While staring you straight in the eye, far above the tips of her Toms, Josie Brant would swear that she does not like Peter Maxx, the teen sensation who causes every girl within a 100-foot radius to scream at ear-shattering decibels. Even if Josie may completely, totally, and unequivocally be his biggest fan.
So when Josie finds out her best friend has won a contest to meet Peter by stealing one of Josie’s songs, Josie is overwhelmingly shocked and upset—some of which flies out the window when Ashley introduces Josie to Peter as well. And suddenly, in a whirlwind of Tweets, IMs, texts, and phone calls, Josie finds herself in the middle of a flirtatious friendship that has the potential for complete harmony. But just when everything seems pitch-perfect, the paparazzi flashbulbs explode, along with any notion of a fairy-tale romance.
Author Ken Baker, E! Channel’s Chief News Correspondent, uses his inside knowledge to craft a novel authentic to the teen pop idol experience with sincere heart and humor.
**
### From School Library Journal
Gr 8-10-This lackluster novel has a promising premise but reads like a script from a made-for-TV movie. Josie Brant, a high school loner, has a secret infatuation with the famous pop star Peter Maxx. When her best friend, Ashley, submits a song Josie wrote to the "Sing it to the Maxx" contest, Josie suddenly finds herself meeting and impressing her crush. As the novel progresses, Peter, who is struggling between wanting to be a normal teenager and all of the responsibilities that come with being a pop star, reaches out to her and eventually asks her to come to his show in Las Vegas. Between having her father put in jail for growing marijuana and having the few friends she did have disown her, Josie decides that sneaking out to Las Vegas is the grown-up thing to do. She gets a ride from her punk-rock, Harry-Potter-loving, old-beyond-her-years neighbor. The language throughout the novel seems to be trying so hard to sound like teen speak that it goes into the realm of grating and unrealistic. Add to that the drive to Las Vegas when Josie's friend starts talking about the dangers of having sex too early, and readers are beat over the head with the awkward language and moral messages. The story wraps up with a too-good-to-be-true ending. Pass on this one and recommend Gordon Korman's Born to Rock (Disney, 2006) to students who are looking for a novel about what it's like to be a pop-star groupie.-Tammy Turner, Centennial High School, Frisco, TXα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
### Review
"[A] heart-racing, behind-the-music story of love and being true to oneself."—*Publishers Weekly*
"The overall basis for the story is unique and charming, and this title is a good addition to libraries serving tweens and teens."—*VOYA*
"Baker's access to entertainment titans has given him much to draw upon in his descriptions of the lonely life of a teenage star. . ."—*Kirkus Reviews*
"This whimsical YA tome is about every young Belieber's biggest fantasy come true. A girl can dream? Yes."—Ian Drew, *Us Weekly* Senior Editor
"Baker gets inside the head and the heart of modern, celebrity-driven teen romance. You either are Fangirl, or she just texted you."—Kurt Schlosser, TODAY.com
"It's not about Beliebers or Directioners specifically, but all Beliebers or Directioners should get the book."—Ryan Seacrest, host of *American Idol*
"*Fangirl* may hospitalize you! It’s hotter than Bieber fever!”—Perez Hilton
"An irresistible wish fulfillment for all ages."—Jon M. Chu, Director of *Justin Bieber: Never Say Never*
"We LOVE *Fangirl*. Once we started to read we couldn’t put it down!!! Josie & Peter forever! #bigfansofFANGIRL"—Kendall & Kylie Jenner
Description:
While staring you straight in the eye, far above the tips of her Toms, Josie Brant would swear that she does not like Peter Maxx, the teen sensation who causes every girl within a 100-foot radius to scream at ear-shattering decibels. Even if Josie may completely, totally, and unequivocally be his biggest fan. So when Josie finds out her best friend has won a contest to meet Peter by stealing one of Josie’s songs, Josie is overwhelmingly shocked and upset—some of which flies out the window when Ashley introduces Josie to Peter as well. And suddenly, in a whirlwind of Tweets, IMs, texts, and phone calls, Josie finds herself in the middle of a flirtatious friendship that has the potential for complete harmony. But just when everything seems pitch-perfect, the paparazzi flashbulbs explode, along with any notion of a fairy-tale romance. Author Ken Baker, E! Channel’s Chief News Correspondent, uses his inside knowledge to craft a novel authentic to the teen pop idol experience with sincere heart and humor. ** ### From School Library Journal Gr 8-10-This lackluster novel has a promising premise but reads like a script from a made-for-TV movie. Josie Brant, a high school loner, has a secret infatuation with the famous pop star Peter Maxx. When her best friend, Ashley, submits a song Josie wrote to the "Sing it to the Maxx" contest, Josie suddenly finds herself meeting and impressing her crush. As the novel progresses, Peter, who is struggling between wanting to be a normal teenager and all of the responsibilities that come with being a pop star, reaches out to her and eventually asks her to come to his show in Las Vegas. Between having her father put in jail for growing marijuana and having the few friends she did have disown her, Josie decides that sneaking out to Las Vegas is the grown-up thing to do. She gets a ride from her punk-rock, Harry-Potter-loving, old-beyond-her-years neighbor. The language throughout the novel seems to be trying so hard to sound like teen speak that it goes into the realm of grating and unrealistic. Add to that the drive to Las Vegas when Josie's friend starts talking about the dangers of having sex too early, and readers are beat over the head with the awkward language and moral messages. The story wraps up with a too-good-to-be-true ending. Pass on this one and recommend Gordon Korman's Born to Rock (Disney, 2006) to students who are looking for a novel about what it's like to be a pop-star groupie.-Tammy Turner, Centennial High School, Frisco, TXα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. ### Review "[A] heart-racing, behind-the-music story of love and being true to oneself."—*Publishers Weekly* "The overall basis for the story is unique and charming, and this title is a good addition to libraries serving tweens and teens."—*VOYA* "Baker's access to entertainment titans has given him much to draw upon in his descriptions of the lonely life of a teenage star. . ."—*Kirkus Reviews* "This whimsical YA tome is about every young Belieber's biggest fantasy come true. A girl can dream? Yes."—Ian Drew, *Us Weekly* Senior Editor "Baker gets inside the head and the heart of modern, celebrity-driven teen romance. You either are Fangirl, or she just texted you."—Kurt Schlosser, TODAY.com "It's not about Beliebers or Directioners specifically, but all Beliebers or Directioners should get the book."—Ryan Seacrest, host of *American Idol* "*Fangirl* may hospitalize you! It’s hotter than Bieber fever!”—Perez Hilton "An irresistible wish fulfillment for all ages."—Jon M. Chu, Director of *Justin Bieber: Never Say Never* "We LOVE *Fangirl*. Once we started to read we couldn’t put it down!!! Josie & Peter forever! #bigfansofFANGIRL"—Kendall & Kylie Jenner