For the Record

Chelsea Ford may have lost the reality TV competition American Pop Star, but now she’s the new lead singer for veteran rock group Melbourne. A rising high school senior, she joins the band on its summer tour, hoping it will become a long-term gig. But Chelsea struggles with her outsider status—the guys in the band don’t take her seriously, since she’s an inexperienced replacement forced on them by their record label. She becomes an overnight celebrity by dating movie star Lucas Rivers, which alienates her from her band-mates even more, and she can’t help her attraction to the band’s guitarist, Beckett. Debut author Huang delivers an absorbing behind-the-scenes look at life on tour, from living on a bus with 10 other people and exploring new cities to the pressure to sell out shows without becoming sellouts. Though the characters are entertaining, they aren’t always well-defined; even Chelsea lacks much of a personality or backbone. But Huang captures how overwhelming the spotlight can be for a newcomer and the lessons Chelsea picks up along the way. Ages 12–up. Agent: Adriann Ranta, Wolf Literary Services. (Nov.)