Being Nikki

January 1, 2010
Gr 9 Up-In "Airhead" (Scholastic, 2008), Nikki Howard has the life most girls only dream ofshe is a drop-dead gorgeous supermodel living it up in one of Manhattan's most luxurious buildings while partying with the super-famous, the beautiful, and the mega-rich. However, it isn't actually Nikki Howard who's enjoying it all. Emerson Watts's brain is in her body due to an accident that left the real Nikki brain dead and Em suffering a fatal accident at the Stark Megastore for which Nikki is the advertising face. Stark employs surgeons to perform a risky and expensive brain transplant on Em, and she must continue working for Stark Enterprises or her family will lose everything. Worst of all, she can't even tell her best friend and longtime crush Christopher who she really is. In this book, Nikki's brother turns up asking for his sister's help in finding their mysteriously missing mother, and Em realizes that there is a very dangerous side to Stark Enterprises. Em's narrative emphasizes the contrast between an ordinary teen and the high-stakes life of fame; she must reconcile a genuine longing for her best friend with the exuberance of over-the-top romantic gestures. Teens will relate to her down-to-earth self-deprecating humor and look forward to the next installment in Em/Nikki's life."Tara Kehoe, Plainsboro Public Library, NJ"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2009
Grades 7-10 The eponymously titled first volume in theAirhead seriesdetailed 16-year-old Ems experiences after her brain was transplanted into supermodel Nikkis body. The second book climaxes when Em has the breakthrough moment she has longed for. Part romance, part crime thriller, and part comedy (with a splash of celebrity culture), the latest novel blends them all in an entertaining mix. The story turns in some surprising directions, but Ems first-person narrative is as engaging as in the previous book. The final, heart-squeezing plot twist will have fans lining up for the promised sequel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)