Team Awkward

January 1, 2017
A viral video makes Anna famous for falling into a potted plant in this sequel to The It Girl (2016).Although she's still only 12, she's also famous because her dad is about to marry the world's most famous actress, causing the London media to dub Anna an "It Girl," along with her soon-to-be stepsisters. Unfortunately, she's a chronic klutz, so embarrassment always looms. She also has a serious and growing crush on Connor, who Anna thinks might be on the verge of kissing her. But Connor is spending a lot of time with Stephanie, working together on a project, causing Anna ever growing worry about his intentions: does he like her, or is she losing him to Stephanie? Things get even more complicated when Anna becomes captain of the always-underdog team for school sports day. With zero sports talent, Anna reluctantly submits to training from the team's handsome star, causing some gossip. Can Anna overcome her awkwardness and help her team prevail? Can she win Connor's heart at last? Birchall punctuates the wry comedy with frequent outbreaks of mayhem, as when her dad's quirky wedding planners release numerous owls inside the house. The British humor should easily cross the pond, where it will find many readers also at an awkward age. Anna's world is a largely white one. Frothy, funny klutziness. (Fiction. 9-13)

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January 1, 2017

Gr 5-8-This second entry in the series is true to the humorous tone of the first book, albeit with slightly lowered stakes. Having been thrust into the limelight as a result of her father's marriage to a movie star, 12-year-old Anna Huntley has strengthened her wobbly self-esteem in order to make trustworthy friends, embrace her expanded family, and realize which boy she likes. However, in this sequel, Anna still faces mishaps in the public eye, including a viral video of her falling into a planter, but the catalysts for drama are a bit flimsier. Spurred by a snarky tabloid piece on useless "it" girls, Anna decides outrageous measures are necessary in order to prove her worth, both to the world at large and to her crush, Connor, who seems distracted. To that end, she becomes captain of the Puffins team for her school's sports day, despite being extremely unathletic and a little shy. As in many rom-coms, most of the problems Anna encounters could be cleared up through better communication-but that's not how high jinks are made. The relatively slight plot is bolstered by breezy pacing and genuinely funny dialogue. Jess, Anna's best friend, is a little on the undermining side, but Anna's unconventional family is portrayed with warmth and specificity. As in the last book, emails, notes, and lists are interspersed throughout; their use may not square with how middle schoolers communicate now, but it does make for easy reading. Anna's process of growing into herself is realistically bumpy, with relatable ups and downs as she develops new capacities and interests. VERDICT This series installment should hold great appeal for tweens who enjoy comic fiction with a touch of age-appropriate romance, with added interest for Anglophiles and self-identified members of "Team Awkward."-Miriam DesHarnais, Towson University, MD

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