Teen Idol (novel)

Teen Idol was written by Meg Cabot and published in August 2004 in hardcover and in August 2005 in paperback edition.

Plot

Jenny Greenley is a 16-year-old high school junior who lives in the small town of Clayton, Indiana. She is secretly the school newspaper's advice columnist ''Ask Annie''. When teen film star and heartthrob Luke Striker decides to go undercover at Clayton High School to do research on an upcoming role, the principal assigns Luke as Jen's responsibility. She is expected to show him around the school, help him integrate, and most importantly, keep his true identity secret from her fellow students.

During his time at Clayton, Luke is appalled by the vicious hierarchy of high school and tells Jen that she should start taking a stand for the people who can't speak up for themselves. After Luke's true identity is revealed, Jen realizes that she has the power to do so, and starts making serious changes in the lives of others and herself as well, morphing from "nice little Jenny Greenley, everybody's best friend" to Jen, effector of social change. She quits show choir, foils a cruel senior prank, and befriends unpopular outcast Cara. Despite the newfound media exposure surrounding Clayton, Jen's feelings for Luke remain platonic. Meanwhile, she grows closer to Scott, a fellow junior and editor of the school newspaper.

At the Spring Fling, after Luke and Jen are crowned king and queen, Luke reveals that he is going out with Geri Lynn — a senior and friend of Jen's — and much to her surprise, also tells Jen that he knows she is Annie. He encourages Jen to follow her own advice and confess her true feelings for Scott. Later that night Scott and Jen admit their feelings for one another and kiss.

The novel ends with Luke and Geri together in LA, and Scott and Jen in a relationship. With Trina and Cara's assistance, Jen runs for student body president next year, but half-jokingly notes that she "might be aiming a little too low. I'm thinking, a girl with my people skills? Well... why not the White House?"

Characters

Jenny "Jen" Greenley is a high school junior who is well-liked by everyone, and tries to smooth things over all the time. She may be good at solving others' problems but still needs help with solving her own. She also writes "Ask Annie", the school newspaper's advice column.

Scott Bennett is the editor of the school newspaper and a longtime friend of Jenny's who moved away in fifth grade, but returned last summer. Jenny mentions that he is a great cook, and shares her passion for science fiction. He starts the novel in a relationship with Geri Lynn but eventually becomes Jenny's boyfriend.

Luke Striker (alias Lucas Smith) is a famous teen star who comes to Jenny's Indiana high school to research a role for his next film, while hiding his identity.

Catrina Larssen is Jen's best friend. A dramatic personality, Catrina does not answer to her birth name and prefers to be called 'Trina' by her peers. She is a super-fan of Luke, which makes it harder for Jenny to keep his secret. She hints throughout the book that Jen and Scott are made for each other. She is also Steve's girlfriend.

Geri Lynn Packard is the only other senior girl on the paper, Scott's ex-girlfriend, and later becomes Luke's girlfriend. She is passionate about journalism, and the rights of the media, and goes on to attend UCLA. She only likes to drink flat soda.

Steve McKnight is Trina's boyfriend. He is madly in love with Trina and puts her interests first, including auditioning for school plays. He breaks up with her because she is obsessed with Luke and her constant taking advantage of him, but they later make up.

Cara Schlosberg is an envious girl who wants to be a member of the popular group at Clayton High. Often called 'Cara Cow' for being slightly overweight, she is teased by other students who "moo" when she walks by the cafeteria. She is later reformed by Jen and eventually loses all desire to be popular and finds a boyfriend

Betty-Ann Mulvaney is a doll owned by Jen's Latin teacher, Mrs. Mulvaney. She is stolen by popular jock Kurt Schraeder, who swipes her from Mrs. Mulvaney's desk as the senior prank. Throughout the book, Jen makes several attempts to retrieve the doll but doesn't succeed until she and Scott use blackmail to coerce Kurt's little sister Vicky into giving them the doll.

Reception

Teen Idol was released in August 2004 and made the New York Times Bestseller list under the Children's Chapter Books category. Publishers Weekly described the novel as a "snappy and fun read," and Kirkus Reviews called it an "instantly engaging, humorous first-person tale."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Teen Idol (Novel)
2004 American novels
American young adult novels
Novels by Meg Cabot
Novels set in Indiana
HarperCollins books