Image courtesy of amyvdh (creative commons)

One could also expect the pages to fly by filled with backstabbing, scandal, and shallow personal exploration. However, “Cum Laude” takes a much more serious approach to the coming-of-age teen novel.  It stands much closer to the writing style of Cecily Von Ziegesar’s other hit series, “It Girl.”  

Both stories investigate coming of age and dealing with the stress of balancing money, school, partying and, of course, teenage drama.   Like “It Girl,” it offers scandal in an excluded area, where a small group of kids are forced to live together.  

It incorporates the nature around them and the temptations that a small school offers.   Despite similarities though, “Cum Laude” presents a different approach than Ziegesar’s other novels by exploring the freshman experience.” The first year of college is supposed to be filled with experimentation and confrontation, both of which Ziegesar delivers.  

The story follows Shipley, a pretty blonde, from a rich family in Connecticut to the ivy-covered walls of a small liberal arts school, Dexter College. Joined by her thrifty roommate Eliza, hippie-nature-loving Nick and his adorable, jockey roommate Tom, she navigates the waters of a fun filled freshman year.  

Shipley proves to not be just another girl partying her way through freshman year as she elegantly maneuvers through the challenges presented to her.   From the disappearance of her brother to the battle with ecstasy with her boyfriend, Shipley encounters it all and deals with it gracefully.

The novel definitely differs from previous works of the author and anyone looking for a quick read in shallow gossip will be surprised to find depth in the Ziegesar’s characters.  

But rather than be disappointed by the variance of the deliverance and the slow start to the novel, readers should appreciate the digression and dive in and wait for the story to take off, as it will leave them fixated on a world of make believe in the dusty woods of Dexter.  

To reach contributor Olivia Reed, click here.