Influence

Gr 8 Up–The high-drama world of social media influencers is vividly described in this mystery seen from the perspectives of four young women. Delilah has just moved to L.A. from the Midwest and is in culture shock; former child star Jasmine is already famous and supporting her entire family; Fiona, despite her confident public persona, is wracked with secrets and self-doubt; and Scarlet is the “it” girl whom people secretly hate. When one of the girls dies unexpectedly, everyone is a suspect and perhaps also a target. The audio is narrated by Buckingham, the 17-year-old coauthor and social media personality, whose youthful voice perfectly reflects the characters’ ages. However, the audio is treated as a read-aloud rather than a performance. Buckingham’s brisk, sometimes rushed delivery leaves little time for expressed emotions, and although the book is told from multiple viewpoints, there is no differentiation among voices.