Isabella for Real

October 10, 2016
In this funny novel featuring a boisterous Italian-American family in New Jersey, a burst of social media attention causes a jumble of problems for 11-year-old Isabella Antonelli, who’s already juggling the adjustment to her new private school. Isabella reluctantly agrees to help her film-student cousin, Vincent, by starring in a series of video shorts that offer humorous looks at their family’s everyday life. She has forgotten all about the project by the time she starts attending a posh middle school, where the students mistakenly believe Isabella is the famous daughter of royalty—and she doesn’t set them straight. When Vincent’s videos go viral, Isabella is terrified that she’ll be revealed as “fibbing, faking, phony” to her new friends. Palatini (Under a Pig Tree) writes her over-the-top characters with glee, mixing in references to food, Sinatra fandom, and hairstyles that will sound plenty familiar to anyone with similar heritage. Pham (the Princess in Black series) extends the fun in crisp comics sequences that expand on Isabella’s thoughts and emotions while helping to propel the story. Ages 10–12. Agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt.

July 15, 2016
Beware the dangers of YouTube celebrity! Eleven-year-old Isabella is in a serious bind. Her cousin Vincent, who is a film school student, filmed her playing herself for a class project. And what a character she is! A white New Jersey girl from an Italian-American family, her character is portrayed with an over-the-top, frenetic brush. Every archetype of both Jersey and Italian-Americans is pushed to the max with warmth and a sense of humor. When Vincent posts his video on YouTube, Isabella becomes an instant sensation. Unfortunately, Isabella has been leading a double life. She has just started attending a private school and, in an effort to fit in with her peers, has been pretending to come from a much more glamorous background. Now with her newfound but most definitely unwanted celebrity she will be exposed as a "fibbing, faking, phony." The story is told in a mix of narrated film scenes (with the occasional multiple take) and Pham's comic art, both contributing to accelerate the pace of the account. This is a timely story in an age where kids are being constantly reminded of the perils of revealing too much on social media. A funny, cautionary tale for the age of social media. (Graphic/fiction hybrid. 10-12)

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April 1, 2016

Gr 4-6-Life for Isabella Antonelli is as normal as being in an extended, multigenerational Italian American family can be. In fact, it's pretty much what most families are like. But the friends at her new school don't think so, mistakenly believing she has been born into privilege as the daughter of a wealthy contessa. Making matters worse, her cousin's home videos have become an online sensation, overrunning their entire block with paparazzi, news reporters, and the occasional hot dog stand cashing in on the fame. While she's ready to come clean about her mistaken identity, the school elections are coming up, so, with the help of some neighbors, Isabella devises an elaborate scheme to maintain the facade until after the elections. Things do not go as planned in this wacky tale of a middle school double life. For a generation used to sharing as much through social media as in person, one's online presence is a very relevant theme that will resonate well with audiences. The story's conflict, if at times far-fetched, is one that middle schoolers can easily relate to in their search for acceptance among peers while grappling with their own identity issues. Palatini has created a vibrant look at life in an eccentric family with a colorful cast of unique characters whose quirkiness never fails to delight. Pham's lively cartoon illustrations perfectly balance the energy, lending a lighthearted yet humorous air to the conflict. VERDICT This fast-paced, fun read about the pressures of fitting in in our media-saturated culture is a solid addition to most middle grade collections.-Rebecca Gueorguiev, New York Public Library

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