Backstage Pass

BACKSTAGE PASS by

Category: Contemporary

Age Recommendation: Grades 6+

Release Date: 8/22/06

Publisher: Delacorte

Reviewed by:

Rating: 5 Stars

Thirteen-year-old Jessica Ortiz can't quite decide if she's blessed or cursed. On the one hand, there's the fact that her

sixteen-year-old older sister, Eva, is the breakout star of the new television hit,

Two Sisters

. On the other hand, there's

the

fact that the fame, fortune, and money that come from having an older sister who is a Hollywood star seems to be

driving her

family slightly crazy.

Oh sure, they now live in a Spanish

casa

, a house with a library full of fake books, a kitchen that comes complete with

a cook

and maid, and even a pool. There's even a bulldog named Petunia for Jessica's very own pet, even though her

parents had

been previously avoiding the issue of pets for years. All of that sounds great, on the surface. But under

that surface, though, is

the very real fact that someone is attempting to sabotage Eva on the set of

Two Sisters

What starts out for Jessica as Project Stop Slander soon turns into an honest-to-goodness whodunit, as she attempts to

find

out who is leaking bad publicity pictures of her sister to the press, is stealing her sister's designer wardrobe, and

who also

seems to be sending her threatening text messages on her cell phone. All of this, while her sister, Eva the star,

works with her

publicity agent, Keiko, to control the damage as it occurs.

What a total delight, and a wonderful surprise! I can honestly say that I didn't know what to expect when I picked up a

copy

of BACKSTAGE PASS. What I found, though, was a great, quick read with down-to-earth characters,

wonderful dialogue,

and, even though the story is set in Hollywood, a truly believable plot. I highly recommend this

book to everyone, whether

you're a lover of mysteries, a middle school student, or an older, reluctant reader looking

for something that won't take up a lot

of time. I, for one, am anxiously awaiting the second book in THE

HOLLYWOOD SISTERS series, ON LOCATION,

which is scheduled to be released in March of 2007. Kudos to

Ms. Wilcox for a great new series!

The Hollywood Sisters Bk. 1:
Backstage Pass
by Mary Wilcox