INSTAFAMOUS, the new middle-grade book from the talented and clued-in veteran author Erika J. Kendrick, returns readers to Santa Monica, California, the home of Valentine Middle School, the setting of her previous novels. While both Magic Olive Poindexter ("Squad Goals") and Brooklyn Ace ("Cookie Monsters") make appearances, this new tale is all about a recurring character from the earlier books, their friend, Lyric Whitney Houston Darby.

Lyric is a self-confident 12-year-old who wants to follow in her famous singer-mother’s footsteps, but she wants to do it NOW. When her favorite reality musical competition television show, "American Rockstar," announces auditions in her hometown of Santa Monica, Lyric is set on participating and confident she’s a shoo-in to win and finally launch her career: all against her mother’s wishes and advice. To qualify, however, Lyric must show proof she has “industry” experience, and the quickest way to get that is by starring in Valentine Middle School’s upcoming production of "The Wiz." Lyric is supported in her aspirations and schemes by her BFFs and acolytes, Twinkle and Georgia, who are both facing their own struggles.

The plot is fun and lively while exploring important life lessons in friendship, family, honesty, mental health care, and handling attention and fame. While Lyric is absorbed with her dream, she overlooks that her friends are struggling and really need her support, too. Friendship is a two-way street. The interactions and dialogue among the middle-grade girls felt authentic, and I smiled and laugh-cringed in equal measure. The author subtly includes a diverse range of characters so naturally, you’ll think you were actually back in school yourself. The story resolves nicely with the main character re-discovering what’s truly important in life.

I recommend INSTAFAMOUS to readers of middle-grade fiction, especially those who appreciate strong female characters and fans of the author’s previous work.

Rep
Black FMC
Mental Health Rep
Theatre Vibes

What Worked For Me

Characters

I loved the characters in this! I read Cookie Monsters by the same author last year, and I loved that as well. The new characters are great, and I loved how they all bonded over the course of the story. I enjoyed the friendships in this book, and how the friends helped each other through their problems. Lyric had a great arc throughout the story, and I loved how much she grew throughout the story. I’m not that big a reader of stories with reality TV shows, but I loved seeing the process of Lyric auditioning for American Rockstar.

Plot

I loved this story and the journey of this book. It was great how Lyric learned some life lessons about friendship and how the music industry works. I could see where Lyric was coming from in taking her opportunity to be on American Rockstar, and how she could then be like her mom. Instafamous had some hard life lessons about finding out who you’re true friends are, and that you should always be there for your friends. I also loved the addition of therapy included in this book.

Writing

The writing style would be relatable to kids and dealt with problems they might have in an approachable way. I loved the lighter scenes where the characters were having fun and helping each other. Instafamous also had important scenes like talking about things in therapy and doing what you love for the fun of it, as well as for the experience.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
DNF @ 60%
2 stars

It's not that this book is bad. There's probably an audience for it. I can see a lot of pluses: tackling mental health, having characters that are confident in themselves (and how confidence doesn't mean you have no mental struggles), BIPOC characters, the love and strength of a friend group.

However... I couldn't handle Lyric. I'm pretty sure her being the biggest spoiled brat to ever spoiled brat is intentional, and there will likely be an arc and a reckoning for her, but I just can't stick with her to see it through. She's the type of child that makes teachers hate teaching (ignore the fact the teachers in the full 60% of her being an absolute brat never enforce consequences on her). I just don't want to go through with it anymore. Not to mention all the obnoxious language used. Like, I know Gen-A has some really specific slang, but this was just over the top. It's like those popular girls in Disney movies who are so over the top that you just squint at them.

I don't discourage people from picking this up if they to because, again, there's probably an audience for this book. Pre-teens may like it a lot more than I do and even relate to parts. I, however, would rather move on than deal with Lyric anymore.

am all for my kids dreaming big but I am so glad their dreams right now do not involve fame and they are still enjoying just being their kids. Instafamous explores a girl with big dreams but with a name like Lyric Whitney Houston Darby, what do you expect? She’s got a famous mom and big plans for auditions for American Rockstar and the school production of The Wiz, and this book goes to show how much children look up to their parents. I will disclose my bias; my mom raised me loving musical theater and it is a passion I have passed on to my children so this book speaks our love language! This book is fun and engaging and I absolutely cannot wait to read it with my middle grade reader! Erika Kendrick does a fantastic job speaking their language and Instafamous is a book that allows for big dreams!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC of Instafamous!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
📖 are looking for a middle grade read
😍 love books with diverse characters
🎤 were born to be a rockstar
🤥 have ever lied to your parents

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Lyric Whitney Houston Darby has always wanted to be famous, just like her superstar mom. So when the hottest music-competition TV show announces auditions in town, it’s her chance to compete—and maybe even score a record deal.
 
There are just a couple of problems: First, the show requires industry experience. This means Lyric has to audition for her school’s production of The Wiz…as if middle school musicals aren’t totally beneath her. Second, she needs to mega-boost her platform on Instagram. Fast. This show is an influencers-only event!
 
Luckily she has her besties at her side! Or… does she? As Lyric starts to get everything she ever wanted, her BFFs are coping with their own challenges. Will Lyric be there to lift them up, or is she about to learn the real cost of being instafamous?

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was a pretty cute read that focuses around a 12 year old girl set on following in her mother’s footsteps to become a famous singer. I loved her diverse character background, as well as the diversity of her friends. The way she spoke felt fairly accurate in today’s society, though I only have 2 younger sons who aren’t anywhere near her age, so I could be wrong. The fact that she was so easily going to go behind her mother’s back was a bit concerning, but also made sense. I know I did things I wasn’t supposed to at that age. This was just a little harder for me to relate to since I’m a mother myself. I found myself siding with her more often than Lyric. Overall, I think that 10-12 year old girls would really enjoy this one and easily relate to Lyric and her friends!

This was such a great concept for a children’s fiction novel, it had everything that I was hoping for from this universe and that the characters worked in the middle school element. I enjoyed the musical element and how it was used in this story. Erika J. Kendrick has a great way of telling this story and left me wanting more. I had enjoyed Cookie Monsters a lot and this had that charm that I was looking for.