Teen Idol FROM OUR EDITORS
The Barnes & Noble Review
Princess Diaries creator Meg Cabot departs from her popular series with this star-studded tale of a midwestern high schooler who suddenly plays host to a Tinseltown heartthrob. Sticking with her slam-dunk formula of normal girls who get caught up in not-so-normal circumstances, Cabot spins another yarn worthy of red-carpet treatment, this time featuring junior Jenny Greenley, an Indiana native who writes for the school newspaper's anonymous advice column and has a knack for smoothing over bad situations. When Jenny is asked to be "student guide" to Hollywood teen celeb Luke Striker -- who's in town, undercover, to research his next film role -- she only wonders how they'll ever keep his identity secret. Sure enough, the cat's soon out of the bag, and Jenny shakes her world when Luke convinces her to use her influence at school for positive change. Of course, the book wouldn't be complete without a thread of romance for Jenny, too, and the author delivers a smart, surprising ending for her legions of fans. With all the makings of another winner, this stand-alone novel should satiate your appetite for lighthearted fare, Cabot style. The book delivers tantalizing events, realistic characters, and a good message to chew on, making for a solid read that will keep you snickering the whole time. By the end, you'll feel happier than a Best Actress winner on Oscar night. Shana Taylor
ANNOTATION
When teenage heartthrob Luke Stryker shows up at a small-town Indiana high school to do research for a movie role, he persuades junior Jenny Greenley to use her considerable talents to try to change things at school for the better.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Luke Striker, star of the silver screen and lover scorned, was coming to Clayton, Indiana.
"He's been cast as a Midwestern high school senior in his next film," Mr. Mitchell explained. "Luke feels he needs to immerse himself in Indiana high school culture in order to lend authenticity to his role--"
"Who knew he was so dedicated to his craft?" Ms. Kellogg asked.
Um, not me. I mean, you certainly couldn't tell from that Doritos commercial he'd done for last year's Super Bowl.
Another blockbuster from #1 New York Times best-selling author Meg Cabot! Cabot's talent for creating extraordinary stories about regular girls shines in this novel about Jenny Greenley, a junior who turns out to be much better at fixing other people's problems than her own.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Cabot (Princess Diaries) revisits her Hoosier roots, taking something of a break from the glitzy world of Genovia's royalty. But not too much of a break, since this brisk and bubbly tale explores what happens when teen heartthrob Luke Striker attempts to spend a week posing as an ordinary high school student in a small Indiana town, in order to research his next movie role. Luke's host (and the novel's peppy narrator) is Jenny, a well-liked junior at Clayton High who has her own secrets: she anonymously pens "Ask Annie," the school paper's advice column, excerpts of which appear before each of the novel's chapters. And she nurses a half-acknowledged crush on the paper's editor, Scott, who is dating someone else. Shocked by the cruelty of real-life high school, Luke convinces Jenny to become a force for good-to no longer simply be everybody's pal but to champion the downtrodden (such as the school's least popular girl, Cara "Cow") and fight for what's right (the return of a favorite teacher's kidnapped Cabbage Patch doll). As a reward, of sorts, Luke promises to come back to town to take Jenny to the high school's Spring Fling. The down-to-earth high school setting, peopled with recognizable, fully realized characters and ably described by Jenny, provides a sturdy springboard for the over-the-top Hollywood plotline, which Cabot delivers with a wink. A snappy and fun read that is-no doubt-soon to be ready for its own close-up. Ages 12-up. (Aug.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Children's Literature - Zeta Shearill
Jenny Greenley, the school mediator, the town go-between, and all-around good girl, finds herself in a sticky situation when teen idol Luke Striker shows up in disguise at her school. Luke is rehearsing for a role for his next movie and comes to her town to experience a regular teenager's life. Asked by the principal to escort Luke around school, Jenny must keep Luke's identity a secret, even from her best friend who has a major crush on this superstar. On top of this, Jenny must also keep her own personal secrets that threaten to tear her to pieces. She is the anonymous advice columnist for the school paper and is also in love with a guy who is dating someone else. Can she keep all of these secrets and maintain her own sanity? Jenny is not so sure she can, and it is becoming harder and harder to maintain the cool demeanor that she is known for. Teens will get caught up in the drama as Jenny discovers her own strength and her own heart. 2004, HarperCollins, Ages 12 to 17.
VOYA - Heather Pittman
High school junior Jen Greenley solves problems. Everyone counts on her to settle disputes, calm hysterical tears, and generally be the girl-next-door, liked and trusted by all. So it is no surprise when Jen is asked to be the student guide for a new boy at Clayton High. What does surprise her is that the new guy is really teen superstar Luke Striker in disguise. Luke is making a movie about high school, but having grown up on television, he knows nothing about real teens. Luke's identity is revealed before long, but he sees enough to be appalled at the vicious hierarchy of high school. He challenges Jen to make changes, and she responds by helping the class loser, standing up to the popular football captain, and defending herself from a verbally abusive teacher. This thoroughly enjoyable story will engage teen readers even though parts strain the limits of credibility. It is difficult to believe that no one has guessed that Jen is the secret author of the Ask Annie advice column of the school paper. It is also difficult to accept that Jen, ever the peacemaker, does not try harder to mend fences with her best friend. Jen's own romance is predictable but satisfying. Luke, the teen idol, is a relatively minor character. The story is really about Jen learning that the nice girl does have the power to make a difference, especially in her own life. Cabot does her usual excellent job of creating believable characters that act and sound like real teens. VOYA CODES: 4Q 5P J (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Every YA (who reads) was dying to read it yesterday; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2004, HarperCollins, 304p., and PLB Ages 12 to 15.
School Library Journal
Gr 7 10-Nothing much happens in the small town of Clayton, IN. At least not until major teen heartthrob, 19-year-old Luke Striker, comes to town to research a part for a new film project. Jen Greenley, a junior at the local high school and all-around friend to everyone, is assigned to show him around. The only problem is that no one besides Jen is supposed to know who he really is. Between keeping his identity a secret, lying to her best friend who's Luke's biggest fan, writing the advice column for the school paper, and developing a crush on her friend Scott who happens to already have a girlfriend, Jen is feeling a little overwhelmed. The characters are funny and engaging and the dialogue is just right; both elements redeem the somewhat predictable plot.-Ginny Collier, Dekalb County Public Library, Chamblee, GA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
AudioFile
Jenny is always smoothing things over. She's the perfect person to write the "Ask Annie" column for the school paper. When Hollywood heartthrob Luke Striker poses as a student to research a role, Clayton High won't ever be the same, least of all Jenny. It's refreshing to listen to Elisabeth Moss's sweet, solid voice nail every nuance of adolescent conversation and thought process. Moss's narration supports Jenny by keeping the story with all its subplots focused on her character development. The background music and the radio gossip reports played in the background of the epilogue add originality to the production. J.M.S. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine
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