Private (novel series)

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Private
Author	Kate Brian
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre(s)	Young-Adult Mystery
Publisher	Simon & Schuster
Publication date	June 27, 2006–Present

Private is a series of young-adult novels by American author Kate Brian, beginning with 2006's inaugural entry of the same name. With book series about young women in posh inner-circles experiencing a rise in popularity throughout the 2000s,^[1][2] Brian was hand-picked by an editor at Simon & Schuster to launch a new one for the publisher.^[3] This resulted in a story chronicling the rise of ambitious teenager Reed Brennan as she becomes a member of her new school's elite sorority house, composed of a glamourous yet disparate group of young women known as the Billings Girls. As the books progress, several dilemmas surrounding morality, romance, and mystery arise.

In addition to the central story line, the Private narrative also includes the forthcoming prequel Last Christmas and the spin-off Privilege.^[4]

The covers of Private are credited to Julian Peploe, Roger Moenks, and Laurent Alfieri.^[4] Each American-edition image depicts three young women on front, with a fourth featured a slight distance apart on the opposite side.

Contents 1 Series overview 2 Characters 2.1 Reed Brennan 2.2 Noelle Lange 2.3 Ariana Osgood 2.4 Kiran Hayes 2.5 Taylor Bell 2.6 Cheyenne Martin 2.7 Thomas Pearson 2.8 Josh Hollis 2.9 Constance Talbot 2.10 Sabine Dulac 2.11 Dash McCafferty 2.12 Ivy Slade 3 Halls of residence 3.1 Billings Hall 3.2 Bradwell Hall 3.3 Ketlar House 3.4 Drake House 3.5 Pemberly Hall 3.6 Hale Hall 4 Themes 5 Book releases 5.1 Box set 5.2 Prequel 5.3 Spin-off 6 Reception 7 Private, multi-media 7.1 Trailer 7.2 Fan campaign 8 External links 9 References

[edit] Series overview

The primary focus of the series surrounds the journey of Reed Brennan—a restless and ambitious honors student from a shaken household. Upon winning a scholarship to the high-profile Easton Academy in Connecticut, she is eager to explore the brand new life that awaits her. Reed is quickly enthralled with the school on arrival, but the center of her fascination soon becomes a famed sorority known as Billings House and the posh girls who reside there—Noelle, Ariana, Kiran, and Taylor.^[4]

In time, she is pining to become a Billings Girl herself, and is faced with many tests and compromises along the way.

Brian has stated that the setting of the series was conceived by her editor at Simon & Schuster, while she herself was given free rein to choose a central focus. After a certain amount of consideration, the author decided that mystery would be the ideal center of her characters' environment.^[3]

“

When I sat back to think about what I wanted to do, I thought about the setting of a private school and all of that sort of tradition . . . it seemed like a great place to set a mystery. So that was basically where that all began. And then it just from there became, 'Who is my main character going to be? What does she want? Where are we going to get the mystery from?' Which just lends itself to the mysterious, untouchable Billings Girls, and they are definitely the center of the mystery, at least in the first four books. So that was basically it. It was pretty natural.

”

[edit] Characters

Main article: Private series characters

Private has an expansive cast and a regularly changing hierarchy. As various conflicts ensue, the series is marked by gradual exits, new arrivals, and social ascensions. Consequently, characters who are on supporting status reach new heights, and characters who hold prominent positions are faced with a variety of descents, ranging from quiet to scandalous.

[edit] Reed Brennan

The collected, curious protagonist, Reed is a brown-haired, blue-eyed girl from Pennsylvania who enters Easton Academy on a scolarship at the beginning of the first book. Her troubled family background and otherwise placid past makes her overly ambitious and docile when presented with exciting opportunities. Though gifted both academically and athletically, her first major aspiration at Easton is to get into Billings House, which holds the allure of great social privileges and respect. She manages to get the attention of the Billings Girls, and a series of initiations to test her credibility follows.^[5]

[edit] Noelle Lange

The brown-haired, dark-eyed "leader" of the girls in Billings House. Fiercely loyal to her friends, she is the implied counterpart of Reed, being similarly skilled in lacrosse and soccer, and apparently coming from a shaken family of her own. However, her privileged upbringing tends to make her blunt and sometimes insensitive, as she enjoys intimidating other students as well as the Easton staff. According to some classmates, she can't live without drama in her life. Noelle possesses a mysterious "long, red scar along her stomach, just above her hipbone." She has an unstable romantic relationship with another senior named Dash McCafferty.^[5]

