The Ruling Class

Rating:
Summary: A Non-HP but nonetheless insulted Dallasite
Review: "I guess it's different in Dallas." Not a direct quote from this novel but equally as insulting. I am one of those Dallasites who is insulted by this book, mainly on account that, although the Parkies (non-HP term for them) may averagely have more money than most people, and their schools are nicer because of their higher school taxes and yes, their shopping is fabulous (Robin Hood: ultimate second-hand shop, almost wins over Clotheshorse Anonymous), and yeah, some of the people may seem fake--WHO IN HIGH SCHOOL ISN'T FAKE? Another reviewer wrote that the heart of this book was true to life. As unresearched and unoriginal as the details of this book were, so was the message and its execution. And Parkies across the city have a right to be incensed. Although their funding might give them an upper hand, they're the top-rated public school in North Texas. As a North Texan, and just a plain Texan in general, this book is a mockery that matches Dr. T's Women. NorthPark: North Park. As in Park Lane. When I described how infuriatingly vapid the details of this book were to my father, he said it sounded as though the author had canceled a stop on a book tour at North Park mall. It is with this care that I'm sure the writing factory behind Sweet Valley High whipped out this obviously-aimed-for-the-pseudo-glamorous audiences of Mean Girls and Gossip Girl. The sad thing is that both of those enterprises were written by either a first-hand eye-witness to the events, or a smart, intelligent comedienne with a good psychology book in hand. This was awful.

Rating:
Summary: this deserves no stars
Review: As soon as I started to read this book I wanted to puke. I am a student at this "posh suburban Dallas High School". Never in my life have I read such a stupid book. It is just filled with labels and hick names (Francine its people like you that give people images of riding a horse to school when they think of Texans). Franny, my dear friend, your other books may be good, but this one is just plain insulting. Don't bother with a sequel.

Rating:
Summary: Stick to what you're good at
Review: Francine Pascal is the mistress of popular young adult fiction. She started creating the Sweet Valley books back in the eighties and in 2004 has the Fearless series under her belt. Until now, she was often imitated (Alias, anyone?) but never duplicated.

I'll admit it--I'm twenty-five and I read the Gossip Girl series. Scratch that--it's an addiction. I have tried my hand at other would-be Gossip Girl knockoffs (The A-List, the Clique) and wrinkled my nose in disgust. Gossip Girl manages to be classy and trashy at the same time, full of tongue-in-cheek jabs at the characters and surprising insight into their often baffling motivations. When I heard that Pascal was writing her own Gossip Girl style novel, I had to read it. To my disappointment, the characters were depressingly flat, the shifting points of view were overblown, and the plot hinged on the kind of exaggerated misunderstanding you usually find in cheesy sitcoms. She even included a gossipy message board/chat room a la GG.

Francine Pascal is too classy for this. She created this genre years ago and wisely moved on to something new and different. Skip The Ruling Class and wait to see what YA brilliance she comes up with next.

Rating:
Summary: This book is full of LIES
Review: I also am from Highland Park. I can tell you one thing, Pascal, you need to do your research before you make a story using a real place. First of all, our school is nothing like what you say it is. I heard you have never even been to Highland Park. You make us all look rich and dumb and nobody should believe anything she says about us in this book.

Rating:
Summary: It's just fiction!!
Review: I grew up in Texas (Arlington) and am familiar with the setting of this book. I had to just laugh when I read it. Then I had to laugh harder when I read some of these reviews! Ladies...it's just fiction!! Relax, no one is judging you by this book. It's make-beleive.

I thought it was fun read!

Rating:
Summary: wtf, mates?
Review: I just have to say that a Highland Park High School does in fact exist in Dallas, and I feel compelled to make clear that this book gives readers a deceptive, not to mention alarming, portrayal of the school's actual student body. I attended J.J. Pearce High School (after Jessica Simpson), but a considerable amount of my friends were/are Highland Park students; I can certify that the teens there definitely do not behave as those in the slanderous pages of "The Ruling Class." Highland Park does not have a problem with cliques or exclusiveness or bullying of any kind. If anyone is excluded it is because they choose to be. With that said, I strongly suggest that Miss Pascal use better judgment the next time she considers publishing a book that could defame an honorable high school and embarrassing its students.

