Question

I'm reading a book , and I don't understand this small phrase. Could you please tell me what it means, thanks.

~Or they'll be so horrified by my mother's newly-found 'lifestyle' that they'll slowly start ignoring me. In tenth grade—at least in Vienna, Virginia—this is the kiss of death. Even worse than not being one of the cool crowd. Which is the type of person I currently am. Not quite cool, that is.

To be more specific, I don't get the line starting with "In tenth-grade-.... ending with kiss of death.

Answer 1

She's saying that her mother's lifestyle will be ridiculed by her classmates and that she'll be shunned and ostracized.

Answer 2

Oh, thank you very much Ms. Sue:-)

Answer 3

You're very welcome, Sara. :-)