Pop Girl

Gr 6–9—Storm, 13, loves to sing, and she knows with certainty that she is made for the stage. After a scheduled family vacation interferes with an opportunity for Storm to sing a solo on national radio, she becomes the most morose person ever to board a plane to Hawaii. However, a chance encounter leads her to a recording studio just outside her family's hotel, where a Hawaiian band is missing its flaky lead singer. Storm steps in to record vocals, but later, when one of the recordings receives radio play, she is given no credit for her contribution. Furious, she vents her frustration to a well-dressed man in the hotel elevator, impulsively gives him the recordings, and unwittingly launches her career as a pop singer. This title is a light but highly readable indulgence of an attractive fantasy to many young girls: being "discovered" and rising instantly to pop stardom. Interestingly, the author writes from personal experience. She is a Scottish pop star who was discovered at age 13 by Elton John. Yet unlike the author, the main character is not the daughter of parents who are already famous in their own right. Storm also struggles with self-centered thinking and tendencies, which may annoy readers seeking a more likable protagonist. Still, Storm's self-absorption is not without (mild) consequences, and the underlying themes of empathy and generosity may prompt readers to examine their own behavior.