Picture Perfect

Gr 5–7—Cassie wishes that real life would be as easy as the commercials in which she appears with a perfect fake mother, a clean and orderly set, and a script that tells her exactly what to say. A likable girl with a best friend who supports her, she is nonetheless struggling with her parents' breakup, a father who's rarely around, and a failing grade in science. Her mother, who'd rather do math equations than keep house, has forbidden commercial bookings until Cassie brings up her grade. She promises a B plus in summer school if her mother lets her go to auditions, partially because she has a big crush on Rory, another actor. She has no use for Nevin, a friendly but younger, nerdy neighbor who's taking the class for fun. Rory turns out to be a jerk and Nevin, the nice guy, but the book does not force a romance between him and Cassie. A predictable but pleasant read, this novel explores how messy a divorce can be and how a girl can make some wrong choices. Characters from Famous for Thirty Seconds (S & S, 2012) show up, and readers of the series will enjoy getting a different perspective on them.—Tina Zubak, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA