Finding Forever

July 15, 2015
A teen starlet is kidnapped and an investigative blogger is on the case in this series opener. Taylor Prince is on top of the world. She's a huge movie star with critical clout and box office bona fides. But everything is turned upside down when her 16th birthday party is raided by kidnappers and Taylor finds herself in the clutches of a youth-obsessed cult. Brooklyn Brant lives on the outskirts of Taylor's world, reporting on all the Hollywood gossip with her popular blog, Deadline Diaries. When Brooklyn is tipped off to Taylor's abduction, the chase is on. Baker revels in all the frothy excess Hollywood has to offer, providing readers a surface-level look at the two different sides of fame's coin. Unfortunately this surface is barely penetrated, making for a book without any subtext. Characters boldly pronounce their intentions, their philosophies, and their allegiances. The dialogue is often clunky and exposition-heavy. The author also makes the curious choice of alternating the narrative point of view between the two teen girls, so readers know exactly where Taylor is at all times and are stuck patiently waiting for Brooklyn to catch up. There's no ticking clock involved with Taylor's dilemma, therefore there are no stakes to be raised at any point. Making things worse, Brooklyn doesn't solve anything; the answer is just plopped into her lap at the last minute.With poor structure and minimal stakes, this is a mystery best left alone. (Mystery. 12-16)

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October 1, 2015

Gr 8 Up- Gossip Girl goes Hollywood in Baker's first in a planned series. Brooklyn Brant spends her days investigating and writing for her blog, "Deadline Diaries." Taylor Prince, America's sweetheart, is turning 16 and just wants a party with no paparazzi or problems. But things take a turn for the grim when she's abducted from her bash and wakes up bald and branded, under the care of strange doctors who say she's in rehab. As Taylor struggles to stay sane under their dubious care, Brooklyn searches for the truth about what really happened to Taylor. This series opener rings hollow. The writing is full of brand-name dropping and cliched, one-dimensional characters. Neither Brooklyn nor Taylor feel fully fleshed out, and traits assigned to them (Brooklyn's religion and obsessive compulsive disorder, Taylor's straight-edge leanings) feel tacked on. The story reads like a 1980s made-for-TV movie or a Lois Duncan knock-off; readers seeking mystery and a little bit of danger with an empowered female protagonist would be better served with a Nancy Drew novel. Neither Taylor nor Brooklyn go through any significant character growth or actualization, and Taylor in particular spends the entire novel victimized and passive. For readers who are big fans of E! Hollywood News, this might be an easy beach read, but with a plethora of quality YA out there to choose from, most teens will have trouble finding something worth engaging with here. VERDICT Not recommended for primary purchase.-Clair Segal, LREI, New York City

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