FIRST DAUGHTER

When 16-year-old Sameera joins her father’s presidential campaign, she finds the national spotlight blinding, especially when it’s focused on her Pakistani roots. Adopted at age three by American diplomats, Sameera is comfortable with her heritage, but when the press negatively spins her story, her confidence fades and she begins questioning her identity. Determined to help her father, Sameera lets his PR team transform her into the all-American girl that they believe the voters want. However, despite being thrilled with her physical transformation, Sameera is not psyched about changing her name to Sammy, for its American appeal, or the ditzy blog that the PR team ghostwrites in her name. As Sameera’s life continues to transform out of her control and her public character is increasingly Americanized, she is faced with the decision of letting America know only the fictional Sammy or the real Sameera. An interesting premise that provides a detailed and fun glimpse into campaigning’s hectic reality and shines a positive light on America’s multicultural reality. (Fiction. YA)