Bring Down the Night

Termed a ""graphic novel'' by its publisher, this book (the first in a series) has a comic book's style: balloon dialogue, arch asides and tropical colors splashed across fashion storyboards. Four girls in Palm Beach band together following the suicide of a friend and dub themselves the Pink Flamingos. Sophisticated thug Joey De Silva is ruining or running all of their lives through his connections in the drug tradehanding out fur coats (no price tag attached, but there's always a cost) and even sleeping with one girl's mother. The girls act fast and make wavesbut even when Joey is ``taken care of,'' there are other, bigger sharks in the waters for future books. In this story, Miami Vicecinematic storytelling, fade-ins and fade-outs, slick exterior shots and stagey cuesmeets Millie the Modelfriends Jody, Lana, Jackie and Carla slip from one ``cool'' outfit to the next, and their newest member, waitress/motorcyclist Amber seems destined for a makeover. Though this is an expensive proposition for the comic-book crowd, and is rather short for YA romance fans, Bring Down the Night is high-concept and extremely hipit should have strong adult appeal. Ages 12-up. (September)