Epic Fail

Clair LaZebnik
HarperTeen (2011)
ISBN 9780061921261
Reviewed by Madeleine Sullivan (age 17) for Reader Views (10/11)

“Epic Fail” by Claire LaZebnik follows the lives of four sisters - Kaitlyn, Layla, Elise, and Juliana - who have just moved from Massachusetts because their parents have gotten jobs at an expensive high school in Los Angeles -- their mom is principal, and their dad is a science teacher. Told from Elise’s perspective, the book is based on “Pride and Prejudice,” as Elise struggles with judging the children of Hollywood’s elite.

Elise and her older sister Juliana are close, and when Juliana catches the attention of one Chase, Elise ends up spending a lot of time with Derek Edwards, son of award-winning actress and avant-garde director.  She finds him standoffish, rude, and judgmental, and prefers the company of somewhat oddball Webster Grant. The question is “who needs to learn about pride and prejudices?”

I often find romances, particularly young-adult romances, cheesy, and somewhat unbearable, but I enjoyed “Epic Fail.” Most of the characters had many layers of depth, which I didn’t predict from the get-go. A few minor characters and sub-plots, particularly the parents and sub-plots involving them, were underdeveloped and unresolved, but by brushing over lesser matters, LaZebnik kept the book the perfect length.

I additionally enjoyed LaZebnik’s detailed and clear descriptions. Throughout the book, phrases such as “his thin face lit up” or “he curled his body toward me” or “the two girls’ long, choppy manes and skinny bodies had been cast from the same basic mold” gave me a picture of what was going on. In fact, I rarely “see” things described in books, but throughout “Epic Fail,”I had vivid pictures of what was going on flashing through my head.

Not only was this book visual for me, but I really enjoyed Elise’s voice. She was a perfect mix of light sarcasm, and sweet naivety. She enjoyed and regularly engaged in just watching the action, describing what she saw, but certainly played a role in the plot of the book. Elise is a good balance of passive and active character, keeping the pace of the book varied and neither too slow or too fast.

“Epic Fail” was an enjoyable modern take on a classic story. The book was well written with clear descriptions, good pacing, excellent character and plot depth and development, and will be enjoyed by avid fans of Jane Austen’s book and readers who have not yet picked up the original story.

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