Reality Check by Jen Calonita

Summary: Charlie (short for Charlotte) and her three friends become the stars of a new reality teen TV show featuring their lives in a small town. When the cameras start rolling, the girls' friendship is tested as they find out that reality TV is more like "scripted" TV. Relationships are strained, and friendships are broken as the girls juggle their TV persona with their true feelings. Is the luxury of fame worth the price of your self-worth?

My thoughts: I'm a huge Jen Calonita fan. I like how she balances Hollywood life with normal girls. Many teens idolize the reality stars they see on TV, and this book gives a fictional inside look at how things on "reality" TV aren't always what they see.

The book also delves into the dilemma of how much of yourself do you have to give up to be famous. The end of the book has a powerful message as Charlie and her friends have to decide if the price of fame is too high.

Reality Check on Amazon Check out the book on Amazon!

Chick Lit

I love chick lit. I am not ashamed to say it!

Here are some YA chick lit authors I enjoy.

1. Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot has a unique writing voice; it never gets old. I have read all of her YA books except the Mediator series, and I have enjoyed them all. Her protagonists range from average girls to princesses, yet each character is someone with whom the reader can relate.

Note for parents: some of Meg's books talk about sex (NOT graphic), so that is something parents may want to know. (The Princess Diaries series is the first series by Meg that I would suggest for cautious parents.)

2. Jen Calonita

Jen Calonia's character in the Secrets of my Hollywood Life series is down-to-earth yet fun. She's a nice girl who lives a glamorous life. I like that combination because many of today's girls believe you have to be mean to get ahead or to be popular. This series shows that niceness does win in the end.

3. Melody Carlson: Christian fiction author

Melody Carlson's one of the few Christian fiction writers for teens. (Kristin Billerbeck is coming out with a YA book, and I can't wait!) The TrueColors series can seem a little preachy. In each book, a girl deals with a problem (alcohol, bad boyfriend, tough home life), and she eventually finds her way to Christ. The Carter House series is about several girls, each with her own set of unique problems, living in a boarding house. The Diary of a Teenage Girl series is written in journal form, recording the thoughts of a girl as she goes through high school.

That's all for now.

Broadway Lights by Jen Calonita

Summary: In this 5th book in the Secrets of My Hollywood Life series, Kaitlin Burke, teen star, heads to New York for her Broadway debut. Moving from a TV show to Broadway is a huge change, and Kaitlin must balance learning how to act on stage (with a hateful co-star) with her everyday life, which includes her new friendship with an old enemy. Kaitlin's ready for the Big Apple: the shopping, shows, food, and even SNL. Is she willing to risk her friendships and her boyfriend for the glamour of the big city?

My thoughts: I like this series for middle school girls. It includes the drama of the big city, Hollywood, acting, celebrities, etc. Yet, the romance, back-stabbing, and fears are age appropriate for middle school girls. Kaitlin and Austin only kiss, and there is none of the drug, sex, underage drinking that is often associated with teens in Hollywood. It's a clean book, and I recommend it for the middle school girls who love celebrity stories.

Author's website: jencalonitaonline.com