The Ruling Class

In the posh suburban Dallas high school of Highland Park, the beautiful and perfect Jeanette Sue is queen. The Ruling Class, her clique of spectacularly cruel girls, runs the school. Brutally. And no one questions them. Certainly not the little suck-up Myrna Fry, whose only aim in life is to be part of the Ruling Class, no matter what or who gets trashed.

It's a nightmare school caught in the grips of terror until the arrival of the totally undesir-able, absolutely unfashionable, and — way worse — poor Twyla Gay Stark. And then, of course, there is the tall and gorgeous hunk, Ryder McQuaid, Jeanette Sue's property. Or so Jeanette Sue thinks.

With uncanny insight and unforgettable characters Francine Pascal has created a searing, up-close look into the power games and class struggles within a seemingly friendly clique in a suburban high school. The Ruling Class is a magnetic tour de force created by a master storyteller at the top of her form.

Sick of being bullied and harrassed, a new girl at a wealthy suburban Dallas high school plots revenge on the girls in the ruling clique.

In the posh suburban Dallas high school of Highland Park, the beautiful and perfect Jeanette Sue is queen. The Ruling Class, her clique of spectacularly cruel girls, runs the school. Brutally. And no one questions them. Certainly not the little suck-up Myrna Fry, whose only aim in life is to be part of the Ruling Class, no matter what or who gets trashed.

It's a nightmare school caught in the grips of terror until the arrival of the totally undesir-able, absolutely unfashionable, and — way worse — poor Twyla Gay Stark. And then, of course, there is the tall and gorgeous hunk, Ryder McQuaid, Jeanette Sue's property. Or so Jeanette Sue thinks.

With uncanny insight and unforgettable characters Francine Pascal has created a searing, up-close look into the power games and class struggles within a seemingly friendly clique in a suburban high school. The Ruling Class is a magnetic tour de force created by a master storyteller at the top of her form.

Publishers Weekly

Pascal (the Sweet Valley High series) jumps onto the Alpha Girl trend that fueled books like Gossip Girl and the recent movie Mean Girls with this novel set in a wealthy high school outside Dallas. Most of the story unfolds through the points of view of two characters (indicated by different typefaces)-ultimate hanger-on Myrna Fry, and feisty Twyla Gay, a cash-strapped new student. Another voice occasionally intrudes, that of Jeanette Sue, leader of the school's most exclusive clique ("It's all about Jeanette Sue," says Myrna), the Ruling Class, known as the RCs. Twyla Gay becomes a favorite target for the RC's nasty pranks partly because of her unfashionable clothes, but mostly because she appears to have piqued the interest of Jeanette Sue's hunky ex-boyfriend. After the clique lures Twyla Gay to a deserted mall, where she narrowly escapes being raped, the girl vows to seek revenge and becomes the leader of a ragtag group of outcasts bent on overthrowing the social order. Unfortunately, this thread may not be convincing to readers; Twyla Gay's tactics (e.g., greasing a dance area with lip gloss so that Jeanette Sue takes an embarrassing tumble) seem like child's play compared to Jeanette Sue's chilling ability to turn ordinary teens into an ugly mob. Still, despite some sketchy plot elements, it may be hard for readers to put this novel down, thanks to its fascinating subject matter and catchy, fast-moving narrative voiced by all-too-recognizable teens. Ages 14-up. (Oct.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Francine Pascal is one of the most popular fiction writers for teenagers today and the creator of several best-selling series, including Fearless and Sweet Valley High, which was also made into a television series. She has written several novels, including My First Love and Other Disasters, My Mother Was Never a Kid, and Love & Betrayal & Hold the Mayo. In writing her stories, Ms. Pascal is inspired by her own memories of growing up and by the experiences of her three daughters.

Francine Pascal lives in New York and the south of France.