Blonde Ops

March 24, 2014
Thrown out of her sixth prep school for hacking its computer system, 16-year-old Bec Jackson is sent to Rome to intern at Edge fashion magazine, whose editor-in-chief, Parker Phillips, is a friend of Bec’s mother. In Italy, Bec is quickly put to work by a demanding managing editor. When Parker is in a near-fatal car accident, connected to a visit from the First Lady of the United States, former supermodel Candace Worthington replaces Parker as editor. Despite the presence of the Secret Service, Bec launches her own investigation into the accident, combining her hacker skills and nascent detective instincts (“Real detectives used a special black powder. I would have to make do with MAC Onyx Dust”). Bennardo and Zaman (the Sirenz books) offer a light mystery filled with fashion tips, entertaining dialogue, a pair of potential romances for Bec, and an alluring Roman setting. What this thriller lacks in character depth it makes up for with an energized pace, ever-shifting suspects, and an intriguing glimpse into the benefits and drawbacks of art and fame. Ages 13–up. Agent: Natalie Lakosil, Bradford Literary Agency.

April 15, 2014
A teenage American hacker in Italy becomes embroiled in a whirlwind of fashion, espionage and romance. After her latest boarding school expulsion, Bec Jackson finds herself in Rome under the care of her mother's old friend, Parker Phillips, editor in chief of Edge magazine. Put to work as an intern, she clashes with the high-strung fashion elite as the magazine prepares for a photo shoot with the first lady of the United States. It isn't long, however, before two alluring paramours appear and compete for her attention. Amid the chaos, a terrible accident occurs, leaving Parker in critical condition as Candace Worthington, reality TV host and former model, sweeps in to take her place. Bec senses foul play and begins to investigate, stumbling upon layers of espionage and secrecy far darker than that of the catty fashion industry. Bennardo and Zaman paint Bec with strokes of Veronica Mars, creating a heroine with exceptional skills and believable teenage angst who prioritizes her mission over mooning over boys. Though integral to the plot, the love triangle is uneven, with the cliched Italian heartthrob thinly drawn. However, Bec's amusing observations never miss a beat, more than making up for her sometimes-shallow counterparts. Readers will be taken with the pink-haired protagonist and her Italian exploits. (Fiction. 14 & up)

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June 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-Student (and hacker) Bec has been in trouble plenty of times before, but this time is different. Instead of being sent to yet another boarding school, she's shipped off to stay with her mom's college friend Parker in Rome. Fashion magazine editor Parker's next assignment is big: to run photo sessions of the First Lady during her visit to the Italian capital. When Parker is seriously injured in an accident, Bec suspects a more sinister explanation and uses her hacking skills to investigate. The teen also has her hands full with juggling the affections of cute Italian messenger Dante and sexy fashion blogger Taj. Tension mounts as clues reveal that the First Lady's life may be in danger, and the hacking fashionista stops at nothing to unravel the mystery. Bec's narration is sincere and intriguing, but readers will find it difficult to connect with her. While her hacking skills are good, they are nowhere near as advanced as one of the "bad guys," yet she is able to thwart the operation with only a little help. Most of the characters remain two-dimensional, and the fashion focus, including tips at the beginning of each chapter, feel tacked on and not completely integrated into the plot. A fun read for those who can suspend their disbelief.-Kelly Jo Lasher, Middle Township High School, Cape May Court House, NJ

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2014
Grades 8-11 High-school junior Bec Jackson is expelled from her sixth boarding school in three years for hacking into the school's computer system and changing grades. Against her will, she is sent to Rome to intern for Parker Phillips and her high-fashion magazine, Edge. When Parker has an accident just before the First Lady arrives for a photo session, and made-of-steel former supermodel Candace Worthington takes over, all hell breaks loose. On top of that, Bec has to deal with bitchy models, CIA agents, a handsome Italian on a Vespa, and a suave fashion bloggerall while trying to find out where Parker is and what happened to FLOTUS. The only person Bec can trust is herself as the plot twists and turns in this hypercharged thriller of fashion, high-tech sleuthing, and power, with bella Roma as the backdrop. Close calls, mysterious phone conversations, surreptitious whispers in office corners, and a clandestine conversation in a dark warehouse make for highly improbable, but also highly entertaining, escapist fun.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)