Erika J. Kendrick

This funny and fabulous novel about a middle school diva’s hunt for the spotlight speaks to the importance of friendship and family—even in the midst of fame. Lyric Whitney Houston Darby has always wanted to be famous, just like her superstar mom. So when the hottest music-competition TV show announces auditions in town, it’s her chance to compete—and maybe even score a record deal. There are just a couple of problems: First, the show requires industry experience. This means Lyric has to audition for her school’s production of The Wiz…as if middle school musicals aren’t totally beneath her. Second, she needs to mega-boost her platform on Instagram. Fast. This show is an influencers-only event! Luckily she has her besties at her side! Or… does she? As Lyric starts to get everything she ever wanted, her BFFs are coping with their own challenges. Will Lyric be there to lift them up, or is she about to learn the real cost of being instafamous? This bubbly story is as wise as it is witty, reminding readers of the importance of mental health, and that what you want isn’t always what you need.

A fun, fast-paced novel about friendship, family, fighting for what’s right, and standing out from the crowd while standing up for yourself.    Twelve-year-old Brooklyn Ace is ready to take the Valentine World Scouts by storm and build her own cookie empire. She nearly won the top cookie selling spot last year and is determined to make her mom—who recently passed away—proud by coming in first this time around. With her fabulous best friends by her side, Brooklyn knows she’ll become Santa Monica’s District Cookie Queen. The crown is practically in the bag.    Then Piper Parker arrives.    Piper has a rich dad, a fancy hotel, and a drive to steal the cookie crown right off Brooklyn’s head. Before long, most of the seventh grade is under Piper’s spell. But Brooklyn is in it to win the biggest cookie war the school has ever seen. With the help of her cookie squad, her rockstar grandmother, her super cool therapist, and a lot of self-love and inner growth, maybe—just maybe—Brooklyn can end up a winner after all. 

Camp is in session in this cheer-tastic middle-grade novel about making new friends, finding your place, and learning to embrace your inner Magic. Magic Olive Poindexter has big shoes to fill. Her mother was a professional cheerleader, her father is a retired NBA legend, her big sister is the new face of the oh-so-glamorous Laker Girls, and her grandmother was the first black cheerleader ever on Valentine Middle School's HoneyBee cheer squad. Magic wants nothing more than to follow in their footsteps. But first, she has to survive Planet Pom Poms, the summer cheer camp where she'll audition for a spot on the HoneyBee squad. But with zero athletic ability and a group of mean girls who have her number, Tragic Magic is a long way from becoming the toe-touching cheerleader heroine she dreams of being. Things start to look up when her best friend Cappie joins her at camp--until Cappie gets bitten by the popularity bug, that is. To make matters worse, Magic's crushing hard on football star Dallas Chase. Luckily, Magic's not alone: with the help of a new crew of fabulous fellow misfits and her Grammy Mae's vintage pom poms by her side, Tragic Magic might just survive--and even thrive--at cheer camp.