Pace Academy Books in Order

The Pace Academy books move Niobia Bryant into teen fiction, but the things she likes writing about are all still here, status, desire, family pressure, friendship, and the way public image can complicate private feelings. The difference is the setting. Pace Academy is an exclusive private school in Saddle River, New Jersey, where wealth and fame are normal, and where even high school drama comes dressed in labels and chauffeur service.

At the center are the Pacesetters, Starr, Dionne, and Marisol. They are friends, rivals at times, and very aware of the social order around them. Starr has ambition and connections. Dionne is trying to move through a richer world without losing herself. Marisol lives close to fame but cannot control what it does to her family. Together, they give the series a good mix of glitter and vulnerability.

Being rich does not make adolescence easier.

That is really the point. The girls may have money, access, and attention, but they still deal with gossip, clique politics, first love, jealousy, and the fear of being left behind. Bryant keeps the tone lively and dramatic without forgetting that these are teenagers trying to figure out who they are when everyone is looking.

If you like school-set series where the stakes are social, emotional, and family-driven, Pace Academy is a fun fit. It has the glossy surface of a prep-school drama, but the appeal comes from watching each girl discover that money can cushion a fall without ever preventing one.