The Devil Wears Prada

Bibliography:Weisberger, L. (2006) The Devil Wears Prada. New York, NY:Anchor.

Genre:Chick-Lit--Adult Crossover

Reading Level/Interest Age:16+yrs

Reader's Annotation:Andrea's new job as assistant to the editor of Runway magazine is much than she hoped for--if she can survive the first week!

Author:Lauren Weisberger has written several contributions to the adult chick-lit genre, including Chasing Harry Winston and Everyone Worth Knowing. This novel was recently made into a film starring Meryl Streep.

Plot Summary:Andrea's first job after college is working as Assistant to one of the fashion world's most famous and most notorious members, the Editor of Runway magazine, Miranda Priestly. Although she had been told to expect a rough first day, Andrea has no idea the extent of Miranda's wickedness. She keeps Andrea at her beck and call, twenty-four hours a day. Andrea learns to deal with the hectic workdays, and she even learns more about fashion. When her job at Runway starts to interfere with her relationships, Andrea wonders what happened to her priorities.

Critical Evaluation:This novel was somewhat enjoyable. I do not have much symphathy for the narrator. She does not have to put up with Miranda; I found myself hoping that she would quit. The unbelievably impossible things that Miranda forced her to do seem ridiculous. I wondered why anyone would put up with it. Andrea feels the same way, but she hangs onto the promise that Miranda will help her get her dream job ( writing for the New Yorker), if she stays with her for one year. I was disappointed in Andrea. She had just graduated from Brown University--no small accomplishment! She should not have sunk to the level of Miranda's assistant. Because of my perspective, I did not appreciate the novel. It was too silly for my tastes.

Curriculum Ties:N/A

Book Talk Ideas:read a passage of the novel or maybe watch part of the movie based on the book

Challenge Issues:language, sex, drinking

Why was this text included in this project?Older teenage girls are likely to pick this book up, perhaps having seen the recent film.