American Blonde

July 1, 2014
Returning home a hero after her exploits as a WASP during WWII (Becoming Clementine, 2012), gutsy Velva Jean Hart is ready for her next adventure. On the strength of a newsreel appearance, she is offered a Hollywood screen test, and she soon has a contract with MGM, a new name (Kit Rogers), a new hair color, and a role in the most talked-about film of the past decade. When Mudge, Velva Jean's best friend from her flying days and herself a big star, dies during a weekend house party, the death is ruled accidental. Velva Jean suspects a studio cover-up, however, and the novel turns into a murder mystery as she tries to get to the bottom of things. She also tries to sort out her feelings for Sam, a screenwriter, and Butch, a musician from back home. Readers who are new to the series may feel a bit lost amid references to people and events from earlier novels, including Velva Jean Learns to Drive (2009 ) and Velva Jean Learns to Fly (2011), but fans will relish this latest installment in the adventures of Velva Jean.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)