Instafamous

Gr 5-8–Lyric Whitney Houston Darby, 12, has always known what she wants to be: a star! With parents in the music industry and a voice that people love to listen to, she knows it is her time. When the competition show American Rockstar holds tryouts in town, she goes against her mom’s wishes. But there are a few requirements: you must have industry experience and at least 10,000 followers on Instagram. Now with the help of her best friends, Twinkie and Georgia, Lyric must perform for American Rockstar, get the leading role in her school’s play, and figure out how to get all those followers. Can she accomplish that without losing who she is? Although this novel hits all the right notes for tweenagers, the execution is flawed. Lyric’s diva attitude is hard to overlook, as is how she treats everyone around her. The one thing that rings true is when the characters are talking about what is going on in their lives in the group sessions. Readers may also struggle with the slang terms, as they go out of fashion as quickly as they come in.