Sparkle

September 4, 2023
When Black 11-year-old Sparkle Moore is diagnosed with alopecia, she must navigate anxiety and self-image issues in this intimately rendered read by Wilson (Be Real, Macy Weaver). Sparkle, a promising theatrical performer who has just started the sixth grade at Maryland Arts Academy, is devastated to learn that the school’s renowned theater director Ms. June will be retiring after one last production. Sparkle’s manager mother, meanwhile, is delighted when Sparkle lands a shampoo ad, though the growing bald spots on Sparkle’s head pose both an obstacle and a growing concern to the ad sponsors. To make matters worse, Sparkle’s Emmy-nominated actor father is out of work, and she fears that the family needs her modeling to help support them financially. When she gets an opportunity to work with Ms. June, she’s determined to make a good impression. But everything becomes much more complicated as she attempts to juggle her diagnosis with friendships and exciting opportunities. Using emotionally turbulent and candid prose, Wilson delivers a heartfelt narrative about personal growth in which Sparkle approaches each challenge with tenacity and drive. Ages 8–12.

September 1, 2023
A Black sixth grader's love of modeling and performing is challenged on and off the stage. Maryland tween Sparkle Moore is a budding social media influencer, and her hair--abundant "chestnut-colored locks"--is a big part of her persona. Her mother is a former model who has shifted her focus into making Sparkle and her sister social media successes. Sparkle and her best friends, Taryn and Rae, who are also Black, hope to make a good impression on Ms. June, the Arts Academy drama director. Sparkle wants to help her family out financially by landing a key role in the school's spring production and creating content that could attract the attention of Hollywood casting agents; Sparkle's dad was a famous TV star, but the residual checks they live on have been shrinking. Things take an unexpected turn when Taryn notices a small bald spot on Sparkle's scalp. Following a scary diagnosis of alopecia, Rae designs creative hair accessories to help Sparkle cover up her bare patches, but Sparkle's friendship with Taryn becomes strained as she deals with her shifting roles at school and home. This is an honest look at the impact of a medical diagnosis that affects appearance, particularly in the context of social media. Sparkle is an original character who is personally driven but also able to put her family first. The relationship dynamics among the friends will resonate with middle school readers. A timely and relatable story about self-perception and social pressures. (Fiction. 9-13)

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October 1, 2023
Grades 3-6 Sixth-grader Sparkle has a shot at becoming a big star someday. Her father was once a well-known actor in Hollywood, and she attends an arts academy for drama, where some famous alumni have graduated. Plus, she has beautiful, thick, curly hair. Her parents struggle financially, and Sparkle has a lot of pressure to make it big. She is on the verge of becoming a social media phenomenon and a star in the school play, until she finds a bald spot and is diagnosed with alopecia. Losing her hair could hold her back from her dreams. Through Wilson's characters, we see the range of challenges for a middle school girl dealing with devastating hair loss. There are the bullies, of course, but there are also girls who pressure one another to look a certain way. This adept exploration of the definition of beauty for the middle-grade set will appeal to fans of Naomi Milliner's Super Jake and the King of Chaos (2019) and Jessica Kim's Stand Up, Yumi Chung! (2020).

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 1, 2023

Gr 4-7-All her life, Sparkle has known she was destined to be a star. She has a mom who manages her social media, an actor dad, and a younger sister with her own star power. At her arts middle school, she is hoping for a big part in the annual musical; but it all seems lost when she begins to lose her hair. What follows is an exploration of self image, marketability in a social media influencer world, friendship, bullying, pursuit of passion, and family dynamics as they learn about her alopecia. Sparkle and her family are Black, and her school is portrayed as very diverse. The intense focus on social media and image can feel somewhat superficial but will also ring true for readers entering fraught middle school years during this era. The narrative is told through Sparkle's point of view, which is where the writing shines as an authentic experience for a sixth grader. If some of the other characters seem one-dimensional, that can also be attributed to the limited narrative style. While not a first purchase, this book will find an audience for its empathetic portrayal of a young person who is facing a fundamental shift in their self-identity. VERDICT A solid novel about alopecia through a social media influencer/aspiring actress lens for a tween audience.-Elizabeth Nicolai

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