The Ashleys

Srishti G.

12/9/10

Pages: Book Finished

The Ashleys

By: Melissa De la Cruz

               

                The Ashleys tells the story of three popular girls named Ashley and a fourth girl who has basically been an unattractive loser all her life. The story takes place in California and when the fourth girl, name Lauren’s, dad gets his big break in the entertainment industry she gets a make-over, and brand new clothes. All her life Lauren has wanted to fit in and be popular, now she has the right look but will that change anything?  I think the theme of this book would have to be “trying to be popular and fit in”. I picked this as the theme because the entire story follows Lauren as she tries to accomplish just that. For example on page 5 the author writes: “Lauren clenched her jaw. What if they saw through her six-hundred dollar haircut and carefully accessorized uniform and decided she was just the same old dork she had always been?” In this paragraph Lauren worries about the Ashleys not liking her. And she knows if the Ashleys don’t like her then not only will she not be popular but NO ONE will like her. Also on page119 the author writes Lauren asking the Ashleys, “What would you like… We’ve got everything on hand.”  She says this after the Ashleys have entered her private jet. The author then goes onto write, “She showed them the well-stocked pantry in the galley kitchen.” In these sentences Lauren tries to impress the Ashleys by showing them how cool her private jet happens to be and how much food and other forms of entertainment can be found in it. She does this in hopes of being allowed to join the Ashleys.