Girl vs. Superstar

August 23, 2010
In this breezy but charming novel—first in the Yours Truly, Lucy B. Parker series—sixth-grader Lucy is down on her luck. Her best friends have dumped her, her parents are divorced, her father's girlfriend is pregnant, and her mother's new boyfriend is the father of a Hannah Montana–like superstar, Laurel Moses. Laurel makes Lucy more aware of the latter's insecurities—that she has pimples and a bad haircut, is less pretty, less talented, and (much) less popular. As their respective parents' relationship deepens, the girls are thrown together often. Lucy is a rounded character with a consistent voice, and she does have compassion for Laurel; nevertheless, she has a difficult time seeing Laurel's life as anything less than perfect. Of course, Laurel has insecurities of her own, and it turns out that she, too, has been dumped by a friend. While the girls' eventual bonding is predictable, Palmer (Little Miss Red) gives a Hollywood twist to themes of friendship and family, and readers should look forward to the next installment. Ages 8–12.

April 1, 2010
Gr 5-7-Lucy B. Parker, 12, is having a difficult time. Her best friend dumps her, she still hasn't gotten her period, and her mom insists that she wear a bra. Just when things can't get any worse, her mom announces that she's going to marry the father of Laurel Moses, a TV-music-movie star (think Hannah Montana) who happens to hate Lucy's guts. That makes Lucy nothing but the less-pretty, less-talented stepsister of the most famous girl in the world. Gradually Lucy discovers that being a superstar isn't as glamorous and validating as she'd imagined. Palmer does a great job of showing the glitter of stardom as well as the downsides of fame. In the end, the girls learn that being friends and having family you can count on is worth more than any amount of celebrity. It's gratifying that Lucy and Laurel both experience significant attitude changes while also retaining the core of their personalities. Readers will relate to the lessons learned, but they aren't preachy or in-your-face. The writing is easy to follow, and this book will definitely be enjoyed by preteens who long for Laurel's glamorous life, while also appreciating with Lucy's stable home."Wendy E. Dunn, Fort Worth Public Library, TX"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2010
Grades 5-7 Sixth-grader Lucy has been dumped by her two BFFs, is on the alert for the start of her period, and is basically trying to get through each day without humiliating herself. The last thing she needs is to be known as the gawky, untalented stepsister of TV star Laurel Moses, the most adored teen celebrity in the world. But thats exactly what will happen when Lucys mom marries Laurels dad. Blending Lucys e-mails to TV agony aunt Dr. Maude with Lucys first-person narrative about how her life becomes increasingly entangled with Laurels, this funny, fast-paced book introduces what should be a promising new series. Lucy presents herself as just a normal girl trying to survive an extraordinary turn of events, but readers will recognize that there is nothing average about Lucy, and what she lacks in star quality is easily compensated for by her honesty, humor, and moxie. Give this to fans of Meg Cabots work, who will enjoy watching Lucy transition from small-town living to life in the limelight.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)