Yours Truly, Lucy B. Parker

Gr 5—7—Eileen Stevens perfectly captures the voice of 12-year-old Lucy B. Parker in these two spot-on stories by Robin Palmer about a young girl on the edge of puberty. In Girl vs. Superstar (2010), Lucy is not having the best introduction to sixth grade. Her two long-time best friends have dumped her, her period just won't arrive, and teen superstar, Laurel Moses, humiliated her in front of practically the whole town. Life couldn't get worse—until Lucy's mom informs her that she is dating Laurel's father. When the relationship becomes serious and Lucy's mom asks for her approval to marry Allen and move to New York, Lucy is stunned. Sealed with a Kiss (2010, both Putnam) finds Lucy dealing with a new life in New York, trying to figure out whether or not she has a crush on a guy, and taking an adventure-filled vacation to Los Angeles with her soon-to-be stepsister. In both stories, Lucy's humor and strength see her through her challenges. Stevens's voicing of Lucy is convincing, and she gives all the supporting characters unique voices. With perfect pacing, she captures both the fun of the story and Lucy's real anxiety when things go frequently wrong. Preteens will find much to relate to here and will hope for additional titles in the future.—Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Public Library, UT