Vivian Divine Is Dead

June 23, 2014
Sabel debuts with an enticing combination love story and murder mystery set against the backdrops of Hollywood and Mexico during Day of the Dead celebrations. Vivian, a 16-year-old movie star, has been heartbroken since her actress mother was kidnapped and killed six months earlier. Yet Vivian remains resilient even after her father's botched suicide attempt and her boyfriend kisses her best friend on national TV. Vivian has bigger problems: she receives an anonymous letter that tells her "This is how you die," along with a video depicting her death. Vivian's bodyguard insists that she transform her appearance and travel to Mexico for protection. On her way, Vivian meets Nick, who challenges her spoiled behavior and understands the loss of her mother. When they are separated, Vivian has to learn to make her own way through the unfamiliar terrain and face the self-defeating aspects of her personality. Sabel's story moves forward with cinematic force, the sometimes-outrageous plot swerves in keeping with the full-throttle pace and ample suspense. Ages 13âup. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (June)

Coin Heist
Elisa Ludwig
Adaptive (www.adaptivestudios.com), $17.99 (302p) ISBN 978-0-996-06660-0
A group of teens hatch a plan to save their financially distressed school by robbing the Philadelphia Mint in this fast-paced adventure from Ludwig (Pretty Crooked). Haverford Friends is set to close after it's discovered that the headmaster embezzled its funds. But, during a class trip, the math and tech-minded Alice discovers a flaw in the Mint's security, presenting an opportunity, however farfetched, to break into the system and coin the money needed for the school. She's joined by headmaster's son Jason, who is mortified over his father's predicament; Benny, an athlete who doesn't know where he belongs; and Dakota, who feels pressured to keep up a façade of perfection. Each has a reason for wanting to save the school, but personality clashes, logistical issues, and second thoughts may sabotage their plan. Told in rotating viewpoints from the four protagonists, this is a caper in the same spirit as Ally Carter's Heist Society series. Though characters' voices occasionally blend into one another, and the ending borders on deus ex machina, Ludwig's exciting storytelling and some romantic subplots maintain intrigue throughout. Ages 14â18.

May 1, 2014
Thrills and action follow a teenage movie star as she tries to escape a shadowy figure who has threatened to kill her.Vivian knows the threat to her life is real, since her movie-star mother was murdered just six months ago despite protection from the police, so she heads into Mexico to escape the killer. Her bus breaks down, and someone steals her handbag with her passport and money, leaving her stranded on the side of the road, in disguise but wearing Gucci sneakers. Nick, a drop-dead-handsome, English-speaking boy from the bus takes her under his wing, and they find themselves running from both the FBI and a frightening thug working for the local gangster boss. At first, Vivian acts the spoiled movie star, but as Nick ridicules her privileged outlook, she struggles to overcome it and begins to learn how real people live. Although the book contains a standard chick-lit-romance theme (why else would Nick be so gorgeous?), Sabel keeps the focus on action and does it well as Vivian tries to stay one step ahead of the bad guys. The villains seem cartoonish and the escapes impossible, but realism isn't the point. The author also includes a goodly amount of well-written Spanish phrases, most of which she translates.Good, escapist entertainment. (Thriller. 13-18)

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May 1, 2014

Gr 8 Up-Someone is after Hollywood's "it" girl. Teen film star, Vivian Divine, has always followed in her famous mother's footsteps-but this time, she'd rather not. Her mother was murdered six months ago, and when Vivian receives a mysterious death threat with alarming parallels to her mother's tragic end, she flees incognito to Mexico. The Hollywood princess is on her own and out of her element, trying to stay alive while unraveling the mystery of who's chasing her and why. Her odds of survival increase when she meets the attractive Nick-but he may not be who he seems. This action-packed novel is enjoyably quirky, though ambitious-there's a lot going on, and characterization takes a backseat to plot. The writing shines in the scenes of a richly described Dia de los Muertos celebration, and Vivian's journey through rural Mexico will keep readers in suspense as the heroine faces danger at every turn. In the end, though, there's heavy reliance on coincidence. The story's climax plays out like a melodrama-or, perhaps, given the setting, it's a self-aware reference to the plot twists of a telenovela, with shocking betrayals and dramatic reveals. It's hard to tell whether the book's tone is meant to be sincere or tongue-in-cheek. Still, this will appeal to readers looking for a fast-paced romp with suspense, action, and romance-with an encouraging message of self-actualization as Vivian learns she's capable of more than she knew.-Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2014
Grades 9-12 Despite the title, teen movie star Vivian Divine isn't deadyet. Life in her seemingly ideal Hollywood world isn't going great: Vivian's boyfriend and costar cheats on her with her best friend, and she feels like no one really knows who she really is. But there are bigger problems afoot. Vivian receives a death threat, and now she is on the run from strange men who want to kill her, just like they killed her mother. When she has to make a dangerous trek to Mexico for safety and anonymity, she is surprised to find out how resilient, resourceful, and strong she really is. There are thrills and chills, both scary and romantic, as Vivian finds out the truth behind the glossy lies and falls for a darkly handsome stranger. The danger piles on fast and hard and feels both real and chilling through Vivian's first-person narration. The teenage movie-star novel isn't new, but debut author Sabel adds a new spin to the shiny plastic movie world by revealing a gritty, violent underbelly.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)