More on "Gossip Girl" series

The Gossip Girl books definitely lack parental presence and guidance. Parents rarely intervene, and when they do their actions are usually comical. For example, when Jenny's (sophomore) father gets a call from the principal in regards to her promiscuity and tardiness, he father resorts to sending her to an earthy-crunchy alternative school where the students make murals out of dung. After visiting the school he laughs at his own decision and ends up agreeing to send her to the boarding of her dreams- the one she has been trying to get him to agree to for the duration of the book. Similar rewards...oops I mean consequences :-) result for rebellious and often dangerous behavior throughout the book and the series.

Also, the books do not stress the importance of close relationships between females. In fact, they seem to undermine them. The main female characters in the series are typically cruel and aggressive towards each other, doing whatever they have to to establish and maintain their dominance. Most of the girls attend a female only boarding school, in which they do participate in various outings (such as senior spa weekend) as a group, but backstabbing and gossip tend to be the focal points of these events -as described by the author. When female characters experience a real loss (i.e. they break a nail -j/k) the deal with the situation in solitude or with a boyfriend. That female friend (or group of friends) that many of us require to support us through difficult times is just not there. Girls that are described as good or best friends, don't hesitate to back stab/push aside etc. their "best friend" for a guy or an opportunity to shine. -Just one more aspect of the book I found troubling!