Wednesday, September 9, 2020

Not Your All-American Girl by Madelyn Rosenberg and Wendy Wan-Long Shang - ADVISABLE

Not Your All-American Girl by Madelyn Rosenberg and Wendy Wan-Long Shang, 256 pages.  Scholastic Press, 2020. $18                       

Content: G


BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS  - ADVISABLE


AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE


Lauren and Tara are best friends and they do everything together. Tara has it all; she has designer jeans (Lauren wants some), she even has blue eyes and freckles! Lauren is Chinese American and Jewish. When they both try out for the school musical, even though Lauren has the best voice, Tara is picked for the lead because she looks like the All-American girl - blond and blue-eyed. The teacher even tells Lauren to her face that that was the reason she did not get the part. Lauren finds comfort and support in an unlikely place -- the radio show hosted by Nash. She calls him and talks about music and songs. Lauren loves the sound of Patsy Cline songs. Can Lauren and Tara manage to remain best friends through the upcoming trials they are facing? Will the strain on their relationships have an effect on the school musical?        


Lauren is a great protagonist. She is strong and hard working. Even with a blow like the one delivered by her teacher, she works through the challenges both with Tara, her other friends and the kids in the play, and with her teacher. I just hope that some teachers do not say those kinds of things to students. Lauren has a button machine and she makes buttons to show her moods and her goals. She even starts a little button business to save up for designer jeans. I really enjoyed reading this book. It is well written with a sense of humor. Lauren realizes what it really means to be All-American. I loved it!        


Ellen-Anita, LMS                                                                   

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