50 pages • 1 hour read
Curtis SittenfeldPrep
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2005A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld follows Lee Fiora, a working-class girl from South Bend, Indiana, who navigates life at Ault, a prestigious New England prep school where she struggles academically and socially. As Lee tries to fit in amidst affluent peers, she experiences moments of personal growth, complex friendships, and romantic entanglements, all while grappling with her identity. The novel contains fatphobia, suicide, and bigoted representations of race, ethnicity, and gender.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Many reviews praise Curtis Sittenfeld's Prep for its sharp, insightful portrayal of adolescence and boarding school life, highlighting the protagonist's authentic voice and well-developed characters. However, some critics found it overly detailed and meandering, which can slow the narrative pace. Overall, it's seen as a compelling, if sometimes lengthy, coming-of-age story.
Who Should Read Prep?
A reader who enjoys a coming-of-age story set in a prestigious prep school, rich in character development, and exploration of adolescent angst would appreciate Curtis Sittenfeld's Prep. Fans of J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye and John Green's Looking for Alaska will find similar themes and emotional depth.
Recommended
Reading Age
18+yearsBook Details
Coming of Age / Bildungsroman
Realistic Fiction
Society: Education
Identity: Femininity
Society: Class