Such a Lucky Girl

Gr 10 Up–Bella Wright is a social media influencer with more than three million followers. She’s also a teenage girl just trying to navigate high school life. Bella is an expert at exuding perfection, from the way she dresses and does her makeup to the grades she gets in school and the effortless way she becomes popular. She says her secret is “manifesting,” a viral social media concept that usually involves tapping into “the universe” with guided thought practices that occasionally involve mantras like “I’m such a lucky girl,” as well as crystals and journaling. Kerry, Bella’s former best friend, feels abandoned by Bella in her pursuit of internet fame and perfection. When Kerry finds a mysterious book that promises revenge and wishes come true, she does a ritual to curse Bella and take away everything she’s ever gained through social media. Little does Kerry know what sinister, supernatural force she’s awakened, and how it might put more than just her former best friend in grave danger. This is a dark, captivating exploration of the nature of envy, particularly in the age of social media where individuals make livelihoods out of being enviable. Kerry and Bella’s sister Brianna continually examines their relationship with these platforms and how it affects their self-image. On the flip side, the toxic pressure of being an influencer, especially at a young age, is viewed through a sympathetic lens. Heard deftly ties popular new age social ­media trends back to their old-world roots and explores the historical dangers of cults of personality. Most characters read as white; several characters are queer.