THE (used-to-be) IT GIRL

Author: Amy Kaye ISBN: 0843954736 10/2004 TEEN FICTION Publisher: SMOOCH

It's hard to believe that it's been just 12 months since über-cutie Rhiannon Melissa Taylor was covergirl of the moment. Don't you remember? The adorable star of the hit sitcom Who's My Daddy broke all magazine publishing records when her infectious, all-American smile was plastered across an unprecedented 15 covers in he same month-including Car and Driver, when she wasn't even old enough to drive! Which left us wondering: Where is the golden girl now? Of course, we all heard the terrible news when the network canned her for "creative differences." (Some say the differences were over the creation of a few extra pounds on those teeny hips of her...but we weren't the ones who called her Little Girl Lard.) But ever since her ouster, she seems to have vanished, evading the paparazzi's bulbs like a true girl of mystery. Well, our spies have found her. After all those years of West Coast tutoring and pampered privilege, she's just one of the crowd in crowded New York City. Rumor has it the money's gone, every penny. And her high school? It's not in Manhattan, or even Brooklyn...the covergirl princess has been relegated to Queens. Well, did you ever?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Rhiannon is a child actor and star of a popular television series. When the studio publicly dumps her for a younger (and thinner) actress, she is forced to return to her home in Queens. After living for six years in the spotlight, she’s thrust back into the life of a “normal” teen. Contending with adjusting to life in a real high school, making friends and avoiding the whispers, stares and unflattering newspaper articles, she’s unprepared to deal with her mother’s serious illness. Through many trials, Rhiannon slowly determines who she really is now that she’s no longer the fairy in “Wing and a Prayer”, and finds that she likes her much better.

Ms. Kaye has done an excellent job of portraying Rhiannon as a sympathetic character. We see Rhiannon attempting to meld back into the life of a typical teen, with all the ordeals and problems along with it. She’s surprisingly not a spoiled or selfish girl; instead she seems to want to jump back into life the way it was before she left. Having to deal with the realization that life isn’t the same, Rhiannon suddenly finds herself in the unfamiliar role of an insecure and self-conscious person. All of a sudden, she’s not the center of attention and doesn’t have her every whim catered to. An appealing part of the story is the relationship that develops between Rhiannon and her younger sister Kaleigh. Often, their roles are reversed and Kaleigh is the one offering advice and comfort. While the cover and blurb on the book makes it seem like the story is a lighthearted comedy, I didn’t see it as lighthearted or a comedy. The depth of serious topics including weight issues and eating disorders in teen girls and the illness of Rhiannon’s mom, were subtly introduced and handled. I, for one, found it refreshing and not preachy by any means. Fans of Ms. Kaye’s earlier works will be delighted with a cameo by Claire (UNSCRIPTED). Kudos to Ms. Kaye for a story that, although not what I expected, is thoroughly enjoyable and refreshingly imaginative. I recommend THE USED-TO-BE IT GIRL to all fans of teen fiction.

Kendra Patterson