Between internet trolls, gossip, and competing male egos, Charlie Bloom discovers that hanging out with a famous band isn't the dream the rest of the girls at school think it is.When Olly messages Charlie about taking backstage photos of his famous band, she's surprised. The two of them never hung out when he went to her school, before he became famous. Despite reservations, she agrees and discovers she actually likes the boys in the band, all as white as Charlie save mixed-race Yuki (white/Japanese). She loves taking the pictures, and she especially seems to share a magnetic pull with Gabriel West. But how deep is their connection, really? An eruption with her best friend, a school bully, and a family mystery make things even more confusing for Charlie. Russell's debut novel strives to explore the magic that can occur in teen relationships but never quite manages to escape the confines of sentimental stereotypes. The dialogue often feels canned: "You don't need me. You're Gabriel West. You could have any girl on the planet." A few interesting details, such as the blue knit hat that belonged to Charlie's dead mother, help add texture to an otherwise flat reading experience. A drama filled with saccharine moments of romance and angst, populated by characters that can't seem to escape their two-dimensionality. (Fiction. 12-15)

After being approached by the massively popular boy band Fire&Lights, 16-year-old Charlie Bloom reluctantly becomes their backstage photographer. Promised anonymity, Charlie begins to bond with the young band members, who recently catapulted to fame after winning a TV competition, and is drawn into their charm and genuineness. When the band drops a new single, a shaken Charlie realizes that the lyrics mirror those inked in her mother-s journal, written years before the car accident that ended her life. As Charlie develops relationships with two vocalists, kindhearted Olly and damaged Gabriel, she attempts to unravel the mystery of her mother-s veiled past and connection to Fire&Lights. Confronting the fickleness of fame and the damaging effects of rumors and harassment, Russell-s debut is highly relevant in an age of social media furors and the constant churn of news. Charlie-s burgeoning interest in two very different partners highlights the complexities of attraction, but her relationships with women-including her best friend, late mother, and the school bully-are perhaps the most compelling. Russell concludes with many questions unresolved; readers will be eager for the story-s continuation. Ages 12-up. (May)

Gr 9 Up-spiring photographer Charlie Bloom is surprised to receive a Facebook message from Olly Samson, formerly a student at her school and currently part of the biggest boy band in Britain, asking her to take some backstage photos of his band, Fire&Lights. Her first impulse is to say no, but with some prodding from her best friend, Melissa, a huge Fire&Lights fan, the shy teen accepts the offer and both enjoys and excels at it. Musician and debut YA author Russell manages to make all of this plausible, a testament to his well-written book, which is elevated beyond simple wish-fulfillment fiction. He also weaves in an intriguing mystery surrounding the band's lyrics, penned by aloof front man Gabriel, which bear striking similarity to the poems in Charlie's deceased mother's diary. Fans of novels about bands and music will appreciate the look at life on the road with Fire&Lights, a group with parallels to One Direction, and understand Charlie's dilemma in choosing between Olly and Gabriel when both like her. Russell does well in capturing the point of view of a 16-year-old girl, also exploring Charlie's strained relationship with her father and the harassment she receives from the band's jealous fans. The ending will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next title in this planned trilogy. VERDICT This recommended, thoroughly delightful book is a great fit for readers of novels such as Charlotte Huang's For the Record and has broad appeal for a wide audience of contemporary YA fans.Amanda Mastrull, Library Journal