A review by aundie27
Secrets of a Fangirl by Erin Dionne
3.0
Plot
Sarah Anne is popular, plays lacrosse, and has a secret life of loving a book series that she and her friends all loved in elementary school. When she wins a contest, she starts pulling away from her two best friends in order to keep her fangirl life secret. Jess D., a new mean girl, joins their group, and Sarah Anne's popularity and status is questioned by her. It doesn't help that a boy has a crush on Sarah Anne, and the group leader, Roxy, really wants her to go so Roxy can go with the guy's bestie. But, as Sarah Anne gets further into the contest competitions, her friendships are further tested because she's started talking to the "losers" in her science class. Sarah Anne isn't really sure who she is between her fan love, sports, and friends, but she needs to make some decisions before something breaks.
Review
So, this series that Sarah Anne likes seems to be like Percy Jackson. Elementary and middle school kids love it, but it's not really read past that age. SA hides her love of the series, despite other kids in her grade thinking it was dumb to still like it. Okay... then she wins a contest where right away the guy greeting them thinks SA's dad is the contestant... when she gets up near the winner panel table, there are two high school boys who mock and belittle her because they don't think a middle school female could have won the contest... wtf... Then she's told by the guy running the contest that her dad can't help her during the second part of the contest. This makes no sense, because if this series is aimed toward younger kids, why is she being questioned for loving this series??? Shouldn't the boys be getting judged for loving a middle grade series? [not that it's a bad thing, but they're like, way harsh]
Okay, and as for the contest, it seems to be only in their local area, because one of the other winners is a brother to a boy in her class. During the second competition round, there's a game the winners have to play where they use their phones in real time and walk around trying to find stuff. Which is super stupid and dangerous, and seems to be like Pokemon Go.
The one big topic this book touches on several times is misogyny, but not much is done other than some revenge/sabotage. Which, in the end worked. I had some other issues, but in the end I think it's a book about a middle school girl trying to figure things out, and she plays lacrosse so hopefully that will appeal to students.
Appropriate for 4th-8th
WASHyarg May 2019, ARC
Sarah Anne is popular, plays lacrosse, and has a secret life of loving a book series that she and her friends all loved in elementary school. When she wins a contest, she starts pulling away from her two best friends in order to keep her fangirl life secret. Jess D., a new mean girl, joins their group, and Sarah Anne's popularity and status is questioned by her. It doesn't help that a boy has a crush on Sarah Anne, and the group leader, Roxy, really wants her to go so Roxy can go with the guy's bestie. But, as Sarah Anne gets further into the contest competitions, her friendships are further tested because she's started talking to the "losers" in her science class. Sarah Anne isn't really sure who she is between her fan love, sports, and friends, but she needs to make some decisions before something breaks.
Review
So, this series that Sarah Anne likes seems to be like Percy Jackson. Elementary and middle school kids love it, but it's not really read past that age. SA hides her love of the series, despite other kids in her grade thinking it was dumb to still like it. Okay... then she wins a contest where right away the guy greeting them thinks SA's dad is the contestant... when she gets up near the winner panel table, there are two high school boys who mock and belittle her because they don't think a middle school female could have won the contest... wtf... Then she's told by the guy running the contest that her dad can't help her during the second part of the contest. This makes no sense, because if this series is aimed toward younger kids, why is she being questioned for loving this series??? Shouldn't the boys be getting judged for loving a middle grade series? [not that it's a bad thing, but they're like, way harsh]
Okay, and as for the contest, it seems to be only in their local area, because one of the other winners is a brother to a boy in her class. During the second competition round, there's a game the winners have to play where they use their phones in real time and walk around trying to find stuff. Which is super stupid and dangerous, and seems to be like Pokemon Go.
The one big topic this book touches on several times is misogyny, but not much is done other than some revenge/sabotage. Which, in the end worked. I had some other issues, but in the end I think it's a book about a middle school girl trying to figure things out, and she plays lacrosse so hopefully that will appeal to students.
Appropriate for 4th-8th
WASHyarg May 2019, ARC