Bradford Bk. 1: GoldenGirl
by Micol Ostow

    GOLDENGIRL by Micol Ostow
    Category:  Contemporary
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 9+
    Release Date:  1/27/09
    Publisher:  Simon Pulse
    Reviewed by:  Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen
    Rating:  4 Stars


    As series' centered on the over-privileged and private school become even more popular, Micol Ostow creates her
    take on this popular genre for teens with her new series featuring Bradford Prep.

    The story features three main characters: Paige Andrews, the queen bee of the group; Madison Takahashi, the
    unique and most famous of the three; and Spencer Kelly, the narrator of this installment.

    Although she is the quiet one, Spencer still has a mind of her own.

    It’s the beginning of a new year at Bradford and already it starts off extremely complicated. Strolling with her new
    boyfriend, Tyler, Spencer bumps into her ex, Jeremy. She may have thought that she was over him, but with this
    encounter all of her old feelings come rushing back.

    Of course Paige doesn’t approve of Jeremy, and is quick to remind Spencer that she wouldn’t even be dating Tyler
    if it wasn’t for her. Despite this, however, Spencer understands that her feelings toward Jeremy are too strong to
    ignore, and it’s impossible to even try when he is everywhere she turns.

    A new year comes with a new student. Regan Stanford has just transferred in to Bradford and already she’s creating
    a ton of buzz. In no time, she befriends Spencer and Madison, who both find her a breath of fresh air. The only one
    to object to this is Paige. Everyone already knows a little of Regan’s past, but no one knew that it included queen
    bee Paige… at least not just yet.

    Join these alpha girls in their new year at Bradford, as relationships are torn, sabotaging the enemy is the game, and
    where scandals and discovering who your real friends are is crucial. Spence has one long year ahead of her, and in
    the end it just has to be survival of the fittest.

    Let’s just hope she can endure what fate has in store for her… it isn’t pretty.

    The first series to be accompanied with its own website, GOLDENGIRL is written in a blog format. All That
    Glitters is the blog that belongs to Spencer, and most of the time the privacy setting is set at vault, which basically is
    just for Spence and the readers to get the full scoop. It is accompanied by The Bradford Blog, updated by one of
    the three girls, which is to let all of the students, even the lower class, to know what’s hot and what’s so not.  

    Readers will find the BRADFORD series to be refreshing, as already the queen bee is taken down a notch, and the
    narrator does not entirely conform to all of her demands. GOLDENGIRL is a very promising start to a very unique
    and original series.

    Don’t forget to check out www.bradfordnovels.com, which contains blog updates, student bios, and so much more.