Briarcliff Prep
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4.8 • 5 Ratings
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
Set at a luxe, aspirational boarding school inspired by the author's beloved alma mater Spelman College, this debut is a captivating celebration of the friends we choose, the family we protect, and the love we owe ourselves. It's fourteen-year-old Avielle "Avi" LeBeau's turn to do what everyone in her family has done: leave home to attend Briarcliff Prep—a Historically Black Boarding School (HBBS). And as scared as she is to say goodbye to her parents and move to Georgia, she knows her fearless big sister Belle will be there to show her the ropes. Before long, Avi settles into life at Briarcliff. New friends (and foes), challenging classes (at times too challenging), and maybe a cute tutor-turned-something-more (if her brothers don't get in the way). Meanwhile, Belle does what she always does: she runs the campus's social scene, especially now that she's dating Logan, the pride and joy of Briarcliff's sibling school Preston Academy. But something about Logan doesn't sit well with Avi, no matter how many times Belle reassures her Logan is a good guy. And when Avi stumbles across the truth, her relationship with Belle is put to the test. If Avi reveals what she knows, their sisterhood might never recover. But if she doesn't, she might lose Belle forever. Debut author Brianna Peppins deftly balances a celebration of sisterhood, self-discovery, and Black joy with an empathetic exploration of teen dating violence in this novel that is, at its heart, a love letter to Black girls.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Avielle LeBeau is an incoming freshman at prestigious Briarcliff Preparatory School for Girls, a Historically Black Boarding School in Georgia attended largely by affluent Black teens. Avi is excited to finally be in the same school system as her older siblings, especially her sister Belle, a senior and the most promising performer of Briarcliff's dance troupe, the Cheetahnaires. Avi also has her own aspirations: she's set on making a good impression with the staff of Briarcliff's student newspaper Cliff News, determined to become their creative writing columnist. Avi doesn't take long to make new friends, and she soon develops feelings for her handsome math tutor Quincy, who goes to the neighboring all-boys school and happens to be her older brother's best friend. But when Avi witnesses Belle's boyfriend, the Briarcliff headmaster's son, physically assaulting Belle, Avi struggles to advocate for justice and maintain her fledgling social life at school. Brimming with a wealth of pop culture references—Belle dreams of modeling her career after "Beyoncé's dance captain"—and told via a limited omniscient viewpoint that renders Avi's life and the people around her in expertly nuanced detail, this powerful debut compassionately tackles themes of class privilege and domestic violence. Ages 14–up.
Customer Reviews
BP
I’ve always loved reading. This book created a whole new meaning of reading for me. Especially since it is written by a black women. To Ms. Peppins, please never stop writing. You will always have a reader in me. I look forward to the sequel!
Much love ~Nala