Pop Princess

From Barnes & Noble

The Barnes & Noble Review
A teen Dairy Queen worker -- with connections and a too-cool name to boot -- rises to music stardom in this trendy, candy pop–filled read from Gingerbread and The Steps author Rachel Cohn.

Although Wonder Blake stands in the daunting shadow of her sister, Lucky -- a burgeoning pop star who died in a tragic accident -- she has true talent that's all her own. So when Lucky's former manager, Tig, spots her in Dairy Queen and asks her to audition, Wonder soon finds herself on the way to the top of the pop charts with her debut song, "Bubble Gum Pop." Fortunately, Wonder has Kayla (Lucky's former friend and a singing celeb) to help indoctrinate her into the ways of pop princess-dom, and Wonder gets a taste of fame that has its sweet rewards. But fast fame also has its price, and Wonder's singing career ends almost as quickly as it started. In the end, however, it's the heart and soul that count, and Wonder's journey back to the average life brings her closer to the important stuff she'd overlooked all along.

With its slick cover and media-savvy tone, Cohn's novel will leave readers feeling like they've been given a VH1 Behind the Scenes-turns-literary glimpse into the life of a pop star. Cohn's message about glamour's temporary status and the media shines through, while she never forgets the issues of family, sex and romance, and school life. If you're looking for more about music stardom, check out Sarra Manning's Guitar Girl and Britney Spears' A Mother's Gift. Shana Taylor

Publishers Weekly

Wonder Blake finds herself living every teenager's dream scenario: while singing along to her Walkman during her shift at the Dairy Queen, she is discovered by a big-time agent. Ages 13-up. (Sept.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature

Wonder Blake discovers the payoffs and the costs of stardom when her sister's former manager offers her a record contract. Wonder's shaken family has moved from Boston to a sleepy coastal town after the death of big sister Lucky. As an outcast at the local high school, Wonder is eager to try a new life. Old friend and teen idol Kayla takes Wonder on as protégé and makes a worthy villain, deflating Wonder's successes and foiling her new romance. Clever plotting, convincing teen slang, and the allure of celebrity sizzling with hot bodies and competing egos propel the story. The novel is as addictive, but less vacuous, than the subject of Wonder's hit record 'Bubble Gum Pop', and a fun read with values finally falling into the right places. After months on tour and under corporate pressure to diet and exercise for hours, Wonder is relieved to be dropped by her record company. By then she has earned enough to finance house repairs and a college degree. Several scenes throb with life, like the afternoon when her high school crush kicks her out for refusing to have sex with him. Wonder progresses from passive pop ingénue to a thinking young adult. And when she is ready for a committed and honest relationship, she rediscovers the once-nerdy and now alluring old friend next door. The late revelation that Lucky was gay deserves more development and sticks out as an unnecessary gimmick. Recommended for libraries, with plenty of appeal for teen girls. 2004, Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, Ages 13 up.
—Ann Philips

KLIATT

To quote the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, March 2004: Sexy cover art—the midriff of a lovely girl with a rhinestone in her navel: pop princess indeed. Cohn is the author of the acclaimed Gingerbread and knows how to relate to the YA audience. Wonder Blake (yes, that is her name) is still mourning the death of her older sister, who was headed for success as a songwriter and singer. The sisters were part of a local teen TV show, so Wonder has experience singing and dancing, but her life as the story begins is terrible. The family has moved and Wonder is the tortured new girl at a provincial high school, working at the Dairy Queen for spare change. As she is mopping the floor one evening, dancing and singing at the top of her lungs with her headphones on, a talent agent who knew her sister asks her if she is interested in a recording contract. And so it begins. YA readers will eagerly absorb the details of Wonder's pop princess career: getting settled in Manhattan, becoming the opening act in a tour starring a pop phenom named Kayla, having a hit song and appearing on TV shows promoting her work, experiencing Kayla's jealousy, becoming confused by the attentions of the son of Kayla's bodyguard, and so on. For the younger YAs, it might be important to note there are swear words and sexual encounters, sure to upset some, but basically PG-13 material. Wonder's crush on Liam, who thinks he loves Kayla, is exquisitely painful. And how does it all end? Wonder decides she wants to become more her own person, her own songwriter, and less a product for sale by record companies: she takes time to attend college classes and discovers true friends. We don't know what will be in herfuture, but feel that she is more comfortable with herself and less driven by comparisons with her older sister. This is sure to be a popular choice among YA readers, and it is thoughtful and intelligent as well. KLIATT Codes: JS*—Exceptional book, recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2004, Simon & Schuster, Pulse, 311p., Ages 12 to 18.
—Claire Rosser

School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up-Light, frothy, and delicious, this novel documents 15-year-old Wonder Blake's rise to fame and fortune. When the story begins, she's a not-very-popular high school student slaving away at Dairy Queen. She is "discovered" by an old friend of the family-the same man who managed her older sister Lucky's music career until Lucky was killed in a tragic accident. Wonder releases a single and catapults to fame, but predictably discovers that the life of a pop princess is not a bed of roses. She must still deal with family problems, romantic dilemmas, and the shallow world of the music industry, where she is viewed as a product to package and sell. She is tempted by parties, drugs, and drinking but quickly learns that they don't mix with her new career. Her love life is more difficult to navigate. Wonder falls for a college student and loses her virginity to him, but the boy next door proves attractive as well. Nothing about the novel's conclusion will surprise readers, but the twists and turns on the way are so much fun that no one will care. It's pure fantasy fulfillment, a pleasurable read with enough substance to make readers care about the main character and cheer her on. With a gorgeous cover and major teen girl appeal, this is sure to be a winner.-Miranda Doyle, San Francisco Public Library Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Despite the promising title and the dust jacket of a girl's bare midriff with a navel diamond, this venture into the world of pop stardom falls surprisingly flat. Fifteen-year-old Wonder Blake, once a regular on a TV show, encounters a producer who recognizes her star potential. Wonder's family has been disintegrating since the death of her older sister, so Wonder seizes the chance to leave her troubles behind and enter the glamorous world of Britney Spears wannabes. But because Cohn is making the point that stardom involves far more hard work than fun, this is no romp about fashion and wealth. At the same time, it lacks dramatic tension, since, for Wonder, the pop music world turns out to be relatively tame rather than exploitative. Wonder herself is a likable, somewhat confused teenager trying to figure out what she wants from life, but the secondary characters are as underdeveloped as her relationships, including a sexual one, with them. Not as memorable as Cohn's Gingerbread (2002), this will nevertheless attract readers with its details about the pop world. (Fiction. YA)