This is a realistic fiction novel about a reality show, which are never about real life!

Magnolia’s mother wants to be famous but never succeeds, but she does manage to get Magnolia a place on a new reality show where contestants live together until voted off. It’s a singing competition, so they perform; the judges and audience vote. The one with the lowest number of votes gets voted off. Magnolia believes she can reinvent herself and become an interesting, people person.

Ford has a lousy life--his family is always in jail. He’s been in jail. When he decides that life can have more choices, his family feels he is judging him. His hope is this show--if he can get there in time. He’s in jail when his plane takes off. Ford meets Magnolia the first night he arrives. They are drawn to each other. As they compete, each learns more about themselves and what they truly want in life.

I wanted to read the book because one review said that if you liked The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy, you would like this book. Obviously, the reviewer didn’t read both books. Just because both books involve a reality show, doesn’t mean that they are similar enough to recommend together. I think many teens will enjoy the story--it’s a good one and has a good message about finding oneself and following one’s inner truth. I think it will appeal to older teens more than middle schoolers. ( )

I surprisingly enjoyed this teen-meets-fame young adult contemporary fiction offering from an author I had never read before. Magnolia and Ford (weird names but that's increasingly becoming the norm) are selected to appear on a reality TV singing competition akin to American Idol. They fall in love while Magnolia tries to get her fame-obsessed mother to notice her and Ford tries to stay out of jail. It's very good girl meets bad boy from other side of the tracks, but what makes this so interesting is the tidbits from "behind the scenes" of the show. ( )