cover image Dream Girls #01 Anything to Wi

Dream Girls #01 Anything to Wi

Rosemary Joyce. Pocket Books, $2.5 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-671-62110-0

Linda Ellis is positive that she's not beautiful, but everyone else thinks so, including her best friend Megan Maxwell. So Linda enters Crandall Department Store's beauty contest, hoping she'll win the grand prize (two new designer outfits). Arlene McVie, who has been entering contests since she was five, is outwardly enthusiastic about Linda's entry, but makes a mental note of her allergic reaction to strawberries. The night before the contest, Arlene thoughtfully mixes up a facial masque for the naive Linda, with just enough strawberries to give the contest newcomer hives. Unfortunately, Linda has already used another masque, foiling Arlene's plans (this time). Then Arlene tampers with Linda's evening gown, so it will rip when Linda is onstage. But at the last minute, Linda and Arlene are given completely different dresses, Arlene is foiled again, and Linda is crowned. There's one contrivance after another here, and Linda isn't a heroine anyone would identify withSandra Dee was savvier. As the first in the Dream Girls series, this is a mediocre launch, at best. (12-up)