THE MODEL PRESIDENT

Millicent Madding’s dreams of becoming the sixth-grade class president appear to go up in a puff of hairspray when the students of Pretty Liddy’s Junior Fashion Academy relocate to her school. Faced with a campaign that suddenly hinges on a series of fashion walk-offs rather than issues, Millicent wrestles with her conscience: Should she compromise her integrity and redefine herself in order to achieve her goal? Tacang skewers the fashion industry with glee. Millicent’s opponent Fiona is the ultimate model, body honed to perfection and followed by a sycophantic entourage. Flatly one-dimensional, she embodies an archetypical tween villainess, incessantly spouting cruel comments. The writing suffers from an excess of “hip”-ness, often deteriorating into snarky one-liners and delivering such abysmal clunkers as “Her lips smoldered as red as a smart remark.” An abrupt, pat resolution diminishes the authenticity and moral weight of the tale. Despite these missteps, tween audiences will empathize with Millicent’s predicament as she struggles to succeed in a world suddenly defined by superficiality. (Fiction. 9-12)