[edit] Ariana Osgood

The series muse, Ariana is the quietest member of the group, possessing blue eyes, ethereal white-blond hair, and an alluring stare. She is known for always having her nose in a book, and is considered to be Reed's first friend in Billings, as it was Ariana who introduced Reed to the others. Beneath her exterior, Ariana is eventually revealed to have darker issues as the series progresses. There is also some curiosity as to her involvement in planning the second Legacy party of the series.^[5]

[edit] Kiran Hayes

The most glamourous Billings Girl, Kiran is a beautiful model with green eyes and dark-brown hair. She has an extremely good sense in fashion, and is capable of turning people into superstar lookalikes. She is also known to be "bratty" to others. Beneath the surface, Kiran is troubled by alcoholism, which can lead to repercussions for herself and the others.^[5]

[edit] Taylor Bell

A brainy, sensitive member of the group who possesses curly dirty-blond hair and brown eyes; Reed's first impression of her is of a "cherub." She is especially smart, and possesses a sweeter and more innocent nature than that of her three friends, as she is often visibly sensitive to others' feelings.^[5]

[edit] Cheyenne Martin

A series antagonist, Cheyenne is a controlling girl whose ambition is more aggressive than Reed's. She has a public feud with Noelle, and seeks to take her spot as leader of Billings House. Despite being on opposing "sides," Cheyenne and Reed tolerate each other at first, but they are thrown into conflict during the events of the fifth book, Inner Circle, when the new year at Easton begins. Cheyenne's passion for Easton and Billings tradition eventually turns into a problem.^[5]

[edit] Thomas Pearson

Reed's first boyfriend at Easton, a good-looking, mysterious senior with anger management and alcoholism issues. He carries a sense of recklessness and danger, which automatically attracts Reed and several other girls at Easton. In Private, Reed discovers that Thomas is a drug dealer and that he comes from a wealthy yet dysfunctional family. He disappears at the end of the first book, a development that Reed does not take kindly.^[5]

[edit] Josh Hollis

Reed's primary source of temptation, Josh is a blond-curled, green-eyed roommate and best friend of Thomas Pearson in Private, and later becomes Reed's boyfriend in Untouchable. However, the Billings Girls try to convince Reed that Josh is the guilty party in a school mystery. He is eventually exonerated, but not before enduring an incarceration. In the sixth installment, Josh and Reed break up after he catches Reed cheating on him with Dash at the Legacy party, although she was intoxicated and thought that they had already broken up at the time.^[5]

[edit] Constance Talbot

Reed's talky, informative roommate during her stay in Bradwell House, possessing emerald-green eyes and curly red hair. She becomes a Billings Girl in the fifth book.^[5]

[edit] Sabine Dulac

A newcomer in the fifth book. She is a foreigner, and has a French accent. Like most of the Billings Girls, Sabine possesses physical beauty. She becomes Reed's roommate, and the two of them form a friendship.^[5]

[edit] Dash McCafferty

Noelle's on-again off-again boyfriend. He and Reed flirt over e-mail. In Legacy, Dash and Reed make out and almost have sex, but are interrupted by Josh Hollis.^[5]

[edit] Ivy Slade

The primary antagonist as of book #7, Ivy Slade harbors a widespread vendetta throughout the series—mainly directed at Cheyenne Martin, Reed Brennan, and all things associated with Billings House. In Ambition, it is explained that she is driven in part by a personal, family-related grudge. Unlike Cheyenne, whose antagonism was more open and aggressive, Ivy employs quiet, calculating tactics. As part of a psychological attack on Reed, she plants unsettling artifacts in her room, thwarts an attempt to preserve Billings, and dates Josh Hollis after he and Reed have broken up.^[5]

[edit] Halls of residence

Easton Academy is unofficially distinguished by a caste-like environment, socially divided by lower-, middle-, and upper-class dormitories.

