Lulu in La La Land

Gr 4–6—Lulu feels like an alien child in her Hollywood royalty family-her dad is a handsome superstar and her mom is a famous director. Her fashionable, hip older sister, Alexis, fits right in with her love of parties, pampering, and Pilates. Lulu is a frizzy-haired, irrepressible braniac who loves organic, homemade anything. Instead of befriending the school's in-crowd, she feels more at home hanging out with her nanny, the pool and taco-truck guys, and her unpopular best friend, Sophia. All Lulu wants for her upcoming 11th birthday is for her incredibly busy parents to come to her party. Bossy Alexis thinks Lulu needs a "Spa-tacular" bash to up her cool factor with massages, mani-pedis, facials, and hairstyling. Alexis's list of attendees includes the snooty Pop girls (who have snubbed Lulu at every turn) and excludes uncool Sophia. With both parents up for Academy Awards and the award night falling on the day of the celebration, Lulu's birthday wish appears doomed. But the sisters join forces and come up with a devious plan to ensure their parents' attendance. Wolf uses the clever device of presenting the story as a movie script. Girls, especially, might enjoy reading it with a friend and acting out the parts. The book will appeal to readers who want a glimpse of the glamorous life of Hollywood through the eyes of a self-described "Not Fitter Inner." Others will enjoy the novel simply for its fun, infectious humor and satisfying, light storytelling.—Diane McCabe, John Muir Elementary, Santa Monica, CA