PLASTIC ANGEL

Two 13-year-old girls fight against conformity and family conflicts in this well-written and appealing story. Told from the perspective of Randi, the daughter of a too-loose musician, the main storyline follows Randi’s best friend Gellie, the daughter of an obsessive stage mother. Gellie is extraordinarily beautiful, working as a model and commercial actress. The two girls discover a talent for singing and songwriting, and call themselves “Plastic Angel,” hoping to have a career as musicians. However, Gellie’s mother dominates her daughter’s life and adamantly opposes their music. When Gellie wins a job in a movie at the same time the girls are hired for their first gig, serious trouble ensues. The writing moves along well, touching issues of family dissent and emerging individuality with which young teens constantly grapple. It should appeal to many young readers, especially those who love popular music. (Fiction. 12-16)