Rating:
Summary: not at all the real highland park: a message to Pascal
Review: Im a student at highland Park Highschool in Dallas, so the only reason why this book is fiction is because the names of the people aren't real and oh ya all the crap in here about us being snooby, stuck-up, rich kids. Ok, Francine, you have the whole thing with highland park wrong. First of all our school isn't a country club and isn't even close because of Robin Hood, but i guess you didn't know about that, maybe you should look it up and find out about it. The people in our school aren't snooby or stuck-up as you portray in your book about my highschool. Yes highland park is a nice town but we don't wear armani and all those other brands everyday. i usually wear jeans and a t-shirt, so do lots of people. Our school is giving and we help other people that are in need, so we obviously aren't rude people. We don't do the things the Ruling Class does in the book to people, cause it's inhumane and not nice at all. Sure we do have popular people at our school just like any other highschools you'll go to, but they don't look for new ways to torture the new kids. I haven't finished the book yet but so far almost everything you said about highland park isn't true, the only part being true is that we are wealthy, but it's not like we were born that way, our parents had to work hard to be where they are today, is that a crime or something. You shouldn't even be able to say these things about HP because you don't live here, you haven't even been here.So if your looking for a book to trash a good highschool that is one of the most academically excelled then read this one. and pascal next time your looking for a highschool to trash make sure you get your facts straight.

Rating:
Summary: luv it
Review: OMG!!! This book is awesome!!! If you have ever seen the movie Mean Girls and you thought they were mean, well you haven't seen anything. Francine Pascal did a great job portraying the diffrent types of people in high school. This book has a lot of explicit language. On the inside cover it says recomended for ages 14 & up.

Rating:
Summary: this book sucky sucky
Review: The first thing that came to my mind after reading this book sets the tone for my review: chainsaw massacre. And Paschal will be the first to go when I have it. I in real life happen to live in Highland Park of Dallas, and find this book to be completely ridiculous. Especially after Paschal writes about somewhere she's never been before. Sure, it's a nice area, but seriously... this book is completely over the top. Anyone who wrote a good review about the book clearly didn't read it from a critical standpoint. It is not just "another cutesy teen book". Quite the contrary, in my opinion. You like dumb books? Then you'll probably enjoy this one and I hate you for it, but for the rest of us normal people, STAY AWAY!!!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent work Ms. Pascal......
Review: The Ruling Class (or the RCs as they are otherwise known as), are an exclusive group of girls led by the beautiful but vicious Jeanette Sue. They rule the school and get their kicks from taunting the outsiders and no one seems to want to stop them.

When Twyla Gay Stark - a new girl who is wrong for the wealthy suburb of Highland Park and the school in every possible way - arrives, she immediately becomes a source of ridicule for the RCs. After being the victim of a particularly nasty joke, Twyla Gay vows revenge on the RCs and sets about plotting their downfall.

Francine Pascal's own actual works of fiction - aside from the bestselling series' that she has created - have never failed to satisfy her readers, and her latest novel, The Ruling Class is no exception.
It's an honest look at the issue of bullying and is dealt with in an amusing but realistic way through the narratives of two of the main characters, Myrna Fry and Twyla Gay.

Myrna Fry is a wannabe of the highest order, and in no way attempts to retain her dignity as she pulls out all the stops in order to become an RC. Something that she describes as her 'dream'. She is hardly a likeable character but, her narration is the source of plenty of amusement whether it be at her treatment of others (basically, anyone who isn't like the RCs), or her excuses for the mean ways that she is treated by the RCs. And boy, does she come up with some good ones!

In contrast, Twyla Gay's entries are the kind that almost every girl who has been in a similar situation can relate to. She's honest, witty and genuinely likeable and will have you rooting for her throughout.

My one complaint would be that the occasional entry by the Queen Bee herself (Jeanette Sue) shows little insight into why she acts the way she does and unfortunately, the book isn't as long as I would like it to be. However, these are are unimportant in regards to the whole book which is a must-read for Pascal fans and also for anyone who has experienced high school and the nightmare that it can be.