Finding Famous

April 29, 2024
Iranian diasporic culture collides with Hollywood life in this over-the-top children’s debut by Jalili (Just Send the Text, for adults). On Josie Lawrence’s 18th birthday, she receives a letter from her “deceased estranged biological father” and learns that he was beloved reality TV dad Ali Mashad. The revelation leaves Josie reeling, partially because Ali was already married to the Mashad matriarch when he had an affair with Josie’s late mother, and partially because agreeing to do just one season on the family’s reality show could earn Josie $40 million. Though “becoming tight with these mega celebrities feels even more fake than the money,” she accepts, hoping to alleviate her stepfather’s debt, save up for college tuition, and get to know her three half sisters. But Josie is caught unawares by the fame, a crush (that’s “like, low-key incest”), and dramatic secrets that challenge her perception of her mother and the Mashads. Lines that casually pathologize characters’ behaviors occasionally clash with Josie’s otherwise conscientious narration. Still, Jalili ascribes depth and nuance to the Persian American cast and, as a treat for die-hard fans of media glamour, peppers the text with tongue-in-cheek nods to Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Gossip Girl, and The Princess Diaries. Ages 12–up. Agent: Amy Bishop-Wycisk, Dystel, Goderich, & Bourret.

August 1, 2024

Gr 7 Up- Keeping Up with the Kardashians meets The Princess Diaries as Iranian American Josie Lawrence discovers her biological father is deceased media magnate Ali Mashad, beloved patriarch of the OG reality TV family. Anxious, ordinary Josie expected to spend the end of her senior year prepping for Stanford and enjoying time with her friends, but participating in just one season of Making Mashad could earn her millions of dollars-enough to pay for school and her family's debts. Suddenly her life is NDAs and paparazzi, high fashion, and the Hollywood whirl, but Josie also gets the chance to bond with her half-sisters and connect with her Iranian heritage. Getting out of her comfort zone could be good for Josie, but the whole world is watching the newest Mashad daughter, and Josie has to decide how much she's willing to risk. Jalili has fleshed out an incredible cast of characters, from Josie's family and friends to the Mashads, bringing in themes of mental health, grief, family ties, and the pressures of celebrity as Josie navigates a whole new world. High drama keeps the plot pushing forward, while the impact of diaspora on the cast gives readers a window into a unique cultural experience. Close readers will appreciate the Easter egg references to pop culture icons like Gossip Girl and The Princess Diaries. The cast is diverse. VERDICT A candy bar of a book readers will want to devour in one sitting. Recommended for purchase.-Emmy Neal

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2024
Grades 9-12 Although Josie Farrah Lawrence has always been an outsider, and not much has changed as she approaches her senior year of high school, she doesn't mind, as long as she has her best friend, her plan to attend Stanford, and conversations with her crush in math class. But that all changes when, on her eighteenth birthday, Josie discovers that she is a Mashad--a member of Hollywood's most famous family. Now Josie must learn to navigate her new family, celebrity status, and reality itself as the tries to stay true to herself while being filmed for the latest season of the Mashad's reality show. The story showcases the Iranian American experience as Josie fights to keep her new celebrity status a secret, learning more about her famous deceased biological father and his celebrity wife and daughters. This blend of The Princess Diaries and Keeping Up with the Kardashians brings themes of family, mental health, the pressures of being famous, LGBTQIA+ life, and generational trauma.

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May 15, 2024
High school senior Josie's life turns upside down when she discovers she belongs to reality TV royalty. On her 18th birthday, Iranian American Josie Lawrence's stepfather presents her with a letter from her biological father that her deceased mother had been saving for her. Josie is surprised, since her mom never forgave him for abandoning her when she was pregnant. Even more shocking is the revelation that her late father was Ali Mashad, beloved patriarch of "the most powerful family in the world." When Making Mashad debuted 15 years ago, the show catapulted the family to fame. Anxious, ordinary Josie would rather pretend she didn't just get life-changing news, but when Ali's widow shows up, that's impossible. Josie learns about a trust fund, but she can only access the money in it if she films at least one season of the show. With her stepdad working double restaurant shifts to support them and a hefty bill from Stanford looming, she can't afford to turn down millions of dollars. A whirlwind of NDAs, paparazzi dodging, and jet-setting ensues--but also sisterly bonding and a reconnection with her Persian roots. Maybe Josie will benefit from being pushed out of her comfort zone? Jalili's YA debut is fast-paced and full of drama. While the characters feel a bit like generic types, and the resolutions are a bit too tidy, the warm moments of familial connection are highlights. Light, pleasurable fare for pop-culture fans. (Fiction. 13-18)

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