TALENT SHOWDOWN

Rapping sensation Alaya High learns to balance her rising stardom with middle school friendships.

After her dad’s video of her freestyling went viral, Alaya became famous as That Girl Lay Lay. From posting YouTube videos to recording albums, her life feels brand-new, but she’s happy she still gets to see her friends every day at school. When Lay Lay and her friends find out that developers plan to tear down the historic Hayes Theater, they are determined to find a way to save it. At the upcoming school talent show, proceeds will go to a cause voted on by students, and the winning act will perform on television. The girls plan to get everyone to vote to support the theater, then win the TV spot and use it to further publicize their cause. But their success depends on whether Lay Lay can balance her life as a star with her friendships and if her friends can brush off other kids’ comments about them being her backup dancers. Lay Lay is determined to have it all and to push her friends to shine. This lighthearted story combines the high drama of fame with realistic middle school social life, expressed with the conversational flair of a confident, trendy girl. Lay Lay’s ability to see and support her friends’ unique strengths offers a refreshing portrayal of girlhood. Lay Lay presents Black, and her friends are of various ethnicities.

This fluff has heart.