(2) YA Eighth grader Emily Laurence aspires to be a social media influencer, if only her mom would let her post pictures of herself on her YouHappy account. For now, she'll have to settle for producing the Cedarview Middle School podcast. Before she can gain internet fame, Emily has a lot to juggle in the real world. She and her mom have moved in with Mom's new boyfriend and his obnoxious eight-year-old son; and a new classmate, Amelie, adds an unwelcome dynamic to Emily's friendships. Emily channels her frustrations into producing a podcast story about an upcoming climate march, but the principal thinks the topic isn't appropriate for middle school students and cancels the episode. When a school visit from (fictional) social media influencer (and Emily's idol) Asha Jamil is rescheduled for the same day as the climate march, Emily can't keep quiet about her suspicions of censorship. She tries to emulate her namesake, Emily Post -- whom our protagonist sees as one of the world's first influencers -- to help her manage with tact and courtesy. With a relatable and thoughtful main character, the story offers timely reflections on social media, complicated friendships, climate activism, and what it really means to have influence.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(2) 4-6 Twelve-year-old CJ lives with her aunt Nic, a YouTube medium trying to break into reality TV. After discovering that a Hollywood producer seeks to unmask her aunt as a charlatan, CJ uncovers a major family secret (about her mother), which convinces her that Aunt Nic is a fraud. Graff's ruminations on life and death; faith and belief; truth, fiction, and lies appear throughout this page-turning story about one family's specific dysfunctions.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2019

(4) 4-6 David dreams of becoming a TV star like his idol Jon Stewart--but first he has to get through middle school. His anxieties are compounded when he loses his best friend then meets a girl who helps him become a star on the Internet. While David's fears are in line with his age, his narrative voice and ambitions make him sound a little older. Glos.

Reviewer: David Elzey