Nerds Heart YA, Round 1: Premiere v. Tall Story

As many of you know I’m a judge in the first round of this year’s Nerds Heart YA, a bracket style tournament showcasing diverse, under-the-radar YA books published in 2010. I and my co-judge, Michelle of Pineapples and Pyjamas were given Premiere by Melody Carlson and Tall Story by Candy Gourlay and asked to choose which book deserves to move on to the next round. After reading both books, writing joint reviews and giving it a lot of thought, sending emails back and forth, and having one late night Facebook chat, Michelle and I are excited to announce our decision.

To do so, we’ve posted our joint reviews of each book on our blogs. Much thanks to The Book Smugglers for letting us borrow their format.

For Tall Story‘s review, head over to Pineapples and Pyjamas. Since I led the review on Premiere, here it is:

Summary (from the back cover):

Although they’re sisters, Paige and Erin Forrester are like oil and water, night and day, denim and silk. Paige is an outgoing fashionista who loves to be the center of attention, while Erin is more comfortable sporting vintage garb and recording the action around her. When a near disaster turns into the opportunity of a lifetime these two very-different sisters are given the chance to star in their own fashion-TV show. A guest spot on a host teen-reality series and their first big red-carpet assignment give this unlikely partnership plenty of room for success – and even more for failure.

First Impressions:

Holly: I had never heard of Melody Carlson or her book Premiere: On the Runway before it was shortlisted for Nerds Heart YA. Honestly I thought the cover with the red theater seats was pretty ho-hum and I’m not a fan of the curvy font but the subtitle sparked my curiosity. I had a brief stint modeling and after learning how to walk a runway I’ve always had a soft spot for it. Then I read the back cover blurb which mentioned there was a fashion-centric TV show, and I was really interested. I’m a sucker for makeover and style advice shows like What Not to Wear and Fashion Police. Since I hadn’t heard of the publisher Zondervan or read any reviews of Premiere, I had absolutely no idea that it was Christian fiction. We’ll get to that later.

Michelle:  I too had not heard of Melody Carlson nor her books but what really intrigued me was the reality show aspect of this book.  Let’s face it most of use have watched one or two of these shows, Survivor, The Amazing Race, etc and I was really curious as to how teenagers, a fashion reality show and a book would mix.

On the Plot

Holly: Paige and Erin Forrester’s mom works for Channel Five news and involves them in all her child and teenage-oriented stories. What started out as an ordinary feature for the newly renovated local theme park quickly gets out of hand when Paige gets bored. Instead of sticking with facts about the theme park Paige decides to spice the coverage up by interviewing and critiquing park-goer fashion choices. Her diversion doesn’t go unnoticed. In fact, instead of costing their mother her job, Paige and Erin are offered their own show, and “On the Runway” was born.

The short chapters, breezy writing and well-paced plot made Premiere easy to read. The plot was set up quickly and draws you in just as fast. When the girls get their first assignment on the set of the teenage reality show Malibu Beach the story was still quite accessible. Everyone has had experience with, if not followed, reality shows. Naturally, the drama which ensued on set kept the story interesting if not particularly deep throughout most of the book. Premiere ends with a nice balance of closure, loose ends, and the developing beginnings of a new plot for the next book to hold your attention in the series.

Michelle:  I can’t agree more with you Holly!  I too enjoyed the short chapters.  They grabbed me and I hung on till the end.

On the Characters:

Holly: Both of the Irish twins Paige and Erin are very accessible and I liked them. From their introductory characterization to seeing their true colors on Malibu Beach, we relate to each of them right away. We all know beautiful, popular Paiges who are well-loved and seem to do no wrong. Some of us probably have a lot in common with Erin, who is down-to-earth, ambitious, and loyal. Erin is as content to be out of the spotlight as Paige is to be in it. I liked their relationship and how they learn to negotiate their differences and be the best team they can be.

None of the other characters particularly stood out (negatively or positively) to me but there are some interesting relationships for potential development in future books. Erin and Paige have a caring mom who is very much a part of their life, which is refreshing in a YA novel. Erin’s ex-boyfriend Blake comes back into the picture as a “friend” and Paige meets someone on Malibu Beach who created great drama in this installment and who may be back in the next book.

Michelle:  Ah yes…  there were aspects of both Paige and Erin that I could relate to as well.  It was funny that while I was reading I could start to see character traits of people I may have known a long time ago.  Very tangible and easy to love/hate characters.

Themes:

Holly: Obviously with Erin being a convert and the only Christian in her family, Christianity is a big theme in Premiere, which to my chagrin I was very unaware of until its first mention. Some readers felt like it was forced. I wouldn’t go that far but its introduction definitely felt a little unnatural to me. But that may have been because I wasn’t expecting it. Thankfully it never feels preachy or didactic. There is some conflict in Erin’s mind whether she should be part of a TV show centered on something as trivial and insignificant as fashion. While Erin wants more of the people she loves to join her faith she is learning to accept and forgive others around her all the while hoping they may show interest in the future. That Erin actually lives her standards is very refreshing.

Premiere is equally about the bonds of sisterhood and the pitfalls and benefits that come with it. Paige and Erin are opposites learning to get along and provide a model example for teen relationships, whether it be with their own sisters or their peers.

Michelle:  I knew the Christianity theme would be present in Premiere, however I didn’t find it overbearing.  Walking into this book knowing that this would show up I was weary and maybe because I’ve read other books where this theme was more in your face, that I was surprised and pleased with how it was dealt with in this book.  It was all very natural and in the moment of the story.

Oh I loved the sisterhood theme that ran through this book.  Melody Carlson did a great job at playing Paige and Erin.  And yes, I look forward to reading more about this duo.

Final Thoughts/Observations:

Holly: Premiere is a light, easy read which I enjoyed. Paige and Erin’s differences and their entertaining fashion-critique show kept me interested. As a teen I would’ve eaten this up just as I devoured the series The Babysitter’s Club or Sweet Valley High. While it was still a fun read as an adult I’m not sure how long it will stick with me.

Notable Quote/Part:

Okay, I don’t even want to talk about Twitter.  I’m so not into that.  I mean, seriously, why is everyone out there babbling about everything?  Sometimes I wonder what would happen if all our cell phones, IMs, emails, and all that just vanished.  Would everyone go nuts, or would we learn how to just have a normal conversation?      p. 80

Overall:

Michelle: I really enjoyed this book because it was light and a quick, easy read.  Most teens today will be able to relate to Erin and Paige and would probably relish in the idea of their own Fashion reality show.  How many times have we heard teenage girls commenting on their peers’ clothing or fashion habits?

Holly: Michelle, I agree. While I enjoyed Premiere and I think teens will enjoy the TV/fashion side of it even more. While I at times wanted more from the story and the characters, I wouldn’t be averse to picking up Catwalk, the second book in the series when I’m in the mood for a light, easy read.

To read our thoughts on Tall Story – and to find out which book will be moving on in the competition (!), head on over to Pineapples and Pyjamas. Thanks, Michelle for being such a great judging partner.

To see the shortlist and the other brackets, click here. The winners will be announced daily through June 29th.