Friends to Die for

Giberga's first novel is a page-turner pegged on the brutal murder of a teenage girl following a party at the home of a prep school classmate. Few of the party-goers knew the victim well--including the narrator, 16-year-old Crissy--but the murder and subsequent hounding by the press throw Crissy's whole ""A list"" circle into the public eye. Crissy, while equally privileged and wealthy, has a more or less normal life compared to her friends, whose parents are absent, indifferent and superficial. But then Crissy's mother, once a high-powered executive, plunges the family into the spotlight, too, by agreeing to an in-depth profile centering on her decision to give up her career in order to take care of her youngest son after he is hit by a car. The two hot news stories play off each other throughout, culminating in a drawn-out, implausible rescue scene in which Crissy tries to save her best friend (whose boyfriend turns out to be the murderer). While Giberga's portrayal of the rich and famous teen set on Manhattan's Upper East Side may be stereotyped and overly dramatic, her taut writing and Crissy's personal crises and vulnerability add depth and style. Ages 12-up. (July)