White House Rules

June 25, 2007
For 16-year-old Sameera “Sparrow” Righton, star of the first title in Perkins’s (Rickshaw Girl
) First Daughter series, life on her father’s presidential campaign trail is anything but easy. In addition to worrying about the paparazzi snapping photos of her at inopportune moments and appearing supportive of her parents at all times, Sameera has to do everything in her power to look good—and (because she’s both adopted and Pakistani) as American as possible. So when the campaign PR guru suggests a makeover in order to spruce up her image (a new wardrobe, a more confident walk, a more stylish 'do) Sameera reluctantly agrees. But the supposedly benign plan morphs into an attempt to change her personality and tone down her outspoken views (“You need to use 'uh-huh a lot more.... And giggle as much as you can.”), and Sameera decides to reclaim her true identity, even if it costs her father the Presidency. Although it touches upon racial profiling, trafficking and prejudice, the book mostly concerns itself with Sameera’s transformation. Even before her makeover efforts, Sameera is an intelligent, witty and prepossessed heroine (and an inveterate blogger, with an actual site maintained at www.sparrowblog.com
). Though the story tends toward the lighthearted, teens should enjoy this peek at the behind-the-scenes finessing that goes on in modern politics. Ages 12-up.

February 1, 2008
Gr 5-8-In this sequel to "First Daughter: Extreme American Makeover" (Dutton, 2007), Sameera Righton, the adopted Pakistani daughter of President-elect and Mrs. Righton, has recently moved into the White House. During the transition, Sameera is faced with several challenges. Her romance with Bobby gets put on hold when he accompanies his family to India to be near his dying grandfather. While waiting for his return, and for permission from Bobby's grandfather for him to date her, she hangs out with her cousin Miranda, attends White House functions, and posts to Sparrowblog, which gives readers an insider's view of the White House, plus Sparrow's thoughts on subjects such as dating. But soon Sameera grows tired of "life in a bubble" and wants to attend school. She decides on an inner-city DC high school where she can experience the real world. For her 17th birthday, she throws a bash, inviting the entire junior class to come to the White House. Sameera's world is one of diverse political persuasions, faiths, and ethnicities, where kindness and understanding allow all people to get along. In a genuine online blog, as well as a MySpace profile, Perkins has created a life for Sameera that extends beyond the book. Readers who enjoy Meg Cabot's "Princess Diaries" (HarperCollins) and others of the same ilk will enjoy reading about Sameera."Catherine Ensley, Latah County Free Library District, Moscow, ID"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2008
This picks up where Extreme American Makeover (2007) left off, with 16-year-old Sameera now living in the White House. The new presidents daughter, adopted from Pakistan when she was three, finds pluses and minuses in being First Daughter. Chick lit with a political edge (and a nod to the Princess Diaries series), this offers some interesting takes on the pressures and pitfalls of celebrity, and Sameeras relationship with a boy from India brings international tensions to a personal level. Although Perkins tries mightily to incorporate backstory, knowing the first book in the Sameera series will be helpful.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2008
Sameera's life as first (adoptive) daughter is pretty sweet, with black-tie balls, two-hour school days, and plenty of blogging, political and personal, at sparrowblog.com. If only her boyfriend's parents didn't object to her ethnicity. This romanticized view of White House life is candy-coated, but fans of the previous book will enjoy the sugar high.

(Copyright 2008 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)