Private is a series of young-adult novels by American author Kate Brian, beginning with 2006's entry of the same name. The books chronicle the rise of ambitious teenager Reed Brennan, the series' narrator, as she becomes a member of her new school's elite dorm—composed of a glamorous yet disparate group of teens known as the Billings Girls. As the series progresses, several matters surrounding mystery, morality, and romance arise.
Thematically, moral ambiguity is a prominent feature of Brian's work. Extreme cases of loyalty and antagonism are personified in characters such as Noelle Lange and Ivy Slade—to degrees that are sometimes questioned or denounced by the narrator.Brian, K: Inner Circle, pp. 80. Simon Pulse, 2007. However, it is often only after the details of another character's background have been revealed that Brennan can understand what motivates them, which will occasionally leave her conflicted in her judgments.Brian, K: Ambition, pp. 277. Simon Pulse, 2008. The series has companion works, set in the past and the future, which are dedicated to further exploring character. These novels include the Private prequel collection, which focuses on various figures, and the spin-off series Privilege, which follows the resourceful but disturbed Ariana Osgood.
To convey the story's tone, the series' art team was composed of select individuals with backgrounds in teenage popular culture and youth-oriented fashion. As a recurring visual theme, each cover from the central story depicts three young women on front, with a fourth featured a slight distance apart on the opposite side.
Debuts of Private novels have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list.'New York Times' Best Sellers nytimes.com. March 9, 2008. Retrieved on March 10, 2008 The publisher has also released e-book editions of the series and its spin-off. In May 2009, a Web series based on the Private novels was announced. A film adaptation began production at Warner Bros. in 2016, but was subsequently cancelled during development.
Overview The Private continuity is divided into three sets of novels: The original series, which covers present events; the spin-off Privilege, which takes place 1–2 years in the future; and the prequel collection, which is set during various points of the past.
The original series begins with the introduction of Reed Brennan, a savvy and ambitious honors student who enters the prestigious Easton Academy private school. Coming from a shaken family and a mundane everyday life, she is eager to explore the brand new setting that awaits her in Connecticut. Unexpectedly, the center of her fascination soon becomes a famed dorm known as Billings House and the posh girls who reside there—Noelle, Ariana, Kiran, and Taylor. In time, Reed pines to become a Billings Girl herself, and is faced with many tests and compromises along the way. As the series progresses, several additional characters and their histories are introduced and focused upon.
Production
Conception
Simon & Schuster backed Private with book displays in Barnes & Noble outlets and a promotional contest through CosmoGIRL! magazine, in which 20 winners would receive free copies of book #1. Brian has stated that the setting of the series was conceived by her editor at Simon & Schuster, while she herself chose a central focus. After a certain amount of consideration, the author decided that mystery would be the ideal center of her characters' environment.
Art team
The series' cover team was composed of individuals who have worked with teen idols and socialites. Graphic designer Julian Peploe—who previouslyJulian Peploe julianpeploestudio.com. Retrieved on June 23, 2008 worked on CD covers for the Pussycat Dolls, The Veronicas, and Brandy—is largely credited for the signature cover image depicting supposed antipathy between one girl and three others. Series photographer Roger Moenks had worked with Joss Stone prior to his being chosen to photograph the Private models.Roger Moenks Photography rogermoenks.com. Retrieved on June 23, 2008 In addition, Mr. Moenks and co-photographer Laurent Alfieri had collaborated before working on Private, at some points taking photos of young businesswomen from around the world to illustrate a series of articles written by David Benaym for L'Officiel."Officiel" benaym.com. October 2004. Retrieved on June 23, 2008
Stylist Christina Havemeyer has stated that when deciding what the models will wear, "I look for obviously what I think is going to be something that a teenage girl is going to gravitate toward." She has noted the significance of color and variety. "Mixing and matching is very important. . .you can buy something from the store that's brand new and you can mix it with your grandma's necklace from 1959. So it creates kind of a luxe, but young, youthful look."'Private' videos alloy.com. June 2008. Retrieved on June 23, 2008
Since premiering, the series has been worked on by other noted artists, including Alloy Entertainment's visual director, Andrea C. Uva.'Private' series Publication Dates simonandschuster.com. Retrieved on October 21, 2007
Cover models In mid-2009, the series' Web site revealed alternative covers for several of the previously released US editions. Of the original covers, the models appearing on the first book—who grace the next three installments as well—portray the following characters according to Kate Brian: Noelle (center), Ariana (left), Taylor (right), and Kiran (back cover).Kate Brian's page at MySpace. Retrieved on August 23, 2007 The identities of other characters to appear have largely been left unverified.
