When I was in high school (y'know, a long time ago in a galaxy far far away), I was dead set against the whole private school thing. In my adolescent mind, private school girls were snobby little clones. They didn't get to see boys on a regular basis. They had to wear knee socks. All of these were bad, bad things, and I flat out refused to go to a private school. The parental units were plenty pleased by this, because that meant that they didn't have to pay tuition. The problem, or lack thereof, was solved.
But now I'm starting to wonder if I made the right choice. See, the YA shelves are full of books set in private schools, and said books seem to fall into one of two categories: 1) Book is set at an ultra-exclusive private school where the girls ride in limos and wear the latest and greatest fashions. Boys seem to grow on trees in these books, and they are always rakish young fellows with cocky grins. Full on smiles are not allowed in the male species in these books. 2) Book is set at a private school for "special" people. And by special, I mean faeries, vampires, spies, or young adult authors.
Okay, the last one is wishful thinking on my part. But still, why didn't anyone tell me? I was such a sucker for a cocky grin at that time; I would have sucked up all of the soap opera-esque drama at school #1 for the right cocky grin. And #2? That's a no brainer. I would have happily gone to faerie school. Or spy school. I'm not so crazy about vampire school, although back then I probably would have pounced on the opportunity if the vampires passed the cocky grin test.
Books to read: If you haven't checked out Ally Carter's I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You, where have you been all this time? Stuck in a paper bag or something? Two words for you: spy school. Two more words for you: cocky grin. It's a no-brainer.
3 comments:
I don't think private schools were an option when I was growing up, but if they had been, I would definitely have been game. I'd have done anything to get out of the school I was in, especially if the school had been in one of those idyllic settings with lovely old trees and ivy growing up the walls. I didn't really care about boys until I was out of school.
And yes, I think I've been stuck in a paper bag! American books don't seem to make it to shops here unless they're huge hits.
Not a paper bag, just Stay-at-Home-Mom Land. My list of must reads is so long I get depressed thinking about it. So many books, so little time.
And faerie school...ooh, I would've liked that.
What about mutant school? You could've gone to mutant school. How un-glam.
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