School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up--Josie has big Broadway dreams. Encouraged by her theater teacher, Josie drops out of high school and moves to New York…where she promptly gets knocked down a peg (or five). Deep in credit card debt and swiftly losing confidence, Josie takes a gig as a nanny. But when nannying turns into a full-time job and requires her to move to Montana, Josie has some real soul searching to do. Unusual townspeople, a weird pair of glasses, and some light reading help Josie escape from her obsessive introspection--literally. Josie finds herself transported inside the stories she reads, acting as the star of various tales, from zombie attacks to bodice rippers to a superhero graphic novel. The stories are populated by the people around her; even Josie's boyfriend and best friend from home appear in the fantasy spaces, helping Josie process their changing relationships and her fading dreams of stardom. But when fantasy threatens to take over Josie's reality, Josie must fight to take back control of her life. Even if a little uneven, in typical Hale style, Josie's story is full of heart, whimsy, and flawed yet lovable characters. VERDICT Hale's play with genre, as well as Josie's absurd internal journey, will appeal to fans of Libba Bray and Andrew Smith who enjoy a light and playful surrealist adventure.--Jennifer Miskec, Longwood Univ., Farmville, VA
Publisher's Weekly Review
Josie Pie "was kind of a big deal" in her Yasmine, Ariz., high school, certain that her star power as an actress and vocalist would immediately land her on Broadway, but after dropping out senior year and moving to New York City, Josie's life is far from the triumph she imagined, and she can't afford to stay. Freshly relocated to Missoula, Mont., with the family she nannies for, she struggles to handle her overwhelming credit card debt, shifting relationships with her boyfriend Justin and best friend Nina, and the growing awareness that the future she so yearned for has failed to materialize. When Josie gets literally absorbed in the books she's reading--becoming a maiden in a historical romance, a survivor during the Zombloid apocalypse, a superheroine in a graphic novel, and more, with real-life people as supporting characters--she begins to find it increasingly difficult to return to reality. Hale's cross-genre adventure is playful and effective, allowing Josie to gain perspective as she works through feelings she's long ignored. Cogently revealing the fallibility of ourselves and those we trust, this coming-of-age story will especially appeal to readers exploring post--high school liminal spaces. Ages 12--up. (Aug.)