Don't Call Me Baby

March 1, 2014
Usually it's a kid's use of social media that is a problem.... Using the pseudonym Mommylicious, Imogene's mother is a prolific professional blogger, continually blogging about her unfortunate daughter's every cute smile and dirty diaper to her large online audience since she was a baby. Now that she is 15, however, "Babylicious" is beginning to resent the fact that every intimate detail of her daily life is subject to public scrutiny. Ragged at by her schoolmates, embarrassed in the boyfriend department and convinced that her mom doesn't care what she really thinks, the formerly submissive girl rebels. Imogene and her BFF Sage, whose hard-line, vegan health-nut mother is also a blogger, decide that their moms are over-the-top and plot revenge. Inspired by a homework assignment, the girls talk back about their experiences and feelings through their own blogs, causing huge consternation in the mommy world. Imogene wilts under her mother's disapproval but is backed up by golf-obsessed Grandma Hope, who dispenses wisdom and helps her to stand up for herself. As the witty story unfolds, mommies and daughters learn to give each other some space and that the Internet is no substitute for real-life experience. Heasley delivers her message without compromising frothy fun. This surprisingly poignant comedy about teen-parent communication has enough bite to pique the interest of any teenager having trouble interacting meaningfully with her parents. (Fiction. 12 & up)

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May 1, 2014

Gr 7-10-At 15, Imogene is exasperated for being known as "Babylicious," the subject of her mother's popular blog since before she was even born. She's tired of posing for pictures, tired of reviewing products sent by sponsors, and, above all, tired of having every detail of her life shared with her mother's readers. While she has an entire speech about her desire for privacy planned out, she's never been able to confront her about the blog. Imogene's best friend, Sage, is the only person who really understands, as her mother is also a blogger, focusing on the vegan lifestyle that Sage rebels against. A yearlong English assignment requiring each student to keep their own blog is the last thing either girl wants, but they soon realize it might be the opportunity they need to make their positions clear to their moms once and for all. There is plenty of humor and heart to be found in this tale as Imogene navigates the peaks and pitfalls of ninth grade and tries, for the first time, to "narrate her own life." Imogene's engaging first-person account is interspersed with the blog posts by "Mommylicious," Imogene, and Sage, adding another dimensional to the story. The narrative addresses themes of privacy, identity, friendship, and, most importantly, mother-daughter relationships, without being heavy-handed. Though a few pop culture references may date it, at its heart, this is an appealing story about a teen finding her own voice.-Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL

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