September 14, 2015
Chelsea Ford may have lost the reality TV competition American Pop Star, but now she’s the new lead singer for veteran rock group Melbourne. A rising high school senior, she joins the band on its summer tour, hoping it will become a long-term gig. But Chelsea struggles with her outsider status—the guys in the band don’t take her seriously, since she’s an inexperienced replacement forced on them by their record label. She becomes an overnight celebrity by dating movie star Lucas Rivers, which alienates her from her band-mates even more, and she can’t help her attraction to the band’s guitarist, Beckett. Debut author Huang delivers an absorbing behind-the-scenes look at life on tour, from living on a bus with 10 other people and exploring new cities to the pressure to sell out shows without becoming sellouts. Though the characters are entertaining, they aren’t always well-defined; even Chelsea lacks much of a personality or backbone. But Huang captures how overwhelming the spotlight can be for a newcomer and the lessons Chelsea picks up along the way. Ages 12–up. Agent: Adriann Ranta, Wolf Literary Services.
September 15, 2015
Eager to leave her small-town life behind, a high schooler embarks on a whirlwind tour as the new lead singer of an established rock band. Huang's debut novel delves into the typical turbulent relationships between teens but against an unusual backdrop. Even after losing a reality TV singing competition, Chelsea jumps at the opportunity to replace the lead singer of popular band Melbourne. She's thrilled about her band's summer tour but has a tough time breaking into the group's well-established chemistry. Her new rock-star status earns the attention of teen movie star Lucas, whose narcissism threatens to derail her fragile relationship with her band members. Chelsea is determined to embrace the adrenaline rush, and she has a real passion for performing. However, her growing feelings for a fellow band member make things even more complicated....Huang is married to a music agent, and she draws upon her knowledge of the industry to create a behind-the-scenes look at tour life. This, realistically, includes drinking and sex but more as backdrop than plot elements. Just as Chelsea's excitement about joining the tour quickly fades when reality sets in, the novel's glamorous atmosphere loses its luster due to its slow pacing. A pleasant read for teens who dream of a glamorous lifestyle. (Fiction. 14-17)
COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
October 1, 2015
Gr 8 Up-Chelsea Ford has few friends at school, which she blames on rumors spread by her first boyfriend and the humiliation of being voted off the American Pop Star reality TV show. However, her TV appearance leads to her new role as lead singer of an indie band in Melbourne. Suddenly, she is on a tour bus with a group of guys who take their music and song-writing very seriously and seem to resent her presence. When she attracts the attention of teen movie sensation Lucas Rivers, Chelsea finds herself having to deal with gossip, jealousy, and a new relationship, as well as finding her place within the music industry. The intricacies of life with a touring rock band give this novel an original and fresh setting, but it also slows the book down, with its large cast of characters and detailed descriptions of life on a tour bus. The protagonist has endless problems with the boys in the band, who are unlikable but believable indie music snobs, and this gets a little repetitious. The novel explores some of the consequences of casual sex without being too graphic or moralistic. Relationships between those on tour are expressly forbidden, so the burgeoning romantic feelings between Chelsea and guitarist Beckett add a will-they-or-won't-they mystery to tantalize readers. The band's song lyrics and their tour itinerary are included at the end of the book. VERDICT An additional purchase for libraries looking for music-themed YA with a unique premise and setting.-Michelle Anderson, Tauranga City Libraries, New Zealand
Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
November 1, 2015
Grades 9-12 It's the summer before her senior year and small-town high-school misfit Chelsea, who appeared on but didn't win the television talent show American Pop Star, is thrilled to be selected as the new lead singer for a successful young rock quartet called Melbourne. The remaining musicians, Beckett, Malcolm, and Pem, are East Coast prep-school grads who have known each other forever, and fitting in with them is a challengeas is life on a tour bus, meet and greets, paparazzi, and the heady rush of sudden fame. Huang's debut offers a behind-the-scenes look at the realities of life in the music industry, nicely capturing the visceral rush of performance. Huang's husband is a music agent, and her firsthand experience in the field is evident. The romances are predictably inevitable, but readers are likely to be so caught up in the tour excitement that they won't mind. With snappy dialogue, Chelsea's sarcastic first-person narrative, and the comfort of a somewhat happy ending, there's a lot to enjoy in this quick read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)