#famous by Jilly Gagnon
2017; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 70; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1353/bcc.2017.0187
ISSN1558-6766
Autores Tópico(s)Themes in Literature Analysis
ResumoReviewed by: #famous by Jilly Gagnon Karen Coats Gagnon, Jilly #famous. Tegen/HarperCollins, 2017 [384p] Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-06-243003-8 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-0-06-243005-2 $9.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 7-10 Rachel is perfectly happy being mostly invisible in high school, cultivating her identity as a low-key, funny writer. When she spots her never-gonna-happen crush working at a fast-food joint at the mall, she surreptitiously snaps a picture of good-looking Kyle and sends it along with the tag #idlikefrieswithTHAT to her friend, Monique; Monique forwards it, it goes viral, and Rachel’s hopes of high school anonymity are forever destroyed. While Kyle becomes an internet sensation, Rachel is judged, found wanting, and increasingly vilified by complete strangers. Narration alternates between Rachel and Kyle so that readers see both sides, beginning with Kyle’s confusion over his sudden fame, and moving to his mother’s encouragement that he milk the situation for all it’s worth to make up for mediocre grades. Meanwhile, Rachel doesn’t hide from the online hate she’s receiving, but she doesn’t crumble under it either, and her texts to Kyle are far wittier and self-assured than her insecurities behind the scenes. Their relationship showcases what a good high school romance can do, as it gives Kyle the courage to emerge from everyone’s expectations and realize what he really values, and Rachel is ultimately affirmed for not giving any credibility to the haters. Given all of the novels and real-life scenarios that focus on the tragic aftermath of internet bullying and overexposure, this light-hearted romance offers a refreshing, often humorous counternarrative of teens keeping their perspectives in the wake of unexpected fame. [End Page 312] Copyright © 2017 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
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