[edit] Billings Hall

An upperclassmen girls' dorm recognized as the most prestigious of all houses in the series. Acceptance into Billings is granted by invitation only. The building carries a mixed reputation throughout the books; members are typically depicted as being socially and academically privileged, but several Billings Girls are also shown to engage in varying illicit and snobbish practices. Furthermore, some are not above resorting to methods such as bribery, blackmail, and treachery. Initiations on prospective newcomers are a Billings tradition. However, this practice is banned—and violated—in the fifth book, Inner Circle.

Among the notable inhabitants of Billings House are Reed Brennan, Noelle Lange, Ariana Osgood, Kiran Hayes, Taylor Bell, Cheyenne Martin, and Ivy Slade.

[edit] Bradwell Hall

Bradwell is a dorm for sophomore girls. In the first book, it is where Reed Brennan lives before being admitted into Billings Hall. It is also where Missy Thurber, Lorna Gross, and Constance Talbot reside before their eventual move.

[edit] Ketlar House

The dormitory for senior and junior boys where Josh Hollis resides, where Thomas Pearson lived in Private, and also where Gage Coolidge and Dash McCafferty lived in the first four books. This is the dorm that houses all of the most coveted boys on campus.

[edit] Drake House

Drake is a dormitory for upperclassmen boys, nicknamed "Dreck" because it is supposedly where all the unsavory boys at Easton live.

[edit] Pemberly Hall

Junior/Senior girls who fall short of reaching Billings reside in Pemberly.

[edit] Hale Hall

Hale Hall is where members of staff reside. It is nicknamed "Hell Hall" by the students.

[edit] Themes

The central themes in the Private series revolve around sociological matters such as conformity and elitism—particularly as they pertain to an outsider during the coming of age period.^[3] As Reed strives to become a Billings Girl, she enters a world of moral relativism that raises questions concerning how far the young women will go regarding matters of sexuality, mortality, and loyalty.

[edit] Book releases

The series has maintained a steady release schedule since 2006, with its first arc being collected shortly over a year following its premiere. With the exception of the first book, releases of the American and Canadian editions have been simultaneous.

Since its inception, the saga has expanded to include a planned prequel and a spin-off. Kate Brian has confirmed that the series is scheduled for at least 10 books.^[6]

• Private, the series' debut installment, was released in Canada on June 27, 2006,^[7] in the United States on July 1, 2006,^[4] and in the United Kingdom on February 5, 2007.^[8] The initial entry follows series protagonist Reed Brennan during her introduction to Easton Academy, her interactions with romantic interest Thomas Pearson, and her discovery of an elite dorm called Billings House—a legendary but shady monument, said to have been resided in by senators, movie stars, news anchors, and others. Reed is soon faced with an assortment of challenges in her efforts to gain acceptance with the Billings Girls.

• Invitation Only, the first continuation of the series, was released November 7, 2006 in the United States and Canada,^[4] and on July 2, 2007 in the United Kingdom.^[8] The story follows Reed's continued journey as she discovers the fuller extent of what it means to be a Billings Girl, with the issue of blackmail entering the picture and secrecy becoming more prominent.

• Untouchable, the series' third entry, was released December 26, 2006 in the United States and Canada,^[4] and in the United Kingdom on November 3, 2007.^[8] This edition focuses on the mystery surrounding the lost life of a major character. While dealing with the repercussions, Reed finds comfort in the arms of a love interest, but is soon faced with an ethical dilemma as he becomes a suspect in the case.

• Confessions, book #4, was released on April 24, 2007 in the US and Canada,^[4] with a UK edition release date of March 3, 2008.^[8] This entry marks a series milestone by closing the book on Reed's first year at Easton and concluding the story's first arc. Major resolutions and revelations are presented, with Reed's primary focus being an ultimately life-risking quest to uncover the truth surrounding the campus mystery, making her realize that not all her friends are as sweet as they seem.

• Inner Circle, released in the United States and Canada on August 28, 2007,^[4] with a UK edition release date of June 2, 2008,^[8] marked a new beginning for the series. The fifth installment follows the initiation of another year for Reed at Easton and gives greater prominence to supporting characters, namely Astrid, Missy, Constance, Kiki, and Lorna. Cheyenne, another supporting regular, rises to new heights on the social scene, putting her at odds with Reed due to differences over the fate of Billings House. Additionally, a newcomer named Sabine arrives at Easton, joining the campus conflicts.

