BUT I DON’T WANT TO BE A MOVIE STAR

Summering in tony Palm Desert, Calif., would agree with most people, but for skateboarder chick Katriona Shaw, who’s stuck in paradise with her glamorous film-star grandmother, Noni, it couldn’t be worse and her running acerbic commentary, which borders on whining, never lets readers forget it. However, things get more complicated when the 62-year-old Noni begs Katriona to double for her, because she’s out of commission with a sprained ankle and has a pivotal meeting with a movie producer. With a stretch of the imagination and serious help from Noni’s assistants, 15-year-old Katriona dons her grandmother’s heels, makeup and pout to successfully become Noni. Predictably, this causes Katriona to soften towards her grandmother, refine her acting skills and gain self-confidence. Although Katriona’s physical transformation is far-fetched, Katriona’s development into a likable character, a character with which teen readers can relate, is natural and believable. (Fiction. YA)