Article: Beauty: Shock lit to 'em ASK THE SHOPPING DOCTOR...; Packed full with drugs, smoking, drinking, swearing, constant gossiping and talk of sex - this is not your average teenage book. Gossip Girl, the first in a series of new novels, has sparked a storm of controversy for its sleazy depiction of young life. Here author Cecily von Ziegesar hits back and explains why every parent should insist their daughters read it.(Features)

Byline: Cecily von Ziegesar

YES, the book does feature teenagers drinking, smoking, talking about and trying to have sex but it is not meant to corrupt.

The book is not an issue book, I did not set out to put these different aspects in, I just tried to write about what young people are doing.

My characters are like teenagers anywhere in the world, but because these characters are privileged High School students, who go to an exclusive school in New York City then I suppose it does seem more glamorous.

On top of this, their lives are ruled ...

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