Characters
Private has an expansive cast and a regularly changing hierarchy. As conflicts ensue, the series is marked by exits, arrivals, and social ascensions. Consequently, characters who are on supporting status reach new heights, and characters who hold prominent positions are faced with a variety of descents, ranging from quiet to scandalous.
Reed Brennan The collected, curious protagonist, Reed is a brown-haired girl from Pennsylvania who enters Easton Academy for her sophomore year on a scholarship at the beginning of the first book. Her troubled family background and otherwise placid past makes her overly ambitious and docile when presented with exciting opportunities. Though gifted both academically and athletically, her first major aspiration at Easton is to get into Billings House, which holds the allure of great social privileges and respect. She manages to get the attention of the Billings Girls, and a series of initiations to test her credibility follows. She initially dates a rebellious boy named Thomas Pearson, who disappears in the first novel and is revealed to have died in the second. Later, she begins a longer romantic relationship with a fellow student named Josh Hollis. As the series progresses, she experiences several physical perils, emotional challenges, and personal surprises, leading her to realize that appearances can be deceiving.privatenovels.com privatenovels.com. Retrieved on March 6, 2008
Noelle Lange Noelle is a brown-haired young woman who initially serves as 'leader' of the girls in Billings House. Fiercely loyal to her friends, she is the implied counterpart to Reed, being similarly skilled in lacrosse and soccer, and apparently coming from a shaken family of her own. However, her privileged upbringing tends to make her blunt and sometimes insensitive, as she enjoys intimidating other students as well as the Easton staff. She is shown to be overly self-confident to the point of arrogance, but very intelligent. According to some of her peers, she cannot live without drama in her life. Noelle possesses a long, red scar along her stomach, just above her hipbone from a childhood horseback riding accident. She has an unstable longtime romantic relationship with another senior named Dash McCafferty. As the series progresses, Noelle becomes Reed's best friend and ally. Later in the series, facts about Noelle's family are revealed and it is discovered that Noelle is Reed's paternal half-sister.
Ariana Osgood Ariana is the quietest member of the group, possessing blue eyes, ethereal white-blond hair, and a penetrating stare. She is known for always having her nose in a book, and is considered to be Reed's first friend in Billings, as it was Ariana who introduced Reed to the others. Beneath her exterior, Ariana is eventually revealed to have darker issues as the series progresses. She becomes the lead character of the first prequel, Last Christmas, and the spin-off, Privilege.
Josh Hollis
Josh is a blond-curled Easton student who is known to be quiet and is also an artist who possesses keys to the frequented art cemetery. He soon becomes Reed's primary romantic interest. The two begin dating during Reed's first year at the school. However, Josh often shows his distaste towards the Billings Girls, and sometimes quarrels with Reed about her ties to Billings House. In Legacy Josh breaks up with Reed when he finds her with Dash. Then he starts to date Ivy Slade. By the end of Scandal, he and Reed are a couple again. However, halfway through Vanished Reed is forced to break up with Josh, because someone is holding Noelle hostage and is giving Reed tasks to win her life back. Josh is appalled at first, but then later realizes that it was the kidnappers doing and gets back together with Reed.
Kiran Hayes The most glamorous Billings Girl, Kiran is a model with brownish-gold eyes, brown hair, and tan skin. She has extremely good sense in fashion, and is capable of turning people into superstar lookalikes. She is also known to be shallow and 'bratty' to others. Beneath the surface, Kiran is troubled by alcoholism, which can lead to repercussions for herself and the others. She becomes a secondary character following the completion of the series' first arc. She makes an appearance in the Privilege series, during which Ariana pushes a drunken Kiran off a bridge.
Taylor Bell A brainy, sensitive member of the group who possesses messy dark blonde curls and blue eyes; Reed's first impression of her is of a "cherub." She claims to have a photographic memory, and possesses a sweeter and more innocent nature than that of her three friends, as she is often visibly sensitive to others' feelings. Like Kiran, Taylor becomes a secondary character following the completion of the series' first arc. In the third book, Taylor leaves Easton to go back to public school. It is later discovered in Paradise Lost that Taylor was intimidated into leaving Easton by Ariana.
Ivy Slade A prominent antiheroine, Ivy Slade is a sassy and intelligent girl introduced in the fifth novel. During the series' second arc (books 5–8), she reveals a firm hostility toward all things associated with Billings House. She is described as a match for the Billings Girls in terms of beauty and glamour. However, she is the only character known to have declined an invitation to join the dorm. Eventually, Ivy and Reed form a truce in the interests of a common goal, leading to a friendship between the two.Brian, K: Scandal, pp. 16. Simon Pulse, 2010. She finally fulfills her destiny and becomes a Billings Girl later in the series, at Reed's request.
Halls of residence Easton Academy is unofficially distinguished by a caste-like environment, socially divided by lower-, middle-, and upper-class dormitories.
Billings House