  Inner Circle debuted at #3 on the New York Times Best Seller list in the children's paperback category.^[9]

• Legacy, the sixth book in the series, was released on February 19, 2008 in the United States and Canada.^[4] As life changes rapidly, Legacy finds Reed being promoted to Billings president, leaving her to reap the benefits of her new position, while being simultaneously challenged by the various duties and expectations it brings. A central focus of the book concerns Reed's increasingly troubled relationship with Josh. This is fueled by a number of factors, including her growing commitment to her new position, the return of Noelle Lange (who reenters Easton to finish her senior year), and the romantic advances of Dash McCafferty, who flirts with Reed via email and eventually in person.

  Legacy debuted at #2 on the New York Times Best Seller list in the category of children's paperbacks.^[10]

• Ambition, the seventh installment in the series, was released on May 5, 2008 in the United States and Canada.^[4] After the dramatic events of Legacy, Reed, president of Billings, is now tasked with preventing her dorm from being shut down. As part of a deal with Headmaster Cromwell, Reed soon learns that she must raise 5 million dollars in only one month. During that time, the Billings Girls attempt to find ideas for a grand fund raiser. Also, Reed begins to find things such as black marbles and Cheyenne's clothes in her dorm room, leading her to suspect Ivy Slade—Josh's new love interest—of planting these artifacts.

• Revelation, the eighth entry, has a scheduled release date of September 16, 2008.^[4]

[edit] Box set

To commemorate the series' progress, Simon & Schuster released A Private Collection worldwide in September 2007 (on the 25th in the United States and Canada,^[4] and on the 11th in the UK^[8] via Internet purchase through the Simon Pulse imprint). The box set features a European-edition-style cover, and includes the first four installments of the series.

[edit] Prequel

A prequel to the Private series, Last Christmas, is scheduled to be released on October 7, 2008 in the US and Canada.^[4] This book will be the first hardcover in the series, and will revisit Ariana Osgood during the events of her junior year.^[5]

[edit] Spin-off

Privilege, a Private spin-off, is scheduled to be released on December 30, 2008.^[4] As with the prequel, the focus will again return to Ariana Osgood, whom the author describes as "fascinating."^[5] A teaser for the book suggests that the story will take place after the events of Confessions, following Ariana's future and her relationships with her former classmates.

[edit] Reception

The series has been mostly well-received among Brian's fanbase,^[6] while critical response has generally ranged from positive to mixed. After covering the first book, a review for Publishers Weekly stated that readers would "no doubt eagerly await the next installment," but also cited issues with characterization in the series opening. Comments in this regard have normally claimed that Reed is the only character who is initially well-developed, with Publishers Weekly remarking that "the Billings Girls themselves are stereotypical, but Reed is more complex than most of this genre's narrators."^[11] This matter remained under scrutiny as the series moved on, with a review from School Library Journal being generally neutral, claiming that the continued series includes "characters and situations that are interesting yet familiar."^[12] Children's Literature praised Brian's writing style for presenting "a very easy read, broken up into small chapters that allow the quick pace to carry the reader through."^[11]

In a survey conducted via the Website polldaddy.com,^[13] readers of the Private series voted Reed Brennan their favorite Billings Girl. Conversely, a more critical review from School Library Journal claimed that in the first book, several elements of her personality were left underdeveloped, including her apparent lack of ability to "empathize at all with her mother's pain-killer addiction."^[14]

On January 15, 2008, Kate Brian posted^[6] an excerpt from Legacy on her MySpace blog, which was met with generally positive feedback.

[edit] Private, multi-media

[edit] Trailer

To promote the release of Inner Circle, Simon & Schuster teamed with the New York Film Academy in 2007 to produce an Internet-released live-action trailer for the novel. Written, produced, and directed by John Paschall, the short film is included in Amazon.com's "Reel Reads."

[edit] Fan campaign

Fans of Private are currently campaigning for the series to be adapted into a television program or feature-length film. On June 10, 2008, Kate Brian posted^[6] a link on her MySpace blog directing readers to a fan-organized petition regarding a proposed TV series or motion picture. Following this author referral, activity on the petition saw a fast and drastic increase.

[edit] External links

• Simon & Schuster's Kate Brian Page
• Inner Circle on "Reel Reads"
• The Inner Circle —a Private RP site set at Easton Academy after the events of Revelation
• A 'Private' RP site at Easton Academy

[edit] References