Team awkward

Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 5-8-This second entry in the series is true to the humorous tone of the first book, albeit with slightly lowered stakes. Having been thrust into the limelight as a result of her father's marriage to a movie star, 12-year-old Anna Huntley has strengthened her wobbly self-esteem in order to make trustworthy friends, embrace her expanded family, and realize which boy she likes. However, in this sequel, Anna still faces mishaps in the public eye, including a viral video of her falling into a planter, but the catalysts for drama are a bit flimsier. Spurred by a snarky tabloid piece on useless "it" girls, Anna decides outrageous measures are necessary in order to prove her worth, both to the world at large and to her crush, Connor, who seems distracted. To that end, she becomes captain of the Puffins team for her school's sports day, despite being extremely unathletic and a little shy. As in many rom-coms, most of the problems Anna encounters could be cleared up through better communication-but that's not how high jinks are made. The relatively slight plot is bolstered by breezy pacing and genuinely funny dialogue. Jess, Anna's best friend, is a little on the undermining side, but Anna's unconventional family is portrayed with warmth and specificity. As in the last book, emails, notes, and lists are interspersed throughout; their use may not square with how middle schoolers communicate now, but it does make for easy reading. Anna's process of growing into herself is realistically bumpy, with relatable ups and downs as she develops new capacities and interests. VERDICT This series installment should hold great appeal for tweens who enjoy comic fiction with a touch of age-appropriate romance, with added interest for Anglophiles and self-identified members of "Team Awkward."-Miriam DesHarnais, Towson University, MD © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Review by Horn Book Review

Anna (The It Girl) continually finds herself in embarrassing situations while struggling to prove that she is actually worthy of her newfound fame following her father's engagement to a famous actress. Volunteering for team captain at her school's sports day seems promising until her lack of athleticism gets in the way. Despite a superficial premise, Anna's self-deprecating humor offers a refreshing take on popularity and celebrity. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

