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Realistic. Teen narrator sometimes sounded too adult. Good choice for middle school. ( )

Big Kid Reaction: I have mixed thoughts on this book. I picked it because my daughter (11) wants to read it, and I wanted to see what it was all about. With Olivia telling the story, it will help girls see themselves (and their dreams). I also liked how she learned more about herself and grew up. Still, Olivia's lying bugged me.

Pros: Girls who are self-conscious about themselves - particularly how they look - may find comfort in Olivia Hughes. The story is sophisticated enough for high school readers, and this has potential as a high interest - low readability book.

To read our full review, go to The Reading Tub®.

It’s no secret that a teen’s worst enemy (you know, after mean girls and final exams and parents and skinny jeans and, you know, all that other stuff) is acne. So when thirteen-year-old actress Olivia Hughes gets her first pimple, it’s no surprise that she pretends she’s having an allergic reaction rather than admit she has less-than clear skin. The thing is, even if it weren’t for the fact that she’s barely getting by as one of the cool kids and is desperately trying to keep the interest of the new hottie in school, a few pimples could more than derail her social life — they could derail her career.

Olivia dreams of doing TV and movies, but for now she’s working in commercials. Sure, she wishes her dad would understand her passion, but her mom gets it, and her crazy agent seems to love her. In fact, she’s just landed a great campaign with a local amusement park, Whacky Water. Of course, that’s when the pimple shows up, followed by an acne diagnosis. Desperate to maintain the status quo across the board, Olivia tries everything to hide her zits. From pancake makeup to risky steroid injections, she’ll do anything to have pretty skin. Of course, if Olivia isn’t who she appears to be — fancy up-and-coming star — nobody is. And that hottie? He’s kind of a jerk. Her friends at school? Well, at least one of them is a bit shallow. And her agent? Let’s just say things are about to get ugly.

In this sweet tween debut, Emily Howse tackles some tough issues with poise and humor, and ZITFACE is sure to resonate with fans of Lauren Myracle and Judy Blume. Out now from Marshall Cavendish, readers looking for something cute, contemporary, and girlie should definitely give ZITFACE a read. ( )

Thirteen-year-old Olivia Hughes thinks she has her life figured out - even though she's only in eighth grade, she's an actress who's just landed a national ad campaign. Olivia's life is going well, even with her parents' recent divorce; the cute new guy at school seems to be noticing her, and she has some great friends. But all of this might change with one little thing: a zit that morphs into a full-blown case of acne and threatens her career, self-esteem, and relationships.

Despite the seemingly trivial nature of the book (come on, all of this drama over acne?!), I found Zitface to be an enjoyable read. Acne isn't the only issue covered in the novel; it's joined by puberty, first dates, middle school gossip, divorce, parent-child relationships, and a bit of bullying. Olivia's voice matches that of your typical thirteen-year-old, and while those of us who are older may underestimate the importance of what eighth-graders consider major drama, this book is perfect for middle school girls who are dealing with many of the issues being covered. To you parents still watching what your daughters read, did I also mention that this is a completely clean read? ( )