Watch Out, Hollywood!: More Confessions of a So-called Middle Child

July 1, 2014
Grades 5-8 Ever since Charlie Cooper saved the bullied Marta in Houdini's hidden tunnels (Confessions of a So-Called Middle Child, 2013), Charlie has been all over the news, and Hollywood is calling. After her agent tells her about an audition for an upcoming ABC Family show about gymnastics, Charlie is certain she would be perfect, except for the small fact that she knows nothing about being a gymnast. When mean girl Lillian tells Marta that Charlie is auditioning for a part for which Marta is better suited, the entire school turns on Charlie. She knows that Lillian is just trying to get Marta to drop out of the upcoming Junior Olympics, but how can she prove that to Marta when Marta doesn't trust her anymore? Charlie's razor-sharp humor is back, as are her often self-centered motives. This time she learns that she has to give up what she wants in order to help others; in fact, it's a crucial part of friendship. Add where the previous title is popular.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)