Sources Say

July 15, 2020
Politics, ethical journalism, and social media intertwine in this contemporary story of two sisters with a strained relationship. The newsroom is Cat's home away from home, and now, as a high school senior, she is finally editor-in-chief of the school paper. Not that anyone reads it: Her earnest expos�s of an unhealthy student culture don't sit well with many. Her sister, Angeline, is a popular social media influencer who has worked hard to make her YouTube channel, "Ask an Angel," a success, even though Cat dismisses the work and focus that go into being a vlogger. The upcoming student council election sees Angeline and her ex-boyfriend, Leo, running for class president in a very public battle. While Angeline starts by making campaign promises based on popular demands, she comes to realize there are real problems that need to be addressed. Meanwhile, Cat's reporting skills and journalistic ethics will face their greatest challenge against the competition of social media and the danger of fake news. Alternating chapters between Angeline and Cat, this fun and provocative novel sees the sisters growing in their relationship while dealing with thorny issues of accountability, truth, enacting change, and the systemic sexism prevalent in their school. Cat and Angeline are cued as white; Leo is the son of Venezuelan immigrants, and there is diversity among the supporting characters. Entertaining, thought-provoking, and heartwarming (Fiction. 14-18)

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 2, 2020

Gr 8 Up-Sisters Cat and Angeline couldn't be more different. Cat is not looking forward to her senior year as one of the only students returning to the school newspaper after all of her friends graduated and the paper has a new advisor. Cat just wants to hide away in the makeshift newsroom, a custodial closet conversion. Angeline, however, thrives on her always-increasing follower number from her YouTube channel. She is an influencer and her peers value her opinion about the newest fashion and skincare. She has even been noticed by her idol influencer, Evelyn's Epic Everyday, with an invitation to attend her summer camp, though their mother won't let her go unless she takes on some extracurriculars. Angeline decides to run for student body president, but her plan goes awry when her ex, Leo-whose mom is a politician-also decides to run for school office. For Cat, this is a chance to cover real news and report the facts of this election of star-crossed lovers. This high school setting is clearly a metaphor for our current national political climate where lies, manipulation, and "fake" news are the real influencers. Goldstein shows readers how even adolescents are capable of ignoring what is right and embellishing details for personal gain. VERDICT Like Natalie Sylvester's Running and Brandy Colbert's The Voting Booth, this shows that teens are capable of standing up and being heard. Recommended for collections where political activism is popular.-Jessica Lorentz Smith, Bend Senior H.S., OR

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.