Let's face it: Today's teenagers are obsessed with celebrities. But according to Lizabeth Zindel (http://www.lizabethzindel.com/index2.htm), a new, talented voice in young-adult fiction, the glamorous life isn't what it seems. And this spring, teens everywhere can read all about it. As seen in Variety, the book was also just optioned to be developed into a movie
Zindel, who learned first-hand about stardom through careers at a top Hollywood talent agency and Madonna's Maverick Entertainment, gives an inside look into the backstabbing world of teenage stars through her first fiction release: "Girl of the Moment." Debuting in softcover on April 3rd, 2008 from Puffin Books, an imprint of Penguin, the novel, released in hardcover last April, offers a realistic account of the celebrity scene through Sabrina Snow, a 16-year-old starlet caught up in her movie-star life, and Lily, a high school intern who discovers catering to a rising star is more work than play.
"Girl of the Moment," which has already received numerous rave reviews, gives edgy insight into how young American starlets get caught between their public persona and true sense of self. It unveils the strength and sensibility of young adults, especially when forced to explore personal values. Called "'The Devil Wears Prada' for teens" by KLIATT, "Girl of the Moment," with its brisk pace and abundant humor, has the makings for this summer's perfect read.
"As an assistant in Hollywood, I had to go through fan mail," Zindel says. "I became captivated by the letters, and how many people were obsessed with certain stars. There was a sadness, too, because some fans confessed their deepest secrets, but many letters remained unread. That's when I got the idea about a girl interning for a teenage movie star. I was entrenched in this Hollywood assistant world, and I wanted to pursue it in fiction."
"Girl of the Moment" is Zindel's first in a three-book deal with Viking Press, which has contracted the author to write more fiction on the complexities of teenage life. Zindel's second great read, "The Secret Rites of Social Butterflies" (Viking, May 15th, 2008), explores what happens when the most powerful girls in school know your deepest, darkest secrets. It examines the gray area between gossip and the truth.
