School Library Journal Review
Gr 10 Up-What if a group of fangirls decide to meet their idols by any means necessary? In the case of Strepurs-that's Ruperts spelled backward-the thing they most desire are the boy band The Ruperts. Discovered on So You Think the British Don't Have Talent?, four boys named Rupert are thrust into the spotlight and become every fangirl's dream. When the singers arrive in the Big Apple to film a Thanksgiving special, thousands of fans surround their hotel in an attempt to get a glimpse of the guys. Apple, Erin, Isabel, and the unnamed narrator decide to get a room at the hotel and will do anything to meet the group. When a coincidental meeting with Rupert P., the untalented Rupert, leads to him being strapped to a chair in the girls' hotel room, misunderstandings, chance meetings, Twitter revelations, and murder ensue. Told in the first person, Moldavsky's debut novel is filled with dark humor and pop culture references and will have readers laughing until the end. Fans of boy bands and reality TV talent contests will notice parallels between The Ruperts and current pop groups. The power of social media and fandom and its impact on teens and adults alike make this a relevant read. Sexual innuendos and language make this book better suited to older teens. VERDICT A hilarious read to satisfy readers' inner fangirls. A must-have for high school and teen library collections.-Ashley Leffel, Griffin Middle School, Frisco, TX © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Moldavsky's debut is a dark-humored, tongue-in-cheek novel with elements of noir. Teenagers Isabel, Apple, Erin, and an unnamed narrator have an intense friendship formed around their shared adoration of a British boy band, the Ruperts. Proud to call themselves "Strepurs" (Ruperts spelled backward), they follow the boys everywhere, hoping to catch a glimpse of them, even reserving a hotel room where they are staying. There, the girls come "to be in possession of [their] very own boy bander," when Apple tackles a Rupert (the "Ugly One") on her way to get ice, knocks him out cold, and drags him into their room. References to fanfiction and "feels" place the story firmly in the present, though boy band mania is far from a new phenomenon. A late revelation throws the circumstances into a different light, yet sympathizing with the protagonists isn't really the point. The story's strength is in its bitingly satirical look at the extremes of fandom and how reality can be an unwelcome intrusion into carefully constructed fantasy worlds. Ages 14-up. Agent: Jenny Bent, Bent Agency. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
