Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Point (January 1, 2011)
• Source: Bought, then sent a copy from Scholastic
• Author's Website: http://www.elizabetheulberg.com/
• Buy the book:  Amazon

After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn’t interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be — especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London.

Lizzie is happy about her friend’s burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles’s friend, Will Darcy, who’s snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn’t seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it’s because her family doesn’t have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk — so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?

Will Lizzie’s pride and Will’s prejudice keep them apart? Or are they a prom couple in the making? Whatever the result, Elizabeth Eulberg, author of The Lonely Hearts Club, has concocted a very funny, completely stylish delight for any season — prom or otherwise.

Review: 

Prom and Prejudice is a really cute modernized version of the classic Jane Austen novel.  In this telling, Elizabeth Bennet (Lizzie) is a scholarship student at the prestigious Longbourn Academy, where those without money are not just looked down upon, but bullied and ridiculed at every chance.  Lizzie's only friends are her sweet roommate, Jane, and another scholarship student, Charlotte.  In this version, Lydia is Jane's younger sister, and is quite obnoxious and socially unaware, embarrassing Jane at every opportunity.  Jane worries that this will hurt her chances with the fabulously rich and every-so-charming Charles Bingley, (who attends Pemberly Academy)  but he seems completely oblivious to any faults that Jane has.  Charles' best friend, Will Darcy is another story.  He seems to see the fault in everyone....especially, scholarship students.  

I thought this book was a really cute, simple read.  I think it will really be enjoyed by younger readers, or people that haven't read the original version of Pride and Prejudice the most.  As an older reader, who knows the story well, I found the book a little slow at times, knowing, basically, what the characters were going to do next.  But I really enjoyed the parts where the story deviated from the original.  Especially toward the end of the book, which I thoroughly enjoyed!  I just found the entire thing to be sweet and charming, and returning to this story was fun and refreshing!

I can't wait to see what Elizabeth brings us next!

• Sexual Content:  Minor
• Profanity:  One minor word
• Violence:  Mild
• Other Notables:  Two of the minor characters drink alcohol/get drunk

For more details about content, check out Prom and Prejudice on Parental Book Reviews!