A viral video makes Anna famous for falling into a potted plant in this sequel to The It Girl (2016).Although she's still only 12, she's also famous because her dad is about to marry the world's most famous actress, causing the London media to dub Anna an "It Girl," along with her soon-to-be stepsisters. Unfortunately, she's a chronic klutz, so embarrassment always looms. She also has a serious and growing crush on Connor, who Anna thinks might be on the verge of kissing her. But Connor is spending a lot of time with Stephanie, working together on a project, causing Anna ever growing worry about his intentions: does he like her, or is she losing him to Stephanie? Things get even more complicated when Anna becomes captain of the always-underdog team for school sports day. With zero sports talent, Anna reluctantly submits to training from the team's handsome star, causing some gossip. Can Anna overcome her awkwardness and help her team prevail? Can she win Connor's heart at last? Birchall punctuates the wry comedy with frequent outbreaks of mayhem, as when her dad's quirky wedding planners release numerous owls inside the house. The British humor should easily cross the pond, where it will find many readers also at an awkward age. Anna's world is a largely white one. Frothy, funny klutziness. (Fiction. 9-13) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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Team Awkward 1. From: jess.delby@zingmail.co.uk To: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk Subject: You're overreacting So you got stuck in a plant pot. It's not that big of a deal. J x From: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk To: jess.delby@zingmail.co.uk Subject: Re: You're overreacting No, you're right. It's not that big of a deal. It's not that big of a deal that a video of me stuck in a plant pot, trying and failing to get out, has been watched on YouTube by MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. Love, me xxx From: jess.delby@zingmail.co.uk To: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk Subject: You're wrong Excuse you, but you WISH you were that famous. It has not been watched by millions of people, only a few thousand. Let me check and I can tell you the precise--. WHOA. It's had almost two million views! That's gone up really fast in the last hour. Do you know what that means? Almost two million people have seen you stuck in a plant pot! This is the best day of my life. J x From: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk To: jess.delby@zingmail.co.uk Subject: Re: You're wrong I am never leaving the closet again. I don't care how hard Dad is trying to tempt me out with that plate of duck pancakes he's left right outside the door. I can smell it. He's even shut Dog in the kitchen so he can't get them. He thinks he's so clever. HA. Clearly he does not know me very well if he thinks that I would be tempted out of hiding by some stupid duck pancakes. Honestly, I have more self-respect than that. This is all his fault in the first place, anyway. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be the laughingstock of the ENTIRE country right now. Love, me xxx From: jess.delby@zingmail.co.uk To: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk Subject: What?! Explain to me how this is your dad's fault? J x From: jess.delby@zingmail.co.uk To: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk Subject: HELLO Are you there? I sent that last e-mail almost fifteen minutes ago. Why don't you just answer your cell phone? You're so useless with your phone. J x From: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk To: jess.delby@zingmail.co.uk Subject: Re: HELLO Sorry about the delay there, I was just rearranging my cushions. If I'm going to be stuck in here for the rest of my life, this closet has to be comfy. I can't answer my phone because I've turned it off. I've had a crazy amount of calls and texts from people asking me to explain the plant-pot situation and the beeping was driving me insane. Love, me xxx From: jess.delby@zingmail.co.uk To: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk Subject: I'm on to you You went out to get the duck pancakes, didn't you? J x From: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk To: jess.delby@zingmail.co.uk Subject: Re: I'm on to you Absolutely not. What do you take me for? I am not that weak. Please. Have some faith. Like I said, I was arranging cushions. Love, me xxx From: jess.delby@zingmail.co.uk To: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk Subject: Stop your lies Sure. I bet your dad blocked the door with his foot when you reached out to get the duck pancakes, so you were forced to talk to him for a bit. Is that why you took fifteen minutes to reply? J x From: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk To: jess.delby@zingmail.co.uk Subject: Re: Stop your lies No. I was arranging cushions. Then I replied to your e-mail. Love, me xxx From: jess.delby@zingmail.co.uk To: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk Subject: Re: Stop your lies I just got this text from your dad: "Hi Jess, Nick Huntley here. Anna is refusing to come out of the closet again. Can you try talking to her? She's eaten the duck pancakes I left out for her. I talked to her but she tried to slam the door on my foot. N." J x From: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk To: jess.delby@zingmail.co.uk Subject: Re: Stop your lies What's your point? Love, me xxx From: jess.delby@zingmail.co.uk To: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk Subject: You're ridiculous Tell me why you think this is your dad's fault. J x From: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk To: jess.delby@zingmail.co.uk Subject: Re: You're ridiculous HELLO. Obviously it's his fault. He's the one who had to have his stupid engagement celebration party in Helena's stupid house, where she has stupid palm tree things in her hall sitting in stupidly massive pots, which innocent victims might stumble backward into, get their butt stuck in, and then be filmed on someone's stupid smartphone trying to get out. If he had stayed single and not gotten engaged to the world's most famous actress, I would never have gotten stuck in a palm-tree plant pot and I would be living in PEACE. And also, why did people FILM it rather than help get me out?! This is what is wrong with the world today. Why did they film it? WHY?! Love, me xxx From: jess.delby@zingmail.co.uk To: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk Subject: Re: You're ridiculous Because you folded into the pot with your legs sticking up like that and your arms flailing around was really funny. I've added it to my favorites. And I've bookmarked it. Now I can get it to come up on my screen with just one click. My dad's watched it five times. He said he's sending it around his entire office first thing in the morning. J x From: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk To: jess.delby@zingmail.co.uk Subject: Re: You're ridiculous Everyone is going to be laughing at me into the next century. This is the worst way to start the new semester. How come ever since I started there a semester ago I've been the official laughingstock of Woodfield? Love, me xxx From: jess.delby@zingmail.co.uk To: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk Cc: dantheman@zingmail.co.uk Subject: Desperate times Falling into a palm-tree pot is so not the worst way to start a semester, Anna. You did that last semester. You set Josie Graham on fire, remember? Look, I've brought Danny into the conversation to cheer you up. Danny, Anna is upset because she's a YouTube sensation. Any kind words you can throw her way? J x From: dantheman@zingmail.co.uk To: jess.delby@zingmail.co.uk Cc: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk Subject: Re: Desperate times I've been looking at the video and it's actually a Dracaena Lisa plant that you fell into, Anna, not a palm tree, although they are often mistakenly identified as palms due to their similar shape. The name Dracaena Lisa comes from the Greek word drakaina, which means "dragon." This is because, if you cut the stem of the Dracaena, the juice that seeps out resembles dragon's blood. Danny. From: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk To: dantheman@zingmail.co.uk Cc: jess.delby@zingmail.co.uk Subject: Well, that settles it I hate my life. See you guys at school. Love, me xxx From: jess.delby@zingmail.co.uk To: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk Cc: dantheman@zingmail.co.uk Subject: Re: Well, that settles it Three million views and counting! J x Excerpted from Team Awkward by Katy Birchall All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

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