Secret Society

by Tom Dolby

Overview

Secrets, secrets are no fun. Secrets, secrets hurt someone. . . .

An eccentric new girl. A brooding socialite. The scion of one of New York's wealthiest families. A promising filmmaker. As students at the exclusive Chadwick School, Phoebe, Lauren, Nick, and Patch already live in a world most teenagers only dream about.

They didn't ask to be Society members. But when three of them receive a mysterious text message promising success and fame beyond belief, they say yes to everything—even to the harrowing initiation ceremony in a gritty warehouse downtown and to the ankh-shaped tattoo they're forced to get on the nape of their necks. Once they're part of the Society, things begin falling into place for them. Week after week, their ambitions are fulfilled. It's all perfect—until a body is found in Central Park with no distinguishing marks except for an ankh-shaped tattoo.

Tom Dolby makes his teen fiction debut with this riveting novel about a dangerous society so secret that once you get in, you can never get out.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061949838
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/29/2009
Series:	Secret Society Series , #1
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	368
File size:	486 KB
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Tom Dolby is the author of the novels Secret Society, The Sixth Form, and The Trouble Boy. He was born in London, raised in San Francisco, and now divides his time between Manhattan's West Village and Wainscott, New York. He is a graduate of Yale University, where he received his BA in the history of art.

What People are Saying About This

Melissa de la Cruz

"Lush, delicious, and decadent like the best New York novels, Secret Society combines Edith Wharton flair with Wes Anderson-style wit in an addictive, adventure-filled read. Get initiated now!"--(Melissa de la Cruz, New York Times bestselling author of Blue Bloods)

Editorial Reviews

There’s plenty of pomp, snootiness and closely guarded secrets to go around in this first book in a planned series, Dolby’s foray into YA writing. A group of 15 teens—plucked from the cream of New York’s Nat Sherman–smoking, Marc Jacobs bag-toting prep school elite—are given VIP passes to a glamorous underground world. Exclusive all-night parties in undisclosed locations are the norm, bottomless alcoholic beverages are supplied and unquestioning loyalty is expected. Following three chosen ones—fledgling club promoter Nick, wannabe artist Phoebe and jewelry designer/fashionista Lauren—as well as outsider Patch, the foreboding story has the feel of a hazing about to go awry, especially when the three slowly realize that the Society and its “benefits” aren’t what they seem (confirming what readers will suspect all along). While the somewhat interchangeable characters teeter into archetypal/stereotypical territory, readers are likely to be too caught up in the suspense to notice. Dolby covered similar ground—private school upbringings, influence peddling and the deceptive merits of the nouveau riche lifestyle—in his second novel for adults, The Sixth Form, but who’s complaining if the formula works? Ages 12–up. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

Gr 8 Up—Three privileged Manhattan teens who attend an exclusive boarding school receive mysterious text messages with the same unfamiliar address. They arrive at the designated location, where they are ushered into a large room filled with people dressed in evening attire and wearing masks. Alcohol flows freely as they mingle among the glamorous partiers. But too much alcohol makes them woozy, and they are led to a secret room where they are tattooed and sworn in as Society Initiates. At first, they feel privileged to be part of such an exclusive group. But when the Society shows its sinister side by doing away with members who step out of line, the girls rethink their membership and fight to save their friends and, ultimately, themselves. Dolby does a nice job of creating suspense and tension in the story, but an awkward plot, flat characters, and stilted dialogue make it disappointing. Also, the purpose of the secret society ("preserving the life that your parents want you to live") seems too weak to warrant secret meetings and dire happenings. E. Lockhart's The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks (Hyperion, 2008) is a better choice for readers interested in private schools and secret societies.—Kelley Siegrist, Farmington Community Library, MI

School Library Journal

Already attending one of New York City's prestigious prep schools, Nick, Phoebe and Lauren are all invited to join The Society, an exclusive secret club that places its members on the fast track to power, success and wealth. As they become more involved, each must confront divided loyalties: Nick's best friend is preparing an expose, Lauren's new boyfriend is on a self-destructive path and Phoebe's artistic success is not fully her own. Pulling from the vast field of teen literature and pop culture, Dolby's attempted amalgamation of Gossip Girl, The Clique and Eyes Wide Shut never comes together. Half-formed relationships lead to forced character interactions, leaving readers overwhelmed by the author's guiding hand. Phoebe's early naivete is a grating plot device; how many teenagers actually believe the world is fair? Nick and Lauren are stereotypes of prep-school characters, and the author makes little effort to distinguish them from the other faceless students at their school. A broad ending leaves room for sequels, though this bland attempt at suspense needs no followup. (Fiction. YA)

Kirkus Reviews