is a clever book that many people will enjoy - its just a shame that the author got a little carried away with trying to create a social environment.
Like this? Try Notes on A Scandal by Zoe Heller
