FICTION

Starring Jules: (As Herself)

illus. by Anne Keenan Higgins. 146p. Scholastic. 2013. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-545-44352-4; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-545-52047-8. LC 2012017678.
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Gr 2–4—Readers who can't wait for the next Clementine, Gooney Bird, or Judy Moody will be pleased to meet feisty seven-year-old Jules Bloom. She and her family are in a restaurant when a casting director invites her to audition for a mouthwash commercial. Jules works hard to learn her lines and worries about all the things that could go wrong. She tries to make new friends while inadvertently patching things up with her ex-best friend. Her greatest challenge comes when she learns that the mouthwash has an orange flavor, which she detests. Of course everything works out, and Important Lessons about friendship and life are learned. The child's lively voice will hold the attention of young readers, but she often sounds older than seven. The large-print text is interspersed with cheery line drawings; Jules's lists, such as "Things I will NOT do at my audition: 1. Burp into the microphone when I mean to sing into the microphone"; and playful chapter titles like "Take Six: promising playdates, spaghetti with peanut butter, and other distractions."—Amelia Jenkins, Juneau Public Library, AK
Jules, seven-year-old list maker, is in need of a replacement BFF. Her friendship with Charlotte "Stinkytown" Pinkerton has been on the rocks ever since Charlotte came back from vacation with two new best friends. Enter Elinor from London, new kid in town, who is just what Jules is hoping for -- funny, smart, and ready for a playdate. Will Jules mess it up with her blunt and judgmental manner? Jules is blessed with an interesting family who encourage her to follow her dreams. And why not? With a chef for a father and an artist for a mother, Jules knows all about trusting her instincts and going with her own sense of style. Her exuberant spirit leads her to a casting director who is looking for a commercial spokesperson for mouthwash. Jules is excited until she realizes the mouthwash is orange, a color that induces her to vomit. Forced to seek out the help of her former pal, she learns that the friendship might not be lost after all. The tidy ending will surprise no one, but readers will look forward to seeing if Jules becomes a big star or not. Fans of Clementine and Judy Moody could have a new buddy here. Most art not seen. robin l. smith

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